road trip essentials 2023

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41 Things You Need for Your Next Road Trip

Hit the highway in comfort and style with these travel heroes.

Related To:

Before you hit the open road, make sure you have all the essentials you'll need for a stress-free trip. From comfortable good-to-haves (like pillows and blankets) to safety just-in-cases (like first aid and emergency kits), you'll be glad you traveled prepared. Whether you're hitting the road for a day or two weeks, make sure these easy-to-pack items are in tow.

ESSENTIAL GADGETS

Adjustable Car Cup Holder Expander

Long road trips require large water bottles, but many standard car cup holders aren't large enough to fit larger reusable water bottles from popular brands like YETI, Hydroflask, Stanley and more. This adjustable handy gadget from the brand Swigzy allows you to expand the size of your cup holder and works in almost any cup holder and can fit a variety of styles of bottles and mugs, including those with handles.

Phone Mount

Texting and driving is never an option. And in some states, just holding your phone to talk while driving is against the law. If you want to stream a Spotify playlist or run Google Maps, invest in a phone mount to ensure those hands remain at "10 and two."

Car Power Strip

Going on a long road trip with multiple passengers? You need this 200W power inverter that plugs into the cigarette lighter and has four USB ports and two standard plugs. Plus, it features full-protection with short-circuit, low-voltage, over-charge, over-voltage, over-load and over-temperature protection.

Tablet Headrest Mount

There won’t be a peep from the backseat with this tablet headrest mount. It adjusts to fit any size tablet and is compatible with nearly all headrests. The kids (or adults) in the back won’t be asking “are we there yet?” because they’ll be too absorbed in their movie or game.

Mobile Wi-Fi Hotspot

This mobile hotspot features super-fast Wi-Fi internet speeds and long-lasting battery life, providing the ultimate internet experience from anywhere right when you need it most.

Flexible Phone Tripod

Roadside photo-ops will be a breeze with this handy mini tripod . This flexible tripod grips to any surface — from a tree to a fence — and has a reliable rubber grip that secures a smartphone.

Portable Phone Charger

You’ll probably bring several gadgets on your road trip, including smartphones, tablets and e-readers. So gather them up, then power them up. There’s nothing worse than getting an hour into an all-day trip and having the iPad in the backseat run out of juice. We suggest bringing one or more portable chargers for the car, and make sure they work with the devices you plan to charge. Despite what’s written on the packaging, not every charger will power up all the devices they claim they can charge.

Emergency Car Kit

Before you plan your road trip itinerary, you should pack your emergency roadside kit. It’s not the fun part of road trip planning, but it’s the most important. A good car kit should include, at the very least, jumper cables, a spare tire, signal flares and a flashlight. Emergency items such as spare socks, a blanket and granola bars are good, too.

Fire Starter

Building a fire just got a lot easier with this handy fire starter that produces sparks in any weather or altitude. It has an ergonomic thumb guard for comfort and an attached emergency whistle, in case you need to call for help.

First Aid Kit

Road trip or not, keeping a first aid kit in the car is always a good idea. This 100-piece kit includes essential wound care supplies, like cleansing wipes, gauze pads, assorted bandages, rolled gauze, antibiotic cream, itch-stopping cream, acetaminophen caplets, an instant cold pack and much more.

You can’t always depend on Google Maps, especially when driving in rural areas. Even popular National Parks and National Forests can have spotty cell service. As a backup, you can download maps to use offline from Google Maps, and tucking an actual map in the backseat pocket isn’t a bad idea either.

Travel Pillow

Never struggle to find a comfortable sleeping position in the car again with the Trtl Travel Pillow. This neck pillow combines hypoallergenic fleece with hidden internal neck support to hold your head and neck in the best position for sleeping, preventing stiff necks and sore shoulders.

Travel Throw

Meet the hardest-working travel throw in the business: Unpacked, it’s a 52-by-75-inch insulated comforter that's lightweight, washable and super cozy.

Travel Hammock

After hours of driving, take a break in this lightweight travel hammock. It’s quick to hang after a long day on the road and packs down into a small pouch for easy storage.

Microfiber Towel

Whether you're washing off at your campsite or at a rest stop, this soft, microfiber towel will dry quickly and can be used over and over during your trip.

Air Freshener

With all due respect to those mysterious rear-view mirror trees, when you plan on spending serious time on the highway, you need a substantial and sustainable air scrubber. The porous activated charcoal in this baby will purify the stale air in your car instead of hitting it with chemicals, and it'll combat the effects of left-behind takeout for up to a year.

Car Window Shades

Block out 97 percent of harmful UV rays on long road trips with window shades that easily attach to your car's windows, keeping backseat riders cool and comfortable the whole trip.

HEALTH + HYGIENE

Car Diffuser

Fill this diffuser with water, add essential oils and plug it in to make your car smell amazing. Featuring automatic shut-off, t he diffuser emits a cool mist that adds moisture to the air, which helps with dry skin, lips, sinuses and coughs.

Nausea-Relief Wristbands

Nip motion sickness in the bud with these acupressure wristbands that provide effective relief from all forms of travel sickness without causing drowsiness or other side effects. There are even Sea-Bands for kids that come in cool patterns and colors.

Foaming Hand Sanitizer

Keep everyone's hands clean with this alcohol-free foaming sanitizer that's safe and gentle enough for babies. We love Babyganics for the whole family because the formula kills 99.9 percent of common bacteria; it's made without parabens, sulfates, phthalates, artificial fragrances and dyes; and it's dermatologist-tested and non-allergenic.

Essential Oil Towelettes

This assortment of towelettes is a league of essential oil superheroes: Defeat gas-station bathroom germs, freshen up after the A/C kicks out in the middle of nowhere, combat carsickness and wind down at the end of a long day with their aid.

Tissue Holder

Spare yourself the stress and strain of blindly reaching into the backseat, and snag this seriously convenient tissue holder. The chic black case clips right onto your passenger-side visor, so you can reach it without taking your hands off the wheel.

Insect Repellent

Whether you're spending a little time outside or a lot of time outside, it's always smart to keep insect repellent nearby. This 100-percent DEET formula offers more than 10 hours of protection against insect-transmitted diseases, including Zika and West Nile viruses.

Sleeping away from the comforts of home can come with some restless nights. Melatonin helps you fall asleep faster, stay asleep longer and wake up feeling refreshed. And since Natrol is a drug-free sleep aid, you won't wake up feeling groggy.

ORGANIZATION

Car Seat Headrest Hook

Free up seat space and foot room with these handy hooks that attach to the back of headrests. They'll keep purses, lunchboxes, backpacks and more out of the way but still easily accessible.

Car Ceiling Cargo Net Pocket

Out of space? This sleek cargo net adds more packable space to your car's ceiling. Use it to store pillows, blankets, food and more.

Car Trash Bin

Keep your car clean and organized with this hanging trash bin with a 1.85-gallon capacity and leak-proof interior bag.

Packable Daypack

You may not need it, but you'll be happy it's there if you do. This ultra-light packable daypack has a 25-liter capacity, multiple pockets and adjustable, breathable straps for comfortable all-day use. Plus, it can be stuffed into its own zippered pocket for space-saving storage and compact portability.

Laundry Bag

Truth be told, every trip calls for a laundry bag — hunting for clean undies is nobody’s idea of a good time. That said, a pre-sorted discard pile is especially important when you find a laundromat in the middle of nowhere and want to take care of business ASAP. Tuck one of these into your glove compartment and thank us later.

These Genius Items Will Keep Your Car Clean + Organized on Family Road Trips

A clean car? With kids ? Yes, it's possible.

FOOD + DRINK

Saucemoto Dip Clip

Never spill your sauce again! Sometimes, a drive-thru food stop is the highlight of a road trip after hours of driving. Keep your favorite sauce easily accessible and avoid spills with this handy sauce cady. It clips to the car air vent and creates the perfect spot to nest your dipping sauce.

YETI Cooler Bag

A cooler is a road trip must. Instead of a giant cooler out-of-reach in the trunk, keep your drinks in a small cooler bag. YETI’s Hopper Flip 8 is large enough for eight soda cans but small enough to throw around your arm for a pull-off picnic or impromptu hike.

Car Seat Organizer

For a more kid-friendly (and budget) option, this car seat cooler organizer would be the perfect backseat companion. It features an insulated cooler compartment, flat tray table top, two drink holders and side pockets for extra storage. It also features a handy seatbelt strap that holds it in place. The brand recommends using cold packs instead of ice for keeping items cold.

Reusable Water Bottle

Stay hydrated on the road with BPA-free Bobble Bottles that filter out impurities on the go, so you can fill up at the campground or rest stop water fountain worry-free. And with so many color options, no one will get their bottle mixed up in the car.

Portable Coffee Press

This portable brewer will brew a delicious cup of coffee, espresso or cold brew right over your mug. The total immersion brewing system means there's less grit than with a French press, and it's super-fast, too.

With double-wall vacuum insulation, the YETI Rambler 20-Ounce Travel Mug keeps hot drinks hot and cold drinks cold. Plus the leak-resistant lid means bumps in the road are no problem for this traveler.

Collapsible Storage Containers

Useful for storing everything from travel-size toiletries to trail mix, these reusable containers work for jet setters or families always on the go. Not only are they eco-friendly and BPA-free, but these collapsible beauties also help save money on snacks. Fill them up before road-tripping to prevent overspending on pre-packaged goodies at convenience stores.

Kitchen Utensil Set

When fast food isn't your speed, this one-and-done kit — which includes a serving fork, a utility knife, scissors, a cutting board, a spatula, a wine opener, tongs, a ladle, a rice paddle, a carabiner and folding stainless-steel utensils — is ready to turn your roadside-farm-stand haul into the greatest picnic of all time.

BioLite CampStove 2

The eco-friendly BioLite Campstove 2 is pure genius. It doesn’t need fuel, and the heat created from burning just a handful of kindling converts into usable electricity that can be used to recharge your gadgets. Cook dinner, charge your phone and feel good about your carbon footprint — what more could you ask for?

15 Must-Have Items for a Family Road Trip With Kids

Keep kids of all ages happy and entertained while on the road with these gadgets, games and more.

ENTERTAINMENT

Portable Bluetooth Speaker

Go on and celebrate reaching your destination with an impromptu dance party. This lightweight Bluetooth speaker fills your space with home-stereo-system-quality sound and claims less real estate in your luggage than a rolled-up pair of jeans.

Scrabble To-Go Board Game

Add some friendly competition in the car or at your destination with this compact Scrabble set. The snap-in letter board ensures tiles stay put while moving, and the zippered case makes it easy to fold up and keep everything in place mid-game.

Kindle Paperwhite

Cut down your packing weight by bringing a Kindle instead of a stack of books for lounging by the fire. The latest generation of Paperwhite Kindles are now hot tub-ready, too; they're waterproof, so they'll survive an accidental dunk.

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53+ Road Trip Essentials (2023): The Ultimate Packing List

Our first road trip as a family took place about a decade ago in a KIA Sorento.

Lord, have mercy , we put that little cross-over through its paces.

Knowing what I know now, I would have planned better. Heather and I were just kids who, as it turns out, had a kid, and our wanderlust drove us to abandon the every-day in search of … well, whatever was out there.

I learned a lot on that 5,000-mile journey: the importance of rest stops on a long drive (as opposed to being in a hurry to get there); the fact that state and national parks are better places to stay than the finest hotels and resorts, and that the open road is just as exciting as the destination.

The important things come to light with experience. Like, the things you need on a family road trip that make it less of a trek and more of an enjoyable adventure.

After all, this isn’t survival school; it’s a vacation!

So, can I share with you what I’ve learned over 40,000 miles of road-tripping with my family?

15. Emergency Roadside Kit

19. flashlight.

• 21. Road Atlas 

24. Books [or E-books]

26. tire chains, 29. compact foldable chairs, 33. towel [and washcloth].

• 38.  Tablet or Laptop

43. Paper Towels

• 46. Shelf-Stable and Travel-Friendly Ingredients 

51. Packable, Lightweight Jacket

• 55. Hangers 

The Essentials You Can’t Leave Out of Your Road Trip Packing List

While planning your route and  creating a realistic budget  are critical for a successful road trip, so is ensuring that your vehicle is stocked with items, gear, and supplies to be prepared for any number of scenarios, foreseen and unforeseen.

This road trip checklist is your ultimate guide to a successful road trip. Follow along and start packing!

Personal Carry Items

1. license and registration.

“License and registration, please” – the first words you’ll hear in a routine pull-over.

Consider these to be the most essential of road trip necessities. Nothing will ruin an otherwise fun-filled time on the highway faster than being caught without it.

In an emergency, having a dependable supply of cash on hand can be a lifesaver. You may need it if the establishments you head into do not accept credit cards, are experiencing internet service issues, or if you lose your credit card.

Helpful Tip: Don’t keep all of your cash in one place. In case your wallet or purse goes missing, be sure to have a cash stash somewhere else in the car or on your person , safe from prying eyes.

3. Credit/Debit Cards and Wallet

Obvious, yes; however, when your mind is preoccupied with packing everything else, sometimes the obvious gets left out!

These plastics are the go-to method of payment, so don’t leave the house without them. It’s also nice to have a secure place to store them, and in most cases, it comes in the form of a wallet, purse, or concealed money belt .

4. Pocket Knife

A pocket knife or a multitool such as a Swiss Army knife can come in handy more than you would think.

Our Best Camping Knife post features some foldable knives that would make great travel companions!

A daypack is a commonly forgotten item on most beginner’s road trip packing lists. They focus so much on what they need for their day-to-day, they forget to include a daypack for their adventures away from their luggage.

We suggest keeping a separate smaller bag or pack equipped with cash, water, a small flashlight , a small first aid kit , a self-defense item , and other preferred personal items.

Emergency and First Aid

6. proof of car insurance (auto, rental, and travel).

You will need copies of your auto, rental car documents (if you’re using one), and travel insurance (or whichever is appropriate).  Your driver’s license and this go hand-in-hand.

Accidents can happen on the road, so we should always be prepared for the unexpected. Having a copy of your insurance is essential if you get pulled over.

All rental car companies should provide you with all legal documentation; so, when renting, double check your rental paperwork and the rental car’s glove box to ensure they have followed through.

7. Car Manual

In case you have to do some road-side troubleshooting ensure your car’s manual (or the rental’s) is stowed in the glove box.

8. Alternative Forms of I.D.

If the only form of I.D. you take with you is your driver’s license, you’ll be in a pickle if it becomes lost or stolen. Take a passport, CHL, or other form of state or federal issued I.D. and store it somewhere apart from your license.

9. Large First Aid Kit

A family-sized first aid kit stocked with basic meds such as painkillers, gauze, scissors, bandages, and antiseptic is a priority road trip essential.

Familiarize yourself with the contents and restock previously-used items. You could be miles away from the nearest town when you need medical aid, so it’s a good idea to have a first aid kit to rely on during your road trip.

10. Bug Spray

Depending on where you’re headed, a supply of bug spray could be an emergency or comfort item.

Road trips and itchy red welts just don’t mix.

11. Su n screen

Even if you don’t plan on a lot of outdoor time on your trip, sunscreen is among those items you’ll be glad to have if you need it.

For example, a broken-down vehicle in a hot climate can turn into an oven quickly. You and your family will need to wait outside for help to arrive (or, if you’re handy and well equipped) until you get the car up and running again.

12. Duct Tape and [Super] Glue

When things break and you’re miles away from a repair shop, some handy duct tape and glue (or super glue) can hold it together until you get there.

13. Emergency Radio and Power Bank

A well-equipped emergency radio can get you the latest NOAA weather updates, evacuation notices, provide a light source, and store power for your devices.

14. Satellite Phone or Communicator

With a satellite phone or communicator , you’re not limited to areas with cell reception, just as long as you’re covered by a satellite. In the face of natural disasters or when traveling through no-service zones, it’s a handy device to have on your road trip packing list.

An emergency roadside kit should have all the small things your car needs such as an ice scraper, folding shovel, and a tire puncture seal just in case you need to do some quick repairs yourself while on your road trip.

Road Trip Car Essentials

The following items should always be stored in your car whether you are planning a road trip or not.

16. Spare Tire

Sometimes a puncture seal just won’t cut it. In this case, you’ll need a whole new tire; so, make sure your spare is in good condition … and that you know how to change it!

Being equipped and able to change your own tire will potentially save hours of waiting on a roadside rescue, save hundreds of dollars in service fees, and prevent a mere inconvenience from escalating into a situation that threatens your family’s safety.

17. Car Jack

You can’t change a tire without the jack. make sure it’s stowed and locked down.

You can normally find this next to your spare tire in the trunk, under the car, or under your seats depending on which vehicle you have.

Refer to your owner’s manual if you have trouble locating it.

18. Jumper Cables or Jump Starter Box

A dead battery is just as likely as a flat tire. Don’t depend on the average passer-by to have jumper cables on hand.

Or, if you don’t want to wait on a good samaritan to stop to help, equip your car with a jump starter box.

You can keep a flashlight in your emergency roadside kit, but we suggest keeping a big one handy in the glove compartment or under your seat so you won’t have to rummage around in the dark to find it. 

These days, global positioning system apps are standard on our phones; however, if you’re traveling through no-service zones, you may consider one that is satellite-linked.

21. Road Atlas 

GPS systems and Google Maps have and will crash from time to time.

A road atlas will not! Have a backup road atlas ready in case your electronics fail while road tripping.

Entertainment

22. road trip games.

Not essential to your survival but definitely a must for your sanity, don’t forget fun games on the road to combat boredom. 

23. Playlist

Depending on where your travels take you, you may or may not be able to depend on streaming internet radio such as Pandora or Spotify.

If music enhances your family’s road tripping experience, purchase a list of your favorite songs and download them to your device.

Then, you can keep rocking when the internet can’t hang.

Time flies by when you’re engrossed in a good story. Whether taking turns reading out loud from a book or streaming an audiobook, make the trip a little smoother with a good page-turner.

Inclement Weather and Environmental Gear

25. umbrella.

When it rains, it pours. Don’t forget to pack some travel umbrellas to keep your family dry.

Winter road trips to the north are likely to see snowy weather, and tire chains give your tires more traction on slippery surfaces.

Comfort and Convenience

27. sleeping bag, blanket, and pillow.

Who knows where hotel blankets and pillows have been, or maybe you want to be comfortable in the backseat with your own blanket and pillow.

You can’t go without a sleeping bag when you’re camping, so don’t forget to bring all of the one, two, or all of the above!

28. Earplugs

It may not be essential for everyone, but earplugs have their benefits. You can block out the sound of the outside world (or the family snore champion) no matter where you are. 

Compact foldable chairs can be considered essential if you want to be able to pull over anywhere, anytime outside of city limits for a respite from the car.

You’re bound to come across some scenic overlooks or historical sites, so pull over, pass around some snacks, sit back, and enjoy the view!

Personal Hygiene and Cosmetics

30. hand sanitizer.

Washing with soap and water is best, but not always possible. After a stop at any public facility or after a spontaneous hike through the woods, have some sanitizer on hand for the interim.

31. Wet Wipes

From spilled coffee to runny noses, wet wipes will be your best friend through countless mishaps whether you have young children or not.

32. Personal Toiletries

Personal hygiene is important no matter where you are. In your road trip toiletry kit, you should include a brush, toothpaste, toothbrush, hair ties, a small mirror, floss, bodywash, and anything else you need to clean up after a long day.

Who knows how sanitary hotel towels are, so it’s always a good idea to bring your own travel towels .

If camping or swimming is on your itinerary, be sure to have something to sit on when you jump back in the car.

Tech Essentials

34.  car charger with [back-up] battery.

Your phone is necessary for emergencies, so don’t let it run out of juice.

Be sure to include car chargers for your devices.

35.  Power Inverter

Having a power inverter turns your car’s 12-volt DC outlet into a 110-volt AC adapter, making it easier to share the power supply among multiple devices.

36. Wireless Earbuds [or Headphones]

Sometimes, you just need some me-time and on a family road trip, a good set of headphones can provide just that.

Or if you’re granting the kids some backseat screen time, they can enjoy the entertainment without the whole family having to hear it.

37.  Camera

You can use your phone, but special camera lenses can produce high-resolution and authentic pictures that a phone just can’t do.

38.  Tablet or Laptop

You may just need to get some work done on the road or want a bigger screen than your phone, which is why a tablet and laptop are handy to have. 

Food Storage, Prep, and Clean-Up

39.  cooler with ice.

You need food and snacks on this trip, especially if camping is involved. It’s nice to have a cool drink in hand while relaxing by the lake, so keep a good soft-sided car cooler stocked full of ice to keep your favorite beverages and treats cool.

40.  Portable Camp Stove [with Fuel]

It’s nice to have cold food and drinks, but sometimes it’s nice to warm your belly with hot soup and cook your own meals – this is where a portable camp stove comes in. Don’t forget to bring some fuel !

41.  Cooking and Eating Utensils

You don’t want to end up two hours outside of town only to realize you have nothing to eat or cook with. Aside from the portable camp stove, pack a well-equipped mess kit so that eating on the road is as enjoyable as possible.

42.  Dish Soap and Sponge

That mess kit will need to be cleaned up before hitting the road again. Take along a small bottle of dish soap and quick-dry silicone sponges to make things quick and easy.

Paper towels are useful to keep around to soak up any spills, dry your dishes and cups, and wipe stuff down after eating. 

Food and Water

44. water and snacks.

You can buy everything while you’re on the road, but why not come prepared so you can enjoy more time on the road? Have some bottled water for long drives, and some snacks to curb your hunger if you want to avoid stops early in the trip.

45. Road Trip-Friendly Foods

By road trip-friendly foods we mean ones that can last on the road, are relatively healthy, and are easy to eat without making a mess. Here are some examples that you can keep in the cooler, in the car, or cook on the camp stove:

• Your favorite beverages
• Protein bars
• Travel-friendly fruit and veggies (grapes, apples, carrots, celery, etc.)
• Popcorn (pre-fab)
• Canned beans (careful … you might want to crack a window …)
• Corned beef hash
• Canned corn
• Sweet potato stew and more canned food options to reheat over the stove
• Fruits such as grapes and orange and apple slices for the cooler
• Veggies such as carrots and celery for the cooler
• Hard-boiled eggs for the cooler

46. Shelf-Stable and Travel-Friendly Ingredients 

Here is a quick list of travel-friendly ingredients that can elevate your self-cooked meals

• Butter (kept in the cooler filled with ice)
• Packets of salad dressing if kept in the cooler
• Salt and pepper
• Dried herbs such as thyme, oregano, and basil
• Packets of mustard and ketchup

Variety of Clothing

47. shirts, pants, and shorts.

You can’t forget to bring a change of clothes because you may not always have access to a laundromat or laundry service. You certainly cannot wear the same clothes for an entire trip.

Or, maybe you can … and that’s gross.

48. Socks and Shoes

Your socks need changing even more often than clothes, especially on a road trip, so toss a couple of pairs into your luggage. You can rely on a trusted pair of sneakers, but just in case they wear out on a hike, we suggest packing one more.

49. Weather-Appropriate Accessories

Mother Nature is spontaneous, and even if the weather forecast claims to be sunny skies for the week, the dark clouds could still rain on your parade. We suggest being overly prepared with all the weather-appropriate accessories you can think of such as a rain jacket and rain boots.

50. Disposable Underwear

Not that I’ve tried these … I didn’t even know they existed. But, apparently, it’s a thing.

I’ll stick to my usual skivvies and my family is adept at relieving ourselves in the woods or a conveniently-placed shrub.

Still, if you want to go-on-the-go … and sit in it (!?!) …

… I can’t. I just can’t.

Even if you’re not in the midst of winter, it’s still a good idea to bring a packable down jacket . Even in the desert, temperatures can plummet from blazing hot to freezing overnight.

Better to have it and not need it …

Storage and Organization

52. plastic bags [and/or tubs].

Bringing along plastic bags and plastic tubs of multiple sizes can keep you organized.

Aside from your luggage for clothing, you need a way to keep food, and gear, games and other items neat and easy to access and find while on the road.

Not only will it be easier to find what you’re looking for, but it also makes cleanup and packing much easier.

53. Packing Cubes

Packing Cubes help keep smaller personal items from getting mixed together in your luggage. These make packing and unpacking along your various stops efficient and quick.

54. Reusable Shopping Bag or Tote

Avoiding grocery-store plastic bags is always a good idea. Plus, having are usable bag or tote is handy if your family stops at a location popular for small boutique shopping.

55. Hangers 

Lastly, we suggest keeping a few hangers among your belongings. These can come in handy if you’re faced with heavy rain or a thunderstorm. You can hang them on a tree or even in your car using the handles above the windows.

Wrapping up the Road Trip Essentials

There you have it! We know it was a good long read but now you’re fully prepared for your next road trip!

Not all of these items may be essential for you. Personalize our road trip essentials list to fit your family’s needs and what’s appropriate for where your trip will take you.

Safe travels! Now, get out there!

Joshua Davis

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.

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?

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!

The 25 Best Road Trip Essentials (2023)

This post may contain compensated links. Find more info in our disclosure policy

Road trips are one of the best ways to travel and driving is by far our favorite way to explore a new country. Road trips are even easier when you have some road trip essentials to help you on your journey and can make a great road trip even better!

We’ve compiled this list of our ultimate road trip essentials based on our experiences of road tripping through Europe and the USA and across countries including Oman , Mexico , South Korea and South Africa . We’ve included all the best road trip accessories that we’ve found invaluable from charging and entertainment essentials to some unexpected products we take on all our trips!

Table of Contents

The Best Road Trip Essentials

We’ve explored almost 50 countries around the world in rental cars and have a lot of experience with road trips. We’ve put together this list of all the best accessories that we have curated after years of exploring the world by car.

So what do we know about road trips?

We’re huge fans of road trips and have driven through 50 countries across the globe over the past 10 years. From exploring the deserts of Oman to a cross-country USA trip, going off-road in Nambia, and exploring South Korea, we have first-hand experience from thousands and thousands of miles on road trips. We know what you need to pack for the road and what you can leave at home! Over the years we’ve tried and tested countless road trip essentials to try and find the best road trip accessories that everyone should have on their road trips.

Whether it’s exploring National Parks in the USA, cruising around Italy by car, or a long weekend out of your city, we have everything you’ll need to make your next trip more comfortable and enjoyable while you’re on the road. We personally use these items on our trips and consider them our road trip essentials.

We’ve split the list into a few sections to make it easier to follow:

Driver Essentials

Charging essentials, electronics essentials, capturing the roadtrip, our secret essentials, paperwork and documents.

1 | Phone Holder

A phone holder is one of the most important road trip essentials as most drivers, us included, use their cell phones for navigation!

We have tried almost every type of car phone holder: windshield suction cups, dash mounts, magnetic models with the special phone cases and air vent mounts. After lots of trial and error and frustration, we finally found the perfect phone holder – this model with an accordion-style holder that fits to the air vent – check prices now!

This design is the best phone holder for a number of reasons.

• it’s single hand operated – just lower your cell into the cradle and it locks into position and to remove it simply lift up
• the clamps for the air vent are really good quality – they won’t slip
• it’s a simple design that holds your cell securely

We use this holder on all our road trips now – it works great, is really durable and the phone and cradle don’t fall!

• 👍 THE EASIEST OPERATION & JUST SLIDE IN AND GO: Just slide in your phone, car phone holder mount clamps the phone automatically by gravity and...
• 👍 UPGRADED AIR VENT HOOK: This car vent phone holder mount is designed as "Hook shape" and form "Three grasp points" which can firmly hook...

2 | Dashcam

Dashcams are one of the best additions to your car and are worth having on a road trip. You will hopefully never need to use the footage from them, however, a dashcam can save a lot of headaches in the case of a traffic collision. This is a very popular model that’s easy to install, has amazing video quality and is super easy to use – check prices now!

• A119 V3 dash cam gps adopts advanced 5MP IMX335 sony starvis sensor and F1.6 7G lens, at 1440P 60fps QHD+, resolution and 60/30 frames per...
• A119 V3 dashcam has a revolutionary improvement on parking mode, there are 3 solutions under the parking mode to meet different needs, Auto Event...

3 | Bluetooth Earbuds

A set of Bluetooth headphones is an essential road trip accessory. They’re great for passengers who want to relax and listen to a podcast or a movie. I’ve been using a pair of the Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2 and they are fantastic, plus really good value!

• Incredible Sound Loved by 20 Million+ People
• Diamond-Inspired Sound: Inspired by the ultra-hard structure of diamonds, Liberty Air 2’s driver domes maintain their rigidity even when...

One of the biggest challenges on road trips is making sure all your devices are charged. We use a few essential accessories to help us keep everything topped up while on the road.

4 | Inverter

This is one of the most useful items on our list. A car inverter plugs into the cigarette lighter in your car and allows you to charge both an electrical plug and USB from it. This means you can charge almost all of your electronics in your car with an inverter – we charge our phones, laptops, camera, and drone batteries while on the road.

We have tried a few different versions and recommend these two made by Besktek:

The first is very compact and sits in your car cup holder. It’s so small you could mistake it for an actual mug and has one outlet and two USB ports for charging – check prices now!

• BESTEK advantage:America's first power inverter brand. Provides 200 watts continuous DC to AC power and 500 watts of peak power with 2 AC outlets...
• 5-IN-1 Design: This car outlet adapter has 2 AC outlets, 2 USB charging ports, which can power 5 devices at the same time. 24 inch power cord...

The second model is a larger, more powerful 300W inverter from Bestek. This is better for higher-power devices such as drone batteries or laptops, or where you want to charge two electrical plugs at a time. This model is a permanent fixture in our road trip packing list – check prices now!

• BESTEK Advantage: America's leading power inverter brand. Provides 300 Watts continuous DC to AC power and 700 Watts instantaneous power,...
• Fast Charging: two 110V AC outlets for charging larger devices such as laptops and tablets, 2 USB charging ports (0-2.4A) for powering USB...

5 | USB Power Bank

We use USB power banks so often on road trips that we now have three of them! They are really useful for charging cellphones and tablets while on the road, especially for passengers in the back seat who may not have access to a charger.

We have tried many brands of power banks and have found that the Anker power banks are the most durable and reliable. The Anker portable charges also feature smart charge functionality so charging will be faster with them.

We have two of these 10,000 mAh Anker Powercore slim portable chargers, which have enough power to charge a cellphone 2-3 times or a tablet once. They charge quickly via USB-C and are really slim so fit into all car storage – check prices now!

• Quality Throughout:Built adventure-tier touch with superior durability and scratch resistance, PowerCore Slim 10000 is premium both inside and...
• Slim Size, Big Power:One of the slimmest and lightest 10,000mAh portable chargers on the market. Provides 2.25 charges for iPhone 12, 1.6 charges...

We also have a larger Anker Powercore (26,800 mAh) version which has three USB outputs – check prices now!

• 【Ultra-high Capacity 36800mAh】36800mAh power bank with ultra-high capacity can Keep Your phone running all day. Without extra worry about low...
• 【4 outputs & 2 Input】This power bank built-in 4 outputs (3A USB C+ 3 USB ) and 2 inputs ( 3A USB C + Micro USB ) ; you can charge 4 devices...

6 | Headtorch

A headtorch is one of the most useful accessories we carry on our road trips. It’s great for finding things in the trunk at night and is a welcome addition if you end up needing to change a tire. We have this generic head torch and it works great. It’s rechargeable over USB, lasts a few hours, and is quick to recharge – check prices now!

• BRIGHTEN YOUR ADVENTURES: Elevate your experiences with our Ultra Bright LED Headlamp, boasting an impressive 160 Lumens. Ideal for a range of...
• RECHARGEABLE TECHNOLOGY: Enjoy the convenience of a Durable USB rechargeable 1200mAh Battery, ensuring extended usage. Explore 5 versatile lamp...

7 | Tablets

We have a Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids tablet for each of our toddlers for road trips and can’t imagine traveling without them. Young children and long drives can be challenging so the tablets are a great way to keep them entertained. The Kids Edition Fire HD comes with a 2-year worry-free warranty that covers accidental damage (we’ve had to call this in for one of ours!) and alloews access to a vast catalog of kid-friendly content –

No products found.

8 | Car Vacuum Cleaner

This one is especially useful for those with kids on a road trip! A small handheld vacuum cleaner can really help to keep your car clean and tidy on a road trip – check prices now!

• [ Professional Unique Patent Design ]- Two charging cables! NO more using extension cables to clean your car and NO need to charge it repeatedly...
• [ Strong Suction ]- Stop struggling with your small vacuum cleaners ! Use our 6000 pa vacuum cleaner with a high-power 106 W lithium ion battery!...

9 | Portable Fridge

This is one road trip essential that we wish we’d purchased sooner. A portable fridge saves money on road trips as you don’t have to keep buying cold drinks or snacks – we stock up in the supermarket and fill up the fridge. Having chilled fruit and water also makes it much easier to eat more healthy on road trips and having the option of running a proper fridge in your hotel room is great.

We have an Alpicool K18 portable fridge for our road trips and it works great. It is powered off the cigarette lighter while the car is running and there is a power cable to keep it running in your hotel room – check prices now!

• FREEZES WITHOUT ICE: -4°F(-20°C) deep chilling down performance ,can be a frigde and freezer. Run great with your small solar system as well.
• STORAGE SPACE: Exterior Size- 23"x 13.2"x 11.4". 19 Quart(18 Liter) capacity.

10 | Seatback Organiser

A seatback organizer is invaluable for storing electronics in the car. It fits most car seats and holds lots of stuff for easy access – check prices now!

• 【USB&Headphone Slits】Our Reserwa car organizer include 2 Hole for Headphone&USB,you can charge your iPad or use headphone when you use the...
• 【Premium Materials &Waterproof】Our Reserwa car back seat organizer is made of premium quality than others,The Seat Back Protectors uses...

Have you ever been on a road trip if you don’t have the photos to prove it? We carry two cameras in addition to our cellphones on our road trips (although we never leave them, or anything valuable, unattended in the car.

11 | Instant Camera

Everyone has cellphones and cameras on road trips but we love having our instant camera. Instant photos are a brilliant way to capture memories on the road. We have two instant cameras, the Instax mini and wide, and love both.

The Fuji Instax mini is great for selfies and indoor photos, plus it’s smaller so easier to carry –

The Fuji Instax wide produces much large instant photos and we love it for outdoor photos when we’re visiting new places – check prices now!

• Automatic extending 95 millimeter f14 lens with two focus zones (0.9 to 3 meter and 3 meter to infinity)
• Optical viewfinder. Tri-pod socket. Four size AA 1.5 V alkaline batteries (Best with Polaroid AA batteries). Dimensions- (not including...

12 | Action Cam

We’ve used our Osmo action for family videos and photos on our road trips for the last few years and love it. It’s small, waterproof without an extra case, and is really durable – check prices now!

• Dual Screens: Osmo Action’s dual screens allow you to capture it all with the touch of a button. A vivid front screen lets you frame yourself...
• The RockSteady technology combines EIS with complex algorithms, delivering stable, shake-free footage no matter how heavy the action gets.

Essentials We Take on Every Trip

We have a few random (but extremely useful) items that we recommend packing on every road trip:

13 | Reusable Mug

If you don’t already own one, a good quality reusable insulated mug is a must for road trips. They keep your drinks hot or cold for hours, plus they’re good for the environment as you can avoid single-use disposable cups. We use this Contigo mug and it keeps our coffee warm most of the day – check prices now!

• SEAL IT IN - Leak-proof lid (when closed) for on-the-go convenience. This Contigo coffee travel mug is ideal for commuting.
• FOR THE LONG HAUL - THERMALOCK double-wall stainless steel insulation keeps drinks hot up to 9 hours or cold up to 21.

14 | Duct tape

Things break on the road – it’s just a fact of life! Plus is always happens just when we don’t want it to. We always pack a roll of Duct tape and it has helped us out in so many ways! Duct tape can fix (at least temporarily anyway) most things that break on the road so having a roll of it in the trunk can be a lifesaver. If you are going on a shorter road trip then roll a length of tape around a sharpie pen to avoid having to take the large roll with you – check prices now!

• High tensile strength for heavy duty hold for pros or DIYers wanting something stronger
• Co-extruded tape with waterproof backing for long-term repairs and all-weather performance making it ideal for bundling, sealing, waterproofing...

Road Trip Essentials Tip: if you are travelling with young kids then this tip might be useful! We use duct tape to make sharp edges safer in our accomadation – we tape some packaging or whatever we have to end to sharp corners!

15 | Ziplock bags (large)

From holding food and snacks to protecting electronics from water or organizing out things, ziplock bags are simply brilliant. Try to get the 5L/1 gallon heavy-duty versions as we find they work best and you use time and time again – check prices now!

• Four 30 count boxes of Ziploc Gallon Storage Bags lock in flavor and safely store and transport fresh food, snacks and other items
• Ziploc brand Storage Bags include a Stay Open Design – they stay open when you want them to, making them really easy to fill, almost like...

16 | Wet wipes

Wet wipes are one of the most indispensable items you can take on a road trip. We use them for everything like cleaning up spills and wiping down dirt off the upholstery – check prices now!

• BILLIONS OF BUTTS WIPED: We make flushable wipes—billions of 'em—assembled right here in the USA. We started this hole revolution against...
• EXTRA LARGE FLUSHABLE WIPES: When it comes to flushable wipes, size matters. And we're big. Up to 35% larger than the other guys. Because nobody...

17 | Window blinds

Anyone traveling with kids or back seat passengers will know how annoying bright sunlight can be. These blinds wrap over the entire door and offer full coverage from the sun in the back seat. We love them! – check prices now!

• SUN SAFETY & COMFORT FOR LITTLE ONES: Specifically designed for babies, kids, and children, our shades provide optimal window shade for your baby...
• UNIVERSAL FIT, EASY TO INSTALL, & DURABLE: Tailored for universal compatibility and designed to fit almost every car (max 44.3" by 20"), our car...

18 | Picnic blanket

We take a small packable picnic blanket on all our road trips and it’s super useful. We highly recommend the Monkey Mat range of picnic blankets which we’ve used for the last few years. We love that it has weighted corners so it’s easy to spread out. It’s also waterproof and sand simply falls off it when you pick it up – check prices now!

• AS SEEN ON SHARK TANK - 5' x 5' mat in attached 6" x 6" ultra compact pouch, so nothing gets lost.
• EASY TO CLEAN - Water repellent, soft, durable, lightweight ripstop nylon - spills, grass, sand, dirt, etc shake right off!

19 | Microfibre Towels

Microfibre towels are amazing and we take a couple on all our road trips. They are super lightweight, pack down incredibly compact, and most importantly dry very fast.

Road Trip Essentials tip: We recommend picking up some microfibre towels in dark colors as they don’t show stains as easily as the lighter colours do.

• Quick-drying microfiber towel for camp, beach, sport, and travel
• Super absorbent fabric soaks up four times its weight in water; wrings out easily

20 | Audiobooks

Audiobooks are fantastic for road trips – especially long drives. We use Audible.com for all our audiobooks and they have a great selection for kids too – try Audible now

Try Audible now

Let’s face it, one of the most stressful things about road trips is trying to get everything in the car! We have a few packing essentials to help us on our way:

21 | Packing cubes

Packing cubes are probably the greatest luggage invention ever! We’ve used them for years traveling around the world and they are invaluable on road trips. They help you pack more into your bags and keep things super organized.

The best thing is they’re cheap (you really don’t need the expensive ones). We’ve used the Amazon Basics models for years and despite their low price they are really hard-wearing – we’ve never had one fail on us.

22 | Dry Bags

Dry bags are extremely useful if you are traveling in wet weather or need to store damp items – check prices now!

• Premium efficiency and design
• Storage tuned to the each season

Emergency Equipment

23 | first aid kit.

It’s always worth being prepared so make sure to pack a first aid kit in your car and know exactly what’s in it. You will hopefully never have to use it but if you do it’s there! – check prices now!

• First Aid Supplies: The Thrive Travel First Aid Kit is packed with must-have pieces of hospital-grade medical gear. This complete home first aid...
• Complete Kit: Safety essentials stay put in a durable rip-stop nylon and vinyl fabric case. Extensive inner pockets keep contents stored neatly...

24 | Car Tire Inflator

We always make sure to pack an inflator in the trunk when on road trips. They are extremely useful, especially if you have a slow puncture or need to top up your tires. Having correctly inflated tires will also reduce your fuel consumption on longer trips so it’s worth keeping them topped up to the correct pressure. This model plugs into the 12v socket in your dash – check prices now!

• Portable and Compact - Take your Fortem air compressor for car with you and be ready for any emergency. The 14ft reach cables are stored inside...
• Multi-purpose - Perfect for car, truck, suv, motorcycle tires. Includes three nozzle attachments for sports balls, air mattress, pool toys and...

25 | Jump Starter

Having a battery jump starter is extremely useful to have on hand just in case your battery dies. Simply charge up the jump starter, connect to your dead car battery and start your car. It’s really easy to use and will save a lot of headaches should you need it- check prices now!

• [START COMPLETELY DEAD BATTERIES]: Powerful and safe to start your completely dead car battery. 2000 Amps peak cranking amp, especially for...
• [COMPREHENSIVE INDICATOR PANEL]: A user-friendly 3.3-inch smart screen provides you with all the information about operational status, battery...

When traveling it’s always important to have your documentation in order and with you, especially if you’re traveling abroad to another country:

Car rental companies in some countries will need a copy of your passport before you can rent a car.

Drivers license / International Drivers Licence

You’ll also need your driver’s license and the credit card you used to make the booking to allow you to rent the car. Some countries require an international driver’s license – an international driver’s license is effectively a translation of your driver’s license. You typically need to pick up an International Drivers Licence in your home country prior to travel.

Happy road tripping!

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Budget Travel Buff

The Ultimate Road Trip Essentials You Shouldn’t Travel Without in 2023

Looking for the ultimate road trip essentials which ensure a safe, fun, and manageable road adventure? Voila! You have landed on the right page.

Road trips have become more popular nowadays. Although it varies from person to person, as an adventure lover I would say a road trip is more fun, more adventurous, more flexible that will offer you the pure essence of travel and an opportunity to explore the hidden gems of the country which you’ll never get to see if you fly.

Now the most important question is what to include in a road trip packing list ? Actually, it depends on the destination, the number of days you’re traveling, the time of the year and, many other things.

So here in this road trip packing guide, we have listed certain essential things you must remember to pack for your next trip. We have kept this road trip checklist as minimal as possible while keeping comfort and enjoyment in mind.

You can also read our ultimate camping packing list if you are a die-hard camper.

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This post may contain affiliate links. If you buy something through one of those links, you won’t pay any extra penny, but I’ll get a small commission that encourages me to deliver more helpful content for you.

Road Trip Essentials for Cars

Whether you’re driving your own car or a rental car , you must remember to bring the following road trip car essentials with you.

• Driving license(The most important car trip essential)
• Car registration
• Insurance paperwork
• An extra set of car key(don’t keep it on the same key ring)
• Spare tires and tire jack
• AAA membership card and phone numbers for roadside assistance
• Emergency roadside toolkit
• Phone holder
• Car chain and snow kit(for a winter road trip)

Must-Have Road Trip Essentials for Self Care

Besides these road trip car accessories, you should have an emergency and basic things for yourself and other co-passengers. You will always want to be prepared for whatever obstacles you may face on your road trip.

Hydro Flask Water Bottle

It is one of the most important road trip necessities that will keep you hydrated on a long drive. The double-wall vacuum insulation keeps cold drinks icy cold and hot drinks piping hot any time, anywhere. Don’t waste money on packaged drinking water. Save Money, Save the Planet. You can fill this reusable hydro flask bottle whenever you get a chance.

Check out the best buying guide for travel water filters if you are planning to buy a water filter for travel.

First Aid Kit

Another must-keep long road trip essential is the first aid kit. You should carry this for a medical emergency. Sometimes you may get scraped up on a hike or feel car sick on a winding road when the closest town is 100km away. In such a case, a travel first aid kit plays a vital role. It came with great help when my hand got scraped against the rock during my Yosemite trip .

Your first aid box should have basic things like band-aids, bandages, antiseptic, gauze pads, Neosporin (antibiotic), pain killers(ie: Advil or Tylenol), and anti-motion sickness tablets(ie: Dramamine). Don’t forget to buy travel insurance before you leave.

Toiletry Bag with Hook

One item that must be added to your road trip packing list for families is a toiletry bag . A toiletry bag is essential to put all body hygiene and toiletry supplies. Pick up a few of these toiletry bags to keep everything close to hand in the same place.

Comfort is the key in a long road trip and packing versatile, durable clothing is highly recommended as a cross country road trip essential item. Make sure to dress in layers to adjust to any kind of weather. Sweatpants, leggings, tee shirts, and sweatshirts are highly recommended for a comfortable road journey.

A high-quality rain jacket made a huge difference while I was enjoying a short hike in Switzerland and suddenly it started raining.

Related Post : 10 Super Useful Hiking Shorts for Men and Women

Hiking Boots/Shoes

It is a popular road trip accessory for people who love hiking. While shopping for hiking boots and shoes, make sure it is water-resistant, light, breathable, and comfortable. I used Columbia Men’s Newton Ridge waterproof hiking shoe in most of the popular hikes in southern California .

You can also read our ultimate list of best and cheap hiking boots with a comprehensive buying guide .

Hand Sanitizer

One of the most important items to add to your road trip packing list is hand sanitizer . It becomes a common thing after the 2020 pandemic. Make it a habit to sanitize your hand before eating anything. It will also help you when you are in touch with dirty shoes, baby wipes, or food rubbish.

Because you never know when you might see a lake, beach, or spring. I recommend packing some plastic bags to keep wet clothes separate from other items.

Read Next : 10 Best Beach Coolers to Enjoy Beach Vacation

Sunglass & Hat

Driving into the sunset can be pretty difficult when you’re staring straight into the bright sun lights for hours. Polarized Sunglasses with UV protection can save your vision and add a cool look to your outfit. Just think you are in a romantic getaway in the US  and driving along the pacific coast highway with your partner sit beside you. LOL! 😛

Similarly, hats are also stylish and fashionable and protect you on an extra sunny day. You must add sunglasses and hats as long drive essentials.

During a road trip, a power nap is very very necessary to make yourself refreshed and relaxed for the long hours. Hence a travel pillow is an essential road trip item for those times when you are not driving. Your road trip will be more comfortable, safe, and enjoyable.

Sunscreen & Lip Balm

When putting together your road trip packing list, bring a sunscreen spray to protect your skin from getting tanned. You will not want to drive for hours with cracked lips. Bring a lip balm as well to protect your lips from dry weather.

Who loves messy hair? And, it is pretty common when you enjoy the wind but it creates the bird’s nest which is not fun at all. Include a mini hairbrush in your list of road trip essential for adult.

Essential Road Trip Food

Snacks are always good for a long road trip. I always keep a stock of energy bars or granola bars in the car. Bring some healthy foods like popcorn, apples, nuts, and crackers. It not only helps me in emergencies but also saves money on food while traveling .

Check Road Trip Food Strategy:

• I will recommend buying a  cooler bag  that is easy to carry and keep your stuff fresh.
• If you are on a long road trip and need more food storage for meals, consider a  larger cooler  and refill with food and ice at local grocery stores.

Here’s a list of road trip snacks that are delicious, healthy, and nutritious.

• Granola Bars
• String cheese
• Protein/Energy Bars
• Jelly sandwiches
• Dried Fruit and nuts
• Chocolate bars
• Fresh Fruit & Veggies
• Hard-Boiled Eggs
• Sliced Bread

Road Trip Packing List for Entertainment

Entertainment is very important on a road trip. Otherwise, you may end up with a boring road trip. Luckily, we have included some fun ideas in this list of road trip essentials.

Offline Music Playlist

Another necessary road trip essential is an awesome playlist for music. Trust me, it can make a whole lot of difference. Amazon Music Unlimited and Spotify offer millions of songs that can be grouped to create the best road trip playlist. Make sure to download your playlist onto your device to listen without an internet connection anywhere.

Bluetooth Speaker

If you are a true music lover, you shouldn’t rely only on your car music player. I always prefer to carry a portable Bluetooth speaker. Be it a hotel room or around the campfire, a good soundtrack can change the ambiance of the place immediately. This JBL Clip  is affordable, durable, loud, and most importantly waterproof.

Your road trip playlist may not be liked by others. You can buy a noise-canceling headphone of Bose to have a little bit of space for yourself.  It is a little bit pricey, but worth it for peace and quiet.

Frustrated with your headphones for getting tangled? Buy  wireless ones , that can be carried easily and take up very little space.

Related Post: 10 Best Headphones for Teens: The Ultimate Buying Guide

Kindle and Audiobooks

If you’d prefer audio stories, you can give a try to  Audible  that has massive libraries with free books as part of a free trial. Just buy a  Kindle  and  purchase a few books  or  try Kindle Unlimited free .

Travel Games

The youngest member of your family may get bored on a long trip. Here are some travel games , best road trip essentials for kids. This will keep your kids entertained.

DSLR Camera & Portable USB chargers

Want to cherish the moments you spent on your road trip. Purchase a good DSLR camera and store all of your fun memory. I personally use Nikon D5600 with an 18-140 mm VR lens, an ideal travel camera for beginners. A portable USB charger can be a necessity to charge your laptop and phone in emergencies.

Read Also: 10 Best Lightweight Travel Laptops

Miscellaneous Road Trip Essentials

Road trips can be more adventurous if you plan to stay in tents instead of hotels and Airbnbs. Check out these family tents from Coleman which offer plenty of spaces. A Hybrid Carabiner Clip is also recommended to bring with your tent to hang things up or to clip your water bottles.

Battery Powered Heater

If you have a plan for camping or pitching your tent, a battery-powered heater can be very helpful in cooler months. Whether you are into van life or RVing, it is a very useful device in winter.

Flexite Camp Dreamer Chair

This  compact folding camping chair is light, takes less space, and allows you to bring some home comfort out into nature. You can use it to relax after a long day hike or just enjoy the surrounding views sitting around a fire pit.

Essential Road Trip Apps

One of the most important items needed for a road trip is a navigation app, especially one with offline features. Google Maps, Maps.me, Weather, The Dyrt are very helpful travel apps you must download  before any trip.

Cooking Set

Cooking your own food is a great way to stay healthy and stretch your budget. Don’t overfill your trunk with unnecessary items. Here is my recommendation to include in road trip cooking essentials – tea kettle, nesting bowl, fuel cylinder, propane stove, coffee maker, reusable silicon bags, multi towels, and a Swiss knife.

Spare Money

Don’t act like fools. Keep enough cash with you while going on a road trip. Cash is still necessary for some places where the network is poor. You can quickly deal with parking meters and road tolls if you have cash in hand.

Road Trip Essentials for winter

If you are road tripping in winter, make sure your car(own/rental) is suitable for winter road conditions. You need to replace winter tires in countries like Canada. Include the following items in your winter road trip packing list.

• Snow Shovel
• Ice Scraper
• Boot with string grip

Road trips are awesome, it gives you freedom, fun, adventure, and flexibility. I hope you found this road trip essential guide helpful. Now, you know what to add to your road trip packing list. Let me know in the comments below if you found any other items that should be on this list.

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This is my official ultimate guide when going for road trips. Very informative!

Thank you Lillie. Hope it will help you on your next road trip.

Wow! So thorough! You took some great pictures, too!

I am glad that you liked the post. BTW, some pictures are taken from Flickr.

Such a great list of road trip essentials. Thanks for all the info.

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The Essential 2023 Road Trip Packing List: 30+ Things You’ll Need

If you’re planning to hit the road this year, now is the perfect time to start thinking about your road trip packing list. Whether you’re driving cross country or just heading on a weekend away, it’s important to know what to pack for a road trip.

You want to be sure to consider your safety when hitting the road. But comfort is also a big deal too. There are obvious things you’ll need (like your driver’s license and proof of insurance). However, taking the time to think about the extras you may  want will be invaluable when you’re far from home and craving easy travel.

Plus, planning ahead means that you’ll be able to focus on the fun once you hit the road. This guide covers all the things that should be on your road trip packing list, from an emergency car kit to little luxuries that will make the journey more comfortable.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. 

Table of Contents

What to Pack for Your 2023 Road Trip

Never leave home without these travel essentials.

When you’re heading out on a road trip, there are a few things that are true non-negotiables, including your:

• Driver’s license
• Proof of insurance
• Car registration
• Manual for the car you’re driving
• Emergency cash

Document Holder

If you’re anything like me, it doesn’t take much for your glovebox to quickly turn into a disorganized wasteland, especially on a road trip. Put important documents like your car registration and insurance card in one spot so you don’t have to dig if you need them.

This larger billfold option has plenty of extra space for items like a AAA card or list of emergency contacts. But you can also get super simple options that won’t take up too much glovebox real estate.

Car Emergency Kit Essentials

A road trip is a great time to make sure all of your car’s emergency essentials are in order. While these items are must-haves on any road trip packing list, these are also great things to leave in your car year-round if you have the space.

Jumper Cables or Battery Jump Kit

Getting caught with a dead battery will put a damper on any road trip. Jumper cables have long been a must-have. But now there’s an even more self-sufficient option. Battery jumping kits like this one from NOCO are super easy to use, and you don’t have to rely on another vehicle’s help to get you going again.

A blanket is an essential part of any car emergency kit, especially during Midwest winters. But it’s also a just plain handy thing to keep in your trunk. Having an impromptu picnic? Trying to take a quick car nap? With a dedicated car blanket, all of your adventures will have a bit of added comfort.

There’s no “right” blanket to keep in your car. But I especially love camping-friendly options like this  Rumpl   puffy blanket, which compress down into a tiny bag.

Flashlight with Extra Batteries

In a pinch, you don’t want to rely on your cellphone light alone. Stashing a tiny flashlight (along with some backup batteries) in your glovebox can be handy in a variety of situations.

First Aid Kit

Your car first-aid kit doesn’t need to be anything fancy. It’s easy to make your own with things you know that you use frequently or already have around the house. But if you don’t want to have to worry about rounding up lots of different items, there are tons of pre-made kits perfect for stashing before your next road trip.

Atlas & Printed Maps

Sure, GPS has changed how we road trip. But that doesn’t mean you should be completely reliant on your cellphone or Internet connection to know where you’re going when on the road. A classic road atlas or printed maps of the area you’ll be exploring are great back-ups to have if technology fails.

At the very least, remember to download offline maps for the area you’ll be traveling so that you’ll be able to navigate using Google Maps even if your connection drops.

AstroAI Snow Brush

Ice Scraper & Shovel

If you’re planning a road trip throughout much of the U.S. during the winter, you don’t want to leave home without an ice scraper. Truly there’s nothing worse than being caught without one and having to chisel ice off your windshield with an old gift card.

Depending on the car you drive, a shovel and even a bag of sand or kitty litter might be a good addition to your winter emergency kit as well.

Water Bottles & Snacks

No road trip is complete without some quality snacks. But it’s important when traveling to keep your car stocked in case of an emergency. If you happen to get stranded somewhere, extra food and water are a must.

I always travel with my  Hydro Flask and a fairly hearty stock of snacks. But for road trips, I’m always sure to toss a few extra water bottles into the car along with some non-perishable snacks to make sure I’m covered if I end up on the road longer than planned. If you’re headed to the shore, be sure to think about convenient, cooler-friendly beach snacks as well.

Personal Care Items to Pack on a Road Trip

Since you’ll be spending lots of time in the car, you’ll want to put some of your favorite items on your road trip packing list. Stay comfortable with layers like the perfect travel hoodie , and bring little luxuries along for the ride. Whether it’s an extra pack of your favorite gum, miniature sewing kit or portable lint roller, these personal care items are sure to make your trip more pleasant.

BAGGU Go Pouch Set

Mini Beauty Products

There’s nothing worse than searching for your chapstick in vain or not having a hair tie when you need one. That’s why I keep a small pouch of some of my most-used personal care items in the center console of my car.

I also always keep a mini version of my go-to deodorant, mascara and more with me when I’m on the road. That way if I’m feeling like I need a refresh, there’s no digging through my suitcase to find what I need. To make things even easier, I stash everything together in a little pouch like one of these from BAGGU so it’s easy to grab and go.

Flint Retractable Lint Roller

Collapsible Lint Roller

There’s nothing worse than realizing you’re covered in pet hair or lint from the laundry after you’ve already left the house. Whether you’re headed across town or on a cross-country road trip, keeping a collapsible lint roller in your car is a game changer.

Things to Make Your Road Trip Easier

Spending days on end in your car can make you long for the comforts of home. So why not bring some of them with you? Whether you’re trying to keep things better organized or just want to remove some of the every day annoyances from car travel, you’ll be glad you added these must-bring items to your road trip packing list.

Car Trunk Organizer

Especially if you plan to keep these essentials in your car so you’re always ready for adventure, a car trunk organizer is a must. Not only are these collapsible carriers easy to store. But their spacious storage compartments also ensure you’ll always be able to find what you’re looking for.

There are tons of different versions of these organizers on the market. I especially like this K Knodel option that has sturdy handles as well as exterior pockets and a lid to keep any valuables out of sight.

Bamboo Utensil Set

When on a road trip, it’s important to be ready for any and all food you may encounter. But things happen and sometimes you don’t have the utensils you need. So I keep a set of these handy, reusable bamboo utensils (complete with straw and chopsticks) in my glovebox at all times.

If you don’t want to tote around a reusable silverware set, I’ve got another easy hack for you. We’ve started keeping a bag full of the single-use utensils and straws we get from take out orders. While it takes a bit, they add up over time and are an easy, disposable solution when you want to travel lighter on a road trip.

Yeti Roadie 24 Cooler

If you’re planning a short trip, a cooler bag or disposable cooler might meet your needs. But if you’re going camping or planning a longer trip, a quality cooler is a must.

While this cooler from Yeti is a bit pricey, it’s a great option for longer trips. Not only can it keep ice for days but it’s also tall enough to hold a bottle of wine upright. Plus, it’s bear-resistant.

Marley’s Monsters UNpaper Towels

Paper Towels

Messes happen. On a road trip it’s better to be safe than sorry. So we always make sure to have a roll of paper tolls on hand when we hit the road.

Or, if you’re in the market for a more sustainable car solution, I love these Marley’s Monsters UNpaper towels . They’re super absorbent and easy to toss in the wash once we’re back home.

Field Notes 3-Pack

Notebook & Pen

You never know when you might need a piece of paper or something to write with. I always keep a small notebook and a pen or two in my car’s center console so I don’t have to rely on finding one in my bag.

My go-to road trip notebook will forever be  Field Notes — small, flexible and come in a three-pack!

Invisible Glass with Reach & Clean Kit

Cleaning Spray & Microfiber Cloth

There’s nothing worse than having hundreds of miles left to drive with a giant smudge on your car window. This  Invisible Glass spray is truly a godsend. Plus, the handy tool that comes with it helps you reach even the trickiest corners of your windshield.

Car Accessories You Didn’t Know You Needed

Sometimes you need a little something extra. While these items aren’t necessary for a good road trip, they can definitely add some extra enjoyment to your time spent in the car.

Drop Stop – Car Seat Gap Filler

If you’re a Shark Tank fan, you might have already heard about the  Drop Stop . I first heard about this amazing invention of one of my favorite podcasts and I knew I needed to have them. Say goodbye to losing your phone (or food) down the crack between your car seat and the center console.

HOTOR Car Trash Can with Lid

Car Trash Can

Sure, you could use an old take-out bag for your trash. But if you want to level up your road trip packing, add a car trash can into the mix. This one is even 100% waterproof and comes with a lid so you don’t have to worry about cleaning up any residual messes.

Wagan Portable Personal Cooler

Portable Car Fridge

I had no idea this even existed until earlier this year, but there truly is something for everyone. If you want to level up your car cooler game, this portable car fridge is for you. This easily moveable unit runs off your car battery and has both hot and cold settings to keep food the temperature you need it while on the road.

Saucemoto Dip Clip

For my fellow road trippers who love to eat in their car, I give you the Saucemoto dip clip. This handy gadget clips to your car’s air vent for easy dipping and driving.

Share Your Thoughts

I would love to hear from you! What essentials are on your road trip packing list? Which items are on your must-pack travel checklist?

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Watch CBS News

The best family road trip essentials in 2023

By Jennifer Martin

May 11, 2023 / 2:03 PM EDT / Essentials

CBS Essentials is created independently of the CBS News editorial staff. We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms.

Can you believe it's already May ? With the 2023 school year soon coming to a close , summer is headed our way. If you're thinking about going on road trip this year -- one of America's quintessential family activities -- you might get anxious thinking about everything you need to pack. Don't panic! We've found the best family road trip essentials for you.

Related:   How we choose the best products for your home, work and life

Whether you and the fam are headed to Disney World , the beach or a fun destination, the experts at CBS Essentials have found top-rated vacation must-haves for your summer 2023 road trip. Keep reading to shop luggage, games, storage solutions and more for the best family road trip yet. 

Top products in this article

Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Pro (32 GB), $100 (reduced from $150)  

Travelers Club kids 5-piece luggage set, $68 (down from $89)

Ravensburger World of Disney Eye Found It card game, $6 (down from $10)  

Best family road trip essentials in 2023

No matter where you're headed this summer, you can stay fully prepared with these road trip essentials for the whole family. With top-rated luggage, tablets, summer clothes and more, you'll have everything you need to take the road less traveled... or just the fastest major highway. 

Lusso Gear 2-pack kick mat car seat protectors

This two-pack of car seat protectors will make your car cleaner and keep your kids' activities neat and organized all summer long. These mats are waterproof and machine-washable. The reinforced straps and strong mesh mean these won't sag under the weight of your kid's toys and tablets and can hold more than the average car seat organizer.

Lusso Gear 2-pack kick mat car seat protectors, $25 (reduced from $28)

Travelers Club kids 5-piece luggage set

This five-piece set includes everything your child needs to travel in comfort and style. It comes with an 18-inch hardside carry-on, a backpack, a lunch bag, a neck pillow and a luggage tag.

The set is available in four fun prints.

Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Pro

The  Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Pro  tablet is designed for school-aged kids. It comes bundled with a kid-friendly case, a two-year worry-free guarantee and a one-year subscription to Amazon Kids+. The Kids Pro tablet also has access to a digital store where parents can buy and download additional content, including popular games such as Roblox and Minecraft.

Lisen tablet holder mount for car

This tablet holder from Lisen is perfect for long car journeys with kids. It has a sturdy triangular structure that can hold up to 40 pounds without shaking on bumpy roads. It's easy to install and can be quickly disassembled. The holder can rotate 360 degrees and has a multi-angle function for ideal viewing. It's compatible with a wide range of devices and can fit any car. 

Lisen tablet holder mount for car, $18 after coupon (lowered from $30)

Apple AirPods (2nd generation)

Don't want to hear your kids' tablets as they're watching shows or playing games on the drive? They need a pair of AirPods. Retailing for $159 at Apple, they're on currently sale at Walmart for $99. These AirPods boast more than 24 hours of listening time (with the wireless charging case), a foolproof, one-tap setup for Apple device owners and a low-latency wireless connection (for full immersion when consuming movies and music). 

Apple AirPods (2nd generation), $99 (reduced from $159)

Hotor car trash can

If you're on a road trip, one of the things you don't think you need, but you definitely do need, is a car trash can. Keep those fast food wrappers and empty snack bags out of sight and out of mind, then empty it out when you stop. It has a durable, waterproof inner lining, an adjustable strap and is collapsible when not in use.

You don't have to use it for garbage. You can also use it as additional car storage -- try storing your drinks or toys in here too.

Hotor car trash can, $10 (lowered from $16)

Best family road trip essentials for amusement parks in 2023

Amusement parks are full of rides, characters, experiences and fun. That's exactly what your amusement park road trip should be like, too. If you're looking for vacation essentials for your theme park trip, look no further.

American Tourister Disney hardside carry-on

You know which amusement park this hardside luggage is for -- enjoy the Disney-themed collection from American Tourister. Available in a variety of sizes and themes including Disney Princess, Mickey and Minnie Mouse and "Frozen," the 4.8-star-rated bag rolls on side-mounted skate wheels and has dual handles for maneuverability. Available in 16- and 18-inch sizes. 

American Tourister Disney hardside carry-on, $54

Dramamine motion sickness chewable tablets for kids

Dramamine? You bet. Not only is it ideal for kids with queasy stomachs on car trips, but it can work if you've gone on one too many roller coasters. These are grape flavor and especially formulated for kids. They can reduce dizziness, vomiting and nausea.

Dramamine motion sickness chewable tablets for kids, $4 (lowered from $6)  

May Tree transparent tote bag

Many amusement parks and stadiums require see-through bags to ensure safety. Even if they don't, it makes it easier to get through security for when you want to bring a diaper bag or lunches through to a theme park. Before you leave, check on the standards at the place you're visiting to make sure.

May Tree transparent tote bag, $18 (originally $26)  

Ravensburger World of Disney Eye Found It card game

Road trips can get boring for kids. Break up the screen time by having them play a hidden picture card game -- this one features Disney characters and can help children occupy themselves for hours. You'll be able to explore twelve Disney realms in this fun card game. Parents (or at least parents who aren't driving) can get in on the fun as well. 

Best family road trip essentials for camping in 2023

Camping is a time-honored tradition that enables us to escape the constraints of a screens-obsessed, stressful life and relax in the great, beautiful outdoors. Looking for essentials for your camping trip? We've got your back.

Melissa & Doug Let's Explore binoculars and compass play set

Your kids can get ready for camping with this playset that includes a compass and binoculars for hands-on, screen-free play. A field guide includes a map, potential activities and instructions for using the binoculars and compass -- both of which really work. 

Melissa & Doug Let's Explore binoculars and compass play set, $13  

Foval car power converter  

If you've taken your car to go camping and need a break from the outdoors, sneak into your vehicle and take advantage of this car-powered converter. With two standard AC sockets and four USB charging ports, this DC 12V to AC 110V converter can power up to 180 watts, making it great for charging laptops, tablets, cell phones and other electronic devices. It's also extremely portable and lightweight, making it easy to store and bring with you on your travels. With built-in multi-protection and a smart cooling fan, you can rest easy knowing your devices are safe and secure. 

Keep in mind, this device won't work with high-powered electrical equipment such as fans, heaters or hair dryers, so don't try.

Foval car power converter, $20 (reduced from $26)

Protect Life first aid and emergency survival kit 

You should have a first aid kit in your car no matter what, but it's especially important when you're camping. 

This extensive, 250-piece emergency kit has everything you need to help keep you safe in a variety of situations. It contains emergency items such as mylar blankets, a whistle, a compass and glow sticks in addition to the comprehensive medical supplies needed for first aid.

Protect Life first aid and emergency survival kit, $30  

Hydro Flask water bottles

Hydro Flask water bottles are great for drinks on-the-go instead of single-use plastic bottles. They keep your water cold for much longer than a standard plastic bottle -- up to 24 hours -- making them a must-have for the hot days out in the elements.

Get one for the whole family.

Hydro Flask standard mouth bottle with flex cap, $22 (reduced from $30)

Hydro Flask wide mouth bottle with flex cap, $39 (reduced from $45)

Hydro Flask vacuum-insulated stainless steel wide mouth water bottle with straw lid (40-Ounce), $55 (reduced from $82)

Hydro Flask wide mouth bottle with Flex Sip Lid, $23 (reduced from $33)

Best family road trip essentials for the beach in 2023

Let's go to the beach in style with these family beach trip necessities. We can't stop the sand from getting all over your car but we can help you find the ultimate beach road trip products for 2023.

Ben Kaufman Cabana Stripe 6-pack beach towels

Don't forget the towels. Not only can you use them to dry off after the beach or pool, but they can help keep wet or sandy bathing suits from seeping into the seats in your car. These are very colorful, highly absorbent and come in a pack of six so that there are enough beach towels for the whole family.

Ben Kaufman Cabana Stripe 6-pack beach towels, $40

L'autre Peau 4-pack travel-size SPF 30 sunscreens

These travel-sized sunscreens come in a pack of four so that they're easy to grab and go or keep attached to your keys. Perfect for impromptu beach trips, this SPF 30 sunscreen is water-resistant and will keep the whole family protected from the sun's UV rays.

L'autre Peau 4-pack travel-size SPF 30 sunscreens, $14  

Bluboon mesh beach tote bag with detachable insulated cooler

This large mesh tote beach bag features a built-in detachable cooler. It has zip pockets to keep your essentials secure and a large external pocket for valuables. The padded handles make it comfortable to carry and the mesh design lets you easily find your items and shake off sand. 

Great for beach days, picnics, and more. It will keep drinks cool on the road trip and at the beach.

Bluboon mesh beach tote bag with detachable insulated cooler, $25

Related content from CBS Essentials      

• CBS Essentials: How we choose the best products for your home, work and life
• Best Memorial Day 2023 luggage deals
• The best polycarbonate luggage in 2023
• Best deals at Walmart in May 2023: Save on patio furniture, smart watches, TVs and more
• Best early Amazon Prime Day 2023 mattress deals
• Walt Disney World
• Disney World

Jennifer Martin is an expert on streaming and deals for CBS Essentials. She has a soft spot for foodie culture, beauty and wellness products and all things pop culture. Jennifer lives in Richmond, VA with her family of five, plus a cat, a dog and a frog.

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The 35+ best road trip essentials for fall adventures.

Whether you're channeling Harold & Kumar or Thelma & Louise, stay prepared with these fun and functional travel must-haves for car camping and van life.

By Danielle Directo-Meston

Danielle Directo-Meston

E-Commerce Writer

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Welcome to  The Hollywood Reporter ’s inaugural  Travel Week ! Hollywood stars and insiders log millions of miles for filming, festivals and wherever else the red carpet takes them, so why not look to these frequent flyers for travel inspiration? With   summer destinations still beckoning (and plenty of time to plan for fall trips), this week we’re highlighting insider-approved essentials, style and travel tips, deals and more. Allons-y!

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If you don’t already have a tricked-out camper van (like nomadic actress Holland Roden ) or prefer not to add extra miles to your ride, Outdoorsy and RV Share are among the best online RV and trailer rental services that let you borrow Airstreams (a favorite among globe-trotting stars like Milo Ventimiglia ), towable campers and others directly from their owners. And if you’ve got a driveable or towable travel vehicle that’s collecting dust, you can earn some money while it’s not in use by listing it for rent on the aforementioned platforms.

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What Are the Best Road Trip Essentials?

To help you plan a great mini-vacay, the best road trip essentials can help you stay prepared for whatever comes your way — regardless of the route or season. Whether you’re boondocking along your cross-country route or glamping at your final destination a few towns over, we’ve put together a shoppable road trip checklist with items that are fun and functional for everyone.

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Stanley 40-oz. quencher h2.0 flowstate tumbler.

Staying hydrated is one of the most important things while traveling, which is why Stanley’s TikTok-beloved 40-oz. Quencher tumbler is a road trip essential. We love the cup holder-friendly design and stainless steel vacuum insulation that keeps your drink icy for up to two days or hot for up to seven hours. It comes in more than a dozen colors and the splash-free Flowstate lid lets you sip your beverage three ways.

Dramamine Motion Sickness Tablets

Can’t stomach the road — literally? Dimenhydrinate tablets (such as pharmacist-recommended Dramamine ) are a glove box must-have for anyone who tends to get nauseous or dizzy in the car.

Hook + Albert Leather Toiletry Kit

Hook + Albert’s genius leather toiletry kit has three zippered sections in a fold-flat design that makes it easy to keep your skincare, grooming products and other personal care essentials organized.

Béis Packing Cubes

Béis set of six packing cubes includes two shoe bags and a zip pouch, ensuring that your belongings stay organized. We like the mesh front panel for quickly peeking inside the cubes, and the top handles make it easy to grab your stuff.

Drowsy Sleep Mask ($20 off)

Turn the passenger or back seat into your own private spa and throw on Drowsy Sleep Co.’s wraparound silk mask , which is on sale for 20% off for a limited time. The soft material and padded design help your eyes feel comfortable without leaving that dreaded hair crease.

Business & Pleasure Premium Cooler Bag

For when you want to pull over for a quick picnic, this cooler bag from Business & Pleasure lets you enjoy cold drinks in style. It’s made with the brand’s UV-, water- and mold-proof umbrella canvas and it’s finished with chic leather handles and an eco-friendly printed lining.

Wey & Fly SUV Air Mattress

This top-rated SUV air mattress is a car camping essential. Four separate segments let you customize the fit to your vehicle’s back area, and the mattress features flocking on both sides for comfort. It’s suitable in temps as cold as -13°F or as hot as 122°F and a 12-volt air pump is included.

AeroPress Go Travel Coffee Press Kit

No coffee snob ‘s travel kit is complete without AeroPress ‘s Go travel kit , which can make one to three espresso-style shots in under a minute. Just add your own grounded coffee (ideally a medium-fine grind) and water, then stir and press.

STDY Roadside Emergency Kit (20% off)

You can never be too prepared on the road, which is why — in addition to a first aid kit and a portable charger — a roadside emergency kit is also one of the top driving essentials we recommend keeping in your vehicle. This one includes a safety vest, a reflective warning triangle, 7.6-foot jumper cables, a whistle, tools, basic first aid items, gloves, PVC tape, tire repair tools and other road trip must-haves for your RV or car.

Cabeau Evolution S3 Neck Pillow (20% off)

Get some shut-eye in the passenger or back seat with Cabeau’s best-selling Evolution S3 neck pillow , which has a memory foam core and an ergonomic design that helps protect your neck and allows you to breathe and sleep comfortably.

Altec Lansing Kid-Safe Active Noise-Canceling Headphones

For the kiddos, Altec Lansing’s active noise-canceling headphones can connect to devices via Bluetooth or an auxiliary cable, and offers up to 15 hours of battery life. These comfy headphones are great for protecting hearing for kids ages 7 and up as the volume is limited to 85 decibels, and they’re IPX4 rated for withstanding a little bit of splashing.

Tekfun LCD Writing Tablet

You don’t have to be a kid to break your screen habit (and your boredom) with this LCD doodle board , which Amazon reviewers say is a great replacement for digital tablets. On sale for up to 56 percent off, the 10-inch tablet magically erases with the press of a button.

WaterStorage Cube

There’s not always a rest stop or convenience store on those long stretches where you can stop to buy drinks, and that’s when these collapsible water cubes (complete with a spigot) come in handy. Available in 1.3-, 2.6- or 5.3-gallon sizes, this road trip must-have is also great for camping or your home emergency kit.

Surviveware First Aid Kit (20% off)

Accidents — hopefully, minor ones — can happen anywhere, and this first aid kit by Surviveware is packed with more than 200 basic medical emergency items such as bandages, splints, wound dressings, tweezers, a first aid guide and more, all in a water-resistant 600D nylon storage bag.

Carpool Karaoke The Mic 2.0 Wireless Microphone System (20% off)

This could be the best or worst idea for a road trip, depending on your fellow travelers’ vocal chops. While passengers can simply belt it out without any technical assistance, this official Carpool Karaoke microphone lets everyone recreate their favorite Late Show with James Corden  bits while embellishing their performance with echo effects and lights. The microphone and speaker can stream audio from a music app or smartphone via Bluetooth, or you can connect it to your car’s FM tuner. The rechargeable battery promises up to six hours of non-stop karaoke (or auditory torture).

Regal Games Travel Bingo Set

You won’t be bored in the car and in the car bored with this set of four travel bingo cards (available in other games). Small enough to be stowed away in the glove compartment or seat pocket, each reusable card has fingertip-friendly shutter slides and large print that’s easy to read for kids and grown-ups.

Fulton The Classic Insoles

Need some support while getting your steps in? We’re fans of Fulton’s comfortable insoles , which are great for flat-footed walkers (like us) or anyone who needs arch support. We like that they’re made of sustainable cork (which molds to your feet) and that there’s no trimming required, and we’ve found that the insoles make our feet and knees feel more comfortable, especially during all-day outings.

Lelior Le Bonaparte Car Diffuser

Turn your car into a mobile spa with Lelior’s chic Le Bonaparte car diffuser , which plugs into any USB port to transform small spaces (up to 250 square feet) into a relaxing oasis with your favorite essential oils. The French fragrance brand also offers luxe hotel-inspired scents, including ones that evoke the Ritz-Carlton, the 1 Hotel South Beach, the Wynn Hotel and more.

Audible Subscription

When the reception is spotty but you want to catch up on audiobooks and podcasts while driving, Amazon’s Audible lets you download titles so that you can listen offline. New subscribers get 30 days free and one free credit, and Prime members get two free credits to use on titles that’ll stay permanently in their digital library. Sign up here .

Drive Auto Car Trunk Organizer (20% off)

Drive Auto’s genius collapsible car trunk organizer is made of water-resistant 600D canvas and expands to two sizes and nine compartments. The adjustable straps, outer mesh pockets and tie-down straps make it a must for anyone who wants to keep their ride tidy.

GummiShot Energy Gummies

For when you find yourself nodding off but don’t have time for a coffee stop, GummiShot’s energy gummies can help give you a boost of plant-based caffeine to keep you on the road.

Hydaway Collapsible Insulated Bowl with Lid

Our go-to for car camping and trailer travel, Hidaway’s collapsible silicone bowls are perfect for when you’re tight on space. This one-quart option includes a lid and insulated sleeve and we love how easy it is to fold up and throw in a backpack or picnic basket. (Other sizes and designs are also available.)

Ucomx Nano 3-in-1 Wireless Charger (32% off)

Tired of fumbling for a charging cable for your Apple devices? This three-in-one charger folds easily into a compact, travel-friendly size and can charge up your Apple Watch, AirPods, iPhone and other MagSafe- and wireless charging-capable devices.

Tushy Travel Bidet

No more worrying about TP at rest stops with Tushy’s travel bidet , which conveniently collapses to save space while staying discreet. It can hold up to 11 fluid ounces of water and features a hinged nozzle with three spout positions, a carabiner and a carrying bag.

Eco Flow River 2 Portable Power Station ($50 off)

Don’t get caught without power — stow Eco Flow’s River 2 portable power station into your trunk. This compact 600-watt generator weighs less than eight pounds and can keep up to six appliances running during your off-grid adventure. It takes just one hour to fully charge with an AC outlet, and you can plug in the optional solar panel to charge it under the sun — making it one of the most versatile and convenient (not to mention budget-friendly at under $300) power stations out there.

Bagsmart Large Hanging Toiletry Bag (7% off)

Whether you’re ending up at a hotel or just want to freshen up at a pit stop, this hanging toiletry bag makes it easy to stash all of your bath and body products, jewelry and other road trip essentials into a convenient carryall. And when you are ready to fly, the bag features a separate bag that follows TSA 3-1-1 liquids rules, making it easier to breeze through airport security.

Related: The Best Travel-Friendly Makeup Bags and Vanity Cases for Every Type of Beauty Lover

Kenu Airvue Car Headrest Tablet Mount

Kenu’s Airvue car headrest tablet mount lets passengers turn the back seat into a mini movie theater.

Everywhere You Go: A Guided Travel Journal

Document your adventures in Compendium’s Everywhere You Go travel journal , which is filled with creative prompts, inspiring quotes and blank note pages (think packing lists and contact info) so you won’t forget a thing about your trip.

JoyTutus Pickup Truck Waterproof Tent (38% off)

This six-foot-long truck bed tent makes it easy to turn your ride into a shelter for shut-eye or a quick rest, thanks to the padded floor and quick setup. It’s made of 150D waterproof polyester and has three windows for catching the sights or fresh air.

Sony WH-1000XM5 Headphones

Don’t love your driver’s soundtrack? Sony’s WH-1000XM5 headphones (also available in black) are perfect for audiophiles, frequent travelers and anyone who wants excellent automatic noise canceling (Auto NC) and sound for listening to music, making calls and other situations where you need to cut out distractions. Our go-to amid noisy surroundings, these super-comfortable wireless headphones also include a 3.5-millimeter cable for when you want to plug in (such as an airplane entertainment system), and they offer up to 30 hours of battery life on a single charge.

The four beamforming microphones deliver crystal-clear voice pickup for phone and video calling, and we like the speak-to-chat mode (which automatically stops the music so you can hear ambient sound) and the intuitive touch control settings for the volume, activating Auto NC, voice assistants and more.

Foval Car Power Inverter

When you’re traveling with digital nomads (or tech-obsessed passengers), this 200-watt car power inverter has two 110-volt outlets and four USB ports so you can charge up to six devices.

Thisworx Car Vacuum Cleaner ($8 off)

All of that extra mileage likely means more messes, too. Thisworx’s car vacuum cleaner conveniently plugs into your car or RV and features a HEPA filter, three attachments and a 106-watt motor to suck up dirt, crumbs, ash, pet hair and other debris.

Béis The Convertible Weekender

This laptop-friendly convertible weekender bag from Béis has all the compartments, pockets and space you need for one day or three. The removable bottom compartment (which doubles as a packing cube) and padded laptop sleeve, wide opening, key leash and luggage handle pass-through combine to make it the ultimate versatile carryall.

Zero Breeze Mark 2 Portable Air Conditioner

Not every camper van or trailer has modern upgrades, but Zero Breeze’s highly-rated Mark 2 portable air conditioner can keep you cool. It has four fan speeds and three cooling modes (including an “on-demand” setting for conserving energy), and it’s great for tents, small rooms and recreational vehicles. Go off-grid with the rechargeable battery, which gives you about five hours of run time.

Awoken Unisex Urinal

When nature calls, don’t be caught squirming in your seat until the next rest stop. This unisex urinal lets anyone — including kids — relieve themselves in the car without spillage (for safety and sanitary reasons, we don’t recommend using it when you’re at the wheel).

Duluth Trading Co. Seat Back Bunker

Whether you’re traveling with kids or very bored backseat drivers, Duluth Trading Co.’s Seat Back Bunker has plenty of pockets for stowing away road trip entertainment and other essentials.

Pendleton Washable Wool Blanket

Keep passengers warm with Pendleton’s washable wool blanket , which is made from sustainable materials and measures 54 inches by 60 inches. The machine-washable throw’s fringe also adds a stylish touch in your home on wheels.

Kodak Mini Shot 3 Retro (30% off)

Of course, you’re going to want to document your moments, and Kodak’s Mini Shot 3 Retro instant camera offers the best of both analog and digital worlds. Plus, it’s currently on sale for 30 percent off.

HALO Bolt Portable Charger & Car Jump Starter (12% off)

36. halo bolt portable charger and car jump starter.

Equipped with two USB charging ports and a 120V AC wall outlet, this portable charger can also be used to jump-start your car battery with the included jumper cables. It’s also got an LED flood light for staying safe and visible in the dark and comes in a handy carrying pouch.

Nexar Beam GPS 1080p Dash Cam (11% off)

Popular among rideshare drivers, a good dashboard camera can provide peace of mind in the unfortunate event of collisions, or to capture stunning road trip views. Nexar’s GPS-enabled Beam 1080p HD dash cam captures 135-degree wide video and syncs with the brand’s iPhone or Android app, which can create post-accident reports with key crash information (such as driving speed, location, G-force impact and video footage) that you can send to your car insurance company.

The device can start recording immediately when it senses even minor impacts (even when you’re parked), and it comes with a 32 GB SD card for on-device video storage as well as unlimited cloud storage.

38. Yeti Hopper Flip 8 Cooler

If your vehicle is tight on space, Yeti’s compact Hopper Flip 8 cooler can fit a six-pack or whatever else you need to keep cool in between stops. The DryHide shell means it can take a beating in the rugged outdoors, and when used with a combination of Yeti’s ice packs and regular ice, the cooler can keep contents cold for two or more days.

Sanmitti Car Back Seat Organizer ($4 off)

You may be living a freewheelin’ driver’s life, but your car doesn’t need to look the part. Keep your car organized on trips and in everyday life with this back seat organizer , which contains pockets, fold-down trays (perfect for holding tablets to keep passengers entertained), water bottle holders and other storage compartments.

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37 BEST Road Trip Essentials You Need to Pack in 2023

By: Author Kim Tate

Posted on Published: February 15, 2023

Are you getting ready to pack your car for your next road trip adventure? There are some important road trip essentials you’ll want to bring on the trip. Our family has been on a lot of road trips, including an annual multi-day trip from Seattle to Edmonton, Alberta, and driving from Seattle to California. Over the years we’ve discovered some important things to pack!

When you’re planning to spend hours in the car on a long road trip, these essential items will help you stay safe and comfortable and are super easy to pack. I’ve included items that are essential for comfort, cleanup, staying connected, and entertainment.

This post contains affiliate links, I might earn a small commission if you make a purchase from my links. Thanks!

It’s important to pack your car well for a road trip ! That includes bringing useful items that will help you clean up messes, stay comfortable in the car, and even something to help with bad smells.

Some of these essential items might be easier to pack if you’re driving your own car. If you’re renting a car, consider using this list to determine each essential item you should pack in your luggage to bring along.

List of Road Trip Essentials to Pack

We find ourselves using wet wipes/diaper wipes all the time on road trips. My husband especially likes to use them after filling up the gas tank. I also love using them to clean our hands after eating. Individually wrapped wipes can work well for cars since they don’t dry out like multipacks.

We’ve all learned way too much about how we spread germs lately, so disinfecting wipes are also a big essential item to pack on a road trip! Just know that baby wipes can work well for hands and faces, but disinfecting wipes are normally best for surfaces.

Hand Sanitizer

Having a bottle of hand sanitizer is a road trip essential. We store a pump bottle in the cupholder between the front seats and everyone can access it. Works well for eating on the go and after being outside.

Paper Towels

Paper towels take up a bit of room, but they are very helpful for spills and messes. Families will find that paper towels can serve them well for cleaning up kid messes. We’ve also used paper towels to clean off messy shoes after a muddy walk. And they can be helpful if you’re eating in the car.

Toilet Paper

A roll of toilet paper can be useful in a couple of cases. Sometimes you might need to stop at a park or rest stop and they might not have toilet paper stocked.

You might also want some if you’re stuck using a “green latrine” at some point (FYI – that means using the bathroom in the woods). Just make sure you pack your toilet paper in and out. :)

Facial Tissue (i.e. Kleenex)

Facial tissue is always a good thing to bring along if you need to blow your nose. It’s good to keep in mind that allergies might affect you when driving in nature with plants you might not be accustomed to. They can also be extremely useful for wrapping up chewed gum to throw away!

Odor Eliminator

When a few people start spending hours together in a small space there’s a chance there will be some smells. Fast food smells, dirty shoe smells, or human gas can make the car stink. Pack some sprayable odor eliminator and consider an air freshener, too.

This is one of the most vital road trip essentials if you want to keep your car organized on a road trip . I like to tell people to pack a garbage bag for each “row” of seats.

We love using this car trash bag between the front seats, but each of our girls gets a plastic bag to keep near their seats to put garbage into. At the end of the day, we can throw the whole bag of garbage away at our stop for the night. We pack one plastic bag for each day we’ll be in the car.

No one wants to ride along with someone who is hangry, so be sure to pack plenty of road trip snacks . With kids consider packing a separate pack of snacks for each kid so no one has to hear arguments about who ate too much of what.

Portable Cooler

If you plan to pack your own lunches or snacks that need to stay cool, make sure to pack a small portable cooler . We also own an electric cooler and it’s nice for longer trips where ice packs can’t stay cold. Using a cooler can help you pack some healthy snacks in addition to all that road trip junk food. :)

If you’re using an electric cooler and staying in hotels overnight on a long trip, be sure you have a DC adaptor for the cooler in order to plug it into a hotel outlet overnight.

Gum / Mints

Most people won’t be brushing their teeth during the day while driving, so mints and/or gum are a good thing to pack. They’re going to help keep your mouth feeling a bit fresher and save others from smelling bad breath.

Reusable Water Bottle

While you don’t want to make a lot of bathroom stops, it’s still important to stay hydrated. Bring your own water bottle so you can refill it at restaurants and avoid single-use plastic bottle purchases. An insulated bottle is great for keeping your drinks cold, too.

Having a water bottle on hand is also a good idea if you’re planning any hiking or tourist stops in state or national parks.

Talking about making stops make sure you pack a day bag that you can easily grab when you’re making stops. I pack mine with my wallet plus snacks and a water bottle. It’s great to use whether we’re heading on a small hike or just running into a local store.

Facial Towelettes

This one works for men and women. Paul and I both like to use some facial wipes after we’ve been driving to help us feel refreshed.

Dry lips can be really irritating, especially when you’re stuck in a car for hours. You also might have a change in humidity during your long drive or stops, so lip balm will come in handy.

If you have trouble with dry eyes, or if you wear contacts, pack some eye drops for the trip. I wear contacts and find that driving with the air blowing on my face can make my eyes dry out.

Dental Floss

I can’t tell you how many times we’ve relied on these flossers to help us get rid of something stuck in our teeth after eating on the go.

This is another comfort item, dry hands can be frustrating if you’re stuck in the car for a long time.

If you wear glasses, make sure to pack a lens cloth so you can keep your glasses clear.

I’m sensitive to sunlight so I couldn’t imagine taking a road trip without bringing a pair of sunglasses. Consider getting polarized sunglasses to help with harsh sunlight glares.

I wear my RayBans, but Amazon has some well-rated polarized sunglass options.

Slip-On Shoes

Wearing slip-on shoes is a must for road trips. If you’re not driving then you’ll want to slip off your shoes and having to keep untying and retying them for each stop can be frustrating and time-consuming. I shared some of my favorite shoes in my road trip outfits post.

Passengers will appreciate having a pillow on the long trip. You can pack a full-size pillow from home, or use a small pillow or travel neck pillow .

If you’re on a solo trip, you might be planning to sleep in your car and a sleeping bag paired with your travel pillow can come in handy for throwing on the back seat.

We are a family that prefers different temps in the car. While driving, Paul likes to keep it cooler, which makes me miserable. Bringing a blanket can help everyone stay comfortable, and help keep the driver cool and alert!

Travel Towel

A travel towel that is compact can come in handy for a few reasons. Perhaps you stop by a beach and walk into the water. Or you might get stuck in a rainstorm and need to dry off your hair. These are portable and easy to pack, an extra item that can come in handy if you’re planning to make multiple stops.

Picnic Blanket

If you’re planning to stop at parks for a break or to eat then packing a portable picnic blanket can come in handy. Throw in a frisbee, too!

First Aid Kit

While you should make sure you’re covered for serious medical concerns and can access a hospital, minor scrapes can be fixed with a travel first aid kit . Definitely remember some ibuprofen/acetaminophen, stomach chews (Pepto Bismol), allergy pills, and bug bite cream. We’ve used them all on road trips.

Keep in mind if anyone suffers from motion sickness while traveling, and be sure to pack some items to help with that. You can use medicine like Bonine, essential oils, or a Reliefband tech bracelet that uses electricity to help combat motion sickness.

Roadside Emergency Kit

You can either buy a pre-made car emergency kit or put one together yourself with some absolute essentials. An emergency kit will have the necessities and some extra precautionary supplies but will have only jumper cables which won’t help you if you can’t find another motorist to give you a jump. I recommend packing a car jump starter so you don’t have to count on having another car to provide a jump.

And don’t forget to make sure your car is road-ready and any car maintenance is up to date. You’ll also want to make sure your spare tire is in good condition and ready if you get a flat tire.

There are also some important things, like an ice scraper, you’ll want to pack for a winter road trip .

Car Jump Starter

Having jumper cables won’t help you if you can’t find another motorist to give you a jump. I recommend packing a car jump starter so you don’t have to count on having another car to provide a jump.

While we all rely on google maps on our phones these days, there’s always a chance you’ll lose your coverage while driving. Make sure you pack a road atlas so you can navigate yourself if needed. If you’re staying in one particular state or region, you might consider a paper map for that state that you can just store in your glove compartment versus a whole atlas.

Also, keep in mind that digital maps will probably tell you the best way to go to save time or mileage, but it might not be the most scenic way to go. A road atlas can help you look for scenic drives and routes.

Also keep your hotel info, like the address and telephone number, printed somewhere so you can access the info in case you can’t get an internet connection.

Phone Mount

If you are using your phone for driving directions, a good phone mount is a road trip essential. I like the ones that fasten to our vents, but others might prefer dash mounts.

Multiport Charger

You also might need to pack a car charger unit if you have multiple people in the car that will need to recharge their phones or devices during the drive. This multiple-port charger is useful for families with members in the backseat.

Car Power Inverter

If you’re looking to get some work done or charge larger electronics than phones, a power inverter can come in handy. We use one of these to charge our laptops on long road trips.

Don’t forget to make sure each person packs their own headphones. There will be times when each person might want to listen to their own music/movie.

Signal Booster

This is definitely a splurge and not really an essential. But, if you’re planning a long trip and want to have excellent cell phone reception during the drive, you might consider a signal booster. weBoost is a popular brand of signal boosters and they have devices that can help boost the signal of a single device or for the whole vehicle – great for families!

Games & Activities

Don’t forget to pack some things to keep the whole family entertained while in the car:

• Road Trip Games – these printable games are great for kids (you can also buy some fun travel games )
• Books (digital or paper)
• Audiobooks (30-day free trial for Audible, titles like Percy Jackson and Pride and Prejudice!)
• Portable DVD Players or tablet mounts (we like DVD players that allow the girls to watch the same movie or different ones at the same time)

Just consider what each person might need to have a good time while riding along in the car. And drivers should remember to think of any road trip playlists or audiobooks they’ll want to listen to while driving. Each person will want to pack a small bag at their feet that contain their activities and any personal items they may need.

Credit Cards

Don’t forget to bring credit cards with you on your long drive. You’ll be filling up with gas often and most gas stations use pay at the pump. You may even need to rely on pay at the pump during off-hours at some small-town stops.

You can also bring some cash on your trip since you may want to make a stop at a roadside booth and buy some local food. I find that sometimes these roadside vendors only accept cash.

Important Documents

Lastly, make sure your car insurance and registration are up to date and you have that information with you in case you run into any issues on the road. Also, consider if a travel insurance plan would be useful for your trip.

Now you’ve packed all the road trip essentials and you’re ready to hit the open road!

FAQs about Road Trip Essentials for Car

What essentials do i need for a road trip.

Most road trip essentials are for comfort, like lip balm and snacks, for safety, like emergency gear and navigation, and for entertainment, like music and/or books.

How do I prepare my body for a long road trip?

It’s important to be well-rested and hydrated. It helps to take frequent breaks to stand up and stretch. Also, be sure you wear comfortable clothing.

What to do during long car rides?

Staying entertained depends on your interests. Listening to audiobooks and podcasts can be a popular road trip activity. You can also watch movies that you download. Playing sign letter games is another classic thing to do during long car rides.

What’s the longest you should drive in a day?

Driving over 8 hours is when it starts getting harder. Driving 10 hours or 12 hours, just means you need to take more breaks and start earlier. If sightseeing along the way, I recommend not driving more than 5-6 hours a day.

Coming Soon: Road Trip Packing List

Share and Save This Post:

Sunday 30th of May 2021

Kleenex are a brand. The word you are looking for is "facial tissue"

Tuesday 1st of June 2021

That's so true - I say kleenex and don't even think of the branding. I actually think we use Puffs a lot of the time! :) Thanks for the recommendation.

Monday 21st of September 2020

Thank you so much for sharing these amazing tips with us!! I will surely keep these essential with me in my jeep.

ourfamilytravelblog.com

Tuesday 19th of May 2020

Road trips are now the way better option compared to flying. I bet a lot of us will be doing family road trips!

Wednesday 20th of May 2020

Yes, I bet there will be a resurgence of the "Great American Roadtrip".

15 Brilliant Road Trip Hacks – Two Frugal Moms

Sunday 16th of July 2017

[…] 11. Top Road Trip Essentials To Have On Hand […]

15 Brilliant Road Trip Hacks – We LOVE Frugal Finds

Monday 19th of June 2017

[…] 11. Top Road Trip Essentials To Have On Hand […]

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The 20 Must-Have Road Trip Essentials

By: Tim Huber Published: Aug 24, 2023

When it comes to travel, it’s often less about the destination itself and more about the journey to arriving there, and this is especially true with road trips. And one way to maximize the comfort, entrainment, organization, and overall enjoyment of your time out on  the open road  is to be equipped with the right gear. With this grand American tradition existing since the creation of the U.S. Interstate Highway System after World War II, manufacturers have had decades to develop equipment catering to the unique wants and needs of those traveling by motor vehicle, which you can now benefit from if you’re planning on hitting the road.

While this has resulted in some great gear over the years, it’s also given way to an incredibly oversaturated market, rife with outdated offerings and inferior imitation products. So, to ensure you gear-up with the right equipment and get your travel firing on all cylinders, we’ve rounded up today’s best purpose-built gear for road trips and touring, as well as a few other quality pieces of kit that just happen to lend themselves particularly well to on the  road travel  to bring you this guide to the best road trip essentials.

The Best Road Trip Essentials Breakdown

Best Water Storage

Scepter Military Style Water Container

Best Car Blanket

Matador Pocket Blanket

Best Tumbler

Stanley The Quencher H2.0 FlowState Tumbler

Best Road Atlas

Rand McNally 2023 Road Atlas

Best Mobile Coffee Maker

Aeropress Go Travel Coffee Press

Best Road Trip Snack

Stemple Creek Ranch Beef Jerky 3-Pack

Best Cook Set

Sea to Summit DeltaLight Camp Set 2.2

Best First Aid Kit

Adventure Medical Kits Smart Travel FAK

Best Roof Rack

Yakima EasyTop Car Rack

Best Road Trip Pants

prAna Hybridizer Joggers

Best CB Radio

Cobra HHRT50 Road Trip CB Radio

Best Cabin Storage

Smittybilt GEAR Front Seat Cover

Best Jump Starter

Stanley J5C09 Portable Jump Starter

Best Headlamp

Petzl Swift RL Headlamp

Best Top Carrier

Rightline Gear Sport 3 Car Top Carrier

Best Multi-Tool

Leatherman Surge Multi-Tool

Best Sunglasses

Persol PO3225S Sunglasses

Best Action/Dash Camera

GoPro HERO11 Black + Accessories Bundle

Best GPS Nav Unit

Garmin DriveSmart 76

Best Car Fridge

LionCooler Mini Solar Powered Car Fridge

How we chose our roadtrip essentials.

Packing for a road trip can be a bit tricky, as your route, stops, destination, and even the season and time of year will also massively impact the type of gear that you should be bringing. With that said, there are a few road trip gear staples that are solid choices no matter where you platoon traveling. Below, we’ll briefly outline some of the most important traits to consider when purchasing road trip essentials. 

Size & Weight: No matter what type of gear you’re considering, you should always consider the size and weight of any item. This is particularly important considering that cars have limited storage space, and excessively heavy gear will not only impact vehicle performance, but will also hinder fuel economy. 

Function & Utility: Any item brought on a road trip should possess a clear function or utility. With that said, due to the limited space offered by cars, we always recommend seeking out items that serve more than one function — such as a jump starter with a built-in power bank and flashlight. 

Versatility: When purchasing a piece of gear for a road trip, it’s always wise to consider possible second and even third uses for an item, as a general air of versatility will generally increase the overall value and bang for your buck of any product.

Convenience & Preparedness: More specifically, pieces of gear brought on road trips should all tick at least one of two boxes in the form of convenience and/or preparedness. No matter the item, if it doesn’t bolster either of these two areas, it probably isn’t worth bringing along. 

Durability & Materials: No matter what you’re shopping for, the materials used to craft any product will play a monumental role in its overall quality and durability, making a piece of gear’s construction and materials an essential area to review when acquiring gear before hitting the open road. 

Why It Made The Cut

• A rugged 5-gallon vessel for potable water with a rugged high-density polyethylene construction & spill-proof spout.

Best Water Storage: It’s always advised to travel with extra water, should you get stuck roadside for a prolonged period on a scorching summer day (or should you need to top off a radiator or clean a cut). This particular military-inspired, jerry can-style vessel stores five gallons and, in addition to being clearly labeled for potable water, is adorned in a light blue finish for the purpose of being easier to distinguish from traditional red gasoline fuel cells. Weighing only 3.6lbs when empty, this item’s high-density polyethylene construction (and spill-proof spout) make it ideal for strapping to an external rack or jerry can holder, though with a compact 13.3″ x 7.3″ x 18.3″ footprint, it can also easily be stashed away in the trunk or behind a seat.

Construction: HDPE Volume: 5 Gallons

• A pocketable sub-4oz waterproof PU-coated nylon blanket that opens up to a 63” x 44” form.

Best Car Blanket: When you’ve been driving through the night, or have just had a long day out on the road and need to catch a few Z’s, it’s inevitable that you’ll probably wind up catching some shuteye at a rest-stop. And few items will help you recharge your batteries better — or more importantly, more comfortably — than a blanket, and this highly compact item from Matador is the perfect throw for car travel. Fitting into an included pouch that you can fit in the palm of your hand and expanding to 63” L x 44” W when opened, this puncture-resistant  camp-style blanket  is made from a fully waterproof PU-coated nylon. Weighing under 4oz, it also features weighted corners and integrated corner stakes, should you get the urge to pull over for a roadside picnic.

Primary Construction: PU-Coated Nylon Unpacked Size: 63” x 44” Weight: 3.8oz

• A dishwasher-safe doubled-walled tumbler with an included straw that’s made from recycled 18/8 stainless steel.

Best Tumbler: Stopping off for refreshments has always been a part of the American road trip tradition, and this 30oz mug from Stanley is designed to enhance that experience. Offered in an enormous slew of different color options, the mug features a three-position screw-down lid with a built-in reusable straw, supplemented by a regular pour spout. Dishwasher safe, the mug boasts stainless steel, double-walled,  vacuum-insulated construction , enabling it to keep your hot drinks hot or cold drinks cold for hundreds of miles in-between fill-ups. The bottom third of the mug’s diameter is also reduced, enabling it to fit in most cupholders.

Primary Construction: Recycled 18/8 Stainless Steel Volume: 30oz Weight: 1.1lbs

• The latest edition of Rand McNally’s expansive North American road atlas that contains over 350 cities and 25 national parks.

Best Road Atlas: With the rise of  smartphones  and GPS, cartography and traditional printed maps are increasingly going the way of the dodo. And while this makes sense, we’d still argue that it’s well worth the investment to arm yourself with a proper printed map if you plan on doing any extended touring. Should your phone break, die, or simply not have service, this 144-page road atlas is the most up-to-date iteration, and includes an enormous array of easy-to-read maps, including that of 350 cities and more than two dozen US National Parks, as well as detailed maps of each individual US state and a robust highway network map. This spiral-bound road-guide also boasts an unabridged index and contact information for construction information and weather conditions.

Size: 10.875″ x 15.375″ National Parks: 25 Cities: 350

• A super compact and super easy-to-use mobile coffee press with an 8oz capacity.

Best Mobile Coffee Maker: Traditionally, spending time exploring the country’s highway network has meant being at the mercy of whatever gas station coffee happens to be available on hand, though the AeroPress changes that, enabling its user to brew up 1-3 fresh cups off hot coffee in around a minute’s time (or cold brew coffee is approximately two minutes). The entire setup breaks down and neatly fits inside the system’s  coffee mug , including the travel filter case, which can hold 20 of the 350 free paper micro-filters that come free with the kit. Incredibly compact and lightweight, this on-the-go coffee system also lends itself incredibly well to backpacking or camping.

Primary Construction: Polypropylene & Food-Grade Silicone Liquid Capacity: 8oz Weight: 11.5oz

• A three-pack of gourmet jerky made by a 4th-generation California ranch using only 4 ingredients in total.

Best Road Trip Snack: While part of the fun of a road trip comes from stopping off at gas stations and truck stops in random flyover towns to stock up on snacks, it’s never a bad idea to bringing along a few basic sustenance staples like trail mix or beef jerky. Available here in packs of 3 or six, the Stemple Creek Ranch Beef Jerky is a gourmet snack made by a fourth-generation ranch in Tomales, California, and is comprised of only 4 ingredients — three of which are salt, pepper, and pasture-raised grass-fed beef. You may have noticed this jerky is markedly more expensive than your average gas station jerky, though you really do get what you pay for here, as the taste and overall quality of Stemple Creek Ranch’s dry jerky really is next-level. 

Origin: California Included Packs: 3 Meat: Grass-Fed Pasture-Raised Beef

• An all-in-one prep and eating camp set comprised of a pair of bows, insulated mugs, and cutlery sets.

Best Cook Set: Whether you’re exploring the backwoods or the backroads, a proper camp mess set is an essential piece of gear to possess on any adventure, road trips included. This two-person dinnerware set includes a pair of cups, bowls, and two cutlery sets. Microwave and dishwasher safe and BPA free, the set is made from lightweight glass-reinforced polypropylene, neoprene, and EU food-grade silicone. And, like the AeroPress, this entire set is of the nestling variety, conveniently breaking down and fitting inside itself before slipping into an included nylon storage pouch. Furthermore, the whole thing is designed to fit inside Sea to Summit’s 2.7L Alpha and Sigma camp pots, should you also be in need of camp kitchenware, too.

Primary Construction: Glass-Reinforced Polypropylene & Food-Grade Silicone Weight: 14.4oz Included Items: 2 bowls; 2 insulated mugs; & 2 cutlery sets

• A robust 69-item FAK that tips the scales at just over 1lb.

Best First Aid Kit: The very nature of road trips often means spending time on remote and desolate roadways, and anytime that you’re a considerable distance from trained medical intervention, it’s best to bring along a  solid first aid kit . Designed to treat a diverse area of potential injuries often sustained while traveling, this kit from leading FAK brand, Adventure Medical Kits contains a plethora of medications and basic medical supplies — all neatly organized in a zippered, trifold nylon case. Just as important is this kit’s included “Comprehensive Guide to Wilderness & Travel Medicine” booklet, teaching how to perform impromptu procedures and treatments while in the field.

Weight: 1.0625lbs Intended Group Size: 1 – 7 People Included Items: 69

• A soft rooftop storage system that can accommodate up to 80lbs of gear while weighing only 4.5lbs.

Best Roof Rack: Offering the utility and protection of a regular rooftop cargo rack without any of the hassle, commitment, or modifications involved with utilizing, Yakima’s aptly-named EasyTop is a universal system that transforms the top of your car or SUV into a soft rack that’s capable of supporting up to 80lbs of goods and gear, be that bags, kayaks, canoes, snowboards, skis, surfboards, or whatever else you’ve got. Able to be installed in a matter of minutes, the EasyTop also comes with a pair of heavy-duty straps and tie-down ropes.

Weight: 4.5lbs Gear Capacity: 80lbs Straps & Tie-Down Ropes: Included

• An insanely comfortable pair of hybrid jogger pants with stretch & moisture-wicking properties.

Best Road Trip Pants: Finding clothing that’s conducive to road trip applications primarily comes down to comfort, and while you could opt for a loungewear-based getup, there’s something less-than-dignified about rolling up midday  in sweatpants . Enter: Prana’s Hybridizer jogger, a pair of relaxed-fitting, draw-string pants that offer pajama-comparable comfort levels in a more presentable (yet still decidedly casual) package. Made of a moisture-wicking, quick-drying, stretchy, breathable, and lightweight performance fabric, these pants also lend themselves particularly well to outdoor recreational activities in between stints behind the wheel, with a zippered pocket for keeping crucial items secure while on the trail, and elastic leg openings that can be rolled up to beat the heat or water crossings.

Primary Construction: Spandex-Infused Polyester Moisture Wicking: Yes Stretch: Yes

• A 40-channel car-specific CB radio that comes with an included magnetic-mounting roof antenna.

Best CB Radio: While smartphone technology has rapidly evolved over the last decade, those who spend more time on the US highway system than anyone else: truckers, tend to still rely on the use of a traditional citizen band (or CB) radio. Powered via a car’s cigarette lighter, this modern take on the CB packs an omnidirectional microphone and a high-efficiency weatherproof antenna that affords the Cobra offering a range of up to four miles. And, in addition to 10 NOAA weather channels, this CB also boasts a 40 channel range, as well as the ability to simultaneously monitor two channels at once.

Channels: 40 Antena Mounting: Magnetic

• A military-style MOLLE & PALS storage system that’s sold with 7 included Velcro-mounting pouches.

Best Cabin Storage: Without the right organizational gear, your road trip storage setup will likely consist of haphazardly stuffing your belongings in the glove compartment or center console, or simply tossing stuff in the back seat. For those seeking a bit more order in their organizing, Smittybilt’s seat cover is a fantastic option, transforming the bare surface behind your seat with well-over a square foot (14” H x 11” W) of MOLLE webbing. Available in stealth black or coyote color options, this  military-inspired item  is constructed from hardwearing 600D polyester and features a polyvinyl chloride liner, and includes several buckle and/or zipper-secured, MOLLE-compatible pouches and Velcro sections to accommodate patches.

Primary Construction: 600D Polyester Included Pouches: 7

• A mobile jump starter with 1,000 peak amps and a built-in LED flashlight and 120-PSI air compressor.

Best Jump Starter: Equipped with a battery that boasts 1,000 peak amps and 500 instant starting amps, this standalone device is able to jumpstart a vehicle’s dead battery via its powder-coated clamps, or it can juice up mobile devices or whatever other electronics through its 12V outlet and USB port. Backed by a one year manufacturer’s warranty, this Stanley offering also packs a 120PSI air compressor for inflating flat tires (or sleeping pads, rafts, etc). There’re also LED battery level indicator lights, a reverse polarity alarm, and a 270-degree pivoting LED spotlight for guiding your way through tasks in the dark.

Peak Amps: 1,000 Max PSI: 120

• An IPX4-rated headlamp with 900 lumens and up to six hours of burn time.

Best Headlamp: Whether setting up camp, preparing food, or just rifling through a bag for gear, when the sun goes down, being armed with a quality light source is absolutely essential, and one of our favorite late-model offerings in this space is Petzl’s Swift RL  LED headlamp . Boasting multiple light modes, the Swift RL is extremely potent, putting out an impressive 900 lumens. The headlight’s Lithium-ion battery is recharged via micro-USB, affords up to six hours of burn time, and has its remaining life displayed through a five-level LED light meter. The elastic adjustable headband wraps around the back of its wearer’s skull, separating into a two-piece loop that cradles the head and provides a secure yet comfortable fit.

Weight: 3.5oz Max Lumens: 900 IP Rating: IPX4

• An oversized rooftop storage containers with a semi-rigid structure and rugged materials.

Best Top Carrier: Traveling long distances in a car tightly packed with luggage and supplies is extremely uncomfortable, which is why we’d recommend opting for a supplementary  rooftop cargo  vessel, especially if you plan on traveling with several friends or family members. This item from Sightline boasts nearly 600-liters of storage space and was designed to sit on the roof of a van or SUV, with or without a roof rack. Largely impervious to the elements, this top carrier is made from a rugged blend of waterproof, UV-protected PVC semi-coated mesh XT and Hydrotuff fabric, and has a urethane-coated zipper with an overhanging protective flap, as well as welded seams. This product has also been designed with aerodynamics in mind, and as such won’t catch the wind and reduce fuel efficiency, and it can be folded up and stowed away when not being used.

Primary Construction: Waterproof PVC Gear Capacity: 31,104 cu in Weight: 8.625lbs

• A 21-function,USA-made multi-tool that weighs just 12.5oz and spans only 4.5” when closed.

Best Multi-Tool: The open road can be wildly unpredictable, which is why it’s so imported to always be as prepared as possible, with the right gear on hand to get you out of a jam if needed. And one highly-versatile and extremely travel-friendly item that offers loads of utility is a multitool, like this Leatherman Surge. Constructed from hardwearing 420HC stainless steel, the Surge is armed with 21 built-in tools, including regular and needle nose pliers, wire cutters, stripper, and crimper, regular and serrated knives, scissors, bit driver, diamond-coated file, and a bottle opener, just to name a few. Sold in a nylon sheath and backed by a generous quarter-century warranty, this particular version of this  Leatherman Multitool  comes is a limited edition model with black tools and silver housing.

Number Of Tools: 21 Blade Steel: 420HC Weight: 12.5oz

• A high-end pair of Italian driving glasses constructed around an acetate frame.

Best Sunglasses: A quality pair of  driving sunglasses  is another absolute must-have staple for any road trip. These beautiful, Italian Persol glasses offer a solid mix of utility and style, with acetate frames — offered in black or light or dark brown — housing a pair of wide 0.56mm lens — available in green, brown, or light blue. This classic design is complemented by a decorative silver hinge arrangement, with metal accent “arrows” wrapping around to the front of the glasses. And, with a two-year international warranty, you can rest easy knowing Persol will replace them should something happen. Regardless as to what model or color you opt for, this is one purchase that your eyes will thank you.

Origin: Italy Frame Material: Acetate Lens Width: 56mm

• The latest & greatest action camera & accessories bundle from the market leader in the space.

Best Action/Dash Camera: If you want to record your journey to share with friends and family, it really is hard to do better than the latest GoPro model: the HERO11 Black, which offers stellar video quality and resolution in a highly compact and ridiculously durable package. This offering is GoPro’s HERO11 Black + Accessories Bundle, which, in addition to the action camera itself, also includes a number of GoPro accessories a head strap, shorty grip, and a spare Enduro battery — an incredible value considering it’s only $50 over the camera’s MSRP. So, whether you’re looking to create a massive time-lapse of your journey or just document some fun stops along the way, this is almost certainly the camera you want to be using.

Weight: 5.4oz Max Resolution: 5.3K Max Photo Megapixels: 27.13MP Rear Display Size: 2.27”

• A state-of-the-art GPS nav unit with a 7” TFT touchscreen and a built-in 1080P dashcam with a 140° FOV.

Best GPS Nav Unit: The latest and greatest, most cutting-edge GPS unit from arguably the most reputable brand in the entire space, the Garmin DriveSmart 76 is a state-of-the-art driving GPS unit that boasts an impressive laundry list of features including 3D city and terrain mapping, a slew of preloaded maps, GPS and Galileo connectivity, automatic incident detection, forward-collision warnings, lane assist with junction view, voice-control compatibility, speed limit indicators, and connectivity to the Garmin Drive App. Best of all, despite its compact footprint, the back of this GPS unit’s 7” TFT display has been fitted with a built-in dash cam with a 140° FOV and the ability to record 1080P footage at up to 30FPS. 

Display: 6.95” TFT Camera Resolution: 1080P Weight: 9.56oz

• An app-connected, LCD display-equipped, solar-powered fridge & freezer made specifically for use in vehicles.

Best Car Fridge: Engineered specifically for use in vehicles, the LionCooler Mini Solar Powered Car Fridge is a small but powerful appliance that offers 190 quarts of storage space and a cooling range of between -4°F and -43℉. This smart ice chest can also bee connected to an app and controlled and monitored via a smartphone, plus the actual fridge itself comes with a large onboard battery that enables it to double as a mobile power bank. Rounding out this fridge and freezer combo is a touchscreen LCD display. This purpose-built car fridge is also offered without a battery for around $380. 

Cooling Range: -4°F to -43℉ Volume: 190qt Weight: 24.2lbs

The Best Motorcycle Road Trip Essentials

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Road trip ready: best new england fall road trip essentials 2023.

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Table of Contents

Must have new england fall road trip essentials.

If you haven’t been on a New England road trip yet, this is your sign to add it to your bucket list ASAP! Last year we had the opportunity to spend a lot of time in New England, and it was truly a magical experience that I’ll never forget. 

I’m not going to go into detail on all of the places that we went to on our New England road trip (you can check out that post here ), but I thought I’d share everything all of the long road trip essentials we packed in case you’re planning one of your own this Fall. 

In this post, I’m pulling together the ultimate road trip packing list to ensure a successful New England road trip (or any road trip for that matter), including road trip car essentials, how to stay entertained on the road, outfits to bring on your road trip, what to pack for your pet, and much more! 

Wondering where else we want on our East Coast road trip? Check out these related reads!

• The best places to visit in New England
• Best things to do in Historic St Augustine Florida
• The best South Carolina coastal towns to visit
• Best restaurants & things to do in Annapolis Maryland
• 5+ best towns to visit in Massachusetts (especially in Fall)
• Discovering Maine: Best things to do in Kennebunkport
• P-Town Unplugged: Best things to do in Provincetown MA

Road trip tips & tricks

• Service your car before you leave! Luckily my husband is on top of stuff like this and had our car fully serviced before we departed on our road trip. Your girl probably would have had a panic attack if our car broke down and we got stranded in the middle of nowhere! I think it goes without saying that having AAA coverage is never a bad idea, either.
• Always take the scenic route! One thing that my husband did on our road trip that I really appreciated was that he planned our route so we could enjoy the beautiful views along the coastline! I mean, that’s the whole point of a road trip, right?! This also allows you to discover new places that weren’t originally planned. Those places ended up being some of our favorites from our road trip!
• Make sure to pack a toll pass! There were a ton of tolls along our route through New England, so I would recommend getting the Uni pass . This gives you access to all toll roads and most bridges in 19 states, including most of New England.
• Check the weather! Thank you captain obvious. This mostly applies to snow (especially if you don’t have 4WD), but it wouldn’t hurt to check the weather in general before getting on the road. I also recommend plugging your planned route into Waze (my personal favorite for road trips), as it provides real-time updates and is a little more proactive in changing up a route when problems arise. 
• Plan ahead! We had our entire road trip planned and booked before we even left. Of course, not everything went 100% as planned, but this allowed us to budget appropriately for our trip and gave us peace of mind knowing we would have a place to sleep at night.

TIP:  Have no idea how to plan a road trip? I HIGHLY recommend using Roadtrippers to plan your journey, and you can do it all right in the app ahead of time. This road trip planner will allow you to discover all the best stops along your route, and code BTR5QTP gets you $5 off!

• Keep your gas tank filled up!  Unless you spend extra time mapping out where to stop for gas along your route, it’s always best to fill up as you see them (especially if you’re driving through the Midwest). There were stretches of our trip where we were in the middle of nowhere, so we always made sure to have at least a quarter tank of gas at all times.

TIP: Trying to put together a budget for your trip? Check out this AAA gas calculator road trip to figure out how much gas you’ll end up needing!

• Pack a lunch!  I’m happy to admit that we only stopped for fast food a handful of times during our entire six-month road trip. We tried our best to pack food that was easy to eat in the car (like sandwiches) and ALWAYS had snacks readily available. If you’re planning on stopping to eat lunch, it wouldn’t hurt to have a picnic blanket and travel utensils set on hand, just in case.
• Only pack the necessities!  Full disclosure, we packed absolutely TERRIBLE for our six-month road trip, haha. Below is the perfect example of what NOT to do! Just because you have the space doesn’t mean you need to fill every inch with useless things like a crock pot.

Road trip essentials for car

car air freshener | car trash can | rooftop carrier | car vacuum | Hydro flask water bottle | sauce holder | sunglass holder | dash cam | car sun shade | back of seat car organizer | car trunk organizer | car tissue holder | window shades | road atlas | yeti cooler | first aid kit | car safety kit | wireless car charger  

Even though you’re going to have your car fully serviced before departing (as recommended above, hehe), you never know what could happen, so it’s always a good idea to have a car emergency kit on hand. It also wouldn’t be a bad idea to have a  dash cam  handy in the event of an accident. Word on the street is that your insurance company may even give you a discount for owning one.

For navigation

This  wireless car charger  was probably our most used travel essential of the entire trip! Not only was it our source for navigation, but it also kept our phones charged up at all times. The last thing you want is a dead phone when you’re on the road in the middle of nowhere (I’ve seen way too many horror movies, lol), so I cannot recommend this enough! As much as I hate to say this, it also wouldn’t hurt to have a handy dandy old-school  road atlas  on hand if you lose service.

For organization

I’m kicking myself for not buying any of these  car organizers  for our New England road trip! We had stuff EVERYWHERE in the car (including on the floor), which not only took up legroom but definitely made our trip (for me mostly) uncomfortable at times.  These  would have been so helpful!

For cleanliness

We road-tripped for six months (with our dog), so as you can imagine, our car definitely took a beating. It was so nice to have a  car vacuum cleaner  readily available to help keep things so fresh and so clean clean throughout our journey. It also doesn’t hurt to have a car air freshener plugged in, and I especially love the  Capri Blue car diffuser .

For when hunger strikes

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Car road trip essentials for entertainment

Car power inverter | Fujifilm camera | Uni pass | Ipad Air | Airpods Pro | Colored pencils | Coloring book | Road trips book | Mini games set | Shotgun game | 3 in 1 wireless charger | Tech case | Anker portable charger | Bluetooth speaker | Car Ipad holder | Noise cancelling headphones | Kindle | Nintendo Switch 

Favorite travel gadgets

Whether I’m traveling by car or air, my AirPods Pro , my Ipad , and a portable charger are my favorite tech gear that is ALWAYS coming with me. We also bought a car power inverter for our last road trip, which was so helpful in keeping our devices charged up at all times in the car, including my laptop. 

Another travel gadget I didn’t know I needed until we started road-tripping a lot was a Bluetooth speaker. It’s nice to have around if you’re hanging at the beach, hiking, biking, or doing any kind of outdoor activity. I particularly love this one from Amazon that is really travel friendly and can be clipped onto just about anything!

TIP:  If you’re going to try to do some work while you’re on the road, I recommend investing in a mobile hotspot router so you can stay connected at all times!

Fall books to read

One of my goals this year is to read more, and there’s no better place to do it then on the road! Below are a couple of books that I’m planning on reading this Fall. 

TIP: Don’t like having to haul a book around and prefer to read on a kindle instead? Check this one out. 

Netflix shows to download

When I travel, I also like to download all of my girly shows that Charles won’t watch on my iPad . The car is the perfect place to rot your brain with garbage TV! Some of my favorite series are The Bold Type, Younger, Virgin River, Vampire Diaries, and Legacies. There are honestly so many. I could probably go on forever, haha!

Prefer to watch a movie? Check out this list of the best road trip movies, including some of my favorites, like Dumb and Dumber, National Lampoon’s Vacation, Tommy Boy, and so much more!

Road trip games

If you’re traveling with the whole fam, road trip games are always fun to have along on the ride! I’ve linked a bunch of options in my Amazon storefront here , and you can also find a variety of fun printable road trip games on Etsy. 

TIP:  Traveling with kids? Check out the best road trip essentials for kids here .

Other ways to stay entertained on the road

Some other things to do to stay entertained on the road are to listen to podcasts, audiobooks, or even stand-up comedy. You could also put together a fun Spotify playlist to listen to!

Road trip must haves for the passenger princess

travel pillow | Ray Ban sunglasses | Smart Sweets | comfy socks | Advil | eye mask | LED travel mirror | Celsius | Dramamine | travel utensil set | Liquid IV | Laneige lip mask | Sanitizing wipes | Tide to go | picnic blanket | Hydro Flask water bottle | hand sanitizer | backpack

For comfort

Road trips can be super exhausting for the passenger princess, and if you want to avoid any meltdowns, I recommend making sure she (or he) is comfortable at all times. 

To do that, you’re going to want to grab this  travel pillow/blanket combo from Amazon that is super travel-friendly and also includes a sleeve to attach to your luggage easily. It also wouldn’t hurt to have a few pairs of comfy socks handy in case she gets cold!

For self care

If there’s anything the passenger princess loves most, it’s self-care! Some of my favorite travel beauty essentials that I ALWAYS make sure to have in my bag for any trip include under eye gels , facial sheet masks , and a lip mask . 

Additionally, I always like to have Advil and Dramamine readily available just in case, and I never leave the house without hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes .

Road trip snacks

The last thing you want on your New England Fall road trip is for the passenger princess to get hangry, so keeping the car fully stocked with all the best road trip snacks is super important. Some of my favorites include Smart Sweets (the sourmelon bites are especially tasty), Chomps beef jerky sticks, and Verb energy bars (if you need a pick-me-up).

To stay energized, Celsius (specifically sparkling orange) is my fave, and I also like to carry some Liquid IV packets in my bag to keep hydrated. 

TIP: Click here to build your own Smart Sweets box and use code TRAVELMEETSSTYLE10 for 10% off your purchase!

Road trip essentials for your pet

I’m honestly surprised by how easy it was to travel with our French bulldog, Melvin, on our New England Fall road trip. He’s always been really good in the car, but we weren’t sure how he would do with long 8-hour driving days. He obviously got antsy at times, but for the most part, enjoyed looking out the window and napping to his heart’s desire. 

Regardless, I tried to make our car as comfortable as possible for him and, of course, had lots of chew toys around to keep him occupied. If you’re planning on traveling with your dog, below are some dog road trip essentials that worked wonders for us on our road trip, and would definitely recommend!

Packing list for road trip

I already told you above how horribly we packed the car for our New England road trip, so it probably comes as no surprise that my suitcases were a hot mess too. In my defense, we had to pack for three different seasons, which made packing much more challenging.

If I had to do it again (which I will bc we’re planning a 2023 New England road trip!) I definitely would have brought a lot less and packed a lot more efficiently. For example, I recommend packing a small bag with your toiletries and a few outfits for shorter stops to get you by. You can leave the larger bags in the car and take them out for longer stops!

Scroll below to check out some of my road trip packing list tips, travel essentials to help keep you organized, and Fall outfits to pack. 

Packing tips for a road trip

• You don’t need to pack everything you own! It’s called a washing machine people, and most hotels & Airbnb’s have them. I’ll be the first to admit that I packed way too much for our road trip and didn’t wear even half of what I packed! Comfort is key when traveling (especially on the road), and I ended up re-wearing a lot of the same things. 
• Pack outfits that you can mix and match! This is something I definitely need to be better at when I’m packing. I like to shoot a lot of content when I travel (which means lots of outfits), but it’s just silly to pack that much. You can easily recreate a new outfit by pairing it with something different and switching up accessories. Check out some of my how-to posts here . 
• Utilize packing organization products! Packing organization products has been a game changer for me, especially if you’re living out of a suitcase. Before I discovered packing cubes, my bag always used to look like a tornado had gone through it. I like to think of them as almost like dresser drawers you would have at home, so as you can imagine, it’s a lot easier to find what you’re looking for! See below for all of my favorite travel essentials.
• Layers are key! If you have to pack for multiple seasons like I did on our road trip, I would recommend bringing lots of layers. The weather can fluctuate by day, and it’s a lot easier to put on/peel off layers than to be stuck in an uncomfortable outfit all day. Packing layers rather than bulky items that take up a lot of space in your suitcase is also a lot more efficient. 

Packing essentials to stay organized

If you guys have been following me for a little bit, then you know how much I love packing cubes! They truly have been such a game changer for me, and I can’t recommend them enough. Check out this post here for everything you need to know about packing cubes and why you need them in your life!

I’ve also included some of my other favorite travel accessories below that make packing so much more efficient (and enjoyable) and have really helped me to stay organized throughout my entire trip.

What to pack for a New England Fall road trip

Travel outfit ideas

Hiking outfit women ideas

Fall outfit ideas for daytime

TIP:  Check out my post here that shows you exactly how to build a Fall travel capsule wardrobe that’s efficient, versatile, and perfectly suited for any adventure!

Casual Fall outfit ideas

Fall date night outfits

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15 Road Trip Essentials to Pack for Your Next Outdoor Adventure

Posted: May 5, 2023 | Last updated: October 19, 2023

Universal Backseat Electronics Mount

This road trip essential will save the day when traveling with kids. Attach this adjustable universal mount to a front-seat headrest and keep your passengers entertained with a smartphone or tablet for hours. Then position your device at the perfect angle for comfortable viewing with the mount's sturdy, adjustable arm that keeps things firmly in place. It's compatible with most popular devices of varying sizes, like the iPad mini, iPad Pro, Kindle Fire, Nintendo Switch and smartphones as small as 4.5 inches in length.

Gentleman's Hardware Road Trip Trivia

Long road trips can become tedious, but with the Gentlemen's Hardware American Road Trip Trivia Game, there are hours of fun and entertainment to be had. This game has 1000 trivia questions designed to be engaging and challenging. Questions cover a wide range of topics like history, geography and pop culture. Learn a few facts and have some fun at the same time!

TripTips Portable Toilet

It might not be the first thing that comes to mind, but the TripTips Portable Toilet is definitely a road trip essential. This lightweight, compact poop shoot is only two inches thick when stored in its handy carrying bag, making it easy to stash in the trunk and carry along into the woods. Simply unfold the toilet, attach a plastic bag and do your business. Lastly, tie up the bag and trash it when you're done.

W&P Reusable Food Storage Containers

A high-quality reusable storage container like this outstanding set from W&P is a must for any road trip. Pack your favorite foods without worry of torn bags, leaky containers or accidental spills with this road-trip essential. Two extra-large reusable silicone storage bags are perfect for holding homemade treats and can be continually refilled with snacks whenever you stop to refuel. The tight-sealed bowls are fantastic for packing BBQ items and storing leftovers. A ceramic-coated insulated bottle keeps your beverages at optimal temperatures, and a flip-top lid prevents spills and sloshing.

Dot&Dot Twist Memory Foam Pillow

Of all the road trip essentials you'll pack for your trip, a comfortable travel pillow should be at the top of the list. The Dot&Dot Twist is made of high-quality memory foam that conforms to your body, providing the perfect amount of support to relieve any discomfort or pain. Use its customizable design as a neck pillow or backrest. Its flexibility means you'll always find the perfect position to make your ride as comfortable as possible. This travel pillow includes a removable and washable cover for easy cleaning on the road.

Gerber Gear Multi Tool

Having a multi-tool on hand during a road trip is always a smart idea, especially if you're traveling long stretches in desolate areas. The Gerber Multi-Plier 600 Pro Scout is about as good as it gets, with superior quality that you can trust. It cuts, crimps, saws and acts as a screwdriver , so you can easily handle any unexpected situations. Made from heavy-duty stainless steel, Gerber Gear's multi-tool won't bend or break, getting you through any emergency and keeping you well-equipped for a lifetime of adventures.

Survivewear Comprehensive First Aid Kit

Always have a first aid kit in your car in case of emergencies. The Survivewear Comprehensive First Aid Kit has over 100 medical essentials organized in labeled compartments. It includes clear instructions and diagrams to walk you through medical emergencies , even if you're not a trained professional. Easily stash this lightweight and compact kit in your backpack, trunk or under the seat of a car. It's also durable, water-resistant and made of high-quality materials that can withstand harsh conditions.

Dakine Split Roller Gear Bag

Get ready to take on any adventure with the Dakine Split Roller Gear Bag . With a whopping 5,500 cubic inches of storage space, this bag is built to accommodate everything you need. The unique split-level design provides easy access to all your gear, while the multiple compartments and pockets allow for effortless organization. The gear bag has durable construction and a rugged exterior but still easily fits into a crowded trunk. Easily move it around with its heavy-duty wheels and retractable handle.

Hydro Flask Wide Mouth Water Bottle

Staying hydrated when locked in a car for hours on end is important. This insulated wide-mouth bottle from Hydro Flask holds up to 32 fluid ounces (one quart). Most importantly, the stainless steel flask with double-wall vacuum insulation keeps cold drinks cold for up to 24 hours or hot beverages warm for 12 hours. Keep one hand on the wheel and another on the signature flex straw cap.

Righteous Felon Craft Jerky

Beef jerky is a high-protein snack that will help keep you feeling full and satisfied between meals. Righteous Felon's Craft Jerky Sampler Pack comes with 12 different savory and spicy flavorful jerky varieties like Teriyaki Balboa and Maryland Monroe and classic meat stick favorites like OG Hickory. Stay satiated with the jerky's all-natural ingredients and no added preservatives.

Hontry Compact Binoculars

This pair of compact binoculars is perfect for sightseeing and exploring new destinations. It features a 25mm objective lens with powerful 12x magnification, giving you sharp and clear images full of bright, vivid colors. These binoculars are easy to adjust and focus yet are lightweight and compact. Bring them when bird watching, visiting a national park or exploring a new city. Oh, and if you're looking for more options, consider these waterproof binoculars by Nocs Provisions , too.

Multiport USB Charger

A USB car charger adapter with multiple ports is a must-have accessory for any road trip. Compatible with a wide variety of devices, this multiport car charger keeps your smartphones, tablets, GPS and other USB-powered devices running. Plug it into the car's 12V port and it's ready to go. There are three USB ports for the front seats and a long double-port extension for passengers in the back.

Coleman Xtreme Wheeled Cooler

A cooler is great for storing snacks and drinks on the road. The Coleman Xtreme Wheeled Cooler has a 50-quart capacity and keeps ice cold for up to five days. This cooler's rust-resistant exterior and UV inhibitor coating protects it from harsh outdoor conditions. Its durable insulated walls and lid keep it safe while stashed in the trunk. Use the large wheels to move the cooler around easily when it's time to pull over for a picnic.

High Road CarHop Bench Seat Organizer

Amazon's bestselling bench seat organizer keeps all your road trip essentials in place. The multiple compartments and pockets are perfect for storing snacks, drinks, books, toys and more. An insulated vinyl-lined bin keeps drinks and snacks cold for up to eight hours. It fits in the middle of the backseat and is easy to reach. This car organizer installs quickly, and once it's in place, it stays securely fastened.

Lifeline AAA Premium Road Kit

A roadside emergency kit is the most important item of all road trip essentials. This kit is designed with safety in mind and contains tools and supplies needed to handle any roadside emergency, from flat tires to dead batteries. Get everything you need in this kit, including a carry case, jumper cables, a durable aluminum flashlight, a screwdriver, duct tape, an emergency poncho, a shop cloth, cable ties, bandages, towelettes and a reusable zipper-lock bag.

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EZRA centers on comedian Max co-parenting autistic son Ezra with ex-wife Jenna. Faced with crucial decisions about Ezra's future, Max and Ezra go on a life-changing cross-country road trip. EZRA centers on comedian Max co-parenting autistic son Ezra with ex-wife Jenna. Faced with crucial decisions about Ezra's future, Max and Ezra go on a life-changing cross-country road trip. EZRA centers on comedian Max co-parenting autistic son Ezra with ex-wife Jenna. Faced with crucial decisions about Ezra's future, Max and Ezra go on a life-changing cross-country road trip.

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How tricky will this train trip be? - Moscow Forum

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How tricky will this train trip be?

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I have read the guide on getting to the city from the airport but still would appreciate some advice on my trip upon arrival.

I am to arrive on a Friday at 9pm at DME. The host of where I am staying has told me the aeroexpress is not just cheaper, but also very simple and likely quicker than a cab.

She advised me to head to Paveletskaya, then take a green line 4 stops to Mayakovskaya.

Will this be simple enough for an english speaker arriving from Melbourne? Or is a taxi a better option?

I don't see anything tricky here. The entrance to Paveletskaya metro station (green line) is right inside the railway station to which Aeroexpress arrives. Nothing difficult, really.

And the good news is there are only a few, easily negotiable steps as you enter the Metro station. The only thing is as I recall Mayakovskaya station may have quite a few steps...most have a separage set of "rails" or ramp to help with larger luggage. The only thing is you will want to be very careful in choosing how you edit the station so as to come up on the "correct" side of the main drag - Tverskaya Street - as you will not able to cross once you come up to ground level. What hotel are you trying to get to? If by any chance if Marriott Grand, it is better to exit Metro at Tverksaya as there are not any stairs to worry about...

It's not the language, it's the size of your luggage that is decisive

Simple, I have one small backpack...was hoping to avoid finding any safety warnings here. It seems even after the lengthy cross hemisphere trip I should be able to take these steps even drowsy and desperate for a bed and darkness!

Just out of curiosity, which hotel? Or is a private apartment rental. Even with a backpack, IF it is indeed the Marriott, strongly advise getting off a stop early!

It is 3 minutes walk from Mayakovskaya! And I am only having a small backpack as luggafe...traveling light on mny 6 week trip this time around!

take aeroexpress, will save you trouble negotiating about price with taxi drivers

Btw, all of Tverskaya st from Pushkinskaya to Belorusskaya is currently under reconstruction. Might not be too convenient to walk with a big backpack. But on a taxi you might get stuck in a traffic jam for ages.

One reason I asked which hotel as well...I know when I stay at Marriott Grande, they say get off at Mayakovksi, but I find Tverskaya more reasonable...but agree, with construction and only a backpack, for sure use the Metro...unless the hotel is off in some crazy direction.

This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity.

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