Whether it’s a group of friends, a couple, or a family, when you hear the words “road trip,” feelings of excitement and anticipation usually emerge. While some people might dread spending hours in a car with their family, the excitement of hitting the road and seeing what the country has to offer usually counteracts whatever annoyances they feel.
Whether you’re heading out to our country’s national parks or pointing your vehicle to head to a favorite theme park, there’s so much to see on the open road. However, no matter the destination or duration, being prepared and well-stocked remains imperative. After all, a road trip isn’t merely about the exciting places on your itinerary. This type of vacation embodies the phrase, “It’s not just about the destination, but also the journey.” Getting there should be part of the fun.
Before heading out on your trip, we’ve got you covered with all the essentials you’ll need to help make your next road trip a smooth and successful one. So, pack up your station wagon or minivan, because adventure awaits you.
1. Food, Drinks, and Coolers
Although it may seem pretty obvious, travelers often forget or neglect to pack enough food for their road trip. For families with small children, especially, having the right amount of snacks and drinks helps keep them happy and prevents the inevitable meltdown.
Variety proves key. Always bring plenty of bottled water, carbonated drinks, and juice boxes. Similarly, homemade sandwiches, fresh fruit, and vegetables help keep your eating healthy and simple. Pre-packaged snacks that don’t require cold storage are also terrific, such as trail mix, cookies, crackers, gummies, nuts, and beef jerky.
For perishable items, remember to pack multiple cooler bags with ice packs to keep them fresh. Coolers with dry ice will also help keep everything fresh, especially on road trips that last several days.
2. First Aid Kit
Another essential that people sometimes forget is that a first aid kit should always be in your vehicle. You can buy pre-made ones, such as this inexpensive, standard kit or this more extensive one from Amazon. Travelers can also buy a container and customize a kit for their own specific needs.
The most important things that every first aid kit should have include band-aids of various sizes, gauze, iodine, an antiseptic ointment like Neosporin, small scissors, tweezers, a thermometer, eye wash, drops, Q-tips, and insect repellent.
Travelers should also not forget any daily medications, such as Advil or ibuprofen, Tylenol or acetaminophen, Tums, Dramamine, Gas-X, Imodium, Benadryl, and other allergy medications. Even if you never end up using them, you’ll rest easy knowing they’re available.
3. Roadside Emergency Kit
Like a first aid kit, hopefully, a roadside emergency kit will be unnecessary. However, wishful thinking will not prevent accidents, and luck may not always be on your side. It’s always better to be safe than sorry and have a variety of things in case of car problems.
Well-prepared road-trippers should have jumper cables, a spare tire, a jack and lug wrench, flashlights, flares or reflective triangles, a fire extinguisher, a tire pressure gauge, paper towels, and rags. It would also be beneficial to keep paper maps, just in case your GPS on your phone or vehicle stops working.
4. Portables, Disposables, and Mini Toiletries
With limited space, keeping things small and portable remains crucial when packing for your road trip. Travel-size toiletries have always been essential for frequent wanderers, and taking a road trip should be no different. Some of the best mini toiletries to pack for your road trip include toothbrushes and toothpaste, lotion, aloe vera, hand sanitizer, and disinfecting wipes.
I take this travel pill box on every trip, long or short, to keep things organized. This portable hand washer is both ingenious and convenient, with a foam soap pump that fits onto a disposable water bottle.
You should be prepared for anything while on the road, and you may have to travel miles without a nearby rest stop. Small, portable toilets, especially for little ones, will be a lifesaver. Remember also to bring trash bags to dispose of everything.
5. Games and Activity Books
For families, packing a variety of games and activities for your kids helps pass the time and keep them focused on other things, hopefully preventing any crankiness and the inevitable question “Are we there yet?”
To get the entire group involved, the Ultimate Road Trip Game Bundle set has fantastic games that are fun and easy to play. It includes personal trivia conversation starters, a scavenger hunt, and word games. I always loved Mad Libs to get everyone laughing.
For older kids, teens, and adults, there are crossword puzzles, word searches, and number games. This is a great one for adults, while this book is geared toward teens. For the kids, sticker and activity books always prove to be winners. YouTubers The Pior Fam recommend the Sticker Dolly Dressing Books, such as On Vacation. Some other excellent options include the Vehicles on the Go Sticker Activity Book and the Melissa & Doug Sticker Seek and Find.
The best thing about all of these is that they keep everyone off their phones and devices, while everyone stays happy and entertained.
6. Tablets
Staying off phones and devices will be beneficial during road trips to preserve battery life and reduce the eye strain or headaches screens can cause. However, eliminating them altogether proves impractical and unnecessary.
Limited screen time, especially for children, is fine as it helps time pass quickly and keeps them occupied. You should still pack your tablets for games and movies especially if the little ones are getting really finicky.
7. Lots of Layers and Extra Clothes
Packing for all contingencies on road trips proves to be another essential factor, one that many often overlook. No matter the forecast, weather can still be unpredictable. In that case, road trippers should bring layers to put on if it gets cold or take off when it heats up.
Extra clothes will also be a lifesaver in case of bathroom accidents in kids, or someone spills a drink or food.
8. Pillows, Blankets, and Plushies
On long road trips, it’s always important to prioritize comfort. Be sure to bring pillows and blankets, especially those that are very soft and comfortable. On those long stretches of road, passengers can snuggle up and get some sleep.
Children also typically need small comforts from home to relieve anxiety or help them feel safe. For these kids, pack up the back seat with a few of their favorite small plushies. The little ones will be happy, and the car will be whimsical.
9. Window Shades and Hats
Window shades and hats can be helpful in two weather extremes. If your road trip occurs during hotter months, shades cut down on glare and heat from the sun. These will be most welcome for the vehicles without backseat air conditioning. Likewise, wide-brim hats prevent excess sun exposure, yup, even inside the car.
During the colder months, the shades may seem unnecessary. However, during the evenings, every little bit of protection can help cut back on the cold temperatures that penetrate through the windows. Likewise, no one will deny how much knit caps help keep your head warm in the frigid weather.
10. Music
A road trip without music would be a sad state of affairs. A lot of people would agree that a carefully curated music playlist becomes a vital part of any road trip. The differences lie in the music choices and preferred audio platforms.
In today’s age, most people use Sirius radio or streaming services like Pandora or Spotify.
If you’re old-school like me, I enjoy breaking out the old, trusty iPod or CDs. That’s right, despite what many may think, many cars do still include CD players. For those who don’t, you can connect a portable CD player, such as this one, to your car using a USB port or auxiliary output.