As we move into the warmer months of the year, you or someone you know may be planning an exciting road trip. Whether you are going across the country or just down the road a bit, you need to be prepared before you leave. This list of road trip essentials will help you ensure you have everything you might need while you speed down the roads taking in all the scenery. Let’s get started!
Essentials to Store in the Vehicle
The first thing you'll want access to in an emergency is a toolbox, first aid kit, and emergency numbers. You do not have to go crazy buying the most extensive first aid kit out there, but you do want to have the essentials. Make sure it has essential medication like Tylenol, bandages, gauze, and antiseptic. Picking up a bottle of sunscreen is also an excellent idea. A smaller kit might fit in your car better, especially if you’re driving a compact vehicle or you are bringing many items along with you for a lengthy road trip. You will be glad you have a way to handle scrapes, cuts, or bruises that occur on your journey.
Some of you may already have toolkits that you carry in your vehicle. If you do not, don’t worry about buying the most expensive option. The most important thing to have in the car is probably a jack, followed by a spare tire, motor oil, roadside flares, and mechanic tools.
As for the emergency numbers, make sure they are in your smartphone and ready to go. If you are renting a car, make sure their number is saved. Look up numbers for emergency services in the area you will be passing through or have your roadside assistance company’s contact information ready to go if something goes wrong on your trip.
Clothing & Accessories
The amount and type of clothing you will need for your trip depends on where you are going, how long you will be gone, and what you expect to do once you reach your destination. However, we can suggest what might come in handy while you are driving down the highway. Be sure to include any other clothes that you typically use, as your needs may vary from another individual’s needs.
- Underwear and socks for each day, plus a couple of spare pairs of each
- Swimming outfits
- Hiking or walking shoes
- Shoes for the beach
- Umbrellas and a raincoat
- Hats, gloves, and scarves if appropriate
- Comfortable clothing like jeans, sweats, blouses, and shorts
- Travel towels and beach towels
Hygiene products are also essential while you are out and about. You want an assortment of items similar to those you use at home. Make sure to have deodorant, shower gel, shampoo, and conditioner. You also want to make sure you bring a toothbrush and toothpaste. Other handy items include face wipes, feminine hygiene products, razors, shaving cream, tweezers, and nail clippers.
If you wear glasses or contacts, be sure those are packed, along with your cleaning supplies. You may want to bring earplugs or a face mask if you have trouble sleeping with noise or light around you. Other accessories that might be useful on your journey include a watch, lotion, hair accessories, a comb, perfume, and jewelry.
Food, Drinks, & Coolers
While you are on the road, you may be able to stop for snacks and meals in some areas, but this may not be possible everywhere. That is why it is essential to have a selection of food and beverages that you can enjoy while the vehicle is in motion. Your own personal taste is going to factor into this quite a bit, but there are some tips you can keep in mind when choosing what to bring with you.
When you leave for your trip, make sure that you have plenty of water and any other beverages you enjoy on a regular basis. You should also bring along snacks, both savory and sweet, so you can munch on them whenever you like on the trip. As for meals, think about how you plan to acquire them. If you are going to stop at restaurants, make sure your journey matches up to meal times. If you are going to cook them yourself, make sure you have a plan for how to do so.
You should also watch for roadside vendors. Often, they will have unique produce, freshly picked, which can be snacked on or incorporated into the day’s meals. The people you meet doing this can also often provide advice on places you should visit, the food you should try in the area, and where to relax when you have some downtime.
The most important item to have in this category is a decent-sized cooler that will help you pack up a bunch of drinks and keep them freezing cold. There’s nothing better than that, especially if it is hot outside while you are traveling. Many snacks can also be refrigerated in a cooler, such as candy made of chocolate, yogurts, or string cheese.
Entertainment Options
While entertainment might not seem like the most important thing to plan for, it is definitely vital to a relaxing, exciting journey. Having music that you enjoy playing on your stereo can help the miles go by more quickly. You might consider making a playlist on your favorite device with music you own, in case streaming is not available. If your vehicle has a CD player, you can also load up on old CDs that might make you think of times past.
Of course, not everyone enjoys music going at all times, so there are some other options. If you enjoy reading, you can download some audiobooks to play while you are traveling. Podcasts or language courses are also enjoyable to have playing while driving down long, boring roads. There are podcasts for nearly any subject, so it should not be difficult to find one that you enjoy. Passengers might want to bring along things like books, writing materials, or even a tablet or laptop for the long stretches on the way to where you are going.
If you have little ones coming along on the trip, providing them with entertainment is crucial to preserving your own sanity. For those who do not have a backseat organizer, this might be a great time to add one to your vehicle. This gives you a place to store toys, books, crayons, coloring books, and a durable camera. This will give the kids something to do while traveling. You can also institute games like car bingo or purchase a few activity books to keep everyone happy on the road.
Everything Else
That makes up the majority of what you will need for your trip, but there are a few things that don’t really fit into the above categories. If you are going camping or hiking, you may want some camp chairs, pots and pans, and a tent. You will also want a sleeping bag and mosquito net if you plan to sleep out in the wilderness. Don’t forget to bring along your credit cards, identification, passport, any medications you take, and tickets or coupons you will need for the places you visit on your summer road trip.
Now that you have this list of items for your upcoming road trip, you will be ready when you start the engine. With everything packed up and accessible while you drive, you can focus on the scenery, dining, and entertainment at any of the places you choose to stop at. Enjoy your time alone, with friends, or with family as you take off for sites unknown!
