Heading out to explore the open roads? Road-tripping is a fun pastime that many of us have fond memories of from our childhood. It is also a great way to explore our country, allowing you to take the time to enjoy sights you might not see if traveling by plane.
But, you want to be prepared when you are on the road, as things can go wrong. From a flat tire to running out of food or water, you don’t want to be left unprepared. Here is our list of road trip essentials from safety gear to snacks so you can have the most enjoyable and safest time exploring.
Road Trip Essential Documents and Safety Gear
When preparing your road trip packing list, you want to start by thinking about safety first. A great thing to do before hitting the road is to get your car serviced to ensure there are no mechanical issues. An oil change and tire check can give you peace of mind while traveling.
One road trip must have is roadside assistance in case of emergencies. You don’t want to get stuck on the side of the road without any help! Give your provider a call to be sure you understand what is covered if you experience a breakdown or need assistance.
When considering what to pack for a road trip, there are a few essential documents you will need:
- Driver's license
- Vehicle registration
- Proof of insurance
- Roadside assistance information
These documents are essential for safe, legal driving. Keep all of them in one area in your car (usually the glove box) for easy access, except your driver’s license which you may want to keep in your wallet or purse.
What about safety gear? Here are some road trip necessities you may want to include:
- Spare tire
- Tire jack
- Jumper cables
- Flashlight
- Emergency flares
- Fire extinguisher
- First-aid kit
- Cash
- Ice scraper (if traveling in cold weather)
These basic items can help keep you safe if an emergency does happen and give you peace of mind.
Road Trip Must Haves Tech and Navigation Tools
You may remember that road trips back in the day involved keeping a stack of maps in your glove box to help with navigation. But now, our smartphones do most of the navigation and are definitely a road trip must have. Here are some other tech tools that can help you enjoy your time:
- GPS navigation app: While most phones have one of these already, popular options are Google Maps, Waze, or Apple Maps.
- Portable GPS device: this might be a good backup if your phone battery dies.
- Car charger: Keeps your phone and other devices charged on the road (consider one with multiple USB ports to charge multiple devices at once).
- Portable battery: A lifesaver for keeping devices charged even if your car dies.
- Car inverter: Converts your car's power, allowing you to plug in devices like laptops, tablets, or game consoles.
- Car cooler: A plug-in cooler that keeps food and drinks cold
Also, when planning things to bring on a road trip while traveling with others, technology — such as portable gaming devices, smart tablets, or DVD players — can help pass the time for your passengers.
Road Trip Necessities and Comfort Items
If you want to be comfortable while you are in the car, you might want to bring a few comfort items, snacks, and your favorite drinks. Here are some ideas for road trip necessities that can make your trip more comfortable.
Shelf stable snacks and drinks
Snacks can help hold you over until you are able to grab a meal at your next stop. If you don’t have a car cooler, you will need to pack shelf-stable snacks. A few options might include:
- Dried fruit
- Nuts
- Trail mix
- Chomps meat sticks
- Granola bars
- Pretzels
- Apples or other whole fruits
- Water
- A caffeinated drink (if needed)
Need more ideas for healthy road trip snacks? Check out our round-up of the best healthy snacks for road trips and the best snacks to pack for vacation.
Comfort items
Comfort items can help make those long hours in the car a bit more tolerable. Here are some ideas of what to bring:
- Neck pillow
- Soft blanket
- Cozy socks
- Reading light
- Favorite stuffed animal (or other comfort item)
- Noise-cancelling headphones
- Playlist of relaxing music
- Special refillable water bottle
Entertainment and Relaxation Road Trip Essentials
You might find yourself driving for long hours during your road trip, so you want to keep yourself and your passengers entertained and happy. Here are a few ideas of what to bring on a road trip:
Favorite Music and Podcasts
Create a road trip playlist or download your favorite podcasts so you have them ready to go.
Books and Audiobooks
Pack physical books (if you’re not the driver) or download audiobooks for hands-free enjoyment.
Movies or TV Shows
Watching a movie is a great way to pass the time on a road trip. Some vehicles have small built-in TVs with a DVD player, but you can also bring a portable player or a tablet with movies already downloaded to enjoy.
Games
Load a tablet or portable game console with your favorite games to pass the time. Or if you don’t want to use digital games classics like Mad Libs, I Spy, and Would You Rather? keep everyone entertained.
Having items to entertain yourself or your passengers is essential for getting through the long hours in the car.
Road Trip Packing Tips for Personal Care and Emergency Supplies
Now that you have gathered all your road trip must haves, how do you keep it all organized in the car? A car is a tight space, so maintaining organization is essential. Here are some packing tips:
Use containers
Utilize bins, seatback pockets, baskets, or zippered pouches to keep similar items together. For example, have one basket for snacks and another for first aid items.
Pack efficiently
Use the trunk efficiently. Start by placing heavier items like luggage or coolers in the trunk, then fill in the spaces with rolled towels, clothes, water bottles, or other items that can be squeezed into tight areas.
Consider a console caddy
A console caddy is a small organizer in the center console that can hold sunglasses, hand sanitizer, phone chargers, and other frequently used items, so you can access them right away.
Pack an overnight bag
If you are going on a long road trip you probably don’t want to lug a huge suitcase out of the car every night. So consider packing a separate overnight bag with essentials for the night's stay, like pajamas, toiletries, and medication.
Stay organized
Pick an organizational system and stick with it. Make a habit of putting things back in their designated spots after use, as this prevents things from getting out of hand during the trip. Always throw away trash at each stop, to prevent it from accumulating. Staying organized can help everyone stay comfortable as you travel.
Prepared to Hit the Road?
When you are well-prepared for your road trip, you can travel with peace of mind and comfort, so you can enjoy your trip to the fullest. Our Chomps meat sticks are a great addition to any road trip checklist as they don’t need to be refrigerated and make for a great portable high-protein snack for your trip. Grab a variety pack or your favorite Chomps flavor today.
