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You’ve got the open road calling your name and a full tank of gas. Your next adventure is waiting, but don’t hit the highway without first packing your road trip essentials list.
From your favorite tunes to spill-proof snacks, I’ve got you covered with the ultimate road trip essentials list. Trust me, I understand your eagerness to hit the road, but forgetting something important can ruin the fun.
With this road trip checklist, you’ll be prepared for whatever the journey brings, and the extra time invested in being well-equipped will be worth it!
This post is all about the ultimate road trip essentials list for your next adventure.
Table of Content:
- Road Trip Snacks and Food Essentials
- Road Trip Entertainment
- Important Documents and Safety Gear
- Packing Your Car: Organization and Storage
- Spare Tire and Jack
- Roadside Assistance Membership
- Sunglasses and Sunscreen
- Cash and Coins
- Multi Tool or Swiss Army Knife
- Portable Phone Charger
- Reusable Water Bottle
- Trash Bags
- Wet Wipes and Hand Sanitizer
- Emergency Contact List
- Car Emergency Sign
- Blankets and Towels
- Personal Items
Road Trip Essentials List
1 | Road Trip Snacks and Food Essentials
You’ll want to pack high-energy, non-perishable snacks to avoid hangry meltdowns. Think protein bars, trail mix, jerky, and granola. Bring a cooler with sandwiches, cut fruit, yogurt, and cheese sticks.
Don’t forget utensils, napkins, cups, and plates. Staying hydrated is key, so bring a reusable water bottle for each passenger. For longer drives, pack a mini coffee maker, tea bags, and a kettle to keep you alert.
A road trip isn’t complete without junk food. Stock up on chips, pretzels, candy, and gum to satisfy any cravings. Pack wet wipes for sticky fingers and spills.
For an easy snack, bring bread, peanut butter, and jam to make sandwiches on the go. Think of road trip food as an adventure in itself! With some planning, you’ll be fueled up for the open road.
2 | Road Trip Entertainment
Keep boredom at bay with a variety of entertainment options for the road. Load up your favorite playlists, audiobooks or podcasts for the drive, and don’t forget to pack chargers for your electronic devices. If you’re traveling with kids, bring along a portable DVD player to keep them entertained during the journey.
Games and puzzles are also a classic way to pass the time on long drives. Bring a deck of cards, a crossword or Sudoku book, travel Scrabble or Bananagrams, a Rubik’s cube, mini Connect Four —the options are endless. For kids, small toys like Legos, figurines, and mini Play-Doh are perfect for keeping little hands busy in the backseat.
3 | Important Documents and Safety Gear
Don’t hit the road without the essentials. Pack your license, registration, insurance card, maps, and emergency gear like a first aid kit, jumper cables, tire gauge, flashlights, extra blankets, water and basic tools for minor repairs.
You never know what might happen, so plan for the unexpected and you’ll have a safe, stress-free adventure.
4 | Packing Your Car: Organization and Storage
Grab some storage bins, baskets, and labels before your trip. Keep things tidy in your trunk by grouping similar items together in bins and baskets. Have one for snacks, chargers, maps, trash bags, napkins, utensils, wet wipes, hand sanitizer, tissues, mints, gum, etc. Use labels to make items easy to spot quickly. Your future self will thank you when you need something in a hurry!
5 | Spare Tire and Jack
A spare tire and jack are essential for any road trip emergency. You never know when you might get a flat tire in the middle of nowhere. Make sure you have a full-size spare tire that’s in good condition, not just a temporary “donut”. Pack a lug wrench and jack that can lift your vehicle.
Know how to properly change a tire before you head out—the last thing you want is to be fumbling with the tools on the side of the road! For extra security, you could also bring fix-a-flat sealant and a portable air compressor. With the right emergency gear, a flat tire won’t ruin your adventure.
{Related post: “The Top 5 National Parks in California That You Must Visit”}
6 | Roadside Assistance Membership
A roadside assistance membership can be a lifesaver on long drives. For a small annual fee, you’ll have peace of mind knowing help is only a phone call away in case of a flat tire, dead battery, or other mishap.
Most major automobile clubs offer comprehensive coverage with 24/7 emergency roadside service, towing up to a certain number of miles, lockout assistance, and trip routing services.
7 | Sunglasses and Sunscreen
Protecting your eyes and skin from the sun’s UV rays is essential for any road trip adventure. Pack a pair of polarized sunglasses to reduce glare from the road and any bodies of water you pass.
Look for sunglasses that block 100% of both UVA and UVB rays. Don’t forget sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30, especially if you’ll be outside for extended periods. Reapply sunscreen every 2 hours to avoid sunburn.
8 | Cash and Coins
Bring some cash in small bills, like $1, $5 and $10, as well as a roll of quarters. While most major retailers and gas stations accept credit and debit cards, many smaller shops, roadside attractions and vending machines are still cash-only.
There’s nothing worse than finding an irresistible diner, taco truck or retro arcade game only to realize you don’t have the means to pay! Coins also come in handy for parking meters, toll roads and laundry facilities at RV parks or campgrounds.
9 | Multi Tool or Swiss Army Knife
A multi-tool or Swiss army knife is one of the most useful items you can pack for a road trip. This pocket-sized tool contains a variety of attachments like pliers, screwdrivers, bottle openers, and knives that can help you handle minor repairs, open packages or bottles, cut things, and more.
On the road, you never know when you might need a tool for tightening a loose screw, opening a can of food, cutting string or rope, or any number of small tasks.
10 | Portable Phone Charger
A portable charger is a must for any road trip. There’s nothing worse than running out of battery when you need to navigate or call for help in an emergency. Look for a charger with at least 10,000 mAh — that should give most phones 3-4 full charges.
Choose a charger that’s compatible with both iPhones and Android phones so you have flexibility. Some chargers also double as flashlights or have built-in cables so you don’t have to worry about packing extras.
11 | Reusable Water Bottle
Staying hydrated is key for any road trip. Bring a reusable water bottle to fill up along the way. Look for a BPA-free bottle that holds at least 32 ounces so you only have to refill it a couple times per day. Having your own bottle means you can skip the single-use plastics and fill up at any water fountain.
Some bottles come with built-in filters if you want to ensure the cleanest water possible. Pack some reusable ice cubes or cooling elements to keep your water chilled on hot days. Staying hydrated will help you feel refreshed and alert for all the adventures ahead!
12 | Trash Bags
You’ll want to bring trash bags for obvious reasons. Ziploc bags can work in a pinch but for longer trips, bring sturdy trash bags that can handle waste over multiple days. Look for bags that are scent-free and leak-proof. Pack extras – you never know when one might break or get overfilled. Tie off used bags securely and store them in an exterior compartment until you reach a trash can.
13 | Wet Wipes and Hand Sanitizer
When nature calls on the road, wet wipes and hand sanitizer are must-haves. Public rest stops and gas station bathrooms aren’t always the cleanest, so pack some disinfecting wipes, baby wipes or hand sanitizer to wipe down toilet seats or clean your hands.
Wet wipes can also be used to freshen up in other ways, like wiping down sweaty faces or cleaning up spills. For any messes, spills or sticky fingers in the car, wet wipes or hand sanitizer will come in handy.
14 | Emergency Contact List
Make sure you have a list of emergency contacts to bring with you on your road trip adventure. Include family members as well as any doctors, insurance providers or close friends who should be notified in case of emergency. Having this information on hand can help authorities contact the right people as quickly as possible if anything were to happen.
Better safe than sorry— be prepared for any situation by compiling a comprehensive list of emergency contacts before hitting the open road. Your future self will thank you for thinking ahead!
15 | Car Emergency Sign
For roadside emergencies, pack a reflective emergency sign to place behind your vehicle. In case of car trouble at night or in low visibility, a emergency roadside sign alerts oncoming traffic to your vehicle and helps avoid collisions.
Look for a foldable, reflective sign that says “emergency” or “call for help”. Place the sign at least 100 feet behind your vehicle, activated and visible to oncoming traffic. Once help has arrived, be sure to retrieve the sign to avoid leaving debris on the roadside.
16 | Blankets and Towels
Whether for picnics at scenic overlooks, impromptu beach trips or just staying cozy in the car, a blanket or towels are road trip must-haves. Pack a lightweight but warm blanket, towels or a quilt for sitting outside on cool evenings, wiping up spills, drying off after swimming or for extra comfort on long drives.
Bring towels and blankets that are easy to fold up and stow away in your vehicle so you have them when you need them, but they don’t take up too much trunk space.
17 | Personal Items
Don’t forget to pack some essential personal items to keep you comfortable on your road trip adventure. Bring a pillow, blanket, eye mask and earplugs for catching some z’s when your fellow road trippers are still awake. Pack wet wipes, tissues and any medications you may need. – Checkout this luxury travel set from Amazon!
A few changes of comfortable clothes, pajamas, slippers and a bathing suit will allow you to freshen up on the road or take a spontaneous dip in a lake or pool at one of your stops. Chargers, a portable charger, headphones and any tech accessories you rely on should also make the list. A journal or book to capture your thoughts or pass the time will round out your personal items.
You’re now armed with all the top essentials for your next road trip adventure. From making sure your vehicle is ready for the journey, to having entertainment, snacks, and supplies on hand, this list will ensure you’re fully prepared. Don’t forget to double check your packing list before hitting the road. With your road trip essentials in tow, you’ll be ready to take on any open highway and make lifelong memories.
This post was all about the best road trip essentials list.
