What to Bring on Your Next Road Trip
Road trips have always been one of my favorite modes of travel and one of my favorite ways to experience the United States. Whether it was traveling through the Southeastern coastal states with my family as a child, or road tripping with friends to concerts as an adult, road trips in the U.S. have been nothing but fun for me. Emmett and I have experienced several international road trips and now that we are converting an old school bus into a tiny home on wheels, we’re ready to see more of our home country. That being said, we’ve done a few quick road trips here and there in the meantime and are getting to be experts at packing our cars with essentials. Once you’ve packed your clothes and toiletries, here are the rest of the essentials you must have with you on your next road trip!
**Note: Though these tips are tailored to road trips in the United States, many of these tips can also apply to an international road trip.
Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park, January 2021
Apps
Waze (For urban driving)
Waze has been incredibly helpful when it comes to urban driving. Because its alerts are based on user-submitted data, Waze has really fast updates regarding potential wrecks, construction, or even speed traps.
Google Maps (For everywhere else)
What more can be said? You probably already have this app downloaded to your phone because it is so comprehensive as far as navigational apps are concerned.
Pro tip: Be sure to download some portions of your planned route to be viewable offline in case of any potential signal loss.
Pro tip #2: I also like to read about my destination ahead of time and pick out several restaurants or cultural sights that I know that I won’t want to miss. I save them all to a custom map in the “Your Places” section of the Google Maps app. Then when I’m at my destination, I can pull up all of my saved locations of interest for that city and plan my days around what’s close together.
GasBuddy
I haven’t used GasBuddy yet but I plan to do so! GasBuddy seems pretty cool because it helps you locate the cheapest gas nearby. What’s not to like if you’re on a budget?
Spotify
Emmett and I share a Spotify Premium account and use it constantly. As huge music lovers, we love being able to have access to almost any song we can imagine and we also love to create endless, custom playlists. When I was younger, my family used to have to rely on the same handful of CDs or a constantly changing series of radio stations on road trips. Now that Emmett and I have Spotify, I can create a custom playlist ahead of any road trip or just play anything that fits the moment or location. Honestly, I hate how much I love Spotify but I really can’t imagine not using it. Especially in the car.
Don’t forget to download several playlists or albums (or all of the above!) to your phone so that you can play songs offline if/when your data signal goes out on you.
Route 60 outside of Tampa, Florida - November 2019
Emergency Preparedness
AAA Membership
There’s a reason this nearly 120-year-old organization has almost 60 million members. It works. I’ve personally used my AAA membership at least four times since I got it several years ago. Funnily enough, all of those calls were actually in my home city and not on road trips. I suppose you never know when you’ll blow a tire or lock your keys in your trunk! If you plan to use your car regularly - even in daily life - I really recommend an AAA membership. The entry-level membership is just $57 for one year. Download the AAA member app or be sure to keep your membership card on you at all times. All you have to do in an emergency is call and they will send roadside assistance your way.
If you have a bigger vehicle like an RV or maybe a converted school bus, you may want to invest in a Coach-Net membership instead. The biggest appeal of Coach-Net for us: if your motorhome gets stuck, Coach-Net can tow you out.
HALO Bolt Portable Car Jump Starter OR Good-Old Fashioned Jumper Cables
I have both a HALO Jump Starter and jumper cables in my car. The HALO is a recent acquisition; my Mom bought me one as a gift. It’s a pretty amazing little device though. You just charge it before you go and keep it in your car. Not only does it jump-start your car (without having to flag a good Samaritan down), but it also allows you to charge devices. Some models also include an air compressor for low tire-fills and a floodlight for working on your car in the dark. That’s pretty dang handy.
Blanket
You never know when you’ll be waiting on the side of the road for assistance. It could happen somewhere cold. Whether that happens during the wintertime or on a mountain pass after dark, you may get chilly and need a blanket. It never hurts to have a cheap blanket folded up in your trunk in case of emergency.
Small First Aid Kit
Depending on how long you are traveling, a basic first aid kit is likely all you will need. You know the kind - one with a handful of bandages in different sizes and a couple of ibuprofen. I also like to keep antacid tablets, Dramamine for twisty roads, and a couple of tampons in my car in case of emergencies.
If your road trip is going to span several weeks, or if you’re going to camp/live out of your car, consider packing more than just a basic kit. For instance, you might want to bring a whole bottle of ibuprofen, or a whole box of bandaids, etc.
Snacks + Water
I’m not talking about that bag of chips that you got from the gas station to munch on as you drive. I’m talking about snacks and water for when you really need them. Sometimes you get going on the road and you get stuck somewhere. Whether you are stranded due to weather or car trouble, you’ll be thanking your past self for throwing a box of granola bars and an extra water bottle (or two) in the backseat.
Flashlight
What if you need to use jumper cables or change your tire in the dark? Flashlight.
A Road Atlas
Most of the time, navigational apps on your phone will be sufficient enough for any old road trip. However, if your upcoming road trip is very long or if you plan to take many road trips in the future, it could be worth investing in a road atlas. (They tend to only be about $25). What if you get turned around in the middle of nowhere and your phone is dead? A road atlas will help you find your way, analog-style.
One Plastic Grocery Bag
I am a strong proponent of NOT using single-use plastic. But! What if you get really bad motion sickness and have to throw up? A plastic bag is great for that kind of emergency. I would know; I am very prone to motion-sickness, even on roads that only have a few turns.
Keep one in your glove compartment in case you or a passenger has one of those uncomfortable nauseous emergencies.
A Barn in Augusta County, Virginia - October 2020
Accessories + Miscellaneous
Charging Cables / Car Charger for Your Cellphone
My car is a 1999 Honda Accord, so it does not have USB ports for charging. If you’re like me and drive an older vehicle, a cigarette lighter adapter with a USB port plus your charging cable will allow you to keep your cell charged. If you have a fancy new vehicle - look at you! - then just bring your charging cables.
AUX Cord / Bluetooth Radio Adapter / CDs
You can’t have an American road trip without music! Depending on your vehicle, you may not need any of the items listed above. Obviously, many newer cars are Bluetooth adaptable already. However, slightly older cars may have an AUX cord input for your headphone jack. Old-old cars (like mine) will have none of the above, and I have found that a cheap Bluetooth Radio Adapter that I bought years ago from Amazon allows me to listen to all of my endless Spotify playlists. Then, if you want to be really retro, bring a handful of CDs for your car’s disc player.
Reusable Water Bottles, Straws, and Containers
These are items that I pack with me on any trip and I think they are essential if you want to be a responsible and ethical traveler. There are enough pieces of single-use plastic that will never leave the planet and we should not be adding to that as we travel. Here are the reusables that Emmett and I pack on road trips:
Reusable Water Bottle
Stainless steel straws + brush
Reusable plastic Tupperware for leftovers / Also works as a bowl
A reusable travel coffee mug
Reusable smoothie cups with lids. (We have a weakness for Smoothie King & Tropical Smoothie).
Several reusable bags for shopping trips
Sunglasses / Hat / Sunscreen
Protect yourself and your eyes from the sun! Enough said.
Rain Jacket / Umbrella
You never know when it will be rainy as all get out at your destination. Be prepared!
Pillow
If you’re a driver, consider an ergonomic cushion or lumbar support pillow. If you’re a passenger, consider a comfy pillow in case you’re going to nap.
Car Games
If you’re traveling in a group and the trip is going to take a while, you may want to pack an easy-to-play game for the ride. Playing cards or card-based games like UNO & Skip-Bo are good options OR you could also just play an easy verbal game like I Spy or saying a different famous person for each letter of the alphabet.
Snacks & Drinks
Unlike the previous section, these snacks are for eating any time - not just in an emergency. Keep some bags of snacks with you to munch on in between destinations. And don’t forget your beverage of choice either.
Packing food ahead of time is actually really crucial to me and Emmett now that we are vegan. On longer road trips, we will bring sandwiches or other food with us in a cooler because vegan options can be sparse in the middle of nowhere. There are only so many bags of plain potato chips or pretzels that you can eat in a day. That being said - it seems like more and more fast food joints are offering vegan-friendly menus! Yay, progress!
Boiled peanuts are a favorite roadside snack of mine to buy in the Carolinas / August 2018
Want to keep track of your essentials as you pack?
Right-click to save and print my Road Trip Essentials Checklist!
Hopefully that is a pretty comprehensive list of things (beyond your suitcase) to bring on your next road trip! Let me know if you have any other ideas in the comments below. I’d love to hear about your road trip essentials, too!
