Essentials To Bring On A Road Trip ~ Complete Travel-Tested List For 2024

Are you thinking about taking a road trip? Road trips have become a Great American pastime and can be the perfect getaway for every season. This checklist of must-have essentials for a road trip will prepare you to enjoy your road trip worry-free.

There are some good reasons to consider a road trip for your next getaway: you are in control of the planning and have the flexibility to venture off the beaten path. One of our biggest reasons for enjoying road trips is we don’t have to pay any baggage fees and can pack whatever and how much we want. Plus, there is no sitting around the airport waiting for our flight or going through security.

It took us a while to embrace this mode of travel, and we made plenty of mistakes along the way. With some planning and preparation, however, we have learned to enjoy road trips. Now, road trips are our first go-to for travel in the US.

We have been taking road trips for over 3 years, and thanks to our time spent on the road, we have made a list of essentials to bring on a road trip. What’s on our list is always packed and ready to go. We look forward to each new road trip with excitement.

If road trips are not at the top of your list when you think about vacationing, with the right planning, you will realize that a road trip can be as much fun as jetting off to faraway places.

That may be just a little bit of a stretch. You may not always find warm, sunny tropical beaches on a road trip, but you may discover hidden gems and meet some amazing people. Save those jet-setting vacations for something very special.

On a road trip, the journey becomes a huge part of your vacation.

PIN ME FOR YOUR NEXT ROAD TRIP

Things to bring for a enjoyable road trip - jeep driving on a road

This post may contain affiliate links. That means if you click and buy,
We may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Please see my disclosure policy to learn more.

Must have essentials to bring on a road trip

When planning your next road trip, be creative and leave room for unexpected pleasures. Planning means being prepared it does not mean planning every moment. One of the highlights of road trips is the opportunity to detour when we see a sign for something not on our list but looks attractive.

Having a list of essentials to bring on a road trip will give you peace of mind that you are as prepared as possible for the unexpected.

With proper planning, you will soon say you love road trips, too!

Basic Must-have Essentials to Bring on a Road Trip

1~ Good Attitude

Gary and Michelle having a good attitude on a road trip

A good attitude is the first thing you must ensure you bring with you. Be involved in the planning and have a say in where you are going and what you will do on your road trip.

Be flexible. Your road trip belongs to each of you, and sometimes that means there are things you want to do on the list, but your travel partner does not. It’s a give-and-take. Who knows, you might find something new that you enjoy.

Gary wasn’t too keen on waterfalls initially, but he enjoyed the road trip and helped plan the details for our second Wisconsin adventure to see the tallest waterfall.

Your attitude can make or break your road trip or any trip. Focus on being together when you are on romantic travels.

2 ~ Paper Road Map/Atlas

A paper map or travel atlas is necessary for any successful road trip.

Siri and smartphone apps are great, but there are times when you will lose service.

Gary and I found ourselves on a waterfall adventure through the Chequamegon- Nicolet National Forest (say that three times), where there was no cell service. Before we knew it, we were so deep into the forest that turning around was not an option.

I had just purchased an atlas from Amazon before this trip and, thankfully, had put it in the car. I had never used a paper map. It was quite the sight to see me trying to figure it out. Gary was very patient.

This is where we got lost. It was all gravel roads not shown on the map. Gary’s navigation and the map got us out, but not without taking us down some questionable roads.

Road in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest
Road in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, the lack of blacktop, should have been my first clue that the road would not have been on the map.

FYI ~ The Chequamegon -Nicolet National Forest, home to many of Wisconsin’s waterfalls, was one of our first road trips. It covers more than 1.5 million acres of Wisconsin’s North-woods. Just one more reason to have snacks and water with you in addition to a paper map. You don’t want to get lost without those for any extended time.

We use Siri and love the step-by-step directions, but we always have our paper map as a backup.

3 ~ Portable Phone Charger

Extra portable chargers can be a lifesaver. You may find yourself in areas where you can’t charge. The last thing you want is to find yourself without your cell phone or other electronics.

On a recent visit to the USS Lexington, we spent an entire day exploring the ship. Before the day ended, both our cell phones and our camera needed to be recharged. Having extra portable chargers kept us going all day.

Amazon offers a variety of chargers. Stock up on chargers and cords before your next road trip.

4 ~ First Aid Kit

A first aid kit is something you should always have in your car for emergencies. I can’t even count the times our first aid kit has been needed for scraped knuckles, banged knees, bug bites, or the time Gary slipped off the edge of wet rocks and scraped his ankle. *Note his lack of proper shoes.

Gary slipping into the water

Thankfully, he did a great job at saving the camera.

Note: If you have an older first aid kit, periodically check the items to see if they are expired or need replacing.

More Essentials to bring on a road trip

Whether you are taking a long or short road trip, there are additional things to make sure you have in your car.

5 Car Phone Charger
6 Power Inverter
7 Hands-Free Phone Mount ~ for hands-free use of navigation
8 Camera / Photo Equipment ~ Road trips are a great way to see some fantastic places in the U.S. Pictures are a great way to bring back your memories without buying souvenirs. We use both our iPhones and a Canon SL2 camera. They are both very useful on a trip because they take pictures differently.
Make sure to also stock up on extra SD cards. Having a camera in addition to your iPhone is an extra layer of protection against one or the other getting erased.
9 Raincoat/Umbrella ~ Don’t let a little rain keep you indoors
10 Cash and coins ~ for parking meters, tips, tolls, or laundromats
11 Sunpass or I-pass ~ if you are taking a road trip where tolls are required
12 Hand Sanitizer
13 Napkins and disposable silverware ~ I can’t even count the times we have gone through a drive-thru, and they forgot the napkins and silverware
14 Body/Baby Wipes ~ Handy to have after you fuel or when the restroom is out of supplies
15 Garbage Bag/Trash Can ~ to collect trash, keep car seats from getting wet, ground cover if changing a tire, or can be used as an emergency poncho
16 Roll of Toilet Paper ~ better safe than sorry
17 Bug Spray ~ no one likes getting bit and itching while on vacation

Car essentials to bring on a road trip

Not only do we need to make sure we are prepared for a road trip, we need to ensure our car is prepared. Whether you are driving your own car or renting a car, make sure it has recently been serviced and is ready for a road trip.

We occasionally rent a car for our road trips. When we do, we always use Discover Cars. They always find us the best deals and what we are looking for.

Save Money 728x90

18 Drivers License
19 Insurance Cards and Registration
20 Extra car keys ~ Picture this: you are hours from home and stop to get something out of your trunk. You pop the trunk and set your keys down. After getting what you are looking for, you close the trunk only to remember after it’s too late that the keys are still in the trunk instead of in your pocket.

This has happened to me. Thankfully, Gary had an extra set.

21 ~ Emergency Roadside Kit

An Emergency Roadside Kit is something we should all have in the car, even if we are not going on a road trip. Having jumper cables and other emergency gear in the vehicle prepares us for an emergency. On one or more occasions, having a roadside emergency kit has allowed us to help others.

You may never have to use some of what’s in the emergency car kit, but it’s comforting to know if the need arises, you are prepared.

Don’t skimp when you purchase an emergency roadside kit. Having what you need could mean the difference between sitting for hours and waiting or getting back on the road quickly.

When my daughters got their first cars, a roadside emergency car kit was one of the first gifts I gave them. We are comforted in knowing that if an emergency comes up, they may have the needed equipment that will allow someone to help them.

22 ~ Duct Tape ~ Isn’t duct tape a man’s best friend? Duct tape can be used for so many things.

duct tape

Duct tape is useful for many things, so it needs to be on your essential list of things to bring on a road trip. Gary added this one extra item to our emergency kit in the trunk.

23 Your Car Manual
24 Flashlight ~ Troubles usually seem to happen at night
25 Spare tire ~ Double check to ensure it has proper air pressure and you have the jack and tools needed to change a tire.

Having grown up in Wisconsin, we know the importance of preparing for winter travel. These are some additional items we recommend you have in your trunk.

26 Small gas can
27 Quart of motor oil
28 Gallon of water ~ used to prevent overheating and to replace wiper fluid
29 Ice Scraper
30 Tire traction mats ~ adds additional traction on ice

Essentials to bring on a road trip for entertainment

Conversation and connecting are the best entertainment while traveling as a couple. As much as we’d like to think we will never run out of things to talk about, after a few hours or a few days, you may need something extra to keep you entertained.

31 ~ Download Playlist

Bring some of your favorite music to keep you company. You can make do with the radio, but you are almost guaranteed to lose your signal at least once unless you have satellite radio. You may even go through stretches where you only get one or two stations.

Once you have downloaded your music, you can listen to it by updating your iTunes or downloading Pandora. This is also a great alternative when you want to listen to something different.

You can also sign up for Amazon Audible Plus, an all-you-can-listen membership that offers access to thousands of titles, including a vast array of audiobooks and podcasts.

Just in case your taste in music differs from your partner’s you may want to have a set of headphones with you.

Essentials to bring on a road trip for comfort

Comfort is important, especially when you are on a road trip. Depending on your destination, you could sometimes be in the car for a few hours, which is still better than waiting in a security line for hours. Remember your needs when making your list of essentials to pack for comfort. These are the things we need for our road trips.

32 ~ Blanket

There are numerous reasons to always have one or two blankets in the car. The blanket helps you get comfortable; you can use it to block the sun from coming in your window, and it’s great to have when one of you likes the car like an ice cube while the other likes it toasty warm.

Having a blanket in the car opens up the possibility for spur-of-the-moment picnics or romantic snuggling on the hood of your car to watch fireflies.

Blankets are also a great addition to your roadside kit and good to have in the car for emergencies.

33 ~ Pillow/Neck Pillow

If you are in the passenger seat, having a pillow between you and the window may be the difference between getting a little shut-eye or ending up with a stiff neck when you reach your destination.

Cars are not designed for cat naps; you hit your head with each little bump. A pillow will at least help you get comfortable.

A pillow can also work well on your lap as a bookrest.

34 ~ Sunglasses

Sunglasses help keep you and your eyes safe and healthy while driving and exploring. Good sunglasses will help prevent driver fatigue, also. Whether you like grey, brown, yellow, or blue, make sure they are polarized.

As a bonus, a good pair of sunglasses looks cute.

35 ~ Sandals / Flip Flops

Do your feet get hot in the car? Mine always do. It’s nice to slip off your shoes when you’re a passenger for hours.

Extra shoes that are easy to slip on and off, like sandals or flip-flops, are a must if you are going to get in and out of the car frequently. It’s easier than putting shoes on and off all the time.

36 Window Sun-Shades
37 Foot Rest
~ this under the desk foot rest is great for preventing leg fatigue
38 Travel Mug
39 Water Bottle
40 Tylenol/Ibropropen
41 Lip Balm
42 Hand Cream
43 Microfiber Towel
~ These towels are great to carry in the car for times when you get caught in the rain or take a walk on the beach. They dry quickly, don’t take up much room, and the sand does not stick to them.
44 Extra Set of Clothes
~ The weather can change quickly, so it’s always a good idea to have an extra set of clothes within easy reach.

Essentials to Eating on a Road Trip

Eating while on a road trip can happen in numerous ways. If you are looking for a relaxed vacation, you may choose to eat out for all of your meals. If this is how you choose to road trip, you will still want to have a small cooler and snacks in the car.

Hunger pains escalate when you know that food is a long way off. If you are starving, you may also miss a restaurant you want to eat at because you will grab the first thing you find.

You could also plan on eating out for one meal daily and munching in the car for the others. In that case, you might want to consider a larger, ice-free cooler that plugs into the car.

A third option is to plan all of your meals. This is ideal if you plan to camp along the way. You might also want to have a small camping grill to help with the cooking.

45 ~ Insulated bag/cooler

Always keep a small insulated cooler in your car, and when you start your road trip, add a frozen half-gallon jug of water. The frozen water will keep your beverages, fruits, and vegetables cool.

As an added bonus: as the water thaws, you have drinking water to refill your insulated mug.

A cooler in the car is also great for grocery shopping or when you stumble upon something unexpected during your travels.

46 ~ Snacks

Snacks are important to keep the “Hangrys” away. Be prepared with plenty of snacks in the car. This allows you to munch in the car and have dinner at the cute diner of your choice.

This is a good time to allow yourself to have some munchie foods like crackers and cookies, but you will also want to bring healthier snacks like carrots, grapes, cheese, or strawberries. Snacks should give you a quick pick-me-up between stops or for a burst of energy while on a short day hike.

Here’s a list of road trip snack foods to pack that are somewhat healthy and will give you those bursts of energy when you need them most and keep you from grabbing something at a gas station.

  • string cheese
  • cheese curds
  • nuts
  • fresh fruits and vegetables
  • dried fruit
  • crackers
  • hummus
  • cold cuts
  • hard-boiled eggs
  • granola bars
  • protein bars
  • protein shake powder
  • trail mix
  • chips

47 ~ Water and Healthy Drinks

Staying hydrated is essential, and water, Gatorade, energy drinks, and other healthy drinks are important.

Avoid soda; it makes you thirstier, so you drink more, resulting in stopping and using the restroom more often. Stick with water; it’s your best defense when it comes to staying hydrated.

We buy gallons of water and refill our insulated mugs along the way. It saves money, space, and time.

To stay hydrated, the goal should be to consume 6 oz. of water per hour. Depending on your activity, this amount may need to be higher.

Clothing Essentials to Bring on a Road Trip

Packing clothing for a road trip differs somewhat from a regular vacation. First, you will want to use packing cubes and duffle bags when packing for a road trip. This makes access to your things easier, and fitting things into your space becomes less of a chore.

Packing cubes are ideal for packing all your toiletries, one for each of you. Things to remember to pack.

  • hair brush
  • toothbrush /toothpaste
  • deodorant
  • pain killers
  • medications
  • makeup
  • razer
  • shampoo/conditioner
  • eye drops
  • tide to go pen – if you knew Gary, you would understand this one
  • laundry bag

Comfort is the second thing to keep in mind. You will want more comfortable clothes while you are on the road. Leggings, sweats and t-shirts or sweatshirts.

Plan to pack clothing that can be layered. While traveling, temperatures and weather can change quickly, both inside and outside the car, depending on who controls the air conditioning.

One of our biggest tips is investing in a good car organizer. Organizing your essentials will help make your trip planning go a lot smoother.

This list of essential things to bring on a road trip is just a start; you will add items based on your needs. We have not had to use a few things on this list, but we are more at ease knowing they are there if we need them.

Conclusion: Essentials to Bring on a Road Trip

We travel just the two of us, but sometimes I go on one-day road trips with my daughters, and our grandkids sometimes come with us. Our main list of essentials to bring on a road trip is the same on all those trips, but we may need to add items depending on who is traveling with us.

This list will make your road trips more pleasurable by taking some of the concerns off your shoulders about being prepared. Learn from our many mishaps of unpreparedness, and never leave home without the things you need.

The few things on this list that we have not needed will stay on the list because we travel easier knowing they are there if we need them.

We have taken almost more road trips than we can remember, traveling throughout the entire United States looking for romantic adventures to share with all of our readers. Check out a few of our favorites.
FAST Fiberglass Grave Yard
Wisconsin Dells Road Trip
House on the Rock
Historic Third Ward, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Things to do in St. Louis

Pin Me For Later

Essentials for a road trip
What to bring on a road trip
Essentials to bring on a road trip
Road Trip Essentials

We would love to know if you bring anything on a road trip that we have forgotten.

Gary and Michelle Signature
Save Money 728x90

One Comment

  1. Ryan Biddulph says:

    This is one sensational list. We need a great attitude to travel.

    Ryan

Leave a Reply