Your Road Trip Essentials Checklist (2024)

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Pack these road trip necessities to keep safe, comfortable, entertained, and ready for just about anything on your next outdoor adventure.

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Wheels up!

The open road is a welcome relief to worries about COVID-19 and back-to-school blues. In fact, 71 percent of respondents who had to cancel their summer travel plans are now considering alternative road trip vacations to enjoy the outdoors according to a new poll by SWNS for Skyscanner. Added bonus: A road trip can actually be beneficial to your mental and physical health. Outdoorsy’s first ever Road to Wellness survey found that 94 percent of North American families feel less stressed and are happier and healthier after taking a road trip and spending time outdoors. If you’re ready to roll, make the most of your adventures by packing these road trip essentials organized so you can build on each list, so you have all the right things to bring on a road trip without overpacking. Don’t hit the road without reading this super helpful American road trip guide.

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Car essentials

According to a survey by the popular Gasbuddy app, nearly one in three Americans are planning to hit the road this summer. First things first though; there is no road trip without your license and registration, so make sure they’re in a safe, easy to reach location. Then, get your car serviced beforehand and fix any minor problems—broken windshield wipers, oil change, tire rotation—before you hit the road. Also, read up on how to save gas on your trip so you don’t blow your budget. Then, add these handy road trip necessities to your trunk, dashboard, or glove compartment for a worry-free ride.

• Hands-free phone mount
• JUDY Emergency Kit
• Portable charger
• Air freshener
• Spare tire and jack
• Trunk organizer
• Paper maps (for when you’re out of Wi-Fi range)
• Audiobooks: These are the 30 best audiobooks to listen to right now.

By the way—if you’re planning on renting a car, here’s what you need to know about renting a car for a road trip.

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Personal road trip essentials

Safety and comfort are equally paramount when you’re heading out on a driving trip. Keeping these road trip necessities close at hand will make your road adventures feel more like a vacation and less like a chore.

• Water bottle
• Sunglasses
• Face masks
• Hand sanitizer
• Cooler
• Grab-and-go snacks
• Travel mug
• Sunscreen
• First aid kit
• Bug repellant
• Travel-size toiletries

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Clothing road trip essentials

We know, with a whole car or RV to pack with your personal items, it may seem like you can throw half your closet in the trunk and roll out. But trust us, you’ll be happier if you have a packing road trip checklist that limits your clothing to keep your traveling space neat and make packing up easy. This clothing plan is for a week on the road in warm weather. Bring small packets of Woolite or other detergent for quick sink washing, and plan to hit the laundromat if you’ll be on the road longer. The packing list for a road trip will depend on the season and your destination, but in general, it should include:

• 1 pair of pants
• 3 pairs of shorts
• 5 short sleeve shirts
• 1 long sleeve shirts
• 7 pairs of socks
• 7 pairs of underwear
• Loungewear and pajamas
• Bathing suit
• Raingear
• Hiking boots
• Sneakers
• Sandals or flip-flops
• Hat

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Entertainment road trip essentials

Although getting there is half the fun, the rest of the road trip excitement is when you finally get to your destination and can start to enjoy the great outdoors, whether that’s at the beach, the mountains, or in a quiet rural area. Pack some special gear to keep you entertained both outdoors and indoors, so you’re ready for inclement weather as well.

• Games: These are the best-reviewed board games
• Books
• Playing cards
• Frisbee
• Sports equipment
• Fishing gear
• Bluetooth speaker
• Wi-Fi hotspot

If you need to buy any of these, add them to your road trip cost list so you can keep track of your budget.

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Traveling with kids

Road trips make for a great family vacation, but it does require some additional planning to make sure the kids are both safe and entertained throughout your road trip. In addition to the road trip necessities for kids below, bring along some ginger and other natural remedies to beat motion sickness. And plan on stopping at least once every two hours to let the kids stretch and take a bathroom break. These are some of the best road trip games to play:

• Toys and stuffed animals
• Kid-friendly snacks
• Pack n’ play
• Travel high chair
• Blow up pool
• Disposable bibs and placemats
• Stroller or wagon
• Arts and crafts supplies

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Traveling with pets

Not unlike traveling with kids, taking your pets on the road offers ample rewards, but requires additional planning for their safety and comfort, and for your sanity as well. Plan for extra stops for pet relief and make sure your destination is pet friendly. It’s worth the extra efforts, though; your pet will love it, and taking your dog outside is one of the 15 habits of great dog owners. Here’s everything you need for a great road trip with your dog.

• Car safety harness
• Dog bed
• Collapsible bowls
• Food and treats
• Leash
• Balls for fetch
• Waste bags

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Camping essentials

Pitching a tent in the woods sounds like an easy vacation. But acquaint yourself with your camping gear, advises Dan Yates, the founder of campsite booking site Pitchup. Make a checklist, and make sure you take your own water bottles, cutlery, and everything you need to be self-sufficient in the woods. And follow this expert advice to avoid the camping mistakes most first-timers make.

• Tent
• Inflatable lounge
• Sleeping bag
• Matches/firestarter
• Easy to cook food
• Flashlights and headlamps
• Packable hammock
• Camping chairs
• Animal-proof food storage bags
• Campfire marshmallows

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RV essential

According to VacationRenter, searches for RVs were up more than 350 percent at the beginning of the summer compared to the quarantine spring, and over twice the previous all-time high. So there’s a better than average chance that if you’re going on a road trip, you may be traversing the country with the comforts of home at your fingertips. To make it feel even more comfortable, you can bring some camping and entertainment essentials, above, then add these additional RV highlights.

• Bedding
• Folding table and chairs
• Bikes and locks
• Outdoor adventure blanket
• Easy cooking ingredients
• Snack containers
• Seat cushions
• Travel pillow
• Sun shade

There are also ways you can utilize free camping methods and find free overnight parking for your RV. Wherever your park, make sure you follow these 11 unspoken rules of RV etiquette.

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Cold climate considerations

One of the highlights of road trips is discovering something different from home, including a different climate. If you’re heading north from wherever your starting point is, chances are you’ll soon find colder temps, especially if you’re traveling in the fall or winter. Be sure to bring the following so you’re not too cold to enjoy the scenery.

• Hand warmers
• Insulated coat
• Thermal layers
• Scarf
• Hat
• Mummy sack
• Tire chains

One place you may want to visit in the fall and winter? The White Mountains in New Hampshire—you won’t believe the views! Next, read on to find out 11 destinations that are even better in the winter.

Sources:

• SWNS for Skyscanner:”Americans are itching to travel again but will take these precautions on their next trip”
• Outdoorsy: “Road to Wellness survey”
• Dan Yates, the founder of campsite booking site Pitchup.

Melissa Klurman is an intrepid explorer and award-winning travel journalist with more than 25 years of experience. She covers topics ranging from family travel and Disney to honeymoons and romantic beaches and everything in between.