Road Trip Essentials: 40 Must-Have Items You Absolutely Need!

Road trip season is just around the corner. Whether you're hitting the road for hours or days, you'll want to be prepared. You can stay prepared by taking a look at this list of road trip essentials, which might shed light on areas where you might be lacking. 

Read on for over 40 road trip essentials. We break down our list into 2 categories: Road Trip Essentials for Adults and Road Trip Essentials for Kids. 

Road Trip Essentials for Adults

Road trips are perfect for couples, friends, and/or families who want to take a scenic trip around this great country of ours. Nexar is here to support you on your journey road tripping around the United States. We did the research for you; this is your one-stop shop for everything you might need for your road tripping! Trust us, we're auto experts.

Safety and Navigation Gear

Safety and navigation gear should be some of the first items you secure before you go on your road trip.

1. Dash cam

In this day and age, a dash cam is essential in case you get into an accident or you just want to record the road as you travel without compromising your safety. Nexar dashcams record the road in high definition, provide remote streaming capabilities, 24/7 Parking Mode, and can send an insurance report to your provider in one easy click.

It’s not all about protecting you in the event of an incident – you can also capture the amazing places you visit with your dash cam. You can save selected footage during manual recording mode, just in case you run into anything viral worthy. Document your journey with Nexar dashboard cameras to keep a record of your most memorable moments. 

Nexar dash cams operate as the ultimate AI driving sidekick – your second pair of eyes for road trips and everyday driving alike. 

The beam2 is particularly suited for road trips – featuring 2K QHD resolution, ultra-precise GPS positioning, round-the-clock parking protection, and many more features to make sure you and your passengers are fully protected while you’re on the road.

2. First Aid Kit

You should have a good first aid kit – and a pack of bandaids is probably not going to cut it. You’ll want bandages, medical gauze, surgical shears, wound closure kits, antiseptic wipes, antibiotic ointment, medical tape, disposable gloves, and tweezers. Instant cold packs and over-the-counter pain relievers (such as ibuprofen and/or acetaminophen) come in handy as well. You can custom tailor your first aid kit to your needs as well as the needs of your passengers.

3. GPS Device / Paper Maps 

One of the most important aspects of a road trip is knowing where you’re going. GPS devices these days have gotten quite sophisticated and will help you chart the best course to your destination.

However, like all tech devices and electronics, GPS devices can fail. In such a case it’s important to have a paper map that covers the area you’re in as well as the location you’re going. Having a paper map and knowing how to read and use it will ensure you never get lost or too far off the beaten path.

Comfort and Convenience Essentials

Road trips generally entail long hours on the road – some road trips might last days. If you’re taking your time enjoying the scenery, some road trips might even take weeks. This means that you have to be comfortable during all that driving you’ll be doing.

4. Seat Cushions / Neck Pillows

Seat cushions and neck pillows are a must for road trips. Although cars, trucks, and SUVs can certainly be comfortable and accommodating, items that add a little extra cushion come through in the clutch during road trips. Seat cushions and neck pillows will keep your passengers comfortable. A seat cushion will also help those who drive. 

5. Car Organizers / Packing Cubes

When there's a lot of luggage, our team has had good experience with packing cubes. This way you can easily sort through your belongings without making a mess. You can keep your items in an easily accessible place and keep like items with like items.

If you are going on a long trip, we recommend a large cooler to hold all of your food and beverage cravings as well. This will help you keep your food and drinks organized as well.

6. Window Shades

This is a more obscure road trip essential but that doesn’t make it any less valuable of an item to have during a road trip. Think about it – most of our road trip journeys happen during the day. That means the sun is going to be invading your space during certain times of the day. Window shades and screens can help get rid of unnecessary glare and sun exposure. 

Health and Hygiene Must-Haves

One of the challenges while on the road is staying clean and maintaining normal standards when it comes to personal hygiene. But taking some measures in this department will make a big difference in the overall enjoyment of the trip.

7. Sanitizer / Wipes

Bring plenty of hand sanitizer and cleansing wipes to stay clean and bacteria free on the fly.

8. Toiletries 

Road trip essential toiletry items include travel-size toothbrush and toothpaste, floss, mouth wash, deodorant, shampoo/conditioner, body wash, and shower flip-flops, just in case you have to use a public restroom with showers that see a lot of traffic.

Bring toilet paper, paper towels, and tissues – you never know when you’re going to need these and not every bathroom is guaranteed to have paper products in stock.

Food, Snacks, and Hydration

Having snacks and beverages is good – having the right snacks and beverages is better. You want good sources of protein, nutritional foods that aren’t going to make you crash. 

9. Healthy Snacks

Protein bars, all natural beef jerky, veggies, fruits, nuts, and plenty of drinking water will help fuel your journey and ensure that everyone in the car is up for any challenge.

10. Ready-to-Eat Meals

Having easy meals you can prepare on the go will ensure you’re not getting all your nutrition from gas stations. Freeze dried meals can be prepared with hot water, and there are actually options such as Mountain House that provide gourmet fare. 

11. Portable Stove

Portable stoves are good for heating water, which is necessary for freeze-dried meals (freeze dried meals make great cuisine while you’re on the road). The JETBOIL Flash Cooking System is a good choice due to its portable design.

12. Reusable Water Bottle (Preferably Stainless Steel)

Bringing a reusable water bottle will help you avoid waste, which will help you avoid clutter in your ride. Stainless steel is widely considered to be the best material for a water bottle. They are durable and have a non-reactive nature. They also provide resistance to leaching chemicals, making it a safe (and healthy) option.

Essential Gadgets for Entertainment

Take the time to create a good road trip playlist – whatever that means for you and your passengers/travel buddies. 

13. Audiobooks

One less-thought-of option is audiobooks as far as in-the-car listening is concerned. Throw out some options and figure out a few titles that everyone can agree upon. You can listen to a classic or something more contemporary. 

14. Power Bank

It’s a good idea to have some decentralized sources of power that can charge your devices. Power banks are good for keeping everyone’s electronics charged and at the ready. 

15. Phone Mount

When you’re on a road trip it’s important to keep your focus on the road. Phone mounts ensure you’re not handling your phone while driving, which is illegal in many states. 

16. Noise-Canceling Headphones

Noise-canceling headphones are road trip essentials for many travelers. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones provide world-class noise cancellation and can play for up to 24 hours on a full charge. 

Clothing and All-Weather Gear

17. All-Weather Clothing

You want clothing you can wear in just about any weather, although many people opt to go on road trips during warmer seasons. Long sleeve shirts, thermal base layers, and hiking style gear are best for these sorts of situations. You want breathable fabrics – opt for high quality wherever you can. Make sure to bring a raincoat, a light jacket, and a heavier jacket for good measure.

18. Beanie, Gloves, and Wool Socks

You never know when the temperature can drop, so having a beanie, gloves, and wool socks on board will ensure your digits, ears, and toes don’t get cold.

Car Maintenance and Emergency Equipment

19. Car Emergency/Maintenance Kit

Taking care of your vehicle is a must when you hit the open road. Bring items like jumper cables, tire repair tools, and pack a full-size spare. Pack windshield washer fluid, a squeegee, and duct tape.

20. Headlamp/Flashlight

Sources of light are especially important if you plan on traveling at night or in the early hours of the morning when the sun isn’t shining yet. A headlamp is a convenient option that allows you to shine a light on whatever you’re doing while having your hand free to do the necessary work you need to do.

A good flashlight can help you in the dark and during an emergency.

Road Trip Essentials for Kids

Just like adults have road trip essentials, there are also road trip essentials for children. Read on for a few items that will help keep children safe and entertained during family road trips.

Safety and Comfort Gear for Kids

First, make sure you have all your safety gear in check and take measures to ensure all the kiddos are comfortable for the long ride ahead.

21. Car Seats

Comfortable age-appropriate car seats are essential for road trips. Otherwise, you might be hearing some feedback from your little passenger. 

The Britax One4Life ClickTight All-in-One Car Seat has 9 reclining positions for max comfort.

22. Seat Belt Adjuster

Seat belt adjusters are a hidden gem during long drives, helping eliminate neck rub and making the seat belts in your vehicle more comfortable, especially during road trips. 

23. Blankets

Lightweight, easy-to-fold blankets provide a little coziness for the little ones, providing warmth and a bit of snuggle.

24. Pillows

It’s hard to get decent sleep while sitting in a car, but pillows are truly road trip essentials and can help you maximize your comfort, not to mention the comfort of your passengers. Choose ergonomic options that will provide neck support. Of course, if you’re traveling by wagon or SUV versus traveling by RV, you may have to choose more travel-sized options to preserve space. 

Entertainment for Kids

No matter how scenic your drive is, kids are going to get restless after being in the car for hours on end. Entertainment options are a must for creating a smooth-sailing experience.

25. Tablet (for Movies and Games)

Tablets can keep children entertained for long periods of time. We recommend the LeapFrog LeapPad Academy Kids’ Learning Tablet, which provides kid-friendly educational apps and creativity tools. Due to a tablet’s versatility, we’d consider this as a top-of-the-list item as far as road trip essentials are concerned.

26. Audiobooks

Audiobooks are good for long car rides and can bring the family together on a single activity. You can listen to family-friendly content like Charlotte’s Web, or Matilda. You can listen to young adult books like Harry Potter. Depending on how long the road trip is, you might even finish a book or two.

27. Car Art Kit

Being creative is serious business when you’re a kid, even when you’re on the road. The Corporation EZDesk Travel Activity Kit is a laptop-style portable creativity center for arts and crafts, drawing, and more. 

28. Car Games/Board Games

Picking up a few games for the car will keep everyone engaged and entertained for hours. Road Trip Games: 50 Fun Games to Play in the Car is a great road trip companion for the entire family.

Snacks and Drinks for Kids

29. Granola Bars / Yogurt

Bring yummy snacks for your trip! Pack soft granola bars, yogurt, and other tasty treats. You can also take dried fruit, little cheese sticks, or your kid’s favorite munchies to keep their tummy happy on the road. 😊

30. Fruit Packs / All Natural Fruit Snacks

Instead of opting for candy that has a ton of processed sugar, all-natural fruit packs and fruit snacks are available, serving as healthy alternatives to the candy you normally find at convenience stores. 

31. Reusable Sippy Cups

Using reusable cups will help reduce your carbon footprint and cut down on clutter inside the family vehicle. Sippy cups help ensure no spills take place.

Kid-Friendly Health and Hygiene

Make sure to bring plenty of travel-sized bottles and packs of hygiene products to ensure everyone stays fresh and clean on the drive. 

32. Baby Wipes

Depending on how young your kids are, accidents can happen. Baby wipes help keep things clean, no matter what sort of messy situations take place. 

33. Gentle Hand Sanitizers

One of the worst things that can happen during a road trip is for you or one of your little passengers to get sick. Hand sanitizer will help stave off germs and bacteria that can cause colds and flu. 

34. Sunscreen (High SPF)

Whether you’re traveling during the summer or the winter, sunny days can leave you with chapped skin. Sunscreen with a high SPF 30 or higher is best for keeping you and your kids protected from overexposure.

35. Sunglasses

Pack a pair of sunglasses for the driver and every passenger. Sunglasses significantly reduce sun glare, which is often a pest during road trips.

36. Bibs / Travel Trays for Eating/Drinking

Road trips often entail getting our nutrients on the go. Bibs and travel trays for eating and drinking can help you avoid spills and messes in your vehicle, ensuring the interior of your car, truck, or SUV stays clean.

Organizing and Packing for Kids

Content: Suggest organizing toys and snacks in car organizers, as well as packing kids’ clothes and personal items in separate, labeled bags for easy access.

37. Car Cubes

When there's a lot of luggage, our team has had good experience with packing cubes. This way you can easily sort through your belongings without making a mess.

38. Travel Bags

Travel bags (preferably labeled) will help keep you organized. You don’t realize how important being organized is until you misplace something you need. Bags of various sizes will help you keep like-minded items grouped together in easily-accessible places.

39. Hat

If you are hiking at all on your trip or are facing many sunny days, a hat can save you if you run out of sunscreen or just need a little shade.

40. Flip-Flops / Water Shoes

Whether you need a change of shoes for driving or you're staying at a campsite with a dirty shower, you'll be happy you threw a pair of flip-flops into the car. Flip-flops are great – water shoes are even better, especially if you plan on doing any water-related activities. 

Nexar – Your Ultimate Road Trip Companion

When it’s time to level up your driving experience, Nexar is here with an arsenal of dash cams to suit your distinct needs. We’re here to provide a more connected driving experience by inspiring smarter transportation. Intelligently equipped with Remote Streaming, Live Parking Mode, Real-time Emergency Alerts, AI incident detection, and many more features, your Nexar connected dash cam will ensure your road trip is a raving success. 

Check out our connected dashcams when it’s time to protect your vehicle on and off the road.