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10 Essentials To Bring On Your Next Road Trip
Before you hit the road, make sure to pack these 10 essentials that will ensure your next road trip is a success!
If you've been getting a bit of wanderlust from watching Escape to the Country on Dabl...good news, because it’s officially the season for family vacations and romantic weekend getaways!
One of the best adventures you can have come in the form of road trips. Road trips give you a chance to hang out with your loved ones, jam to your favorite music, and explore the countryside or coast while en route to your destination. Plus, you never know what exciting discoveries you may make on your journey. However, if you forget to pack the essentials, you might encounter some bumps in the road. Luckily, we’ve compiled a list of 10 editorially chosen road trip essentials that are sure to make your trip go smoothly.
1.) A Tire Inflator or Air Pump
You never know when you might run over something sharp, and you don’t want to get stranded on your road trip due to a flat tire. If you get a flat tire late at night or while driving through the middle of nowhere, you could find yourself stuck for an extended period of time as your location may not be easy for roadside assistance services to travel to in a timely manner. Be prepared for flat tires, or even low tire pressure, by having a tire inflator or air pump on hand. Even if you do end up in a situation where a tire needs to be replaced, you will likely be able to inflate your tire enough to reach civilization and receive help if you need it.
Upgraded Portable Air Compressor, Tire Inflator, and Air Pump
With its extra powerful motor, the Audew Air Compressor Tire Inflator provides 38L/min air flow rate and allows you to quickly inflate a tire from 0 to 35PSI in less than 5 minutes. This tire pump is extremely easy to use, and has a warning light to help keep you and your car safe during the inflation process. It also has a built-in automatic shutoff function, and can be preset to fill your tire by a specific amount. Last but not least, this tire inflator can serve multipurposes on your next road trip by also inflating boats, balls, air mattresses, pool toys, and more!
$33
Buy now!2.) Emergency Kit
While an emergency is unlikely to occur during your road trip, you always want to be prepared just in case. You will want to adjust your personal kit based on the terrain and weather conditions where you will be traveling, but here are some general suggestions! First, bring more water than you think you’ll probably need. Next, pack tools you can use to protect yourself from the elements, such as sunscreen or blankets. You may also want to pack a first aid kit with band-aids, antibacterial sprays, and basic pain or allergy medication. Lastly, it’s a good idea to have a spare tire and any tools you would need to switch out the tires on your car. Jumper cables could also come in handy!
Car First Aid Kit
This compact first aid kit from Protect Life can be easily stored in your trunk or glove compartment, and contains 200 helpful tools that can help you handle a medical emergency. This kit is manufactured in an FDA approved facility, and is equipped for a range of big and small emergencies. It contains bandaids, gauze, instant cold packs, stainless steel scissors, disinfectant, CPR masks, and other survival tools in its well organized compartments.
$27 (23% off)
Buy now!3.) Snacks and Drinks
While some meal breaks will likely be scheduled in your itinerary, you still need to be prepared for when the munchies unexpectedly hit while you’re on the road! Keeping some of your favorite snacks on hand is sure to keep everyone happy, and prevent anyone from becoming hangry. In addition, it’s important to make sure you are staying hydrated. Keeping a hydro flask filled with your favorite beverage is always smart, but you may also want to bring along some water bottles and alternate drinks just in case you get extra thirsty or do find yourself stranded at any point. Make sure to bring a designated trash bag so you don’t end up with wrappers and bottles spread out all over your car.
Vacuum Insulated Stainless Steel Hydro Travel Mug
This stainless steel hydro travel mug from The Coldest Water Store can keep drinks ice cold for up to 36 hours, or hot for up to 13 hours. After your road trip is over, this mug is perfect for keeping drinks cool at the gym, or can accompany you on hikes or day trips! The insulated mug holds 32 ounces, and comes in 7 epic color choices!
$33
Buy now!4.) Entertainment
You’ll be spending a lot of time in the car, and simply taking in the scenery can become boring, especially if you have young children traveling with you. Plan ahead and bring some entertainment options with you, such as bringing a pre-made music playlist or pre-selecting some interesting audiobooks or podcasts. If you have kids, consider bringing a portable DVD player, a souped up iPad or tablet, or some games that the whole family will enjoy, such as Mad Libs.
Mad Libs on the Road
Mad Libs have been bringing laughter to families for years, and this particular book is themed for road trips and travelling! This book is full of family friendly prompts that will ask you to tell the stories of historical sights, dinners at roadside diners, and even create car songs, all with Mad Libs’ signature twist of inserting wacky words.
$4.49
Buy now!
Portable DVD Player 12.5" for Car and Kids
Keep your kids occupied on long road trips with the SUNPIN Portable DVD Player. This mini movie screen features an extended battery life, a special case that can be mounted on the back of headrests in the car, dual headphone jacks, and built-in eye protection. Plus, the DVD Player has an anti-shock function that will prevent movie interruptions caused by any bumps in the road or sudden stops.
$69
Buy now!5.) A Map Or Printed Directions
While most smartphones come equipped with excellent navigation apps and have many others available for download, it’s also a good idea to bring a physical map as a backup. Depending on your route, you may be driving through areas where your phone will lose access to wifi or cell service, which could cause its navigational apps to glitch until you have service again. Maps may also show you alternative routes that the apps will not, or help you identify places you may want to stop at that you otherwise wouldn’t have known about. Plus, maps can help orient you in unfamiliar areas in ways that car and phone navigation systems cannot. At the very least, bring some printed directions or a printed itinerary to keep everyone on the same page.
2022 Large Scale Road Atlas
Every year, Rand McNally releases an atlas of the United States that contains detailed maps of every U.S. State, as well as more than 350 maps of cities and national parks. This most recent edition has the accuracy Rand McNally is famous for, a driving map that lists routes the time each trip should take, and is spiral bound to make the maps easy to open and to read. Plus, the maps are all 35% larger than the state maps in the standard atlas version.
$17
Buy now!6.) Spare Phone Charger
Whether you are using your phone for directions, playing music, or something else entirely, keep it charged by bringing an extra phone charger! Sometimes USB chargers stop working or multiple people need to charge their phone at once. When you pack a spare charger, you will never be caught with a dead cell phone!
External Battery Pack
The TG90 Power Bank is a multifunctional, portable battery charger with built-in charging cables that is compatible with most smartphones, including iPhones and Androids. It can even charge multiple phones at the same time! This battery pack is compact enough to fit in your purse or glove compartment in your car, and can charge your phone 2-3 times before it needs to be charged itself.
$27
Buy now!7.) Hygiene Products
Keep in mind that you and your loved ones will be spending a lot of time together in a confined space. If you are camping during your road trip, or not stopping at a hotel one night, you and your loved ones will be extra grateful if you remember to practice good hygiene. Even if you won’t have easy access to a sink or shower for a while, try using dry shampoo to keep your hair cleaner, and baby wipes or biodegradable wet wipes that are better for the environment. Make sure to pack your basic toiletries and keep them easily accessible, including deodorant and a toothbrush. You may also want to bring hand sanitizer to rid your hands of any harmful germs and keep everyone healthy.
Travel Leather Dopp Kit with Hanging Hook
One of the biggest challenges we face while traveling is how to conveniently pack all of your essential toiletries. This bag has many compartments and a hook so it can be hung in a hotel bathroom with ease.
$26
Buy now!8.) Car Comfort Items
When you’re not taking your turn behind the wheel, you will be using your time in the car to rest and relax. If you are not stopping at hotels and instead taking shifts before the wheel, this may be your one chance to catch some Zs for a while. Make sure you bring some creature comforts that will keep you feeling comfortable and cozy for the duration of your road trip! Many people like to bring neck pillows, a favorite blanket, or an eye mask.
Chin Supporting Travel Pillow
The BCOZZY Chin Supporting Travel Pillow is machine washable and has a special patented design that comfortably supports your head, neck, and chin while you’re on the road. The ergonomic design will prevent headaches, shoulder pain, and neck pain by keeping your head and neck from falling too far forward or getting stuck in a wonky position. It comes in 8 vibrant colors and patterns, and comes in sizes meant for kids and adults.
$25.47 (49% Off!)
Buy now!9.) A Good Camera
You’ll be making lots of fun memories on your road trip, so you’ll want to bring a good camera to memorialize them! Nikon, Canon, and Sony all make user-friendly cameras that take high-quality photos, and are loved by beginners and professionals alike. Alternatively, you could bring a polaroid camera to capture your memories in a more unique way! Many people like to display polaroids using photo clip string lights, photo boards, and in hanging collages on their walls.
Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 Instant Camera
This Fujifilm Polaroid Camera comes in 5 pretty colors, and is almost as beautiful as the photos it takes! This camera has a slim body size which makes it easy to transport, and has an automatic exposure function that will help you capture beautiful memories in any environment. Plus, it has a simple 1 touch selfie mode to make sure you are in some of the pictures, too! Fujifilm sells film for their polaroid cameras separately.
$59
Buy now!10.) A Change of Clothes
Last but not least, make sure you bring a couple changes of clothes. It goes without saying that after a day or two in an outfit, you’ll probably start to feel a bit grimy. However, you may also want to change clothes in the event food or drinks are accidentally spilled, you’ve been sweating a lot in a hot environment, or gotten dirty exploring the great outdoors. Alternatively, after sitting in a certain pair of pants or shirt for a long time, you may realize it’s not comfortable enough for the duration of the road trip and will appreciate having another option available to you. Similarly, try to pick road trip outfits that have layers if your route takes you through different climates. Wear a jacket to stay warm in cooler temperatures, but have lighter options underneath that will allow you to remove layers and stay cool when it gets hot!
At the end of the day, the real key to having an amazing road trip is bringing the people you love along for the ride. When you pair your favorite people with some smart planning and packing, your trip is sure to be a success!
You can travel from the comfort of your home by watching Escape to the Country!
Escape to the Country is on Monday through Friday from 4:00 to 7:00PM Eastern! Watch for FREE on Dabl - click here to find out where to watch! You can always check our schedule here.