4 Road Trip Essentials to Add to Your Packing List

Exploring the country makes for a fun and memorable experience. Whether you’re getting away for a few days or embarking on a multiweek trek, there are many trails, coastlines, campsites, and towns to explore. 

Bringing the essential items ensures you can spend your time and energy enjoying all the sights and activities of your trip. We’ll cover the essentials you should add to your packing list, so you’re ready to hit the road. 

1. Portable Power Station 

When going off the grid, you need a reliable portable power station to power your devices and escape boredom. While going camping in nature helps you unwind from your daily grind and reconnect with life, you may still need some modern technology. 

Portable power stations let you power multiple electronics such as your phone, laptop, coffee maker, and ice machine. The best ones offer various charging methods, such as solar power or your car charger. If you have kids, having a power station can charge your gaming devices or laptops for movies to keep them entertained on the road. 

2. Roadside Emergency Kit 

You never know what could happen on the road trip. If your vehicle mysteriously breaks down or fails, you’ll need an emergency kit to get you out of the rut. You should always have an emergency kit with you to alleviate the stress that comes with car troubles. 

Make sure you have jumper cables, a good tool kit filled with wrenches and screwdrivers, road flares, flashlights, tire pressure gauges, and motor oil. It’s ideal to have roadside assistance insurance ahead of time to help with the expensive out-of-pocket costs. 

3. Snacks 

While there’s no substitute for stopping by a drive-thru or restaurant for a complete meal, snacks are a requirement for road trips. Driving on an empty stomach can leave you feeling miserable. Keep snack containers so that everyone can access food when hungry. 

You can use food storage containers to include home-cooked foods and bring a travel cooler to keep perishable cold foods or ice-cold drinks. The best snacks to bring are energy bars, trail mix, granola, beef jerky, fresh fruit cups, nuts and seeds, gummies, and dried fruit. 

Always pack healthy road trip snacks to prevent digestive issues like bloating or constipation, which occurs when you have irregular meals. 

4. Physical Map 

Believe it or not, you should bring paper maps with you. While it may be going out of style, it can be instrumental in helping you navigate, especially when your cell service isn’t working. 

While there are offline digital maps, you’ll want a paper one in case your phone runs out of battery. The easiest way to get physical maps is to visit local tourist offices for free maps of the regions you’ll be exploring. 

Final Thoughts 

Road trips are a classic pastime. There’s nothing better than playing your favorite music, windows rolled down, and viewing the beautiful landscapes around you. 

Having these road trip essentials with you will prevent hiccups and keep you comfortable on your long journey. Now that you have these items, you’re ready for your next adventure.