There is nothing quite as exciting as going on a road trip. Whether you’re hitting the road with your closest friends, significant other, family members or riding solo, a road trip is the perfect escape for everyone.
But if you aren’t properly prepared, your road trip can turn sour with remarkable speed. That’s why today we’ll be filling you in on everything you need to pack to guarantee a successful adventure. From tie down straps to warning triangles and from odour eliminator spray to a steering wheel lock—here’s the ultimate list of road trip essentials.
All Aboard the Adventure Mobile: What to Pack in Your Vehicle
It should go without saying that you need to get your vehicle serviced to ensure that it’s road trip ready. Once your mechanic has given you the go-ahead, you can begin gathering your vehicle essentials. Be sure to pack the following:
- License and registration
- Spare tire
- Your vehicle’s owner manual
- Copies of your insurance policy
- Warning triangle
- Tire pressure gauge
- Battery booster cables
- UV window shade
- Water, transmission fluid, wiper liquid and oil
Adventure Awaits: What to Pack for Road Tripping
After packing all your essential vehicle items, you now need to pack for the trip itself. This includes items relating to your health, safety, comfort and entertainment. Here’s what you need to pack:
- Cash, spare change and credit card
- A paper map (because Google Maps doesn’t work everywhere!)
- Phone charger
- Hands free phone mount
- Flashlight
- First aid kit
- Pain killers
- Hand sanitiser
- Breath mints or chewing gum
- Tissues
- Insect repellant
- Odour eliminator spray or air freshener
- Travel games
- A book
- Reusable shopping bags
- Umbrella, snow shovel or scraper (depending on the time of year you’re traveling in and where you’re traveling to)
- Swiss army knife or multi-tool
- Travel mug
- Thermos
- Cooler box or bag
- Steering wheel lock
- Reusable water bottles (and LOTS of them!)
- Snacks that don’t need refrigerating like protein bars, trail mix, pre-made sandwiches, fruit and veggies
- Toilet roll, toilet roll, toilet roll!
Be Adventure Ready: What to Pack for Your Own Care
Now that your vehicle and everything in it is sorted, it’s time to pack your own personal items. We’re going to cover everything except clothing, because that is entirely dependent on where you’re planning on road tripping to. Remember to pack the following items:
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Mouthwash
- Sunblock
- Sunglasses
- Baby wipes
- Deodorant
- Feminine hygiene products
- Hat, cap or beanie
- Gloves
- A sweater, raincoat and windbreaker
- Lip balm
- Hairbrush
- Hair ties, bands and clips (for those who have long hair)
- Shampoo, conditioner and body wash or soap
- Facial grooming products
- Travel pillow
- Warm blanket
How to Pack Your Essential Adventure Items
And that’s a wrap! You now know exactly what you need to pack. But what do you pack it all in? Don’t worry, you don’t have to figure that out on your own. We’re here to help. Let’s take a look at the most popular packing solutions and accessories.
Suitcase
For most people, a suitcase is to go-to packing solution as it’s super convenient. Its compact size and portable design make it extremely popular. Most suitcases have either a handgrip or an extendable handle with a wheeled design on its bottom for easy transportation.
Duffel Bag
A duffel bag is a cylindrical canvas bag that is typically carried over the shoulder. This is a popular option amongst seasoned road trippers as it is simple to use, has zero maintenance requirements and has a soft shape that allows it to be forced into corners & smaller spaces.
Cargo Tie Downs
If you’re working with limited space in your vehicle, only one thing will ensure you find the space to fit in all of your essential items: cargo tie downs! Free up leg space and make sure your boot is overloaded by loading your luggage onto the roof of your vehicle and securing it down with cargo tie downs.
A Day Pack
What do you do when you find a stunning hiking trail in the middle of nowhere or want to take a quick walk to explore your surroundings? You whip out your day pack! Instead of lugging around your suitcase or duffel bags, simply grab your day pack and fill it up with what you’ll need for your little excursion.
Final Thoughts
Pack all of the essential items we listed today and secure them with cargo tie downs & you’ll be ready to hit the road perfectly prepared for your adventure—as well as anything that may happen on the way!
If you’re gearing up for a shorter trip, you may not need ALL of the essentials we shared with you today. At the end of the day, it’s entirely up to you what you decide to pack. Pick and pack wisely.
