Road Trips! There’s just something about road trips that give such a sense of satisfaction and freedom!

Road trips allow you to be in full control of your journey. You can make your own routes, take as many or as little stops as you want, decide or change your destination as you go! You can simply travel at your own pace!  

I am a big road trip fanatic, and am looking to hit the road at every opportunity I get. I have driven within the country as well as cross country many times. Based on my experiences, I am writing this post to help you prepare for your road trip.

Whether it is a short trip, or a long one, the list below covers all the road trip essentials you must have and some nice to haves (I have segregated the two). You can also download a PDF copy here.
 

road trip essentials
 

Before hitting the road:

  1. Make sure to do a quick car inspection. Mainly check the battery, brakes and tires (regardless of whether it is your own car or a rental).
  2. Check the maps before driving to get an idea about the route you want to take. Do not just rely on the GPS.
  3. Fully charge all your electronic devices

 

Must Haves:

  1. Valid Driver’s license!
  2. Travel documents if driving across the country
  3. Car manual
  4. Insurance documents
  5. Spare tire (make sure it is inflated!)
  6. Car Jack
  7. Lug wrench
  8. Jumper cables
  9. First aid kit
  10. Loose change/cash
  11. Road map - Download offline maps on your phone. I always prefer to carry hard copy as well. Cell phone signal is not available everywhere so please do not just rely on your phone GPS.
  12. Water resistant flash light
  13. Extra car key, not in the same keychain as the other car key!
  14. Emergency contacts list - I have my emergency contacts listed on a piece of paper stuck in my dashboard.
  15. Swiss army knife
  16. Drinking Water - I keep refillable steel tumblers as well as disposable water bottles. I fill up the tumbler at each stop if possible. Save disposable for emergency.

 

Nice to Haves: 

  1. Snacks – For me, this is almost a must have. Ideally, carry snacks like nuts, energy bars, fruits like apples, oranges, bananas etc that do not requiring cooling. I also make my own trail mix.
  2. Cooler – For me, this is another almost must have. I make my own sandwiches or take some meat, bread and veggies every time I go on a road trip. I use ice packs mostly, and they easily last for two days. If I am on the road longer, then I buy ice from stores along the way.
  3. Garbage/disposable bags
  4. Wet wipes/napkins – if you forget from home, no problem. Can always pick up napkins from rest areas.
  5. Tooth brush and tooth paste
  6. If you wear glasses/contact lenses, then carry an extra pair
  7. Photocopy/picture of driving license and/or traveling documents
  8. Notebook and pen
  9. Car phone charger
  10. Power bank
  11. Hand sanitizer
  12. Toilet paper
  13. Safety pins (stick em in the first aid kit)
  14. Small Blanket or shawl
  15. Small Towel
  16. Umbrella
  17. Sunglasses/cap
  18. Lotion/cream
  19. Travel pillow
  20. Travel mug

 

Some helpful tips and tricks: 

  1. Break every 3-4 hours to stretch
  2. If more than one driver, switch drivers after each break
  3. Before driving, do some research on cheapest gas stations along your route. I use the “Gasbuddy” app on my phone. I check it during breaks also to get the most recently updated prices.
  4. Refill drinking water at each gas stop
  5. Do not let the gas tank go below quarter (sometimes, I even fill it up when it reaches half)
  6. Avoid night time driving as much as possible, especially, if driving solo
  7. During breaks, recheck the map for route further
  8. If you are a tea drinker like me, then most McDonalds and other fast food/coffee shops will fill up your travel mug with hot water for free. They also give you creamers if you like. I always carry tea bags with me. Hot water and creamers are easily available. This also helps me save quite a lot of money!
  9. Bring snacks from home. Gas stations charge quadruple the price of what you will otherwise pay at your local grocers
  10. If you are a picky eater, or simply want to save money on food, then invest in a cooler and ice packs. Even if you have to buy ice along the way, this is still a much cheaper option then buying each meal on the road