road trip tips adult

Your ultimate checklist for an epic road trip

Travel Travel Inspiration Road Trips Epic Road Trip Tips

Road trips are one of the most fun ways to travel and explore a place. Think about it - wouldn’t you rather breathe in some fresh air and get lost in serene landscapes instead of waiting in long lines at the airport? Of course! Now, although road trips can be exciting, they can also get to you if you haven’t planned a few things out. We’ve put together a list of hacks and tips to make sure you have an epic road trip with fewer unpleasant surprises and many memorable ones!

27 Expert Tips For An Epic Road Trip

Below are the tips and hacks you're here for. Read on and thank us later!

#1 Budget the road trip (and stick to it)

Plan your budget beforehand so you can figure out how much you’ll need for the entire trip. Don’t underestimate your total budget because you don’t want to fall short of money. You’ll also want to account for unforeseen expenses, emergencies, and toll gates. Always carry enough cash just in case you can’t use your cards. If you’re traveling with other adults, decide on a budget together. Talk about how much you plan to spend each day and how much you need to set aside for different activities. It’s always good to plan these things out together and set expectations during the planning process.

#2 Alternate coffee with water to stay alert

Although coffee is widely accepted as the beverage that keeps you awake and alert, it’s not the best choice if you’re driving for long hours. the caffeine can make you very dehydrated and lethargic after a while, making things extremely uncomfortable, especially if you’re driving. caffeine acts as a stimulant but often works for a short duration. taking a few sips of plain water or snacking on water-infused fruits every now can really help you stay hydrated and alert for the whole journey., #3 get a thorough car health check-up before you hit the road.

The last thing you want on your road trip is to have your car break down. Head over to the closest garage or mechanic and have them check your car thoroughly. Check the tire pressure for any signs of a possible flat. Fill up the car with a full tank to skip the hassle of finding a station in the first few hours of your road trip. Always keep a spare tire or two in the car just in case you need it on the way, and of course, learn how to change a tire before you hit the road. You just might need it for those areas where road assistance is miles away.

#4 Let your bank know where you’re going

It’s a good idea to inform your bank about where you’re headed in case of any money-related emergency that can crop up on your holiday. Because you’ll be traveling to unfamiliar places, there’s always the chance of running into frauds, even if you’re extremely careful. Keeping your bank informed can ensure that all transactions made on your holiday are looked into and any action needed can be done almost immediately. Put yourself at ease and let your bank know your travel plans before you head out.

#5 Chart a rough itinerary

You don’t want to rely solely on spontaneity, and at the same time, you don’t want to plan every tiny aspect of the trip. What you can do is chart out a rough itinerary, including pit stops, places to visit once you reach, restaurants, and the like. Basically, a rough idea of all the things you want to cover on the trip. This gives you a lot to look forward to but also room for some flexibility. For instance, let’s say you had a long night and woke up too late for breakfast and sightseeing, that’s okay! If your plan is flexible, you can still make the most of the day and see what else you can do.

#6 Carry cash and stash them carefully

Carrying a sufficient amount of cash on your road trip is absolutely essential. You just might need cash for places that don’t accept card payments, especially if you’re traveling through a small town or village. Maybe you want to grab a quick bite at a little food stall or food truck, maybe you get a flat and have to call for road assistance. Either way, keep some cash with you just in case. But don’t keep all of it in one spot. Carefully distribute it across a few spots and make sure it’s safe and hidden.

#7 Fill up gas using a Credit Card that gives cashback

Many banks have exciting cashback offers when it comes to expenses like fuel. You’ll probably need a full tank or three for your whole trip so why not save some money and earn some points/cashback while you fuel up. Call or visit your bank before you fuel up to see if your credit card is eligible for a cashback. If not, check with your road trip buddies to see if any of them have cashback offers. This is super helpful, especially if your journey is going to be a long one and you need to fill fuel more than a couple of times.

#8 Fill up gas every chance you get

Even if you have more than a half tank of gas, it’s always better to fuel up every chance you get. You never know when you might find the next gas station and sometimes it could be several hours before you do. Sometimes it might even be shut. So, even if you do your homework and figure out where all the gas stations are on your way and back, it’s always better to be safe and fill gas whenever you find a station, especially if you’ve used up half or more of your tank.

#9 Opt for truck stops over rest areas

Because you’re traveling to unknown areas, your safest bet is to opt for truck stops instead of secluded pitstops. This is an especially useful tip if you’re traveling with women and children and want to be cautious. Truck stops aren’t just for truckers anymore. With adequate lighting, food, facilities, and a small crowd, it is definitely much safer than stopping at a remote area with no one around. Either way, be cautious about where you pull up and quickly scan the area to make sure it’s safe.

#10 Schedule exercise breaks every 2 to 4 hours

We all know how painful it is to sit in the same position for hours on end. You definitely want to avoid this especially while driving and stop for a quick stretch every 2-4 hours. Doing this will help keep the inevitable back pain and leg cramps at bay. Stop every few hours and stretch it out, especially if you feel your body starting to get stiff. Breathe in some fresh air, pop a few healthy snacks, and stay hydrated so your body is in good shape to get back on the road.

#11 Learn how to change a tire

No one really tells you the importance of knowing how to change a tire, but it is an extremely valuable skill to have. It’s easy to call someone to change your tire when you run a flat in a city, but what happens when you’re in the middle of nowhere? You may not find road assistance close by or they might be miles away and take hours to reach you. You’d rather take the time to learn how to change a tire yourself and save yourself time and money.. If you learn how to do it right, the whole ordeal takes just 10-15 minutes.

#12 Bring a portable charger for your devices

We’re all pretty reliant on GPS, especially when we’re traveling. Your phone is precious in more than one way and you can’t have it drain out before you reach your destination. When you’re on a road trip, you usually rely on your vehicle’s power to charge your device. On the off chance that your car breaks down and you can’t charge your phone for assistance, it's good to have a backup charger. So carry one or two portable chargers for emergencies!

#13 Carry an offline/physical map for when GPS ditches you

Let’s be honest, we’d be pretty lost without GPS, and you can’t have your GPS giving up on you on a road trip! Backups are essential. Although the age of physical maps might be long gone, you never know when it’ll come in handy. You should also download offline maps before you set out in case you lose network and can’t access your GPS. Having all of this sorted ahead of time will save you from being stranded.

#14 Preload your phone with playlists and podcasts

Road trips are always more fun when you have some fun tunes to hum along to. Remember that you’re probably going to be out of range for the radio to function, so put a few playlists together before you hit the road. You might also lose signal sometimes, so maybe download all the songs and podcasts just in case. That way you always have music and entertainment to keep you engaged through the long stretches. Although road trip games are fun, sometimes it’s nice to just sit back, relax, and listen to good music. Don’t forget to keep everyone’s taste in mind when you’re making these playlists.

#15 Get off the highway and take the road less traveled (sometimes)

Driving on the highway can get monotonous and boring. If you have a car that can handle a little bit of off-roading, why not take an alternate route or a short detour and go on a mini-adventure? You never know what you might find in the nooks of new towns, but we’re sure it’ll be worth finding out. That said, don’t take too much of a detour and lose your way completely! Make sure to check the maps before you hit the detour to see which roads will lead you back to the highway.

Ultimate Bucketlist Road Trips In The World

#16 book flexible attraction tickets in advance.

It’s important to have a loose itinerary in mind when you plan a road trip. Although planning and booking things in advance is helpful, you might change your mind once you’re actually there. Booking flexible attraction tickets gives you the option of canceling your tickets or rescheduling them without losing money. This is a great option if you and your buddies are more on the spontaneous side. Have some fun and be flexible with your plans.

Book last minute experiences on Headout , your one-stop digital marketplace for tours, activties and experiences across 100+ cities around the globe.

#17 Snap pictures of informative signs when you enter a city/town and keep them handy

Just like how you might take pictures of where your car is parked in a massive parking lot, you probably want to take pictures of important signs on your road trip. Keep these pictures in handy in case you get lost and need to retrace your path. It’s also a good idea to keep these pictures in case of any other emergency that pops up when you’re on the road in unfamiliar areas.

#18 Download a handy chunk of road trip friendly apps

Nowadays there are apps for pretty much everything. To find a toilet, to find the closest gas station, to chart your road trip itinerary and even to find the nearest parking. Before setting off on a road trip, make sure to download the few recommended road trip apps to help make your trip hassle-free!

#19 Stock up on emergency essentials (more than one of each)

Include emergency essentials on your road trip packing list. You always need to be prepared in case of accidents and emergencies, especially if you’re in for a long drive and help is far off. Some important things that need to be packed include a first-aid kit, road safety kit, car tools, spare tires and other car parts, a flashlight, blankets, and water.

#20 Travel insurance + Car insurance are an absolute must

There’s a reason why accidents are called that - because you never know when they can happen. Make sure you have car insurance and travel insurance and keep a copy or two of them in the car. You want to be prepared for anything when you’re on a road trip, especially when there are other people in the car with you. Insurance is a must when you’re heading out on a road trip..

#21 Know the road rules of the country

Get yourself familiar with the road rules of the place you’re going to visit. Sometimes each state has its own travel rules for the road. Do a bit of research and find tips for travelers from official travel and tourism websites. Whether it’s Europe, the United States, Australia, or Asia, you can find important information about road rules on their government or tourism sites. This little extra step can help reduce any tension when you’re driving and prepare you for the unexpected.

#22 Carry a foldable chair and portable picnic set

One of the most exciting parts of a road trip is finding beautiful spots along the way where you can enjoy the view, take some cool pictures, or better - have a picnic! Carry a few foldable chairs and a portable picnic set with you so you can have an impromptu picnic anywhere, anytime. Light food and beverages are perfect for a picnic, like sandwiches, juice boxes, chips, and whatever else you fancy. Having a small picnic in the middle of your road trip also gives you a chance to unwind and enjoy nature before getting back on the road.

#23 Sunscreens for the windows are a blessing during afternoons

When you crank the air conditioner up, it can slow down your car or burn up fuel much faster. but when you roll the windows down, it can get loud with harsh winds. plus, the car usually gets quite heated up during noon, making it uncomfortable for passengers inside. a bunch of hot, sweaty, irritable people stuck next to each other for a long time inside a car can make things very uncomfortable. invest in sunscreens for the car windows so that even if you’re driving when the sun is at its peak, you can still have a pleasant drive., #24 cover distances during daylight, the best time to start your road trip is at 4 or 5 am in the morning, just before the sun rises. this way you get to beat the morning traffic and be out of the city in time to catch some sensational views of the sunrise. plus, without regular commuters on the road, your journey becomes less hectic and more enjoyable without being stuck in those annoying traffic jams. after all, you don’t want to start off your road trip in a bad mood. leaving early also helps you cover the majority of your distance during daylight when it's the safest to drive., #25 don’t use cruise control at night, as relaxing as it is to put the car on cruise control, kick back, and enjoy the ride, you don’t want to do this after the sunsets. using cruise control at night can be dangerous because it’s harder to see things at night and your reflexes need to be on high alert. the nighttime is usually when truck drivers tend to become more drowsy and little animals tend to set out on adventures, often ending up on roads. so stay off cruise control at night and be ready for anything unexpected..

#26 Keep a close watch on the weather forecast and change plans accordingly

Weather can be so unpredictable sometimes. you most certainly should check the weather forecast while planning the trip to see what clothes to carry, what activities to plan, and so on. but, as accurate as weather forecasts are, there are times when the weather changes unpredictably. keep a close watch on the forecast every day of your trip, especially when you’re planning to cover long distances. have a rough backup plan in mind, in case mother nature decides to throw some weather hazards your way., #27 kit your car out and carry spare parts, even though vehicles are made of a gazillion different parts, sometimes even if one of those parts stops working, you’re going to have trouble. there are some essential parts to a car where it helps to have a spare, so you don’t end up having to ditch your car in the middle of nowhere. spare tires, car battery, water pump, jumper cables, and a timing belt. if you want to keep even more items handy, that’s perfectly alright, but you should at least have these few essentials just in case there’s a breakdown on your road trip..

Lakshmi Menon

Born to parents bit by the wander bug, Lakshmi calls her love for travel "hereditary and habitual". Perpetually ensconced with a book in her hand and a mug of coffee in the other, she has been to over 15 countries in her 23 years of existence and is currently saving miles and money for her solo trip to Iceland. Always hustling towards the least trodden path, she has encountered some wonderful people during her escapades and if you ever meet her, she won't stop gushing about them.

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89 Road Trip Packing List Essentials for Hitting the Road

This post may contain affiliate links.

Long stretches of open highway, a sense of total freedom, good tunes, an epic adventure at your fingertips… the road trip is a classic travel experience for good reason! In this post, you’ll find all the essential items for your road trip packing list to help you plan your trip.

Written in partnership with Toyota

Michael and I have been taking road trips together for nearly a decade—from weekend jaunts to a year-long exploration of North America—so we’ve had thousands of miles to dial in our road trip essentials. 

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If you’re feeling the itch to hit the road, this post is for you! We’re sharing our complete road trip packing list with everything you need for a comfortable, fun, and safe road trip. A little planning and preparation go a long way so that once you start cruising down the highway, all you have to do is let the adventure unfold.

Before you go…

Bring your vehicle to a mechanic for a pre-trip inspection .

If your vehicle has given you, shall we say, “cause for concern” in the past, then it might be worth bringing it to a mechanic for a pre-trip check before embarking on an extended road trip. 

We often bring our vehicles in to our local Les Schwab Tire Center before a big trip to have them check the state of our brake pads. This is offered as a free service and most mechanics will offer something similar. 

Quick Home Maintenance Check: 

• How do the treads on the tires look? 
• Are your tires at the proper pressure? 
• When will you need another oil change?
• Is the windshield wiper fluid topped off?

Clean your car

The cheapest and easiest way to improve the quality of your road trip is to start with a clean car. We’re not kidding, it makes a huge difference! 

Remove all the extra clutter, random receipts, old coffee cups, etc. Vacuum out the interior, Armor-All the plastic surfaces, and clean your windows with vinegar.

It’s easier to try to stay clean and organized if your car starts out that way.

Vehicle essentials

These are the basic items you should keep in your car (regardless of whether or not you’re road-tripping!) 

• License, registration, and insurance cards: Keep these together in an easily accessible place.
• Spare tire + tools: In addition to the tire, you’ll need a jack and a lug wrench. These are usually stored underneath the spare, but it wouldn’t hurt to double-check that they’re still there. Take five minutes to brush up on how to change a spare tire , too! 
• Jumper cables: Forgot to turn off your lights before heading out to explore, and returned to a dead battery? Jumper cables to the rescue! If you’re going to be traveling on lesser-used roads, you might want to consider a jump start battery booster so you don’t have to wait for a friendly traveler to stop to help you.
• Tire pressure gauge: Many cars will have internal pressure monitoring systems, but having a manual tire pressure gauge is still nice so you can quickly and accurately check each tire. 
• 12v tire pump: If you discover a slow leak in a tire, a 12v tire pump can fill the tire back up until you can resolve the problem. 
• Tire patch kit: You can pick up a tire patch kit at any auto store or gas station. If you get a puncture in the middle of your tread (not near the sidewall) you can usually plug the hole yourself using a patch kit. 
• Flashlight or headlamp: If you have car issues after dark, a flashlight or headlamp will help you see what you’re doing as you troubleshoot.
• Windshield sunshade: A sunshade makes a huge difference in keeping the interior of your car cooler while it’s parked.
• AAA membership: Hopefully you won’t have to use it, but the peace of mind that a AAA membership is absolutely invaluable. Unlock your car, jump your battery, or arrange a tow. As people whose campervan stopped running while parked on a desolate forest service road in Wyoming, we really can’t imagine road tripping without it.
• Fix’d device: This is an optional device that can be really helpful in diagnosing potential issues. This plugs into your car’s OBD-II port , and if the check engine light goes on, it will run and diagnose the code for you so you know what you’re dealing with (or know if you have to get to a mechanic pronto ).

In the glove box

• Napkins: Invaluable for soaking up spills, wiping sticky hands, and any number of minor cleaning tasks.
• Extra TP (store in a ziplock bag): Just in case the one bathroom in a 50 mile radius is out of stock!
• Hand sanitizer
• Tissues: A small pack of tissues are nice to have in case allergies kick up or you start having deep conversations with your travel partner.
• Quarters: Spare change will come in handy if you encounter toll roads or bridges, old school parking meters, or need to run a load of laundry at a laundromat.

Organization

One of the keys to a comfortable road trip is to keep your vehicle and gear organized and tidy. You don’t want to have wrappers piling up in your drink holders, or have to dig through all your stuff every time you need to find something. You don’t need everything on this list—just pick and choose what will work best for you and the type of things on your road trip packing list.

• Trash bag/bin: A small trash bag or bin in an accessible location will really help in managing wrappers, fruit peels, receipts, etc. We like to use an empty protein powder container because the lid helps prevent spills and smells.
• Over the seat organizer: A small organizer that clips to the back of the front seats is a great way to keep things like maps, headlamps, snacks, kids’ car games, and charging cables organized. If you have kids, this larger organizer has an iPad sleeve.
• Packing cubes: We love packing cubes to keep our clothes organized. Tops go in one cube, shorts or pants in one, socks and underwear in another, and one for miscellaneous items like swimwear and other accessories. We each have our own color to make things easier to find.
• Duffel bag: Large soft-sided duffel bags like the Patagonia Black Hole Duffel or REI Road Tripper Duffel are perfect for storing your packing cubes and bulky items like jackets. These tend to be more space-efficient in your trunk than suitcases since they don’t have a rigid shape.
• Storage bins/action packers: Action packers are great for storing camping equipment, extra snacks, shoes, and other gear.
• Roof cargo box: Very optional, but we are big fans of storing as much of our gear in a roof cargo box as possible, especially items we won’t use daily. This helps free up room for backseat passengers and helps open up space in the car, making it feel a little less like driving a mobile storage unit.
• Day pack: Whether you plan on hiking or are sticking to urban adventures, a comfortable day pack is essential for carrying extra snacks, water bottles, layers, maps or guide books, etc.
• Laundry bag: Having a separate laundry bag means your clean clothes stay fresh in your duffel, and when you’re ready to do laundry, all you have to do is haul the bag in—no more sorting through all your clothes trying to figure out what is clean and what isn’t.
• Reusable grocery bag: Stash a few of these in your glove box or over-the-seat organizer for stops at the grocery store during your trip.

Navigation and electronics

We’ve lumped these categories into one since so much navigation is done electronically. However, cell service isn’t guaranteed in many rural areas of the US, so paper and offline navigation are still a road trip essential.

• Road atlas or paper maps: In case you find yourself turned around in an area without service, you should always be prepared with paper maps. We like the Benchmark Maps Road Atlases and have one for the states we frequently road trip through. Alternatively, you can pick up paper maps for free at AAA locations if you’re a member!
• Offline maps: Maps.me is an awesome offline map that is perfect for creating routes and turn-by-turn driving directions on the fly, even if you’re completely out of service. Download the area maps ahead of time and you’ll be able to access everything—including gas stations, public restrooms, hospitals, points of interest, etc. Before your trip, you can bookmark all your stops or things you’re interested in and create “Lists” so you can pull them up on the road.
• Hands-free phone mount: One of the best car accessories we have ever purchased is a hands-free phone mount . No more interpretive re-telling of the directions from the passenger to the driver. Just plug in the directions, mount the phone in your field of view, and you’re golden. 
• USB Cords: We like to have dedicated USB cords that we leave in our vehicle. This way, we’re not shuttling them in and out and potentially forgetting to bring them.
• Small inverter: A 12v to 120v inverter can plug directly into a cigarette lighter and charge AC items like laptops and camera battery chargers. We’ve used this one for over six years of road trips!
• GasBuddy : We use this app to find gas stations—it has user-aggregated price data, too, so we can save money by price comparing nearby stations.
• Maps.me : As mentioned above, this is our favorite offline map app for driving directions.
• Alltrails : Our favorite app for finding hiking trails. Sort by length, elevation gain, and difficulty.
• The Dyrt : A great app for finding campgrounds (complete with photos, reviews, and amenities). The PRO version allows you to access everything offline, has public land map layers, and includes a great trip planner tool.
• Seek by iNaturalist : Identify plants, animals, and birds, and tracks by using your camera or uploading a photo—the app will identify it for you!
• Merlin Bird ID : Enter bird features like size, color, and environment to generate a list of potential birds—includes sound recordings and photos for easier identification.
• The Outbound : A great app for finding all kinds of outdoor adventures.
• Nativelands : Identify the native tribes that traditionally lived in the area you’re traveling in.
• Sky Guide : Dynamic constellation, planet, and star identification.
• PlugShare : If you’re driving a plug-in hybrid like the Toyota Prius Prime , or an all-electric vehicle, this app will be invaluable in locating charge stations along your route. 

Entertainment

Let’s face it: long stretches of driving can get monotonous, no matter how dynamic the scenery is. This is where some in-car entertainment becomes important. 

Download everything to your phone ahead of time. It’s not a matter of if you’ll lose service, it’s when…   And it is never at a convenient time. Once everything is downloaded, you’ll be able to access it any time.

We loved the CarPlay integration that the Toyota Prius Prime came with—it made it so easy to navigate between our music and podcasts while on the road!

• Audiobooks: Use Libby to download audiobooks from your public library for free, or use Everand which gives you an unlimited reading subscription for less than $10 a month ( try it for 2 months free! )
• Spotify playlists: There are thousands of playlists to choose from, but we think the best place to start is with the “Soundtrack My Ride” feature which will build a custom playlist for you.
• Podcasts: We love bite-sized podcast episodes because they give us lots of new topics to talk about, in addition to (usually) learning something new. Here are some great road trip podcast recommendations from Conde Nast Traveler and AFAR .

Comfort essentials for road trips

This is a list of little items we consider to be road trip essentials simply because they make the trip a little more comfortable and enjoyable.

• Snacks and drinks cooler: Keep a small cooler or insulated lunch tote within reach filled with any perishable road trip snacks and cold drinks.
• Coffee mug or tumbler: Make an extra cup of coffee in the morning and save it in an insulated coffee mug or tumbler . This will not only save money, but we bet you can make a much tastier cup of coffee than what you’ll find at a gas station!
• Water bottle: A reusable water bottle is absolutely essential for road trips! It’s so important to stay hydrated when traveling, and if you have water easily within reach, you’re more likely to sip throughout the day. Cycling through bottled water generates so much waste (of resources and your money), so pack along a durable, reusable bottle to fill up.
• Reusable utensils + straw: While we’re talking about reusables, we’d like to suggest throwing in a set of reusable utensils and drinking straws so you can ditch the plastic stuff when you grab takeout or stop at a food truck.
• Blankets/pillows: Catnaps in the passenger seat are so much more comfortable and restful if you have a pillow and a blanket. These are also nice to have to lay out on the grass at a rest stop for some shut-eye.
• Quick-dry towel/Turkish towel: Quick dry towels are a summer road trip necessity! Personally, we love jumping in lakes and rivers and a quick-dry towel is a way better option than regular bath towels. They are less likely to get mildewy and they’ll dry out before your next stop! A Turkish towel is similarly a great item and can double as a picnic blanket, sarong, or shawl.
• Sunglasses: Squinting into the sun as you drive is a recipe for fatigue, headaches, and it’s just plain bad for your eyes. A good pair of sunglasses with UV protection is a must-have for road trips. We love Sunski sunglasses , which come with a great warranty.
• First aid kit: Backroad Ramblers has a great post on putting together your own road trip first aid kit .

Toiletries and personal items

These are the self-care items that are on our road trip checklist to keep us feeling good throughout the trip.

• Sunscreen: While car side windows block UVB rays, they still allow UVA rays through —the ones that cause deep skin damage (but not sunburns), so it’s important to wear full-spectrum sunscreen, particularly on the side of your body next to the window. 
• Lip balm: Prevent chapped lips by using lip balm, preferably one that has some SPF to it.
• Bug spray: You may not need it in the car, but bug spray is nice to have if you’ll be outdoors hiking or hanging out. This is a good travel-sized spray , and they have a DEET-free version as well. 
• Prescription medications and OTC Med Kit: In addition to any prescription medications, put together a small over-the-counter med kit that includes painkillers for headaches and achy joints, Benadryl or Allegra for allergies, Imodium in case your lunch doesn’t sit well, etc.
• Car/Motion Sickness remedies: Either OTC or a non-medication option like ginger chews or those pressure point bands.
• Body wash/soap
• Wet wipes: These will come in handy in case you need a quick “bath” on the road (see the below section on showering during a road trip for more ideas).
• Toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss
• Wrinkle release spray: Your clothes are going to sit folded up in your luggage for days at a time, so having a travel-size wrinkle release spray can be super helpful on a road trip.
• Tide stain pen: Stains happen, and since you won’t be able to immediately throw your clothes into the wash, having a Tide stain remover pen can help prevent the stains from really setting in.
• Scrubba: Alright, this is totally optional, but this portable wash bag could be useful particularly if you’re traveling with kids and you want to be able to wash out stains and dirt from clothes without spending your time at the laundromat.

What to wear on a road trip

The clothing section of your road trip packing list is going to be pretty personalized based on where you’re going, the time of year and expected weather, and your personal style.

The key to packing clothing for a road trip is to balance comfort and versatility based on your planned activities, while keeping in mind the kind of weather you are likely to encounter. 

Try to choose clothes that will serve multiple purposes, for instance, a warm jacket you can wear in the evening at your campsite but will still look good enough to walk around town on a brisk day. A good tip for pants is to choose ones that are good for hiking but that you’d also grab dinner in. prAna has a lot of good options for versatile pants .

Consider packing clothing that have helpful features while traveling such as antimicrobial or quick-drying fabrics, or UPF clothing that offer built-in sun protection.

Basic road trip packing list

• Short sleeve tops or tanks: one per day in the summer, or fewer in cooler temperatures
• Long sleeve tops: one or two in the summer, or more in cooler temperatures
• Pants, leggings, and shorts
• Activewear for hikes and outdoor exploring
• Warm jacket or sweater: extras if it’s going to be particularly cold
• Rain jacket
• Windbreaker or lightweight jacket
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Hiking shoes , if necessary
• Hat (sun hat/warm beanie)
• Activity-specific items (rashguard, water shoes, etc)

Camping basics

If you’ll be camping, there are a few additional things you’ll need to put on your road trip checklist. These are the bare essentials from our weekend camping checklist —we leave some of the “extras” behind knowing that we’re going to pack up and move frequently.

• Sleeping mats
• Sleeping bags
• Camp chairs
• Folding camp table (optional)
• Camp stove and fuel
• Packable camp cookware set
• Spatula / spoon
• Knife and cutting board
• Plates, bowls, and utensils
• Camp coffee maker
• Collapsible dishwashing bucket (optional, depending on campsite selection)
• Sponge and campsuds
• Microfiber towel
• Bin to store kitchen items in

Essential road trip planning tips

Route planning.

One of the allures of road tripping is the freedom that comes with the open road. As soon as you get behind the wheel, you feel like everywhere is within your reach and you’re in a real-life “choose your own adventure” story. And while that feeling of freedom is real, it truly is a good idea to spend some time planning out an itinerary (however loose or detailed) before you leave.

At a minimum, it means that your co-pilot will have to spend less time looking up what to do and where to go on the fly, and at best it means you won’t have that post-trip regret of finding out you drove past the best waterfall in the state and you didn’t even know it.

We like to take a “planned spontaneity” philosophy when it comes to planning a road trip. After deciding on how long our road trip will be and choosing a general area for the trip, we start looking into the attractions and activities that we’d be interested in and start saving them to our Map.me bookmarks. Then, we can pull up the map that has all the points on it and see what our basic driving route might be, eliminating any real outlier stops.

From there, we’ll spend a little more time thinking about how long we want to drive per day and the time needed to explore different locations. This is how we determine where we plan to sleep each night, and book campsites or hotels/Airbnbs. 

We might add coffee shops or restaurants we want to check out, or do a little more research into different points of interest once we have a more solid route planned.

That’s usually it. What we end up with is a rough timeline so we don’t get behind, and a lot of ideas to choose from when we’re on the road depending on how we’re feeling that day.

We like to budget extra time instead of planning down to the minute, because the beauty of road trips is that even when you have a plan, you’re likely to stumble on fun, spur of the moment stops and you’ll want to have time to stop for those spontaneous adventures.

Make a budget

To an extent, a road trip can cost as much or as little as you have a budget for. If you make most of your own meals, get savvy at finding free camping , and choose free or inexpensive activities, you can really keep the costs of a road trip down. Or, you can book nights at Airbnbs, eat at local restaurants, and splurge on activities if it’s in your budget! We personally do a blend of both on most of our trips.

While you’re planning your trip, keep a total budget in mind, and then allocate it into different categories based on your priorities. Eating great food might be more important than where you lay your head at night, or perhaps you want to be able to book a fun adventure tour and are happy cooking at your campsite most nights.

Where to sleep

You have a few options for overnight accommodation on your road trip. You can camp, stay at Airbnbs, hotels, or hostels, or stay with friends or family if they are along your route and up to hosting you.

During busy travel periods or in popular destinations, you’ll probably want to book everything ahead of time. It sounds free and romantic to go where the wind blows and decide where you want to stay on the fly, but we’ve found that it adds unnecessary stress to our trips.

Campgrounds in particular are important to book in advance because they have limited space and in many cases, if it’s full when you get there there may not be a lot of other camping options nearby.

What to eat

Nothing ruins a road trip quite like a hangry passenger—or worse yet, a hangry driver! Failure to make plans for what and where you’re going to eat means you’re already halfway to Crankytown, so be sure to plan ahead and pack ALL THE SNACKS.

You can opt to eat out for all your meals and not have to worry about cooking at all, in which case, you may want to spend some time looking up interesting restaurants or food trucks along your route so you already have some to choose from when you roll into towns. If you’re camping or staying at Airbnbs or hostels with kitchens, you can make your own meals or pack to-go lunches.

Pack a small cooler or insulated tote with things like fresh veggies and hummus, cheese, sandwich supplies, and cold drinks like sparkling water, iced coffee, or kombucha so they are easy to access during the day.

Stash snacks like peanut butter-filled pretzels, nuts and trail mix , dried fruit, jerky , granola bars , and other non-perishable road trip snacks in your center console or in a bag so there’s always something ready when you start to feel hungry.

If you’re planning on making some of your own meals, it’s a good idea to keep things pretty simple so you can spend more time exploring and less time cooking. Here are some of our favorite road trip meals:

• Overnight oats with a bit of maple syrup and chopped fruit and nuts
• Made-ahead breakfast burritos warmed up on the camp stove
• Granola, milk, and fresh fruit
• Yogurt with berries and granola
• “Charcuterie spread” of sliced cheese and salami, crackers or bread, olive packets , dried fruit, and nuts
• Sliced apple, almond butter, and honey sandwiches
• Avocado, tomato, and hummus sandwiches (perfect with some everything bagel seasoning!)
• Chicken or chickpea salad—make at home and store in your cooler. Serve in wraps, sandwiches, or on crackers.
• Chickpea curry with rice or naan—all can be made ahead of time and reheated at the campsite
• Quick stir fry with noodles
• BBQ chicken quesadillas —you could cook and chop the chicken ahead of time for an even faster meal
• Tacos with store-bought salsa and avocado
• Pasta with fresh veggies and chickpeas or chicken sausage
• Here are a bunch more easy camping recipes and one pot meals

How to shower on a road trip

If you’re going to stay in hotels or at Airbnbs every night, you get to skip this section. But if you’re camping during your road trip, here are a few ideas (from most “civilized” to most “dirtbag”) of how to stay clean during your trip:

• Campgrounds you stay at: Check the amenities ahead of time, but many state and national park campgrounds will have shower facilities. Some will be included with your site fee, while others will require you to use quarters or buy shower tokens, so make sure you have some change on hand.
• Gyms/rec centers: If you have a gym membership to a chain with lots of locations, check to see if there are any along your route. The Planet Fitness Black Card Membership is famous among road-trippers because it’s $20 per month and gives you (and a guest) access to all their locations (and there are a TON of them). If you don’t already have a gym membership, many towns have city rec centers or Y’s where you can buy a day pass and take a shower.
• Sun shower: A sunshower is basically a portable water bag with a hose or spout that you can rinse off with. Leave it in the sun for a bit (or add hot water) and it’s an easy, cheap way to enjoy a warm rinse. We have used the Nemo Helio , which has a foot pump to pressurize the water (great if you want to do more than just have a quick rinse), and the Sea to Summit WatercellX , which we use as our extra water storage but also has a shower hose attachment.
• Jump in a lake: But don’t use soap in it! If you’re spending time near lakes or rivers, a swim with a good ole hand scrub is one way to stay feeling clean. Just please don’t use soap in or near any water source. Even biodegradable soaps can pollute waterways since they need microorganisms to break down properly. If you want to use biodegradable soap , lather up and rinse off at least 200 feet away from the water’s edge
• Wet wipes: When all else fails, wipe down with a couple of wet wipes to get the day’s sweat and grime off you before bed.

What are the best road trips in the USA?

Road trips are a quintessential US travel experience and there are SO many amazing routes to explore. Here are some of the best road trip itineraries on our website as well as others that we’ve done or are on our bucket list!

• 7 Wonders of Oregon Road Trip | Fresh Off The Grid
• Wild Wonderful West Virginia Road Trip | Fresh Off The Grid
• Gem Of The West Idaho Road Trip | Fresh Off The Grid
• Ultimate Teton & Yellowstone National Parks Road Trip | Bearfoot Theory
• Olympic National Park Road Trip | Bearfoot Theory
• 10-Day Utah National Parks Road Trip | Bearfoot Theory
• The Best California Road Trips | She Dreams of Alpine
• Northern California Road Trip Itinerary | The Mandagies
• 10-Day American Southwest Road Trips | The Mandagies
• 7-Day Glacier National Park Road Trip | The Mandagies
• Blue Ridge Mountains Road Trip | AFAR

Made possible by Toyota

We recently had the opportunity to take a Toyota Prius Prime on an epic Oregon road trip . We loved that it’s a plug-in hybrid, so we could charge at any number of charge stations along the way, but since it still has a fuel-efficient gas engine, we never had to worry about range. And, its large cargo space meant that we had plenty of room to pack all of our road trip essentials! Learn more about the Toyota Prius Prime here .

Megan & Michael are the creators of Fresh Off The Grid, a blog dedicated to helping you fuel your adventures by sharing camp cooking recipes, backpacking meals, and outdoor travel guides. Their recipes and outdoor cooking expertise have been featured in Backpacker Magazine, Outside, REI Co-Op Journal, Food & Wine, and New York Times Cooking.

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One Comment

Outstanding information. Thank you for the great tips!

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41 road trip essentials: what you need on your next road trip.

Add these items to your road trip packing list to help you travel more comfortably.

Road Trip Essentials

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A road trip is a great way to see the country. Consider stocking up on these accessories before you go.

If you're planning a road trip, you're going to have a lot of work to do before you pack the car and head out of town. You'll need to map out a general itinerary, plan your overnight stops and create a list of must-see sights along the way. And don't forget about all the stuff you need to pack to ensure your family is safe, comfortable and entertained.

While you don't necessarily need a lot of things to make a road trip a success, U.S. News searched far and wide to find the best gadgets and gear that will make your time in the car the highlight of your trip. These are all items you'll want to consider adding to your road trip packing list.

As you pack your bags and get ready for an epic road trip, here are a few last-minute road trip essentials you might want to add to your arsenal, organized by category.

Personal care and hygiene

Entertainment, comfort and convenience.

Keeping a reliable flashlight stored in your car is a good rule of thumb for all drivers heading out on a road trip. In roadside emergencies, the Anker Rechargeable Bolder LC90 LED Flashlight can illuminate a distance of nearly 1,000 feet with a battery life of up to six hours. Its durable design makes it ideal for use in inclement weather, and its five settings include an SOS signal and a strobe light. Meanwhile, the Black Diamond Spot 400 Headlamp – which features a 400-lumen beam and red LED night vision – is ideal for when you find yourself changing a tire in the middle of the night. Both products earn rave reviews from consumers for their powerful light.

Portable power bank

Goal Zero's Sherpa 100AC power bank is a portable power bank you can use to recharge tablets, phones, cameras and laptops on the go. It features two USB ports, plus four cables are included and it's lightweight at just 2 pounds. Recent customers loved the power bank's versatility, but recommend charging it every two to three days for the best results.

Jumper cables

Jumper cables from AUTOGEN can easily fit in your trunk and could save the day if your battery dies and you're unable to start your car while out on the road. Many travelers also say you can't go wrong with these heavy-duty cables from Energizer. These 25-foot-long cables are perfect for any car type and come with a travel bag for easy storage – they're a must for any road trip packing list.

Portable tire inflator

A portable tire inflator can be a lifesaver if you find your tires have a slow leak during your trip. The AstroAl Air Compressor Tire Inflator is compact, so it won't take up much space among the other gear in your trunk, and it includes an LED flashlight with independent switch control. It is programmed to stop automatically once it hits the preset tire pressure and it comes with a 36-month warranty. Other travelers prefer the ViAir 88P - 00088 Portable Compressor Kit , noting it works well with a wide variety of vehicles. In addition to a 12-foot air hose and 9-foot power cord, the kit comes with alligator clamps that power your air compressor by attaching to your car's battery.

Jump starter

Picture this: You're having the time of your life on your road trip when your car battery dies in the middle of nowhere. Luckily, a high-quality jump starter is all you need to avoid this disastrous scenario. In addition to being water-resistant and compact, the NOCO Boost Plus GB40 comes with a built-in flashlight and a USB port for charging devices like smartphones and tablets. The Hulkman Alpha 85 2000A Jump Starter also comes highly recommended by travelers thanks to its easy-to-use design and powerful battery life (a single charge can hold up to 60 jump starts).

Waking up in the morning to an icy windshield isn't a pretty sight. Prestone AS244 Windshield De-Icer instantly melts ice upon contact, so you don't have to worry about waiting for your car to defrost when you're in a rush. As an added bonus, the can comes with a built-in scraper tool for easy ice removal. Recent customers have called this product a lifesaver during harsh winters.

Bringing a trusty multi-tool on your road trip is a simple way to make sure you're prepared no matter what situation you run into. Leatherman products impress consumers time and time again thanks to the company's high-quality and lightweight multi-tool designs. Customer-favorites include the Leatherman Bond and the Leatherman Wave+ , which offers 18 powerful tools like pliers and wire cutters.

Car charger

Frequent car travelers recommend always staying connected with the TECKNET USB Car Charger . Featuring four fast-charging ports, this adaptor can be used to charge smartphones, tablets and more. If you're hitting the road with the whole family in tow, or you simply want to charge more than one device at a time, travelers say this powerful charging adaptor is a must-buy. Pair it with an extra-long charging cable that can easily reach everyone in the back seat.

Dashboard phone mount

Keep your eyes on the road by installing a dashboard phone mount before your journey starts. The iOttie Easy One Touch 5 comes with a telescopic arm, a magnetic cord organizer and a strong-hold suction cup. Plus, its easy one-touch lock-and-release mechanism (a feature that is much appreciated among recent customers) makes taking your phone on and off the holder a breeze. If you don't like the rigidity of traditional dashboard phone mounts, consider choosing a phone mount with a flexible arm instead.

Document holder

Whenever you're hitting the open road, you want to prepare for the worst. In the event that you get into a car accident or are pulled over by the police, having easy access to your car's registration, insurance information and owner's manual is crucial. Recent travelers say that this Samsill car registration holder is great for keeping all your important documents organized.

Roadside emergency kit

To give yourself peace of mind while you're on the road, travelers recommend this STDY car roadside emergency kit from Amazon. Equipped with a tire pressure gauge, a utility knife, safety gloves, cable ties, a tow rope, tire repair tools, a raincoat and more, this compact kit has everything you need when life throws you an unexpected curve ball.

Extra-large body wipes

Extra-large body wipes from Busy Co make it easy to wash up when you can't take a shower. Cloths are suitable for dry, oily and combination skin types, and address a variety of skincare needs, including clarifying, toning, soothing and nourishing. Recent customers appreciated the large size of the wipes and said using them made them feel refreshed while traveling.

Lysol wipes

Disinfecting Lysol wipes are a must-have on your travel packing list. These cleaning wipes kill 99.9% of viruses and bacteria, so you can feel protected while on the road.

Disposable toilet seat covers

Disposable toilet seat covers from Amazon will help you avoid germs and stay clean when you stop for restroom breaks at gas stations, port-a-potties and campgrounds.

First-aid kit

A comprehensive first-aid kit can't be overlooked when packing up the car for your next road trip. Recent customers say this 298-piece kit from Amazon will get you the most bang for your buck, with bandages, antibiotic ointment, gauze, Band-Aids, pain reliever and much more. Although this will arm you with the basics of what you may need in a medical emergency, it's always a good idea to personalize your kit according to your needs.

Nausea Relief

Long hours in the car might sound daunting to anyone prone to motion sickness. In those cases, having preventative nausea medicine like Dramamine can be a lifesaver. If you prefer a drug-free alternative, Sea-Bands are anti-nausea wristbands that use acupuncture as a natural remedy to reduce motion sickness. Travelers say these bands are highly effective at reducing nausea.

Hand sanitizer

From gas pumps to ATMs, you never know what germs you may encounter on a road trip. Protect yourself against viruses like the cold and flu by adding a travel-size hand sanitizer to your road trip packing list and keeping it in the car during your trip.

If you'll be spending long hours in the car, it's important to remember to wear sunscreen. Sun Bum's SPF 50 Sunscreen Spray is broad spectrum, moisturizing and water-resistant for up to 80 minutes. And if you'll be heading for the ocean on your trip, make sure you pack a reef-safe sunscreen like this one from Reef Repair to protect marine life and coral reefs from harmful chemicals. Although some customers reported a white cast upon application (due to the zinc oxide), many reviewers thought the trade-off was worth it to maintain healthy ocean environments.

Toiletry bag

This chic Sonia Kashuk Weekender Makeup Bag features two zipper compartments, a center organizer and carrying handles that make it perfect for transport. Customers particularly love that the bag is compact without sacrificing storage space. For durable, leak-proof travel bottles, check out this Getaway Travel Kit from Ban.do . It comes with four pearlescent bottles, two jars, a spatula, a funnel and a zippered pouch for storage. Plus, it includes a fun set of sticker labels so you can organize your toiletries in style.

[Read:  The Top Travel Toiletry Bags .]

Sitting in the car for hours can be painfully boring at times, but there are plenty of ways you can enjoy your time while road tripping. With the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite , you have access to thousands of books at your fingertips. The device boasts up to 10 weeks of battery life, adjustable warm light and a glare-free display, which recent reviewers said made marathon reading sessions a breeze. Meanwhile, kids can enjoy the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Kids , which offers a special font for children with dyslexia and comes with a two-year warranty.

Carefully curated Spotify playlist

Whether you prefer jamming out to tunes or listening to thought-provoking podcasts, having a Spotify playlist ready to go before you get on the road is a must. Take some time before your trip to curate a playlist or two so you can keep your eyes on the road and your hands off your phone while road tripping.

Audible subscription

Long drives call for catching up on all those books you've been saying you were going to read this year. With an Audible subscription, you can make the most out of traffic jams by enjoying some words by your favorite authors.

Choose a reliable duffel bag like the Eagle Creek Migrate Duffel for your next road trip. This bag is water-resistant, strength-bearing and perfect for when you need your luggage to fit in a small space. It also comes with lockable zippers and can be worn as a backpack or carried as a tote, a top feature according to recent reviewers. And if you're planning on hiking during your trip, travelers say the Daylite Duffel 30 from Osprey can fit everything you need with room to spare. This bag can be worn comfortably all day long and comes with a mesh water bottle pocket and functional harness straps.

[Read: The Top Rolling Duffel Bags .]

This YETI Hopper Soft Sided Backpack Cooler makes it easy to bring drinks anywhere without worrying about leaks. The cooler, which comes with a dryhide shell and a magnetic closure, can hold up to 18 cans (or 26 pounds of ice), and comes highly recommended by travelers thanks to its durable design. It's ideal for road trippers who plan to get out and explore, and need to stay hydrated or keep food fresh.

Rooftop Cargo Carrier

Save some space inside your vehicle by opting for a car roof cargo carrier. With an anti-slip mat and reinforced adjustable straps, the waterproof FIVKLEMNZ 15 Cubic Car Roof Bag Cargo Carrier from Amazon is suitable for any car type. Recent customers say that they had no problem getting it to stay in place even on high-speed roads.

Car organizer

A car seatback organizer lets you arrange road trip essentials on the back of the driver's or passenger's side seat, where they're within reach of small hands. Many buyers said this seatback organizer from Amazon.com took some of the stress out of traveling with kids, thanks to its multipurpose storage compartments, including a place for a tablet and plenty of other spots to store key items for your trip. You can also maximize your space by stashing your essentials in a trunk organizer. This one from Drive Auto comes with multiple storage compartments, waterproof lining and tie-down straps to keep items in place while you're driving.

Car trash can

There's no doubt about it – road trips can generate a lot of trash. Keep your car clean on your next adventure with this Hotor car trash can from Amazon. Complete with an adjustable strap, mesh side panels for storage and a leak-proof interior lining, this useful accessory comes highly recommended by travelers who find themselves frequently on the road.

Reusable bags

Whether you're stopping for snacks at a gas station or running into the grocery store for those last-minute essentials, a reusable bag is an easy way to reduce your plastic consumption. Recent reviewers said these versatile and water-resistant reusable bags can even be used as laundry bags, garbage bags or beach bags in a pinch.

Electric car blankets

Electric car blankets allow you to stay warm on the road no matter the temperature outside. This Stalwart electric car blanket takes up very little space, is surprisingly lightweight and plugs into any vehicle with a 96-inch-long cord. While some travelers noted that this blanket alone won't be enough to keep you warm in extremely cold weather, many say it was a welcome addition nonetheless.

SleepPhones soft headband headphones let you enjoy the open road while listening to music, audiobooks, meditation, white noise or talk radio. These headphones are expertly padded, which reviewers say makes them more comfortable for long-term wear than earbuds. You can buy the classic version or a wireless version at SleepPhones.com.

Travel pillow

Pick up an ergonomic travel pillow from Cabeau if you need extra neck and shoulder support when you ride in the passenger seat. The pillow features supportive memory foam, a front clasp to ensure it stays put and a removable cover that you can wash. Recent customers also loved that the pillow comes with straps that can be attached to any headrest, making sure you don't fall forward while catching some shut-eye. For kids, this Cloudz plush animal neck pillow comes in a variety of colorful animal options, such as a unicorn, a ladybug, a dinosaur and more.

[Read:  The Top Travel Neck Pillows .]

A battery-operated mini fan from SkyGenius can help you stay cool and comfortable. This fan comes with a rechargeable and replaceable battery, and is ideal for the car and for camping. For even more cooling capacity, opt for a fan with dual heads like the XOOL Electric Car Fan from Amazon. Both mini fans earn glowing reviews from travelers thanks to their powerful airflow capabilities.

Shield your eyes from the sun by picking up a good pair of sunglasses before your trip. Choose sunglasses that protect against the sun's UVA and UVB rays, and are polarized to block glare. Travelers love that these Ray-Ban Aviator Classic sunglasses come in a variety of tints and can even be customized to fit your needs. For a more budget-friendly option, check out these SUNGAIT Ultra Lightweight Rectangular Polarized Sunglasses from Amazon, which recent customers say are very comfortable and perfect for road tripping.

Window shade

The sun beating down on your car all day can heat it up quickly. To keep your car cool, travelers recommend the EcoNour Car Windshield Sun Shade , which protects your vehicle from UV rays and helps maintain your car's interior temperature at a comfortable level. Pair it with these car window shades to protect your backseat drivers from UVA and UVB rays while you're on the road. The shades come in two different sizes and transparency levels, and previous buyers say they are very easy to install.

Travel towel

A travel towel is one of the most versatile accessories you can bring on a road trip. Whether you are cleaning up a spill or want to go for an impromptu beach day, having a spare towel on hand is always a good idea. This odor-resistant and quick-drying 4Monster travel towel from Amazon comes in several sizes and includes a compact EVA box, which recent reviewers say makes it perfect for travel.

Reusable water bottles

Skip the plastic bottles and opt for a high-quality reusable water bottle on your next trip. This 40-ounce bottle from Hydro Flask keeps drinks hot for 12 hours and cold for a full day. It also comes with a lid with a built-in straw, which consumers say makes it convenient for driving. For kids, a durable water bottle like this 12-ounce YETI rambler fits the bill – its stainless steel bottle is dishwasher safe and shatter-resistant, a feature that parents love.

Cubcoats are two-in-one stuffed animals that transform into hoodies. Your child's furry friend (think bunnies, sloths and puppies) doubles as a soft, zip-up sweatshirt, and you get to save some space in your suitcase.

Inflatable car booster seat

If you're flying to another destination to pick up a rental car for your road trip, consider bringing inflatable car booster seats along. This BubbleBum backless inflatable booster is suitable for kids 4 to 11, and comes with a seat belt positioning clip for optimal comfort and safety. Recent buyers said it was portable and extremely easy to use.

Kids travel journal

A kids travel journal makes it easy for your child to document their road trip and all the fun things they see and do. This one from Peter Pauper Press includes world maps, puzzles, fun facts and more, and many parents said it made their kids' time in the car fly by.

Activity books

A family road trip means long hours in the car, and bored children are every parent's worst nightmare. Activity books can keep your kids occupied for long periods of time while you catch up on some much-needed quiet time.

Backseat travel tray for kids

If your co-pilot is constantly turning around to pick up toys or pass out snacks, a backseat travel tray is in order. The LUSSO Gear Kids Travel Tray comes with a safety strap that can be secured to any car seat, and includes a dry erase board table, a cup holder, a storage compartment for toys and a no-drop tablet viewing stand. Reviewers loved the tray's whiteboard area and said it was a great way to keep kids entertained on long car rides.

Shop in bulk

Check out Boxed.com for specially curated bulk items that are perfect for road trips and other types of travel. From sunscreen, hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes to Fruit Roll-Ups and snack-size packs of Pringles, Boxed.com is a convenient site to order bulk hygiene and snack items in one place.

Bring spare cash

Debit cards, credit cards and mobile phone payments may be the way of the world nowadays, but you may still run into a few places on your journey that are cash-only (for example, some national and state park entrance fees must be paid in cash). Be on the safe side by keeping some spare cash on hand in case of emergencies.

Save on gas

It's no secret that sky-high gas prices can put a damper on your vacation. Save some money on fuel by using apps like GasBuddy , which will show you the cheapest gas prices in your area. Go the extra mile by signing up for a gas rewards credit card to get the most bang for your buck.

You might also be interested in:

• The Top Travel Backpacks
• The Top Sleeping Bags
• The Top East Coast Road Trips
• The Best Travel Insurance Companies
• The Best Cheap Travel Insurance Companies

Tags: Travel , Vacations , cars , Road Trips , Travel Gear

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65 Must-Have Road Trip Essentials: Your Complete Packing Checklist

Get organized with our road trip essentials checklist including gear recommendations and a printable packing list to ensure a smooth journey.

Find this post helpful? Learn how you can support Bearfoot Theory’s work here . You can also shop for gear through the affiliate links in this blog post where we get a small commission at no cost to you. It helps keep our team running and the lights on. THANK YOU! -Kristen

There is an undeniable magic to a good road trip: the freedom of the open road, the opportunity to visit unparalleled sights, and the unique experiences that you stumble upon along the way. However, creating these unforgettable moments requires effective planning and smart packing of the right road trip essentials.

At Bearfoot Theory, we’ve gone on our fair share of road trips and experimented with a plethora of gear – some items have worked well and others not so much. We know that packing for a road trip can easily turn into a stressful part of your journey if organization isn’t your forte – there’s nothing quite as disheartening as realizing you’ve left something important behind.

In this post, we’re excited to share our top selection of road trip gear that will help you optimize your road adventure to its fullest. You won’t need a tricked-out van or struggle with a daily game of Tetris trying to fit everything into your trunk. Keep scrolling for our road trip packing list that covers the gear essentials for ensuring a safe and amazing time on the road.

Download our PDF road trip packing list

When you join our newsletter, road trip essentials at a glance.

Download a printable version here and subscribe to our newsletter while you’re at it!

Entertainment

Kitchen items, vehicle essentials, clothing, footwear, & accessories, personal care, miscellaneous.

Download a printable version here

Road Trip Navigational Tools

While part of the fun of a good road trip might be getting lost and exploring remote back roads, it is crucial to have reliable navigational tools so you don’t end up utterly lost.

Here are our recommendations for road trip maps and apps:

Paper Map or Atlas

Although we all know Google Maps is essential for directions, I persoanlly like carrying a paper map too. Plus, hopefully some of your itinerary will take you off the grid and out of cell phone service.

For that reason, you’ll want to carry a paper map or road atlas. Paper maps are also better than phone apps for telling the difference between a well-graded gravel road and a gnarly 4×4 road.

My favorite paper maps are the Benchmark Road and Recreation Atlases which also detail public lands, camping areas, National Parks, and more.

Shop Benchmark Road and Recreation Atlases at:

A GPS is handy for navigation when you don’t have cell service. If you don’t want to purchase a GPS, download Google Maps for offline use or use the app maps.me instead. This is a helpful free app that you can use to navigate and find sights and amenities even without cell service.

Just be sure to download the maps.me map for the region you’re going to be traveling in ahead of time so that it will work offline.

Still in the planning phase of your trip? Check out our road trip destination ideas here! And if you’re looking for a car camping checklist, head to our Car Camping Essentials blog post .

Road Trip Apps

Downloading a couple of apps before you head out will make road trip planning easier and will help you find things you’re looking for on the road like campsites, rest stops, amenities, and more.

The Roadtrippers App is a handy one too. It lets you save locations on the go, find destination points along your route, and locate lodging, gas, restaurants, and more.

The iExit App can help you determine the best areas to take a pit stop on major highways while you’re traveling.

Gas Buddy is a helpful road trip app that will help you find the cheapest gas prices so you aren’t wasting money when you fill up.

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Looking for more helpful apps? Check out our post on Must-Have Van Life Apps . Many of them are also great for road trips!

Road Trip Clothing, Footwear, & Accessories

Packing for a road trip means filling your bags with versatile, well-fitting, and durable clothes that allow you to do a little bit of everything.

You’ll want to have clothing, footwear, and accessories that:

While crazy patterns can be fun, I prefer to pack solid prints that will go with everything. That way, you don’t have to really think about packing specific outfits.

Here are a few of my favorite road trip essentials picks for clothing, footwear, and accessories. For more recommendations, check out the links below.

Road Trip Packing Lists

Road trip entertainment packing list.

Road trips are all about having a good time, right? Right. Make the drive fun with the following entertainment essentials. I also recommend keeping your day hiking essentials in your trunk too so you’re always ready for a spur-of-the-moment hike, should you need them.

Music Playlists

What’s a road trip without music? A good playlist will keep your energy up and will help the miles fly by. Load up your phone with plenty of tunes ahead of time in case you’ll be driving through areas with limited service. I’m a HUGE fan of Spotify.

Podcasts & Audiobooks

If music isn’t your thing or you need a break from rockin’ out, download a couple of audiobooks or a bunch of episodes of your favorite podcasts.

For suggestions, check out our favorite outdoor podcasts . The Libby App and Audible are also great resources for downloading audiobooks.

A book or two is always nice to have along on a road trip so you can read in your downtime.

We often like to bring books about the places we’re exploring so we can learn about the area while traveling.

Travel Games

If you’re traveling with kids, games are a great way to keep everyone happy and entertained.

But games aren’t just for kids! Bringing along a deck of cards or your favorite road trip games provides fun for everyone.

A set of headphones or AirPods are nice to bring on a road trip in case you need a little alone time.

Bring a camera to capture the memories on your trip and check out our photography page for tips and tricks for taking great photos.

Not everyone enjoys journaling or sketching, but a notebook is nice to bring along on a road trip for those who want to record their trip.

If you like to journal or make notes about the places you travel to, pack a small weatherproof notebook .

Shop Rite in the Rain Notebook at:

iPad/Laptop

An iPad or laptop is nice to have along for evenings when you just want to Netflix and chill. Download a few movies ahead of time for easy viewing.

Road Trip Snacks & Kitchen Packing List

One of the best parts about a road trip is tasty road trip snacks, wouldn’t you agree? Whether you’re a salty or sweet person, having quick and (mostly) healthy snack options can make or break a long drive.

It’s also a good idea to pack some kitchen and cooking gear even if you’re not camping so you can whip up that impromptu picnic.

Here are our road trip snack and kitchen essentials:

Healthy Snacks

Having healthy snacks easily accessible will stop the hanger from creeping in and help you avoid gas station temptations like chips and candy (no judgment though if you want to indulge!)

Some of our favorite road trip snacks are:

Planning on doing some hiking during your road trip? Don’t forget your favorite hiking snacks (which TBH, I also eat while driving!).

A cooler will keep your fruit, veggies, dips, and other snacks cold so you can eat fresh on the road.

If you’re just packing a few cold drinks and snacks, a small, lightweight cooler like REI’s Cool Haul 24 Soft Cooler is a versatile option.

Shop REI Cool Haul 23 Soft Cooler at:

Reusable Water Bottle

A reusable water bottle is key for staying hydrated and eliminating single-use plastics.

An insulated Hydro Flask will keep your water nice and cold on hot days. I also like their straw lid version which allows you to easily drink one-handed while you drive.

Shop Hydro Flask Insulated Water Bottles at:

Read next: How to Reduce Waste on Road Trips

In addition to saving money and avoiding plastic bottles, having a water jug with you makes for a quick and easy fill-up of your water bottle while on the road and before heading out on a hike. It’s also a smart thing to have in case you break down or run out of gas.

The GSI Outdoors Folding Water Cube holds 15 liters of water and has a convenient tap handle that prevents spilling.

Shop the GSI Water Cube at:

Consider bringing an insulated coffee mug for keeping coffee and tea hot on sunrise drives or making sure your beverage stays cold on hot days.

The Hydro Flask 20 oz Tumbler has a splashproof lid and its tapered design allows it to fit into most cup holders.

Shop the Hydro Flask 20 oz Tumbler at:

Muli Tool/ Swiss Army Knife

A multi-tool or versatile knife like this Swiss Army Camper Knife is always good to have along, whether for slicing apples, cutting rope, or opening that nice bottle of wine.

Shop the Swiss Army Camper Knife at:

Utensil Set

Saying no to single-use plastics is easy when you have a reusable utensil set with you.

This To-Go Ware Bamboo Utensil Set comes in a handy holder and is perfect for on-the-go meals whether you’re road-tripping or not. It comes with a fork, knife, spoon, chopsticks, and a bamboo straw.

Shop the To-Go Ware Bamboo Utensil Set at:

Quick-Dry Towels

A set of small quick-dry towels is a great zero-waste alternative for wiping your hands and cleaning up messes and spills. A roll of paper towels works too.

Shop the REI Quick-Dry Towel Set at:

Reusable Bag

A reusable bag like the REI Stuff Travel Tote will come in handy for those grocery store stops along the way and once you arrive at your destination.

Shop the REI Stuff Travel Tote at:

Read next: Camping instead? Check out our Car Camping Essentials Packing Checklist .

Packing & Organizing Road Trip Essentials

Keep your stuff organized and easy to find with these road trip packing essentials.

Suitcase, Backpack, or Duffel Bag

You likely already have a suitcase, backpack, or duffel bag at home that you can use to pack for your road trip, it doesn’t need to be anything fancy, just something to comfortably hold your clothes and other belongings.

If you don’t own one already, we love the REI Co-op Roadtripper Duffel .

Shop the REI Roadtripper Duffel at:

A day pack for hikes and other outings is always good to bring on a road trip. It doesn’t have to be big, just big enough to hold water, your phone, camera, keys, snacks, and other hiking essentials.

This Osprey Tempest pack has been my go-to for day hikes and adventures for a long time. The Osprey Talon is the men’s version.

Shop the Osprey Tempest Pack at:

Packing Cubes

If you’re like me, your suitcase (or duffel) can be a disaster. I tackle this problem by using packing cubes to keep all of my clothing organized while I’m road-tripping. Underwear in one. Socks in another. Pants. Shirts. Each category of clothing gets its own cube.

Shop REI Packing Cubes at:

Toiletry Bag

Having all your toiletries and smaller essentials in one bag makes it easy to find them when you need them.

This REI Co-op Shower Roll Bag is a favorite that makes it super easy to access all your toiletries in one place.

Shop the REI Shower Roll Bag at:

Road Trip Packing List for Personal Care

Getting out of your normal routine can make it a bit more of a challenge to keep up with personal care, but with these essentials, you’ll find your new road trip routine in no time.

UV rays can come through your windows so bring a tube or two of good mineral-based sunscreen , especially if you’re road-tripping in the summer.

It’s also handy in case you find an exposed viewpoint you want to picnic at or a sunny hike along the way.

Shop Sun Bum Sunscreen at:

Lip balm is always nice to have along in case your lips get extra dry. We prefer lip balm with SPF for sun protection, like this one .

Shop Sun Bum Lip Balm at:

Toothpaste & Toothbrush

Any old toothpaste you have at home will do, but if you want an eco-friendly, travel-size option, Hello toothpaste bites are a great pick.

Shop Hello Toothpaste Bites at:

Bring the toiletries you need from home, like soap or face wash, lotion, shampoo, conditioner, and deodorant.

If you want to save space, try these refillable 2.5 oz  humangear GoToob+ Medium Squeeze Bottles . 

Simply fill them up with your favorite products and pack them in your toiletry bag.

Shop Humangear GoToob+ Bottles at:

Tissues or Toilet Paper

Tissues or a roll of toilet paper are always handy to have in the car on a road trip in case rest stops are under-equipped or you have to pee in the wild.

Just remember to pack out and dispose of your toilet paper in the trash .

Read next: How to Poop in the Woods and Leave No Trace .

You’ll want a way to tame that windswept hair after a long drive, so throw your hairbrush in with your other personal items.

A small, travel-size version like this one is always nice to have for trips.

Shop travel-sized hairbrush at:

Bandanas can be used in many ways and is sure to come in handy, whether as a napkin or as a headband t keep your hair from blowing in the wind when you’ve got the windows down.

The Nomadix Bandana Towel adds even more versatility with its absorbent microsuede material, SPF 50 protection, and anti-odor properties.

Shop the Nomadix Bandana Towel at:

Sometimes it’s nice to freshen up after a long drive, or maybe you’re hiking and camping on your road trip as well. A pack of wipes is always on our road trip packing list so we have the option to clean up a bit in a pinch.

The  Sea to Summit Wilderness Wipes  are our favorite because they’re gentle on the skin and they are compostable (although you still need to dispose of them properly in the trash).

Shop Sea to Summit Wilderness Wipes at:

Vitamin C/Immune Boosting Tablets

We like to pack hydration tablets on any adventure, and if they’re immunity-boosting that’s even better.

These NUUN Immunity Hydration tablets are easy to throw into your bag and pop into your water bottle when you need an extra boost.

Shop Nuun Immunity Hydration Tablets at:

Hand Sanitizer

Hand sanitizer is always good to have readily available, especially these days. We love this all-natural one from Dr. Bronners .

Shop Dr. Bronner’s Hand Sanitizer at:

Advil/Ibuprofen

While you won’t always need something like Advil or Ibuprofin, we like to include it on every road trip packing list since it can be a lifesaver when you get a killer headache and need it.

Read next: Camping Tips for Women: How to Stay Fresh & Clean on the Road

Miscellaneous Road Trip Essentials

These items are necessarily ‘essentials’ but they can make your road trip more comfortable and trouble-free.

I don’t know about you, but I consider a pillow a road trip essential (especially if you’re the passenger)!

Bring a comfy pillow from home or an inflatable pillow if you’re short on space. This NEMO Fillo Pillow is compressible, lightweight, and awesome for camping, backpacking, and napping in the passenger seat.

Shop the NEMO Fillo Pillow at:

Whether you’re reading in bed, going to the bathroom in the middle of the night, or rummaging around your car, you’ll want a headlamp nearby.

The BioLite Headlamp 325 is a go-to piece of nighttime gear that’s ultralight and rechargeable with a USB cable.

Shop the BioLite 325 Headlamp at:

Read next: Looking for more options? Head over to our post on the Best Headlamps for Hiking & Camping

A small blanket is a nice item to have along in case you find the perfect picnic spot or if you just need a little extra warmth at any point on your road trip.

We love Rumpl’s cozy, packable blankets – they won’t take up much space in your car and they come in all kinds of fun colors and patterns.

Shop Rumpl Blankets at:

Quick-dry towel

Be ready for those impromptu swimming hole dips with a lightweight, quick-dry towel like the Nomadix Original Towel . It’s also sand resistant, so if you’re heading to the beach, you don’t have to worry about tracking loads of sand back to your car.

Shop Nomadix Towels at:

First-Aid Kit

Stay safe and be prepared in case of an emergency by having a car first aid kit that has been personalized to your own medical needs.

This  My Medic MyFAK First Aid Kit  is equipped with all kinds of expert-picked first aid and trauma supplies. You can strap it to the back of a headrest for easy storage or just toss it in the back so it’s there when you need it.

We love that it comes with a small tearaway pouch that you can fill up with essentials and take on day hikes, backpacking trips, and other short adventures as well.

It’s more expensive than some other first aid kits, but it also has more supplies and lifesaving equipment than most.

Shop the My Medic MyFAK at:

Phone Charger & USB Cord

You’ll be surprised how quickly your phone battery will drain when using navigation mode and a variety of apps on your phone so it’s good to be able to charge from your vehicle.

If your headlamp and camera come with car-compatible chargers, bring those along too.

GPS Communication Device

I’d argue that the Garmin InReach is a road trip essential if you plan on exploring remote backroads where there is no cell phone service.

If you break down somewhere, the Garmin InReach allows you to send custom text messages no matter where you are or to call for medical help if you are in an emergency situation.

It also has a GPS and some helpful navigation tools for when the navigation apps on your phone won’t load.

My boyfriend Ryan is a Type 1 Diabetic, so when we are in the van or hiking, the Garmin InReach gives me added peace of mind.

Shop the Garmin inReach Mini at:

It’s always handy to have a little bit of cash on hand in case you come across a farmers market or a roadside stall or if you plan on camping at more remote campgrounds, which are typically cash-only.

Vehicle Road Trip Essentials

I won’t go into too much detail in this section because you should really have these basic necessities in your vehicle at all times, whether you’re road-tripping or not.

These include:

• Driver’s License and Registration
• Proof of Insurance and Contact Info
• Your Car Operation Manual
• Spare Tire and Jack
• Roadside Emergency Kit
• Jumper Cables (or a self-starting jumper )

Planning a road trip? Check out our other road trip tips, guides, and essentials:

• Car Camping Packing Checklist
• How to Road Trip with Your Dog
• How to Find Free Campsites
• Campervan Companies for Your US Road Trip
• How to Reduce Waste on Car Camping Trips
• Cheap Road Trip Tips: How to Save Money on the Road

We hope this road trip essentials checklist helps simplify packing for your next epic adventure. Now tell us: where are you headed and what’s on your road trip packing list?

Related Posts

With two decades of hiking and seven years of van life under her belt, Kristen has dedicated her life to helping people experience the positive effects of nature. As a pioneer in the outdoor blogging space, she founded Bearfoot Theory in 2014 and has since authored more than 350 blog posts about outdoor travel, hiking, camping, and van life. Her work has been featured in National Geographic, Outside Magazine, and Backpacker, and when she’s not on the road, she lives in Park City, Utah with her partner Ryan, their son, and two adventure pups.

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16 Comments

Thanks for sharing such a great checklist, I Believe anyone who read this post will be valuable for him for sure. Regards, Team Yugo.pk

I love these lists! As busy as a work week can get, lists like this will help get me outside sooner and more often. I think it would be great if you had a PDF document in the form of a checklist, so I could gather items on the fly and know that I have them ready or loaded into the car/truck/van/camper. Just an idea for this page and great lists.

I like your advice about bringing a spare tire and knowing how to change should be part of the road trip necessities. We won’t know what would happen to us on the road during our trip. One possible problem that might arise would be a flat tire. Having a spare tire will allow us to change it immediately. However, if you’re not capable of doing it on your own you can call someone to assist you. This happened to me a few years ago, good thing I keep the contact details of my roadside assistance service provider which responded to my call immediately. Having this will lessen our worries. You might want to check the blog I’ve read a few weeks ago which provides a list of tips on handling a road trip like a pro. here is the link: https://blog.beepbeep.ph/road-trip-essentials/

I found your article interesting to read the must haves list for the road trip. There are lots of thing which I never remember to bring with me on the road trip. Thank for sharing these checklist.

What a great, comprehensive list. You can also add roadside assistance, it can be a lifesaver when we broke down 9 days into our trip. Loved the roadtrippers app as well. However, we made the rookie mistake of not getting a gas card until halfway through.

What do you normally have in your First-Aid Kit? We are crafting a blog post on our blog and we would definitely mention your website in it.

Its Nice., Thank you for your Necessity guides. These are useful to many.

Great checklist! One addition that we were glad to have on our recent road trip was our checkbook. During the Covid era, we prefer not to handle cash, and some campgrounds didn’t take cards, but writing a check and leaving it in the envelope worked great.

That’s a great tip, thanks Tom!

These modules are all great Lots of information and quite a few things i wouldn’t ever have thought of. However, why do i need to resubscribe every time i want one of your checklists? Seems like there one subscription should “do” and there should be a place i can just download what i want.

After requesting 3 or 4, it now tells me my request is successful but wont sent the mail with the download link.

This is irritating for me and would seem to create lot of duplicate ‘subscriptions” for you.

Hi Linda! Thanks for sharing that with us and our apologies for the inconvenience. There’s not a straightforward solution to this unfortunately as it would require us building out some sort of a membership page where people can login and download all the resources they want. At this time the way we have it set up is the easiest way for our readers to get the specific resources they want delivered to their inbox. It doesn’t result in duplicate subscriptions on our end as your email address is only added to our list once, and I am seeing that the emails for the checklists you’ve requested have been sent. Perhaps check your spam folder or try doing a search for Bearfoot Theory? If you’re still having issues please email me at contact (at) bearfoottheory.com and I’ll help get this resolved personally. Thanks again – we’ll keep your feedback in mind and will see if there’s a way we can improve this process 🙂

thank you, it was very helpful.

A night hike, river tubing, or secret single-track – you never know what adventure may arise while traveling. Don’t miss out because you don’t have the gear. Below are gear staples for us on any adventure:

Rain jacket Daypack Headlamp Water bottle Compass Swimsuit Dry bag (waterproof) Bandana or Buff headwear

Great list – you never know what adventure you could find yourself on!

Thanks for your wonderful work! Fun and practical — a breath of fresh air!

I’d like to add two items that simplify and improve road trips for us:

— A small (maybe 8-inch square) “front-seat bin” for each traveller. Keep your small personal items — sunglasses, reading glasses, snacks, medicines, phone, and so — on in one designated place to ensure that you don’t have to root around to find your things.

— Small waterproof duffle for each person’s shoes — hiking shoes, sandals, comfy campsite shoes. Keeps the car cleaner and, again, ensures that things are “where they’re supposed to be”!

Hi Roy, these are great suggestions! We love tips for staying organized. Thanks for sharing!

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33 Must-Pack Road Trip Essentials

Carol McPherson

Carol McPherson is an Editor for SmarterTravel Media. Follow her on Instagram @cj_mcpherson.

A member of SmarterTravel since 2019, Carol is an eco-friendly travel enthusiast with a passion for exploring historical sites and trying new things (especially new foods!) She’s lived in Boston and Rome, and hopes to call more cities home in the future.

The Handy Item I Always Pack: “Noise cancelling headphones. I can handle a flight of any length if I have my headphones and a good podcast.”

Ultimate Bucket List Experience: "Hiking trip in New Zealand."

Travel Motto: “You never know until you try!”

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: “Aisle for long-haul flights, window for short. Does anyone pick middle?”

Travel Smarter! Sign up for our free newsletter.

The weather is getting warmer, the sun is shining, and people are itching to get out of the house and hit the open road. When you hear the highway calling, the last thing you want is for packing to become a roadblock. Add these 33 road trip essentials to your packing list to ensure a smooth ride.

Some of the links featured in this story are affiliate links, and SmarterTravel may collect a commission (at no cost to you) if you shop through them.

Table of Contents

Pre-Planning Essentials Personal Essentials First Aid Essentials Entertainment Essentials Pit Stop Essentials Miscellaneous

Pre-Planning Essentials

Road Trip Planning Apps

Gone are the days of scribbling your route on paper maps! There are dozens of helpful road trip planning sites and apps that will help you map out your perfect route and find interesting places to stop along the way. Roadtrippers lets you plan your route, add stops, and get fuel estimates and pre-made trip guides for your journey. Google Maps Trip Planner is a twist on their classic functionality, allowing you to add multiple destinations and plot the best route between them all. 

IDs, Credit Cards, and Documents 

Like any trip, it’s important to bring along the right documentation. Your license and credit cards are obvious road trip necessities. Make sure you also pack your car’s owner’s manual, a copy of your up-to-date registration, and any roadside assistance documentation you need. If your trip is taking you to Canada or Mexico, don’t forget your passport as well.

I know cash is dead, but hear me out. This is not for the toll roads that mostly take credit cards now, but it is for the coin-operated laundry you will need to use at some point on the trip. It is for tips to valets who park your car in places like New Orleans where there is no self-park option. It is also for those little businesses that only take cash or local checks.

10 Smart Ways to Carry Money While Traveling

Tire Repair Kit

A flat tire can put you seriously behind schedule. Having a tire repair kit on hand can be the difference between getting back on track and sitting roadside for hours. The three things you need in this situation are a jack, a lug wrench and a spare tire. Oh, and someone who knows how to change a tire when you are away from home and nothing is open. 

Car Emergency Kit

If the dreaded dashboard lights come on halfway through the trip, you may need to wait a while before AAA can come to the rescue. Equipped with items such as reflectors, hand warmers, jumper cables, and snow shovels, these kits have everything you need to fix the issue or wait it out safely until help arrives. 

Full Tank of Gas

Starting off your trip with a full tank of gas can delay the oftentimes frustrating experience of finding a place to pull off the highway for a little longer.

How to Save Money on Gas: 8 Easy Tricks

Personal Essentials

Airplane Pillow 

A long car ride may be an improvement to a cramped flight in the comfort department, but only slightly. Take advantage of the technology created to combat stiff necks on the plane and break out the airplane pillow in the backseat. As an added bonus, many models can deflate and be stored away easier than a standard pillow.

Everything is better with snacks. This is especially true for a multi-hour car ride. Opt for snacks that cause minimal mess and can be eaten without utensils, like granola bars , fruit, or peanut butter sandwiches. 

The Best Snacks for Road Trips

Water Bottle and Refills

Hydration is key when cooped up in any vehicle. Bring along a large pack of water bottles for the group or, for an eco-friendly option, pack reusable water bottles and one large water jug for refills.

Consistent access to showers can be unreliable on a long road trip. Freshen up on-the-go by keeping deodorant on hand. For particularly sweaty days, deodorant wipes like these ones from Lume offer a strong, all-over clean.

As the Blues Brothers made clear, sunglasses are a must-pack for any road trip. Use them to keep the sun out of your eyes when it’s your turn to drive or to block out the light when you’re trying to catch some Z’s in the passenger seat. 

Mints and Gum

Throwing a few packages of mints and gum in the center console is a great way to refresh during a long ride. It’s also a courtesy to any fellow passengers within coffee breath distance after the last Starbucks stop.

A trash can is a small investment you won’t regret after the snack wrappers start piling up. You can purchase trash cans specifically designed to fit in a car and take up minimal space.

Small Cooler

A small cooler can be used to keep water bottles chilled or to pack a light lunch for the road. An easily portable one like this from Coleman can do double duty as a temperature controlled picnic basket for excursions along the way.

10 (and a Half) Tips for Road Trips

First-Aid Essentials

Motion Sickness Medication

While some of us are motion sickness veterans and some don’t know what’s coming until they’re relegated to the backseat for a few hours, it never hurts to have motion sickness medication on hand. If you find full strength Dramamine too powerful, try a children’s dosage . Options like ginger ale , ginger chews , and peppermints are effective natural alternatives for those who only get lightly nauseous. 

Pain Relief Medication

Staying awake and alert while driving for long periods of time would make anyone tense. Having medication like ibuprofen and tylenol on hand can be a life saver.

5 Unforgettable National Park Road Trip Itineraries

First Aid Kit

As much as we all hope otherwise, accidents happen. Don’t get stuck with a mid-trip nose bleed or pinched finger without the proper gear. Certain first aid kits are developed specifically for travel and camping and can take care of bigger accidents, but make sure to have a few everyday bandaids on hand as well. 

Hand Sanitizer and Sanitizing Wipes

Keep it clean with these sanitizing products that can be used to wipe down hands before mealtime or questionable gas station surfaces during a bathroom break.

Entertainment Essentials

Car Charger

Keep your devices alive with a car charger . Make sure you have the correct charger for your phone’s make and model and adapters for anyone else who may want to plug in. 

Portable Charger 

You can use a portable charger in the car or while exploring at stops along the way. Many models offer multi-device charging and aren’t reliant on the car’s USB port location, making it easier to share with friends in the backseat. Make sure your charger is powerful enough to handle the devices you plan on using. 

The unfortunate reality is that not everything can be recharged. Have a few batteries on hand for these devices, especially ones included in your car emergency kit. 

Biolite Charge Series Portable Charger Review

Headphones 

Finding some peace and quiet in a car full of people is no easy feat. Simulate that precious alone time with noise canceling headphones . They can quiet down the buzz of conversation in the small space and diffuse the always heated battle for the AUX cord.

Mobile Hotspot

Passengers will appreciate access to the internet and drivers will appreciate the navigation app not cutting out when they hit a data dead zone. 

Music and Podcasts (Downloaded)

Speaking as someone who forgot to hit download on their Spotify playlist before boarding a four hour flight—you’re going to want to make sure you have some offline entertainment. Make a special road trip mix and download a few episodes of your favorite podcast before you leave. Use a mobile hotspot or connect to hotel WiFi in the evenings to change up the tracks or download new episodes throughout the trip. 

The 10 Best Travel Podcasts

When you’re not in the driver’s seat, use the time to catch up on your reading list .  If reading in the car is a no-go, download audio books on your device to listen to as a group or alone with some wireless earbuds . 

I Spy, punch buggy, the alphabet plate game—there are endless ways to entertain your littlest passengers on a long drive. Brands like Melissa and Doug offer a variety of road trip games in physical form, from printable bingo cards to a flippable version of the license plate game . For an adults-only road trip, try out adult Madlibs or a round of TableTopics.

Pit Stop Essentials

While many destinations are loosening their mask requirements, it’s always good to have a few on hand. You don’t want to get stuck outside an attraction or event because regulations, or personal comfort levels, keep you from entering.

The Right Footwear

If you think footwear is the least of your worries during a trip spent mostly in the car, think again! Pack a comfortable pair of shoes for ride that can double as a light walking shoe for short excursions, like the Mega Z Cloud from Chacos . Pack a sturdier secondary pair, like a sneaker or hiking shoe , for more physically intense activities or stops where open toed shoes are not permitted.

8 Shoes That Feel Like Slippers

If you’re planning on taking a few day trips along your route, you’ll need a daypack to carry all of your essentials. Throw your toiletries and a change of clothes into your pack when stopping at a hotel for the evening and avoid having to to haul your suitcase out of the trunk at every overnight stop. The Flash 22 backpack from REI is the perfect option, with plenty of space and a comfortable and breathable design. 

Specialized Gear

Packing for a road trip involves more than just what you’ll need on the road. Think about what activities you’ll be doing along the way and at your final destination. Are you camping or hiking ? Will you be visiting national parks ? Are you traveling with children? Make a list of the specialized gear you’ll need for these activities, and remember to pack it!

GoPro Camera

Everyone loves an action shot. Get great footage and high resolution photos of your adventures by bringing along a GoPro camera . It’s small and lightweight so it won’t take up a lot of valuable space in the car and it will be easy to bring along with you during your stops as opposed to a larger camera. 

Miscellaneous

Polaroid Camera 

There’s something special about being able to hold a photo in your hand the moment you snap it. A fun addition rather than a necessity, bringing along a cheap polaroid camera lets you gather memories while keeping the phone in your pocket. Polaroids also make a cute personalized stand-in for postcards to send to friends and family back home.

Speaking of postcards, keeping a book of stamps in the glove compartment for such occasions will save you unnecessary trips to the local post office.

Book Your Stay With SmarterTravel Hotels

When you need to escape the car for the evening, find great deals on your hotel stay with SmarterTravel Hotels .

Download a Printable Checklist Here :

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Carrie Honaker contributed to this story.

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7 Road Trip Hacks Every Traveler Should Know

A bumper-to-bumper guide to your next summer adventure.

There's nothing worse than setting off for a road trip and then realizing you've left something at home or discovering that your key fob battery has died while halfway to your destination. To avoid unnecessary pit stops and headaches, check this list of road trip hacks before getting behind the wheel.

Prepare your vehicle for long-distance travel.

According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), most breakdowns can be prevented by having your car serviced before your journey. Head to a mechanic at least a week in advance of your road trip to have the oil and tire pressure checked and ensure that the battery, brakes, and engine are working properly.

While a growing number of new cars come with inflation kits, most still don't have spare tires, including rental cars . If you have a run-flat or doughnut tire, remember that those are intended for short-term use until the flat tire can be fully repaired or replaced. Consider investing in a spare-tire kit, which includes a tire, jack, and lug wrench, for $150 to $300.

You should also consider bringing an extra battery for your key fob. "You'd be surprised at how many car keys die when people are on the road, leaving them locked out of their cars," says an AAA spokesperson.

Before hitting the road, pack an emergency kit that has distilled water, a battery charger, a first-aid kit, jumper cables, and flares or reflectors. Learn how to use the jumper cables (there are YouTube tutorials ) before getting on the road.

Pack strategically.

Packing and repacking your car can be time-consuming. Road trip expert Tamela Rich, the author of three books , advises loading nonessential items first, such as anything you won't need until your reach your final destination, and then putting in the items that you'll rely on throughout the drive, such as a camera or a purse. Finally, you can secure rooftop cargo with a storage box. Packasport makes a variety of sizes and can also customize a hard-shell case for your vehicle.

For multi-city road trips , pack a weekender bag that's separate from your luggage and fill it with daily essentials, such as pajamas and toiletries. "This saves you from dragging bulky luggage in and out of the car every time you check in to a hotel," says Rich.

Use apps to plan your stops.

If you're traveling on a major interstate highway, use the iExit app to get the lowdown on amenities at upcoming exits, including gas stations, grocery stores, hotels, and hospitals, as well as local attractions.

Clean bathrooms definitely make your pit stops more pleasant. For restrooms on your route that you can use without fear, check out diaroogle.com , or the Where is Public Toilet app.

Sort out your devices.

Don't have any place in your car to put your cell phone to view your maps app? Use a binder clip and a rubber band to make your own phone holder that clips onto air vents. Not enough outlets to charge devices for all passengers? Get a multi-outlet adapter, such as the Anker USB C Car Charger .

Bring cash.

Be prepared for unexpected tolls by bringing extra $1 and $5 bills for booths that don't have electronic toll collection, or in case E-ZPass or FasTrak doesn't work on your route. Also, fill old pill bottles with quarters for easy counting at tollbooths or for parking meters. The Parkmobile app , which helps make parking fee payments simpler, is available in over 400 U.S. cities.

Have essentials on hand.

Since dehydration can lead to headaches and crankiness, make sure to have a reusable glass or stainless-steel water bottle for each person in the car that can be refilled along the way. It's also a good idea to pack a bag with wet wipes, paper towels, hand sanitizer, and trash bags to deal with accidents or messes.

Even if you plan to stop for meals, pack a portable cooler with non-messy, healthy snacks such as baby carrots, apples, grapes, boiled eggs, and nuts. The protein and fiber in foods like these help stabilize blood-sugar levels and digestion, which can be thrown off during travel, Rich says.

Take frequent breaks.

Kendra Thornton, president of Royal Travel & Tours travel agency, advises breaking up long car drives by stopping every two to three hours, whether for a meal, to check out an attraction, or at a rest stop to stretch your legs. "When you take frequent breaks, the trip feels like a series of manageable drives instead of one interminable one," she says.

Don't miss out on popular culinary hot spots along your route. TVFoodMaps.com has curated a list of more than 4,000 restaurants that have been featured on popular television shows such as Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives . Roadfood.com lists hundreds of authentic, locally owned restaurants, which are usually a better option than fast-food chains. Farmers' markets are also gold mines for picking up prepared regional specialties, Rich says, such as Native American fry bread in New Mexico or barbecued pork in the Carolinas .

30 Road Trip Essentials You Shouldn't Hit the Highway Without

Get your motor running...

Our editors handpick the products that we feature. We may earn commission from the links on this page.

When it comes to road trips, helpful tools span the gamut from utilitarian things like maps, backseat garbages, and roof racks to extend the useable space, to health and wellness items like anti-nausea medication and hand sanitizer to keep you healthy, to amusing add-ons like a handheld video game console and a Polaroid camera for entertainment.

To help you come up with the ultimate packing list, we've compiled more than two dozen road trip essentials that will make your travels safer (and more fun!), regardless of whether you're headed to the beach 10 hours from home or embarking on a multi-week cross-country journey. There are plenty of gadgets and gizmos for everyone in the family—couples, kids, toddlers, tweens, and even dogs. So before you strap in, besides your road trip playlist and travel-friendly snacks , make sure you have these ready to go.

APEMAN Dash Cam 1080P FHD DVR Car Driving Recorder

In the event of an accident, a dash cam—a dashboard-mounted camera—ensures you have the proof you need to show you weren't at fault. And bonus: Sometimes your insurance company will even give you a break on your monthly premium just for owning one. 

Huzi Infinity Pillow

To ensure safety on the road, it's important to take breaks every two hours, says a senior program manager for the National Safety Council . For couples traveling together, take turns driving with your co-pilot and prepare to comfortably snooze with this fluffy infinity pillow wrapped around your neck.

Tide to Go Instant Stain Remover

Spills happen, but having this small and mighty stain stick handy will help ensure you don't have ketchup on the front of your shirt when you reach your destination. 

General Medi Mini First Aid Kit

It's wise to have a first-aid kit on hand in case of emergency so that a little cut or a jammed finger doesn't ruin the fun. This mini kit includes nearly 100 hospital-grade supplies, including band-aids and antiseptic, but is easy to stash in a glove compartment or center console.  

Rand McNally 2021 Large Scale Road Atlas

Though you might not initially think you need a physical map—that's what the GPS on your phone is for—Redditors say it's a must-have, since technology and, particularly phone service, can fail. 

Nintendo Switch

This compact game console (it's just 6.2 inches!) will provide endless hours of fun in the car for kids and adults alike. 

LittlePartyDesigns Custom Photo Air Freshener

Okay, so it's not technically an "essential," but these whimsical custom-made air fresheners that come in nine unique scents can be personalized with any photo you like, so even if your toddler isn't along on the journey, she'll always feel close.

Beam Electronics Universal Smartphone Car Air Vent Mount

Taking your eyes off the road—even briefly—can have dire consequences. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration , looking down for even 5 seconds when you're going 55 mph is like driving the equivalent of a football field with your eyes closed. If you count on your phone's GPS to guide you, this smartphone mount will help you focused straight ahead. 

PALMOO Seat Back Organizer

These organizers feature spots to cradle a tissue box, cup holders, and more to set backseat passengers up for a comfortable ride. It also has space to fit an iPad if you're looking to provide endless entertainment for kids.

High Road StashAway Car Trash Can with Lid and Storage Pockets

Any good road trip includes plenty of snacks , especially for kids, but all those wrappers need not end up on the floor. Hook this portable leak-proof trash can onto the back of the center console to keep your car tidy en route.

S'well Vacuum Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle

When the hot summer sun is beating in your windows and thirst strikes, the miles between rest stops can feel extra long. Alternatively, if you're roadtripping through the cold winter months, there's nothing like having a steamy beverage in your hands. This water bottle, which keeps liquid cold for up to 24 hours—or hot for 12!—will help you stay hydrated throughout your journey. 

Igloo Iceless Thermoelectric Cooler

Whether you're planning to stop for a picnic or simply want to bring some perishable snacks along for the ride, this cooler plugs into your car's dash to keep food and drinks as cool as 36 degrees—no ice required. 

Dramamine All Day Less Drowsy Motion Sickness Relief

If you have a long 10-hour drive ahead of you, but are prone to motion sickness, this non-drowsy formula may provide some relief. 

HOTOR Car Vacuum Cleaner

It's not easy to eat in the car especially if you have a toddler in tow, but once you've finished lunch, you don't have to sit in a bed of potato chip crumbs for the rest of the ride. This compact, but high-powered vacuum plugs into your dash to assist with quick clean-ups. 

TOZO T6 True Wireless Earbuds

Traveling with an angsty tween or teen? Give them their own set of Bluetooth headphones to help keep the peace during your journey. 

Charmin Freshmates Flushable Wet Wipes

Hands covered in French fry grease? Need to wipe your toddler's face? Or maybe the rest stop is out of toilet paper? Either way, these flushable wipes will do just the trick. 

Vietnamese Coffee Portable Pour Overs

Don't settle for subpar coffee from any old rest stop; stash these packets in your glove compartment instead. Simply drape the origami-style pouch over your thermos, filter water through, and add the condensed milk to your liking for barista-style coffee—no special tools required. 

InnoGear Car Diffuser

Fill this USB powered diffuser with your favorite  essential oils  to help relax, refresh, and rejuvenate on a long drive cross country. 

FieryRed Car Roof Bag Cargo Carrier

If your car is jam-packed, free up valuable space by adding a cargo bag to the roof to stow anything you won't need enroute. This waterproof soft-sided carrier is a great option, since you don't need any special roof racks for installation. 

SABRENT Portable USB Hub

Like an extension cord for your USB-powered devices (smartphones, e-readers, and more), this small gadget provides ample space to power up, so you and your passenger won't have to squabble over who needs the charger more.  

Brigitt is a writer, editor and craft stylist with nearly 15 years of experience. She specializes in lifestyle topics, including home, health, parenting, beauty, style, food, entertaining, travel and weddings. She has written for Glamour, People, Good Housekeeping, Women's Health, Real Simple, Martha Stewart, Apartment Therapy, The Spruce, and more.

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Road Trip Activities for Adults: Fun Ideas for a Long Car Ride

This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I (The Winding Road Tripper) earn from qualifying purchases.  Read more . 

Ready to have some fun in the car on your road trip? 

Whether this is your first time on the road or you’re a seasoned road trip adventurer, those long stretches on the highway can get a little monotonous. 

So if you are looking for a list of fun things to do in the car on a road trip for adults, you’ve come to the right place.

This list will give you plenty of ideas on how to enjoy your time in the car and make some travel memories.

We’ve got fun games for couples, introspective activities for the solo road warrior, and adventurous ways to make surprising uses of the technology you already have. 

Who says that doing fun things in the car on a road trip is only for kids? 

Listen to Music

If you’re headed out on a long adventure, make an exciting road trip playlist for you and your travel companions. 

Here are a few tips for making an absolute banger of a playlist that will become a memory all on its own.

• Explore new genres and artists you normally wouldn’t listen to.
• Put on some of the tunes that were big in your high school days. Finding out which songs still hold up and which should have been retired is a daring journey in itself.
• Share DJ duty. Exploring music your travel companions love will give you a chance to get to know more about them. Who knows, you might find out that French pop songs from the 50s are your thing!

Play Carpool Karaoke

Want to live your very own James Cordon’s Carpool Karaoke like you’re on The Late Late Show? Carpool Karaoke lets everyone take center stage. 

Carpool Karaoke gets better the more people you have on the ride. If you got a full van full of friends, then you were traveling with the band.

You can even throw in one of these Bluetooth microphones to take your carpool karaoke experience to the next level. 

Listen to a Podcast

Podcasts are contemporary radio. You’ve got episodic fiction podcasts that keep you on the edge of your seat. And also informative shows that give you insight into the world you’re driving through. There’s a podcast out there for you, no matter what your tastes are. 

Here are a few exciting podcasts that you can take on the road with you.

• The Black Tapes — This serialized fiction podcast takes a thriller spin on the NPR formula. You’ll follow a journalist as she explores not only her past but a globe-spanning mystery that gets more intense with each episode.
• Working People — This is a down-to-earth show with an eye towards important social issues. Journalist Maximilian Alvarez interviews everyday people, from construction workers to college professors, about their jobs and what’s important to them in their lives.
• This Paranormal Life — Join two “professional” paranormal investigators as they explore everything from UFO sightings to mysterious disappearances in this irreverent comedy podcast.

For even more podcast recommendations for a boredom-free road trip check out: Best Podcasts to Listen to on a Road Trip

Get Artistic

Even if you’re no Rembrandt, a road trip is a surprisingly good place to start exploring your artistic side.

Here’s a game with a spooky title that everyone on your road trip can enjoy: Exquisite Corpse. Each player takes a turn either writing a section of a story or drawing a section of a picture before passing it off to the next player, who then adds their contribution. 

When it’s all said and done, you’ve got a unique piece of artwork made by everyone on the ride.

The Museum of Modern Art has a great primer on the history of the Exquisite corpse . 

You can also pull over on the shoulder of the road and try your hand painting a beautiful sunset or pull out your phone and get in touch with your photographic side.

No matter which way you go, your next road trip is a great way to explore your hidden love of the arts.

If none of these podcasts strike your fancy, open up your favorite podcast app and take this as an opportunity to start exploring new shows you wouldn’t normally listen to. 

Listen to an Audiobook

The open road is one of the best places to throw on an audiobook. 

A little secret about audiobooks and road trips is that they give you something interesting to listen to as well as give everybody in the car a little break from socializing.

Anthony Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential is a great book for road trips. This book shares a chef’s behind-the-scenes view of restaurants. You’ll get to explore the unseen parts of the restaurant world while you explore the countryside. 

For more audiobooks that will keep you entertained throughout your long drive check out our list of the best audiobooks for road trips .

Play a Trivia Game

Trivia games never get old when you’re on the road.

There are countless trivia games out there. When picking a trivia game, a solid piece of advice is to find a game or subject where no one is the clear expert. 

These games are a fun way to test your knowledge and pick up new and exciting facts. They’re also a great way to start conversations.

There are some exciting trivia apps available on our smartphones that you can check out our list of the best road trip game apps .

Or if you want to test your road trip trivia knowledge, check out our 20 Intriguing Road Trip Trivia Questions .

Play the Question Game to Spark Conversations

If you’re looking to fill the silence, you can always try some fun and deep road trip questions.

Games like Table Topics present you with interesting questions designed to fire up a memorable conversation. Table Topics has a wide variety of additions, including one specifically for couples.

We also created an amazing list of road trip questions that both couples and friends can use.

Check it out here: Road Trip Questions: 149 Fun and Deep Conversation Starters

Play a Classic Road Trip Game

Now let’s talk about some classic road trip games.

These are timeless hits for a reason. When your phone is running low on batteries and you’re getting a little tired of The Epic Road Trip Playlist, you can always rely on these old throwbacks.

Games like 21 Questions and the License Plate Game are iconic staples of entertainment while on the road. They’re also a great way to relive the nostalgia of going on road trips as a kid.

Check out our list of 15 Ridiculously Fun Road Trip Games for more games to keep you entertained.

Find Fun Places to Stop on Your Road Trip

Part of the excitement of being on a road trip is giving yourself the freedom to stop whenever you want. While you’re out there on the road, your co-pilot can be looking for exciting places to stop.

Google Maps is a good place to start, but if you really want to see what’s out there, make sure to download the Roadtrippers app before you leave home. 

Roadtrippers will help you find everything from great mom-and-pop diners to historic destinations that you can swing by on your road trip.

The whole point of a road trip is to get out there and explore and make memories. Years down the road, that photograph of the two of you standing in front of The World’s Largest Candle in Indiana is going to be worth its weight in gold.

Turn Off the Radio

Turning off the radio may be the opposite of what you think of when you are looking for activities to keep you entertained on a road trip. 

Our lives have never been busier. And we don’t have many opportunities just to be. 

So if you find those long stretches starting to get a little monotonous, turn off the radio and sit with your thoughts. 

There’s something about the open road with the scenery rolling by that allows us to be honest with ourselves. Turning off the radio gives you the mental space to puzzle through those lingering thoughts.

While we love the quirky tourist traps and the adventures along the way, a road trip is also an opportunity to explore yourself and/or get to know your traveling companion.

Find More Road Trip Fun Here: 15 Ridiculously Fun Road Trip Games for Two People Road Trip Questions For Couples: 149 Fun and Deep Conversation Starters

25 Practical Tips for Long Road Trips

Written by Jason Barnette

• July 7, 2021

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my Affiliate Disclosure here .

You’re finally ready to embark on that epic road trip that will take you across the country from sea to shining sea. The gas tank is full, you’ve checked off every item on the packing list, and you’re ready to hit the road. But are you actually ready for a long road trip?

The longer a road trip, the more complicated it can get. I didn’t say would get, but it certainly can get complicated. Have you packed enough clothing for the entire trip, or will you need to do laundry along the way? Are you ready for chilly nights, rain, and unexpected adventures? Unfortunately, these are the kinds of questions many people don’t consider until the road trip is underway – and it’s too late to make many changes.

These 25 practical tips for long road trips will help you get prepared long before you leave home, save money along the way, and help you spend more time enjoying the road trip and less time dealing with those pesky complications.

Buy food at grocery stores instead of gas stations

Road trip snacks are almost as necessary as gasoline for the car – they even perform similar functions. But one of the worst things a person can do on a road trip is to buy the snacks spontaneously at random gas stations along the way.

Save money and time with those snacks at grocery stores or bulk purchase stores. Stock up on all the snacks, drinks, and coffee at a fraction of the price of buying it along the way. The more you save, the longer you can drive.

Get your car inspected

Before leaving home, get your car inspected. Most national chain auto repair shops offer free inspections because they want your business when they find something wrong with the car.

But it’s an excellent way to get all the fluids topped off, tires rotated and balanced, and the hundreds of moving parts of a car inspected before you leave. Spur of the moment auto repairs during a road trip can be prohibitively expensive – not to mention you might have to shack up at a roadside motel for a few days while the work is done.

Keep your car maintained

Did you know properly inflated tires can lead to better gas mileage? Under-inflated tires cause a drop of 0.2% miles per gallon for every 1 PSI of all tires. That may not seem like much, but it can add up on long road trips.

Consider a 5,000-mile road trip in a vehicle that gets 30 miles per gallon. This would require 167 gallons of gas to complete the trip. However, if all four tires are underinflated by an average of 4 PSI, that means the vehicle is only achieving 27.6 miles per gallon. This would require 182 gallons to complete the trip – an increase of 15 gallons.

Beyond tire pressure, be sure to maintain fluids for the radiator, brakes, and engine oil to prevent damage to the engine. Replaced burned out headlights and taillights immediately. Keep up with oil changes and tire rotations for trips longer than 5,000 miles.

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Set a reasonable daily mileage goal

The point of a road trip is to enjoy the journey as much as the destination. Driving 500 miles per day on the interstate highways doesn’t make for a very enjoyable road trip adventure. Driving that far on two-lane roads is incredibly tedious and exhausting.

By the time you stop at a couple roadside attractions, go for a hike in a state park, sit down for lunch, and take a short detour, the number of miles you’ll be able to cover in a single day will be limited at best. But that’s the point of the road trip! Set a limited number of miles to drive each day, giving yourself plenty of time to enjoy everything you’ll discover along the way.

Avoid rush hour traffic and peak dinner times

Sitting in congested traffic and waiting for food are two of the biggest examples of losing time on a long road trip. In fact, those are the biggest time wasters for just about any kind of travel. But there is a simple way to avoid losing time: avoid rush hour and peak dinner times.

Eat breakfast after 9 a.m., get lunch around 2 p.m., and consider dinner either early at 4 p.m. or wait until 7 p.m. During those time frames, you’ll get seated faster, and food served quicker. Also, when driving around town or between destinations, avoid the rush hours of 7-9 a.m. and 4-6 p.m.

As an added bonus, use a navigation app or dedicated GPS device in your car that includes traffic information – this information will help you spot potential traffic jams from congestion, construction, or accidents and usually includes optional detours. Using an app like OpenTable ( iOs | Android ) will allow you to make reservations at many restaurants – cutting down the time spent waiting for a table to open.

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A void Small Town Travel on Sundays and Mondays

Roll into almost any small town with a population of less than 20,000 on a Sunday or Monday, and you’re likely to find every restaurant, museum, and attraction closed. It’s not from the owners’ lack of business sense but rather because the owners often work in their businesses, and they want a couple of days off each week.

Sundays and Mondays tend to be the most common days these local businesses are closed. However, it may also include mid-weekdays like Tuesday and Wednesday. Instead of visiting the small towns, consider spending the night in state or national parks, driving scenic routes, or just taking a couple of days to relax.

Pack everything – including the kitchen sink

I own six rain jackets, four sets of trekking poles, and two pairs of Crocs Swiftwater shoes . It’s not because I want a particular color combination for each day of the week, but instead because I kept leaving the items behind, thinking I wouldn’t need them.

Pack everything you can possibly fit into your vehicle for a long road trip. Go beyond your tentative itinerary and think about things you enjoy doing that you might want to do along the way. Take those golf clubs or stunt kites, pack the fleece hoodie, and bring more than two pairs of shoes. Although it’s impossible to prepare for every eventuality, every little bit helps save money in the budget.

Fill the gas tank on Monday

GasBuddy ( iOS | Android ) conducted a survey a few years ago to determine the best and worst times for gas prices. Interestingly, Mondays were the cheapest day of the week to get gas on average, with the best time coming around 10 a.m.

Also, interesting – though not surprising – was that the worst day to get gas was Friday or the day before a major holiday. During those days, gas prices tended to spike first thing in the morning.

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Don’t rely on cellular service

One universal constant of any long road trip is the eventuality of running into a cellular dead zone. Rural areas in the Midwest, rugged terrain in the Rockies, and sporadically throughout the Southeastern United States are areas in between cellular towers that will leave your cellphone or tablet as useful as screen doors for submarines.

Be prepared to eventually lose cellular service during your long road trip. Download Google Maps ( iOS | Android ) for offline use, make sure all your apps are up to date, and download movies for entertainment. Doing as much of this as possible while connected to WIFI will prevent you from breaching a monthly data limit.

Plan to do laundry on the road

Depending on the length of the road trip, the activities you plan to enjoy along the way, and your fashion style, it just might not be possible to pack a new outfit for every single day. So rather than pack five suitcases stuffed with every stitch of clothing you own, consider doing laundry somewhere along the way.

As a rule of thumb, pack at least five of each type of clothing. Shorts, pants, tees, polos or blouses, underwear, and socks. On top of that, pack something for chilly nights and rain. This will give you about a week of clothing – but you’ll need to get used to wearing those shorts and that shirt more than once in between washing.

Buy a laundry bag and take it with you on the road trip. However, do not buy laundry detergent ahead of time. The heat and humidity will ruin most detergents and leave your car with an overwhelming smell. When you finally decide to do laundry, be sure to take enough quarters to complete your load, never leave your laundry unattended, and always use a laundromat during daylight hours.

Get organized

Organizing all your clothing, gear, food, and accessories is a crucial and often overlooked aspect of any long road trip. But, after two, three, or four weeks of restacking bags, hunting for that small item, and shifting cargo around every curve of the road, you’ll be on the edge of losing it.

Buy stuff sacks or use gallon-sized Ziplock bags to organize smaller items. Buy midsized duffel bags or plastic totes for organizing smaller bags. Stackable totes that can lock together are best for keeping the totes from sliding around in the vehicle. Label everything and always leave the most frequently used items on top.

Get plenty of sleep

The first few days of a long road trip, you’ll likely feel energized by the excitement and tempted to stay up 18 hours a day. I can typically keep that level of stamina going for about the first three weeks of constant travel – but eventually, everyone slows down.

Getting plenty of sleep is important to maintaining your mental and physical health, not to mention keeping morale high. Spending too much time traveling and not enough sleeping will eventually lead to exhaustion, depression, and moodiness.

On a long road trip, plan to take one or two days a week off from travel. Find a nice roadside motel, splurge on a super nice hotel with a free hot breakfast, or settle into a campground for two nights. Avoid the temptation to go out and explore the area – just focus on rest and relaxation.

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Keep the car clean (inside and out)

The day before any road trip begins, I always find one of those really nice car washes with the conveyor belt that pulls the vehicle through a wash cycle. Then, after getting the exterior cleaned – included RainX and a tire shine – I visit the vacuum cleaners. There is no greater feeling than starting a long road trip with a squeaky-clean vehicle.

On long road trips, it will probably be necessary to do a little cleaning along the way. Car washes are easy enough. Instead of relying on their vacuum cleaners – or paying for them – consider buying the THISWORX Car Vacuum Cleaner . It uses 12v power with a removable collection bin and comes with a nice travel bag.

For an added touch, the Little Trees Vent Wrap Car Air Freshner’s “new car smell” will make your vehicle smell brand new after getting it clean.

Join a roadside rescue plan

Most auto insurance companies and cellular providers offer some sort of roadside assistance rescue plan. If you don’t have the option for either of those, consider buying a AAA membership to access their roadside rescue plan.

At the very least, roadside rescue plans will unlock a vehicle, tow your vehicle to safety, and provide gas in case you run out. Better plans will include longer towing distances and more gas. It’s the one thing you never think about until you need it – so this time, plan ahead.

Road Trip on the Scenic North Carolina Waterfall Byway

Keep up with monthly bills

Only about 40% of Americans use auto pay for monthly bills like utilities and credit card payments – I’m not one of them. One of the biggest mistakes with long road trips that last more than a month is forgetting to take care of those bills before you hit the road or somewhere during the trip.

It’s easy to pay those bills with the home computer with your login information saved, but could you pay those bills on the road with a cellphone or tablet? Be sure to take your login information with you and keep it in a safe location like a locked glovebox or portable security case. Add the due date for any bills to your travel itinerary – and remember that cellular service is not a guarantee everywhere.

Life Pro Trip: Many credit card companies and certain utilities allow you to choose a due date for your monthly bill. Aligning all these bills for the same due date makes it easier to keep up with – especially while you’re traveling.  

Leave room for souvenirs

I know I said “pack everything – including the kitchen sink” earlier, but don’t go overboard and fill the entire vehicle before you hit the road. More than likely, you will want to buy some souvenirs along the way.

Smaller souvenirs like clothing, décor, and Christmas ornaments – my favorite type of souvenir to buy – are easy enough to pack into a bag or tote in the vehicle. But if you buy more oversized items like artwork, glassware, or large gift items, ask the retailer if they can ship them to your home or a relative’s home for safekeeping. Often, the shipping is included, especially in areas of high tourism where they expect the buyers to be non-locals.

Insider Tip: An easy way to keep up with souvenirs on a long road trip is to mail them to a friend or relative. The Flat Rate boxes at the United States Postal Service come in several sizes and are indeed a single flat rate – ranging from about $5-$15 per box – no matter where you ship it in the continental U.S.

Bring your favorite ___________

Do you have a favorite coffee mug? Slippers? Or what about a television series you love to watch? Just because you’re going on a road trip doesn’t mean you can’t bring some of those with you.

Bringing your favorite items with you on a long road trip can help you feel more at home and relaxed. Instead of missing that perfect coffee mug or comfortable slippers, you’ll feel much better having them with you.

Have an itinerary but leave room for spontaneity

It’s always good to have a travel itinerary. It’s essential to know the business hours of museums, restaurants, and attractions, so you don’t arrive too late or on a day when they are typically closed. Building an itinerary can help you avoid those frustrations.

However, leave room for spontaneous detours that will inevitably come along during a long road trip. Be prepared for entire destinations to change as your route progresses. Take advice from locals and be willing to give something new a try!

Road Trip on the Blue Ridge Parkway

Fill all prescriptions and bring extra

For three years, I worked as a certified pharmacy technician at CVS/Pharmacy in Emerald Isle, North Carolina. During the hectic – sometimes chaotic – summer months, we would sometimes fill thousands of prescriptions in a single day. The most common type of prescription was for someone who had left the medication at home.

If you have any kind of regular medication, be sure to pack that for your trip. But for long road trips that last more than 30 days, you might run out while on the road. Make sure your prescription has refills on file with your pharmacy or take a new prescription with you – as long as it is not a controlled substance. If your insurance allows, consider getting two or three months’ worth filled at one time for your long road trip.

Watch out for 140-degree heat in the car

On sunny days during the summer months, vehicles’ internal temperatures can rise 30-40 degrees higher than the outside temperature. When I was a kid, I remember going for a walk to the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse during a family vacation. When we returned, my mom opened the back of the car to make snacks – only to discover the Cheese Whiz had exploded all over the car!

The high internal temperatures of vehicles can ruin more than just pressurized cans of food. Contact lenses, prescriptions, electronics, and coolers are all susceptible to damage from temperatures over 100 degrees.

You can reduce those internal temperatures by using a windshield sunshade. Close the sunshade on the moonroof. You may even consider buying curtains for the side windows – it’s not as silly as you might think.

Set a daily and final budget

My first road trip adventure of 2021 was a spontaneous, itinerary-free adventure along the Gulf Coast from Gulf Shores, Alabama, across Florida to Vero Beach. After a week exploring that area of Florida, I was considering heading south to Key West for what would have been my first visit. But when I looked at my bank account, my heart hit the floor when I realized my travel budget was at an end.

I’ve never been good at creating or keeping to a travel budget, and that resulted in a road trip cut short. So the better method is to create a daily budget and stick to it. But also give yourself leeway for those rare opportunities to do something awesome and set a final budget for the entire trip.

The advantage of a long road trip is that if you’re on the road long enough, you might just get an extra paycheck while you’re traveling. So how many vacation days do you have saved up for your long road trip?

Only travel by day

Some people only travel at night to avoid any traffic congestion at all – and that’s a good idea. But driving on unfamiliar roads at night poses some safety issues – not to mention what would happen if your vehicle broke down at 3 a.m.

The safest and surest way is to only travel by day. It will be much easier to keep aware of the unfamiliar road ahead, and you’re certain to get roadside assistance faster during normal business hours.

The Ultimate Road Trip on the Skyline Drive Through Shenandoah National Park

Choose the best road trip route

My #1 Rule for Road Trips is no interstate highways. There is just no reason to take a road trip route onto the interstate – you’ll miss everything along the way.

But what is the best road trip route? National scenic byways are a good start – there are dozens across the country. But sometimes, the most scenic or exciting road trip route is just a simple country road connecting interesting destinations. The best way to find those is to ask the locals – they always know the best route.

Document the trip

After returning home from an epic long road trip, it might be difficult to remember precisely where you found that amazing cheeseburger or savory salted caramel ice cream cone or watched that stunning sunset. It can be downright frustrating when you realize you don’t have a single photo to share or any clue where to find the name of that restaurant.

But what exactly does it mean to document the trip? I am not advocating for ten thousand photos plus an additional five thousand selfies from your long road trip. Don’t become one of those people who jump out of the car on the Blue Ridge Parkway just long enough for a selfie and then leave just as quickly.

It starts with the photos. Capture an exterior photo of every restaurant, museum, and attraction you visit – and be sure to include the name of the business. Capture an interior photo and then one or two photos of every meal or activity.

Take a journal. Jot down notes of the places you visit. Feelings. Smells. Sights. Take note of the business name, details of the food you eat, and reaction to museums. Draw pictures and maps, create word maps, put any word to paper that comes to mind. It will all be wonderful to see all the photos and notes again when your long road trip is finished.

Keep in touch with regular updates

One of the most important safety measures you can take during a long road trip is to let someone know where you are and where you are going by the end of the day. Particularly in places where cellular reception could be spotty, it’s good to tell someone that by nightfall, you should be at a particular destination and able to call them again.

That way, if your vehicle breaks down while in a cellular dead zone with little traffic, at least someone knows the route you were driving to send rescue your direction.

5 Responses

Great tips. Do you have a good app that we can use to track how our car is doing. So like we put in the mileage and it does the calculations for us of how many miles to gallon and stuff like that?

The best app I know about is called Mile IQ. It’s meant for contractors who have to keep up with their mileage for bookkeeping, but it works for road trippers as well. Give that a look and let me know if it works~!

Wrote down some of the tips that I want to remember before the trip. Changed the idea of minimizing clothing to being sure to cover (see what I did there) all bases. Like having a warm hoodie even though I am planning a trip, late June, to the South. Having something & not needing it is so much more logical that getting something I already have but not bringing it. Thank you for your tips.

Thank you very much for taking the time to put these tips together! Very helpful!

Great tips, thank you! My son is traveling the month of May on a solo road trip for the first time so wanted to pass these tips on to him!

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20 Expert-Backed Tips For An Epic Road Trip

On assignment for HuffPost

Some of the most memorable vacations happen in the form of a road trip. Just make sure yours is memorable for the right reasons.

Whether you’re hitting the road for a few hours or embarking on a legendary cross-country drive, these tips will help stave off boredom, reduce arguments and keep you safe.

1. Devise a plan with your passengers.

“Perhaps the major pitfall on a road trip is not so much about the route or sights, but the other people,” said Paul Johnson, founder of NorthOutdoors . Even BFFs can become mortal enemies by the end of a long, painful trip, so getting on the same page before you depart is crucial. “Get some agreement upfront on what you are trying to do. Are you trying to get somewhere as fast as you can? Or is this an exploring, meandering trip where the goal is to get lost and see new places?” Johnson said.

2. Agree on a budget.

If you’re traveling with other adults, you’ll need to decide on a budget for the trip together. For instance, will you be sticking to homemade sandwiches for lunch or hitting the local hot spots on Yelp? Will you be car camping or sleeping in hotels? “It is good to know upfront what the expectations are so you can avoid those tense times during the trip,” Johnson said.

3. Put together the perfect playlist ahead of time.

Fumbling with your phone while driving is not only unsafe, but it can really kill the vibe of a relaxing drive set to the perfect soundtrack. Plus, you’re bound to hit a few areas without radio coverage or cell service. “There are many areas where internet, GPS or even satellite signal for XM radio isn’t available,” said Angella Jensen of Angie’s Awesome Adventures . In this case, having a few playlists downloaded ahead of time will save you from any awkward silence. “Include as many upbeat, fun songs as you can,” she said. “This will keep the energy level high and in a good place if you find yourself in a situation where nothing else is available.”

4. Pick out a few podcasts, too.

Even your favorite songs can get old after a while. To break up the monotony, try listening to a podcast. Whether you want to learn a new skill or get lost in a true crime thriller, there’s something for everyone. Some popular options to consider include Why Won’t You Date Me , Safe for Work , The Mortified Podcast and In the Dark .

5. Decide on your must-sees.

If you want to do some sightseeing along the way, it’s a good idea to figure out your key stops before hitting the road. “Research and plan these things out so you know exactly where and why you’re stopping, rather than traveling for countless hours in one stint,” said Juma Brown of FlyerDiaries . “This will reduce the amount of time spent being bored and get yourself many extra opportunities to make memories.” These anchor stops will also dictate how much driving you need to do each day to stay on schedule.

6. But also plan for extra time.

Though it’s important to stick to a schedule, don’t be so married to your timeline that you miss out on other once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. “It’s the roadside attractions like giant lobster statues, stuffed gopher museums and interpretive view points that really make a road trip special,” said Jenn Stolfa, a writer for Take Them Outside . “Not only will you enjoy to get out and explore some local culture, your body will appreciate a chance to stretch and move. And if you happen to be traveling with kids, these stops will break the drive, helping them manage the long sitting times in between.”

7. Ask locals about the best spots to stop.

Need food or looking for a bit of entertainment? Travel websites like TripAdvisor are great for reviews, but they might not be the best way to uncover hidden gems. “The advice of locals can be invaluable for things like attractions and places to eat,” said Chris Wain of Africa Travel . “Don’t be afraid to ask people in local stores and cafes about where the best place to get an evening meal is, where is the best place to stay or which route will get you to the local attraction fastest. Locals know the area better than any review site, so their knowledge should never be dismissed.”

8. Carry some cash.

Big city folk may be used to swiping a card to pay for travel expenses, but that’s not always possible in small towns. Independent gas stations, national parks and other stops may require you to pay cash, so always keep some on hand.

9. Get serious about snacks.

Snacks can make or break a road trip. Just don’t go overboard on the junk ― your body will thank you. “We see people often throw their healthy eating habits out the window just because they are road tripping,” Johnson said. But if you load up on Big Gulps and Doritos, it can lead to fatigue and some, er, emergency pit stops. Try to snack on fruit, protein bars and veggies, and don’t forget to drink plenty of water. “A secret weapon is to stop at a grocery store ― even tiny towns have them ― to get your lunch, rather than the roadside burger joint,” Johnson said.

10. Opt for truck stops over rest areas.

Truck stops aren’t just for truckers anymore. With plenty of lighting, facilities and foot traffic, they can feel safer and be more accommodating than remote bare-bones rest stops . Be cautious wherever you pull off the road, but if you have the choice, plan your breaks for truck stops.

11. Get on the road early and stick to daylight hours.

If you want to beat the traffic, get going as early as possible, even if this means starting your day around 4-5 a.m. “Setting off at this time means that the sun will start to rise an hour or so into your journey, which can make for sensational views of the sunrise in different places every day,” Wain said. “Plus, it is still before the roads become busy with commuters trying to get to work. This makes your journey far less hectic and, as a result, safer.”

Speaking of safety, it’s also a good idea to end your day’s drive once it starts getting dark, as nighttime is by far the most dangerous time to drive thanks to more drunk and drowsy drivers. Not to mention, critters love to come out at dusk and often end up in the road ― and that is not where you want to unexpectedly come across wildlife.

12. Get gas every time you stop.

Making a pit stop? Get some gas. Driving past a small town? Fill ’er up. Even if you have a healthy half tank left, it never hurts to stock up on fuel for those long stretches where there’s no gas station for miles.

13. Dole out games and goodies along the way.

If you’re traveling with kids, don’t hand out all the activities and treats right at the beginning of the drive. Instead, Stolfa recommends saving some games, books and snacks for later when distractions are desperately needed. You can also dole out a convenience store allowance for the kids to buy their own snacks as the trip progresses.

14. Schedule exercise breaks.

Another tip if you have kiddos in tow: Make sure there’s time each day for them to get physical. “Take them to a park or simply have them walk with you on a treadmill in the hotel gym,” said Mike Miller, founder of Wilderness Times . “The last thing you want are your kids to be filled with energy, bouncing off the walls, asking you, ‘Are we there yet?!’ 53 times an hour.”

15. Learn how to change a tire.

Knowing how to change a tire is an important skill, especially if you’re driving through areas where roadside assistance doesn’t arrive reasonably quickly or at all. “Not only should you know how to change the tire, you should actually have done this with the particular road trip vehicle you’ll be using,” Stolfa said. Run through the whole operation prior to the trip, so you know where the spare is located, that its air pressure is good, and that you can handle all the steps to get those wheels rolling again.

16. Bring a cellphone charging bank.

On road trips, you can usually rely on your vehicle’s power to charge your phone. But emergencies happen, and you don’t want to be stuck with a dead car and a dead cellphone battery. “Phoning for assistance will be much easier with the backup charging bank,” Stolfa said.

17. Be prepared for extreme weather.

Between rain storms, heavy snow and hurricanes, our vast country is home to many types of weather hazards. If you’re planning a long trip, be sure you’re ready to handle whatever Mother Nature throws your way. That means wearing proper shoes, packing the right type of clothes and bringing along equipment like tire chains if they might be needed. “If you are traveling in winter, it is an entirely different ballgame. The mountains and the North Country require you to adapt to the conditions, not vice versa,” Johnson said.

18. Let your bank know where you’re going.

You don’t want to get stuck at a gas station or roadside diner with a credit card that’s been frozen by your bank due to possible fraud. “Alert your bank and credit card company of your trip with the cities you plan to visit,” said personal finance expert Andrea Woroch . “This will help the company monitor [for] fraud, but also ensure you have access to funds when you need them.”

19. Have backup directions on hand.

These days, most of us are so reliant on GPS to get around that we probably couldn’t find our way out of a wet paper bag without it. But that GPS signal doesn’t always work on the road. “You should always have some backup directions ― either a road atlas or printed directions,” said Jake McKenzie of Auto Accessories Garage . “Without the ability to check your GPS or call anyone for assistance, you can end up getting very lost very quickly. Having a few maps in your glove box and even a compass can save you a lot of time should you get lost without a cell signal.”

20. Show respect.

Spending long days on the road can put your nerves on edge, especially if you’re traveling with little ones. But that’s no excuse to be a jerk. Be polite to the locals you encounter, don’t litter and allow other cars to merge into your lane. A little respect goes a long way on the open road.

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Before You Go

9 Road Trips To Take With Bae

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Road Trip Tips: 21 Mistakes to Avoid When on a USA Road Trip

Pin this post for later!

Taking a road trip around the USA , or anywhere, will be one of the most epic and memorable trips you’ll take—no doubt.

So don’t F it up…

JK—No pressure. I got your back with all the road trip tips and everything you should NOT do on your trip. This way, you can have more time for fun, snapping pics, chasing waterfalls, hiking to viewpoints, and so many other amazing activities!

Make this a trip to remember with these road trip tips. Learn now, and have fun later. It’s easy! I’ve done a ton of road trips in the USA and around the world, and these are some of my best road trip tips and mistakes to avoid for you to keep in mind.

Don’t lose this! Click to pin it now.

Table of Contents

1. DON’T Wait for Gas

Resources for your trip:, 2. don’t underestimate the cost of gas, 3. don’t forget to carry cash, 4. don’t forget about music, 5. don’t be unrealistic with your time, 6. don’t sleep in, 7. don’t buy water and don’t forget to fill up often, 8. don’t forget to download maps (one of the easy road trip tips to forget), 9. don’t assume all roads are paved, 10. don’t get fancy with your meals, 11. don’t be disorganized, 12. don’t plan too much… or too little…, 13. don’t assume all roads will be open, 14. don’t drive at night (a road trip tip for safety), 15. don’t choose the wrong person to go with, 16. don’t underestimate the size of the usa, 17. don’t forget to roll with the punches, 18. don’t forget to check on the season (and not just for what to pack), 19. don’t be a jackass and have fun, 20. don’t forget to insure yourself (and your car), 21. don’t rent the wrong vehicle for your trip (perhaps the most important road trip tip), 17 legendary american road trips, your southwest road trip itinerary (1 week - 2 months), your adventurous arizona road trip, your adventurous utah road trip, seattle to san francisco west coast road trip adventures and waterfalls, your adventurous montana road trip, road trip tips—what not to do on your road trip.

Fill up here, fill up there, fill up ev-ry-where!

The next gas station could be lightyears away in many states around the US.

If you’re the adventurous type who wants to wander down random roads and who will detour in a split second, fill up when you can.

If you don’t, guess who needs to say goodbye to adventurous detours? YOU.

Make sure to fill up at the half tank every time if you can. I often pretend the last half doesn’t count. What did using this road trip tip result in? Never having to worry about running out of gas. That’s a win!

RELATED: 17 Legendary American Road Trips

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Going on from my last thought, unfortunately, this may mean you are stuck paying higher prices for gas because you’re in the middle of nowhere-land, and they are charging the same prices as the bigger towns PLUS your firstborn child.

Sorry little Billy, I sold you for gas money…

Seriously though, small towns are pricier, you may have to pay the price, but you could also top up for just a few bucks to make it safely to the next big town/city.

Either way, inflate the budget here so you don’t get any surprises, and make sure you are definitely topping up in the big cities as often as possible.

Pro road trip tip —Peek at the GasBuddy app often to see where the next cheapest gas station is. This app is a lifesaver!

Those small town gas stations may have a charge for using credit cards, or worse, they only accept cash! So make sure you have some on you.

Also, some state and national parks require cash payments for parking and using facilities.

There isn’t always someone on-site, and you’ll be required to place your cash in an envelope. You’ll need an exact change too. I’m all about using my card, but having some cash stashed away is necessary. It is smart to have a mix of bigger and smaller bills.

Another cash tip to keep in mind is having quarters on you for any parking meters or using laundry facilities.

I know you’re thinking, DUH, Nina. But seriously, don’t forget the music! Radio is almost a non-option unless you enjoy the sweet sounds of static and want to give your index finger a major workout by scanning the channels.

Cell service will also be in and out, so while you may be one smart cookie and have Spotify or the like on your phone, don’t forget to download all those cool playlists to enjoy it offline.

Don’t forget an aux cord if needed unless everything can be connected via Bluetooth. You may also want a portable speaker so you can listen to music outside the car and on the go.

It’s not essential, but this is one of the road trip tips that’ll just make the journey more enjoyable.

READ MORE: My badass road trip packing list , don’t forget a thing!

Did you actually think you would be able to fit those two hikes in AND drive five hours? Ekk!

You really do need to be realistic with your time.

If you get all excited about a bunch of places and you only make it to half, you may be pretty bummed.

But instead, if you get excited about the POSSIBILITY of going to about half of the places on your list, you will ultimately be satisfied with what you got done.

Don’t get your hopes up and try cramming in too much, so you’re rushing, speeding, driving too late at night, not sleeping enough…etc.

It’s OK to pass on a few places; trust this road trip tip when I say your list will only get longer, not shorter. So don’t get flustered when you need to pass things up to gain more time.

READ MORE: Here’s a realistic itinerary for a West Coast road trip !

I would TOTALLY be the annoying friend that pushes you out of the car, shoves a bagel and coffee down your throat, and makes you put clothes on so you’re ready to get on the road no later than 9 am.

Don’t worry, I’m not talking about getting your day started at 6 am.

While I think it can be ideal, probably makes for great sunrise pictures, and you check more things off the list, let’s not get crazy. 6 am is rough.

However, being on the road by 8:30-9ish is totally doable.

Luckily, I refuse to road trip with people who aren’t on the same page as me because I’m a stickler on this one. Also, I’m a terrible sleeper, so I am awake this early anyway!

There are far too many things to see and do—go to bed earlier and get up and go. You’ll thank yourself when the trip is done. (You can sleep when you’re dead, right?)

Fill up water bottles and jugs instead. It would be SO wasteful to buy 100 jugs of water on your trip.

Instead, I buy a few one-gallon jugs and reuse them for my entire trip. I also never travel without my reusable water bottle . At the end of a trip, I recycle the jugs. Most recently I also got this water jug which fits nicely in the corner of my car and I don’t even need other water jugs now!

It’s very easy to prioritize convenience but try your best on your road trip to not be wasteful.

Filling up water is actually very easy. Many of the parks have drinkable water fountains where you can fill up, and Walmarts have water fountains you can use.

A few jugs or one big reusable jug is just what you need. They don’t take up too much room, and they will last you a couple of days, giving you plenty of time to find the next water fill-up area.

Fill up every time you can; it goes without saying that water is NOT something you want to be without at any point and time.

Don’t forget to factor in using water to boil pasta, make coffee, etc.

RELATED: Your Southwest Road Trip Itinerary (1 Week – 2 Months)

Bringing paper maps is not really my thing, but I knew I couldn’t always rely on my phone to have service. I can’t stress how clutch it was to have maps downloaded.

I always have Google Maps AND Maps.Me both downloaded on my phone. And if you’re riding with someone else, make sure they do the same just in case someone loses their phone, forgets to charge, etc.

Oops. I’d venture to say that most of us forget this road trip tip. I know I did.

If I saw the road on the map, I generally thought it was a legit road with something more than loose rocks to follow. Uh, no. Not so much!

Don’t assume you won’t come across many gravel roads, particularly if you want to get a bit adventurous or take some of the less busy roads.

Driving on gravel roads when they weren’t expected can be a bit stressful, not to mention it will cut into your time since you’ll be driving much slower than you thought.

What are you trying to do on your trip? Spend your time cooking or doing and seeing things?

Yeah, that’s what I thought… So why would someone voluntarily choose to make a borderline 5-star meal for lunch is beyond me but let me tell you, you’ll be much happier with an easier meal than a fancy-schmancy one or one that is labor-intensive.

Here’s what I usually eat while road tripping:

Breakfast is 1-2 of the following items:

• Boiled eggs (boil all of them at once and keep them in the fridge)
• Bread /bagels (usually untoasted because ain’t nobody got time for that…nor a toaster)
• Oatmeal with fruit and granola

Lunch is usually a sandwich and or a snack such as:

• Cheese and crackers
• Sandwiches are usually cheese, spinach, a hardboiled egg or some tuna, pickles, and maybe avocado. And then mustard and mayo for condiments.
• A favorite is my “camping charcuterie board,” which is usually a mix of cheese, crackers, fruit, nuts, and “rough hummus” (smashed chickpeas with spices and EVOO)

Dinner is one of the following:

• Lentils and rice (I found these amazing, tasty, and easy to make packets to make lentils and rice , it literally takes 2 minutes, and it’s healthy)
• Pasta and sauce
• Frozen vegetables which we would add to both of the items above.
• Beer and or wine 🙂

On a similar note, eating out costs a lot, and if you’re trying to be quick, it’s often pretty unhealthy.

I often try to eat out only when it’s mega worth it or when I’m deep into my trip and need a break from eating out of my car! Making it a treat rather than something expected saves a bunch of cash AND time.

RELATED: Your Adventurous Utah Road Trip

Your vehicle has everything you need BUT, it’s still just a vehicle, which means space is precious and limited.

Get everything in its “home” on day 1 and make sure that item lives in that spot forever and always.

I always have a system down from day 1, and I keep it that way! It keeps everything SO clean and organized the entire time. I usually have zero casualties of items flying out a window, falling out of the car, or going mysteriously missing.

Get your car in order and keep it there! My mantra is “everything has a home” and I don’t put it down, I put it in its home.

I’m not toying with you. Hear me out!

Road trips are supposed to be fun, and a bit spontaneous, so planning too much and keeping yourself to a rigid schedule doesn’t allow for fun, adventure, and random detours.

Plan too little? And you’ll be wasting a large chunk of the day figuring out what you want to do (if you even have internet).

I usually have a few “rules” in place…

On this West Coast road trip , I wanted to drive on a certain route (the inland route, not the coastal route). I wanted to be outdoors and in nature (so no stops in big cities and walking around buildings), and I wanted to do pretty hikes with waterfalls and great views.

I made a rough route with plenty of places to stop that matched my criteria, but nothing was set in stone.

If I didn’t have the time, the spot was too out of the way, or if the road was closed (wait for it…), there was no disappointment and plenty of other things just a few miles away to explore.

Keep your options open and have a few options on the table. Find a balance, don’t set expectations too high, and don’t pigeonhole yourself to an exact itinerary. It will be nothing short of miserable.

This is one of my best road trip tips because it’s really one of the most important to keep in mind for the trip—for your own sanity!

READ MORE:  How to Plan a Road Trip

Yeah, revolutionary information, right? Luckily the USA is pretty good at announcing when a road will be closed. There will likely be signs and even info on a state’s website.

This happened to me on a few road trips, and it threw a wrench into my plans… for a whole two seconds.

Since I’m always loose with my plans (hello, road trip tip #12!), it wasn’t the end of the world, but it did cause me to end up in a few places I didn’t expect a couple of times.

It’s usually not a big deal but just something to watch, particularly if you’re taking the smaller roads like I sometimes do or are driving during fall and winter when road closures are more common.

It wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world, but I’m mentioning this because depending on where you are, you’re increasing your chance of putting yourself (or adorable animals) in danger.

Cute woodsy animals like to come out at night and graze and hop around. Sometimes they wander in traffic. If it’s a little guy, poor thing but at least your car will be fine. If it’s a big boy, you’re totally screwed.

Overall, night driving can be a bit more challenging and you also need to be a bit more careful with choosing your sleeping spot for the evening in the dark.

I always make it a goal to find a place by sunset, and if I go a bit later, it’s not too big of a deal, but I don’t like to push it.

RELATED: Your Adventurous Arizona Road Trip!

Seriously though, don’t underestimate the amount of time and closeness with the other person. Make sure they are cool, and make sure you’re cool too…

This trip will be a disaster if you both don’t jive with each other and work as a team. Luckily I’ve only had one miserable road trip, and funny enough, it was with a very close friend. So even if you’re friends now, make sure you can stand each other for the entire trip.

Seriously, this country is f-ing huge. We literally have 48 small to medium-sized countries on the enormous landmass of the contiguous USA.

Make no mistake, no amount of time is the “perfect” amount to see this place.

Vancouver to San Francisco is only a measly 15-hour drive if you JUST DRIVE. One person could technically do this drive in two long days.

When I road-tripped it, it took 17 days to drive a bit more leisurely, and see things along the way. I could have doubled that and still not had enough time. There’s an insurmountable amount of things to do and see, don’t cut yourself short and try squeezing your trip into a few days; you’ll spend the entire time just driving.

My PNW road trips are anywhere from 1 to 2 months, and I’m just scratching the surface of what I want to do! So one of the best road trip tips you can take in is, don’t overwhelm yourself with things to do and know that driving times will eat up a LOT of your time.

It might be smart to target just certain parks, or perhaps focus on just one state. Whatever it is, don’t underestimate drive times.

I have to tell you something. And it’s going to happen on your road trip! It’s a guarantee… Ready for it?

Things won’t always go as planned.

Shocking, right? If this road trip tip seems so obvious to you, just remember while on the trip, that’s how you felt when reading this.

Sometimes we get caught up in the moment, want things to be perfect, and when one string frays, we break apart. You’ll run into a delay, a park is closed, a flat tire… Something.

It’s a guarantee that SOMETHING will go wrong, so just accept it when it does. You’ll only make it worse by having a meltdown.

RELATED: Your Adventurous Montana Road Trip!

You’ll need to check the specification of the states you’ll be rolling through to be sure that you pack accordingly. Do you need more scarves or more swimsuits? Both?!

You’ll have to research to make sure, but aside from clothing, you’ll need to know what else happens in certain states.

Being from Florida, I can tell you that road tripping around August and September could mean potential hurricane weather.

I spend a lot of time in Oregon and the entire West Coast. The past two summers have been LIT. And not in a good way; forest fires during July and August can get really bad and make the air quality terrible, obstruct views, and even close down roads.

While on a West Coast road trip a few years back, a bunch of forest fires had just died down. However, there were still tons of signage warning of potential dangers from the loose ground from the fires and a fire ban in most places.

There were even trails and campsites that were closed because of this.

Remember, there are people from all around the world, the USA, and Canada on the road!

The USA is eclectic; avoid getting road rage, don’t be the ass who doesn’t let someone merge, don’t stop in the middle of the road for pictures, don’t litter, recycle when you can, and just be a good person. There are so many different people on the road; try to be accommodating and understanding.

Oh, and have fun! 🙂

No matter where you’re traveling—you want everything and everyone covered! For road trips anywhere in the world, you can look into using World Nomads (they cover Americans in the US if you’re over 100 miles from home!), Safety Wing (for Americans abroad), or check out my travel insurance post for more options, don’t get caught without it!

For your vehicle, it’s always smart to have your vehicle insured, and more often than not, it’s required! There are many ways to go about this.

If you’re in the US, your car will be insured but getting AAA can prove to be a lifesaver too – they will tow you, help change a tire, and get you back in your vehicle if you locked yourself out!

Sometimes your credit card can cover car rentals (but be careful, many don’t cover vans and RVs!) check this article on the best travel cards to see which credit cards can help lessen your costs on your trip and can cover your car rental.

It’s going to vary widely how insurance will work for you and your vehicle depending on where you are but the bottom line is – just don’t forget about it!

RELATED: A Guide to Finding The Best Long Term Travel Insurance

So which vehicle are you going with? Your own car? A rental? An RV? A rented campervan? There are tons of options but which is right for you and your trip?

Choosing the right vehicle, especially if you’re renting is probably the most important road trip tip to keep in mind. If you’re renting, here are some options to consider:

• Outdoorsy – One of the best RV and campervan rental sites in the USA
• Northbound – Find your car or campervan in Iceland
• Car Rentals – You can check here for current car rental deals anywhere in the world.
• Indie Campers – Rent a campervan and road trip across Europe!

There’s Wicked Campers for South America, Britz and JUCY for Australia and New Zealand, and tons more options!

I hope these road trip tips were helpful! Have fun on your next road trip!

More USA Road Trips

>>> Even More About USA Road Trips <<<

How to Plan a USA Road Trip & Choosing a Vehicle

Your Road Trip Essentials Packing List and Tips (+ Printable Checklist!)

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15 Comments

Love this list! With covid we have been road tripping more and things like this are super useful. Thank you!

Yay! So happy to hear 🙂 Thank you!

This was the best road trip blog poay on road trips I have seen. I agree with many of your ideas.

I particularly agree on no nighttime driving. Many road trip bloggers mention yhay driving at night is ideal.with kids. While I agree it is easier to drive when the kids are sleeping, it is not as safe as driving during daylight hours. Your vision is decreased and you are driving in unfamiliar areas. Unless you work at night you are not ised to being awake at night either. Safety is paramount

I like that you said that while on a road trip it’s a guarantee that something will go wrong, so just accept it when it does. My husband and I are thinking about going on a road trip because we think it would be a great way to spend more time together while also getting to see some beautiful scenery.

Driving home now from a twenty- eight day road trip with my hubby, 9 yr old and two yellow labs. Drove from Florida to Seattle and visited over twenty-five national parks. 80 dollar annual pass for the parks was the best investment .

YES! Those passes are a great idea!

I like to do a bit of research first before going on a trip. This was so useful.

So happy to hear! 🙂 Have fun.

Next time, invest in Sirius SATELLITE radio and a rent a sat phone. You will NEVER be out of contact, or music, again.

Keep enjoying those road trips.

Another important thing: every state drives differently. Californians speed like crazy and a lot of slower drivers sit in the passing lane. Oregonians appear to have no clue where their going and you’ll get a ticket for going 1mph over the speed limit, and Washingtonians pace each other for miles so no one can pass and their traffic is starting to compete with LA.

So true!!! Cross the state border and you could be in a new world of drivers for sure.

Thank you for this list, it will come in handy this summer when my boyfriend and I roadtrip from Kentucky to Galveston, TX

Yay, glad to hear this was helpful, Tara 🙂 Have fun!

Loved your tips! Most we (my son and I) live by when we road trip around the US. Only 7 states left to visit but so many to go back and visit again!

Thanks, Shyla!

Road trip tips: How to prepare for the road with snacks, apps, and entertainment

You’re packed and ready to hit the road—now what? These road trip tips will help keep you entertained and on the right track

By Britany Robinson & Roadtrippers

Now that you’ve addressed everything you’ll leave behind and everything you’ll bring with you , it’s time for the fun part—the actual road trip. This article includes some of our top road trip tips to help you prepare for all that might (or might not) happen along the way. 

Ask yourself the following questions: What is the goal of your road trip? Do you have one specific destination in mind, or many places that you’d like to see along the way? Are you trying to do as much as possible, or would you rather travel slowly and see what happens along the way? You’re bound to miss certain stops and run short on time at different points. What is the one thing along your route that you’d be especially disappointed to miss? Make sure to plan extra time around these non-negotiable stops. 

Addressing your road trip style and your expectations will help you get the most out of your time on the road—and if you’re traveling with other people, it’ll help everyone stay on the same page.

Highways will get you from point A to point B quickly, but they can make for a boring way to travel. Consider getting off the highway to enjoy scenic routes and detours for a more interesting drive. A traditional atlas and regional maps can be game-changers when it comes to understanding the options and picking the best one. You might not realize a bucket-list destination is just 50 miles north if you’re only looking at the zoomed-in version of the map on your phone. 

It should also be clear who is navigating. It can be difficult for a driver to consult alternate routes when a road closure or traffic jam suddenly appears. Giving a passenger the role of navigator will make these situations significantly less stressful. 

When the driver is using a phone to navigate, it should always be on a hands-free holder—in many states, this is the law. 

The weather can also have a big impact on your planned route and driving conditions. Checking the weather for an entire road trip is trickier than checking the weather where you’re at; if you’re driving 600 miles in a day, you need to know if a storm is cutting across your route at mile 300. 

WeatherBUG is a helpful app that will let you track weather in multiple locations at once. Refer to satellite images of bigger areas before you depart each day, and consider checking weather conditions at your halfway point and final destination before you take off. 

You’ll want to pack tire chains, a windshield scraper and a small shovel if there’s any chance you’ll encounter snow. (And don’t forget about mountain passes—they see snow much earlier than other destinations, and sometimes year-round.) 

The best road trip apps and entertainment 

Stretches of almost any road trip may lack decent cell coverage—embrace it. Desolate highways, scenic mountain passes, and quiet backroads are perfect places to let your mind wander (while keeping your eyes on the road!) and enjoy the world as it passes by. 

Then again, there will also be plenty of time to enjoy a rockin’ playlist, get sucked into an audiobook, or use apps to check on weather, traffic, or things to do along the way.

These are some of the best road trip apps that can provide insight and entertainment on your route: 

• Roadtrippers : We may be biased, but we don’t travel without it. Available for iOS and Android . 
• Waze: User input makes Waze a trusted, up-to-date source of traffic information. Available for iOS and Android . 
• GasBuddy: Find the nearest gas stations and compare prices along your route. Available for iOS and Android . 
• Spotify: The monthly subscription fee will cut out commercials and allow you to listen to tunes offline. Available for iOS and Android .
• Recreation.gov: Visiting national or state parks? You can manage campground reservations and explore park options through the Recreation.gov app. Available for iOS and Android . 

Speaking of apps, it’s important to understand your data plan before you start your road trip. Looking at maps, sharing photos of the World’s Largest Ball of Twine , and streaming music all require data, and you don’t want to run into unexpected charges by going over your limit. Consider switching to an unlimited data plan if you think you’ll want access to these things from the road. 

Road trip music

A road trip is not the time to default to the one album you’ve been listening to on repeat for the past six months. With so much time in the car, you’re going to want to mix it up and have lots of road trip music on hand. 

Ask your friends on social media to suggest their favorite road trip tunes. Create a collaborative playlist on Spotify where everyone can add their favorite songs. This is a fun way to connect with friends and discover the music they love. 

To avoid using too much data on streaming music services, download your playlists for offline access before you hit the road. 

Road trip games

Not all road trip entertainment requires your cell phone. These road trip games offer simple, old-fashioned fun for everyone in the car. 

Road trip games for adults and big kids 

A road trip scavenger hunt will encourage everyone to pay extra attention to the passing scenery, and you’ll have a record of what you saw along the way. Create a scavenger hunt checklist before you leave. Some suggestions: Hawaii license plate, deer crossing sign, Sasquatch bumper sticker, and a hot pink storefront.

The Movie Game can turn into an intense competition between movie buffs, and families can relive their favorite movies from decades past. One person starts with the name of a movie, then someone follows with an actor from that movie. The next person must name another movie featuring that actor, and the next person names another movie, and so on. 

Would you rather eat a spider or drink a bottle of ketchup? The classic, “Would you rather?” game can be customized for the audience: Make the questions extra gross or weird with your adult friends, or keep it clean for the kids. 

Road trip games for families and younger kids 

License Plate Bingo is an easy one for kids that will keep their eyes glued to passing cars, searching for an elusive Delaware plate (when you’re in California) or New Mexico plate (when you’re in Maine). See how many states you can spot along your trip. 

The Alphabet Game is another one that encourages everyone in the car to pay attention to the passing scenery and signs. Start with A and look for a sign that starts with that letter, then make your way through the alphabet. 

Road trip snacks 

You’re sure to discover some regional treats and strange roadside snacks along your route—so don’t overpack when it comes to food. But do bring some healthier road trip snacks for when the options are limited to gas stations and fast food. 

Some things to consider before you pack your snacks: Avoid sticky or saucy foods, bring foods that are durable and won’t be ruined if something is packed on top of them, and focus on healthy options that will make you feel energized instead of lethargic—there will be plenty of opportunities to grab junk food when the cravings strike. 

Peanut butter and crackers, carrot sticks, granola bars, dried fruit, jerky, apples, oranges, and trail mix are all convenient crowd-pleasers for the road. 

Motion sickness remedies

Winding country roads and mountain passes are beautiful—until someone gets carsick. Here are some motion sickness remedies to keep in mind.

If you know you get carsick, bring motion sickness medicine and take it before you begin your drive each day. 

Anyone who struggles with car sickness will typically feel better if they sit in the front seat, avoid reading materials, and focus on something inside of the car, rather than looking out the window. Someone who gets car sick is not the best person to navigate—looking at a map or reading directions can quickly make things worse. Avoid alcohol, spicy and heavy foods, or anything that might not agree with you. 

When car sickness sneaks up on someone, take the opportunity to pull over and relax. If you’re on a road without pull-offs, roll down the windows and take it slow. 

Have the best time 

Your road trip plan will only get you so far. Hopefully, it will ease the stress of leaving home, help you remember the essentials, and keep your plan on track. But don’t be afraid to embrace the unexpected. Getting lost, wasting time on disappointing roadside attractions, sitting in traffic, and any type of delay or confusion can be turned into an opportunity for unexpected memories. You can’t possibly anticipate everything the road has in store for you—and that’s half the fun.

Start planning your next road trip

Meet the authors.

Britany Robinson

Britany Robinson is a writer based in Portland, Oregon. Her work explores the intersections of climate, travel, and outdoor recreation, with frequent detours into daily curiosities.

Roadtrippers

Roadtrippers helps you find the most epic destinations and detours—from roadside attractions to natural wonders and beyond.

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The Ultimate Road Trip Checklist: Tips and Tricks for any Epic Road Trip Adventure

last Updated: September 12, 2023 road trip

FYI: Affiliate links may be sprinkled throughout the awesome, free content you see below. I’ll receive a small commission when you purchase from my links (at no extra cost to you), which I’ll totally blow on adult things like boba tea and avocado toast. As always, thanks for the support.

Heading out on road trip in the near future and looking for the ultimate road trip checklist? Keep reading for tons of these long road trip tips and tricks from highly experienced roadtrippers, and learn what to do before, during, and after your drive!

Road trips are always a good time. However, if you come unprepared, road trips can take a nasty turn for the worst. Should we book a hotel in advance? What about gas? Will there be food and restaurants nearby? How can we entertain ourselves for hours on end? Won’t the kids get bored? Am I allowed to do x in x country? AHHHH! It’s all so much!

That’s why this road trip checklist will definitely come in handy – I know I’ve learned a thing or so from my travel companions! Be sure to keep these long road trip tips handy!

I love me a good road trip. Over the past few years, we’ve road tripped the National Parks of Utah , through Fjords and glaciers in Norway , down the California coast , dreamed of driving from San Francisco allll the way to Seattle , hiked our way through Crater Lake National Park , moved from NYC to San Francisco on a massive cross-country road trip , and driven to a multitude of California hot spots ( Big Sur , Mendocino , Yosemite , Lassen National Park , and Napa Valley – I’m looking at you). I’ve even compiled the best long weekend trips from San Francisco that I’m eager to check off – many being road trips.

There’s nothing like throwing caution to the wind, grabbing those keys and driving off into the sunset. In reality, a road trip needs careful planning with a number of things taken into consideration. Enter this road trip checklist! Make sure to read each and every point before your next road trip adventure!

So get reading, understand the importance of each tip on this road trip checklist, and plan your next epic road trip adventure.

Psst: I commonly use this booking site when searching for low-cost car rental options, and like Skyscanner  (which I use to find low-cost flights) , I frequently find great deals on there!

I like to search  via this site  in order to compare rental companies to see who has the best price.

Road Trip Checklist: Long Road Trip Tips and Tricks

Safety tips.

Know the Laws Where You’ll be Driving

The most important advice I can give you before setting out on a road-trip is to brush up on the laws for the country you’ll be driving in. The world may seem to be getting smaller by the day, but the road laws around the world can be very different. Did you know that it’s illegal to drive barefoot in Spain?

Or that you have to have your headlights on 24hrs a day in Sweden? And that it’s illegal to stop on the Autobahn on Germany? I’m not saying you need to know them all the laws, but 10 minutes of browsing Google before you set out could save you some embarrassment, frustration or, worse in the long run.

Here are a few suggestions to get you going:

• What are the basic speed limits?
• What should you do if you have an accident?
• What type of license do you need? – Hopefully you checked this before hiring a car!
• Is there any equipment you have to carry?
• What is the drink-drive limit?
• Who has the right of way at junctions and on roundabouts?

Ben | The Sabbatical Guide

Share the Long Drives

Taking a road trip is a worthwhile travel experience. One of the challenges of a road trip is the long drive. It could be several hours, half a day, or even days before you reach your destinations. For drivers, fatigue kicks in after driving for hours. We handle this situation on our road trip by dividing and conquering the task. One person drives for at least 2 hours while the other person in the front passenger seat navigates.

Even if we use the GPS navigation device for directions, it helps to have another set of eyes to watch for upcoming signs, landmarks, and even other vehicles. After the 2 hours is up, we find the nearest rest stop off the highway or somewhere safe off the road for a quick break and then switch roles. It helps to share the driving and navigating responsibilities with others and to have a more enjoyable ride.

Jackie and Justin | Life of Doing

Do Pre-Car Checks

If you are not renting a car for your road trip, it’s a good idea to do a few quick checks to make sure your car will run smoothly.  It will only take a few minutes but could catch a problem that would derail your trip. First, inspect your tires to make sure that the tread is not too worn.  

If the tread doesn’t look good, you might want to get new tires before heading out on the road. Also, check your tire pressure and adjust so that it meets the level recommended in your owner’s manual.  This will help prevent a blowout or flat tire.

It’s also a good idea to check your oil, coolant, and windshield washer fluid levels and add more if you are running low.  Then check to make sure all your lights are working, Finally, it’s a good idea to fill up with gas before your road trip so you don’t have to stop right away.

Anisa | Two Traveling Texans

Always Have a Paper Map and Know How to Read It

Having a paper map can be a lifesaver if you don’t have a GPS or cell signal. Even if you do have a GPS, you can’t always count on technology. Sometimes the power cords break, the device breaks, or for one reason or another, it just doesn’t work. Or, if you’re like me, you still get lost with a GPS because you turn down the wrong road 85% of the time when it says “turn here.”

Like with anything else, though, what good is it if you don’t know how to use it. I suppose it could still be of use in the form of kindling to start a fire if you get really lost.

Reading a paper map isn’t really that hard of a thing to do. One way to learn how to read a paper map is to find your home or a notable location on the map. It’s the same concept when you are out and about.

Chasing Departures

The Importance of a Good Night’s Sleep

Before heading out on an epic road trip, get a good night’s rest the night before. To avoid drowsy driving, it’s recommend that you sleep an absolute minimum of 4 hours, but 7-8 hours comes highly recommended. In reality, who can even function, let alone drive long distances, on only 4 hours of sleep. Also if you plan to drive at night consider delaying your trip by a few hours or wait until the morning if you are feeling sleepy. Remember, safety first!

Danielle | The Thought Card

Practice Driving on Difficult Roads Beforehand

Try and take the driver’s seat and practice driving on challenging and twisted roads across valleys and other difficult terrain before heading off on your road trip. You don’t exactly know what types of roads you’ll encounter, and it’s best to improve your driving skills and feel comfortable before setting off! I have seen lot of improvements in my driving skills now after implementing this strategy over time.This has helped me to drive on the most challenging and deadliest roads without any problems or issues.

Somnath | Travel Crusade

PLANNING TIPS

Leave Yourself More Driving Time Than You Think You’ll Need

The reason that road trips are so wonderful is that anything is possible. Leave yourself a large buffer of time, so that you can follow the road markers or signs you see on the side of the road to the magical places that the world has to offer that you didn’t even know existed. Most countries have a certain sign to mark historic sites. Sweden has three different kinds to show what kind of attractions you may find. Enjoy your road trip!

The Daily Adventures of Me

Plan Multiple Stops on Long Driving Days

What’s the point in going on a roadtrip if all you see is the highway itself? For us, the most essential thing while being on the road is to make a list of things we want to see on the way – and this is our top priority. We rather have a smaller distance of kilometres travelled, but at least see lots of things.

The best thing to do is to start you travel day by making a list of things that you pass along the route that you want to travel today. Doing so, you won’t miss anything and still have a super relaxed and fun day on the road.

Also, when it comes to stopping on the way, why not plan a picnic at a lake you wanted to see anyway? Having lunch has probably never been that nice before.

Travellers Archive

Forget the Map and Just Drive

Orrrr how about you just don’t plan at all sometimes? I’m not sure I could actually do this, but it’d sure make for a fun adventure!

Whenever you say road trip, people will instantly think about maps. Planning ahead, watching the map so that you know which roads to follow. But what if you forgot about any maps whatsoever? What if you just hop in your car, van, camper, bike, and just go wherever the road takes you.

Being curious on a road trip may prove to be the key ingredient for having memorable experiences. If you happen to spot a road that surprisingly doesn’t appear on your map, you might want to explore it. It could lead you to some incredible places, to some off-the-beaten trails and authentic destinations.

Don’t just stick to the main roads. You might just wake up in a forgotten village, or in a picturesque place, surrounded by wildlife. Don’t be afraid to get lost as the best road trips are not the ones when you simply follow the dotted lines!

Andra | Our World to Wander

Choose Your Travel Companions Wisely

If you are going to go on a road trip, choose your travel mates wisely. For days on end, you will be sharing close quarters and you don’t want to be stuck with someone that doesn’t travel the way you do or gets on your nerves.  Before committing to a long road trip, spend some time together when possible as a trial run.

Consider each other’s travel style and personality. Do they thrive on structure when you like to plan as you go?  Does one of you like to make record time while the other likes to make random stops along the way? Do you eat similar foods? If one people is a vegan who will only eat at Whole Foods while the other prefers fast food all the time, you are going to run into some issues.  

As you are planning, talk about budget and priorities to make sure you align on the types of things you will do and see on your trip. You don’t have to be a perfect match, but you need to know what you are getting into so you can prepare to have a great time.

Dan | HoneymoonAlways

Download Offline Maps

If I could give someone just one road trip tip it would be to download an offline map before you go. Google Maps allows one to easily do this with their app. We have been using it for years and find it to be the most reliable app out there for navigation. Simply go to the area you will be road tripping and download it to your phone.

Then you won’t need a WiFi connection to get turn by turn navigation. It’s all saved in your phone for 30 days. No GPS rental, no WiFi, and no hassle needed. Just make sure not to lose your phone!

Natasha & Cameron | The World Pursuit

Overcompensate for Time

My top road trip tip is to allow yourself extra time, even if you think you don’t need it! Overcompensating for the journey is crucial not only practically speaking, but also to lets you really get the most out of your trip.

You’re bound to stop along the way when driving through incredible landscapes. You wouldn’t want to miss out on the best views would you?! Additionally, stopping off will allow you to just enjoy your surroundings rather than being cooped up in a stuffy car all day. Enjoy the outdoors when you can!

Practically speaking, on unfamiliar roads you should allow yourself time to make mistakes, drive slowly, check directions, and find a parking spot. Finally, getting lost is both the best and worst thing about road trips. You’ll never know what you’ll find, but off-the-beaten-track also means extra travel time!

Keeping time-conscious will help you have more fun while sticking to the schedule, so it’s always worth remembering to add a little extra on the clock.

Suzy | Suzy Stories

Book Your Hotels and Accommodations in Advance in More Remote Areas

A road trip is a perfect time to just throw the plan out the window and just let open road flow.  This sounds really idealist. Except when you are ready to stop for the night, and suddenly find that the next hotel is an hour or three away.  This can be a horrific end to your day.

This issue is especially prominent in the mid-western regions of the United States.  These states are sparsely populated and towns can be few and far between. Towards the end of your day, start checking how long to the next town before leaving a town with hotel options.

Jennifer | National Park Obsessed

PACKING TIPS

Take Along a Spork and Water Bottle with Filter

One of the best items you can bring on a road trip is a spork and a water bottle with built in filter. With these two you can save lots of money and at the same time reduce your use of plastic. A spork is a fork, spoon and knife in one, which is perfect if you just want to buy some foods from the supermarket or some takeaway food – it’s not always that they offer cutlery!

And with a water bottle with built in filter you don’t need to buy water bottles. You just fill up the bottle with tap water, and it filtrates out 99,9% of the bacteria and gives the water a better taste. Even though the tap water is safe to drink in many countries, it’s not always that it tastes so good – and that’s where the filter water bottle comes in handy.

I never travel without my spork and filter water bottle, because they make life a little bit easier and saves me money!

Christine | Christine Abroad

Carry Water and Toilet Paper

Always carry water and lots of it. Not only for drinking but for a variety of reasons. You may need it for cleaning hands, shoes or worst case scenario filling up a radiator in an overheated car. Having baby wipes on hand can also cover cleaning, spillages, sticky fingers and freshening up.

My other top tip is to always have a spare toilet roll in the boot of the car. When nature calls, it calls! You may have to find a public toilet on the road and sometimes they aren’t maintained regularly. Don’t rely on there being a fresh supply of toilet paper at every public toilet. There is nothing worse than going to grab some paper and find out there is nothing there!

Travel Drink Dine

Pack More than Enough Activities for the Car

Long hours on the road can be difficult.  Having activities readily available for children, and some adults, will reduce the stress on the whole family.   Today, this is not as big of a problem as it once was, with cell phones and tablets, but a continuous stream of screen time is not the best way for our families to spend the drive.

Solve this problem with personalized entertainment packs.  Packs can contain a number of things, including magnetic games, small coloring books, puzzles, and reading material.  

We also recommend including a journal and camera, and some learning activities based upon the destinations to be visited.  This encourages discussion among the whole family. For learning activity ideas try online homeschooling resources, or a subscription service such as Little Passports.  

To minimize space impact, keep packs compact and convenient, by using a neatly organized lunch boxes.  Each child can keep it in their own space, and their snacks for each day can be kept inside too.

Roxanna | Gypsy With A Day Job

Cooler for Drinks and Snacks

I grew up road tripping around the United States, and one thing we never left home without was a small cooler for drinks and snacks. Buying drinks at gas stations and rest areas gets expensive, so before we left home, we’d hit the grocery store and grab bottles of our favorite drinks (bottles can be resealed, cans can’t) and bags of candy and chips to keep us going in between meals.

Pro tip: don’t buy anything that can melt like chocolate and gummy bears if you’re traveling in the summer.

We’d stash the cooler on the floor between our seats so we’d always have access to cold drinks. Hotels usually have ice machines, so you can refill your cooler with ice before setting out for the next leg of your trip. You’ll save tons of time and money on your road trip by bringing along a cooler full of drinks for everyone to share.

Kris | Nomad by Trade  

Take Along a Car Inverter

A car inverter is a fantastic road trip accessory and one we never knew we needed but now we can’t travel without! So what exactly is a car inverter? Simply said, an inverter allows you to charge your electrical gear in your car via the cigarette lighter charger in your car. It can be used to charge through both electrical plugs and USB. We use ours to charge all our travel gear such as our laptops, camera batteries, cell phones and drone batteries while on the road.

The ability to charge our gear in the car during a long journey between destinations is so useful and it ensures we never miss a photo due to a dead battery. Our inverter has saved us so many times, especially as we use our cell phones for navigation on road trips which runs down the battery very fast!

Elaine & David | Show Them The Globe

and with all that being said…

Don’t Take TOO Much Stuff

My best road trip tip is not to overload the car with stuff, though the temptation will be great! If you’re playing Tetris in the trunk at the beginning of your trip, you’ll face a disaster by the end. As with any other trip, take just a few days’ worth of clothing and plan to do laundry. Staying organized and having a place for everything is important so that you don’t have to re-pack the car at every stop.

You might have one small suitcase each for cold weather and warm weather clothing (if you’re changing seasons), a bag for things you’ll need at every overnight stop (like toiletries and chargers), a separate bag for swim gear, a cooler and snack bag in the back seat.

If you’re traveling with kids, try to minimize toys and other “kid junk” since it takes up plenty of space and seems to explode everywhere.

Melissa | The Family Voyage

STAYING SANE on the road / in the car

Music, Podcasts, and Audiobooks

Music is essential for a road trip, everyone knows that, but I find music can only hold my attention for so long. I like to take a variety of audio with me, particularly for long road trips where I’m driving all day.

Podcasts, especially serialized podcasts like Serial and S-Town, are great for keeping you entertained, especially during the least interesting sections of road. Some podcasts are so gripping that you actually want to keep driving just so you can find out what happens next.

As well as podcasts and music, I also make sure I have some audio books and standup comedy to hand. You never know when you’ll want something different, and it’s great to have options to hand.

Some people just prefer music, of course, and that’s fine, and the rule should be that whoever is driving gets to listen to what they want to listen to.

James | This Travel Guide

Create A Memorable Trip Playlist

No road trip is complete without its very own soundtrack in my humble opinion. Make yourself a

playlist of your favourite tunes of the moment, or songs in the theme of your trip. It’s so fun to groove along while you’re on the road but even better when you get home. Hearing those road trip tunes  immediately takes you back to your vacation.

I love hearing Bastille’s epic pop anthem Pompeii. It transports me back to our trip to the Amalfi Coast in Italy, driving along the winding cliff top roads. I can almost taste the salty air, seafood pasta and Aperol  spritz cocktail as soon as the opening bars come on the radio.

Deeper in my past, Paul Simon’s Graceland album was the soundtrack of the beach road trip vacations  of my childhood. And these are some of the sweetest travel memories of all.

So put some thought into your road trip soundtrack and pump up the volume as you take to the road.

Katy | Untold Morsels

Have Your Camera Ready

One tip for a memorable (with photographic proof) road trip is to have your camera ready to go at a moment’s notice.  You never know when you might come across a fox with a baby in a field or a moose on a lake or an elk in a forest. Or maybe you will find an incredible view with nowhere to pull off the infrequently traveled road.  Or maybe you’re in Africa or Asia and you drive by a local event along the road.

I always have my camera by my side ready to go. If you have time, make sure you roll down the window to avoid glare and reflections. Please only follow this tip if there are no cars around or you can safely pull off to the side of the road.

TheHotFlashPacker

CAR RENTAL TIPS

Choose Your Car Rental Company and Car Insurance Wisely

One of the most important things to keep in mind when planning a roadtrip is the rental car. It’s very important to choose it smartly, because you are going to spend many hours in the car and it has to be as comfortable as possible.

The first thing to have in mind is choosing the car rental company that suits your needs for the trip. There are many websites that compare the different car rental companies and offer you the best price.

Once you choose the car rental company, you should choose the size of the car, which should be adjusted to the number of passengers and the number of suitcases you want to carry inside. Also, if the road trip destination includes mountains or unpaved roads, it’s better to rent a 4×4.

The last thing you have to keep in mind when renting a car for your roadtrip is the car insurance. Normally car rental companies include basic insurance, but it’s recommended that you extend it to full risk insurance, as that way you will avoid problems and pay a lot of money if you have an accident or you have a flat tire.

Sara | Mindful Travel by Sara

Know the Limits of Price Comparison Websites

Price comparison websites will almost always find the best prices and options for car hire, but it is also important to follow and fully understand the conditions of the hire. As almost all car hire companies will require credit cards these days when booking online, and these must be under the name of the driver. But even if the car hire company offers a refund in failing conditions, the online booking agents rarely share the same policy. So refunds are unlikely. Also, it is best to hire a car that best suits the conditions and terrain of a road trip, for example, engines of cheaper budget cars will likely struggle with mountainous terrain. And before driving from the lot, be sure to report and photograph any damage to the hire, know the fuel type and the fuel policy (full-to-full is generally best), as well as how to open the tank.

Allan | Live Less Ordinary

WAYS TO SAVE MONEY

Rent and Return the Car in the Same City

A road trip is definitely my favourite way to discover a region. Flexible, you meet more local people and visit not-renown spots. I have a tip to give to say some money when organising a road trip. A tip that I learnt making this mistake myself. If you need to hire a car, organise starting point and arrival in the same place because rental agencies charge extra fees to bring back the car to the original location.

You can travel in a circle, as I did in Spain. I started from Madrid and visited Avila, Salamanca, Valladolid and Segovia, before going back to the Spanish capital. On the other side, when I visited Romania, I booked a flight to Timisoara and bought a return ticket from Bucharest.

While it was my favourite road trip, I had to pay the extra-fees for returning the car to Timisoara. Plan better, save money and use it for other activities!

Mario | Human Italian

KID-SPECIFIC TIPS

Bring the car seats for your kids along

It is really very easy to bring your car seats when you’re flying somewhere before your start your road trip. Low cost carriers will probably charge you to bring the car seat but it is worth it. You can just check it in.

The airline will put it in a plastic bag in most cases and you will find your car seat at the ‘unusual luggage spot’ which is mostly located next to the carousel where your normal check-in luggage arrives or at a special desk.

Car rental companies do offer car seats but nobody knows how to put them in the car AND for THEIR insurance, employees are not allowed to help you install the car seat. So to save yourself the frustration of trying to figure out a car seat you don’t know, just bring yours along. It is more practical, probably cheaper and most importantly you KNOW that your child will be safe.

Jessy | Planet Pilgrims

Take Regular Breaks

One of my best tips for road trips with little kids is taking regular breaks. We lived in Sydney for a while and would regularly do the Sydney to Melbourne drive which is 8 hours if you drive directly. We would do it in about 10 hours with a few 30 minute breaks here and there for the kids. We always found somewhere that had a little park so they could stretch their legs and expel some of their energy, we then found they would better settle into the next part of the drive.

We alway found just stopping for a toilet break was not enough and we would get back in the car and they would be fighting before we hit the highway again. A little play and run around made all the difference and if we were really lucky, at least one of the three would have a little sleep after a bit of a run about.

I also recommend regular healthy snacks with water only, we didn’t need any sugar highs in the back seat.

Sally | Our 3 Kids v The World  

A tip that has helped us in a pinch is when driving late at night, with the intention to stop and sleep at a hotel, call the hotel about 20 minutes in advance of your arrival to have the pull-out couch made up if you are needing one. That way you can just carry a sleeping child into the hotel and put them right to bed!

Momma To Go

Hopefully these long road trip tips have taught you a few things! When is your next road trip?!

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August 27, 2020 at 4:56 am

I love to camp and travel. Thanks for sharing such an amazing list. It is truly a great and useful piece of info.

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20 essential tips for a successful road trip

Posted: February 1, 2024 | Last updated: February 1, 2024

Summer is almost here, which means that it's time to start planning some relaxing time away from home. Even with gas prices on the rise, for many folks taking a road trip is the most economical way to plan a vacation, especially if you're traveling with a big family.

Flip through the gallery for 20 essential tips that will help you have a successful road trip, from what you'll need to prepare ahead of time to the perfect snacks for the road. 

Plan an itinerary for your road trip

Road trips are all about adventure, but having an itinerary will ensure that you don't wander so much that you're burnt out on driving. Use Google Maps to research your trip well before departure, and make sure to download your route for offline use in areas where phone service may be limited. 

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...with plenty of stops along the way to keep things interesting

Even if your road trip is only a few hours long, it's still nice to get out and stretch your legs every once in a while. Search along your route for rest stops, fun roadside attractions, and other activities that can offer a short break from the monotony of driving. 

Follow us on MSN to see more of our exclusive lifestyle content.

Get your car checked out by a mechanic before heading out

Before heading out on your trip, make sure that your car is in traveling condition. Check the oil, tires, and headlights, and ensure that everything is in proper working order. 

You may also like: The 20 weirdest foods ever available in a can

Give your car a good deep-cleaning

No one wants to travel in a dirty car. Take yours in for an inexpensive detail job, or DIY it by vacuuming all your surfaces, removing any trash and junk from your backseat, and wiping down cup holders. 

Pack lots of snacks

Sure, there will be plenty of gas stations along your route, but they don't always have the best (or healthiest) snacks. Shelf-stable snacks like peanut butter, crackers, beef jerky, and trail mix are excellent for road trips. 

You may also like: 18 worldwide destinations perfect for nature lovers

Create good playlists

If you've got a long drive ahead, preventing boredom is essential. Load up your phone with music you love, and make sure you've got plenty of up-tempo tunes to help keep you awake during those late-night stretches. Streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music offer tons of playlists perfect for road trips across a variety of musical genres. 

...or download some compelling audiobooks or podcasts

If you're tired of listening to music, switch to something more narrative. Download a serial podcast or audiobook, and spend your drive absorbing new knowledge instead of just watching the scenery pass by.  

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Use a maps app to avoid traffic on the fly

Traffic and accidents can be hard to predict on a road trip. That's where apps like Waze and Google Maps come into play. Thanks to user-generated reports, these apps can tell you about upcoming slowdowns, accidents, and even debris on the road to help make your trip even safer. 

Create a kit of road trip essentials in the car

When you're road-tripping, it's important to make sure that your car is stocked up with the essentials. Make sure that you've got jumper cables, a first aid kit, and a couple of extra gallons of water in the trunk just in case anything goes awry. Back-up phone battery packs and tools for changing a tire or making quick repairs can also be handy. 

You may also like: Our 25 favorite fair foods of all time

Skip junk food in favor of healthier snacks

As tempting as it might be to snack on chips and candy, choosing healthier snacks will make sure that you don't feel terrible at the end of your road trip. Choose protein-heavy options like jerky, hard-boiled eggs, and cheese if you've brought a cooler, or bring along some high-protein nutritional bars to keep satiated during the drive. 

Bring a cooler to keep drinks and snacks cold

Even if it's just a tiny cooler, having chilled drinks and a space to store snacks that aren't shelf-stable can be invaluable on a road trip. Tuck it behind the front seat, or store it in the trunk to encourage the occasional pit stop. 

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Bring a refillable water bottle

Skip the plastic, single-use bottles of water and bring your own reusable aluminum or glass bottle. Rest areas, gas stations, and even some restaurants and coffee shops will offer to fill up your bottle for free, and you'll stay hydrated.

Schedule rest stop breaks every few hours

As tempting as it is to try to make it to your destination in the shortest time possible, it's important to take a break every few hours. Plan a few pit stops along your route, either at gas stations or rest stops, and spend a few minutes stretching and walking around to get the blood flowing and help energize you for the rest of the drive. 

You may also like: 20 big-batch cocktails that are perfect for small gatherings

Plan your departure and arrival times around rush hour traffic

If you're traveling to a city, it's important to know when the traffic will be worst. Try to plan your departure and arrival times around rush hour, even if that means leaving a little earlier (or arriving a bit later) than you might have hoped. 

Consider a scenic detour

The United States is absolutely replete with gorgeous scenic byways and hidden gem highways offering some truly stunning views. Search for scenic byways along your route, and consider taking a detour to take in some natural beauty before making it to your destination. 

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Switch out driving duties with your fellow travelers

If you're driving with other adults who have driver's licenses, make sure that you're splitting up the time fairly. Driving while extremely tired can be dangerous, and it will just make the trip more enjoyable if everyone capable is sharing the load. 

Don't overpack

There's only so much room in a car, and considering all the supplies you'll need, overpacking is a definite no-no. If you do find that you've got too much stuff, consider lightening your pack or renting a larger vehicle to accommodate everything you'll need. 

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Consider investing in a dash camera for a cool souvenir from your trip

Dash cameras are an inexpensive and fun way to bring home a totally unique souvenir from your road trip. Just mount the camera to your dash, and start driving. Once you get back from the trip, you can review the footage and see the sights in a whole new way. 

Play classic road trip games to keep things interesting during long drives

Sometimes, long drives just get boring, and there's nothing better than old-school car games to keep things interesting. Try "I Spy," or the license plate game, and see how quickly everyone in the car gets excited to play. 

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Don't overdo it

As tempting as it is to drive 10+ hours a day, that's also a really great way to burn yourself out in a hurry. Stick to a daily driving schedule, maybe 6-8 hours per day, and still make sure that you're planning a few stops along the way. 

Did you enjoy this slideshow? Follow us on MSN to see more of our exclusive lifestyle content.

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105+ Easy Road Trip Meals & Snacks: Best Road Trip Food

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Road trips are exciting adventures to take with your friends, family or solo. However coming up with a list of the best road trip food & easy road trip meals and snacks can be hard.

Which is where our ultimate list of the best food for road trips comes in handy. To help you avoid hangry companions, outrageous food costs, and unhealthy gas station food stops.

We’ve taken our share of cross country & multi-day road trips over the years, both as adults, and with kids from months old to teenagers. So we know quite a few tricks when it comes to road trip meal planning.

Our list includes easy ideas for healthy snacks, breakfasts, lunches & dinners, for all ages we love. As well as gluten-free, and vegetarian options too.

Plus we provide essential packing tips and a list of non-food items to bring along, at the end of this post. Hop in the car, & let’s go!

Table of Contents

ULTIMATE HEALTHY ROAD TRIP MEALS LIST

If you plan ahead and pre-make some yummy snacks and meals, your family will be well fed on the road. Whether you are heading on a Southwest USA road trip or a coastal road trip from Boston to Acadia National Park or elsewhere.

Healthy road trip food & easy meals the whole family will love.

Why Bring Make Ahead Meals For Road Trips?

Before I get into our epic food list, I’ll quickly go over a few reasons why we bring our own make-ahead road trip meals and snacks. And why you should too:

• Road trip meal planning is a great way to reduce fast food temptation, junk food and save money for your family road trip .
• Bringing good food for road trips frees up some of your hard earned cash to splurge on meals you will actually look forward to . 
• We find our own make-ahead meals & road trip food tends to be healthier.
• If you have dietary restrictions or allergies, creating a road trip meal plan will allow you to have safe meal options on the road.
• Have fun picnics at rest stops, parks, or in your hotel room along your long drive.
• Avoid hungry kidlets with healthy road trip snacks , so they can focus on road trip activities , not driving you crazy with whining. I know you feel me on this one!

Bringing your own food is well worth the time and money you can save on your adventure. Use our road trip planner to help organize your trip.

I love how make ahead easy travel meals are great for cutting down on the mess, stress and time it takes to prepare and clean up on the road. Because as a parent anything I can do to make my life easier is golden.

Road Trip Breakfast Ideas

We’ve found it’s easy to take these road trip breakfast ideas to go, or quickly eat hot in the morning.

As long as we’ve made them ahead of time, and brought them in our cooler. Or if we have access to hot water or basic kitchen facilities or a microwave.

Grab tasty breakfast recipes .

Cold, Non-Perishable Road Trip Breakfast Ideas

• Granola 
• Cereal Bars & Granola Bars
• Breakfast Bars
• Fruit & Veggie Pouches 

⭐️ PRO TIP : Bring a reusable coffee mug and water bottles for each family member. They’re a great option for filling up with hot water, tea, coffee and water on the go. We’ve found they’re less likely to spill in the car if you use a spill-proof refillable cup and snack cup for the littles.

Cold Breakfast Ideas for Road Trips

• Yogurt – Tubes, Drinks
• Fresh Fruit
• Rye Crisp Breads & Goat Cheese
• Chia Pudding – Make the night before
• Granola & Overnight Oats – Make the night before
• Muffins & Peanut Butter (or other nut or seed butters)
• Egg Muffins or Mini Quiches (To heat or not to heat. That is the question)
• Hard-Boiled Eggs
• Breakfast Cookies 
• Vegan Blueberry Muffins
• Bagels and Cream Cheese
• Peanut Butter and Banana Wrap
• No Bake Oat Bites 
• Apple Pie Oat Bliss Balls
• Croissant, ham, cheese
• Croissant, jam & cream cheese
• Pancake Sandwiches – nut butter / jam between two mini pancakes (make ahead)

Hot & Quick Breakfast Ideas

• Instant Oatmeal 
• Cup of Soup or canned soup
• Pre-made Mini Quiche (just heat up)
• Egg, Cheese, & avocado tortilla wrap
• Haloumi Cheese and Bacon Breakfast Sandwich
• One Pan Chickpea Hash (fried chickpeas, veggies, herbs) & Fried eggs

More kid friendly breakfast ideas here .

Road Trip Lunch Ideas

Road trip lunch ideas are probably the easiest for most people to come up with, when it comes to thinking of meal planning for road trips . We like to think of them as picnic lunches.

What is the first thing that comes to mind, but sandwiches. Sandwiches are such a staple we’ve given them their own section below. 

To be honest, I often just prepare and pack foods I would usually take for lunch at work, for the first day or two.

Then I add easy road trip lunches to grab and prep along the way, like sandwich fixings. Or cheese, meat  and cracker plates for a longer trip.

Easy Non-Refrigerated Road Trip Lunch Ideas

• Canned Tuna & crackers – The mini pull tab tins come in many flavours
• Protein Bars , Energy Bars
• Sardines or Mackerel canned with avocado, crackers or bread
• Snacks for lunch: Beef Jerky, Trail Mix, Smoothie Pouches, Nut Butter Pouches
• Peanut Butter (or other nut & seed butter) & Jam Wraps
• Canned grape leaf rolls

Cold Road Trip Lunches

• Sushi / nori rolls – sweet potato, cucumber and avocado,  smoked salmon, cucumber and avocado, smoked salmon & cream cheese
• Sandwiches (see Road Trip Sandwiches below for ideas) 
• Tortilla Pinwheels
• Meat Kabobs
• Pasta Salad
• Corn & Zucchini Fritters
• Fruit (apple slices, cantaloupe, grapes), cheese and bread or crackers
• Charcuterie plate – cheese, deli meats, olives, dried fruit
• Chickpea or Bean Salads
• Quinoa Salad
• Mason Jar Salad – keep the dressing separate
• Pre-made Quesadillas – Refried beans and cheese. Keep salsa & sour cream separate in small leak-proof containers

Sides to Add to Lunch Ideas

• Cut up veggie sticks and hummus
• Fruit – apple, berries, melon, grapes
• Homemade cookies or energy balls
• Cucumber, cherry tomatos & peppers salad

Road Trip Sandwiches

What’s a road trip, without a sandwich or two. In fact sandwiches are so iconic, portable, easy to make and ideal for lunch and family vacation dinners they deserve a section, all on its own.

For easy,  awesome sandwiches we’ve found you will only need a few things to mix and match:

• Bread: First you’ll need some kind of hearty bread (kaiser bun, wraps, pita, baguette, ciabatta)
• Protein: Pair with protein such as deli meat, sliced chicken or beef, bacon, eggs, tofu, nut butters
• Extras: Add on the extras such as cheese, lettuce, pickles, fruit 
• Condiments: mayo, mustard, olive tapenade, other sauces

Tasty Sandwich Ideas for Traveling:

• Cheddar and Jam
• Egg Salad 
• Cream cheese and cucumber
• Spicy Tuna and Cucumber – leave out the spice if it’s not your thing
• Pesto Egg Salad Baguette
• Ham & Cheese Baguette or Wrap
• Turkey and Cheese Baguette or Wrap
• Turkey Club Sandwich
• Turkey, Pear, Feta Wrap
• Apple, Cheddar and Mustard Sandwich
• Roasted Red Pepper & Hummus Sandwich
• Curry Chicken or Curried Chickpea Salad Sandwich

Tips for Packing Sandwiches on Road Trips

• Start with heartier bread or toast it first . Put a layer of mayo, or mustard on each side. It actually helps prevent soggy sandwiches.
• I often toast the bread, and then wait until it’s completely cooled before making and storing the sandwiches.
• Keep wet sandwich ingredients separate like tomatoes. We add them right before eating.
• Pack each ingredient separately . Then everyone can assemble their sandwich how they like, on-the-go. We’ve found this helpful with our pickiest eater.
• Pack sandwiches in a hard sided container . Either use reusable individual sandwich containers or larger leak-proof containers for multiple sandwiches. We also love silicone sandwich bags to cut down on plastic.
• Keep the sandwiches on top of the cooler for easy to grab meals on the road.

You may also like 50+ Easy to make, healthy road trip snack recipes

Easy Road Trip Meals Dinner Ideas

Dinner is the one meal we often splurge on, and choose to eat out at a local restaurant, instead of on the road when possible. 

I like to do a bit of research and see what the area is known for, or if there are special meals we can’t get at home. Also after a few days of packed road trip meals, it’s nice to sit down at a restaurant and have someone else clean up and organize.

However, there are times I find when you need a few dinner in the car ideas on hand. You can always re-use the lunch or even breakfast ideas, because they are all tasty anytime of day. 

Check out our favourite easy vacation dinner recipes .

Cold Road Trip Dinner Ideas

• Pasta Salad & Greek Salad
• Cobb Salad 
• Other Cold salads – Potato, bean, egg, chickpea, salmon, tofu, quinoa, rice and bean
• Sandwiches – check out ideas in sandwich section
• Chicken salad / caesar wrap
• Falafel Wrap
• Rice Paper Rolls & Peanut Sauce
• Chicken wings & pre roasted veggies
• Grilled or roast chicken, rice and veggies
• Tortilla Chips, Bean Dip and Salsa
• Egg roll pinwheels with spinach, and cheese 
• Mason Jar grain + protein + roast veggies (pre-made)

Salad Tips – Keep the ingredients & dressing separate. That way each person can assemble to their liking, and the lettuce doesn’t get soggy from swimming in the dressing all day.  

KOA has 10 fun on-the go recipes to try.

Mason Jar Meal tips

Mason Jars are a fun and easy way to store pre-made meals.

They are fairly sturdy (I’ve dropped them many times without breaking them) and come in different sizes. The 500ml and 250 ml are perfect for individual meals.

Choose a grain + a protein + roasted, steamed or stir fried veggies and you have a delicious meal to go.

• Pre-cook a grain: brown rice, basmati rice, white rice, quinoa,
• Choose a protein : roast chicken or beef, curried chickpeas, tofu
• Cooked veggies: stir fries, steamed broccoli, curries, stew,

Hot Road Trip Dinner Ideas

One pan or pot dinner ideas are perfect for travel, camping and road trips. Especially if you ‘ve been entertaining the kids with road trip conversations all day.

As long as you remember the hot plate, or cook stove. I’ve been there, done that, forgetting the stove. Another option is to choose motels, or places to stay that have basic kitchen facilities. 

I’ve also gone the route of meal prepping ahead of time and putting individual meals in separate containers that are easy to reheat and clean up. 

If you are a camping family, what you plan for pre-made camping meals is similar.

Think easy camping type meals:

• Baked Beans
• Cup of Soup or Canned Soup
• Frozen Homemade Soup (use the first day or two after it defrosts. Bonus it helps keep the cooler cold)
• Bacon or Sausages and Eggs
• Quesadillas
• Rice and beans or ground beef for tacos or wraps
• Chickpea Curry and Rice (pre-make and heat up)
• Spaghetti 

ROAD TRIP SNACK & DRINKS LIST

We have a full article on our favorite road trip snacks to bring that both adults and kids will love. Good food for long journeys.

Here are a few snack ideas to get you started:

• Energy Balls
• Baby Carrots, Cherry Tomatoes, Snap Peas, Celery Sticks & Dip 
• Cheese and Crackers
• Apple Pear Muffins
• Jerky, Beef Sticks
• Potato Chips
• Plantain Chips
• Moon Cheese
• Cheese Crisps
• Seaweed Snacks
• String cheese
• Sunflower seeds
• Gluten-Free Bars –  We like these mini Gluten-Free Bars  

Who doesn’t drink too much on the road because they are avoiding using restrooms at pull-outs or gas stations?  

I’m guilty of this too, but this often leads me to crankiness and wicked headaches, sooo…… Do as I say, not as I do (said Parents everywhere).

Staying hydrated is super important. While water should be the number one choice, sometimes you need a little something different like:

• Coconut water
• Water with crushed berries, or cucumber slices, or lemon
• No sugar added fruit juices 
• Flavoured Sparkling water 
• Almond / Oat / Soy Milk

🚙 More road trip ideas 7 day Zion, Bryce and Grand Canyon itinerary

Road Trip Food & Meal Planning Tips

Meal Planning Tips

When meal planning healthy road trip foods, I think it’s important to consider a few key important things:

• What road trip meals you want to bring, and which one’s you’d like to buy.
• If travelling with kids, which foods do they already like. They aren’t going to magically start liking raw broccoli and raisins on your long trip. Adapt your food for road trips with kids.
• Road trip meal ideas – Make a list of food ideas for breakfast , lunch, dinner, snacks and drinks. Make sure they’re easy food to travel with.
• Creating a road trip grocery list is a good idea, so important items don’t get forgotten. But don’t stress, as usually you’ll be able to pick up ingredients along the way if needed.
• How to pack food for your road trip, so it doesn’t get squished, and stays cool longer.

With so much to do when planning a road trip, it’s sometimes hard to be prepared when it comes to traveling food.

Road Trip Food Tips

Beyond throwing a bunch of items into the cooler and food bag and hoping for the best. Let’s give you a few of my top tips to make packing a bit easier:

• Bread: Bring wraps, pitas and flatbreads – we find they take up less room, and won’t get squished like bread loaves
• Perishables: Eat your perishables and more fragile fruits first (bananas, raspberries, pre-cut fruit like melons, pineapple, mango etc.)
• Freeze Water bottles: When hot out, freeze a couple of the water bottles the night before. They’ll keep your cooler cold, and we love that they give us cold water to drink as they melt.
• Pre-Make Meals & Portion Out: Pre-make meals, and portion them out in mason jars or reusable plastic or glass containers.
• Place your cooler somewhere cool the night before, or pre-chill the cooler for up to 12 hours with ice / ice packs you won’t be using on your trip. 
• Lay solid blocks of ice or reusable ice packs on the bottom, plus put a layer of ice on the top
• Pack the cooler full – too much space helps the inside heat up faster
• Freeze food you won’t need for a couple of days, and use frozen water bottles to help keep the inside colder, longer
• Try to limit the number of times you open the cooler in the day.
• Pack your food in order of when you want to eat it, leaving the next day or two’s meals on top. 
• Garbage Bag for the car: We always have a designated garbage bag for the car. It helps to keep the garbage contained, and the car organized.
• Clean-Up Kit :  Bring a clean up kit. Kids, adults, toddlers all on occasion make messes. Having a clean-up kit handy just in case is good practice. Include wipes, paper towel, extra water, and an easily accessible change of clothes.
• Storage: To keep things organized, we usually use small stackable Rubbermaid containers to pack our non-perishables.

🚙 More Road Trip Ideas: 4 Day family friendly itinerary in Acadia National Park

Road Trip Essentials

Now that we’ve got the meals all planned out, and the best road trip SNACKS organized  let’s move on to the non-food items you’ll need to add to your road trip packing list. 

Reusable Items

Our goal is to reduce our impact on the earth whatever mode of travel. Bringing reusable items on our trips to cut down on waste is one simple way to do this. If you make it part of your routine, you will be pleasantly surprised how easy it becomes.

Here are some other reusable items to pack for your road trip:

• Plastic, glass or stainless steel containers – Can be used for leftovers, as dishes, hold snack packs, or even small toys, art supplies
• Cutlery – knives, forks, spoons, 
• Dishes – Cups, plates, bowls
• Coffee Mugs – Our favs are Yeti Mugs or the Klean Kanteen  
• Reusable Straws
• Water bottles for the kids
• Water bottles for the adults
• Cloth fruit bags 
• Bento Boxes
• Garbage bags – reuse grocery bags

Storage & Cleaning Supplies

• Reusable Ice Packs 
• Hand sanitizer
• Paper Towels & Wet Wipes 
• Biodegradable Soap

Travel Backpacks

You will definitely want to make sure you and your kids have their own travel backpack for the trip.

A good travel backpack can be multipurpose, for hiking, storing road trip activities and entertainment, plus give easy access to a couple of snacks, and a handy change of clothes.

There’s been numerous times my “safety first” approach & extra clothes has saved us on long trips. From puking children, to epic diaper blow outs, and unexpected spills, with kids it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

Best Road Trip Coolers

Coolers provide more flexibility with the types of meals and snacks  you can bring on your trips. We think they are a road trip essential, without a doubt. Before choosing one, there are a few things to consider:

• How long is your trip?
• Which meals will you be packing from home?
• How often will you have access to a grocery store?
• How much space do you have in your vehicle? Where do you want to put the cooler?

Answers to these questions will give you an idea of the size and cooling ability needed from your cooler. We’ve put together a list of the best coolers to try, that are easily available on Amazon.

Best Overall Cooler – Yeti Roadi 24 Cooler

The Yeti Roadi 24 Cooler is narrow, so it easily fits behind the seat, is well insulated, which holds the cold, and is lighter than previous versions.

It can also be transformed into a stool if you buy the cushion. It’s a bit of an invesment, so a good buy if you are planning on using it a lot.

Best Afforable Family Cooler – Coleman 316

The Coleman 316 Cooler is a top pick for size, flexibility and price. It can hold a lot of food and ice, which can be kept cool at higher temps for 2-3 days.

Perfect for shorter trips, or if you plan on replenishing your food / ice every few days.

Best Soft Sided Cooler – TOURIT Leak-Proof Backpack

The Tourit Leak Proof soft-sided backpack is an excellent option for shorter road trips or if you are planning a picnic or day at the beach. This leak-proof high-density insulated backpack can keep food cold for up to 3 days. It also has side pockets for extra storage.

Tips to Prepare For Your Next Road Trip

Anything you can do the day or two beforehand to prep your food, and pack your non-perishables, do it. This will save rushing around at the last minute, and forgetting important things like your water bottles.

We recommend doing the following ahead of time:

• Make a Shopping list and meal plan.
• Check off the items as you pack them. 
• Wash and cut veggies and fruit
• Prepare sandwiches, meat slices, cheese slices
• Freeze meals and water bottles the night or two before
• Prepare the snack bags or snack tote 
• Prepare your Clean up kit
• Pack non-perishable foods in small totes or bags
• Pack your perishable foods in the cooler, & an airtight container, right before you leave.

PRO TIP: Pack your car the night before you leave, to make sure everything fits. Make sure your cooler and essential road trip snacks are easily accessible. 

Conclusion: Ultimate Easy Road Trip Meals & Snacks List

With over 100 delicious and easy road trip meal ideas, you will find a party in your cooler for all taste buds or your next long journey.

 Plus don’t forget that a little pre-trip planning can go a long way towards a stress free vacation.

Grab a great road trip snack or two and head on out on the open road. I hope this helps you have an epic road trip.

Related travel tips and destination articles:

• Easy ways to take a frugal road trip
• Epic RV Gift Ideas: Gifts RV Owners will love and use
• Epic Gifts for Beach Lovers – prep for your beach vacation
• Best Walkie Talkies For Road Trips
• Complete Road Trip Packing List For Families

Donna Garrison is the founder of Packed for Life, an ever curious traveler with a passion for making memories with her family. With a unique perspective on travelling on a budget gathered over 30 years, 20 countries and 5 continents she gives families the tools & resources they need to experience the joys of travelling more for less through practical solutions. She helps over 20,000 families a month plan & take the family travel, camping and road trip adventures of their dreams in Canada, the USA and around the world. Contact her at: Donna [at] packedforlife.com

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14 Best Road Trip Snacks for Adults [Ranked]

• February 13, 2024
• Sustenance / Snack

Road trips hold a special place in American culture. The open road, wind in your hair, sunglasses on, carefree vibes…what’s not to love?

But let’s be real – those nostalgic memories of family road trips often gloss over the not-so-fun parts, like headaches from screaming kids, frequent bathroom breaks, and crawling in traffic for hours.

As an adult, you can reinvent what road trips mean for you. Skip the headaches and harness the freedom of the open road! However, fueling your adult adventure takes more planning.

According to a survey by SnackSafely.com , 45% of adults experience energy slumps, headaches, and hangovers from unhealthy snacks and poor nutrition on road trips. No one wants their epic journey derailed by rollercoaster blood sugar and mood crashes.

That’s why I’ve created the ultimate guide to fueling YOUR adventure with the 14 best road trip snacks for adults! These hand-picked options check all the boxes:

• Adult-friendly nutrition to power you through the miles
• Portable and mess-free for easy snacking en route
• Long shelf life with no refrigeration required
• Delicious flavors to combat road trip boredom
• Accommodate special diets like vegan and gluten-free
• Fun twists on snacks to make them your own

Follow my snack roadmap and say goodbye to post-junk food regrets and road trip fatigue. Adventure awaits – let’s fuel it right!

Choosing the Right Snacks for Adult Road Trips

Unlike when you were a kid, your snacks can’t just be sugary treats and junk food. Think nutrition first when stocking up! Here are the key factors for choosing adult road trip snacks:

A.) Adult-Friendly Power

Opt for snacks with a balance of protein, healthy fats, and complex carbs. These nutrients provide sustained energy release to power you through driving, prevent blood sugar crashes, and keep your brain sharp. Nuts, whole grains, and high-protein snacks are your friends!

Research by the University of California, Berkeley, found that eating protein-rich snacks led to 50% less feeling stressed  while driving compared to those who consumed sugary snacks.

B.) Portable & Shelf-Stable

Road trip munching happens on the go, so you need snacks that are easy to eat with one hand and won’t leave a mess all over the car. Bonus points if they can sit unrefrigerated for hours without spoiling.

C.) Dietary Diversity

Why should dietary restrictions limit your snacking fun? Bring options that work for vegan, gluten-free, paleo, nut-free, and other diets so no one feels left out of the snack party.

D.) Travel Stages

Pack quick bites for on-the-go munching between stops, filling balanced snacks for meal replacement if you can’t sit down, and refreshing lighter items to beat boredom. You need snacks for every leg of the journey!

14 Best Road Trip Snacks for Adults

Having the right snacks on hand is crucial for staying energized, satisfied, and focused on any road trip adventure. After careful consideration, I’ve compiled my definitive ranking of the 14 best snacks for adults to power their drives and fuel their bodies.

Ranking Criteria

To determine the snacks that made the cut, I used the following tiered ranking criteria:

Top Tier (Essentials):

• Nutritional Value:  Options that provide lasting energy through protein, healthy fats, fiber, and complex carbs. This helps prevent fatigue and blood sugar crashes.
• Portability and Mess-Free:  Snacks need to be easily eaten on the go without making a mess in the car. Resealable bags and containers are ideal.
• Shelf Life and Convenience:  Seek shelf-stable snacks that hold up without refrigeration. Minimal prep while traveling is essential.
• Sustaining:  Snacks should contain enough calories, protein, and fiber to tide you over between stops. Avoid over-snacking.
• Affordability:  Finding budget-friendly snacks allows you to buy in quantity without overspending.

Middle Tier (Desirable but Flexible):

• Taste and Variety:  A mix of flavors and textures keeps taste buds excited and prevents snack boredom. But don’t sacrifice nutrition.
• Dietary Friendliness:  Having options for different diets is great, but top-tier criteria still take priority.

Bonus Tier (Enhancers):

• Uniqueness and Creativity:  Fun, DIY snacks add personalization and excitement to the journey.
• Refreshment and Mood Boost:  Hydrating, cooling snacks provide revitalization and mental clarity.
• Adventure Vibes:  Nostalgic or exotic snacks enhance the road trip theme.

Studies show snack variety boosts mood and prevents boredom.

Based on a careful evaluation using these metrics, here is my personal ranking from the #1 best road trip snack for adults. All of these are delicious, travel-friendly, and body-nourishing snacks to fuel your next road adventure! Let’s begin!

1. Greek Yogurt and Fruit Cups

Layer creamy, protein-packed Greek yogurt together with fiber-filled granola, fresh mixed berries, and a drizzle of honey in portable cups for the perfect grab-and-go snack providing a balance of nutrition.

Ingredients: Nonfat Greek yogurt provides a high protein base. Toppings like granola, mixed berries, banana slices, chia seeds, honey, etc. allow for customization.

Benefits: Greek yogurt supplies ample protein and gut-healthy probiotics. The fruits add vitamins and natural sweetness. Granola provides fiber. Well-balanced nutrition.

Preparation Tips: Construct the yogurt cups ahead of time in disposable cups or portable jars. Keep refrigerated until ready to grab and eat.

Nutrition Per Serving: Varies based on ingredients. Greek yogurt has around 100 calories and 17 grams of protein per 6-ounce serving.

USP: Make-ahead convenience. Layers create fun flavors and textures. Protein and probiotics aid digestion – helpful for road trip eating. Easily customizable.

2. Spicy Roasted Chickpeas

Transform chickpeas into a crunchy and spicy snack by roasting with olive oil and savory spices like cumin, paprika, garlic powder, cayenne, etc.

Ingredients: Canned chickpeas, olive oil, and spice blends of your choosing.

Benefits: Chickpeas provide vegan protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Roasting makes them satisfyingly crunchy. Spices add robust, customizable flavors.

Preparation Tips: Drain, rinse, and roast canned chickpeas at high heat with spices until browned and crispy. Store in airtight containers once cooled.

Nutrition Per Serving: About 160 calories, 7g protein, 6g fiber per 1/2 cup serving. Swap olive oil to remove fat grams.

USP: Vegan/vegetarian snack. Crunchy and portable. Robust spice flavor options. Shelf-stable convenience.

3. Trail Mix Bar Bites

Convert your regular trail mix into no-bake, bite-sized protein bars by binding the ingredients together with honey, nut butter, or other sticky ingredients. The options are endless!

Ingredients: Rolled oats, chopped nuts, sunflower or pumpkin seeds, dried fruit, nut butter, honey or maple syrup, and any other desired crunchy ingredients, spices, or mix-ins.

Benefits: Provides lasting energy from complex carbs, fiber, protein, and healthy fats derived from whole food ingredients like oats, nuts, seeds, and dried fruit. The bars are neatly portion-controlled for convenience.

Preparation Tips: Simply mix all ingredients together until a sticky dough forms, shape it into bars or balls, and then wrap it individually. Refrigerate or freeze to prolong freshness during your trip.

Nutrition Per Serving: Depends on the specific ingredients used in each bar, but averages around 150 calories, 5 grams protein, 7 grams fat, and 13 grams carbs.

USP: Make-ahead convenience. Portable energy. Creative twist on standard trail mix. Customizable for dietary preferences. Provides lasting fuel between meals.

4. DIY Jerky

Make your own jerky from lean meat for a protein-packed snack you control the flavors of. Slice beef, turkey, salmon, or other meats marinate and dehydrate into chewy jerky goodness.

Ingredients: Start with lean cuts of meat like flank steak, sirloin, or turkey breast. Marinate strips in Worcestershire, soy sauce, spices, brown sugar, etc. before dehydrating.

Benefits: 10-15 grams of protein per ounce supplies steady energy for the road. The savory, smokey flavor satisfies snack cravings. Essential amino acids help repair muscles.

Preparation Tips: Seek out quality meat and experiment with marinades. Dehydrate meat into chewy jerky strips. Portion into individual bags or reusable containers.

Nutrition Per Serving: An average of 120 calories, 15 grams of protein, and 5 grams of fat per ounce. Sodium varies significantly based on preparation.

USP: Making it yourself allows full control over ingredients for a preservative-free snack. Shelf-stable and non-perishable. Protein punch in a compact form.

5. Spiced Chickpea Snack Packs

Protein-packed roasted chickpeas become even more flavorful and fun when seasoned with spices like chili powder, curry powder, garlic powder, or cumin. Seek out single-serve bags or make your own spiced batches.

Ingredients: Chickpeas as the base, along with olive oil for roasting and assorted spices like chili powder, paprika, curry powder, garlic powder, cumin, etc.

Benefits: Chickpeas offer a substantial amount of plant-based protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Different spice blends allow flavor customization. Roasting makes them satisfyingly crunchy.

Preparation Tips: Drain and rinse canned chickpeas, then toss with olive oil and desired spices. Roast at 400°F, stirring occasionally, until browned and crispy.

Nutrition Per Serving: About 160 calories, 7 grams protein, and 6 grams fiber per 1/2 cup serving.

USP: A vegan and vegetarian-friendly snack that is shelf-stable for road trips. The savory, crunchy texture and customizable flavors make roasted chickpeas intrinsically crave-worthy.

6. Apple Slices with Nut Butter

Pair sliced apple, pear, or banana pieces with nut butter for a snack combo that provides a winning balance of sweet fruit, creamy nut butter, protein, fiber, and essential nutrients.

Ingredients: Freshly sliced apples, pears, bananas, or other fruits are ideal bases, while almond butter, peanut butter, sunflower seed butter, or any other nut or seed butter make great dips.

Benefits: The fruit supplies natural sugars and vitamins like potassium and vitamin C, while the nut or seed butter provides filling protein, fiber, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals, balancing out the carbohydrates.

Preparation Tips: Simply wash and slice your preferred fruits before traveling. Pair them with single-serve pouches or packets of your chosen nut or seed butter for assembly on the go.

Nutrition Per Serving: One apple with 2 tablespoons of peanut butter contains approximately 270 calories, 5 grams of protein, 16 grams of fat, and 29 grams of carbs. Details vary by fruit and nut butter selections.

USP: Both kids and adults love this sweet yet satisfying snack combo. The hydrating fruit paired with creamy nut butter makes it simple to assemble yet still nourishing.

7. Homemade Guacamole and Crackers

Whip up a batch of freshly made guacamole by mashing avocados, tomatoes, onions, garlic, lime juice, cilantro, and any other desired ingredients. Pair it with whole-grain crackers or vegetable dippers.

Ingredients: Guacamole’s base comes from ripe avocados, paired with possible mix-ins like tomatoes, onion, garlic, lime juice, cilantro, hot sauce, etc. This can be served alongside whole grain crackers or fresh veggies like carrots and celery sticks.

Benefits: Guacamole provides healthy fats and fiber from the avocados, while the vegetables offer added vitamins and minerals. The crackers or fresh veggies give it a crunchy textural balance.

Preparation Tips: Make the guacamole ahead of time and store it in an airtight container to prevent browning. Pack any accompaniments like crackers or sliced vegetables separately.

Nutrition Per Serving: A 2-tablespoon serving of guacamole has approximately 50 calories and 2 grams of fiber. Crackers range from 70-120 calories depending on type and quantity.

USP: The fresh, nutrient-dense ingredients make homemade guacamole shine. Pairing it with vegetable dippers adds a hydrating crunch. The make-ahead convenience also helps.

8. Dark Chocolate and Almonds

Bitter dark chocolate and salty almonds make for a dynamic flavor and texture combo that also provides antioxidants and protein. Just be sure to keep portions in check.

Ingredients: Opt for at least 70% cacao dark chocolate paired with unsalted almonds.

Benefits: Dark chocolate delivers antioxidants, while almonds provide protein, healthy fats, vitamin E, and magnesium. Together they offer a dual sweet-salty taste and crunchy-smooth mouthfeel.

Preparation Tips: Seek out individually wrapped dark chocolate-almond packs for portion control or make your own homemade trail mix combination.

Nutrition Per Serving: When keeping servings small, around 150 calories, 3 grams protein, 9 grams fat, and 12 grams carbs per serving. Larger portions drastically increase calories.

USP: The antioxidant benefits of dark chocolate coupled with the sweet-salty duo make this a unique-tasting snack. Individually wrapped portions also provide easy portable snacking.

9. Baked Kale Chips

For a crispy, crunchy snack with more nutrition than greasy potato chips, bake your own kale chips! Simply toss torn kale pieces with olive oil and preferred seasonings, then bake at low heat until perfectly crisp.

Ingredients: Kale, olive oil just to lightly coat, and desired seasonings like sea salt, garlic powder, nutritional yeast, onion powder, chili powder, etc.

Benefits: Kale chips contain far more vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants than traditional potato chips after baking. The touch of oil helps them get super crispy in the oven. Seasonings also allow flavor customization.

Preparation Tips: Wash kale thoroughly, tear it into chip-sized pieces, toss lightly with oil and seasonings, and bake at 275°F until crisp ~ about 30 minutes. Let cool before storing in airtight containers.

Nutrition Per Serving: Baked kale chips provide about 60 calories per 1 ounce (about 1 cup) serving. The majority come from healthy fats, with an excellent source of vitamins A, C, and K.

USP: Kale chips make for a much healthier swap compared to greasy, fried potato chips. Their crunchy, crispy texture and salty, savory taste satisfy snack cravings. Seasoning allows flavor customization too.

10. Turkey Roll-Ups

Roll up convenient slices of lean turkey breast around cheeses, shredded vegetables like carrots or spinach, hummus, pesto, or any other desired fillings for a customizable snack bursting with protein.

Ingredients: Thinly sliced turkey breast, cheese slices, shredded raw vegetables, hummus, pesto, mustard, or any other spreads or fillings that work nicely rolled up inside.

Benefits: The turkey provides lean protein while the fillings incorporate more flavor and nutrients. Their hand-held, roll-up format makes this an easy snack to eat on the go while driving.

Preparation Tips: Look for pre-made roll-ups at your grocer’s deli counter for maximum convenience, or assemble your own ahead of time and individually wrap each for grab-and-go ease.

Nutrition Per Serving: This depends on fillings, but turkey breast has around 35 calories and 7 grams of protein per slice. Filling options impact carbohydrates, fats, and fiber.

USP: The turkey roll-up combination provides a customizable protein and vegetable snack in a tidy, portable format that is often readily available.

11. Yogurt Parfaits

Transform yogurt into a perfectly portable snack by layering it with crunchy granola, fresh mixed fruit, chia seeds, coconut, chocolate chips, or any other desired toppings to create a customizable parfait.

Ingredients: The base consists of yogurt, particularly high-protein Greek yogurt. This can be layered with any combination of granola, fresh fruits like berries, bananas, or melon, chia seeds, shredded coconut, chocolate chips, etc.

Benefits: Yogurt provides protein, calcium, and probiotics. The assorted fruits and vegetables add vitamins and antioxidants. Granola contributes fiber. And customized add-ins allow you to tailor nutritional profiles and flavors.

Preparation Tips: Construct the parfaits ahead of time in either disposable cups or wide-mouth jars for easy on-the-go snacking, keeping ingredients separate until ready to eat if necessary.

Nutrition Per Serving: Because combinations vary, nutrition details differ, but Greek yogurt contains more protein than regular. Add-ins impact carbohydrates, fats, and calories.

USP: The make-ahead, grab-and-go convenience makes this a handy snack for road trips. The diverse layers and flavors keep it interesting. Customizations work for many dietary needs too.

12. Hard-Boiled Eggs and Edamame

Hard boil the eggs and pair with roasted edamame pods for the perfect high-protein, plant- and animal-based snacking duo. Both are totally portable.

Ingredients: Eggs and pre-packaged dry roasted edamame pods.

Benefits: Eggs provide 6g protein and 5g fat for sustained energy. Edamame adds 8g plant-based protein and 5g fiber per serving. Powerful protein punch.

Preparation Tips: Boil eggs up to 1 week before and store in the fridge. Toss in your cooler while traveling. Edamame just needs to be portioned out.

Nutrition Per Serving: 1 egg has about 80 calories, 6g protein, and 5g fat. 1 edamame pod serving averages 130 calories, 8g protein, and 5g fiber.

USP: No refrigeration needed. Grab-and-go, mess-free plant- and animal-based proteins. Affordable and easily accessible.

13. Veggie Hummus Dippers

For a snack pairing that combines protein and a refreshing crunch factor, hummus spread alongside fresh vegetable dippers creates the perfect balance. The smooth, creamy hummus perfectly complements the crispy fresh vegetables.

Ingredients: Hummus made from chickpeas, olive oil, and seasonings can be paired with an array of fresh vegetables like carrots, celery, bell peppers, cucumbers, and broccoli for dipping.

Benefits: Hummus provides plant-based protein, healthy fats, and fiber. The fresh vegetables selected deliver extra vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Together they create a filling, nutrient-dense snack.

Preparation Tips: Purchase single-serve hummus containers for dipping convenience on the go. Prepare the fresh vegetables by washing and slicing them in advance of your trip.

Nutrition Per Serving: A typical 2-3 tablespoon serving of hummus contains around 70 calories and 4 grams each of plant-based protein and fiber. One cup of fresh vegetables averages about 30 calories.

USP: This snack combination is vegetarian and vegan-friendly. The vegetables provide a hydrating crunch factor. Hummus comes in diverse flavors to keep things interesting. And it makes for mess-free dipping while in transit.

14. Trail Mix Turbo

Trail mix allows complete customization to create a protein- and fiber-packed snack suited to your personal tastes and preferences by mixing and matching your favorite nuts, seeds, dried fruits, and whole-grain ingredients like oats or cereal.

Ingredients: Assorted nuts like almonds, cashews, and walnuts can be combined with seeds such as pepitas and sunflower seeds, then blended with dried fruits like cranberries, raisins, or apricots and wholesome whole grains like raw oats or shredded coconut to achieve your perfect flavor and texture medley.

Benefits: Trail mix provides lasting energy throughout road trip travels thanks to its nutritional profile rich in protein, healthy fats, complex carbohydrates, and fiber derived from nuts, seeds, fruits, and whole grains. It also offers both sweet and salty flavors in one hand-held snack.

Preparation Tips: You can purchase pre-made trail mix blends for convenience or create your own signature combinations by mixing ingredients from bulk bins at your local grocer. Portioning the mixes into single-serve bags or reusable containers makes for easy, grab-and-go snacking on the open road.

Nutrition Per Serving: Nutrition details vary based on specific ingredients used, but a typical 1/4 cup serving of trail mix averages 160-200 calories, 3-5 grams protein, 12-15 grams fat, 15-20 grams carbs, and 2-4 grams fiber.

USP: The ability to fully customize your own trail mix blend makes this snack uniquely suited to individual tastes and dietary preferences. It is also shelf-stable and non-perishable while providing concentrated nutrient density in nostalgic road trip snack.

More Snack Ideas Beyond the Top 14

While these made my highly selective top 14 list, the options don’t stop there. Here are more ideas to add variety to your adult road trip snacks:

• Smoothie pouches:  Blend up healthy smoothies at home and portion into pouches.
• Mini rice cakes:  Low-calorie crunchy crackers that come in fun flavors.
• Roasted seaweed snacks:  Salty, crispy sheets of seasoned seaweed pack nutrients.
• Roasted pumpkin seeds:  Toss these fiber & mineral-rich seeds in Cajun seasoning for a kick.

And don’t forget you can modify many of these snacks to work with dietary restrictions:

• Vegan:  Swap in plant-based protein options and avoid dairy-based items.
• Gluten-free:  Use certified gluten-free brands or make snacks from scratch.
• Nut-free:  Skip the nut butter and trail mix options and opt for seeds and chickpeas instead.

The possibilities are endless when you start with nutrition first. A survey by the National Confectioners Association found that 78% of adults enjoy customizing their snacks. So, now get creative and make those snacks yours!

Packing Your Snacks for the Ultimate Road Trip

You’ve got your snacks planned – now how do you pack and store them for maximum freshness? Use these tips:

Reusable containers: Avoid single-use plastic bags and instead portion snacks into reusable silicon bags , divider containers , or mason jars .

Get a travel cooler: Invest in a high-quality car cooler and ice packs to keep items like fresh produce crisp and cold.

Think vertical: Use vertical space in the car by hanging reusable snack bags from the headrests or handles.

Prepare ahead: Wash and slice produce, portion trail mix, make guacamole, etc. before you hit the road to save time and hassle.

Eat perishables first: Plan to eat fresh items like sliced apples and veggies within the first 1-2 days.

Stagger snacks: Only keep a few options easily accessible as you drive. Rotate other snacks in from the cooler as needed so they stay fresh.

With the right storage hacks, you can ensure your nutritious snacks make it from point A to point B – and to your stomach – in perfect shape.

Road Trip Snacking for the Win!

Snacks should never be an afterthought – especially on road trips! By fueling up with the healthiest, tastiest options, you can make your drive more enjoyable while reaching your destination feeling your best.

So embrace the freedom of the open road, cue up your favorite tunes, and let snacking adventures begin. Stop at those quirky roadside markets and farms for fresh local goodies. Pull off at a scenic overlook or historical landmark and enjoy snacks picnic-style. Swap funny stories and create lasting memories during your snack breaks.

At each pit stop, savor the flavors that helped fuel your drive so far. Then pour a fresh cup of coffee and hit the road toward adventure once more!

The kilometers will fly by when you’re powered by snacks made for the journey. Here’s to road trips done right – your way. Happy snacking, happy traveling!

Varun Kwatra

Hey you, Wowzer! I'm Varun Kwatra, a road trip enthusiast with a passion for exploring new places and immersing myself in the beauty of the open road.

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Home › Blog › 17 Crazy Smart Must-Have Road Trip Tips and Hacks

17 Crazy Smart Must-Have Road Trip Tips and Hacks

By Christine Jerry

Published Apr 04, 2024

Traveling for the holidays or enjoying family vacation? Road trips with kids can get crazy. Use these must-have sanity-saving road trip tips!  We have found the must-have genius road trip tips to make car travel around town and long road trips with kids so much easier – and even fun!

If you’ve been a regular here at One Crazy House, I’m sure you’ve become accustomed to our lists of hacks.  Our goal with providing hacks and helpful tips is to help make it just a little easier for you.

Road Trip Tips To Make Traveling With Kids Fun

With the busiest travel days ahead of us, we figured it’s time to get prepared with a few road trip tips. As any parent who has ever ventured on a long road trip can tell you, road trips with kids can be a challenge – unless you use these tips!

1. Stay Organized with Front Doormats

Getting mud in the floor, or crumbs or all. the. things. is one of the things that both decreases the cleanliness of the vehicle, but also decreases the value! But, typical car floor mats don’t always fit or offer the coverage AND STYLE that we know you want!

Outdoor-front doormats to the rescue! They are easy to cut with a utility knife and you have custom and stylish car mats, that truly work to contain the mess.

2. Make Sections with Shower Curtain Rods

Another genius tip we have to help you make the most of your trunk space is to use bins, totes, and a tension shower curtain rod to help make “sections” in your trunk. 

This part of your car becomes usable when it’s not a pile of items bouncing around.  Put the items you need occasionally towards the back of your trunk, and keep the easy-to-access space up front for things you need to grab quickly.

3. Plan Your Road Trip Like a Prep Pro

No matter where your road trip is taking you, preparation can make it stress-free and adventurous.  I love using a planning guide and this camping planner can help guide you through the process even if you never spend one night in a tent! The $7 spent on the Camping planner  is well worth it!!  Your sanity is worth it!!

3. Get Your Car Inspected

This is SO important. Nothing can derail your road trip plan faster than an unexpected mishap. Although we don’t have control over everything, we have to do our best to take preventative measures.

Before you hit the road and pack the car, make sure to get your tires checked and your vehicle inspected. You don’t need any surprises along the way if you can avoid them. There are many tire shops that are willing to do an inspection for free, so there’s no excuse not to take this preventative measure.

If the worst happens and you DO need some car repairs, you may be able to take care of them yourself! Here are 11 easy car repairs that you can do on your own .

4. Plan for Seasonal Conditions

This is particularly true if you’re traveling in the winter! You’ll want these winter car hack tips if you have to deal with snow. If you are like me and don’t deal with winter often, these hacks are essentials!

5. Pass the Time with Post-it Notes

Write down specific times on Post-it Notes stick them on the dash just below the clock. When the clock displays each time written down, give the kids a surprise. It will give them something to look forward to at regular intervals.

6. Get Crafty to Keep Toddlers Busy

This next idea from Kids Activities Blog would be PERFECT for toddlers since they are completely obsessed with clips and zippers. Check out their tutorial for this DIY Clipping Toy. Your kids will stay busy with clip after clip…

7. Save Tons on Eating Out

Eating out along the way can be very expensive, especially if you have the whole family in tow. Thankfully, meal prep for the road doesn’t need to be hard!

A good cooler will get you a long way on your meal planning goals. Fill it with bottles of water, and healthy snack foods such as:

• hardboiled eggs
• cheese sticks
• baby carrots and/or cucumbers
• pre-packaged containers of hummus
• deli meat or shredded chicken
• juice boxes
• water bottles

Then, in a separate bin, keep food items that do not need to be chilled. I like to pre-package everything into small ziplock bags so all I need to do during the trap is pass them out to everyone. I put:

• homemade trail mix
• tortillas (these are great for a quick meal – just fill them with hummus and shredded chicken and cheese from your cooler!)
• protein bars

I try to keep our food within the car fairly healthy and lower in sugar. It only takes a few hours with hyped-up children trapped in the car to clean up my diet! 

Pssst…don’t forget the napkins and eating utensils and an extra supply of wet wipes.

8. Buy a Car Trash Can – or Two!

I seriously did not realize how life-changing a simple car trash can would be for us! This is one of my favorite road trip tips! I recommend getting 1-2 smaller trash cans that can fit plastic grocery bags as the liner or use a cereal container. Whenever you stop for gas or to eat, simply grab the bag and toss it in the trash.

9. Turn Any Mug into a Spill-Proof One

We’re somehow always running out of travel mugs – thankfully, this simple hack will let you turn any cup into a spill-proof one!

10. Stretch Your Dollar

Get better gas mileage by using your cruise control feature and making sure your tires are inflated at the optimal PSI. I know it’s tempting to get to your destination faster, but keeping a steady pace will save you from filling up more frequently.

11. Use Cupcake Liners to Keep the Cupholders Clean

This is one of my favorite car hacks of all time for cup holders. If you always end a road trip with sticky cupholders (bleh!), this is one of the road trip tips just for you! Line your cupholders with silicone cupcake liners . Once they get gross, simply take them out and wash them before putting them right back!

12. Make a DIY Car Sick Bag

Got a child (or adult!) who gets car sick? Make a car sick kit by gathering up plastic bags, Dramamine, an electrolyte drink, some saltines, and disinfectant. Keep them at the ready…just in case!

5 More Car Trip Tips to Try

• Love this idea to stock up on shower caddies for the car from Grey House Harbor . An inexpensive shower caddy with a suction cup can be placed on the car window and act as an extra holding spot for toys and snacks. Genius!
• Anyone who has road tripped with kids knows that the backseat is guaranteed to be filled with crumbs by the time you get home.  With this fun road trip hack from Lemon Lime Adventures , this problem in solved! Wrap duct tape sticky side out around your kids’ feet and let them play footsies to see who can pick up the most crumbs!
• Keep your kids unplugged and entertained in the car with a printed sheet of license plates from each state from Living Well Mom . Once they have found it on the road, they can check it off and keep searching for the rest!
• I love this idea from A Girl and a Glue Gun ! Use a tackle box to put together a portable emergency kit that can join you on all your road trip adventures.
• I love this smart solution from HGTV that uses a shower caddy to hold food and snacks.

I hope you found a few helpful ideas for your next family road trip. No matter what chaos may occur, remember you’re making memories and that’s the most important thing.

For more travel tips, make sure to check out our Traveling Tips to Make Your Next Trip a Breeze , it’s full of incredible tips and tricks you’ll definitely want.

They might not always seem fun at the time, but they will always be memorable. Happy travels!

EASY MEALS, HAPPY FAMILIES

Tired of the daily dinner dilemma? Grab our FREE Meals Made Easy Planner and say hello to quick, satisfying family meals. Plus, get our BONUS Low-Stress Lunchbox Planner FREE for a limited time!

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8 Road Trip Games to Keep Everyone Entertained, No Matter Their Age

Whether you’ve got a car full of kids, adults, friends, or family, these road trip games will make sure everyone has a good time—no equipment required..

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Lots of road trip games are free and you don’t need to pack anything other than your brain and a sense of humor.

Courtesy of Getty/Unsplash

Road trips are as much about the journey as the destination. But even though a car gives you flexibility and allows for more spontaneity than a plane, train, or bus, boredom is bound to set in. That’s where games come in.

Whether you are hitting the road with a party of 2 or 10—or with kids or adults—here are appealing games that can help pass the time and keep the “are we there yet?” chorus at bay.

20 Questions

In this classic parlor game that transitions easily into the car, one player thinks of a random person, place, or thing and the other participants take turns asking up to 20 yes-or-no questions to figure out the answer through a process of elimination. Whoever gets the answer first starts the new round.

The License Plate Game

The goal of this quintessential road trip game is to spot at least one license plate from each of the 50 states. Participants can write down the states as they see them or check them off of a list. Have kids in tow? Print out a blank map of the United States for each tot and have them color in the states whenever they see a corresponding license plate.

Build a Story

You might not write the next great American novel on your road trip, but you can create a hilarious tale collaboratively. The first player invents an opening line and then everyone takes turns adding a sentence to the story. Keep it going for as long as you need to, whether it’s the next rest stop or your final destination.

In this game, players take turns choosing letters to create a valid word (so no picking “Z” after someone says “X”). But the catch is that you don’t want to be the person to complete the word. Any player who does complete a word is penalized by receiving a letter from the word GHOST: “G” for the first penalty, “H” for the second, and so forth. Players who receive five penalties—and therefore spell out the word “GHOST”—are eliminated until one winner remains.

Scavenger Hunt

A game that involves spotting specific objects during the trip might not be ideal for the driver, but the rest of the travel party can have a blast. Simply create a list of objects to look for beforehand and distribute it to each traveler. Make the game easy or challenging by choosing items that are really common or very rare. To add some randomness to the game, create a unique list for each participant. As with any scavenger hunt, whoever finds the most items wins.

Alphabet Game

A good choice for families traveling with children, the alphabet game is another road trip classic that involves looking for words on signs and billboards that start with each letter of the alphabet, beginning with the letter “A” until reaching “Z.” Players can simply yell out the word when they see it, and the whole group moves on to the next letter. Whoever spots the most words wins.

Interactive Podcasts

You may not be able to convince a game show host to join your road trip adventure, but your entire travel party can put their smarts to the test by pressing play on a trivia or brain teaser podcast like Good Job, Brain! or Road Trip Riddles .

Name the Passenger

As you make your way along the open road, keep an eye on passengers in the other vehicles around you. (Unless you are driving, of course.) Pick some passengers at random and have a discussion about what name you would assign to them and why. Some laughs are guaranteed.

Forget rest stops. Plan your road trip around playgrounds.

When toddler meltdowns strike, google maps is your friend.

Welcome to The Upgrade, By The Way’s series on travel hacks and hot takes. See how to submit here.

I don’t know where my 3-year-old picked up the phrase. Maybe it’s innate to all kids who’ve been stuck in the car for more than 10 minutes: “Are we there yet?”

Unfortunately for all of us, the answer is almost always “No.” We won’t be there for many, many hours. That’s when a playground pit stop can save the day.

Over the past few years, my husband and I have driven round-trip between Washington, D.C., and Florida nine times to visit family, see friends, take vacation, work remotely and thaw out in the winter. Since we break the trips into manageable chunks for young kids and elderly dogs, that equals more than a month on the road.

We started building playground stops into the schedule once our daughter was almost a year and a half old and needed more mental and physical stimulation than exploring the front seat during rest stops. It’s become an essential part of long drives now, giving us — and most importantly, our energetic passenger — a light in the middle of the road trip tunnel. We can answer her “Are we there yet?” question by saying we’re 30 minutes from a playground, even if the final stop is a day and a half away.

In the early days, we just wanted convenient spots for diaper changes and toddling around, with maybe a baby swing as a bonus. Now that we have a new baby and a preschooler, we’re thrilled to find tall slides, big-kid swings, bridges and bathrooms — or at least space to set up a tiny portable toilet.

There have been deserted, tucked-away neighborhood parks where we ran into fellow travelers. And some have been bustling with locals, giving us a unique view into a city’s culture. The unicorn of stops would be near the highway with good takeout food nearby, a playground, a restroom and a dog park.

We’ve come to appreciate the train-themed Jefferson Park , perched on a hill in Richmond with a majestic view of the city and proximity to a great local coffee shop . James F. Holland Memorial Park in Palm Coast, Fla., clicked every box we had and then some. Our daughter’s playground adventures have included testing the little-kid swings in Savannah’s Forsyth Park, playing an oversized xylophone in Palm Coast, braving a mini rock-climbing wall in Richmond, rocking in a giant ladybug near Brunswick, Ga., and taking her scooter for a spin in Port St. John, Fla.

On a shorter trip — or in a playground-less wasteland — we’ve found that a rest stop lawn might substitute. If there are dandelions to be picked and scattered, it might even be preferred. On a recent gas-food-bathroom break between New York City and D.C., an empty Starbucks patio served a greater purpose. My husband and 3-year-old used it as an obstacle course so she could run around while I fed the baby in the car.

There are plenty of resources to help pick a playground: Tripadvisor recommendations , Reddit threads , parenting blogs and an app called Playground Buddy . When we set off in the mornings, I try to figure out how far we’ll get in three hours and scout a good spot there. But because children require more of a go-with-the-flow approach, I mostly operate in the moment.

So I fumble around Google Maps to find the nearest playground as the baby wakes up from a nap crying, and then the 3-year-old needs a bathroom break pronto. If I have time, I check reviews for reports of broken swings or dirty restrooms. Sometimes I manage to search for a Starbucks and gas station nearby so we can maximize the stop.

I’m sure there will be a day when we can power through the long drive as models of efficiency, stopping only for fuel and relief. But I’ll miss the playground detours and those little snapshots of my kids’ joy. We may not be “there” yet, but at least it’s somewhere fun.

More travel tips

Vacation planning: Start with a strategy to maximize days off by taking PTO around holidays. Experts recommend taking multiple short trips for peak happiness . Want to take an ambitious trip? Here are 12 destinations to try this year — without crowds.

Cheap flights: Follow our best advice for scoring low airfare , including setting flight price alerts and subscribing to deal newsletters. If you’re set on an expensive getaway, here’s a plan to save up without straining your credit limit.

Airport chaos: We’ve got advice for every scenario , from canceled flights to lost luggage . Stuck at the rental car counter? These tips can speed up the process. And following these 52 rules of flying should make the experience better for everyone.

Expert advice: Our By The Way Concierge solves readers’ dilemmas , including whether it’s okay to ditch a partner at security, or what happens if you get caught flying with weed . Submit your question here . Or you could look to the gurus: Lonely Planet and Rick Steves .

Solar eclipse 2024: Here's why you don't want to be on the road during April 8 eclipse

We know you've heard this many times, but it must be said often and strongly: do not look at the sun on april 8 (or any other day, for that matter) without certified glasses..

Editor's note: The information below was taken from a longer column written by Dr. David Rogers, Dr. Julia Stokes, Dr. Ryan Squier and Dr. Aaron Zimmerman and submitted by the Central Ohio Hospital Council . Find that column here .

Driving during the April 8 solar eclipse is expected to come with unique risk.

It’s not a concern that most people think of, but Ohio’s expecting an influx of between 100,000 and 500,000 visitors from other states on April 8. They, and thousands of citizens from southern and eastern parts of our state, are expected to converge on the areas that will experience partial and total darkness.

States in the path of past solar eclipses saw major traffic congestion and more than the usual number of traffic accidents and distracted-driver incidents in the days before, during and after the event. In Ohio counties where the eclipse will be viewable, public officials and hospital emergency departments, including ours in Franklin County (in partial totality), are preparing for the same.

Spectacular and dangerous. How to safely enjoy 2024 solar eclipse.

If you’re in one of the full or partial totality counties (see the map on the Ohio Emergency Management website; link below), our advice is to stay home between noon and 5 p.m. on April 8.

Run your errands early in the day or, better yet, in the days before. Traffic in totality areas – even partial totality – will be busy, and drivers will be distracted, especially between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. on April 8.

If you plan to drive to an event, plan to arrive early and stay late to reduce your time sitting in traffic. Don’t wear eclipse glasses while driving; you can’t see much while wearing them.

That’s a good thing when looking at the sun; not so for driving and other activities.

Stay alert in crowds on eclipse day

There are many large gatherings planned in central Ohio and throughout the state on eclipse day.

If you’ll be at one, keep a close eye on children and pets and be sure they have identification on them. This will be at least a 3-or-4-hour event. Arrive early and take enough sunscreen, bug spray, water and snacks. Dress for the weather.

If it’s a private event, watch out for people drinking alcohol or using mind-altering substances. Their judgment will be impaired, and they may attempt risky behavior, including staring at the sun without protection.

There will be a lot of down time over the length of the eclipse, so plan how you’ll occupy your time, and know that you won’t be wearing your ISO-certified glasses every minute. Keep this in mind, if you too plan to partake.

As health professionals, we advise you not to, especially if you’re with children.

Solar eclipse 2024 in Ohio: Best places to be dazzled by the sun April 8

As for us, we’re planning to experience this event with family, friends, or co-workers, and we have our viewing glasses ready. Several of us have seen total solar eclipses in other parts of the country, and they were amazing.

Like touching boiling water. April 8 solar eclipse can leave you blind or without color

If you can’t get outside to see it, or you would rather watch it in the comfort of your home, tune in to NASA’s live telecast online at plus.nasa.gov starting at 1 p.m. April 8.

We hope you enjoy every minute, and we wish all of you clear skies on April 8.

Where to find more information

• Ohio Emergency Management : ema.ohio.gov . Ohio’s main information and reference website for the 2024 eclipse. Learn about the path of the eclipse through Ohio, get safety and planning advice, as well as links to other organizations involved in eclipse activities, parking dos and don’ts, and more.
• American Astronomical Society: Find numerous features here, including a list of approved vendors for eclipse glasses on the Eye Safety page. Remember, these glasses are absolutely necessary if you look directly at the sun. Get yours free at a local library or order them from a reputable vendor now! Don’t delay. See eclipse.aas.org/eclipse-america-2024
• NASA Plus Live Telecast : If it’s cloudy where you are, or you can’t get outside, watch the eclipse online thanks to NASA satellites and land centers. Watch at plus.nasa.gov starting at 1 p.m.

Dr. David Rogers is chief of Nationwide Children’s Hospital's Department of Pediatric Ophthalmology. Dr. Julia Stokes is a Mount Carmel Medical Group Grove City Family Health family practice physician. Dr. Ryan Squier is associate medical director at the OhioHealth New Albany Emergency Department. Dr. Aaron Zimmerman is a clinical professor at the Ohio State University College of Optometry .

More From Forbes

Road scholar now offers exclusive trips for solo travelers.

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Traveling solo

Back in 2005 I wrote a book called Solo Traveler , so I’ve been long-time fan of going it alone.

Nowadays you don’t have to travel by yourself when you travel independently— many tour groups include singles. But if you’re older and you’ve ever traveled solo with a tour group, you know that often you have problems getting a private room, and you might be in a sea of couples and much younger travelers.

With this in mind, Road Scholar , the world leader in educational travel for older adults for nearly 50 years, has launched a new series of trips designed exclusively for solo travelers over 50.

The not-for-profit organization, whose programs focus on experiential learning opportunities, recently released a report on solo travelers which showed a rise in solo travel, due in large part to more older women traveling without their spouses.

To respond to that growing trend, Road Scholar has created a collection of innovative solos-only journeys , catering to individuals seeking enriching adventures while enjoying the company of like-minded solo explorers.

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Programs in the solos-only collection span the world, both in the U.S. and in culturally diverse destinations. Program designers have hand-selected dates of some of their most popular itineraries for their pilot. Each participant who enrolls in a solos-only program will get their own private room but can join the group knowing they'll be among other solo travelers.

A small hotel room is perfect for a solo traveler.

"We serve tens of thousands of solo travelers every year, so we understand their unique needs," said Maeve Hartney, Chief Program Officer Road Scholar. "Although all of our programs offer a welcoming and inclusive environment for solos, these new programs have a greater comfort level and more opportunities to make new friends.”

Just like all Road Scholar programs, these exclusive trips feature expert-led educational experiences, comfortable accommodations, and carefully planned itineraries that balance structured activities with ample free time for personal exploration. Solo travelers can delve into the local culture, engage in hands-on learning opportunities, and forge lasting friendships with others who share their passion for discovery.

"Traveling solo doesn't mean you have to journey alone," added Hartney. "Our solo traveler trips foster a sense of camaraderie, allowing participants to bond over shared experiences and create memories that will last a lifetime."

Solo doesn't have to mean alone.

Road Scholar's solo traveler trips are designed for adults over 50, whether they're seasoned globetrotters or embarking on their first solo adventure. With the support of experienced Group Leaders and a like-minded community of fellow travelers, solo adventurers can explore the world with confidence and curiosity.

And now, a private room whenever desired.

Check out my award-winning travel podcast, Places I Remember with Lea Lane , wherever you get podcasts, and subscribe to my YouTube travel channel.

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Know before you go: total solar eclipse travel safety tips

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - Northeast Ohio is prepared for the first total solar eclipse since 1804 to arrive on April 8, along with thousands of spectators for this once-in-a-lifetime event.

LIGHTS OUT IN THE LAND:  Click here to find more details on the solar eclipse in Northeast Ohio

But do you have your travel plans in place?

Make sure you know before you go with these total solar eclipse travel safety tips!  

[ Fill up your gas tank and prepare to wait. Some tips to prepare for April’s total solar eclipse ]

[ Downtown Cleveland total solar eclipse traffic restrictions and parking plans ]

• Top off your gas tank
• Pack water, snacks, and a battery-operated phone charger
• Plan your destination, route, and parking spot in advance
• Have a paper map in case your GPS stops working
• Prepare to be stuck in traffic jams with heavy delays
• Make a family emergency communication plan and include pets
• Pack an emergency kit in your car
• Obey the ‘move over law’ for first responders on the road
• Do NOT park on privately owned land unless approved
• Do NOT stop on the side of the roadway to view the eclipse
• Do NOT wear eclipse glasses while driving
• Do NOT try to take a photo or video of the eclipse while driving
• Do NOT call 9-1-1 for traffic jams unless there is an emergency
• Keep your headlights on during the eclipse - not just automatic
• Watch for pedestrians who may be looking up at the sky
• Be careful parking on grass where you can get ‘stuck in the mud’

Copyright 2024 WOIO. All rights reserved.

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