road trip bags

The Best Gear for Your Road Trips

By Kit Dillon and Wirecutter Staff

A road trip is an adventure. It doesn’t matter how far you go. But all adventures require a little planning (and one or two backup plans, in case things go sideways).

We took our first testing road trip in an age far less complicated than these past few years, but the gear we tested and the advice we’ve gathered here should still help you navigate the roads safely and comfortably.

Our original trip, in 2016, included 60 hours of researching and testing gear to take on the open road. We packed all of our top contenders into a Honda Fit EX and headed out on a four-day jaunt to determine what’s nice to have, what’s great, and what’s absolutely essential for your next road trip.

In 2020 we added a few items to help you adhere to safe-travel guidelines, and those things will always come in handy during flu and cold season. We’ve also added several selections to take on challenging winter car trips.

After traveling for 1,500 miles, through four states and six national parks, we think we have a good grasp on what makes an excellent road trip. In addition to performing our own research and testing, we consulted with half a dozen engineers, mechanics, and other experts to bring you these picks. Our hope is that the recommendations in this guide will help you see more and explore farther down the road than you thought possible.

Below, you’ll find recommendations for cargo boxes , binoculars , coolers , emergency beacons , a first-aid kit , a folding blanket , an ice scraper , an instant camera , inverters for your electronics , a multi-tool , phone mounts , a portable jump starter , ratchets and tie-down straps , a road atlas , stain remover , a stowable daypack , sun shades , sunglasses , a tire-pressure gauge , a toolkit for cars , a travel game , a travel pillow , water jugs , windshield water repellent , wipes , and so much more. These items will help you have a successful road trip, regardless of region or weather.

However, even if you have the best gear in the world, it’s always best to address small problems before they become emergencies. That’s why we asked Christopher Smith , a veteran automotive journalist with a penchant for restoring fixer-uppers, to help us put together some advice on how to prepare your car for a trip . (And he lives in South Dakota, where things are spread out, so he’s always prepared.) We cover everything from checking your tires and dipsticks to knowing what you should do if your car starts smelling like rotten eggs for seemingly no reason.

This guide isn’t specifically geared toward families, though most of the picks would be useful to a family traveling by car. We do have guides to infant car seats , travel car seats , booster car seats , and water bottles for kids —all things that are of particular interest to families on the road.

The research

Stowing your gear, in the driver’s seat, health and cleaning supplies, staying comfortable, refreshments, entertainment, just in case, preparing for a road trip.

Being able to find what you need when you need it—whether it’s water, emergency lights, a change of clothes, or a granola bar—can make the difference between a short, easy stop that rejuvenates and a long, frustrating one that makes you question why you left home in the first place.

It all starts with packing. Don’t overthink it. We like to keep items grouped: emergency gear in the back right of the trunk, water in the back left, spare batteries in the glove compartment along with the power inverter, and so on. After a few days, double-checking that everything is where it should be before heading off becomes a comforting ritual, and it helps mitigate the worry that you left … something … in the motel last night.

And don’t overpack. As with a bag, a well-packed car is one that has less than you think you want to bring but everything that you truly need. You don’t have to bring everything—just the things that are essential. Remember, you want to enjoy the drive. Not having to worry about countless items that someone might lose or misplace is a big step toward that enjoyment.

Cargo boxes

Yakima SkyBox NX 18

The best cargo box.

This cargo box offers great aerodynamics, easy mounting and operation, and a lot of storage at a reasonable price.

Buying Options

A cargo box effectively allows you to double your trunk space by moving bulky items from your car’s interior or trunk to its roof. After gathering up as much intel as we could about rooftop cargo boxes from experts, retailers, manufacturers, customers, and outdoor-gear reviewers, we’ve concluded that of the 21 boxes we surveyed, the Yakima SkyBox NX 18 offers the best combination of features, build quality, and value pricing for most road trips.

The NX line replaces the Carbonite line of Yakima boxes, which included our previous cargo box pick, the SkyBox 16 Carbonite .

The cargo box’s low-drag aerodynamic design minimizes wind noise and reduces the impact on fuel economy. Its 18 cubic feet of space allows it to hold skis, duffle bags, backpacks, sleeping bags and other camping gear, or any random (though fairly lightweight) stuff, and it does so securely—both in solidly mounting to your roof rack and in resisting theft. If you don’t have a rack already, this REI car rack buying guide is a good place to start, but be sure to consult your car’s owner manual to see how much weight its roof can bear.

The SkyBox NX 18 is easy to use. Like most cargo boxes these days, it uses sliding brackets, rather than one or two fixed spots, for attachment to the crossbars, making perfect positioning a snap. To secure the brackets to the crossbars, you use a simple torque wrench (included) that will announce with an audible click—like a gas-tank cap—when you’ve tightened the four installation bolts down securely. The tool lives inside the cargo box, though out of the way of your gear, for safekeeping.

Once installed, the SkyBox NX 18 allows easy access from either side of the car, and its newly redesigned dimensions (a change from the previous model) make it less likely to interfere with a liftgate if you put it on a hatchback or station wagon.

If you need more space, Yakima’s older-generation 21-cubic-foot model (the company has not released an updated, NX 21 version so far) may still be available for purchase. Be aware, however, that this box weighs more and can encourage overloading past your car rack’s weight limit, which might be lower than you expect. It may also be too long in the back to clear some liftgates. As Ken Klaes, general manager of ReRack , a Portland, Oregon–based cargo-box retailer and rental company, explained to us: “A rack designed to carry 150 pounds doesn’t forget that the box is there; the weight of the box itself (often 50-ish pounds) needs to be subtracted from the weight rating to give you a real capacity for the box.”

Roof straps

Keeper Endless Loop Ratchet Tie-Down

The best ratcheting straps.

Easier to use than non-ratcheting straps, these straps ensure that your stuff stays put.

I spent many years working in rigging and rope access on offshore oil platforms, where I played with loads, angles, line pulls, and sheave-block friction percentages—in other words, I know a thing or two about strapping things down. You can find two common types of roof straps: ratchet straps, which have a mechanical lever and gear, and cam straps (sometimes called “lashing” or “loop” straps), which connect to themselves through a cam buckle . If I could choose only one type, I’d get ratchet straps because they’re easier to secure. More specifically, I’d get the Keeper Endless Loop Ratchet Tie-Down .

We spent several hours examining 22 strap options before landing on the Keeper version. Keeper is a reliable brand, and the ratchets are easy to tighten and loosen, thanks to their all-metal construction. ( Cheaper ratchets are hard to release and prone to sticking or breaking due to their reliance on plastic parts.) At 13 feet long, these 1-inch straps are long enough for all but the most strenuous loads on the largest of vehicles, and their nylon webbing’s 400-pound working load limit and 1,200-pound break strength put them right in line with similarly priced straps. You could get something that’s heavier-duty or longer, but you’d be paying more for strength or length you don’t need.

On our trip, driving in a car without a roof rack, we used the Keeper straps to great success. The straps held a full water jug to the roof of our Honda for a few dozen miles through the backroads of Arizona with no issues. Other Wirecutter staffers have owned Keeper straps for years and vouch for their overall strength and durability.

NRS 1″ HD Tie-Down Straps

The best cam straps.

Simpler and cheaper than ratchet straps, these straps have above-average strength ratings.

If you prefer the simplicity of a cam strap or don’t need the extra force that a ratchet strap provides, we like the NRS 1″ HD Tie-Down Straps , which come in a variety of lengths. They’re pricier than more popular options, but their webbing is rated to a 1,500-pound breaking strength (the cam itself has a 2,000-pound breaking strength) and a 500-pound working load, in contrast with the 600-pound breaking strength and 200-pound working load of this best-selling Keeper set . Equipment of this grade may seem like overkill, but Wirecutter’s Mark Smirniotis had several weaker cams fail on him when he was strapping loads to his Jeep. He noted in 2016 that of all the straps on Amazon with more than 25 customer reviews, the NRS straps were the only ones that had no reviews complaining of failed cams. NRS is primarily known as the premier kayaking- and rafting-accessory company, so the folks there probably know something about strapping awkwardly large loads onto cars.

Thule Quick Loop Strap 530

For smaller cars.

This strap offers a quick way to add load-stabilizing anchor points to a small car.

For owners of compact cars who want to move long or oversize loads, such as a kayak, we also like the Thule Quick Loop Strap . You secure these straps under the hood of your car (or the trunk, if you don’t have a hatchback) to create a set of forward anchor points to help stabilize the forward section of whatever it is you’re carrying. Judging from our testing, these straps are very quick to set up, and they can add a welcome level of versatility to tough packing situations.

• Always check the maximum load of your car’s anchor points, such as the roof rack. Ratchet straps can apply a lot of force beyond just the weight of your belongings, so knowing your maximum load will help you avoid over-tensioning the straps.
• If the straps vibrate against the roof while you drive, adding a few twists in them can sometimes stop them from slicing the air.
• Don’t put knots in your straps, especially if you’re applying tension. Knots can cut through nylon with surprisingly little force. A knot also significantly reduces the overall load that the strap can handle.
• Never use bungee cords to hold anything down. They’re fine for stabilizing items but not for securing heavy loads.

Driving can be fun, meditative, exhausting, and torturous. After five hours of driving through the desert, it can sometimes be all of those things at the same time.

A thousand little gadgets promise to make a long drive somehow easier. Most of them are useless and seemingly designed to distract you more than anything else. Try to avoid these items. The best gear is durable, unobtrusive, and easy to use—so you can keep your eyes (and your thoughts) on the road.

You will get bored—500 miles on cruise control with an automatic transmission can be a pretty dull time. Not always, of course, but sometimes it will be boring, and maybe that’s the point. In this frenetic age, that feeling is practically a luxury, and it’s essential to the trip. Revel in it.

It would be impossible for us to pick the best overall sunglasses, since your choice ultimately depends on your personal style. We have picks for cheap sunglasses in a separate guide. But driving sunglasses are different because they’re designed to help you perform a specific task: driving safely. In that regard, Maui Jim makes the best sunglasses around, though they are something of an investment.

The best sunglasses

These are the clearest driving sunglasses we’ve found, with no perceptible distortion.

We compared a Maui Jim pair with more than 20 types of sunglasses, driving or otherwise, and found this pair to be the best of the bunch. The Maui Jim sunglasses had the clearest lenses, with no perceptible distortion, on the lightest frames we tested (0.6 ounce, or about half the weight of a wooden pencil). I’ve never encountered sunglasses that I can wear for hours on end without somehow hurting my nose, ears, or both. But during my trip there were a few afternoons when I had completely forgotten I was even wearing the Maui Jim sunglasses—despite five-plus hours of driving with them on.

The clarity of the lenses was another surprise. The Maui Jim lenses are so clear that it’s borderline unsettling the first time you try on these sunglasses. Thanks to the lenses’ exceptional clarity and polarization, everything—including the scenery around you and the road ahead—looks sharper through them.

As far as specific model recommendations go, I suggest scanning the offerings on the Maui Jim website and reading the fit descriptions to find something that matches your aesthetic sensibilities. Unlike companies that go by lens size only, Maui Jim lists face shape as part of its fit guidelines. That means you’re more likely to find what’s most comfortable for you on your first try. Just keep in mind that bigger lenses tend to be better because they offer more coverage.

Maui Jim glasses come with a two-year warranty . After checking with the company, we confirmed that it fulfills warranties on its sunglasses no matter where you buy them. However, Maui Jim services only authentic lenses and frames that haven’t been modified in any way. You can tell whether the pair you have is genuine (and not a knockoff) by confirming that the Maui Jim logo is etched, not just painted onto the lens.

Smartphone mount

In an ideal world, people wouldn’t use a phone at all while driving, and if you have a copilot, you shouldn’t have to—you can delegate the phone-related tasks to them. But in reality, for many drivers, a phone is the source for navigation, information, messages, music, and (of course) phone calls. However, if you hold the phone in your hand as you drive—or look down at it in a cup holder or center-console bin—it can be a major distraction and safety risk. That’s why we recommend using a smartphone mount.

iOttie iTap Magnetic 2

The best dash- or windshield-mounted smartphone mount.

Whether it’s on a dashboard or windshield, this model is easy to set up, grips securely, and has a strong magnetic mount that supports most phones in any position.

iOttie iTap Magnetic 2 Air Vent Mount

The best vent-mounted smartphone mount.

This model is easy to set up and remove, and it has the same strong magnetic mount as the dash version. It securely held on to our cars’ vent slats.

iOttie iTap Magnetic 2 CD Slot Mount

The best cd-slot-mounted smartphone mount.

This mount attached quickly and firmly to our cars’ CD slots and has the same magnetic mount as the other iTap Magnetic 2 versions.

I enjoy the simplicity of my phone with no accessories, so I like that the iOttie iTap Magnetic 2 mounts offer an attractively easy way to mount and unmount my phone with one hand. In our tests , the magnets in all three versions— dash/windshield , vent , and CD slot —were strong, supporting most of our phones vertically and horizontally over even the roughest terrain. Only the large, 6.5-inch iPhone XS Max gave them some trouble when they held it horizontally; the mounts were solid with a 6-inch Google Pixel 2 XL.

To use the magnetic mount, you have to attach a small metal plate to the back of your phone or to the case. Doing so is safe for your phone, and we found this detail to be small, subtle, and attractive enough that we didn’t mind it. Often you can hide it entirely by attaching the plate to the inside of a phone’s case. But the plate could interfere with your ability to wirelessly charge your phone; if you want to be able to continue to use that function, consider the following options from our guide to wireless charging phone mounts .

iOttie Easy One Touch Wireless 2 Dash & Windshield Mount

Best mount for charging a smartphone on a dash or windshield.

This model delivered some of the quickest charging speeds and earned top results for stability. It lets you easily mount and unmount your phone, too.

iOttie Easy One Touch Wireless 2 Air Vent & CD Slot Mount

Best mount for charging a smartphone on a car’s air vent or cd slot.

This is the sturdiest vent-mounted model we tested, with fast charging speeds, a firm grip, and a quick way to attach and remove your phone.

The iOttie Easy One Touch Wireless 2—available as a dash and windshield mount or a vent and CD player mount —offers a convenient way to charge your phone in the car while also giving you easy access to audio controls, directions, messages, and more. In our tests , both models ranked among the quickest at charging our phones. Their spring-loaded tension arms made attaching or removing a phone of any size simple, and they held the phone steady while we drove. Both models offer a wide range of adjustability for positioning your phone where you can readily see it, regardless of the vehicle. iOttie also offers a magnetic mount (for vent use) that’s compatible with wireless charging.

Rain-repellent coatings

Rain and snow add stress to a road trip, and they decrease your visibility and your reaction time in an emergency. Along with wipers, rain-repellent windshield coatings can help keep your windshield clear. If you want the most effective rain repellent, pick up the classic Rain-X spray bottle and commit to applying it once a month. If you simply want to give your windshield a boost, Aquapel is almost as effective and can last six times longer between applications—but it is very expensive.

Rain-X Original Glass Water Repellent

Cheap but short-lived repellent.

This affordable hydrophobic spray offers effective protection, but it wears off after a couple of weeks.

Most auto-supply shops offer a huge variety of Rain-X products, including wiper blades, gels, and washer-fluid additives, but you should stick to the original Rain-X formula in the 16-ounce spray bottle because it has the most reliably positive reviews from buyers. Once applied, Rain-X forms a hydrophobic coating , which causes water to bead up and quickly slide off your windshield. Most people who have used Rain-X agree that maintaining its effectiveness requires reapplication about once a month. If your wiper blades start “chattering,” that probably means the coating is beginning to wear unevenly, and it’s time to reapply.

Aquapel Glass Treatment

Long-lasting but pricey repellent.

Aquapel bonds to your windshield for up to half a year, but it costs more than twice as much as Rain-X.

If you can’t commit to applying Rain-X once a month, consider Aquapel . Instead of coating your windshield, it bonds to the glass chemically , and it should last for three to six months before you need to pull out another one-time-use sponge and reapply. YouTube user jwardell posted a 30-day comparison video that shows how Rain-X is more effective initially, but after a month Aquapel still works even after the Rain-X has all but worn off.

For either repellent, proper application is the key to getting the maximum benefit. You need to start with an extremely clean windshield. Then clean it again just to be sure. Both of these repellents dry best in warm weather, out of direct sun. Even when perfectly applied, however, these substances have potential drawbacks. Some people who have used them complain that the repellents cause noticeable haziness at night. Others report that they had trouble getting windshield chips professionally filled after learning that the chemicals interfered with repair methods—though Aquapel’s site disputes such claims. Still, if you’re stuck in inclement weather on a road trip or a commute, either the original Rain-X spray or Aquapel can help increase visibility and decrease your stress levels.

Ice scraper and snow brush

Hopkins SubZero 80037

The best ice scraper and snow brush.

Efficient at clearing ice and sweeping snow, this scraper works on vehicles of all sizes.

The Hopkins SubZero 80037 tool combines a scraping blade and ice-crushing teeth to make quick work of thick or thin ice, and its plow-like bristle broom is the best we’ve tested —equally adept at shoveling snow off body panels and brushing it out from tight spots around mirrors and wipers. The Hopkins SubZero has a self-locking extension that’s easy to use when you want to fold the scraper away to make room in the trunk of your car. It’s of average size—39 inches folded up and 60 inches fully extended. But no other contender offers such a complete scraping-and-sweeping package with so few weaknesses.

Paper road atlas

Rand McNally Road Atlas

The best road atlas.

This atlas is large enough to use while you’re in motion, with a logical, straightforward layout.

With the advent of GPS units and smartphone navigation apps (both of which we recommend over the onboard navigation systems that might come with a car), the age of the paper road atlas would seem to be over. But don’t let anyone convince you of that. A road atlas is the heart of every road trip. It’s the inspiration.

Planning a road trip starts with imagining the places you could be next weekend, if you threw a few granola bars and some clothes into the backseat and left everything else behind. Of course, you could bring up Google Maps, look up the top 10 travel destinations near you, plan your exact route, and save a PDF to your digital device so you’d know exactly where to go and how to get there at each stage of your trip.

Or you could pull out a physical map and highlight a route. You might not know exactly what to expect when you get there, but you’ll definitely know that you can get there. And regardless of electronic-device failures, you will always have a map in hand.

For use in the car, we like the classic Rand McNally Road Atlas —just make sure to get an updated edition. Its oversize shape makes it simple to read and easy to spread out on the hood or in your lap, and the user-friendly design can’t be beat. This atlas’s arrangement of state and keyhole maps is the best for navigation.

As a test, we used the Rand McNally atlas to complete the first leg of our trip, from Ventura to Joshua Tree, California, with no phones and no GPS, on roads we had never driven before. The Rand McNally atlas was simple, functional, and easy to follow. Most important, it was fun to use.

We did read one complaint from somebody who began using that year’s map early: Some of the roads it listed as passable were still mid-construction at the time. If you’re buying a map in the middle of the year or later, you could play it safe and stick with the current year’s edition.

Garmin DriveSmart 55

The best car gps.

Best-in-class directions, driver alerts, points of interest, and free map updates—combined with the best screen we’ve seen on any GPS unit—set this model apart from the pack.

For most shorter trips, a smartphone can provide all the navigation assistance you need. But should your journey take you off the beaten path (and out of your coverage area), we suggest the Garmin DriveSmart 55 . Like the best GPS units, the DriveSmart 55 can also connect to a smartphone via Bluetooth, which lets you send destinations to the device, get incoming messages on screen, and receive extra trip and traffic info. The DriveSmart 55’s extensive points-of-interest database helps guide you to an area’s best sites and businesses through integrated Tripadvisor ratings, Foursquare listings, a database of sites from the History network, and US national park directories (something that other brands’ models don’t offer). Similar to a smartphone, the DriveSmart 55 allows multi-touch gestures, such as pinching or spreading for easier zooming on a map; this feature is a clear step up from the resistive displays of less-expensive units, which allow only single-finger gestures and require you to tap on the plus and minus buttons to zoom in or out.

The DriveSmart 55 also provides helpful traffic info in many metro areas. It responds to voice commands as effectively as the best GPS units, and like other top models it includes free lifetime map updates—in contrast with the pricey updates you need to buy for many cars’ built-in navigation systems.

Sea to Summit Wilderness Wipes

The best body wipes.

Not quite a shower but pretty darn close, these wipes are amazing after a sweaty day in the desert.

Road-trip and backpacking veterans know just how much better a shower can make an adventure after three days and a lot of smelly clothes. When taking a shower is not an option, or even if you just want to tidy up a bit after a long drive, body wipes can provide some much-needed relief.

We considered 22 brands and tested nine different body wipes, including some that were popular on Amazon and others that were recommended on the blogs of seasoned outdoorspeople.

Cheap, portable, and durable, the Sea to Summit Wilderness Wipes were the clear winners.

The wipes come in a resealable package, which helps keep them fresher for longer. You can find them in two sizes, XL (8 by 12 inches, in a pack of eight) and Compact (6 by 8 inches, in a pack of 12). On our trip, we preferred the XL wipes for their extra coverage and longer cleaning power. The fully compostable Wilderness Wipes were among the most lightly scented ones we tested, and their lack of alcohol left our skin feeling clean and moist.

Surface wipes

Clorox Disinfecting Wipes

The best disinfecting wipes.

Effective, EPA-approved, and (usually) easy to find, these pre-soaked wipes need only four minutes of contact time to neutralize the coronavirus—and they’ll kill other nasty bugs you might come across in your travels, too.

Most disinfecting wipes are the same. Although we recommend Clorox Disinfecting Wipes , we advise getting any pack of wipes you can find that contains a disinfectant on the EPA’s List N (most have a bleach or quaternary ammonium base). Clorox’s bleach-free wipes are usually sold in single canisters or in four-packs at a range of retailers. These wipes can eliminate the coronavirus and other pathogens on hard surfaces—countertops, door handles, and bathroom fixtures—in your home, vehicle, or motel room, but not on fabric or other soft materials.

Surface spray

Lysol Disinfectant Spray

The best disinfectant spray.

This aerosol works in 10 minutes and is fabric-safe, but it’s guaranteed to eliminate the coronavirus and other pathogens only on hard surfaces.

Instead of bleach, which can damage car interiors, Lysol Disinfectant Spray uses quaternary ammonium. It’s safe on hard surfaces and most fabrics, and it’s gentler on skin than bleach. It also produces fewer harsh fumes—which is good if you’re disinfecting the same space frequently. The spray eliminates the coronavirus, for instance, on hard surfaces in 10 minutes, but on soft surfaces it only sanitizes (kills most but not all pathogens).

One thing we’ve learned in the past few years is that face masks can be useful whenever you’re sick (with COVID-19, a cold, the flu, whatever) and don’t want to share your misery with fellow passengers, people at rest stops, or anyone else. Fortunately, compared with the situation in early 2020, medical-style N95 and KN95 masks (which many experts recommend as the best protection) are widely available these days. They’re easy to tuck into a bag, which we do now whenever we travel. You can find out where to buy these masks in our guide .

Stain remover

Shout Wipe & Go Instant Stain Remover Wipes

The best stain remover.

By keeping a pack of these in your glove box, you’ll remain tidy through multiple meals at drive-throughs.

In our testing, we’ve found that if you spend five hours a day in the car on a drive-through-fueled cannonball run, there’s no way you’ll get to your final destination without having some kind of condiments disaster. I met my own inevitable conclusion outside an In-N-Out Burger on the last leg of our trip.

When the unavoidable happens, you’ll need something more than a napkin and ice water to clean up the mess. We recommend Shout Wipe & Go Instant Stain Remover Wipes . We tested them against other instant spot removers and assorted DIY methods to see how they handled wine, coffee, lipstick, and mustard stains.

In our tests, the Shout wipes easily outperformed the popular Tide To Go pen , and the Shout option was the only stain remover that erased almost all traces of lipstick on the collar of a shirt. These wipes also did pretty well on the ketchup I spilled.

The single-use towelettes don’t occupy much space; you can throw a dozen into your glove compartment and barely notice they’re there. Plus, by using a single wipe per stain, you don’t risk depositing an old stain on another piece of clothing, as you might with reusable stain-remover sticks.

Hand lotion

Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Body Lotion

The best moisturizing lotion.

Once it’s rubbed in, this moisturizing lotion is lighter and drier-feeling than competitors. It’s better for people with normal to oily skin.

You might find yourself washing your hands a lot on the road, which can result in cracked and dry skin. Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Body Lotion is thick enough to stay neat in your hand and thin enough to spread quickly and smoothly onto your skin. Unlike its competitors , this moisturizing lotion dries nicely without leaving a greasy film in its wake. And its neutral scent won’t follow you out of the bathroom or into your car.

Can a long road trip be comfortable? I didn’t think so: Long hours of sitting in one position, nights spent camping or sleeping in cheap motel beds, and breaks for indigestible fast food are a terrible combination. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

With a little planning and a few small luxuries, you can keep the enthusiasm of your trip alive. Skip the fast food and instead pack your own snacks and water. Keep off the main highways and pull over when the scenery strikes you (not when you’ve gone a certain number of miles). And stop for as long as you need. The cliché is unavoidable: It’s the journey that’s important, not the destination (though that should be good too!).

Folding blanket

Nemo Victory Picnic Blanket

Comfortable and easy to carry.

Our favorite picnic blanket travels easily, feels comfortable to sit on, and holds up to wear and tear.

There’s only so much time you can spend in a car without needing to pull over to pause, stretch your legs, and take in the scenery. We stopped dozens of times on our trip, and we were glad every time we were able to take a side road, pull out a blanket, and find a place to sit down and share some food.

In 2023, Nemo enlarged the Victory Blanket, which previously fit just two people, to fit four people. At roughly 95 by 95 inches, according to our measurements, the Nemo Victory Picnic Blanket is now bigger than most blankets we looked at; it’s well suited for larger groups of people or for two people who want room for more board games and snacks. For those who need even more space, the Victory Blanket is also available in a truly mammoth extra-large version (120 by 120 inches). Both sizes come with two adjustable, clasping straps that keep the blanket rolled up tight, and those clasps can perform double duty as bottle openers.

Travel pillow

Therm-a-Rest Compressible Pillow Cinch

The best travel pillow.

The redesigned-for-2022 Therm-A-Rest pillow remains a firm and supportive choice that packs down to 50% of its expanded size. It now has a sewn-in cable that you can cinch down to make the pillow firmer.

price may vary by color or size

A good travel pillow is hard to find. It shouldn’t take up much space, and it should be able to expand when it needs to. And, ideally, it should allow you to shape it for use as a shoulder or neck pillow when necessary, such as when you’re on a plane or in the passenger seat of a car.

We found that the foam-filled Therm-A-Rest Compressible Pillow Cinch fit all of those criteria exceedingly well. During the day, it can fold in on itself (a loop-and-toggle closure holds it tight), which makes it easy to stow in a backpack or to toss into the backseat. When it’s in this tightly packed configuration, you can also use it as a shoulder and lumbar pillow. The Therm-A-Rest pillow is a bit larger than your typical travel pillow when it’s packed down—about the size of a tissue box—but saving space is less of a priority when you’re driving instead of flying.

At night, the pillow unrolls and expands into a decent bed pillow, though side-sleepers with larger frames may say it has too little padding. But this is a travel pillow, of course, so it will never feel like your home pillow, which is all part of the fun somehow. I sleep on my side and back, and I found it exceptionally comfortable compared with camping pillows I’d used in the past, although I did have to supplement it with a flannel shirt when I wanted to sleep on my side. In spring 2022, Therm-A-Rest released a slightly redesigned version of the pillow. The “regular” version is roughly the same size and weight as the old “medium” version, but the integrated pocket is now larger (9 inches deep instead of 6), which we found makes the pillow easier to roll up. The pillow also has a cord sewn in a loop into its back; you can tighten the cord and cinch it securely to make the pillow firmer. One other change: A thin layer of polyfill backs the brushed polyester fabric on its face and softens the lumpiness of the foam filling.

The Therm-A-Rest pillow is well reviewed on Amazon and on REI’s site. It’s available in a variety of colors and sizes, but we prefer the regular/medium for its mix of portability and support.

Silk sleeper wrap

Sea to Summit Premium Silk Travel Liner

The best sleeping bag liner.

This liner is a lightweight, moisture-wicking, easy-packing fix for scratchy motel sheets.

Not all motels are created equal. Some are fantastic, with their bright neon signs truthfully advertising a cheap, clean, and convenient place to stay. But out there you can stumble across other motels—desperate, last-chance places you wouldn’t wish on anyone, and cursed by all of the bleary-eyed travelers who’ve been forced to stay in them for a night.

Sea to Summit’s Premium Silk Travel Liner is the best accessory to bring along for these situations. Inclement weather, unexpected traffic, or poor planning (my personal downfall) may at some point prevent you from reaching your expected destination for the night and force you to stay somewhere you wish you didn’t have to. We can’t help you accept your fate, but we can make that night just a little easier to tolerate.

Nidra Deep Rest Eye Mask

The best sleep mask.

Lightweight and contoured, this mask fits comfortably and blocks light well for a wide variety of face shapes (though it’s best for those who sleep on their back). And the mask’s deep eyecups allow your eyes to flutter during sleep.

Not every bedroom on the road is as dark as some people would like. That’s why we recommend the Nidra Deep Rest Eye Mask . Its contoured eyecups rest over your eyes, giving them space to move, which makes this mask comfortable to sleep in—even when you’re sitting upright (as you might in the passenger side of a car). Although the mask is adjustable, with Velcro straps, restless sleepers may want to consider other options in our full guide to sleep masks . If the Nidra mask fits you well, its weightless feel can make you forget you’re wearing a mask at all as you continue to sleep in bright cars or poorly shuttered hotel rooms.

Puffy blanket

Rumpl Down Puffy

The best outdoor blanket.

This blanket offers the greatest warmth and durability for the lowest relative weight, price, and size. It also stuffs away very well when not in use.

The Rumpl Down Puffy blanket, which has a soft yet durable nylon shell that’s stuffed with water-repellent and sustainably sourced down, wards off the cold better for the price than the competition. It helps you to stay warm longer, inside or outside. (A puffy blanket has come in handy for us especially on winter road trips in an EV, when we don’t have the heat of a combustion engine warming the interior of the vehicle.) So far in our testing , the Rumpl blanket has survived four rounds in the washing machine without a snag, and it dries within an hour. And it’s been notably stain resistant after encountering dirt, dew, and even coffee.

Van camping mattress

Hest Sleep System

The best vehicle camping mattress.

Predominantly for van camping or long-term car camping, this blowup mattress takes up a hefty amount of space when stowed away but provides the most comfort of any camping mattress we’ve tested.

Although the size of the Hest Sleep System limits its use to either vans or pickup trucks, we’re including it on this list because of its impressive night-over-night comfort. If your road trips tend to include lots of outdoor activities such as biking, hiking, or climbing, a good night’s sleep is fundamental to having the energy you need to enjoy your days. The Hest mattress takes up about the space of a small cot mattress (78 by 25 inches). Half consists of a dense foam layer, and the other half is a high-pressure inflatable base that needs a pump system to inflate. The Hest mattress is not a small piece of kit when rolled up: It weighs 26 pounds and packs up into a 28-by-16-inch bedroll, including the air pump. If two of you are camping, you can connect two Sleep Systems together, though Hest also makes the Dually two-person foam mattress, which we haven’t had a chance to test yet.

Tinkle Belle Female Urination Device

The best pee funnel.

Sturdy and accommodating yet packable, the Tinkle Belle funnel is easy to use and clean when you’re on the road or hiking a trail.

It’s not always easy to find a secluded spot on the side of the road or a clean-enough public restroom. The Tinkle Belle funnel has a stable, rigid base and a flexible spout, so it won’t collapse under you during use, as Wirecutter senior staff writer Nancy Redd learned while researching the topic. One of the longest and widest of all the single-piece reusable funnels Nancy tested , the Tinkle Belle funnel makes less mess and is easy to use, as the more coverage a funnel has, the lower the risk of leakage or spills. While you’re on the road, a simple rinse works fine for cleaning the funnel. Although the Tinkle Belle funnel is larger than most, it folds up for more-compact storage. You can also buy it with a matching case .

Windshield protector and sunshade

A1 210T Fabric Sunshade

The best windshield shade.

This shade provides effective sun protection and fits a wide variety of windshields. It’s easy to store, too.

If you’re traveling through a sunny area, a sunshade for your windshield is a worthwhile investment. We like the A1 Windshield Sun Shade , which we found to offer the best combination of low cost, decent coverage, and ease of setup. Its pop-up design made it much simpler to install and stow than the accordion-style shades we tested.

Recommending just one sunshade for all cars is difficult because vehicles vary so much in size. But A1 offers several sizing options ranging from 59 by 19 inches to 69 by 36 inches (when the shade is fully expanded). You can compress each of these size options down to fit into a circular carrying case, which you can easily store on the door or underneath the seat. When you take the A1 sunshade out of the case, the compressed plastic arcs inside the sunshade spring open to create a rectangular shape, which you can adjust to fit your car’s windshield. Amazon reviewers mention that the build quality is solid and that the metallic finish does a good job against the sun, particularly in hot Southern states like Florida and Texas. Several reviewers also recommend , however, that you buy a size smaller than you think you need to avoid excessive overhang.

Although we prefer the A1 shade’s pop-up design, it’s not completely foolproof. Even with the choice in sizes, you still might have difficulty arranging the two plastic circles (which provide rigidity) within the A1 shade into a shape that hugs both edges of the front window and balances off the rearview mirror. Gaps, loose corners, or overhangs are almost unavoidable. In the end, what you gain in compactness and decent price, you lose in rigidity and reflective power. If you’re uncertain, measure before buying, or look into a custom shade like the WeatherTech shade described below, which is guaranteed to fit.

WeatherTech SunShade

A custom-fitted, maximum-protection shade.

This custom-fitted shade will ensure that no sun gets in, even in the sunniest climates.

If maximum temperature reduction is your goal, invest in a custom-fitted WeatherTech SunShade . Thicker than the A1 shade, WeatherTech’s shade completely blacks out the windshield when you install it. This shade is also notably bulky—about the size of a yoga mat when rolled up—and difficult to store discreetly. But if you frequent sunny climates, it’s well worth the cost, which at this writing starts at $55.

Passenger window UV protector and shade

Britax EZ-Cling Window Shades

The best passenger shade.

This shade sticks easily to car windows and provides great sun protection for passengers.

We researched 14 shade models and tested two finalists before determining that the Britax EZ-Cling Window Sun Shade is the best around. Available in a pack of two, it’s dead simple to install, and it’s effective. The Mylar on the back provides some protection against UV rays, and it acts like a large sheet of cling film that seems drawn to your windows once you pull the shades out of the box; the black mesh on the inner surface blocks a good amount of sunlight while still allowing you to see through the shade. We like the EZ-Cling shade better than film-only shades because the EZ-Cling design has a support ring of firmer material around its perimeter that makes it easier to install without prompting wrinkles and bubbles. I have way more fun than I rightly should when I’m putting these things onto car windows.

Unlike similar models with suction cups, the EZ-Cling shade doesn’t have any secondary or removable parts. Wirecutter’s Dan Frakes tried four other shades of various types and was dissatisfied with all of them, so he brought two EZ-Cling pairs for testing on a four-day road trip with his family. “They clung to the windows well,” Dan said. “They were a lot easier to install than both the suction-cup models and the flimsy film ones we’ve tried. We also removed them and reapplied them many times as our position relative to the sun changed, and it was easy to do so. Our only real complaint is that they’re small—they don’t cover an entire backseat window.” That kind of half-coverage can’t keep the sun off young children for too long, especially when the sun is low on the horizon.

Quick tip: Be sure to wipe your EZ-Cling shades with water when you first get them. A thin film protects the Mylar sheets during production, and it can leave a waxy residue on your car’s windows if you use the shades right out of the box without first wiping them down.

Portable extending shade

Shade extension

This extending shade attaches to a variety of vehicles, whether you have a roof rack or not, and whether you attach it to metal or a composite material such as a pickup-truck bed cover.

Although the MoonShade works best on SUVs and trucks, it’s lightweight and adaptable enough to work with smaller vehicles. When deployed, the MoonShade covers 9 by 7 feet, and its height adjusts from 78 inches to 96 inches. The shade mounts in three ways: directly to a roof rack, with very strong magnets, or with surprisingly robust suction cups for composite materials. We found that all three methods are secure enough for most situations, though as you might imagine, the suction cups are somewhat less stable than a direct mount on a rack. The MoonShade weighs 8 pounds and stows away into a carrying case that measures 28 by 6 inches, which is small enough to fit in the trunk of most cars. The MoonShade is great if you like to pull over in the middle of the day and set up a lunch, or if you tend to do activities outdoors in predominantly shadeless areas, as in the Southwest.

You could cross America with no plan at all and survive solely on fast food as your nourishment, without ever having to leave your car. But we don’t recommend that. Packing your own snacks and bringing your own water is not only healthier but also safer—you never know when you might be stranded somewhere along the way.

We got stranded on our second day of driving, somewhere east of Joshua Tree, California, when we pulled off the side of the road onto a soft, sandy shoulder (we were new in this part of the country). The car’s dash thermometer read 105 degrees Fahrenheit. As we waited, I was thankful that we had full water bottles, more water in the trunk, and plenty of food.

A highway patrol officer drove up, gave us a little lesson about sand, and pushed us out with no trouble. So things turned out fine. The beauty of a road trip is in the unexpected moments. You can be prepared for most of them by having a little food and water on hand.

RTIC Soft Pack Cooler 20 Can

Best soft cooler.

This simple lunch-box-style cooler is insulated with thick closed-cell foam and made from a durable coated nylon.

Capable of carrying everything from healthy snacks to emergency ice packs, a cooler is one of those items that can make long trips a lot more enjoyable. After several 500-mile days on the road, having a chilled container filled with cold drinks and body wipes is a gift. We recommend bringing along our favorite soft cooler , the RTIC Soft Pack Cooler 20 Can .

The lid of the RTIC cooler is capped by more than 2 inches of closed-cell insulation , and its walls are a touch thicker than those of the far more expensive Yeti Hopper Flip. When we tested them head-to-head, all that extra insulation seemed to give the RTIC cooler an insulating edge. The exterior of the RTIC cooler is made of a durable, thickly coated nylon—waterproof and tough—and the zippers are waterproof, as well. Still, don’t leave the cooler out in the sun, as the light and heat can degrade the material and slowly wear it out.

When the RTIC cooler is open, it stands erect like a grocery bag, providing easy access for loading and unloading.

Coleman 70-Quart Xtreme 5 Marine Hard Ice Chest Cooler

Our hard-cooler pick.

Better insulated and less expensive than the competition, this cooler keeps ice for a week. And its well-designed drain port makes it easier to clean.

If you need extra insulation for longer hauls and don’t mind sacrificing a little extra space, we recommend the Coleman 70-Quart Xtreme 5 Marine Hard Ice Chest Cooler . Our testing shows that a hard cooler will almost always outperform a soft cooler in insulating ability (five-plus days, versus a soft cooler’s two-day average) and durability. So the hard cooler is a great pick for RVs, trailers, or boats. But hard coolers are huge, so you might not have room for one if you’re carrying a bunch of other equipment.

Water bottles

CamelBak Eddy+ (25 ounces)

Great for the car.

A bottle with a straw is the easiest way to quaff water and keep your focus on the road since you don’t have to tilt your head back while drinking.

The 25-ounce CamelBak Eddy+ is the most reliable, most versatile water bottle for road trips that we found. This bottle has an integrated straw in the lid that features a plastic bite valve to keep it sealed (something that anyone who has owned a CamelBak hydration pack will be familiar with). Just bite down to open the straw, and release to seal it shut. That leak-free lid makes this bottle an ideal driving companion—it fits in a cup holder and is easy to sip from while you’re keeping your eyes on the road. The straw lid twists off to reveal a wide mouth that makes adding ice to your drink easy, which is handy if you like to keep your water cold. However, this is a plastic bottle, so adding ice could also make it sweaty; if you want to avoid that, the insulated version should prevent moisture from accumulating on the outside of the bottle.

Contigo Autoseal Transit Mug

The best mug for road trips.

Contigo’s Autoseal Transit is a wider mug that may fit better in cup holders than our top travel-mug pick. It doesn’t retain heat as well as our top pick, but some people may find its flat lid easier to drink from and to clean.

The Contigo Autoseal Transit Mug is a very different mug from the Zojirushi Stainless Steel Mug—our top pick for travel mugs —but it offers several features we like for road trips. The lid has fewer parts, is easier to clean, and prevents spills with its Autoseal button, which you have to hold down to keep the sipping port open. Plus, the flat lid won’t bump your nose or get in your line of sight while you’re drinking, as can happen with the Zojirushi model’s flip-top lid. Although this Contigo mug doesn’t keep drinks nearly as hot as the Zojirushi mug over a long period of time, some people might prefer that (we’ve heard complaints of the Zojirushi model keeping drinks too hot in the past). In addition, the Transit is a little wider than the Zojirushi mug, which is good if you want your mug to fit more snugly in a car cup holder or if you use a device such as an AeroPress, a pour-over dripper, or a tea steeper directly with your mug.

Edward Abbey wrote an entire book about being alone in the desert , long before portable screens, streaming music, and the best and worst of what instant entertainment can bring. He saw incredible things. But then again, Abbey wrote that book before he had kids.

Being in close proximity on a road trip can bond families and friends. Of course, a packed car could also become a pressure cooker. Some games, toys, and electronics can provide welcome relief.

Even more important, on our trip, every 100 miles the scenery around us changed drastically, and being able to charge our cameras allowed us to capture some wonderful personal moments.

Bestek 300W Power Inverter

The best inverter for simple devices.

More-sensitive gadgets may not function correctly while using this DC-to-AC converter, but a smoother converter costs $100-plus.

Lots of newer cars have USB ports capable of charging plenty of smaller gadgets. But to plug in bigger items, such as a computer, or certain items that have larger batteries, you need an inverter to transform your car’s round-plug, 12-volt direct current (12 V DC) outlet into a three-prong outlet with the same 120-volt alternating current (120 V AC) you have in your home. After sending our three favorites, culled from a list of 18 top-rated inverters, to physicist Jim Shapiro for testing, we recommend the Bestek 300W Power Inverter for simple devices such as water boilers. Not all inverters are equal, however, and you need to know what you’ll want to plug in before deciding which one to buy.

The Bestek unit—like every inverter that sells for less than $100—creates AC power, but in what’s called a “modified” sine wave. Shapiro examined this phenomenon using an oscilloscope. “Although the Bestek and similar units produce voltage at the same 60-hertz frequency as house voltage, the waveform has sharp corners, unlike the smooth, curvy sine-wave signal from your local power company,” Shapiro explained. “Those sharp corners give rise to higher frequency harmonics that are not friendly to electronic devices.”

However, because many electronics, including laptop computers, use power supplies to convert AC back into DC before delivering the power to your device, a higher-quality power supply can make the arrangement work—as owner reviews attest. Shapiro was able to charge an iPad without any problems via the AC outlets on the inexpensive Bestek inverter. Charging a Dell Chromebook, on the other hand, caused some problems: “The screen flickered, and I noted that when I asked the computer to display the charging time left, it oscillated between giving that time and ‘calculating,’ indicating that the software was having problems.”

While we were on the road, we realized that the Bestek inverter’s dual USB ports and dual outlets offered a nice benefit, particularly for people traveling in an older car that didn’t have USB ports built in everywhere. You shouldn’t have issues charging USB devices because they charge on DC voltage anyway. And though you can’t see the inverter’s safety features, such as over-voltage and low-voltage shutdown, they’re included as well.

For powering a TV (for tailgating) or any other demanding piece of electronics during a road trip, we used to recommend the Go Power GP-SW150-12 Pure Sine Wave Inverter. It now appears to be out of stock almost everywhere (or discontinued). As an alternative, we recommend looking into a portable power station , which is basically a large battery in a protective box, with AC outlets and other ports built in. They tend to be expensive, so for road-trip purposes we recommend our budget pick, the Jackery Explorer 300 . If you need to power only a laptop during your trip, we have several recommendations for portable laptop chargers . Note that portable power stations and laptop chargers both charge on wall outlets and can’t draw power from a car outlet.

Nekteck PD 45W Type-C Car Charger

The best car charger.

This model can charge phones, tablets, and computers from its USB-C port, plus it has a second port for charging USB-A devices. It adheres to USB-C fast-charging standards and includes a quality cable.

If your electronic gear doesn’t require AC—for instance, you’re charging smartphones or Bluetooth speakers more than laptops or portable TVs—you can save a few bucks and a lot of space by getting a car charger . Compared with the familiar USB-A port, the smaller USB-C port can charge most modern phones faster (if you’re using the right cable) and can even charge tablets and laptops. And the Nekteck PD 45W Type-C Car Charger provides the best of both worlds. When you’re using a USB-C–to–Lightning cable , the charger’s USB-C port can charge an iPhone about three times faster (at 18 watts) than the USB-A wall charger that comes in the box from Apple; your phone can charge from empty to roughly 50% in just half an hour. This Nekteck charger’s 45-watt output and included USB-C–to–C cable also support the maximum charge rate on Android phones (such as the Samsung Galaxy S10), the 2020 iPad Pro, and even many laptops. And you can use the 12-watt USB-A port at the same time to charge a second phone or other device with any USB cable you already have.

Bluetooth kit

Besign BK01 Bluetooth Car Kit

Best bluetooth adapter for cars with an aux-in jack.

The Besign BK01 kit offers great sound quality for music and good sound quality for phone calls. It also lets you pair two phones and access your voice assistant with the press of an easy-to-find button.

If your car lacks Bluetooth support—which you may want for wirelessly listening to music or connecting your phone calls over the car’s stereo system—and you aren’t willing to swap out the stereo for a new one that has such a feature, your best option is a Bluetooth kit. The best and easiest way to add Bluetooth to cars with a line-in jack is to get an aux kit. The Besign BK01 Bluetooth Car Kit provides good sound quality for music, clear-sounding voice audio for hands-free calls, and access to Siri or Google Assistant at the press of a button. It also allows you to connect two phones at once, so you and your passengers don’t have to duke it out for the aux cord.

iPad headrest mount

Depending on the length of your trip and the temperament of your passengers, you may need to find a way to keep folks occupied. Providing their favorite movies or TV shows on a tablet is an option. After testing six top tablet-mount contenders, we determined that Arkon’s Center Extension Car Headrest Tablet Mount is a great pick for viewing by multiple backseat passengers.

Arkon Center Extension Car Headrest Tablet Mount

For multiple viewers.

This model positions a tablet solidly between the front seats for easy viewing by all backseat passengers.

The Arkon mount anchors with a pair of adjustable clamps that tighten around the metal rods that support a front seat’s headrest; the tablet holster is located on the end of an extendable pole that you can move to a position between the front seats, where all three passengers in the backseat can view it.

We had recommended the LilGadgets CarBuddy Universal Headrest Tablet Mount for people who preferred a mount that’s best for just one backseat passenger. It appears to have been discontinued, but it’s a good find if you can get your hands on one.

Instant camera

Fujifilm Instax Mini 12

The best instant camera.

Fun and simple to use, this camera takes good-looking wallet-sized photos for 60¢ per print.

Fujifilm Instax Mini Film (Twin Pack)

Instax mini film.

Buying Instax Mini film in twin packs helps you get the best price.

With a smartphone, showing a photo to hundreds of followers is as easy as pressing the share button. But if you want to create something tangible, an instant-film camera can add a fun and welcome dose of analog charm to your digital world. Our pick is the Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 , which provides high-quality, retro-cool prints at a reasonable price.

Also, when your phone is serving as a radio, a map, a restaurant guide, and whatever else, you’ll appreciate having a dedicated tool that does one thing: take instant shots that look great.

After doing extensive research , we found the Instax Mini 12 to be the best instant-film camera. Its compact body feels durable, and thanks to its minimal controls, anyone can easily learn how to use it. The 3.4-by-2.1-inch prints cost only about 60¢ apiece , so documenting your trip won’t break the bank. Its photos aren’t perfectly sharp, but they are pleasingly colorful and creamy, with a classic look that we love.

Travel game

Chat Pack: Fun Questions to Spark Conversations

The best silence-breaker.

The questions are not always the most thought-provoking, but they sure can spark a conversation.

You can find countless travel games for all ages, from magnetic chess boards to Adult Mad Libs , and we’re not about to review them all here. (You know what kinds of games you like to play.) So instead we’ll tell you about the game we chose, Chat Pack: Fun Questions to Spark Conversations .

I am, as a rule, generally wary of anything designed to prompt conversation. But by day three of our trip, with 1,100 miles behind us and 400 miles ahead, my then girlfriend (now wife) reached for Chat Pack and told me it was time.

It’s hit or miss with Chat Pack. Some of the questions are oddly inspiring, if clunkily written: “What is one item you own that has virtually no monetary value but has such sentimental value that you would not sell it for $1,000?” So, what item do I have that has no value but remains precious? My grandmother’s wire glove stretchers. And that became an hour-long conversation.

Some of the questions were abrupt duds: “If rain could fall in any scent, what scent would you want it to be?” “Like rain,” we both answered. Who doesn’t love the smell of fresh rain? The feeling of camaraderie in the car was strong; we agreed that it was a dumb question. We were a young couple on an open road in full accordance with each other, and that’s not a moment you take lightly.

So get a Chat Pack. Your mileage may vary. But this pack helped us pass the time, and it takes up barely any space.

Make time in your trip for the detours. If there’s one bit of non-gear-related advice we can give, it’s that the complicated route always proves to be more interesting. There will be times in the car when a sort of tunnel vision can set in, and the destination becomes all-consuming. At my worst, as I pressed down on the accelerator, I found myself mentally calculating the time saved for every increase in miles per hour—as if the scenery I was flying past wasn’t what I’d come to see in the first place.

The first time we pulled over without a plan was on some Bureau of Land Management stretch east of Zion National Park in Utah. We were alone, on an outcropping overlooking a shallow canyon. Someone had built an impromptu fire pit. But somehow it wasn’t until we finished lunch that we realized there was no point in going any farther.

You can find many ways to plan a trip. But once in a while, take a risk and make a left when all the maps and devices are telling you to go right. You won’t know where you’ll end up—and that’s the whole point.

Athlon Optics Midas ED

The best binoculars for nearly everyone.

Amazingly affordable with great optics, these binoculars offer performance comparable to that of many models costing thousands more.

Binoculars might not be a necessity. But when you’re standing on the edge of a trail in Zion National Park and looking for nesting peregrine falcons or lying at the edge of your campsite in Joshua Tree watching a pack of coyotes move under a full moon, will a good pair of binoculars come in handy? Yes. Yes it will.

The waterproof and lightweight Athlon Optics Midas ED binoculars boast a rugged shock-absorbing exterior. And this pair’s optical clarity and extra-wide field of view allow you to see more of the scene, more clearly and accurately. In fact, the professional ornithologist who tested binoculars for us said that things looked every bit as good through the Athlon binoculars as they looked through his $2,500 Leica Ultravid pair.

And the optics of the Midas ED pair aren’t the only strong suit: These are exceptionally durable binoculars that easily withstood the humid, dusty, and hostile environment of the Mexican rain forest and the harsh sun of the Californian desert. Also, their focus dial adjusts reliably and smoothly across a wide range of depths, making it easy for you to focus on what you’re trying to see, no matter where it is.

Stowable tote or daypack

It’s always a good idea to have a bag on hand for spontaneous off-the-road excursions. But anything that will take up space on a trip needs to be functional enough to hold cameras, snacks, jackets, maps, and souvenirs. And it needs to be durable enough to survive beach trips, sightseeing excursions, picnics, and museum tours.

Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Travel Day Pack

A pack that won’t crowd your trunk.

Toss this lightweight, phone-sized packable bag into your trunk or under your seat, and you’ll never get caught without a spare bag again. If you need something to carry every day, though, you’ll probably prefer one of our more-structured picks.

After researching dozens of packable daypacks across a spectrum of portability, features, and prices, and then packing, unpacking, loading, wearing, and drenching the top-rated finalists during multiple rounds of testing, we’ve found that the Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Travel Day Pack is the smallest and lightest packable backpack of the bunch. Packed up, it is very discreet, nearly the size of a keychain accessory. The bag itself is a no-frills sack made from a paper-thin siliconized Cordura nylon, so it’s very light and water resistant. The Ultra-Sil bag also has reinforced stitching at stress points, which allows it to carry more weight than you might expect. That said, since this pack is made of such thin, light material, carrying large or awkwardly shaped loads is somewhat uncomfortable, especially in comparison with our more structured picks.

If lightness, waterproofing, comfort, and organization are more important to you, check out the alternative picks in our review of packable daypacks for travel .

Blue Lizard Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50+

An easy-to-spread physical sunscreen.

This physical sunscreen lotion absorbs easily and is free of added fragrance. Though this water-resistant formula can feel greasy, like most physical sunscreens, and leave behind a white cast (especially on darker skin), we’ve found its dependable coverage to be worth the trade-off.

On most road trips you’ll be exposed to the sun, whether it’s your arm out the window or your legs and neck during a pit stop, so we recommend bringing our favorite sunscreens along for everyone to apply. (The one exception: your youngest passengers. Do not put sunscreen on an infant. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends keeping children who are younger than 6 months out of the sun entirely.) Although most sunscreens containing only physical UV blockers are notoriously harder to spread and more visible on skin than sunscreens with chemical UV filters, Blue Lizard’s Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50+ formula spreads relatively quickly and easily, and it absorbs nicely. Formulated with both zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, this sunscreen provides broad-spectrum protection, from both UVA and UVB rays. Blue Lizard says this formulation, which contains no added fragrance, is sweat resistant and water resistant for 80 minutes (the highest such claim allowed by the FDA). It comes in bottles that uniquely change color, from white to blue, in the presence of harmful UV light.

Banana Boat Light As Air Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50+

A lightweight, oxybenzone-free chemical sunscreen.

Although it contains added fragrance, this easy-to-apply chemical sunscreen lotion doesn’t have an overpowering sunscreen-y scent. It rubs in nearly transparently and appears colorless on most skin tones.

Banana Boat Light As Air Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50+ is our favorite chemical sunscreen that doesn’t contain oxybenzone. Fairly runny and lightweight, it blends seamlessly into a variety of skin tones. Although it contains added fragrance, it’s not strongly scented. It’s water resistant for up to the maximum-allowable claim (per FDA guidelines) of 80 minutes, and it costs far less per ounce than our physical-sunscreen pick.

Having an emergency kit in your car is a great idea for day-to-day driving, but it’s pretty much a necessity for long-distance road trips. Although it’s tempting to buy a preassembled kit and be done with it, we haven’t found a great one yet. Even the most promising options suffer from having jumper cables that are too short, too thin, or both. Basically, if you want a good kit, you have to make it yourself, and we’re here to help.

We spent hours researching and testing each of these essentials to confirm that they’ll be useful in case of an emergency, whether it’s your own or someone else’s.

On a desolate stretch of two-lane highway in northern Arizona, we were driving behind a rental camper van just as it had a rear-tire blowout after hitting a rumble strip. The couple driving the van couldn’t find their jack, didn’t know where the spare tire was, and had come to a stop just past a low dip in the road. It wasn’t a good scene. But it couldn’t have happened at a better time (for them, at least), and it gave us a great opportunity to put our emergency gear to the test.

It’s also wise to get a membership to a roadside assistance program. We don’t have a single best recommendation for everyone, since your options and needs vary depending on what car you have, how you use it, and where you live, but here’s a good guide by Popular Mechanics on what to look for in choosing a plan. Basically, make sure your plan fits your needs. For example, if you live in a city, 3 miles of free towing may be enough. But if you’re going on a road trip across the desert, paying for more range is worthwhile.

First-aid kit

First Aid Only 298 Piece All-Purpose First Aid Kit (FAO-442)

All the basics.

This kit is chock-full of bandages and cleaning supplies that are suitable for minor incidents.

On the road, a first-aid kit is useful for keeping someone comfortable until people with real medical expertise can help. It’s much more important to have a basic kit with you—and to be sure that the bandages haven’t degraded and the disinfectants haven’t expired—than to have a 432-item, war-zone-worthy kit sitting at home.

We like the First Aid Only 298 Piece All-Purpose First Aid Kit . It lacks some of the higher-quality tools that we recommend for a wilderness first-aid kit , but it comes with plenty of bandages, alcohol prep pads, pain relievers, and equipment to treat up to four people’s minor cuts and scrapes on a weekend trip. (For an extensive list and comparison chart, see our full guide .)

Snow shovel

Voilé Telepro Mini Avalanche Shovel

The best car shovel.

This small shovel slices through icy snow and can be disassembled for car storage. It isn’t cheap, but it’s what we’d want to have in a roadside emergency.

After spending two years researching car shovels and testing five contenders, we found that the best one to keep in the trunk for an emergency is the Voilé Telepro Mini Avalanche Shovel .

The tool, popular with ski patrols and people clearing backcountry trails, has a solid metal scoop and a two-piece handle that clicks together to form a sturdy shovel. Our tester keeps the Voilé shovel in her truck every winter, and it has come in handy more times than she can count. Though the Voilé shovel is too short to be a primary shovel, it’s perfect for any kind of fast shoveling. When you aren’t using it, you can tuck its three pieces neatly under a car seat or in the back.

Accu-Gage RRA60X

The best tire gauge we’ve found.

This is the favored tire gauge of all the professionals we interviewed.

Checking your car’s tire pressure (including that of the spare tire) is like flossing: It’s something that everyone should do but many people don’t do. Proper inflation is vital . Too much, and you’ll feel every bump and have more difficulty stopping your car; too little, and your tires will wear faster. Worse, they’ll also overheat, which can separate the treads and blow the tires, something we saw happen right in front of us in the middle of nowhere in Arizona. Don’t let that happen to you.

When we asked three different San Francisco Bay Area tire shops which gauge they used, they all pointed to the Accu-Gage 60 PSI gauge with shock protector . After our testing, which included road-tripping with the tool ourselves, the Accu-Gage model has emerged as our favorite tire gauge for several years running. It’s accurate and durable, and unlike a digital gauge, it has no battery to wear out. The Accu-Gage model is available in several different configurations , but the performance is largely the same. We prefer a version with a hose attached and a straight chuck, because that design makes it easier to hold the gauge and check the tire pressure at the same time. The version we tested even comes with a removable rubber bumper in case you drop it.

Portable jump starter

A portable jump starter is essentially a lightweight battery attached to two jumper cables that you use to jump-start your car. It’s easier, safer, and less intimidating than old-fashioned jumper cables that you attach to another car—and it’s something that you can use if you’re alone, instead of waiting for roadside service/a kind stranger/a friend/a relative to show up and bail you out.

Weego Jump Starter 44s

Staff-favorite jump starter.

This jump starter has the right safety features and contains enough juice in a small package to start most cars and SUVs.

Wirecutter has recommended Weego gear since we first published our guide to portable jump starters in 2017. Guide writer Mark Smirniotis researched 40 lithium-ion jump starters and tested 12. Two Weego portable jump starters (both of which are now discontinued) became picks: the Weego 22s (the top pick; about $60) and the Weego 44 (the upgrade pick; about $150). Though we no longer maintain that full guide, many of us at Wirecutter still keep a Weego jump starter in our cars . But now, in many cases, it’s an updated version, namely the affordable Weego 44s , which hovers around the same price as the 22s model, its less powerful predecessor.

Measuring 5.62 by 3.44 by 1.04 inches (LWD), the Weego 44s jump starter is about the same size as a cell phone in length and width. It also weighs less than a pound (around 12 ounces, according to my kitchen scale) and has safety features that help prevent you from hurting your car or yourself: If you incorrectly attach the jump starter to your battery (which can potentially damage the battery or your car’s electrical system), the unit’s reverse-polarity protection feature activates, issuing a red light and an alarm alerting you not to proceed.

The Weego 44s is rated to work with a wide range of vehicles, including gas engines up to 7 liters and diesel engines up to 3.5 liters. It can jump-start pretty much any gas- or diesel-powered passenger-vehicle engine—anything from a Mini Cooper (2 liters or less) to a Dodge Ram (as much as 6.7 liters)—and it fits that power into a package that’s small enough for most glove boxes.

The Weego 44s comes partially charged out of the box and takes about 2.5 hours to charge from zero. A USB-A–to–Micro-USB charging cord is included, but it doesn’t come with a charging cube, so you need to plug the USB-A end into your own USB phone charger that works in regular household outlets or use an outlet with a USB-A port . According to the company, the unit can stay charged for more than a year in storage, though you should make sure to top it off every three to six months. With regular use, it’s rated to last for about three to five years or up to 1,000 recharge cycles. Plus, it can provide multiple jumps before it needs a recharge itself (five lights on the side of the unit indicate its remaining battery life).

The Weego 44s has checks and balances to ensure that you safely jump-start a car, but its lithium-ion polymer battery comes with certain caveats. Though the manufacturer indicates that the unit will operate in temps of -4 °F to 140 °F, leaving it in a car in extremely hot or cold conditions is not a great idea. “Most devices that contain a lithium-ion battery, whether it’s your smartphone or a portable jump starter, should not spend long periods of time in extreme temperatures since it can cause permanent damage to the battery,” says Wirecutter senior staff writer and battery expert Sarah Witman. “You should also keep in mind that car engines need more power to get started in freezing temperatures, so it’s especially important to keep your jump starter fully charged when driving in cold climates.”

Jumper cables

If you’re a die-hard jumper-cable partisan, make sure that the cables you get are long enough for most scenarios and thick enough to carry sufficient current to jump most vehicles.

Lifeline AAA Heavy Duty 16-foot 6 Gauge Booster Cables

The best cable option.

This cable is long and durable enough for any situation, with a current rating that can handle SUVs.

After scrutinizing the specs of dozens of jumper-cable options and having an electrical engineer analyze three top-rated models, we recommend Lifeline’s AAA Heavy Duty 16-foot 6 Gauge Booster Cables . As this image illustrates, these cables are long and thick enough for most situations, and their 400-amp current rating means they can handle most vehicles, even trucks and SUVs. They also come with a surprisingly sturdy and convenient mesh storage bag.

One thing that sets these Lifeline cables apart from other cables we found on Amazon is that the 6-gauge description is accurate. For example, Capri sells a 4-gauge, 20-foot cable that reviewers say is closer to 8-gauge. That’s no good, because thinner cables can fail to deliver sufficient current to start trucks, SUVs, and other larger vehicles.

If you’re unfamiliar with how to use jumper cables, familiarize yourself . But lest you forget, Lifeline includes a handy diagram in the bag. The important thing to keep in mind: Do not attach the black clamp to the black post of the dead battery. Instead, clamp it to an unpainted metal surface under the hood. Also, don’t touch the exposed parts of the clamps together while the cables are hooked up to a battery; they will spark.

Decked x BoxoUSA Tool Bag with Tool Roll

For the at-home mechanic.

This tool roll is designed for off-road emergencies. The handy roll and its mix-and-match tool configurations offer almost everything necessary to keep a vehicle on the road.

If you don’t own any tools for car maintenance, this kit is a great start. With 65 individual tools, the Decked x BoxoUSA Tool Bag with Tool Roll has nearly every tool that a home mechanic (especially those who own a truck) might need to keep their vehicle on the road. As the kit was designed originally for off-roading, bringing the whole thing and all its contents would be overkill for most people (the entire kit weighs 31 pounds). But selecting the necessities—the ratchet and wrench set, for instance—depending on the kind of journey you’re planning is easy and efficient due to the built-in compartmentalization. Included within the kit are combination wrenches, sockets, impact sockets, hex and torx keys, breaker bars, and a family of hammers, pliers, and screwdrivers. The heavy-duty Cordura nylon bag is built to last, too. If you’re at all interested in doing some of your own car maintenance, or if you want to be prepared in case of emergency, this toolkit offers a solid foundation.

Petzl Actik Core

A rechargeable headlamp.

This headlamp emits bright light with the highest beam quality. And it stays charged for days, whether you charge it via USB or use AAA batteries. It’s the perfect headlamp for backpacking trips.

We’ve been testing headlamps since 2012, including our latest round of research and testing in 2022. For a road trip, we like the Petzl Actik Core because it’s rechargeable, so you won’t ever get caught with a dead battery, as long as you have a USB car charger on hand. Its 450-lumen light ranks among the brightest of all our picks. (As of early 2023, the Actik Core was updated and now has a 600-lumen beam ; we’re currently testing the new version.)

Twice during our trip we pulled into our camping site late, and our headlamp was the first thing we reached for. Knowing that it was always charged meant that we didn’t have to hunt for batteries or use our car lights and disturb neighboring campers.

Right out of the box, the Actik Core was easy to use. It has just one button and three brightness options: low (6 lumens), medium (100 lumens), and high (450 lumens). If you hold down the button for several seconds, the color turns to red; double-pressing lets you access the strobe setting. Compared with some other rechargeable headlamps, which require complicated button-press configurations to reach the desired setting, we found this one to be simpler, though we lamented its lack of a flood beam. We also liked the double-button setup of the Black Diamond Spot 400 and the Vitchelo V800 a bit better than the Actik Core’s single button.

Flare alternative

StonePoint LED Emergency Beacon

The best emergency beacon.

Crushproof and waterproof, this set of three beacons comes with magnets for car mounting. And these are much safer than traditional flares.

To keep yourself safe while your car is parked on the side of the road, we suggest StonePoint LED Emergency Beacon flare alternatives.

We like the StonePoint set because, for the price of one high-intensity model like the PowerFlare device, you get three separate lights that are all crushproof to 20,000 pounds, waterproof, magnetic, and easy to set up and turn on. The magnets are important because they let you mount the beacons on your car, which adds height; having a flare anywhere above the surface of the road greatly increases your visibility. By putting one on the road (preferably elevated on something and located about 100 feet before your car), another on the trunk, and another on the hood, you create a very visible early warning for drivers.

Traditional magnesium flares will almost always be brighter and more visible. But their hazards—both to your health and to the environment around you—are substantial. (Read the health and environmental hazards section in this report [PDF] for a breakdown of the risks and the potentially harmful chemicals involved.) Combine that with the fact that you can mitigate any differences in visibility simply by elevating an electric flare, and you end up with a compelling argument against using traditional flares.

Of the three beacon models we tested, we couldn’t figure out how to open or turn on the Wagan model. And the Smittybilt U.F.O. safety light, though tough, wasn’t especially effective during the day and came only one to a package. Only the StonePoint beacons were easy to fill with batteries and place on the road exactly when we needed them. They also happened to be the brightest flare alternatives we had with us.

I should take a moment here and repeat what the responding officer told us when he arrived on the scene. Regardless of what safety beacons you have laid out behind you, “Stay off the road, and when in doubt stay in your car.”

Leatherman Skeletool CX

The best multi-tool.

This light, slim multi-tool is easy to carry and built to last.

No emergency kit is complete without a multi-tool. Most minor situations—such as a loose Phillips-head screw or a need to create a rag for checking your oil—are easily fixed as long as you have the right tool. Multi-tools are small enough to carry in a jeans pocket or to attach to a belt, so you can take a set of useful tools almost anywhere. Our choice is the Leatherman Skeletool CX , which comes with pliers, a bit driver, a pocket clip, and a carabiner/bottle opener, in addition to a high-quality, 2.6-inch 154CM carbon-fiber stainless steel blade. The Skeletool CX stood out from the other 22 multi-tools we tested because it focuses on the functionality, ergonomics, and solid construction of a few essential tools, instead of cramming dozens of different tools into a single bulky body that makes it difficult to use. That means it’s easy to carry but still has just about everything you could possibly need (short of a hammer and a socket set) to make an emergency repair in the field and on the road.

Duck Brand Max Strength Duct Tape

The best duct tape.

This tape is super strong and sticky, flexible enough to wrap around corners, and easy to tear in a clean, straight line.

If you can’t duct it, fuhgeddaboudit . We tested the heck out of 11 rolls of duct tape and chose Duck Max Strength tape above the competition for its perfect blend of attributes, namely high material strength, a strong adhesive, and superior overall flexibility for easy wrapping around odd shapes and curved surfaces. Is it an absolute necessity on the road? No. But the moment you need to fix a ripped tent wall or to keep unruly motel shades shut, you’ll be glad you packed some duct tape. It can even handle first-aid duties when the right materials for the job are unavailable. Duct tape is, as any MacGyver fan will tell you, a very useful tool.

Reliance 4-Gallon Aqua-Tainer

The best water jug.

This water jug holds enough water for two people for two days, and it has a spill-proof screw-on vent cap.

The general rule for water in an emergency is that one person needs one gallon of water for one day. But four to five gallons is a good amount to throw into your trunk—enough to get you through being stranded, even with a passenger. You should increase that estimate if you plan to go out in the middle of nowhere, or if your travels take you to a desert region or some other dry place. We found on our trip through the Southwest that we were refilling our water bottles a lot more than we were stopping for gas.

After researching 16 different types of water jugs, we recommend the Reliance 4-Gallon Aqua-Tainer for most situations. The Reliance jug has two standout features: a screw-on vent cap and a spigot cap that reverses in on itself when not in use. These features work together to prevent major spills. The screw-on vent cap doesn’t come undone, unlike the pull-top vents on some competitors, which tend to pop open and spill water as soon as you hit anything other than the smoothest roadways. Spigot caps can be a weakness for some jugs, too. In contrast, when not in use, the Reliance jug’s spigot unscrews and drops into the jug itself, sealing up the whole canister nice and tight. On our road trip, we used the 4-Gallon Aqua-Tainer, which can provide water for two people for two days; for more people, consider the 7-Gallon Aqua-Tainer .

The Reliance Aqua-Tainer jug is made from BPA-free molded plastic. It’s easy to pack around in the trunk of a car—certainly easier than large, bladder-type jugs (like the MSR Dromedary Bag ), which, though excellent for camp showers and good for a backpack, are too difficult to pack around in a trunk because of their non-rigid shape. The Aqua-Tainer’s hard sides also make it easier to use for dispensing water from, say, the roof of your car. But be sure to throw a shirt or towel under the Aqua-Tainer before setting it atop your car like this: We learned the hard way that the molded plastic edge can scratch your car’s paint job if you’re not careful.

Before investing in a jug, you should know that water kept in plastic bottles won’t harm you, even if left in a hot car . A 24-pack of Poland Spring is not environmentally kind, but it is safe for a brief trip. Avoid gallon jugs, since they’re typically made out of HDPE plastic, which punctures easily. (Such jugs also have caps that pop off easily.) We wouldn’t buy collapsible jugs, either, since they are prone to leaks and are unruly when pouring.

It takes only a few minutes to get your vehicle checked out for a proper road trip. When in doubt, or when preparing for an especially long trip, see a mechanic first. There are plenty of potential mechanical troubles that a professional can identify—and that you’d rather learn about in their shop than on the side of a highway. Use these tips to determine where to go for help, based on the age of your car and what you need done.

• Dealership service departments: newer vehicles covered by factory warranty, or when specialized service is required
• Independent mechanics: general maintenance items such as brakes, steering, suspension, exhaust, and fluid changes
• Quick oil/lube centers: oil changes only

Getting word-of-mouth advice from family and friends remains a very good way to find reputable mechanics. Sites such as RepairPal and Yelp are also helpful. And don’t forget to check local Facebook community groups.

The vehicle inspection: Six key areas

• Under the hood: Check the engine oil, transmission fluid, engine coolant, windshield wipers, washer fluid, and brake fluid.

• Tires: Check for proper inflation and good tread that doesn’t show uneven wear. For inflation, consult your owner’s manual to find your tires’ recommended PSI; don’t go by what’s printed on the side of your tire, which is the maximum PSI. For tread wear, stick a penny into the center (not the edge) of each tire’s treads, with Lincoln’s head facing down—if you can still see the top of Lincoln’s head, the tire is worn out. Also, if you have a spare tire, check it and make sure that a jack and a lug-nut wrench still accompany it. If you don’t have a spare, consider getting one from a dealer or a salvage yard. Or invest in an emergency roadside repair and inflation kit—like the Slime 50107 Smart Spair Emergency Tire Repair Kit —which includes sealant for small punctures as well as a small air compressor for reinflating tires. At the very least, bring along a portable sealer kit like Fix-A-Flat , but be aware that these options work only on very small punctures in the tread and could ultimately require you to replace your whole tire. So it’s really better to have a spare, if possible.

• Lights: Check all the bulbs, including the turn signals, headlights (high and low beam), brake lights, parking lamps, reverse lights, and license-plate lights.
• Smell test: You can sniff out potential problems in your car by paying attention to its odors.
• Sulfur/rotten-egg smell: You have trouble with your exhaust or emission system that could be dangerous. Get your car to a mechanic immediately.
• Sweet smell: This scent indicates an engine coolant leak; the smell could be strong when you’re using the heater, and accompanied by fogged-up glass. The coolant is toxic, and when it runs out, your engine will overheat.
• Burning carpet/paper smell: Your brakes are hot. Smelling this after you’ve used your brakes hard (such as after coming down a mountain) is not unusual. But if you smell this while you’re driving around normally, it means your brakes might be stuck, which is a serious problem.
• Musty/mildew smell: This odor is generally attributable to water getting stuck in the ductwork for your heating and air conditioning. It usually indicates that a drain plug is blocked, which you sometimes can fix just by running your fan on high for a few minutes.
• Burning rubber smell: Unless you’re doing burnouts, this smell can be caused by slipping engine belts or a tire rubbing. In these cases, the smell is usually accompanied by a noise, namely squealing (with belts) or grinding (with a tire rubbing).
• Noise test: Cars make lots of noises, and the following are some that should get your undivided attention.
• Clunking or rattling over bumps: This sound can indicate a variety of problems with the steering or suspension, but it often points to worn plastic or rubber bushings that allow contact between metal components. In extreme cases, these components can fail, causing major damage or even loss of control if the vehicle is moving.
• Clicking or groaning sounds when turning: Clicking is a sign of imminent axle shaft failure on front-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive vehicles, so get to a mechanic immediately if you hear this sound. Groaning noises are less serious and occur because of a lack of lubrication in steering components or bushings.
• Loud humming that increases steadily with speed: This sound almost always points to a bad wheel bearing, especially if the noise gets louder or quieter when the car is turning.
• Grinding, squeaking, or squealing when stopping: Squeaking and squealing happen when the brake pads are worn and need replacing. Grinding means the pads are already gone, and you’re pushing metal against metal when you stop.
• Feel test: The following are a few situations that should warrant a visit to the shop.
• Soft or spongy brake pedal: Brakes should be firm; a soft pedal means something is wrong. Either you have a mechanical problem or the brake fluid is leaking.
• Shimmies or vibrations: These sensations usually indicate that a rim is bent or that a tire is out of balance, but they can also be signs of loose steering or suspension parts.

Pre-trip planning

Before heading out, check these commonly taken-for-granted aspects of road-tripping.

• Update your GPS system. Factory-installed GPS devices generally receive updates once a year and require CDs, SD cards, or USB thumb drives purchased from the manufacturer for installation through a dealership. Mobile third-party GPS units get updates throughout the year, and you can install the updates via most home PCs through a simple download from the GPS manufacturer’s website.
• Make sure that you have maps or a paper atlas. Sometimes technology fails. Having a current map for backup is always a good idea.
• Make sure you’re covered by a roadside assistance program. Auto-club programs are the most common source of roadside assistance plans, with companies such as AAA and Good Sam offering coverage to members regardless of what vehicle they drive or its age. Most new cars, however, come with complimentary roadside assistance that lasts a certain number of miles or a certain number of years, whichever happens first. So check your owner’s manual (and read the fine print, since these plans can be very limited). Many auto insurance companies also provide vehicle-specific roadside assistance, usually for a monthly fee. Some credit card companies offer a mix of complimentary and basic fee services, and even cell phone companies are now offering basic services to customers. Verizon’s roadside assistance plan costs $5 per month and covers any vehicle, as long as the phone is present. Most of these plans have limitations and plenty of fine print to study, so carefully review your coverage before hitting the road.

This article was edited by Ria Misra and Christine Ryan.

Meet your guides

Kit Dillon is a senior staff writer at Wirecutter. He was previously an app developer, oil derrick inspector, public-radio archivist, and sandwich shop owner. He has written for Popular Science, The Awl, and the New York Observer, among others. When called on, he can still make a mean sandwich.

Wirecutter Staff

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Further reading

Road-Trip Essentials

by Eve O'Neill

We spend a lot of time driving each year, and this is our list of essential road-trip gear to include in your packing list.

Traveling With Little Kids Can Be Tough. The Right Gear Can Help.

by Kerry Davis McGuinness

From compact car seats and cribs to portable blackout shades and white noise machines, the right tools for travel can lead to less fuss—and more fun.

The Gadgets We Bring on Every Trip

by Haley Perry

You don't have to be a digital nomad to travel like one. Here are a few gadgets and accessories to make travel as painless as possible.

The Best Gear for Travel

by Wirecutter Staff

We put in another year and tens of thousands more miles of travel to test the best travel gear—and we stand by last year’s choices alongside a few new picks.

Pack Hacker is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more

Road Trip Packing List

The ultimate packing list including all of the road trip essentials you need to travel by car. We cover it all: men’s and women’s focused items from bags, to clothing and toiletries, to cooking supplies, and more.

The Road Trip Essentials: Gear for An Epic Road Trip

Welcome to the Road Trip Packing List where we’re going to cover everything you need to make your road-tripping adventure worthy of the big screen. While road trips can last anywhere from a weekend to a year or more, we’ve formulated this list to work for trips that span from a week to a month or so. (But you can adapt it to fit your needs.)

Now, it can be tempting to pack a lot of gear for a road trip—you’re not limited by airline restrictions, after all—but we suggest packing the least amount of stuff possible. Beyond ensuring more legroom, we’ve found that packing minimally helps to keep a clear mind. Additionally, you won’t have to go digging through a trunk full of stuff to pull out the few things that you actually use.

On that note, we’ve kept this list as minimal as possible while keeping comfort and convenience in mind. We don’t guarantee that this packing list will prevent misadventures—which are part of the fun, anyway. But we believe this list will help you pack what you need (while staying comfortable) without being burdened down with a bunch of excess gear. That way, you can worry less about rummaging through your stuff and focus more on those classic road trip experiences.

Collectively, our team has driven thousands and thousands of miles. We’ve taken what’s worked and what hasn’t and distilled all the gear you need down into one mega list—with one exception.

We haven’t included a section on vehicle specific items because what you need differs from vehicle to vehicle. Make sure you consider these vehicle-specific essentials before you take off, including tools, battery cables, a spare tire, nice windshield wipers (splurge on these, trust us), windshield washer fluid, etc. Plus, you need to pack your driver’s license, insurance, registration, passport, car manual, and other like items. (And, if you’re going abroad, there may be additional things you need to pack.)

Of course, we know that what works for some isn’t going to work for others (even the Pack Hacker team differs). So, if the items on this list aren’t your thing, don’t worry. We have other packing lists , guides , and reviews to help you find gear that works for you.

We’ve also written up a massive road trip guide to help you navigate all of the other aspects of a road trip (safety, finding accommodations, the best way to pack your car, and more), so check it out if you’re so inclined.

With all of that said, let’s get packing.

Standalone Bags & Organizers

We’ve found that the classic duffle, backpack, and sling bag combo (DBS, for short) is the best for road trips. Duffles are great for hauling the majority of your clothes as they’re typically easy to pack—both in terms of throwing your stuff into one and Tetris-ing in the car. The backpack can act as an overnight bag or daypack while exploring whatever zany attraction you’ve stopped at. And the sling bag is for the essentials and quick stops.

A classic duffle that’s ideal for road trips in its simplicity. It’s easy to dump all of your stuff inside the one compartment—basically a giant, cavernous bucket—so you can spend less time packing and more time enjoying the wind in your hair. Its soft sides will squish into the nooks and crannies leftover in your fully packed car. Plus, you can easily grab the comfortable handles and take the duffle into the laundromat (or the hotel if you’re staying more than overnight). Tom Bihn is also known for the quality of its gear, so while this thing doesn’t have much weather-resistance, it’s highly durable in all other regards.

Versatility is key when it comes to choosing the right backpack for a road trip—and that’s why we’re recommending the Borealis. At 28L, this pack is large enough to hold all of the clothes and toiletries you need for a weekend trip, but small enough to act as a daypack for those longer drives. Plus, its dedicated laptop compartment means it’ll work as a laptop bag if you need to head to the coffee shop to get some work done. It’s also a great bag to take on hikes due to its comfortable harness system and durable, weather-resistant exterior.

A sling bag is a perfect place to stash your wallet, phone, and keys on the road. Not only so you know where all that important stuff is when not directly using them (trust us, there’s nothing worse than losing your keys in a packed car), but so that you can easily throw your sling over your shoulder and go buy a cup of coffee. It’s also nice for day trips and quick hikes. We’re digging the Atom Sling due to its simple, effective organization as well as the soft mesh on the back panel and shoulder strap, which makes it super comfortable to carry. Plus, it’s a great size—large enough to carry the essentials and a water bottle or packable jacket on day trips/hikes.

Clothing & Accessories

Road trips frequently involve a variety of scenarios: sitting down to a fancy dinner with your grandpa, camping at a goat farm, or spending the day at the beach to name a few. (And, of course, lots and lots of driving.) We suggest versatile, durable clothing that can keep up with whatever life on the road throws at you. Comfort is also key. Who likes sitting in a cramped car for eight hours wearing skinny jeans? Nobody, that’s who. Additionally, we prefer clothes that feature antimicrobial properties or anti-odor treatments (for what should be obvious reasons).

• Men's Focused
• Women's Focused

You can wear these boxers multiple days in a row without being gross. That in itself makes us like them for life on the road, but they’re also breathable, soft, and moisture-wicking. Plus, the direction of the fabric on the legs runs vertically, so it stretches with your natural movement. Translation: the stretch on these boxers is fantastic. We’re also digging their clean, sophisticated look (no branding on the waistband...yeah, we know!).

These pants are sleek and polished enough for the city, but versatile enough to work for an eight-hour drive, fast food eating session, or day on the trails. Yes, these pants do it all. We’re huge fans of the crotch gusset, which gives these pants extra flexibility and breathability (two must-haves for long days in the car or hot afternoons exploring).

With a techy, almost sweatpants-y vibe, these pants are ideal for long driving days, traipsing through the forest, or lounging at your Airbnb. We like the technical fabric, which is thin enough that you won’t overheat, but still nice and durable. We’re also digging that the pockets zip all the way up, so you’re less likely to have your phone and/or lucky charm slip out of your pocket and get lost between your seat and the middle console (you know what we’re talking about). The waistband is also very forgiving, meaning you can go ahead and order the french fries and the onion rings.

Shorts that double as swim trunks—sometimes it’s awesome to be living in the 21st century. These shorts are also comfortable, breathable, and stretchy. Plus, they’re available in a variety of subdued and stylish colorways, and won’t break the bank.

This tee boasts all of the magical properties of Merino wool, including odor-resistance, temperature-regulation, and a fast drying time. It also feels nice—lightweight and breathable, but not thin. All of these features, paired with its simple aesthetic, mean that it’s quite versatile—wear it driving, hiking, lounging, or bar-hopping.

With a sporty, outdoorsy vibe, this tee may not be perfect for a five-star restaurant, but it’s great for pretty much everything else. It has built-in UPF sun protection and odor-control that’s comparable to Merino wool (not quite, but close). We like that it’s moisture-wicking and lightweight, so you can turn off the air-conditioning and still keep cool. It’s also quick-drying, so you can use it during any water-activities that may arise on your trip. NOTE: Patagonia is in the process of updating the Capilene line to provide 50+ UPF protection, so availability may be limited.

Made from a blend of Merino wool, the Icebreaker Siren Hipkini Briefs are ideal for life on the go. They’re breathable, quick-drying, comfortable, soft, and more importantly, odor-resistant, so you can go longer between washes (or opt for a quick sink wash instead). Bring two, so you can let each pair breathe between wears.

These pants offer great versatility. They’re comfortable and lightweight enough to wear on driving days, breathable enough to wear on trails, and polished enough to wear to happy hour. We also like that they’re wrinkle-resistant, so you can crumple them up and toss them in your duffle without worrying how they’ll fare. The only downside is that the pockets aren’t as usable as we would like.

All you need to know about the Encircled Dressy Sweatpant is in the name. These sweats are oh-so-soft and stretchy—perfect for long drives—yet dressy enough you can step out of your car without being embarrassed. They’re also relatively thin, so you’re not likely to get overheated, and feature a secret zippered pocket that’s actually hard to spot (unlike other “secret” pockets out there). So we guess it’s not all in the name, after all.

Breathable and short (without looking excessively short), these lululemon shorts are great for hot days exploring the city, hiking up a mountain, or getting your exercise on. We like that they have two pockets—one zippered, one stash—for extra cash or cards. Plus, they’re available in a range of colors, so you can (hopefully) find one that you like.

The odor-resistant, temperature-regulating, and moisture-wicking properties of this Merino wool t-shirt are a must for long days in the car or out exploring—plus it’s nice enough you can get away with wearing it out to dinner. It’s wrinkle-resistant too, so you can pull it out of your duffle, throw it on, and look sharp. Need we say more?

This tank is quick-drying, so you don’t have to sit in discomfort after spilling your water bottle all over yourself when driving over a pothole. Plus, it’s moisture-wicking and has solid odor control. As its name suggests, it’s best for active days on the trails, but all of those aforementioned features mean it's great for driving days too. You can also rock it in the city if you’re going for a sporty look. NOTE: Patagonia is in the process of updating the Capilene line to provide 50+ UPF protection, so availability may be limited.

Perfect for those days when you can’t be bothered to wear separates, this romper is soft, stretchy, and comfortable. It has also been treated with a durable water repellent (DWR) to repel moisture. The small details—like the crisscrossed straps on the back, scalloped hem, and draped waist elevate the romper’s look and make it easy to dress it up. So, you can wear it both on a lazy day at the campground and a night out on the town.

A versatile sports bra that will work for low-impact activities, including hiking, yoga, or a bike tour through the city. You can wear it beneath a tank or on its own. In fact, we think it’s sleek enough that you could get away with wearing it with a jacket and jeans for a night out (of course that depends on your style preferences). It's also double lined for extra support, quick-drying, and has UPF50+ protection.

A headband is a versatile tool to have in your arsenal. It can help out a bad hair day, keep your hair out of your face, and elevate an outfit. We’re digging this one as it can be worn in two ways (more versatility!) and has a soft, silky material. Plus, Breezy Tee uses 100% recycled materials in its packaging, which is a huge plus in our books.

Perfect for stargazing on chilly nights or when sharing a car with someone who loves to blast the air conditioning, this sweater is the epitome of cozy. It’s soft and warm, yet breathable. You’ll likely never want to take it off. And, of course, being from Patagonia, it’s also made from 100% recycled polyester and is Fair Trade Certified™ sewn.

Also, make sure to pack:

• Additional pairs of underwear (x 3)
• Pair of jeans
• Nice shirt for fancy dinners with Grandpa, walking through art museums, etc
• Packing cubes
• Hat (baseball cap style)
• Athletic shoes
• Cheap flip flops for showers
• Socks (x 4)
• Rain jacket
• Cold weather clothing—warm jacket, hat, gloves, and long underwear—if you will be driving to chiller climates or camping

Productivity & Tech

Road trips are a great way to unplug and recharge. But a little technology can go a long way in making your time on the road less of a mis adventure and more of an epic adventure.

And, if you’ll be working on the road, check out our Digital Nomad Packing List for all the tech you need to be able to do your job on the go.

While you can hit the road without a phone mount, we don’t suggest it. Not only is it more convenient to follow GPS directions with your phone mounted, it’s safer to boot. We’re digging this magnetic mount, which is pretty universal and will work with most smartphones, cases, and GPS devices. Plus, the magnet is super clean compared to other mount styles: no adhesive to stick to (and damage) your dash, no bulkiness, and easy to use one-handed.

An excellent tripod to keep your phone steady, so you can take photos or videos of your legendary trip. The flexible legs wrap around a variety of surfaces, allowing you to capture moments you would otherwise miss. Plus, it’s so small, you’ll hardly notice it in your car.

We probably don’t need to convince you that a USB car adapter is a useful tool to have on the road. We like this one since it’s small and has two outlets, so you don’t have to fight over who needs to charge their phone the most…Unless there are more than two of you in the car. In which case, may we suggest rock-paper-scissors?

You need a phone cable to go with the car charger—or plug directly into your head unit. Anker is a brand we’ve had good luck with. Three feet is a great size as you don’t want anything too long—all the extra cable will get annoying. Conversely, too short will also be annoying. We like to pack multiple cables, either for sharing with car mates or to keep one in our tech kit and a couple in the car.

If you’re the type of person who likes to put pen to paper, you’ll likely love this travel journal. It helps you plan your trip—with spots to jot down research, keep track of reservations, and budget. Plus, there’s a travel log to memorialize your epic adventures. There’s enough space inside for twelve (!) dedicated trips.

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A headlamp is essential for camping and hiking—unless you have special night-vision magical powers, of course. But it’s also nice-to-have in other situations (say if you want to stay up reading all night, but your roommate wants lights out). We like that this one has a variety of brightness settings, an option for red light, and a “memory” that lets you turn on your chosen brightness without cycling through all the options. Plus—it’s highly water-resistant (rated Rated IPX4), so you don’t have to worry about getting caught in a storm.

A dedicated alarm clock is a weird and specific thing to pack, we know. But you don’t want to leave your phone on at night—say if you’re camping or sleeping in your car—because it will kill the battery (or drain your battery bank). This is a solid workaround. It’s small, somewhat durable, and totally silent (as in you won’t hear it tick, not that the alarm itself is silent).

There are lots of power inverters on the market, but we’re digging this middle of the road option. It has decent wattage—it will charge most things that need charging (laptop, e-reader, phone)—but isn’t overkill. The two outlets and two USB ports are helpful to have, plus there’s a built-in fuse for safety. It’s also relatively compact, so it won’t take up too much space in your car.

• Headphones (noise canceling is clutch)

Toiletries & Personal Care

As far as we’re concerned, smelling of sweat and sunscreen is a part of the fun of road trips (…right?). But your car mates—and grocery store clerks, baristas, park rangers, and everyone else you come in contact with on your travels will thank you if you freshen up from time to time.

Unlike the Toiletries & Personal Care sections in our other packing lists, not everything we list here will fit into your Dopp kit. In fact, we recommend only keeping the toiletries you’ll need for showers and your morning/evening routines in your Dopp kit. Everything else—think toilet paper roll and coconut oil—can and should be tucked out of the way in one of the plastic bins we mention later on in this packing list. That way, you can get to said items when you need them, but you don’t have to sort through them to get to your toothbrush every morning.

Cologne won’t completely mask your haven’t-taken-a-shower-in-a-week odor, but it will help. Fulton & Roark offers several scents to choose from, so you should be able to find a fragrance that suits you. (Check out the full review for our team’s favorite scents.) And, because it’s solid, you don’t have to worry about spills.

If you haven’t used a menstrual cup before, it may take some time to get used to (we suggest trying it out before your road trip). But, once you get used to it, it’s amazing to have on the road. You can use it for up to 12 consecutive hours, so you don’t have to clean it at questionable rest stops. Plus, the Blossom Cup doesn’t use any harmful rubber or plastics and comes in at a super affordable price point.

Perfect for those days you want to smell extra nice (or when your deodorant needs some help in masking your haven’t-taken-a-shower-in-a-week odor). Lush offers several different fragrances, so you should be able to find a smell that works for you. Plus, it’s solid, so you don’t have to worry about spills.

We like this Dopp kit for a couple of reasons. 1) It hangs up, which is an important feature for showering at gyms or campsites, and 2) It has a highly water-resistant pouch that you can take out of the kit and into the shower without worrying about it taking forever to dry. Note that there is a ton of organization inside of this bag, which may be right up your alley or feel limiting, depending on your travel style.

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You don’t need to abide by airline liquid rules, but we still prefer to put our liquids into small containers to save space. These toiletry bottles have been designed to fit perfectly inside the Gravel Toiletry Bag, but their unique shape means they fit together nicely to save space inside of any Dopp kit. We suggest using them for whatever liquids you plan to take with you on the road. Say conditioner and hair gel.

Sure, you don’t need a fancy soap case, but this thing is super nice to have. It’s not rigid like a hard-sided case—so it’s easier to pack—and it’s also way better than a plastic bag. The technical makeup of the case also allows the soap to dry out while being totally watertight, meaning your Dopp Kit and all your gear stays dry. Yeah, it’s basically magic.

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A microfiber, antimicrobial towel is about the most massively useful thing a road tripper might have (any Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy fans out there? No?). In all seriousness, this microfiber towel is super handy. It’s necessary if you plan to shower at a campsite or gym, but also nice-to-have in case your Airbnb forgets to supply a towel. It’s also great for beach trips or picnics. The antimicrobial properties of the towel mean that smells are kept to a minimum and that you don’t have to wash it as frequently as other towels. Plus, this towel dries really, really quickly. Additionally, it packs down into a small carrying case that won’t take up much space in your car. There are a few different sizes available, so you can grab what you need—we recommend the XL.

You might not know, but coconut oil is a triple threat. It’s a great way to moisturize your skin after spending all day in the sun. Plus, you can use to strengthen and de-frizz your hair, and, finally, you can cook with it. We like that this one is organic with no added chemicals.

While this first aid kit doesn’t have a bunch of trauma stuff, it should take care of most minor ailments (and if you need trauma supplies, you should probably seek medical attention anyway). We like the extra hand-sanitizer and the addition of the anti-itch ointment. It’s also relatively small, so you can easily keep it in your middle console or glove box.

Stains happen on road trips. Like a lot. Whether it’s dropping melted chocolate onto your shorts while making s’mores around the campfire, spilling coffee on your shirt after hitting the road early, or rubbing dirt into your sweater on a picnic. A Tide to Go Pen won’t alleviate every stain out there, but it gets rid of most stains with just a few pats.

• Toothpaste or powder
• Hand sanitizer
• Shampoo bar
• Powder laundry detergent
• Hair creams or pomades
• Nail clippers
• Lip balm (road trips lead to cracked lips…trust)
• Toilet paper
• Gallon plastic bags

Cooking on the road is a great way to stretch your budget and stay healthy, whether you’ll be road-tripping for a weekend or six months. While the idea of cooking over a campfire is romanticized in that whimsical living-off-the-land kind of way, it’s not practical for a road trip that lasts any length of time. But you also don’t want to take the finest chef’s knife and ceramic pot and pan set from your kitchen either.

Finding the best supplies to spin up tasty meals out of your car—without taking up too much room in your trunk—is a difficult dance. Luckily, through lots of trial and error, we’ve come up with a list of what we find useful, but not overkill (of course, tailor it to your preferences).

YETI made a name for itself by taking the cooler world by storm, so, yeah, we’re going to recommend a YETI cooler. It keeps ice really well—we’re talking days in the right conditions—so you don’t have to continually buy ice. We recommend this soft-sided style as it can kind of expand or contract based on how full it is, can be jammed into places, and has a flat top, so you can throw some stuff on top of it. YETI also offers larger sizes if you think you’ll need that extra space.

You can use this lightweight tea kettle for far more than making tea. Boil water for instant oatmeal, coffee, sanitation purposes, etc. The one-liter size of this kettle is large enough you can boil enough water for the aforementioned activities (you can always fill it and boil it twice if need be), but not so large that it will take up precious space in your car. The coated handle is nice to grip.

This stainless steel bowl is great for eating on the road. First of all, it cleans up ridiculously easily. If you’re in a pinch, you can pour a little water into the bottom, clean off any gunk with your finger, rinse, and you're good to go. It’s also lightweight and small, but deep enough that you can fit a good amount of food inside. And, if you need more than one, they stack into each other nicely. Our only caveat is that it can get hot to the touch when you fill it with hot food, so keep that in mind.

Yes, we’re telling you to pack everything and the kitchen sink (ha!). But, seriously, you can’t actually travel with your sink, so this is the next best thing. You can fill it up with soapy water—or just use it to catch your dirty dishwater—to clean up your cooking mess while at a campground, rest stop, or super cheap Airbnb that doesn’t have a kitchen. Just make sure you properly dispose of the water.

If you’ve spent any time in a kitchen then you probably know why a towel is handy when it comes to cooking. The same is true on the road. (Hint: it’s primarily for drying dishes and your hands. You can also use it as an oven mitt to hold your stainless steel bowl when it’s super hot.) This microfiber towel is perfect for travel as it dries quickly, so you can throw it back in the car after a quick pit-stop without having to worry about weird damp towel smells.

It’s super convenient to have a big ole mixing bowl while cooking on the road. You can use it to store chopped up veggies before sautéing them, to hold giant salads, or do other large mixing bowl activities. We like that this one collapses into a small size, so it won’t take up space whenever not in use.

Plastic and paper grocery bags can make your car dirty in the blink of an eye. Plus, they’re not great for the environment. We’re digging this tote since it packs into a tiny size to stay out of your way when not in use. The included carabiner clip is also handy—you can clip it to your keychain, the exterior of your bag, or wherever else to ensure it doesn’t get lost in the black hole that is your trunk. And it works for far more than groceries—take it to the beach, on a picnic, or wherever else you don’t want to lug your day pack.

Cooking on the road can be a hassle, so it’s important to keep leftovers when you can. Stasher Bags are a great way to do that. First of all, they’re better for the environment than disposable plastic bags. But they also work better—you can throw them in the cooler without worrying about melted ice water penetrating the silicone exterior and turning last night’s dinner into water-logged mush. Additionally, you can eat straight out of them. These bags also work well for snacks—you can partition out serving sizes of trail mix, pretzels, or [insert-your-favorite-snack-here]. Stasher sells a variety of sizes and colorways, so you can find one (or several) that works for you.

You may not be able to make intricate, complicated meals with this cook set, but the two pots and pan allow you to cook a good variety of things. They nest inside of each other and tuck into a handy carrying bag, which makes for easy packing. The pots also have a strainer built into the lid, so you can drain pasta (or other things) without having to pack a separate colander.

When it comes to camping stoves, this one from Coleman is luxurious. The two burners allow you to make meals that require cooking multiple things at the same time—think grilling up veggies and cooking rice. It’s also durable, simple to use, and has a range of flame size. Plus, it packs up nicely.

Fuel for your stove—need we say more? Actually, yes, we do have more to say. Make sure you keep an eye out of how much propane you have left, so you don’t roll up to your campsite hangry and tired only to realize you can’t use your stove. Also, be sure to responsibly dispose of empty canisters.

There are several ways to make coffee on the road, but we’re partial to an AeroPress. Sure, it’s not the easiest option out there, but it makes such exceptional coffee that we think the trade-off is worth it. And, yeah, it may not be as easy as a pour over, but it’s also not rocket science.

These plastic bins are a great, affordable option to organize your cooking supplies. You can easily grab them from the backseat of your car and set them on a picnic table whenever you’re ready to fire up the stove. Use one for traditional supplies—think chef’s knife, bowl, spork, lighter, etc. Use the other for bottles—olive oil, soy sauce, etc—and spices that you’ll want handy while cooking (note that if you want to store taller bottles standing up, you won't be able to keep the lid on).

This flat storage bin easily slides into backseats and trunks, so it’s a good place to keep all of your non-perishable food (cans of beans, boxes of pasta, etc). Plus, it’s clear, so you can see what food you have and how much you have left at a glance.

Not only do you need water for drinking, but it’s necessary for cooking and cleaning up too. We like this container because its shape is designed for easy pouring, the spigot makes doing dishes easy (well, easier), and 7L is a great size.

• Titanium spork
• Wooden spatula
• Vegetable peeler
• Lighter and/or box of matches
• Thin, flexible, plastic cutting board
• Chef’s knife
• Paper towel roll

Sleeping & Camping

If you’ll be sticking to hotels and Airbnbs then this section doesn’t apply to you. But if you plan to spend some (or all!) of your trip camping and sleeping in your car, then you’re gonna need some stuff to help you get a good night’s sleep.

If you’ll be spending a lot of time in your tent, you’ll probably appreciate the space this tent provides. There’s enough room inside that you can stand up (!)—plus the fly goes all the way down for solid weather protection. That said, it’s going to take up more space in your car than a smaller tent and isn’t going to be great in heavy winds. Based on the length of your trip, how frequently you’ll be camping, and your personality, you can decide if the comfort and hangoutability (not a word, but go with it) of the Grand Hut is worth sacrificing some durability. Or if you would prefer something smaller. And, because REI will likely have REI-branded stuff at most of their locations, you should be able to drop by any REI store and easily get replacement parts or a new tent if your first one fails on you (within the scope of the one-year warranty).

You probably don’t need this technical of a sleeping pad, but it’s one of those things that are nice to have—especially if you’ll be sleeping on it nearly every night. It’s thick (for a sleeping pad) with great insulation to keep the cold from the ground from seeping into your body. Plus, it rolls up into a small size, so it won’t take up too much space in your car.

There’s a variety of highly technical, specialized, expensive sleeping bags on the market. This one is not one of them—but it’s all you (likely) need for basic car camping. It’s rated to 35℉, which is pretty dang cold, especially since most road trips take place in warm weather months (or involve chasing the sun). Plus, it’s not likely to make you too hot. It comes in two sizes (regular and long) and you can pick up a left-handed version if you’re left-handed. We also want to mention that it’s made from 100% recycled fabrics, which is, frankly, awesome.

While you could bring the pillow off of your bed, we suggest packing a specific pillow for camping. Just think of all the dirt and grime that camping involves. We’re digging this pillow since it’s made of soft, comfy, and up-cycled foam—perfect for camping and car naps. Plus, it’s compressible, so it won’t take up much space in your car when not in use. There are a few different sizes to choose from and plenty of colorways.

If you’re sleeping in your car—or even just lounging in it—you’ll want to be able to roll down your windows without inviting mosquitos inside to sleep with you. This netting will get the job done. Simply drape it over your windows and secure it with magnets. You only need one package if you want to cover two windows, but you’ll want two if you have large windows or several you want to cover.

These are the magnets you’ll need if you're draping mosquito netting over your windows. They may look tiny, but they are seriously strong. You may want to wrap these in duct tape before using them because, otherwise, they can rip the paint off of your car. Also, you can create little handles/pull tabs with the duct tape, so you can actually pull off the magnets.

This tarp isn’t durable enough for heavy lifting, but it’s a good all-around tarp to set your tent on to protect it from a wet ground/help extend its life. Additionally, you can tie the tarp over the windows if it’s raining and you need to sleep in your car (so you can keep the windows cracked without worrying about getting wet).

Rope is one of those things that seems to come in handy at random intervals. Say to help you tie your tarp over your windows in the aforementioned it’s-raining-while-you’re-sleeping-in-your-car scenario.

Miscellaneous

Not everything we recommend fits neatly into the above categories. While not as necessary as, say your toothbrush, these miscellaneous items will help you take your road trip to the next level. You know, the kinds of things you’ll be really glad you packed after a few days on the open road.

Road tripping with a reusable water bottle is the way to go (beyond environmentalism, who wants to drink lukewarm or, even, hot water from a plastic disposable bottle that’s been sitting in the car all day?). This bottle has double wall vacuum insulation to keep cold drinks cold and hot drinks hot. The 18oz size is big enough that you should be able to quench your thirst, but it still fits inside most cup holders.

If you’re a coffee drinker you’re going to need a separate bottle for the delicious drink (for obvious reasons). This one seals, so you don’t have to worry about spills in between sips. And, because of its trigger-action lid, you can easily drink your coffee one-handed, which is ideal (and necessary) for driving.

This seven-in-one multi-tool isn’t going to be handy for any big things. In fact, we recommend you bring an actual tool kit for that kind of stuff. But the Shard is perfect for quick jobs like opening bottles or tightening the screw on that wobbly Airbnb chair. Plus, this little fella is small and inconspicuous enough to fit nicely on a keychain.

Part carabiner, part clip, the Heroclip is a handy tool to have around. Use it as a clip to hang things up. Or use it as a carabiner, which has a million different uses, from keeping your keys more secure inside of your bag, to clipping your water bottle to your pack. It’s available in a few different sizes and a variety of colorways and patterns.

This travel wallet is a great place to stash and organize your roadside assistance card, insurance, registration, America the Beautiful pass, passport(s), emergency cash, etc. All of the things you may need occasionally on the road, but don’t want to keep in your everyday wallet. And, because the wallet will mostly stay out of sight, you don’t need anything fancy looking. Plus it has a spot for coins (for showers!).

Between stopping for smoothies, enjoying a creamy milkshake, or slurping down ice water at a restaurant, road trips involve a fair amount of straw action. This stainless steel reusable straw is a great alternative to plastic straws. It folds down to a small, packable size, ends up being more fun to drink out of than disposable straws, and will help mitigate your environmental impact. That’s a win, win, win right there.

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This camping chair is a great middle-ground between a traditional big camping chair, which will take up precious space inside of your car, and something ultralight, which usually involves sacrificing comfort. Use it at a campground or sitting around a fire pit in the backyard of your Airbnb.

This thing is only necessary if you’ll be road tripping to a place without easy access to washers and dryers (or sinks). A simple concept, we’ve been impressed with how effective it is at cleaning clothes (the interior washboard makes all the difference). It does leave your clothes sopping wet, but as long as you keep drying time in mind, that’s not a huge problem.

These plastic bins are a great way to keep your stuff organized—whether that be camping stuff, paper towels, coconut oil, plastic bags, and other things of that nature. The lids clip into place, ensuring that whatever you have inside won’t fall out, plus they’re stackable to make for a nicely organized car.

These convenient little tubs work well for storing those random small items you want to take on the road. Say ibuprofen, vitamins, or jewelry. We like to fill a second one with snacks (think almonds) to take on quick hikes or day trips. Plus, they’re available in different sizes, so you can mix and match.

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• Playing cards
• Yoga mat (if you’re in to that sort of thing)
• DSLR camera
• Combination lock

Ready, Set, Drive.

So there you have it—everything we’ve found that you need for a successful road trip after years of trial and error by members of our team. We hope this list has helped ease any of your pre-road trip stress. Remember, this list is more of a guideline. Please adapt it to your trip and preferences ( our reviews may help you find gear that suits your needs).

And don’t forget to check out our Road Trip Guide for more advice, including tips on how to pack your car. Now, crank up that music, roll down your windows, and hit the road.

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Road Trip Bag Packing: The Ultimate Guide (with Tips!)

• February 24, 2024

The endless open road beckons. A road trip adventure awaits, promising stunning scenery, freedom, and discovery. But before hitting the highway, thoughtful packing is key. With limited space, every item must earn its place in your bags.

Packing light yet prepared takes planning and strategy. But the effort pays off in comfort and convenience when you’re miles from home. This definitive guide covers everything from choosing the right luggage to packing methods, road trip essentials, and space-saving tips.

With these insights, you’ll be ready to pack like a pro and maximize every inch of cargo space. So let’s hit the road – adventure awaits!

Affiliate Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on one of these links and make a purchase, I may receive a commission. However, this does not affect my opinion of the product or service. I only recommend products and services that I believe in and that I think will be of value to my readers.

Planning & Preparation

Smart packing starts long before you load up the car. Consider these key factors during your planning:

Trip Duration & Destinations

The length of your trip and the places you’ll visit determine how much to pack. A weekend getaway needs less than a 2-week cross-country drive. And you’ll need varying clothes for beach towns versus mountain cabins. Make a rough itinerary with expected weather to guide your packing.

If you’ll be hiking and camping, pack durable outdoor apparel and gear. For a more leisurely trip with city sightseeing, casual everyday wear is fine. And don’t forget specific items for planned activities like skiing or visiting museums.

Climate & Season

Check expected temperatures and weather patterns at your destinations. This helps determine what types of clothing and outerwear to pack. And certain seasons may call for specific items – like sunscreen or rain boots.

Luggage Capacity

Consider how much storage space you have between your car and your bags. Pack too much, and things get cramped. But too little luggage leaves you unprepared. Find the right balance based on your vehicle and needs.

If traveling with family, make sure to accommodate everyone’s needs. You’ll likely need extra snacks, games, and entertainment for kids. And if pets come along, include leashes, bowls, toys, and cleaning supplies.

Choose the Right Bag

With a solid sense of what you’ll need, it’s time to shop for the perfect luggage. Keep these factors in mind:

Bigger bags allow you to pack more – but limited space in cars and hotel rooms makes oversized luggage impractical. Look for carry-on dimensions if flying or backpacks under 50 liters. For longer road trips, consider a roof-mounted cargo box.

Wheels vs No Wheels

Rolling bags are great for pavement and airports. But they lack off-road versatility. Backpacks are easier for hiking and outdoor activities. For a mix of conditions, choose a convertible bag with hideaway backpack straps.

Hard vs Soft

Rigid shells protect fragile items and hold their shape. But soft-sided bags squeeze into tight spaces. For road trips, flexible duffel bags or backpacks often work best.

Organization & Access

Look for interior and exterior pockets and compartments to keep gear organized. And packed belongings should be quickly accessible, so choose bags with full U-shaped openings.

Luggage takes a beating on the road. Seek out tear-resistant fabrics like ballistic nylon, burly zippers, and reinforced stitching. These features minimize wear and tear.

After weighing the options above, travelers recommend roomy 30-50 liter backpacks or convertible carry-ons for road trips. Features like compression straps, padded shoulder straps, and sternum straps increase comfort if carrying a backpack over distances.

For a longer trip, bring a larger suitcase or duffel for hotel stays and a separate daypack for daily adventures.

Create a Bag Packing List

A packing list is an essential road trip tool. It prevents forgetting critical items and overpacking unneeded ones. Build your list by breaking down needs into categories:

1. Clothing

Determine ideal outfits for the trip – around five per day is a good guideline. Focus on versatile pieces that mix and match well. Include layers for fluctuating weather and temperatures.

Studies show that packing light reduces stress and fatigue while traveling. – says the Journal of Travel Research . So, don’t be that road tripper who packs 2-3 more clothes than needed for a road trip.

2. Toiletries & Medicines

Make a list of daily essentials like toothbrushes, contacts, medications, and feminine products. Mini travel-sizes help save space. And pick up any needed over-the-counter medicines before departure.

3. Electronics

Note phone and device chargers, batteries, headphones, and key tech accessories. Things like backup drives, e-readers, and camera gear are also handy for long drives. Don’t forget your laptop if working remotely.

4. Important Documents

Gather driver’s licenses, vehicle registration, insurance cards, and any needed travel documents like passports. These should be kept securely accessible – not packed deep in luggage.

5. Road Trip Essentials

This covers things like snacks, games, maps, camping gear, sports equipment, and anything else vitally important for your particular destinations and activities.

With the basics covered, adjust and customize based on trip length, group size, and personal needs. Travel experts recommend creating your packing list 1-2 weeks before departure, then refining it in the final days. This gives time to purchase any missing items.

And don’t feel locked in once on the road – the list can evolve as needed for future legs of your journey. The key is staying organized and prepared without going overboard.

Bag Packing Methods

With your list ready, it’s time to load up the bags. Use these packing methods to maximize space:

Roll Clothes vs. Fold

Rolling clothes conserves luggage volume. Folding creates creases and takes up more room. For road trips, roll bulky items like coats, pants, and dresses. Reserve folding for wrinkle-prone dress shirts and blouses.

“ Rolled clothes do have two advantages: fewer wrinkles and a better-organized bag. ” – says Tortuga Blog .

Use Organizers & Cubes

Packing cubes, folders, compartments, and bags help efficiently organize inside large suitcases or backpacks. Group related items like socks, underwear, and toiletry kits. This saves digging time when accessing gear.

“Packing cubes help compartmentalize items and utilize all available space efficiently.”  – says Eagle Creek .

Place Heaviest Items Deepest

Pack heavy things like shoes, laptops, and books on the bottom or back side of your bag. This centers the weight for easier carrying. Lighter items can go near the top or front.

Stuff Small Spaces

Fill socks and shoes with fragile objects like sunglasses or pocket-sized toiletries. Similarly, wrap belts around small bottles to save space. Use every nook and cranny.

Compress Soft Items

Use compression sacks or plastic space bags to shrink down bulky, soft items. Sleeping bags, pillows, and puffy jackets squeeze down significantly. This leaves room for more gear.

With practice, you’ll develop your own optimized packing flow. Personalize it to maximize organization and efficiency. Mark items as packed on your list to avoid duplication. And refer back to it each morning before loading up the car.

Essential Items to Pack

Certain items are universally recommended for enjoyable, hassle-free road trips. We’ll cover must-have gear in the major categories:

1. Clothing & Footwear

• Versatile outfits  – Opt for clothes like jeans, t-shirts, shorts, and athletic wear that pair well and transition seamlessly between casual and active endeavors.
• Layers  – Bring short sleeves, long sleeves, light jackets, and heavy coats so you can shed or add as the weather fluctuates.
• Comfortable shoes  – Sturdy walking shoes or sneakers, sandals, and slippers accommodate varying activities and conditions.
• Pajamas & loungewear  – Comfort is key when winding down at night far from home.
• Socks & underwear  – Pack abundantly, as these get dirty fastest. Having spares ensures you’ll never lack a pair.
• Swimwear  – For pools, beaches, and water activities. Rash guards also give sun protection.
• Weather protection  – Hats, gloves, scarves, and umbrellas help endure the elements in diverse climates.
• Travel laundry supplies  – For washing clothes at campsites, hotels, or laundromats. Hang-drying is an eco-friendly option.

With smart mix-and-match pieces, you can travel indefinitely with a modest wardrobe. Capsule packing lists help identify versatile clothing. And shelving or hooks in vehicles keep garments wrinkle-free.

2. Health, Hygiene & Medicines

• Shampoo, conditioner, soap  – Campground showers and hotel bathtubs require these basics. Look for leave-in hair conditioners that skip separate rinsing.
• Deodorant  – Essential for freshness on hot, active road trip days.
• Comb or brush  – Battles bedhead and untames travel-worn hair.
• Shaving supplies  – Razors, shaving cream, and aftershave ease grooming on the go.
• Sunscreen  – Protects skin from harsh UV exposure in unfamiliar places. Reapply frequently.
• Feminine hygiene products  – Pads, tampons, and menstrual cups provide important functionality for women. Replenish supplies as needed.
• Hand sanitizer  – Kills germs when soap and water aren’t available, like during long drives.
• Medications  – Both prescription and over-the-counter pain relievers, antihistamines, antacids, and other regular drugs.
• First aid kit  – Bandages, antiseptic, tweezers, gauze, thermometer, and other medical basics to treat minor scrapes and injuries.
• Insect repellent  – Keep pesky bugs at bay in the great outdoors. Look for plant-based options like lemon eucalyptus rather than DEET.
• Baby wipes  – Refresh skin and possessions that get grimy during travel. They’re incredibly versatile on the road.

With mini travel-size toiletries, all your hygiene and health needs are packed neatly into one bag or case. Refill larger containers at gas stations or shops along your journey to conserve products.

• Phone charger & battery pack  – Keep devices powered up to navigate, take photos, and stay connected on the move. Consider a dual port or USB car charger.
• Laptop & charger  – For work, travel planning, editing photos, and entertainment during downtime.
• Headphones or earbuds  – Critical for audiobooks, podcasts, music, and privacy in the car. Noise-canceling models excel at filtering vehicle sounds.
• Cameras  – Capture unforgettable trip memories. Protective cases defend against bumps and spills.
• GPS device or maps app  – For navigating unfamiliar terrain when cell service is spotty. GPS additionally provides travel details and alternative routes.
• Walkie-talkies or external mics  – Enhance communication between separated vehicles.
• Surge protector  – Protects sensitive electronics when plugging into sketchy power sources.
• Travel adapters  – Essential for plugging into foreign outlets or crowdsourced charging stations. Confirm the required prong shapes for your destinations.

With the right tech gear, you’ll stay safely routed, charged, and entertained on even the most remote roadways. Store gadgets and cords neatly in pouches or bags to limit clutter in the car.

4. Vehicle & Trip Essentials

• Emergency roadside kit  – Flares, reflectors, cones, jumper cables, and basic tools for dealing with breakdowns. A high-visibility safety vest adds protection when stopped on the roadside.
• Maps and atlases  – As a backup navigation reference and for highlighting scenic routes. National park maps are invaluable for hiking excursions.
• Cooler & ice packs  – Transport refrigerated foods like fresh produce, sandwiches, and dairy products. Use block ice for extended cooling power as it melts slower than cubes or packs.
• Snacks  – Trail mixes, protein bars, dried fruit, and similar energizing bites fuel you between meal stops. Replenish as needed.
• Water bottles  – Stay hydrated and cut plastic waste. Fill up for free at campgrounds, parks, hotels, and gas stations.
• Sunglasses  – Reduce glare when driving towards the sun. Keep an extra pair handy.
• Umbrella  – Portable shade and rainfall protection during outdoor excursions.
• Tissues & wet wipes  – Clean up spills, sticky fingers, and dust-covered relics discovered along your journey.
• Trash bags  – Contain food wrappers, bottles, and other detritus that accumulate, especially with kids.
• Entertainment  – Books, magazines, coloring books, games, puzzles, and downloaded movies keep passengers happy for hours.
• Pillows & blankets  – For napping passengers to get comfy. Inflatable travel pillows save space when deflated.

With prep and forethought, you can handle most road trip needs in-vehicle. Store emergency and first aid kits under seats or in the trunk for quick access as needed.

Bag Packing Tips & Tricks

You now have a solid grasp of road trip packing essentials. Here are some pro strategies for maximizing space:

Utilize Every Storage Space

Look beyond your luggage to fill every possible nook in your vehicle. The space under seats swallows bulky items like shoes and jackets. The glove box and other interior pockets neatly organize smaller objects.

And don’t forget exterior storage like roof racks and rear-mounted gearboxes. You can free up passenger space by packing camp chairs, tents, and other non-essentials outside. Just be sure luggage on the roof complies with height limits and is securely strapped down.

Choose Multipurpose Clothing

Seeking out clothes that integrate multiple functions saves room for other specialized gear. For instance:

• Button-up shirts work as cover-ups at pools or for going out at night. Roll up the sleeves for daytime wear.
• Yoga pants are comfy pajamas and stretchy enough for hiking.
• Light-down jackets provide warmth and compress for pillows.
• Bandanas substitute handkerchiefs, minimize sun exposure, and tie unruly hair back.
• Merino wool or synthetic moisture-wicking fabrics work for underwear, socks, shirts, and base layers.

With creativity, most pieces in your bag can fill multiple roles.

Pack Coordinated Outfits, Not Pieces

Stuffing individual items into a suitcase makes for inefficient use of space. Instead, treat clothes like puzzles – build neat stacks consisting of coordinated outfits.

For instance, pack jeans, underwear, a belt, a shirt, and socks together in a set. Add layers like sweaters according to the expected weather.

This allows quickly grabbing a pre-assembled outfit. Cubes, folders, and packing cells keep looks neatly compartmentalized.

Leave Room for Souvenirs

It’s tempting to cram everything imaginable into your bags for the big trip. But resist overstuffing them from the start. Odds are you’ll accumulate souvenirs, local foods, and purchases along the way.

Leave a bit of empty space for picking up regional specialty items. Soft-sided duffel bags easily expand to accommodate unexpected finds. Once home, check what went unused and clear clutter for next time.

Make a “Quick Access” Bag

Having to unpack the entire car to retrieve necessities gets old quickly. Make daily essentials ultra-accessible with a small, dedicated bag up front.

Stash items you’ll routinely need within reach, like sunscreen, maps, lip balm, phone chargers, wallet, and medications. Tuck it under the seat for grabs when the moment strikes.

Bag Packing Extras & Bonuses

You’re now set with a stout, space-efficient packing system for your cross-country trek. Here are some optional extras worth considering:

Entertainment & Activities

Drawing, coloring books, scavenger hunt lists, storytelling prompts, and travel bingo generate fun during long hours on the road or at campsites. A deck of cards and dice enables classic games for all ages.

Road Food Hacks

Stock affordable snacks like trail mix, jerky, nut butter packets, and cereal bags. Seek out grocery stores instead of just convenience shops. And take advantage of free hotel breakfasts when included with your room.

A cooler enables packing yogurt, sandwiches, fruits, and vegetables. Grill hot dogs or canned soup over the campfire for quick meals to sustain your expedition.

Staying Organized

Prevent a disaster zone in the car with some cleanup tools. Use hanging organizers on seatbacks to contain small items. Store a small broom, stain remover wipes, and trash bags for quick cleanups.

And don’t underestimate the value of zipper-seal bags – great for corralling messy foods, damp clothes, or muddy hiking boots away from the rest of your gear.

Wrapping Up Your Road Trip Bag Packing

Like planning the perfect vacation, packing for a road trip requires some effort. But that’s a small price for the freedom of cruising down the open highways and experiencing all the beauty this country has to offer.

Hopefully, these tips give you the confidence to pack efficiently and travel comfortably on your next cross-country adventure. Remember to keep luggage light, utilize all available space, and choose versatile clothing and accessories.

Before hitting the road, give your packing list one final review. But ultimately, have faith in your preparation. Enjoy discovering new destinations and making unforgettable memories. Travel is always better with the perfect companions.

The journey ahead promises new horizons, stunning vistas, and quality time with loved ones. Now go embrace the freedom of the open road – your bags are ready. Adventure awaits just over the next hill.

Varun Kwatra

Hey you, Wowzer! I'm Varun Kwatra, a road trip enthusiast with a passion for exploring new places and immersing myself in the beauty of the open road.

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Wanderlust Movement | A South Africa Travel Blog

The Ultimate Road Trip Essentials Packing List (+ Free Checklist!)

July 22, 2019 by Lauren Melnick

Last Updated on July 21, 2023 by Lauren Melnick

June was one hell of a road trip.

I went on my first ever solo road trip from Cape Town to Grahamstown to watch Dylan Moran perform. Before that, I drove with three friends all the way along the Garden Route , up to Durban and then spent five days in the Kruger National Park before driving back down to Cape Town.

Oh, and after both those trips, the wide-open road called my name once more, and I drove from the Mother City up to Johannesburg .

All in all, my little 4-year Etios Cross ( who only had 25,000 km before all this madness ) is now cruising around on 32000 km and counting!

Not sure what to pack for a road trip? I’ve got you covered!

Below, you’re going to find a list of:

• All the things to bring on a road trip (+  eco-friendly options ) • Everything I didn’t know was important ( like where to find your jack ) • What I forgot • And why you need a few bags of rice

Here is my ultimate road trip essentials packing list!

Table of Contents

Road Trip Car Essentials

Road trip essentials for yourself, technology road trip items, road trip accessories, food items to pack for a road trip, mischealleous road trip items, how to pack for a road trip, road trip checklist.

Emergency Car Kit: You never know what might happen while you’re cruising down the open road. Be prepared for any kind of drama with an emergency car kit . It includes a breakdown roadside kit, a high visibility best, jumper cables, rope and much more.

Emergency Puncture Repair Kit: If you’re stranded in the wilderness with a flat tire, you can use an emergency puncture repair kit to get you safely to a car repair shop. It can fix a flat tyre in seconds, BUT it’s only a temporary solution.

Car Fluids: Some of the extra fluids you’ll want to keep in your car are a litre of water (in case it overheats), brake fluid , extra transmission fluid , oil and antifreeze .

Drivers License: Probably one of the most important things on your road trip packing list. South Africa traffic cops love a good roadblock and issuing fines for every little thing. If you’re taking your car across borders, don’t forget your papers!

Car & Travel Insurance: World Nomads Travel Insurance is one of the best insurance options for travellers. It covers extreme sports, protects all your gear and will pay out for any unexpected trips to the hospital. For car insurance, I recommend taking the tire & windshield if you’re renting.

World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers in over 100 countries. As an affiliate, we receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using this link. We do not represent World Nomads. This is information only and not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.

Owner’s Manual:  I won’t lie. The first time I opened my owner’s manual was four years after I bought my car. I had no idea where to find the jack in my car. If you’re renting or still learning new and wonderous things about your vehicle, double to check to make sure the owner’s manual is packed and ready for your trip!

Roadside Assitance: When you’re planning a road trip in a foreign country (and your own!), it’s a good idea to have the phone numbers of roadside assistance.

Portable Garbage Can: After a few stops at Wimpy and Steers, your car will start to look like a moving trash can. Keep your vehicle clean with a portable garbage can . It takes up hardly any space in your car and folds up when not in use.

Read More:  The Perfect Itinerary for an Epic South Africa Road Trip

Sunscreen: Long days on the road mean the side of you closest to window is going to feel the heat from the sun’s rays. Protect yourself with a 30+ SPF sunscreen that’s also vegan and eco-friendly!

Hand Sanitizer: Sometimes those roadside bathrooms are the epitome of “ew”. Grab a small bottle of organic hand sanitizer that can fit in your handbag for those germ emergencies.

Travel Towel: “ A towel, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy says, is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar road tripper can have. ” Never underestimate the importance of packing a travel towel . It’s a road trip essential, and its many uses will surprise you.

Flip Flops: Flip flops will keep your feet cool in the car and far away from the germs in public showers. These Hemp Hemisphere flip flops are made from recycled rubber and the highest quality of hemp, making them an excellent eco-friendly road trip item!

Deodorant: No one likes to be trapped in a car for hours on end with someone who has bad body odour. Salt of the Earth creates vegan deodorants that come in a range of different scents and are made from all-natural ingredients.

Feminine Hygiene: Raise your hand if you’ve ever been unexpectedly victimised by your period. Whether your trip falls over “that time of the month” or not, pack a menstrual cup in case Mother Nature has other plans.

Eco-friendly Wet Wipes: Wet wipes are one of those travel essenntials that have multiple uses. Whether it’s to clean your sticky fingers or give yourself a “bath” because there are no showers around. Instead of grabbing the first brand you see in the store, search for biodegradable wet wipes and reduce your environmental footprint at the same time.

Toiletries: Don’t leave home without your trusty tube of toothpaste, toothbrush, and any other beauty products you might need.

Car Charger with USB Port: A car charger deserves a spot on any road trip packing list. During those long drives, you’re going to use your phone to play music or scroll mindlessly through Instagram. Make sure your device always has juice with a car charger that has at least two USB ports.

Portable Phone Charger: If you’re camping in places with zero electricity, pack a portable phone charger . It’s always a good idea to have a charged phone battery in case anything happens.

Car Mount: Make navigating to your next destination that much easier with a car mount  for your phone or GPS. You won’t need to rely on a passenger to give you directions, and you’ll always be able to see the map.

Offline Spotify Playlist or Podcasts: Some of the best places in the world are where the WiFi signal is weak, and there’s fuck all cellphone service. Before leaving, download your favourite Spotify playlists for offline use and throw in a few podcasts or audiobooks for good measure. Some of my favourite podcasts for road trips are the Lavendaire Lifestyle and The Kimberly Wenya Podcast .

Bluetooth Headphones: If you’re a freelancer like me, you might need to do some work while driving across the country. Or you might really hate the music tastes of the driver. Either way, a pair of noise-cancelling Bluetooth headphones are a road trip necessity.

Offline Google Map: During our 5-day road trip across the south of Kruger National Park , I learnt a valuable life lesson – Google Maps doesn’t work everywhere. We had to rely on a good ol’ fashion map book. One of the things you need is an offline map. You never know when the signal might cut, and map books don’t require any batteries.

Booking.com App: Don’t like planning your holidays too far in advance? Download the Booking.com App so you can book your accommodation on the fly. Plus, Booking often has last-minute deals that will help you save a ton of cash!

Car Laptop Charger: A car laptop charger is another long road trip essential for freelancers or digital nomads. During those long 8-hour drives, you might need to write a new blog post or edit a video for a client. With one of the converters that plug into your car, you can work for as you need to or until you get car sick.

Travel Camera + Lenses: Did you even go on an adventure if you didn’t document it? A decent camera and lenses are road trip must-haves! You can use your smartphone (the camera on the latest iPhone is insane!) or shoot with a DSLR. I usually pack my Canon D700 body and shoot with my Sigma Art 18-35mm F1.8 most of the time. If you’re planning a trip through a national park, you should add the Canon 100-400mm F4.5 onto your list of things to pack.

Read More:  10 of the Best Camera Bags for Women Who Love to Travel

Umbrella or Raincoat: You can plan as much as possible around the weather, but a sudden downpour could always take you by surprise. A small travel-sized umbrella is one of those things you’ll always want to have in your car for a road trip. I’d also suggest investing in a raincoat that will easily fit in your day bag.

Polarised Sunglasses: Protect your eyes from the sun’s rays. You’ll need a pair of polarised sunglasses for bright white snow or long sunny days. I’m obsessed with Escape Society’s range at the moment! My favourite pair out of the three that I own are the Gold Vintage Round Lens . It comes with 100% UVA/UVB Protection and a microfibre pouch & cleaning cloth.

Travel Pillow: Travel pillows aren’t just for long haul flights. Pack one if you’re planning on taking a few naps while on the road. If you’re not a fan of the traditional travel pillow, try the latest Trtl Pillow . It takes up half the space and science says it’s better for your neck.

Day Bag: Whether you’re going hiking, camping or anything else, you need a road trip bag. If you’re in the market for a new day bag, I recommend splurging on the Rowdy Rucksack . It’s the perfect road trip backpack with enough space for a 15-inch laptop, all your camera gear and other essentials like your wallet, water bottle and sunscreen. If you’re looking for something smaller, I managed to fit my wallet, camera body and one lens in the Rowdy Sling .

Waterproof Bag Cover: If you’re adventuring with a bag that’s not waterproof, protect your gear with a waterproof bag cover . They hardly take up any space, and it’s always nice to know you have it.

Packable Down Jacket:  When packing for a road trip in spring or autumn, bring along a packable down jacket. I used the white Lady Neva Insulated Jacket from Hi-tec during my Cape to Kruger trip. For colder climates, you’ll want something thicker, especially if snow is involved.

Blankets: Get cosy in the backseat with a warm blanket . You can use it to block the sun while you’re sleeping, to combat the freezing air conditioning or for extra warmth in your tent or hotel.

Snacks: If you want to save money, you need to pack some snacks. Hummus, carrots, fruit and trail mix are some of my go-to healthy road trip snacks. I also have low blood pressure, so I like munching on salty foods as well. If you can, try to stay away from the chocolates and junk food as much as possible.

French Press: As a caffeine addict, I can’t survive without a french press . Plus, I don’t have to drink shitty instant coffee from petrol stations. #winning

Thermal Travel Mug: Once your coffee is brewed, pour it into a thermal travel mug. If possible, try to buy a bamboo reusable coffee mug. It’s eco-friendly, and you can avoid collecting empty cups of coffee throughout your road trip. South Africans can buy a reusable eco-friendly cup from Vida e Cafe , and it gets you an R2 discount each time you bring it in store!

Water Bottle: Staying hydrated is important on a road trip, but it’s easy to start a collection of empty plastic bottles. Cut down on the waste you create with a reusable water bottle . When you buy a bottle from Undisposabl, the company donates 25% of the profit to fund large scale plastic removal from our oceans.

Reusable Utensils + Straws: If you’re passionate about keeping your footprint small, a bamboo cutlery set and metal straws are things you want to pack on a road trip. On top of that, most plastic utensils are made with BPA. It’s a chemical that’s terrible for your health.

BPA-Free Tupperware: It’s always a good idea to add Tupperware to your road trip packing list. You can use it as a fast-food container to cut down on plastic waste or to store any leftover food. If you’re in the market for some new Tupperware, try to avoid the plastic containers and buy a more eco-friendly container.

A Bag of Rice: A bag of rice is essential if you’re travelling to humid areas. Keep a few bags of rice next to your electronics to stop the moisture from damaging your devices.

Reusable Shopping Bags: If you’re buying food supplies on the go, keep a couple of reusable shopping bags in the car. It will reduce your plastic consumption each time you stop at the grocery store. Cotton On is currently selling reusable totes and is donating 100% of the profits to education initiatives!

Cash & Credit Card: If you’re travelling to a foreign country, make sure you’ve unblocked your credit card for international use. You’ll need it to pay for purchases, toll gate fees, and to withdraw cash from ATMs.

First Aid Kit: You might stumble over your own feet, walk into a pole or accidentally slide down some rocks. Whatever happens on your next road trip, pack a basic first aid kit to fix up those minor bumps and bruises.

Snow Supplies: Your road trip packing list is going to need some winter essentials if you’re driving through snow. Some of the most important items are an ice scraper , a shovel , rock salt , and tire chains.

Flashlight: A flashlight is an essential item you want in your car at all times. I’ve used mine to light the way for sunrise hiking missions, milky way photography and for setting up my campsite at night.

Mosquito Repellent: If bloodsuckers love you as much as they love me, mosquito repellent is something you’re always going to want to pack. I bought my bottle of Pyramid Trek in Kenya last year, and it’s the most effective repellent I’ve ever owned.

Read More:  How to Photograph the Milky Way (Step by Step!)

When I pack for road trips, I like to work on a three bag policy:

1 Hand Luggage Suitcase: I use this one from Escape Society . It’s big enough for all my toiletries, shoes, hats, external hard drives, chargers and other items I don’t need to access throughout the day.

1 Duffel Bag: I keep all my clothes in my duffel bag from Rowdy . It’s super spacious and has compartments for smaller items.

1 Day Bag: As mentioned earlier, I use the Rowdy Rucksack as a day bag for road trips. I usually keep my laptop, camera gear, wallet and any other items that I use throughout the day.

Packing Cubes: Ever since I started using packing cubes, I’ve levelled up my packing game. You can fit so much more clothes inside your suitcase, and it’s super easy to organise everything so you can see what you have at a glance.

Roof Rack: If you need extra storage, it’s worthwhile investing in a Thule roof rack to free up space inside the car.

There you have it! All the road trip essentials you need to survive on the open road. Don’t forget to grab your free what to pack for a road trip checklist printable of all the things mentioned above:

What are your road trip must-haves? Let me know in the comments if I’ve left off any road trip packing list items you always bring with you!

Want more road trip travel inspiration? Check out my other posts:

• The Perfect Itinerary for an Epic South Africa Road Trip
• The Best of the Panorama Route South Africa: 2-Day Itinerary
• Visiting Kruger National Park: Everything You Need to Know
• 10+ Spectacular Road Trips in South Africa You Can’t Miss!
• The Ultimate South Africa Bucket List: 40+ Amazing Places to Visit
• An Epic One Week Garden Route Itinerary (Detailed)

Did you find this post useful? Save it for later on Pinterest!

About Lauren Melnick

Lauren Melnick is the founder of Wanderlust Movement, Wander to Here and is a South Africa travel blogger. She's been travelling the world as a full-time freelance writer since 2016 and has visited over 40 countries.

When she isn't typing up a storm, you can find her conquering overnight hikes around the Western Cape, rock climbing, and hosting sold out group travel trips around South Africa, Namibia and Morocco.

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Home » Gear » road trip packing list

Your ESSENTIAL Road Trip Packing List for 2024!

Do you feel that? That energy gathering inside of you? That sensation where you can’t stand still? Sounds like you’re getting excited…

Because it’s road trip season, baby! The open country is calling our names, and we must go because it’s been a rough week at work and things are always better out there in the world.

But knowing what to include in your road trip packing list can be a little daunting. You may have a hard time deciding how many clothes you really need to bring. You might not know what it takes to pack an effective kitchen with you.

Enter our road trip packing list for 2024. We’ve condensed all our experience into this one mega-post to make sure you know what to bring on your next adventure.

If you’ve ever asked yourself “what do I need for a cross country road trip?”, well, we’ve got all the answers below, so let’s crack on!

Form first -aid kits to card games, we’ve listed all of the absolute must-haves that will make your trip a full success.

Let’s get to it!

Why you should prepare for a Road Trip

Best 10 road trip essentials, roadtrip checklist for car care, car camping essentials, essentials for specific road trips, road trip packing list – tips and tricks, road trip faq, faq about the best road trip packing list, final road trip thoughts.

The Broke Backpacker is supported by you . Clicking through our links may earn us a small affiliate commission, and that's what allows us to keep producing free content 🙂 Learn more .

By now you should kind of know what you’ll see in this guide. These are the most important things to bring on a long journey – the absolute road trip necessities that you shouldn’t ever leave the house without. What you pack into your bag is just as important as planning your trip ahead and we’ve got you covered with this list of essentials for a cross-country road trip.

These tools will bail you out of a sticky situation and are practically mandatory to start ANY epic road trip. Whether you want to do a road trip through the USA or check out the amazing roads on the coast of Australia , you need to be prepared. Whatever you do, don’t leave without these top 10 road trip essentials on your packing list!

Right then, let’s get things going on our cross-country road trip checklist.

1. First Aid Kit

Even if you don’t plan on doing any extreme wilderness adventures on your trip, like hiking, climbing, or other extreme sports, you never know what could happen. You could cut yourself while cooking, smash a finger in a car door, or burn yourself on a hot radiator. A first aid kit will be able to handle most of these minor situations. If you’re wondering what item you should never forget when you’re considering what to bring on a cross-country road trip, well, the first aid kit might just be the most important.

Our team absolutely swears by packing a good quality first aid kit not just for road trips but for any trip. This pack is rugged enough for multiple trips and frequent use, the gear is excellent quality and comes with a kit list that can be checked off when restocking it.

Unless you know the region you’re driving in very well or intend on just asking for directions, a map is an absolutely necessary thing to bring on a road trip. You may settle for just using digital apps, like Google Maps or Maps.me , but having a physical map will always be best even just as a backup in case you lose GPS. When you’re compiling your packing list for a cross-country road trip, a map is pretty essential!

It might seem old school but our team always carries paper maps on them and they’ve been a lifesaver when mobile phone batteries have died or GPS signals have dropped off. We’ve got first-hand experience of how much of a lifesaver they can be. Our main advice here for both digital and paper maps would be to give them a test run beforehand so you know how they work!

3. Aux Cord

One of the only things to do on a long car ride by yourself is to listen to music or a podcast. Since most people use their phones as an MP3 player these days, an auxiliary cord is crucial to preserving your sanity. If there is no auxiliary port in your car, buy a radio transceiver or use a portable speaker.

This humble aux cord might seem like a pretty simple bit of kit, but our team wouldn’t leave for a road trip without one. Not only do they keep the vibes rocking whilst on the road, but on a more serious note they can be a lifesaver when it comes to avoiding falling asleep whilst driving.

4. Phone mount

It’s very dangerous to be looking down at your phone while driving. If you need to have access to your phone, for maps and whatnot, buy a mount for it. This way, you can keep your eyes on the road and your phone won’t be far from your field of view. It might seem like something pretty small, but we think it’s one of the most important cross-country road trip essentials.

Like much of this list, these items so far might seem small and insignificant but trust us when we say, as a team we love the functionality and safety that this phone mount adds to our trips. This particular mount is ideal because it fits all different sizes of phone and easily clips and unclips to the vents in your car.

5. Roadside Emergency Kit

Just like you never know what could happen to yourself , one never knows what can happen to their car . A vehicle can mysteriously fail, break, run into a ditch; all that and even more. Make sure you bring an emergency kit for your car on your road trip – most include a pair of jumper cables, a tow rope, a set of essential tools, and ties. It would also be smart to inform yourself about how to use each vehicle tool so you don’t depend on other people’s help as much.

Our team swears by this roadside emergency kit and it’s saved their arses a good few times on the road! You just never know when you’re dream roadie is going to go from awesome to being stuck in the middle of nowhere! This thing has everything you need in it and it’s all good quality without being too bulky or heavy too.

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6. Driver’s License

Obviously, you shouldn’t even be driving without one. If you happen to be pulled over without a license, you could face a heavy fine. If you’re on an epic road trip abroad, be sure to check and see which countries require an International Driver’s Permit.

7. Roadside Assistance

Unless you plan on including an auto shop’s worth of tools in your road trip packing list, you can’t be prepared for every disaster. If your car suffers catastrophic damage, you’re going to need roadside assistance for towing and repair. A lot of travel insurances offer roadside assistance .

8. Spare Keys

Take it from someone who’s been in this situation – if you lose your keys in the middle of nowhere, you could be screwed royally. You’ll have to get a special locksmith to come out there or even have your car towed.

If it’s a rental, the fees for either of these could be enormous. Consider a spare set a road trip necessity: just in case. And this one might seem obvious, but keep it separate from your main key! If you’re headed to the beach consider getting a lockbox that uses a code to keep your keys safe.

9. Registration or Rental Agreement:

These documents should be in your car at all times, regardless if you’re packing for a last-minute road trip or just going to the grocery store. Make sure they’re there before you leave. It’s also good to have a digital copy with you too.

10. Water bottle

You’re going to be drinking a lot of water on your journey – therefore you’ll need a water bottle. If you’re just buying plastic bottles, not only will you be wasting money, but you will also be creating clutter in your car (plus the environment and shit, man). Invest in a good quality water bottle and fill it periodically. Now go and get your own water bottle – save the environment, save your wallet and stay hydrated.

Our team are massive fans of this Grayl bottle and take it everywhere with them, and we mean that! This bottle will not only see you right on your roadie but it will keep you hydrated on your other travels, at the gym or even sat next to your laptop whilst working!

It’s easy to forget that your actual means of transport needs its own kit when you’re compiling your cross-country road trip packing list. But, it’s just as important!

Your car itself needs to be given just as much attention as yourself or your road trip packing list. To help maintain your vehicle and to fix minor problems, like a flat tire, consider packing these items.

• Spare Tire: One of the most common issues on the road is a flat tire. Most cars, especially rentals, have a spare hidden in the floor of the trunk, just in case such a situation arises. Check to see if you have one and buy one if you don’t.
• Car Jack and Lug Wrench : To change that flat tire, you’re going to need the proper tools. A car jack and lug wrench are all that is required to do this. Be sure to brush up on how to change a tire, yourself.
• Tire Repair Kit : If you’re up to it, you can not only change that flat but fix it as well. It’ll take a couple of extra tools and some resins, but it can be done. When you’re finished, you can rejoice at your own handiness.
• Extra fluids : Running out of fluids like coolant and oil could lead to disaster – trust me, you don’t want your car running with a lack of either. Keep a bottle or two of these tucked away in the trunk. Maybe have some extra windshield wiper fluid as well.
• Gas Can : If for some reason you run out of gas, you’ll need a spare gas can to run and grab more. This is one of the most important things to bring on long rides into the middle of nowhere because you never know where the next gas station may be.
• Sunshade : Nothing sucks more than getting into a car after it’s been baking in the sun. If you sit on a leather seat after it’s been cooking, it can feel like 2nd-degree burns. Keep your car cool with one of these.
• Cable ties : A useful road trip item to have around in case something needs arresting, like a loose bumper (or a rowdy hitchhiker) . Also handy when tying down stuff on the roof or in the bed of a truck.

Things to Bring on a Road Trip in Winter for Car Care

• Chains: Regular tires cannot handle snowy conditions – they do not have enough tread and often spin out on ice or snow. Chains provide traction and can handle snowy conditions. Always have a pair if snow is a possibility. Note that there are different sized chains for different sized wheels.
• Ice Scraper : Speaking of swerving, you need to be able to see to drive. Before starting up your car, use a scraper to clear the ice from the windshield and make sure the defroster is on. If you don’t have a scraper, a credit card can work to (but you may destroy it).
• Shovel : If it dumped snow and your car is buried, you’re going to have to dig it out. A lightweight, portable snow shovel is obviously the best way to go about this. If you’re in a really hairy situation, you can use this winter road trip essential for digging a snow cave as well.

Hygienic Things to Pack on a Road Trip

Unless you want to return home looking like you just came from a weeklong music festival (then again maybe you are actually doing this…) you have to take care of your hygiene while on a road trip. Forget one of these on your road trip packing list and you’ll never miss it so much.

• Toiletries : Gotta keep those teeth and hair healthy, people! Admittedly, I almost always forget to pack these things on a long trip and immediately regret not having them (toothbrush: number one most forgotten travel item). Nothing feels better than having a fresh mouth after a night of camping.
• Deodorant: No one likes your brand of BO, especially when they’re stuck in a car with you. Wear some deodorant for the sake of everyone else.
• Comb/Brush : Hair gets nappy, especially when you’re on a wild road trip and doing all kinds of cool things. Don’t forget to take care of your luscious locks. Otherwise, your hairdresser is going to throw a shit fit when they try to unravel all of those dreadlocks.
• Tote Bag : Unless you wanna deal with a dozen objects haphazardly rolling around in the car, you need to have a bag for them. A tote bag is one of those items that will help you stay organized and improve your life 100% while on a road trip.
• Hand sanitizer : You may have just used a disgusting rest stop bathroom or you may have gotten your hands dirty while camping; either way a bottle of hand sanitizer is extremely convenient road trip item and cheap to buy as well.
• Tissues: Good for blowing your nose, drying your hands, killing bugs in the car, and a whole lot more. These are a family road trip essential to help clean up the kids.

Skin Care on a Road Trip

• Lotion: Car heaters can raise the aridity of the cab over time, which, in turn, causes dry and cracked skin. Have some lotion with you in case your skin begins to dry out and become uncomfortable. You can also use lotion as your lip balm.
• Sunscreen : If you’re planning on being outdoors a lot while on this road trip, you definitely need sunscreen in your road trip packing. On another note, if you’re the type who likes to drive long hours with the window open, you can even get burned and have an increased risk of skin cancer.
• Wet wipes : Ever heard of the wet wipe shower? It’s possible and it’s actually pretty effective. If you’ve been driving non-stop and haven’t had the chance to stay in a proper hotel with a shower, a quick wet-wipe-rinse-off is great for freshening up.

Which Clothing to Bring on a Road Trip

Don’t overlook what you kind of clothing you’re putting in your road trip checklist – you’re about to be limited to whatever you pack. On the other hand, don’t bring your entire closet with you because you need space for the other road trip essentials.

Choose your clothing wisely and make sure to bring these key pieces:

• Sunglasses: Driving into the sun and being blinded by it is never fun or particularly safe. Keep a pair of good glasses in your car at all times and have a second pair for walking around.
• Sandals : Wearing sandals feels SO good after you’ve been driving or hiking all day. Taking my shoes off and letting my toes breathe as I slip them into my sandals is one of the greatest highlights of my day. They’re small and flexible too, which means they aren’t hard to pack.
• Shoes: Obviously, you’re going to have to wear shoes at some point. Since you may be stuck in them for hours at a time, you need to make sure they’re extra comfy . Bring the right pair and don’t just settle for some old pair of Converses.
• Hat : I prefer a good bucket hat because they keep my ears protected and can take quite a beating. Any kind of hat will be fine though – just so long it gets the job done and looks good.
• Kaffiyeh : A kaffiyeh is one of the most useful things to bring on a road trip. They’re warm, easy, tough, and, most importantly, can serve multiple purposes. When I’m not using mine as a scarf, I’m using it as a blanket, a pack, a headscarf, and a whole lot more.

Winter Road Trip Essential Clothing

• Beanie : They’re cheap, effective, small, and sometimes stylish. I’d take one even if I was packing for a summer road trip because they’re just so damn easy and convenient to have.
• Rain jackets : Rain can quickly ruin your day if you aren’t ready for it. While most First Aid or Emergency Kits have an emergency poncho included, you should still pack your rain jacket .
• Warm Coat : Down jackets are very lightweight and can sometimes take up next to no room. They can be a bit expensive though. Fleece jackets are quite good at keeping out the cold but you’ll have to layer up if you intend on road-tripping in the winter or in the mountains. A down poncho is also great for cold nights in the tent or around the campfire.

Maybe you intend on sleeping in only hotels and Airbnb apartments on your cross country road trip. Regardless, I highly recommend packing some camping gear . You’ll get to enjoy the outdoors and save a lot of money in the process.

• Air mattress : I personally can’t sleep without having something padded underneath me. Luckily there are some very comfortable and compact sleeping pads out there that are great for camping. If you have a truck, you can also invest in a BIG inflatable mattress and then stick it in the bed of the truck for ultimate comfort.
• Tent : It always pays to have a tent wherever you go . With a tent, you can sleep just about anywhere and cheaply too! If you have a rugged 4×4 vehicle, you can also pimp it out and put a tent on top of it, much like these rooftop tents.
• Sleeping bag : They’re warm, light, come in all shapes and sizes, and are relatively durable. I take a sleeping bag with me whenever I travel and have even gotten to the point where I use it even when there’s a blanket on hand. Check out our favorite sleeping bags .
• Blanket : A blanket is not only useful for staying warm at night, but for keeping an area relatively clean. If I want to avoid getting dirty, I lay one of these on the ground and then use it as a rug. I also use blankets to conceal valuables from curious, would-be car thieves.
• Pillows : One of the things I miss the most when I’m backpacking in the wilderness is a good travel pillow . So when I’m car camping and have the means to pack such luxuries, I always take advantage of it. Nothing is better than a fluffy bag full of goose-down feathers – the ultimate in road trip gear!
• Headlamp : You can invest in a good flashlight if you like, but headlamps are much more useful. They’re hands-free, which then allows you to cook, set up camp, or whatever in the dark. You can opt for a good flashlight if you want, but, honestly, I could never go back to one.

Road Trip Packing List – Kitchen Edition

Unless you plan on eating out every night with greasy spoons or snacking the entire way, you’re going to have to cook eventually. Why not invest in a proper kitchen for yourself so you can cook your own food? You can get creative with your cooking and even involve (here’s a road trip idea) the kids.

• Camping stove : You can invest in a monster stove if you feel so inclined. Or you could get by just fine with a portable backpacking stove.
• Pots and pans : We’re not saying you have to bring the latest and greatest Teflon with you, but you gotta have something. Packing one of each for your road trip should accommodate most of your cooking needs. If you can manage it, cast iron works really well outdoors and adds a lot of flavors.
• Cutlery : I eat with my hands all of the time but my guests may not be so keen on this method.
• Plates : They don’t have to be anything special – just a couple plates and/or bowls. You can buy some collapsible ones, which are very useful when you’re backpacking too.  
• A good knife : Not only is one of these essential for preparing food but it’s also quite handy for small tasks, like cutting rope, twigs, tape, etc. It’s one of the most useful tools in human history and an equally useful thing to bring with you on a road trip.
• Cooking utensils : You’re going to need a spatula, a set of tongs, and a large spoon. I generally stick to plastic or silicone when cooking – wood tends to get grimy after a while and metal can ruin Teflon.
• Coffee press : One thing that adults tend to do on road trips is wake up early – either because they need to get the car ready or to rouse their kids awake. It’s moments like this, when perhaps you had a bit too much to drink around the fire, that having some fresh coffee really pays.
• Camping mugs : These are good for holding everything from coffee to water to wine to whiskey. Invest in a good titanium one and it will last a while for you.

Keeping Your Car Clean and Tidy

• Collapsible bins : By now, we’ve featured a lot if things to bring on a road trip (there’s more to come). Collapsible bins are one of the best road trip items for keeping all that stuff orderly in your trunk. They’re light, flexible, and an essential piece of road trip gear once you’ve used them.
• Compression sacks : These are great for dirty clothes and for packing objects tightly. If you plan on going wilderness backpacking, these are also useful for keeping stuff neat in your backpack.
• Campsuds : This is easily one of my favorite things to pack on a road trip. Campsuds can be used for everything: dishes, upholstery, your body, hair, whatever. It’s also biodegradable and smells pretty damn good.
• Towel: We don’t just mean any kind of towel – we mean you need to get a microfiber one. They absorb more liquid, dry quicker, and are way more portable than cotton ones. All important features when considering what to bring on a road trip.
• Garbage bin: Whether you actually have a dedicated bin or just use a regular old garbage bag, you gotta have something for the litter. While on a road trip, you’ll have to be much better about cleaning up, unless you want to be swimming in trash.
• Air freshener: Being cooped up with the same dirty equipment and same smelly friend is going to make the air a bit stagnant at times. Do yourselves a favor and spray some Febreeze every once in a while.

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What Food to Bring on a Road Trip

When you’re considering what to pack for a cross-country road trip, you don’t want to overlook fuel, and by that, we mean for yourself, not just for your car!

• Nuts: These are a good source of protein and fat. Peanuts are the classic road trip snack but I’ll splurge and get some cashews every once in a while. Avoid sunflower seeds and other nuts with pods as they just make a mess.
• Dried fruit: Raisins are obviously the most popular dry fruit and are practically married to peanuts. You can get just about any fruit dehydrated these days though, including kiwis, mangos, and strawberries. Avoid fruits with too much sugar and banana chips fried in palm oil.
• Jerky: Jerky is pretty expensive and sometimes coated in salt, but it’s a great source of protein. Avoid “fake” jerky, like Slim Jims, and get the natural stuff. Jerky should only have spices, water, salt, and one or two preservatives – stay away from anything with more.
• Canned goods: These can actually be really healthy and delicious if you buy the right ones. Canned tomatoes, vegetables, fruits, and beans are great examples. Preserved meats work in a pinch (love SPAM) but often contain an unhealthy amount of salt.
• Grains: Rice, flour, wheat, cereals, and muesli all have a long shelf life and are great foods to bring on a road trip. Just be sure you keep them in well-sealed bags because they can be a real mess.
• Candied-coated sweets: No road trip packing list is really complete without some sort of candy. Try to avoid raw chocolates, like bars or truffles, as they’ll melt easily. Stick to candy-coated items like M&Ms or fruit snacks.

Food Storage for a Road Trip Packing List

• Cooler : You may end up buying some fresh meat, some dairy products, or you might just want to keep your beers cold. Either way you need to have a cooler in case of these situations. When it’s not occupied by perishables, you can also use the cooler as a storage unit.
• Tupperware : Use these for packing leftover food or random bits in pieces in your car. They’re better than plastic bags because… well… duh.
• Water Jug : This is actually one of the most important things to bring on your road trip because you should ALWAYS have water with you. Keep this in the back and fill it up regularly. Make sure it’s a big one too because you’ll end up going through more water than you expect.

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Camping Road Trip Packing List

One of the best things to do on a road trip cross country is to spend a few days in the wilderness . I always organize my road trip necessities around this activity and have my own ideas on what to bring.

• Wheel lock: Being away from your car for days at a time increases the chances of someone coming along and jacking the whole shebang. While it may seem like overkill to use these, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
• Backpack : If you are planning on going on a multi-day backpacking trip, you’re going to need a good hiking backpack. If you’re just making little day hikes, maybe consider a smaller day pack instead.
• Hiking boots : While you may enjoy wearing a pair of sandals in the car or some trainers in the cities, you need hiking boots for the adventurous stuff . Make sure they’re sturdy and broken in before using them.
• Trekking poles : If you have bad knees, trekking poles will make your life so much easier. They can also be used to prop up a tarp-style tent or to poke people in the back seat.
• Hiking Essentials : A lot of these essentials have already been spoken about in this road trip checklist, but make sure you have them for hiking as well.
• Dry bag : If you’re going to participating in some sort of water sport on your road trip, you should consider investing in a dry bag. These are designed to keep gear safe from water, but NOTE that they are not totally waterproof.
• Mosquito spray : Fuck mosquitoes.

Packing for a Digital Nomad Road Trip

Some people may actually live and work in their car as a way of life i.e. digital nomads . These people need to be both mobile and efficient, which demands a special road trip essential list. Make sure you have all of the following items so you can work and then play.

• Laptop : Just because you’re mobile, doesn’t mean you can’t get shit done. Today’s best laptops are extremely powerful and can do just about anything you could ask for. Bring yours with you to work remotely.
• Camera : You should never travel without a camera! It doesn’t matter if it’s a professional DSLR or disposable point-and-shoot – having one is always useful. Try out one of these fancy travel cameras or consider something more fun, like an Instax.
• Camera accessories : If you’re serious about photography, don’t forget the proper camera accessories either.
• Power inverter : Use one of these docks to charge different devices in your car. They plug into the cigarette lighter and behave just like a regular outlet. A great item to pack for a long drive or if your laptop is about to die on the road.
• Portable Battery : These work really well in a pinch or if your power inverter seems to be on the fritz. When you need to leave your car for an extended period of time – like hiking – these are often good for a couple of days.
• Hard drive : I put all of my essential digital files on a hard drive e.g. movies, photos, etc. Considering how small these are, they shouldn’t take up too much space and make for useful road trip accessories.
• Multi-cord : USB, USB 3.0, Thunderbolt; who can keep up with the different types of cords these days. Buy an all-in-one package and save yourself the clutter.  

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Packing for a Fun Road Trip

What’s a road trip packing list without some entertainment?! Pack these items for those long, quiet rides and for when you’re ready to have some fun.

• Notebook : Some people like to keep a journal, some like a day planner for itineraries, and others just like somewhere to take notes. The Nomatic Planner has been my favorite with its mix of calendars, organization and journalling pages. Check out our round up of the best travel journals out there for more options! 
• Deck of cards: No matter what I do, I ALWAYS bring a set of cards with me. Even if I’m packing for a last-minute road trip and have time to grab one thing, I’ll take these over spare underwear. With a deck, I can happily play of my favorite road trip games, like cribbage, rummy, and bullshit. Also, check out the best travel chess sets if that’s your bag.
• Kindle : While it’s hard to replace a physical book with actual pages, Kindles are just too convenient. These devices can literally store thousands of books and weigh no more 12 ounces. Because of their small size, these are one of my favorite road trip packing hacks.
• Road trip book : Boredom can be disastrous on a long ride and can really sour the mood. To avoid these situations, be sure to pack one some sort of special road trip game book. These provide lots of entertainment and are one of the best things for long road trips with kids.
• Portable speaker : I almost always grab one of these when packing for a weekend trip to the lake. Then, we’ll have good drinks, good company, and good tunes. If your car doesn’t support your MP3 player either, you can use this speaker instead.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance!

Whatever you do, don’t hit the road without travel insurance. I’ve claimed my travel insurance three times. If I hadn’t had insurance, I would have been fucked.

Check out this post for plenty of intel on staying safe whilst traveling.

ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing .

They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.

SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!

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Check out these additional road trip packing hacks and take your game to the next level!

• Make sure you get a system in place FIRST. Trying to reorganize the car halfway through a trip is a nightmare and probably going to be a huge ordeal.
• Use every little piece of space that you can. If a cooler is empty, fill it with something. Use those coat hangers in your car (if they still exist). Check underneath the floorboards for additional space as well.
• Use a road trip planning app like ViaMichelin . Not only will it list all nearby gas stations and their current prices, but it will also alert you of upcoming tolls and bridges. The app even provides rough estimates for the cost of whole road trips.
• Check relocation services, like immova or Cruise America , to see if someone needs a car moved near you. If you’re lucky, you can actually get paid to take the car on a cross country road trip.
• If you have a truck, seriously consider turning the bed into your sleeping space. I know several friends who do this and swear it’s the most comfortable way of car camping. Just make sure you have a plan B for rain.
• If you’re car camping, master the wet wipe shower. Trust us, you’ll be devoid a real shower more often than nought.
• Take your car to the shop and have it checked before going anywhere. You don’t want to be halfway through your road trip and have your car break. That could potentially ruin your hard-earned vacation.
• Overnight oats are my favorite road trip breakfast because they’re super easy to make and delicious. If you don’t have milk, a dehydrated mix or some condensed milk will do just fine.

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What are some things to do on a long car ride by yourself?

That’s tough because you have to dedicate most of your attention to the road. Aside from contemplating your navel or singing along to music, try listening to an audiobook or a podcast.

What are some family road trip ideas when kids are involved?

Try and limit your time in the car as kids get antsy very quick. Have lots of activities planned and limit drive times. Distract them with mobile games (or even packable travel games ) or have everyone listen to that audiobook together.

How much will a road trip cost?

Road trip expenses add up very quickly, especially if you spend frivolously. It’s possible to spend less $100/day, but you need to have extremely strict habits. This means doing things like camping out as much as possible, being fuel-efficient, and cooking your own food. Having a smart road trip packing list goes a long way!

Is it legal to sleep in parking lots?

While it’s technically illegal in most states, camping in certain public areas – like parking lots – is not always enforced. Wal-Marts are a well-known secret among transients as overnight parking is usually allowed at these. Be sure to check the local laws when travelling internationally.

How often should I take a break?

Taking a breather is one thing you should always do on long drives. The official Highway Code recommends taking a 15-minute break every two hours and I completely agree. Step out of the car, do some stretching, whatever you like.

• Epic California Road Trip
• Epic New Zealand Road Trip
• Epic Alaska Road Trip
• Epic New England Road Trip

Still have some questions about the things you need for a cross-country road trip? No problem! We’ve listed and answered the most commonly asked questions below. Here’s what people usually want to know:

What are the three most important things you need on a road trip packing list?

While there are many things that should be on your packing list, these are the essentials: – First Aid Kit – Driver’s License – Spare Keys

What should I bring on a long road car trip?

A waterbottle is a no-brainer when going on a long road trip. That way, you won’t need to spend extra money on plastic bottles. And of course, the Aux Cord and a Phone mount can’t be missing either.

What do you need to pack on a roadtrip with kids?

Snacks and entertainment . Make sure to bring your kids favorite toys, books or maybe even an iPad.

Should you get an extra car insurance for a roadtrip?

Most definitely, especially if it’s a longer one. Having an extra travel insurance during your trip can be a real life-safer.

There it is, folks: our comprehensive road trip packing list. We hope it works well for y’all!

Get packing for a road trip and get out there! There are a lot of good roads to drive with a lot of good views. There’s nothing quite like a good road trip!

With this road trip packing list in hand (printable for your viewing pleasure) you’ll be sailing – uhh, driving – smoothly. Nothing to fear! Except for maybe a warped head gasket. That will fuck everything up; they’re as bad as mosquitoes.

Did we miss anything, like any family road trip essentials, in this list? Tending to the rugrats is not my speciality.

Please leave a comment if you feel like we missed anything or want to add to this guide! What are your must-haves for a cross-country road trip? We love to listen.

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That’s a good idea to make sure to bring some roadside assistance contact info. I wouldn’t want to have a crash or a breakdown or something and be stuck in the middle of nowhere. That would be bad if we got stuck with no civilization in a hundred miles. That way you could have a way to get some help to tow your car.

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RTIC Road Trip Duffle Bag for Men and Women, Traveling Tote for Camp, Travel, Gym, Weekender, Camping, Overnight, Carry On, Sports, Spacious, Water Resistant, Large, Black

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About this item.

• WATER-RESISTANT DUFFLE BAG – If you’re looking for a solid carry-all for your items, look no further. The RTIC road trip duffle bag is built for those on the go.
• SUPER-TOUGH AND DURABLE – Made from water-resistant and abrasion-resistant fabric, the heavy duty duffle bag features semi-rigid walls that won’t sag as you head out on an adventure.
• WIDE OPENING – Our duffle bags for traveling have a wide mouth opening for easy packing and additional pockets to maximize room for your overnight supplies. The perfect mens duffle bag and duffle bags for women.
• EPITOME OF VERSATILITY – You will love how versatile the carry on duffle bag is for the long haul. An ideal overnight duffle bag, weekender duffle bag​​, camp duffle bag, gym duffle bag, and more.
• CHOOSE FROM 2 SIZES – Choose from our medium duffle bag that is designed to fit in airline overhead compartments and our large duffle bag ​​to fit all your gear for a weeklong adventure.

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• Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 28 x 17 x 12 inches; 2.8 Pounds
• Department ‏ : ‎ Unisex Adult
• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BQX19LZ7
• Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ Cambodia
• #494 in Travel Duffel Bags

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Your Road Trip Duffle

The RTIC Road Trip Duffle is an ideal travel duffle bag for those on the go with gear in tow. Made from water-resistant and abrasion-resistant material, the carrying tote features semi-rigid walls that won’t sag as you head out on an adventure. A solid carry-on to transport your items. ​​​​Choose from our medium duffle bag that is designed to fit in airline overhead compartments and our large duffle bag ​​to fit all your gear for a weeklong adventure.

Built For Those On The Go

Our heavy duty duffle bag maximizes room for your overnight supplies with a wide-mouth opening compartment space for easy packing and additional pockets to maximize room for your overnight supplies. An epitome of versatility, it makes an ideal camping duffle bag, sports duffle bag, gym duffle bag, weekender duffle bag, and travel duffle bag. A great duffle bag for men and a duffle bag for women.

• Water-resistant fabric coating to keep your contents safe from light rain or splashes
• Abrasion-resistant nylon material for incredible durability
• Interior mesh pocket on the inside lid
• Smaller front pocket keeps a wallet, keys, and cell phone accessible
• Zipper pocket on the front to stash smaller items
• Wide openings with extra-long zippers for easy load and unload
• Removable padded shoulder strap with longer shoulder pad for ultimate carrying comfort
• Designed to stand up with large openings for easy packing and unpacking
• Grab handles on each side
• T-Latch main zipper puller (like on our soft coolers) allows you to easily grab it, even with gloves on

​​THIS ITEM IS NOT INTENDED FOR USE BY CHILDREN 12 AND UNDER

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Home » Roadside Attractions Blog » Road Trip Planning » Road Trip Goodie Bags for Adults

Road Trip Goodie Bags for Adults

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Road trips are a fun way to travel. You get to go where you want, see what you want, make as many detours as you want, and explore the country in your own way. But if you want to make your travels even more fun for everyone in the car, consider putting together some road trip goodie bags for adults that provide practical and entertaining items that everyone will use.

Road trip goodie bags don’t have to be complicated or expensive to put together. They are just small tokens of your appreciation for friends joining you on a trip to Yellowstone, sisters driving together to Las Vegas, or your adult children who agreed to a family reunion at Disney World.

It’s always fun to get a little surprise when you hop into your passenger position in the car. And it is also always fun treat your friends to a little surprise when they’re you on the road. Pull these packs together by combining small things in a variety of categories, like a small bag of chips to eat, a fun journal to write in, a tube of chapstick to keep your lips fresh, and some shower gel to wash away the sweaty car in the hotel.

Want some ideas for what to put in a road trip goodie bag for adult travelers? Read on for some different categories of items to include and ideas and inspiration for each!

Something to Eat

Something to write on/with, something to entertain, something useful, something unexpected, something for the hotel, something to carry it all in, pin this post on road trip goodie bags for adults to save for your next road trip, what to put in your road trip goodie bags for adults.

Most of the items to include in a road trip goodie bag are optional. You don’t have to include this or that or the other. But one category should always be included: something to eat. Road trip snacks are the backbone of road travel. Everyone loves having a little treat to start off the day, a mid-afternoon pick-me-up, or a late night munchie. Your prize bag should include at least two options: something salty and something sweet. Remember, this is a goodie bag, so you just want small treats. Include something like a small bag of Cheetos and a movie-theater size bag of Twizzlers (we recommend staying away from chocolate, which easily melts in the heat in the car, causing a mess). If you really love your travel companions, also consider including a bottle of their favorite soda and/or a bottle of water.

Road Trip Goodie Bag Ideas

• Chip Snack Packs
• Pretzel Snack Packs
• Fruit Rollups
• Mini Cookies
• Twizzlers or Red Vines
• Swedish Fish
• Gummy Candies
• A Bottle of Soda
• A Starbucks Frappuccino
• A Bottled Water

Another idea for things to add to your road trip goodie bags for adults are things to write on and something to write on there with. Include a road trip journal where passengers can keep a log of what they did each day, a sketchbook to doodle in, or a notebook to write down facts about what they saw. And, if you’re including something to write on you have to also include something to write with . Include pens, crayons, or a fun set of road trip themed pencils!

• A road trip journal
• A sketchbook
• A set of road trip pencils

Road trips are fun, but, even we’ll admit that sometimes you’ll hit a stretch of your route where there isn’t much to see and aren’t many places to stop. So it is always good to include some options for road trip entertainment that will help pass the time while you’re in the car. Think, things you can use to play road trip games for adults or do road trip activities for adults . If you are adding games or activities to your goodie bags, try to switch it up and give different things to different people. Not everyone needs the same game of travel Scrabble or the same joke book. Sure, you can split up a set of license plate game playing cards , but for most other things, make sure there is variety so everyone can take turns playing different things!

• Travel Bingo Set
• TableTopics to GO Road Trip
• Travel Board Games
• Shotgun! Road Trip Game

The Road Trip Journal & Activity Book

Everything You Need to Have and Record an Epic Road Trip!

Enjoy fun games and challenges to pass the time on your next road trip and have a keepsake to look back on for years to come with this entertaining must-have for your next vacation.

Some of the best things to include in road trip goodie bags for adults are things that would be useful in the car. Think about small, common things you might need that are also easy to forget. You don’t want to be stuck going on a hike without sunscreen or without hand cream after clutching the steering wheel all day. No need to buy full-sized of anything, head straight to the travel section and buy travel-sized toiletries and other useful items! Gift cards are also a great useful item to add to your bag. Choose a gift card for a popular fast food chain you all love or a coffee shop chain or a gas station, then take turns paying for lunch, coffee, or fuel!

• Hand Lotion
• Travel-Size Toiletries
• Hand Sanitizer
• Pocket blanket
• Foldable tote bag

It’s always fun to throw in something unexpected! You want to include at least one thing that isn’t totally necessary but will make the recipient smile! Find something quirky and fun that you know your friends will appreciate or something themed to your particular road trip destination.

• Road Trip Wish Bracelet
• Road Trip Coin Pouch
• Saucemoto Dip Clip
• Road Trip Socks

On road trips you’ll spend a lot of time in the car. But don’t forget your hotel! Every night of your road trip you’ll have some form of accommodation, be it a hotel, motel, AirBNB, or tent. Think about something you might be able to use in your hotel room or by the pool! Many items come in multi-packs so you can buy one and spread the love. Bonus, if you add something like a matching sleep mask, slipper socks, or inflatable drink holder, you can get fun matching photos to share on social media!

• Toiletry Kit
• Slipper Socks
• Inflatable Drink Holder (for the pool)

When putting together road trip goodie bags for adults, you need something to put all the items in! What you put your goodie bag items in is just as important as what goes in them! Try to find something on-brand and useful beyond the last stop of your travel itinerary. Think tote bags, toiletry bags, or reusable grocery bags!

• Road Trip Snacks Tote Bag
• Road Trip Tote Bag
• Toiletry Bag
• Mesh Shower Caddy
• Makeup Pouch

Photo by Guido Coppa on Unsplash

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Valerie Bromann

Founder & road trip expert.

Valerie Bromann is a a website manager, content creator, and writer from Chicago, Illinois (currently living in Dallas, Texas). As an avid road tripper who has visited hundreds of roadside attractions, Val always pull over for a world’s largest thing. Founder of Silly America and author of The Road Trip Journal & Activity Book , she visits, photographs, and writes about all the weird tourist destinations she visits and offers road trip planning advice and inspiration based on her own travels so you can hit the road for yourself.

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Last modified: December 1, 2023 Category: Road Trip Planning

Fun Things to Bring on a Road Trip in 2023

Giant leg lamp in chickasha, oklahoma (a christmas story), share this post ⤵.

BY Valerie Bromann

The road trip you’ve been dreaming of starts here! Journal about your stops and get to know your fellow passengers with activities and exercises designed to pass the time and bring you closer together. Instead of “Are we there yet?” you’ll find yourself asking, “We’re there already?”. Complete with prompts you can turn to while driving between locations, this journal will one day be a memento of your life-changing trip.

Silly America

Silly America is a roadside attractions blog designed to help travelers find unique stops for their next road trip. The website is a tribute to the great American road trip, devoted to all that is odd in America: roadside attractions, tourist traps, peculiar destinations, bizarre events, road food, fun festivals, and more! It’s a travel website and trip planner for those seeking an offbeat road trip.

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Choosing the Right Road Trip Bag - Duffle Bag Size Guide

Travelpro Travel Expert Editor

Luggage Guide ,

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Traveling by car instead of by plane lets you pack more freely. For one, there’s no limit to the amount of liquids you can bring on your trip. There’s also no luggage size restrictions or weight limit — except, of course, the capacity of your vehicle.

While there aren’t any rules on what you can and can’t bring, road trip planning should include choosing the best road trip bag for your needs. Aside from holding your stuff, the right bags can help you stay organized and comfortable during extended time on the road.

Rolling suitcases may be great for air travel, but duffel bags are ideal to toss in the car for a road trip. Before you invest in a new duffel, here are a few considerations you should make:

What to Look for in a Duffel Bag

With their flexible shapes and soft exteriors, duffel bags are easy to store in the trunk of your car. But not all duffels are made alike. When choosing your bag, make durability a priority — otherwise you may have to replace it sooner than desired.

You should also research how much the brand stands behind their luggage. For example, Travelpro® luggage has several types of warranties, depending on the luggage collection, including a Built For A Lifetime Limited Warranty that covers broken zippers, straps, and carrying handles.

You’ll also want to think about how you plan on using your duffel. This will help you narrow down the number of compartments you’ll need. Will you be packing for a beach vacation, weekend camping trip, or cross-country adventure?

If you’re traveling for business, you might want a duffel that can serve as a road trip organizer – with added features like a garment folder that keeps professional attire wrinkle-free and ready to go when you arrive.

Meanwhile, if you’re heading out on a sporting adventure or packing items that may get soiled, look for a bag with separate compartments to store wet items, dirty shoes, or sporting goods. Also consider your carrying options, like shoulder straps and stacking straps. There are even wheeled duffels that you don’t even have to pick up!

Duffel Bag Size Guide

Duffel bags come in all different shapes and sizes. When you are road tripping, you don’t have to worry about carry on bags and overhead bins, but you still want to choose a duffle that holds what you need without weighing you down.

When it comes to choosing the best size duffel bag for traveling by car, if you have the space, err on the larger side, since the flexible material has enough give to fit into awkward spaces.

When comparing duffle bag sizes, ask yourself these three questions:

• How long is the duration of my trip?
• How much space will I need in order to pack everything?
• How much room will there be in the car for my luggage, especially if friends or family are bringing their own bags?

The Best Duffel Bags For Road Trips

Whether you’re packing for a weekend or weeks on end, these Travelpro® road trip bags are the perfect companions for a variety of uses:

• The Roadtrip 30" Drop-Bottom Rolling Duffel With Packing Cubes is super versatile. Use it to pack for several people, organize your trip by legs or activities, or when you want to have the flexibility to remove cubes to make more space.
• The Bold by Travelpro 30" Drop-Bottom Expandable Rolling Duffel gives you a duffle with the smooth rolling wheels you would normally find on a Rollaboard(r) suitcase. Great for adventurers, this bag is durable and has a big drop-bottom compartment and a wet compartment.
• The Crew VersaPack Weekender Carry-On Duffel Bag with Suiter doubles as a road trip bag and a carry-on for future flights. Plus, a removable fold-out suiter is ideal for keeping business or formal attire wrinkle-free during transit.

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12 road trip essentials for your travel packing list, share this article.

Who doesn’t love a good road trip ? America’s passion for road trips has a deep history dating back to the 1920s. Authors like John Steinbeck have penned poignant novels about the American road trip, and countless movies have captured the magic and misadventures road-trippers can encounter.

But before you can get to the fun parts of a road trip, you’ll need to sort out your packing list. There are a handful of road trip essentials that can make the difference between a messy, disorganized car and a smooth, fun ride. To make shopping easy, we’ve compiled a list of 12 road trip essentials below.

When you’re ready to hit the road, check out some of our road trip guides for travel inspiration .

1 Car trash can

Car Trash Can (Amazon)

Keep your ride clean with this super handy and sleek car trash can.

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2 First aid kit

First Aid Kit (Amazon)

Accidents happen. Be prepared with a first aid kit.

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3 Garmin GPS

Garmin GPS (Amazon)

Don’t drain your phone’s battery using a map app. Instead, have a reliable GPS system like this one to guide your travels.

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YETI Hopper M20 Backpack Cooler (Cabela’s)

Cold drinks are essential during a long road trip. Plus, a backpack cooler is easy to transport from the car to the trails if you stop for a hike. Not into the backpack model? Find some other great coolers here .

Shop Coolers

5 Power bank

Anker Power Bank (Amazon)

No one wants to get caught in the middle of nowhere with dead batteries. Bring a power bank in the car for emergencies.

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Dash Camera (Amazon)

Once again, accidents happen. This dash cam will help you keep an eye on anything that gets in your way.

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7 Wet wipes

Wet Ones (Amazon)

Banish sticky hands by keeping a pack of wet wipes in the car. They’re especially useful if you’ve been chowing down on road trip snacks.

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8 Sunglasses

Sunglasses (Amazon)

The sun can still get you, even in your car. Protect your eyes with a pair of sunglasses. This oversized pair shields your face and offers UV protection.

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9 UV protective clothing

Outdoor Research ActiveIce Sun Sleeves (REI)

The last thing you want on a long road trip is a nasty sunburn. Sun protective clothing like these arm bands can help both drivers and passengers protect their skin. Drivers may also want to consider driving gloves to avoid excess sun on their hands.

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10 Sunscreen

Sun Bum Sunscreen (Amazon)

You can’t forget about sunscreen . Choose from this list of reef-safe brands.

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11 Extra water

5 Gallon Water Jug (Amazon)

Stay hydrated by keeping extra water on hand. This refillable container will be easy to lug around.

Shop 5-gallon Water Jug

12 Flashlight tool

Multi-tool Flashlight (Amazon)

This flashlight is actually a multi-tool. It has a built-in seatbelt butter and window breaker, just in case you run into an emergency situation. 

Shop Multi-tool Flashlight

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I've spent 300 hours on road trips across the US. Here are 8 things I always pack for a long-haul drive.

• Americans are opting for road trips over air travel this summer, according to recent studies.
• After 300 hours of US road trips, I know exactly what to pack to make your drive easier.
• Wear your comfiest shoes, and don't forget to bring trash bags, wipes, and a camera.

Americans are tired of flying .

According to a recent study by Advance Auto Parts , 70% of the US population is more likely to take road trips this year than last to avoid air travel stress.

Another recent study by the Vacationer found that 196 million Americans plan to drive to their destinations this summer.

When it comes to American road trips , I'm no newbie. From the Southwest to the Northeast, I've traveled more than 20,000 miles to destinations around the US.

When it comes to packing up the car , I've certainly made some mistakes. I've forgotten important items and longed for essentials that I didn't even think of.

But 300 hours and more than a dozen trips later, I think I've mastered the art of packing for a road trip . Here are the things I'll always bring with me, no matter the destination.

I often forget to pack motion sickness medicine on road trips and stop for some on the way.

I've always been prone to motion sickness , but even if you're not, driving through the mountains could make you feel queasy.

I hate that I need caffeine to stay alert, but that's where I'm at.

On a road trip, I prefer Mio Energy, a flavorful boost to add to water, because it keeps me hydrated.

I download playlists and podcasts to keep myself entertained.

When you're driving on open roads, you never know when you'll lose service.

I've always road-tripped with other people. And as someone who values alone time, packing headphones is the only way to get it in a cramped car.

For introverts like me, using headphones allows me to take breaks from socializing. 

Especially when road-tripping with others, comfy shoes feel essential to sustaining my good mood.

I typically wear cozy shoes that slip on and off easily. 

Another mood booster for me is a clean car.

From empty food containers to candy wrappers, a road trip can quickly make a car messy. So don't forget to bring a small trash can or bag to keep things tidy.

Don't forget wipes — especially when eating in the car.

When something spills or your hands are sticky, you'll be glad you packed them.

And lastly, don't forget a camera to capture those stellar American landscapes.

Of course, there are other essentials for road trips , like emergency gear, sunglasses, and a  reusable water bottle . But the items on this list have helped me make a long, bumpy ride go smoothly.

• Main content

46 Best Road Trip Essentials: Packing Tips for Road Trips + Free Road Trip Packing Lists

Ready to hit the road? Before you go, make sure you've got everything you need with these packing tips for road trips.

Don’t forget any essentials with these expert road trip packing tips and your free road trip packing lists.

There may be affiliate links in this post, which means we may get a small commission if you make a purchase. It’s at no extra cost to you and helps keep TLT free. Everybody wins!

You’re ready for your next road trip. You’ve planned your route, downloaded your audio books, set up your playlist, and have your keys in hand.

But wait! You may think you’re ready to hit the road, but before you get behind the wheel, make sure you’ve got everything you need to truly make this trip one to remember – and I mean that in a good way.

Here’s a comprehensive guide to packing for a road trip, including basic packing tips, important road trip essentials, and some tips on packing your vehicle.

Get your FREE Road Trip Packing Lists

From paper maps to snacks, from batteries to blankets, this checklist will keep you from running around wondering what you forgot – because you won’t forget anything.

Road Trip Essentials

Basic packing tips.

Roll, roll, roll. Rolling your clothes helps keep them wrinkle-free-ish. Plus, when they’re rolled, they magically take up less space.

The key to rolling is to put the bulky items on the outside and the lighter, less wrinkle-prone items on the inside. Or you can roll each item individually.

Layers. Pack layers, especially if you’re going someplace with fluctuating temperatures. Layers are also cool because you can get multiple outfits out of a limited number of clothing items.

Coordinate your colors. Pack colors that work together so you can mix and match.

Don’t be afraid to do laundry. Yes, it’s a vacation, but if you’ve got limited space, or you’re taking an epic trip, cleaning your clothes along the way means you won’t have to pack as many.

Related: download Planning Your Perfect Road Trip

Use packing cubes to save space and organize clothing. My mom’s been a fan of packing cubes forever, but I wasn’t sold on them until I started using them. They both compress your clothes into a tiny little package, and you can organize them in a way that makes sense for you.

On shorter trips, I’ll pack them by type of clothing, i.e., shirts, pajamas, etc. On longer trips, I’ll pack a couple of days’ worth of clothes in each cube. That way I don’t have to lug the giant suitcase when we switch accommodations.

Use all available space. Stuff your shoes with your socks or other smaller items.

Pack toiletries in a separate bag. Especially if you’re going on a longer trip, you’ll want to pack your toiletries in their own bag.

Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road, Healthy, free, the world before me, The long brown path before me leading wherever I choose. Walt Whitma n

Discover more travel quotes

When you’re putting together your road trip packing list, especially if you’re planning a long road trip, there are a few important things you don’t want to forget. Bringing these items helps ensure you have a happy vacation.

Many of these basic road trip essentials can be stored in your trunk organizer or in your center console so next time you want to take off and go, you can.

It seems like a lot of stuff, but much of it is compact. You decide what’s essential for you.

Car Essentials for a Road Trip

These basics are things you should have in your vehicle, or with you, at all times.

GPS is wonderful, and most of the time you can count on it to get you where you want to go. However, when you’re road tripping you’re probably going to be driving in remote areas and that signal can disappear.

This is especially true if you’re visiting National Parks. Plus GPS eats up your smart phone battery like Chicagoans eat Italian beef.

That’s why it’s always good to have paper maps. If you plan on traveling a lot by car, invest in an atlas. Rand McNally is pretty much the standard.

If you get a AAA membership, they’ll give you paper maps, too.

TLTip: Look for visitors centers and rest stops. They’ll often have free road maps that will have more detail than an atlas. While you’re there you can pick up brochures for local attractions and, if the stop is staffed, get some advice on fun places to go.

Flashlights

I like to have at least one flashlight per person and to keep one in the glove compartment or center console. If you have to get into the trunk to get the flashlight when it’s already dark then you’re, well, in the dark.

Pack a set of back-up batteries for that flashlight.

Trunk Organizer

You’re going to need a place to put all these road trip essentials. Getting a trunk organizer will keep it all together and prevent it from rolling around like a toddler.

One of the nice things about using a trunk organizer is that you can easily move it if you get a rental car for your trip.

Want even more road trip tips? Download Planning Your Perfect Road Trip

Drivers License, Vehicle Registration, and Proof of Insurance

You should have these anyway, but when you’re planning a road trip there’s a lot to keep in mind. Consider this a gentle reminder.

Vehicle Manual

Although it’s usually in your glove box, go ahead and confirm the car manual is there before you leave. It’ll come in handy if you need to replace a turn signal light or a flat tire.

Spare Tire + Car Jack

Speaking of flat tire, make sure you’ve got a spare tire and you know how to change it. Depending on where you’re going, you might not be able to get someone to help. If we’d gotten a flat on Burr Trail Road , we definitely would have had to change it ourselves!

Roadside Emergency Kit

If you have a car, this is a must whether you’re going on a road trip or not! (Say yes, mom.)

There are various roadside emergency kits available, but at the bare minimum you’ll want to have jumper cables, a flashlight, flares or triangle reflectors, extra washer fluid, and some basic tools.

You can create your own emergency roadside kit, or you can purchase one that’s pre-made .

Related: how to take your bikes on a road trip

Trash Receptacle and Trash Bag

Next time you get a plastic bag from the grocery store put it back in the car after it’s been emptied. Better yet, get a trash can that’s specifically designed for a vehicle.

You’re going to accumulate wrappers and papers and JUNK, and now you’ve got a place to put all of it.

Paper Towels

Keep a roll handy to clean up any messes. Because there will be messes. Oh yes. There will.

Definitely bring real money with you. There are still places that only take cash. Plus, it’s a good idea to have a backup in case your credit cards are compromised during your road trip.

Before you go, download Roadtrippers . It’s a cool app that’ll help you plan your trip and will quickly become one of your road trip essentials. Sign up with Roadtrippers Plus save $5 with code BTR5QTP

Pen and Paper

Sure, you’ve got everything on your cell phone, but make sure you always have pen and paper with you. Technology fails, so have old-school backups.

Reusable Shopping Bag

A reusable shopping bag comes in super handy. Carrying stuff to a picnic table? Put it in the bag. Stocking up at ALDI? You’ll need your own bag or you’ll have to buy one. Plus, you’ll avoid using plastic bags, which is better for the environment.

Tech Essentials for a Road Trip

Car phone charger.

You never know when you’re going to find an outlet, so your best bet is to get a car charger. I recommend getting an inverter with two USB outlets .

Not only can both the driver and passenger charge at the same time, but you can also plug in other electronics.

In addition to the charger for your car, bring a power bank so you can charge your phone when you’re out and about.

Hands-Free Phone Holder

Be safe on the road and dock your phone in a hands-free phone holder . Some states have restrictions on whether or not you can put them on the windshield, so one that fits into a vent makes sure you can be hands-free without getting in trouble.

Nobody wants to get in trouble on a road trip.

Small Power Strip

A small power strip, ideally with USB ports, helps when you’re in a hotel room with multiple devices to charge.

Bluetooth Speaker

A small Bluetooth speaker comes in handy when you want to have some tunes at your picnic table or campsite. (Just be mindful of others. Boombox days are long gone.)

GasBuddy App

Before you go, sign up for GasBuddy and download it to your phone. This free app shows you prices for gas across the country.

Check out our complete guide to GasBuddy to see why this is one of our favorite road trip essentials.

Like to hike? Bike? Go for a walk? AllTrails is one of the best road trip apps and helps you discover hiking and biking trails based on where you’re located.

You can read reviews, store trails you’d like to explore, and record the hikes you do take. You can choose to make your hikes public, or keep them private.

The basic app is free. Download the pro version to:

• Download maps to stay on track without service
• Never miss a turn with off-route notifications
• Keep friends and family informed with Lifeline
• Know what to expect with real-time map overlays
• 1% of every subscription goes back to the planet

Road Trip Food and Drink

Everyone knows snacks have no calories when you’re on a road trip. While it’s tempting to live on chips, candy, and other gas station foods, don’t throw all your dietary cautions out the window.

On our epic month-long trips I’ve made a big bucket of trail mix and include some single-portion containers. (Otherwise we’d eat the whole bucket in one sitting.)

Other great road trip food ideas include:

• Fruit – think apples, pears, and grapes instead of messy fruits like peaches and oranges
• Sliced vegetables and hummus
• Protein bars
• Granola bars
• Cheese, lunchmeat, and bread
• Tortillas or wraps and nut butters. I love Betsy’s Best .

Have you seen how expensive plastic water bottles are at gas stations? Yowza. Skip that mess. Fill a large container or two.

Refillable Water Bottles

Bring refillable water bottles. You’ll save a ton of money and the environment.

I particularly love a double-walled stainless steel insulated reusable water bottle. These keep your water cold and your coffee hot. If you want both handy, bring a separate insulated travel mug.

A Really Good Cooler

Speaking of saving money on a road trip , a good cooler is one of the best investments you can make.

Cut up some veggies and pack some lunch meat and cheese and you can make sandwiches on the go. That’s much better for you and cheaper than fast food.

You can also throw in your beverage of choice.

TLTip: Instead of buying ice, which melts quickly and makes everything soggy, fill an empty gallon most of the way with water and freeze it before you go. The large block won’t melt as quickly, and once it does you’ve got drinking water!

I’m a big fan of Coleman Xtreme coolers. After three days in 90-degree weather, the chicken broth I’d brought on our honeymoon camping trip was still frozen.

If you’ve got a long drive, you’ll get into your cooler more often. Bring a small cooler for that day’s drinks, snacks, and other meals. To keep everything both cold and dry, fill a small bag with ice instead of dumping the ice in the cooler.

Collapsible Containers

Collapsible food containers are road trip essentials because you can efficiently stow them when you’re done eating. They’re also good for any leftovers you might have when you do eat out.

Reusable Utensils

Grab a set of reusable utensils to keep in the car. You can get an inexpensive three-piece BPA-free plastic cutlery set or a sturdier titanium cutlery set .

Personal Care Road Trip Essentials

Hand sanitizer.

Hand sanitizer has always been a road trip necessity, but now it’s even more vital. Bring a large bottle and keep a refillable smaller container of hand sanitizer in your center console or your glove box so you can access it quickly.

The reality is that face masks are now an essential road trip item. They save lives, and are required in many areas. Keep a batch of disposable face masks handy.

Disinfecting Wipes

Always a camping essential, disinfecting wipes are a necessity for road trips, too.

Keep some wet wipes in your car. With these road trip essentials, you can clean up anywhere, any time. They’re gentle enough for a baby’s bottom, so they’re going to be gentle enough for your hands and your face.

First Aid Kit

You don’t need a big first aid kit, and you can even make one yourself. I picked up a pencil case and added bandages, cotton swabs, gauze, an Ace bandage, tweezers, small scissors, a cold/hot compress and triple antibiotic cream.

Prescription Medicines

Figure out how much you’ll need of any prescribed medication, then bring extra. You’ll also want to bring refill information and your doctors’ contact details.

Pain Medicine

We also bring along a small bottle of ibuprofen and migraine-strength medicine for Mr. TLT. If you prefer to buy one, Amazon’s got a wide selection of First Aid Kits .

• Insect Repellant

Who loves bugs? Nobody. Unless you’re a bird. Or an entomologist. Even if you do study bugs for a living, you probably don’t want them in your car, your tent, or on your body.

Bug Soother is my bug spray of choice. It’s all-natural and smells fantastic.

Hats come in handy when you’re having a bad hair day, but more importantly, they protect your head, face, and neck from getting sunburned.

Protect your peepers and bring some good sunglasses.

No matter where or when you’re traveling, or what your skin tone is, always have sunscreen handy. I’m a fan of sunscreen spray , but you definitely want to apply this when you’re not inside the car (unless you want everyone to be inhaling it for the next however many miles).

I usually apply more whenever we stop for a restroom or meal break.

Aloe vera or sunburn remedy

In case the sunscreen doesn’t work, or you forget to apply it, or you’re in the desert in July.

Drink Tabs/Electrolytes

If you plan on being active, bring drink tabs , especially if you’re going to be doing some vigorous hiking, biking, or climbing. Drop them in your water bottle and up your hydration level.

Hoping for sunny days won’t make it happen, so be prepared and pack an umbrella.

Rain Poncho

Umbrellas are great for limited coverage, but if you really want to stay dry, put on a rain poncho.

Travel Pillow

Avoid a crick in your neck with a travel pillow .

There’s no need to be uncomfortable in the car. Get cozy with a comfy blanket .

In case you do get rained on, or if you shower at a campground or truck stop, bring a towel .

Toilet Paper

Ya’ know. Just in case.

Bring a day pack for any exploring you want to do so you can store your snacks, water, drink tabs, sunscreen, lip balm, poncho, backup battery chargers for your phone, and whatever other essentials you need when you take a day hike.

Folding Camp Chairs

If you’re taking a longer trip, make sure to bring folding camp chairs . These are especially good if you want to stop for a picnic.

A Flexible Attitude

This – THIS – is by far THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO PACK .

Yes, I’m screaming at you. I feel that strongly about this: of all of these road trip essentials, a flexible attitude is the most important. If you can’t be flexible then a road trip probably isn’t for you.

But if you can be flexible, if you can take any hiccups and turn them into bonuses, then you’re up for an amazing experience.

Just like at a wedding, when you’re on a road trip something always happens. Things don’t always go according to plan, no matter how much you’ve planned things out.

Roll with it, and by the time you get home, you’ll have some unforgettable memories and a much richer life.

How to pack your car for a road trip

Organizing your vehicle for a road trip is a personal thing. For me, it’s a game of Tetris and I get a distinct feeling of glee when I’ve filled the trunk or the back of the SUV to capacity.

Other people would get hives looking at the way I stack things like they’re a bunch of building blocks.

I’m not going to give you a schematic or tell you the best way to arrange your stuff. I can, however, provide some general guidelines to help you cart all your things around in a logical way.

Store things you want to keep handy in your glove box, center console, and door pockets:

• Small hand sanitizer
• Baby wipes/wet wipes
• Itinerary with confirmation numbers

Put your small cooler behind the center console or the driver’s seat. This gives the passenger easy access to your cold drinks and snacks.

Put it on the passenger seat if you’re traveling solo. Don’t put it on the floor – you don’t want to try bending over to get a cool drink while you’re driving.

If it’s hot out and you’re driving a sedan, keep your large cooler inside the vehicle (unless you have other passengers, of course). If not, you can keep it in the trunk or the back of the SUV because you won’t be accessing it often.

Keep a trash bin or a plastic bag within easy reach as well. Those plastic cereal containers work well for shorter trips. We’ve used pet food containers for longer journeys.

If you’re taking a long trip, have a separate overnight bag for toiletries, pajamas, and possibly, a change of clothes. That way you don’t have to dig through all your stuff when you stop for the night.

Know where your First Aid kit is located. Hopefully, you won’t need it, but if you do, you want to put your hands on it quickly.

Keep like with like, e.g., store eating things, like dishes, utensils, seasonings, in the same container.

Store any non-perishable food items in a plastic bin so things like chips, bread, and bananas don’t get squished.

If you’re planning your adventure, pin this road trip essentials guide for later!

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The 12 best travel purses of 2024.

Find the ideal companion for your journey with features like anti-theft or hands-free capabilities.

The Best Travel Purses

Courtesy of Lo & Sons

Planning summer travels includes determining what purse works best for your itinerary. If you're going abroad, you may want anti-theft features and compartments with space for glasses, passports, sunscreen and more – but you can also find plenty of extras like built-in wallets, hidden pockets and key ring attachments. There's a wide range of different styles on the market to suit your travel purse needs.

U.S. News editors tapped travel experts for their top picks and researched dozens of review sites, including Amazon, online retailers, travel industry review sites and more, to come up with this selection of the best travel purses.

Best Overall: TUMI Voyageur Tyler Crossbody

• Jump to features and traveler insights ↓

Best Crossbody: Lug Ranger 2 Crossbody Bag

Best for europe: minooy eirene crossbody bag, best anti-theft: travelon anti-theft crossbody bag, best shoulder bag: vera bradley glenna satchel, best messenger bag: tory burch nylon small messenger, best backpack purse: calpak luka mini backpack.

• Best Small Travel Purse: Lo & Sons The Waverly 2 Small

Best Packable: LeSportsac Deluxe Everyday Bag

Best belt bag: dagne dover ace fanny pack, best sling bag: cluci small sling bag for women, best convertible: augustnoa mini noa.

(Note: Prices were accurate at the time of publication; they may fluctuate due to demand or other factors. We update this article regularly to ensure the bags we're recommending are in stock and continue to have great overall reviews from consumers, while also considering new product launches. Dimensions are listed in order of length by height by width.)

Courtesy of TUMI

What sets it apart: This sleek design blends fashion with function. The Tyler Crossbody by TUMI has multiple organizational features, including a spacious main compartment for a passport, camera and other personal essentials; a U-shaped front pocket with a leather card pocket and key leash; two front zippered pockets; and a back slip pocket. The upscale nylon construction is durable yet polished and it can be spot cleaned for when those spills happen. What's more, the detachable leather charm can be monogrammed.

Expert review: "This is one of my go-to handbags for any trip – especially European vacations," says Rachael Hood , a senior travel editor at U.S. News. "The pockets and separate compartment keep everything organized and quick to find. The nylon construction has a silky and upscale feel, and the overall design is versatile for travel or daily use."

Price: $295 or less

Courtesy of Lug

Full of organizational details, the Lug Ranger 2 has multiple compartments to keep essentials neatly stowed. The front zippered compartment has a built-in wallet with RFID protection and a key leash. Just above that, you'll find a magnetic-closure slip pocket on the front of the bag for your cellphone, to make answering a call or taking a selfie easy. The main internal compartment can fit your camera, snacks and personal essentials. There are two slip pockets for sunglasses or cords, plus a clear zippered pocket for sunscreen, lotion or other small liquids. The back zippered compartment has two pen slots and is ideal for wipes, a passport or other travel-related items.

Expert review: "I use this bag at least weekly, and I really like this design for weekend road trips," says Hood. "I have multiple colors and prints that I like to switch out for seasonality, and the wipeable and water-repellent material is forgiving, whether it's raining, snowing or I spill my latte."

Price: $80 or less

Courtesy of Minooy

What sets it apart: When traveling abroad, versatility is key, and this chic design by Minooy offers just that. Constructed of high-quality full-grain leather in a choice of four classic colors, this multicompartment travel purse is packed with details. The separate main zippered pocket keeps everything from lipstick to a phone cord in its place. The crossbody bag offers understated luxury, the RFID-blocking internal compartment has six card slots, and the outside zippered pocket can hold up to an iPhone 14 Pro Max or Galaxy S22 Ultra.

Expert review: Marisa Méndez , senior travel editor at U.S. News, adores this purse. "I love how soft the leather is on this bag as well as all of the pockets and loops for organization," says Méndez. "My favorite feature is that the entire bag is RFID-blocking so I don't need to worry about carrying a wallet; I can just use the card slots in the bag."

Price: $159 or less

Courtesy of Travelon

What sets it apart: Protecting your valuables is always important, but when you're traveling it's even more vital. This bag features Travelon's patented five-point anti-theft system, which includes slash-resistant handles and mesh panels within the walls of the bag. The bag also offers RFID protection, a locked main compartment, and the ability to fasten the bag to a chair or post to deter a thief in a restaurant, train station or airport.

Travelers appreciate: The lightweight construction of the bag, combined with the theft-proof security features and multiple pockets, makes this a traveler favorite. Owners of this bag say it holds all of your travel essentials from passports to sunglasses, and that it holds up well after years of use.

Price: $70 or less

Courtesy of Vera Bradley

What sets it apart: Machine-washable and available in an array of eye-catching prints to suit your style, the Glenna Satchel is a large shoulder bag ideal for city adventures, day trips, shore excursions and daily activities. The spacious main compartment has a zip pocket and three slips, along with room for a book, tablet, planner, phone and wallet. There are two exterior slip pockets to stow things like maps or handouts, and a hidden zip pocket on the outside as well to secure smaller items. For added options, the drawstring adjusts the size of the bag depending on your needs.

Travelers appreciate: Fans of this bag praise the functionality and the pretty print options of the satchel. Though, some do note that the straps could be longer.

Price: $110 or less

What sets it apart: Constructed with a 100% recycled nylon shell and trimmed in leather, this design gives major '90s vibes in all the best ways. The unstructured messenger bag is perfect for travel with an interior compartment for your wallet, phone, keys and more, plus an interior slit pocket and zippered pocket to keep valuables secured. The front exterior pocket of the bag zips, and the back slit pocket is ideal for your phone or items you want to reach quickly. Finished with a magnetic closure flap and a removable crossbody strap, this bag adds an element of style to your travel wardrobe.

Travelers appreciate: Lightweight, practical and functional are a few of the words bag owners use to describe this messenger bag. They say it works well for sightseeing, and that the bag can hold a lot without looking clunky or overstuffed.

Price: $248 or less

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Courtesy of CALPAK

What sets it apart : Designed with travel in mind, this mini backpack has a luggage trolley sleeve and matches the duffels and other items in the CALPAK Luka collection. You can put your tablet, wallet and other must-haves in the interior compartment; your cell phone and a travel umbrella in the exterior side pockets; your passport in the hidden back zippered pocket; and other items in the front zippered compartment. The bag's lining is water-resistant, the puffy exterior is soft and comfortable to carry, and the straps are adjustable to suit your needs.

Expert review: "The compact and functional design makes is possible to pack my iPad, reading material, a wallet and even a camera," says Hood. "Plus, I can coordinate my purse with other CALPAK Luka luggage items. The only downside is the two exterior pockets are a bit small, as they can't hold a water bottle."

Price: $72 or less

Best Small Travel Purse: Lo & Sons The Waverly 2 Small

What sets it apart: For a compact design with adaptability, this Lo & Sons design checks all the boxes. This convertible style has a two-part strap to transform into a belt bag, crossbody, clutch, shoulder bag or wristlet with ease. The neatly organized interior compartment has space for your phone and essentials with a three-slot zippered pocket, an interior slip pocket, and an exterior card slot ideal for a room key or transit card. Offered in a choice of natural-grain nappa leather, scratch-resistant textured Saffiano leather or plant-based cactus leather, this style can easily go from day to night or boardroom to ballgame.

Travelers appreciate: Buyers of this bag really like the option to adjust the strap to suit the day's events. They compliment the quality construction and overall look, with many saying it's great for travel because it can easily fit into a duffel or backpack.

Price: $178 or less

Courtesy of LeSportsac

What sets it apart: Made of recycled ripstop nylon, this lightweight and durable handbag can easily be packed into your suitcase and pulled out for use when you arrive at your destination. It lays flat when not full of your belongings. This roomy travel purse has plenty of space in its two main compartments for a wallet, water bottle, cell phone, on-the-go necessities and a few fun things you find along the way. The front has two exterior zippered pockets, and there's a back zippered pocket as well. With the adjustable crossbody strap, the bag can also be worn as a shoulder bag. What's more, LeSportsac continuously adds to the color and pattern choices in this classic bag with everything from beloved animated characters to florals or plaid.

Travelers appreciate: Handbag owners rave about the pockets, durability and color options for this style. Many note while it is great for travel, it's also ideal for everyday use with plenty of space for everything.

Price: $105 or less

Courtesy of Dagne Dover

What sets it apart: Offered in a choice of neoprene or air mesh, this versatile option is U.S. News' top fanny pack pick . This hands-free belt bag has an adjustable belt, a small front zip pocket (a great spot to stash cash for tipping) and a back panel exterior credit card. The roomy main compartment comes equipped with an elastic loop, a key clip and a card pocket to keep things easy to find.

Travelers appreciate: Wearers of this belt bag like the quality construction, color options and the overall versatility of the design. They also compliment the fabrication and say it holds the essentials without being bulky.

Price: $95 or less

Courtesy of CLUCI

What sets it apart: Available in a wide variety of colors, this hands-free crossbody bag is perfect for those on the go. The three zippered pockets are roomy enough for travel essentials like keys, sunglasses, lipstick, wallet and sunscreen. Place your ID and credit cards in the five interior card slots, so you can leave your wallet at home. The back pocket of this sling bag is ideal for keeping important items close to your body to prevent theft, and the adjustable strap makes it comfortable to carry.

Expert review: "My favorite travel purse is the vegan leather crossbody bag by CLUCI," says Sharael Kolberg , a U.S. News travel contributor. "Not only is it environmentally and animal-friendly, it's also stylish and easily fits my wallet, passport, reusable water bottle and snacks. Plus, the front pocket allows easy access to my smartphone."

Price: $25.99 or less

Courtesy of augustnoa

Compact and versatile, this sustainable style can be carried as a crossbody, an over-the-shoulder bag or a backpack. On the outside, there's a zippered front pocket ideal for a room key, transit card or lip gloss. The interior has a deep slip pocket, a mesh zippered pocket and a spacious compartment with room for a phone, a small point-and-shoot camera, hand sanitizer, a wallet, your passport and other essentials.

Expert review: "I love the carrying options of this bag, and the gold hardware really elevates the look of the purse. I find myself using this bag on walks and adventures where I want to bring my phone and camera," says Hood.

Price: $89 or less

Frequently Asked Questions

For European vacations, a lightweight and versatile style is key. Choosing a neutral color like black, brown or a metallic fabrication can help you take the same handbag anywhere from sightseeing to a nice dinner. A built-in wallet, anti-theft and RFID protection, and space for must-carry items are important. You'll also want to decide whether to carry your passport within your purse or have a concealed passport holder you wear under your clothing.

Purses with anti-theft straps are safest. Also, crossbody and belt bags that you wear around your body rather than a shoulder bag can help with safety.

You need to have space for your identification and passport for trips abroad, as well as credit cards, cash (have some easily accessible for tipping or street vendors), medications, prescription eyeglasses, sunglasses, hand sanitizer or wipes, and your phone.

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Rachael Hood has had a serious love for handbags her entire life. For everything from daily errands to global journeys, she has tried a variety of travel purse styles from an array of brands, discovering the good, the bad and the very best options. For this article, Hood used her personal experience along with retail merchandising background and research expertise to curate this list.

You might also be interested in:

• Editor Picks: The Top Travel Accessories
• What to Pack in Your Carry-on Bag
• The Top Toiletry Bags
• The Top Clear Stadium Bags
• The Top Carry-on Luggage Pieces

Tags: Travel , Travel Gear

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60 Useful Road Trip Gifts and Basket Ideas for Travelers in 2023

By: Author Kim Tate

Posted on Published: March 2, 2023

Planning a road trip or know someone who is traveling soon? For travelers that are heading out soon, how about you surprise them with some road trip gifts — perhaps you’ll even make them a road trip gift basket! As someone who has taken dozens of roadtrips, these are some of the best road trip gifts you can pack.

These ideas are also perfect for auction gift baskets – this road trip basket below is one I made for our class school auction!

In this article:

Best Road Trip Gifts Ideas

As someone who has taken a LOT of road trips, here are 60 of my favorite road trip gift ideas! This list has a mix of road trip gifts including road trip essentials, road trip gadgets, games for road trips, unique gifts, and even some ideas for family road trip gifts!

Affiliate links are included in this post so I may earn a small commission if you purchase with my link.

Road Trip Essentials

These items are essentials that will help make a road trip more comfortable, safe, and clean. They make great road trip gifts as they're practical gifts and most have a low price. Many of these can be added to a road trip gift basket to fill in space.

Rand McNally 2022 Large Scale Road Atlas

While we all rely on google maps on our phones these days, there's always a chance you'll lose your coverage while driving. A road atlas helps you navigate to where you need to go if you lose signal for some reason. Rand McNally makes great road atlases, this one is spiral bound with large-scale maps but they also make a traditional staple-bound atlas. A road atlas is one of the best road trip gifts.

If you're staying in one particular state or region, you might consider a paper map for that state that you can just store in your glove compartment versus a whole atlas.

Also, keep in mind that digital maps will probably tell you the best way to go to save time or mileage, but it might not be the most scenic way to go. A road atlas can help you look for scenic drives and routes.

While traveling in the car there's nothing worse than getting something on your hands and not being able to wash them. Wet wipes are a great item to pack as they can be used to wipe up spills and messes -- not just for kids! I recommend buying biodegradable eco-friendly wipes.

Hand Sanitizer

Of course over the past couple of years having hand sanitizer handy has been a big part of traveling. But our family has been packing hand sanitizer on road trips for a while. The 8 oz Purell pump bottles fit well in our van cup holders and is easily accessible for all. It's great for using after stops, after fueling up, and before eating.

Paper Towels

Going along with the keeping things clean theme, a roll of paper towels is a great item to pack for a road trip. These come in handy in a variety of situations, cleaning up messes, wrapping up wet or dirty items, or even cleaning up spills in the car.

Facial Tissues (Kleenex)

Having some facial tissues, aka kleenex on hand is helpful since there's a good chance someone will need to blow their nose at some point. These can also come in handy if you need to use an outhouse or "green latrine" while on the road. These travel packs work well for the car but I know some brands make canister-style facial tissues that are supposed to fit in cup holders, too.

Car Trash Bag

While you can certainly use a plastic shopping bag for this purpose, a car garbage bag can make a great road trip gift. This is the one we use and I love that it has an elastic neck which makes it easy to push trash in, plus it has a rolled velcro bottom that you can simply unroll to empty out the garbage when you get to a large garbage can. Great (cheap) gift for road trip travelers!

5 Organization Tips for Road Trips

Here are some tips for keeping your car clean and organized during a road trip -- which will help everyone enjoy the trip more!

Roadside Emergency Kit

A roadside emergency gift is an excellent road trip gift idea -- especially for teen drivers! You never know when you'll have an issue on the road and one of these items might just help you avoid a serious issue or inconvenience.

5 Steps to Prep Your Car for a Road Trip

And don't forget to make sure your car is road-ready and any car maintenance is up to date. You'll also want to make sure your spare tire is in good condition and ready if you get a flat tire.

Car Battery Booster Pack

While the roadside emergency kit above comes with jumper cables, that relies on having another car available to give you a jump. When you're on the road, a car battery booster pack is a good idea since you can jump your car without relying on the help of strangers.

First Aid Kit

While you should make sure you're covered for serious medical concerns and can access a hospital, minor scrapes can be fixed with a travel first aid kit. Remember some ibuprofen/acetaminophen, stomach chews (Pepto Bismol), allergy pills, and bug bite cream. We've used them all on road trips.

Helpful Tips for What to Pack in a Travel First Aid Kit

If you're traveling as a family, here are some helpful tips for what we pack in our travel first aid kit - many items are useful for traveling with kids!

Odor Eliminator Spray & Air Freshener

Let's face it, long stretches in a car with one or more people are going to lead to some stink. Pack along a bottle of air freshener / odor eliminator to help manage smells while on the road. This is an item that many don't think about packing and so makes a great road trip gift!

Reusable Insulated Water Bottle

Water bottles are great for road trips as they help you stay hydrated and can save you money from buying drinks at every stop. Insulated bottles can also be used for coffee in the morning and water later in the day.

I like to have a bottle that has a flip/slider lid and a straw option as those are the easiest for using while driving in my opinion (versus a screw cap bottle). Just make sure to get a bottle that will fit in most cup holders (like these Simple Modern ones)!

A reuseable water bottle is one of the best travel gifts!

If you're planning a long drive with multiple rest stops along the way, it can be useful to have a simple day bag that you can grab if you leave the car for a hike or even to run into a store. A sling bag like this can even hold smaller tablets and books, plus it has a pocket for a water bottle or umbrella.

Facial Wipes

For long, multi-day road trips, facial wipes can come in handy, especially in the summer. These work for men and women and can be useful in helping you feel refreshed and

Being in the car for a long time can lead to some dry lips, so having some lip balm on hand

There's nothing worse than dry eyes, especially when you're driving! Having some eye drops packed in the car can be a real lifesaver on a long road trip.

Dental Floss Picks

Since eating in the car or on the go is pretty standard for road trips, having some dental floss picks packed can help keep your mouth feeling clean after meals. I also try to buy biodegradable ones so I'm not adding plastic to the landfills.

Another comfort item for road trips is lotion. We like to use a pump bottle, but you can also use a travel-size tube,

Microfiber Cleaning Cloths

These microfiber cloths are especially handy for cleaning eyeglasses and sunglasses. But they can also be used for cleaning mirrors or windows or even the screens of DVD players, phones, and tablets.

Polarized Sunglasses

Driving in bright sunlight can be overwhelming and even dangerous. I have eyes that are sensitive to sunlight and a pair of polarized sunglasses is a huge help for driving during the day. Even people who don't normally drive with sunglasses can find these useful on the open road!

Slip-On Shoes

While these aren't necessarily a road trip gift you can gift someone you don't know well, slip-on shoes are definitely a road trip essential. You'll be making stops often and wearing shoes that tie will slow you down and become an annoyance for taking on and off when you're not driving. Of course, if you're a solo driver, you can wear whatever shoes you want since you won't be taking them off while in the car.

Travel Pillow

If you're going to be a passenger on a long road trip, you'll want to pack a travel pillow. Pillows like this one can be useful for traveling and make great gifts for a road trip passenger.

5 Reviews for the Best Travel Pillow

Check out my reviews for these different travel pillows.

Travel Blanket

Another road trip cozy item is a small travel blanket. This is useful for passengers if one person wants to keep the car at a cooler temp than others prefer. I also think being cozy makes it easier to fall asleep. This blanket also makes a great filling item for a road trip gift basket.

Travel Towel

If you're making stops along water and beaches, a travel towel can come in handy. We've stopped at roadside beach pull-outs and have always appreciated having a towel to dry off our legs and feet after taking a little walk in the waves.

Picnic & Outdoor Blanket

Planning some picnics or beach stops along the way? One of these fold-up picnic blankets is one of the best gifts for road trippers who like to enjoy nature along the way.

Reliefband Anti-Nausea Wristband

Keep in mind if anyone suffers from motion sickness while traveling. If so, be sure to pack some items to help with that. You can use medicine like Bonine, essential oils, ginger candies, or a Reliefband tech bracelet that uses electricity to help combat motion sickness.

Car Road Trip Accessories & Gadgets

For techy travelers, many of these road trip accessories and gadgets will seem like essential items! I'm making them their own category as they do offer some convenience and will certainly help plugged-in travelers stay connected while on the open road.

Car Power Inverter USB Charger

So many of us have electronics that will need to be kept charged during a long road trip. This power inverter also allows you to charge larger electronics like a laptop, in addition to having multiple USB ports for everyone to be able to charge their device. Great gift for a road trip with friends or family!

Portable Cooler Refrigerator

For road trippers that want to save money and eat on the road, a portable refrigerator that hooks to a car 12V outlet works great. It keeps food and drinks cool to enjoy later on the trip. This one comes with an AC plug too, so you can bring it in to plug in your hotel room.

We all know that driving can be dangerous, and these days proving who is at fault during an accident can come down to who has proof. A dash cam like this can help you prove what happened if something does go wrong while you're on a trip. (note, some US states do not allow you to mount dashcams to windshields, only dashboards)

If you're an Alexa-loving road tripper, consider "teching out" your car with one of these Echo Auto devices. You'll be able to go hands-free to play music, listen to audiobooks, and even play Alexa games.

Kindle Paperwhite

For travelers who love to read, having a Kindle can be a great gift idea. And for road trips, the glare-free Kindle Paperwhite is perfect for in the car. You can even get them with a trial for Kindle Unlimited which is a great service for avid readers!

Car Charger Phone Vent Mount

We love having this car mount in all our cars and I love that it charges my phone, too. Fits most phones and vents.

Handsfree Bluetooth FM Transmitter

If you or your friends have an older car, they might want one of these Bluetooth transmitters that let them connect their phones to their car through an FM radio station. Great for allowing you stream your favorite playlists and audiobooks from your phone to your car sound system.

If you like to keep your car clean while traveling, having a car vacuum on hand can be useful. This one plugs into a 12V outlet in the car and can help keep crumbs and dirt at bay. Make a great road trip gift!

Portable HEPA Air Purifier/Deodorizer

Since most road trips involve fast food and eating in the car, it's no surprise that your car can start to stink. This car gadget works to clean, purify, and deodorize the air. No more coming out to a car that smells like french fries from the day before!

Digital Tire Pressure Gauge

This handy road trip accessory gadget helps you check your tire pressure. It's always a good idea to drive with proper inflation and know if you might have a leak so you can get it fixed quickly!

Car Trunk Organizer

Here's another handy organization item that makes a great gift for road trips! Help your best friend keep things in order with a hanging trunk organizer. This one is great for vans and SUVs, but you can get sedan-sized organizers that work well for cars.

Car Window Shade

If you're buying a road trip gift for a group or someone who is traveling as a group, these car window shades can be useful. Often they're used by families for babies, but they work well for any passengers that don't want the sun beating down on them while they watch movies or sleep.

Cleaning Gel for Car

Here's another fun road trip accessory that makes for an affordable gift. This cleaning gel (aka slime) will seep into tight crevices and pick up rogue crumbs that a vacuum just can't quite reach.

Family Road Trip Gift Basket Ideas

Here are some great family road trip gift ideas that are perfect if you're shopping for someone who will be road-tripping with kids! These road trip gift basket items will keep the kids entertained and comfortable on the open road.

Road Trip Travel Games Gift Box

Here's a fun set of road trip games and activities for kids and it's already packaged together, making it ideal for adding to a family road trip gift basket!

Kids Travel Tray with Dry Erase Board

This travel tray can be a lifesaver for traveling families. Kids will have a surface to help them draw and eat, plus handy storage pockets for keeping their toys and activities from falling in between the seats!

Backseat Car Organizer with iPad Holder

If the kids are planning to watch some movies or shows on a tablet during the road trip, having a hanging pocket or mount can come in handy. This seat organizer serves that purpose as well as offering pockets for storing away other items.

Car Seat Organizer with Cup Holders

If you don't like the backseat mounted organizers, these organizers can sit in the middle seat next to kids to give them easy access to toys and snacks. Plus this one has cup holders!

Car Seat Headrest Pillows

One of the best ways kids can stay happy on a road trip is by sleeping, whether you're talking toddlers or teens. This neat road trip headrest gadget creates a cushioned rest for kids or adults to lean against which supports their heads.

Printable Road Trip Games for Kids - License Plate, Bingo, I Spy...

Check out my post with free printable road trip activities!

Shotgun! The Hilarious Family Card Game for Road Trips

Here's a fun road trip game perfect for grade school and teen-aged kids. Adults can even play along. This game is sure to bring laughs and great family memories!

Hidden Pictures Book Set

These are classics and I remember loving them when I was a kid. This pack of hidden picture books will keep kids entertained in the car and give parents a bit of peace and quiet while they search. :)

Free Printable Road Trip Scavenger Hunt for Kids

Print off this fun road trip scavenger hunt.

These are fun sensory toys for kids, letting them use their imagination to craft and build. They're fairly mess-free although you likely don't want to leave them in the hot sun as they're coated in wax to allow molding.

Crayola Color Wonder Mess Free

The Crayola Color Wonder Mess-Free art sets are perfect for traveling kids. The markers only work on the special paper, so no worries about marker messes on your car, and no stress about melting crayons!

Kids Travel Bag Activities to Pack for Vacation

Here are some fun travel activities kids can bring on the road.

Road Trip Activities and Travel Journal

This fun book is packed full of road trip games and activities for traveling kids. Great gift for kids who are writing.

LCD Writing Tablet for Kids

This brings back some memories of etch-a-sketch for me! Kids can draw whatever they want and then at the push of a button the screen is clear and ready for a new design. The name-brand version of this toy is Boogie Board in case you want to avoid the "knock-off" versions.

Dramamine Motion Sickness for Kids

If you're buying a road trip gift for a family who hasn't traveled much with their kids, adding these kids' motion sickness tablets could be a lifesaver.

Road Trip Gift Cards & Memberships

Another great idea for road trip gifts is to give travel lovers gift cards or memberships that will be useful on the road.

Roadtrippers Plus

One of my favorite tools I used on a recent road trip was Roadtrippers. It's a road trip planning app that helps you find great spots to see and things to do along your route. It even includes reviews and photos from fellow travelers. It's a perfect road trip gift!

National Parks Pass

If the road trip will be heading past national parks in the US, giving the gift of a National Parks Pass ($80) can be a great idea. Plus, there are even ways people can get a parks pass for free!

Audible Membership

Audiobooks are great to listen to on road trips, and a gifted membership to Audible will help road trippers stay entertained and maybe even learn something new while on the road.

AAA Membership

AAA is the leader in roadside assistance memberships, so a membership for their service can make a great gift. Many hotels also offer a AAA discount on hotel rooms which could help a traveler save money!

Gas Gift Cards

Buying a gift card for gas can be a bit tricky as you might not know what gas stations will be popular on the road trip route. However it's a fun gift idea with a definite road trip theme, so even a small amount to a local area gas station can get used.

Road Trip Snacks

Lastly, there’s nothing quite like snacks to help make a road trip great! Read my full list of road trip snacks , but these are a few of my favorites that make great gifts for a road trip gift basket!

• Fruit Leathers/Snacks
• Granola Bars
• Rice Krispie Treats
• Animal Crackers

I hope this list has been helpful. Many of these road trip gifts are a great way to prepare travel lovers for their upcoming trip while also providing useful gifts that they might not have thought of! Let me know if you have any other gift ideas I didn’t list.

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18 Road Trip Goodie Bags to Make Your Kids Smile

This post may contain affiliate links, view our disclosure policy .

“Are we there yet?” road trip goodie bags will be the solution that you’re looking for to fight boredom on your next family road trip!

Quite possibly the most simple and easy fix to keep kids occupied during long-haul car rides, road trip activity bags will keep your kids entertained when the hours on the road seem endless.

Keep the surprises coming with easy-to-assemble road trip goodie bags!

Some of the links on this page are affiliate links. By clicking on them, I may receive a small commission at no extra charge to you .

Table of Contents

Road Trip Goodie Bags: Who are they good for?

Containing snacks, trinkets, printable games, and activities, “Are we there yet?” road trip goodie bags are the perfect addition to adding fun and pizazz to a classic family road trip.

In addition, road trip goodie bags are good for children of any age!

At the time of our first epic road trip, our 3 boys were ages 7, 10, and 12. Though our 10 and 12- year-olds wouldn’t have normally played with trinkets or dollar store arts and crafts, in comes the exception!

All 3 of our children, despite their ages, were fascinated by the road trip goodie bags given to them in the form of a ‘gift’ along a boring stretch of Interstate.

Those of you with younger children will need to substitute age-appropriate snacks and toys.

Likewise, parents of girls vs. boys may choose to add in some gender-specific trinkets .

Alternatively, consider adding Itunes gift cards, books, magazines, and sugary snacks suitable for tweens and teens.

In other words, go with the general idea of these road trip goodie bags and add things that will excite you and your kids!

Additional planning tip: For the most successful, grumbling-free adventure, combine the use of these activity bags with my Top 10 Tips for a Family Road Trip .

Likewise, because traveling with kids ages 1 – 4 presents its own set of ‘challenges’, read up on these toddler-specific road trip activities that are sure to keep them preoccupied!

Click the following image to get your FREE family vacation packing list and BONUS Disney Day Bag packing list that is both customizable and printable!

Road Trip Goodie Bags: How much should I spend?

Each and every one of the following items was purchased at The Dollar Store knowing that their use is intended to be simple and short-lived.

They are basically ‘in-the-moment-sanity savers’.

In other words, nothing don’t buy anything fancy or expensive.

I made 18 bags for each of our 3 children. 9 bags for the way to our destination, and 9 bags for the return trip home.

Each bag contains 2 or 3 Dollar Store items with the exception of a few activity bags that contained more expensive items.

Additional planning tip: The total cost for our 54 “Are we there yet?” road trip activity bags was $90.00.

“Are We There Yet?” Road Trip Goodie Bags

“Are we there yet bags” are intended to be small surprises to give your children throughout the duration of an extended road trip.

They do not replace healthy snacks and meals that should be alternated with the candy and treats mentioned below.

Instead, refer to a reliable road trip food list for healthy meal and snack ideas when traveling.

Select bags based on their portability and size, and be sure to purchase treat bags that children cannot see through.

Likewise, buy enough bags to give to your children every 30 minutes to 1-hour throughout the duration of your family road trip.

1. Notebooks, markers, and stickers

Notebook of plain white drawing paper and a fresh new pack of markers. Insert some stickers for a little something extra.

2. Hand-held pinball game

Hand-held pinball game and a snack-size treat. Perfect to keep small hands busy!

3. Portable dry erase board

Travel size dry erase board and sweet and salty snack mix (or other fun snack!).

Everyone loves a good dry-erase board, but be careful, some of the markers’ ink are hard to get out of clothing.

4. Party favors

Why not have a party in the car?

Colorful party favors can be used as a small, fun toy. Add in some gum to keep the kids extra occupied!

5. Minnie Mouse chapstick and Minnie snack bags

Purchase themed-baggies to make individual portions of various snacks. Accompany the themed bags with a coordinating toy or accessory!

Pick and choose the characters of your choice.

6. Word search puzzle book and multi-colored pen

Help pass time in the car by playing road trip word games that involve family interaction and fun!

For silent play, purchase age-appropriate word search puzzle books, crossword puzzle books, or Sodoku puzzle books.

They may not be exciting for kids, per se, but they sure do pass a huge chunk of time!

7. Travel size play dough

Travel size playdough and a sweet treat that perhaps they have never had before!

Bypass this activity if you’re worried that your children are too small to use playdough without getting it all over the seats’ upholstery.

8. Punch balloons or bubbles

Punch balloons or bubbles are a great idea for a pit stop or roadside activity when everyone is needing to get a little energy out!

9. Felt-art or other coloring Kit with a sweet treat

Pre-packaged art kits are an awesome road trip activity and a perfect addition to your road trip goodie bags!

Because these are something that children are not always exposed to, opening this will be a sweet surprise.

10. Glow stick necklaces for nighttime travel

Kids love nighttime travel! Seeing the surrounding citys’ lights is always so fascinating to little ones.

Build on their excitement by gifting them with their own light bracelets or necklaces.

11. Bubble-Goo bubble blower

Insert any off trinket of your choice here. Though I typically don’t like trinkets laying around the house, they’re a perfect match for fighting road trip boredom !

12. Themed crayons and a marching snack-bag treat

How cute are these themed Ziplock baggies?

Check out every square inch of your local dollar store to find these and other clever dollar store items that are perfect for kids!

13. Sporty water bottle and water flavoring

Our kids get a kick out of adding their own flavoring to plain-ol’ water.

For added fun, they love to switch flavors and add more than one flavor to their water bottles to make their own flavor varieties.

Though this is a great addition to your road trip goodie bags, be sure to gift the water bottle when a restroom break is up and coming.

14. Balloons to blow-up and bop around

Another great pit-stop activity! Watch for small pieces around little ones, however, as balloons are known to be a choking hazard.

15. Squish-able bubble wrap and collector cards

A genius, but noisy way to beat road trip boredom!

Who doesn’t love popping bubble wrap? Especially when given your own small supply that is just enough to get under Mom and Dad’s nerves?

Pair this activity with a quieter option, like collector cards such as Pokemon’ or sports cards.

16. Color activity book and a calculator for pushing buttons and computing fun

Kids love pushing calculator buttons, especially when it’s not because they’re doing homework.

Dollar store calculators and coloring books are an inexpensive way to keep kids happy while on the road.

17. Putty, slime, or anything gooey!

You may cringe at the thought of a potential mess, but your kids will indeed have loads of fun with a hand-sized amount of putty of slime to keep them occupied.

Find a unique fluffy slime recipe here!

18. A destination-appropriate travel cup (Disney!)

Where ya headed? Stir up the excitement for your ending point by adding in some toys and trinkets that pertain to your destination.

Disney paraphanelia for a Disney vacation, hiking supplies for a National Park vacation, or sand toys for a beach vacation. Your options are endless!

There ya have it!

Easy peasy road trip goodie bags and surprise treats that can be customized per child!

Trust me, they will keep the kids entertained for hours!

What road trip activity is your favorite way to help pass time? Thanks for responding! Jen

If you liked this post on 18 ideas for Road Trip Goodie Bags , click here to check out our Related Posts:

• Words Games to Play in the Car With Kids
• Road Trip Food List and 9 Essential Travel Food Tips
• Road Trip Activities for Toddlers: Best Tips and Hacks
• Top 10 Family Road Trip Tips That Are A Lifesaver!
• Family Vacation Packing Tips: How to Pack Like A Pro
• Top 16 Tips For Flying With Kids (& Strategies to Keep Them Calm and Happy)

*Before leaving, be sure to check our Travel Resources Page to find exclusive travel discounts and to book hotels, rental cars, and guided tours.*

Jen Brommer is a family travel expert. She has been featured as an authority on several notable travel websites and is a member of the Family Travel Association (FTA), Midwest Travel Network, and TravMedia global media network.

A prominent content creator and influencer on Instagram, Jen has over 150K unique monthly blog readers from countries all over the world. She has spent the last 16 years planning fun, and hassle-free family vacations for her family of 5.

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I can’t wait to use these ideals the next time we take a trip. My son is 12 so I thought of even other ideals I can add to the bags.

Yay! I’m glad you came up with some fun ideas! Our oldest is 13 years-old and, yes, it is still fun picking out stuff for him too 🙂

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55 Road Trip Goodie Bag Ideas for Kids

By: Author Couch Potato Camping

Posted on Published: May 18, 2024  - Last updated: May 21, 2024

Categories DIY

Travel goodie bags are the perfect way to eliminate boredom on a road trip. Hours of driving with nothing to do can wear on your morale and your mood. Road trip goodie bags offer something to look forward to and break up the monotony of travel. After all, who doesn’t love opening up a small present of items chosen just for them to enjoy?!

For kids, busy bags for car trips also encourage positive behavior during the drive. No more whining, complaining or melt downs in the back seat.

And you won’t hear “Are We There Yet?” moaned a hundred times before the end of the day! When there is the promise of a present, you will be surprised at how well the kids can behave for a while!

Make your vacation goodie bags extra special with our printable travel goodie bag labels ! These labels allow you to write down the times or reasons of when and why the bags can be opened.

Put a few of the items in the list below in lunch-size brown paper bags and fold over the top to secure. Staple or tape one of these labels to the top of each bag.

Goodie Bag Ideas

When finding the best items for car activity bags, you want small items that won’t take up much room, as well as fun things to do that don’t require electricity or batteries. These are some of the best ideas for travel goodie bags for adults and for kids.

Fun Stuff to Do

• Travel Journal
• Word Puzzle Book
• Crossword Puzzle Book
• Old-School Pen and Paper Games (get our free download!)
• Sudoku Book
• Window Crayons
• Pack of Cards
• Rubik’s cube
• Coloring Book
• Paper dolls
• Mini Notebook
• Drink Koozie
• Kaleidoscope
• Old Fashioned View Finder
• Mini Puzzle
• Mini Lego Kits
• Magnetic travel games (this Minecraft magnetic game is a great STEM toy)
• Wipe-off activity book
• Charm bracelet making kit
• Book to Read
• Flavored Lip Balm
• Sheet Masks for a Spa-like Experience
• Manicure sticker sets
• Cash or Gift Cards for Destinations You Will Stop At (McDonald’s, Wendy’s, etc.)
• iTunes Gift Card
• Gaming Gift Cards

See our list of 52 Road Trip Activities for Kids for some more great ideas.

• Snack Size Potato Chips
• Snack Size Pretzels
• Trail Mix Packs
• Cookie packs
• Granola bars
• Dried fruit
• Squeeze pouches of fruit

Be sure to see our huge list of 317 Non-Perishable Foods for Camping for even more great ideas.

• Bottled water
• Soda bottles or cans
• Juice Boxes
• Boxed Milks
• Energy Drink

How to Use Travel Goodie Bags

Travel goodie bags are perfect for encouraging good behavior from kids in the car. Think of it as a bribe of not complaining!

Road trip bags for adults are also great to have something to look forward to. They are a great way to share your love with your boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, wife, or partner when they are not traveling with you.

Nothing says that you care like a fun treat bag full of things you know they will like.

Remember, you can print out these fun labels in 3 different styles that have times or ideas of when to open the bags.

Here are some ideas for using car activity bags for both adults and kids:

• Give out a bag after good behavior
• Promise a goodie bag for not complaining or asking “When Are We Going to Get There?”
• Help kids learn time by giving out a goodie bag at a designated time of the day
• Have travel goodie bags for adults to open each time they stop to stretch their legs (this helps encourage physical activity when driving)
• Make a goodie bag with a theme of stops along the drive.
• Hide a goodie bag in their luggage or in the vehicle for them to find along the way.

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Highly-rated luggage from Amazon for every type of trip

Choosing a piece of luggage or a travel bag can be a highly personal thing. The style you choose (duffel, spinner, backpack, etc.), the material it’s made out of and the color all come down to an individual’s preferences. Despite these preferences, everyone is looking for some thing durable, that can fit all of your  travel essentials  and make your journey easier.

Below, we’ve compiled 15 different pieces of luggage sold on Amazon. They have different features, but are all highly-rated and under $100. 

SKIP AHEAD Top-rated luggage and travel bags

Selected. Our top picks

select Planning a short weekend trip? These bags can keep your travel essentials in one place.

How we picked top-rated luggage and travel bags.

What you’ll need in your luggage will depend on the type of trip you’ll be taking and what you will be packing. That said, there are a few universal factors we looked for when selecting luggage and travel bags from Amazon.

• High ratings: We only considered bags that had a 4-star average from at least 1,000 reviews on Amazon. We paid special attention to those with even higher star averages and thousands of reviews.
• Size: Most of the bags on our list can be used as carry-ons, but we included a few larger options as well.
• Style: Some people prefer a duffel bag, while others may like a bag with wheels. To address all preferences, we included a variety of shapes and styles. 

Top-rated luggage and travel bags

We compiled highly-rated luggage and travel bags sold on Amazon in different styles — including rolling bags, duffel bags and backpacks — to help you find the right bag for your needs and preferences. 

Ibfun Weekender 3-Piece Set

With this set, you get a weekender bag, a crossbody purse and a toiletry bag. The bottom of the weekender bag unzips to reveal a compartment that can fit up to three pairs of shoes, according to the brand. The bag has a top handle but also comes with a longer shoulder strap. The toiletry bag has a wrist strap and the crossbody back has a small pocket sleeve on the inside to hold keys or your wallet. This set has a 4.5-star average from over 4,500 reviews and comes in 19 colors. 

Dimensions: 20.5 x 9.5 x 13 inches (weekender), 10 x 9 inches (crossbody), 7 x 4.5 inches (toiletry) | Material: Canvas and faux leather | Carry-On: Yes

Narwey Foldable Travel Duffel Bag

Made specifically to fit personal item dimensions, this bag will fit under the seat on most airlines, according to the brand. It is made from water-resistant nylon and has long, reinforced straps to fit over your shoulder, according to the brand. It has one large main compartment and a smaller zippered pocket on the outside and it can be folded up into a small square when not in use. This bag has a 4.4-star average from over 19,800 reviews on Amazon and it comes in over 20 colors. 

Dimensions: 18 x 13 x 6.3 inches | Material: Nylon | Carry-On: Yes

Wonhox Large Travel Tote Bag

This bag is expandable — just unzip the bottom to add an extra four inches of length to the bag. Inside you’ll find a large main compartment, three smaller pockets and a separate zippered pocket to store wet clothes in. When expanded, this weekend bag can fit two pairs of shoes, three to four outfits, a cosmetic bag and a laptop, according to the brand. It comes in a variety of colors (like pink , khaki and white ) and has a 4.7-star average from over 2,600 reviews on Amazon. 

Dimensions: 16.1 x 14.5 x 8.6 inches | Material: Polyester | Carry-On: Yes

Etronik Travel Duffel Bag

Available in medium and large sizes, both of which are carry-on compliant, this weekender bag has a USB charging port on the outside that you can plug your phone into when it needs some juice. Both sizes also have a separate shoe compartment, a separate compartment inside for wet clothes, a luggage trolley strap so you can slip it over a spinner suitcase and a detachable shoulder strap. This bag has a 4.5-star average from over 6,200 reviews on Amazon.  

Dimensions:  18.5 x 14.2 x 8.7 inches (medium), 21.7 x 16.5 x 9.4 inches (large) | Material: Nylon | Carry-On: Yes

Bagsmart Quilted Weekender

This duffel from Bagsmart, a brand that also makes highly-rated toiletry bags , has a 4.7-star average from over 2,380 reviews on Amazon. It comes in medium and large sizes, both of which meet most airlines’ requirements for carry-ons. Along with the main compartment, there are three small pockets on the inside. The outside of the bag features a pocket for a water bottle, a large zippered pocket for a laptop and a smaller zippered pocket for things like keys or your wallet. 

Dimensions:  19.5 x 8.2 x 11.5 inches (medium), 21.2 x 8.7 x 12.3 inches (large) | Material: Polyester | Carry-On: Yes

Bagsmart Overnight Bag

Slightly smaller than the medium weekender from Bagsmart, this quilted option can be used as a gym bag, overnight bag or hospital bag, according to the brand. It has a 4.6-star average from over 2,200 reviews on Amazon and comes in 11 colors, including pink , black and navy . The bag includes a removable shoulder strap, an outer pocket for a water bottle and multiple inner pockets. 

Dimensions:  18.5 x 11 x 8.5 inches | Material: Polyester | Carry-On: Yes

Wildroad 50L Travel Duffel Bag

When not expanded, this bag meets most carry-on requirements. Need something bigger (even if you have to check your bag)? Unzip two zippers to add four inches of length to this bag. The main compartment also has two large zippered pockets to store things in. This bag comes with a top handle, as well as an adjustable shoulder strap and a trolley sleeve. Choose from colors like army green , black and blue , all of which have brown faux leather accents. This bag has a 4.7-star average rating from over 1,100 reviews on Amazon. 

Dimensions:  20.8 x 10.2 x 11.8 inches | Material: Canvas and faux leather | Carry-On: Not when fully expanded

G4free Sling Bag

Keep your hands free with this sling bag, which is worn over one shoulder and across your back. The large, main compartment can fit items like a laptop, books or tablets. Then, there are three smaller zippered compartments on the outside of the bag to fit things like your wallet, keys and more. There is also a small zippered compartment on the strap that goes across your chest, to provide easy access to things you may need to grab quickly (like your phone). This bag is made with water-resistant nylon and has a 4.5-star average from over 5,600 reviews on Amazon.

Dimensions: 16.5 x 3.5 x 9.4 inches | Material: Polyester | Carry-On: Yes

Waterfly Crossbody Sling Backpack

This nylon crossbody from Waterfly, which was expert-recommended as a great travel accessory , comes in 17 colors and has an adjustable, reversible shoulder strap, lots of pockets (including two mesh side pockets) and a hidden earphone hole. It has a 4.5-star average from over 35,000 reviews on Amazon. 

Dimensions: 7 x 3.5 x 15  inches | Material: Nylon | Carry-On: Yes

Cuero Large Leather Duffel 

Cuero Large Leather Duffel

Made from real leather, this large duffel has a 4.4-star average from over 3,000 reviews on Amazon. It has a large main compartment and two medium-sized side compartments that can hold your shoes, tech or other items you want to keep separate from everything else. It also has two front pockets that you can use for smaller items. You can carry it by its top handle or use the double shoulder strap. This bag also comes in smaller sizes — including options that are 24 , 28 and 30 inches long. 

Dimensions: 32 x 11.5 x 10  inches | Material: Leather | Carry-On: No

Baosha HB-28 Canvas Weekender

This highly-rated bag has a 4.8-star average from over 3,500 reviews on Amazon. The main compartment can hold enough for a one to two-night trip and has a separate compartment at the bottom for shoes, according to the brand. It can be worn over your shoulder via shorter double shoulder straps or a longer detachable strap and it also has a trolley sleeve. 

Dimensions: 16 x 12 x 8  inches | Material: Canvas and faux leather | Carry-On: Yes

Coofay Travel Backpack

Think of this bag as a duffel that can be worn on your back. The bag unzips on three sides, much like a rolling suitcase and can fit three to four days’ worth of clothes, according to the brand. It also has a laptop compartment, a wet pocket and a separate shoe pocket. Padded shoulder straps also provide comfort when wearing it for long periods of time, according to Coofay. This bag has a 4.7-star average from over 2,700 reviews on Amazon. 

Dimensions: 16.5 × 11.8 × 5.9  inches | Material: Nylon | Carry-On: Yes

Wonhox Travel Backpack

Similar to the option from Coofay, this travel backpack comes in large and extra-large sizes, both of which meet the requirements to be a carry-on on most airlines. There is a separate compartment for shoes, an internal sleeve for a laptop and padded straps for comfort. This travel backpack has a 4.6--star average from over 6,000 reviews and comes in 10 colors — including purple , beige and green . 

Dimensions: 16.9 x 11.8 x 7.9 inches (large), 18.5 × 12.2 × 8.6  inches (extra large) | Material: Nylon | Carry-On: Yes

Wrangler Wesley Rolling Duffel Bag

This checked-size duffel bag can be carried by a dual top handle or you can pull out the retractable handle and glide it on two inline wheels. Along with the main compartment, there are four smaller outer compartments for added storage. This bag has a 4.3-star average from over 5,100 reviews on Amazon. 

Dimensions: 30 × 13 × 12  inches | Material: Polyester | Carry-On: No

Why trust NBC Select?

Bethany Heitman is a contributor at NBC Select and a journalist who regularly covers topics like beauty, home and lifestyle. For this story, she looked for top-rated luggage and travel bags for this story. 

Catch up on Select’s in-depth coverage of personal finance , tech and tools , wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook , Instagram , Twitter and TikTok to stay up to date.

Bethany Heitman is a contributing editor at NBC Select.

Every item on this page was chosen by an ELLE Decor editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.

The 19 Best Weekender Bags for Your Next Getaway, According to Our Editors

Escape to your next weekend jaunt in style.

In fact, we here at ELLE DECOR believe that the art of travel lies in an acquired sensitivity to which type of bag is best suited for the type of vacation. Headed to Martha’s Vineyard for some coastal R and R time? Dagne Dover’s Landon Carryall , with its waterproof neoprene exterior, is a fitting receptacle for the multiple bathing suit cover-ups you couldn’t decide between. Doing an overnight at some wooded escape? Patagonia’s 40 Liter Black Hole Duffel can contain anything you need to survive the weekend. Hitting up a Hamptons retreat for the weekend? Quince’s Italian Leather Triple Compartment Weekender will make you the belle of the East End ball.

Forget the days of rummaging in your parents’ basement for that one dusty old duffel—you’ve evolved and we have too. We’ve put dozens of duffels and totes to the test from the best travel brands out there. We’ve scoured product reviews and evaluated each bag based on organizational design , ease of packing, durability, and carrying convenience. But don’t take our word, pick one of the 19 most functional, sturdy, beautiful weekender bags on the internet right now—and see for yourself. Bon voyage !

Monos Metro Weekender

Is it a designer purse or a weekender bag? With a tote this chic, it's anybody's guess. Monos's Metro Weekender is a sleek multifunctional bag made of water-resistant nylon twill and vegan leather details. A zippered lower storage area is made with a water-resistant TPU coated interior that's ideal for a few pairs of shoes. An outer sleeve fits up to a 16-inch laptop, and a built-in trolley sleeve fits securely around the handle of a suitcase—and when not tethered to a roller bag, converts into an extra pocket.

Dimensions: 17" L x 12" H x 7" W | Material: Nylon and vegan leather

A Monos reviewers says: "As I walked through the airport, I was literally stopped and asked 'where did you get that bag, it's beautiful!?' While the bag is definitely beautiful, it is also practical. There are lots of useful, easily accessible interior/exterior pockets for wallet, phone, eyeglasses, laptop, so everything was organized inside the bag. I tucked my crossbody purse inside along with a denim jacket and still had plenty of space. I liked the zipped bottom section where I put shoes...This is a GREAT bag."

Calpak Luka Duffel

Yes, you've seen this bag before. Calpak's Luka Duffel—a.k.a. this summer’s It bag—is a tote that lives up to its reputation. It boasts a shoe compartment and a whopping eight additional pockets. Our favorite feature? Many a reviewer is raving about how water resistant it is and how easy it is to clean.

Dimensions: 16" L x 12" H x 8" W | Capacity: 25 L | Material: Polyester

A Calpak reviewers says: "After seeing this bag everywhere online, I finally decided to go for it in advance of my 10 day trip to Europe. I can’t say enough. It’s amazing how much I was able to fit and still push it easily under the seat on my flight. It’s extremely durable and wipes off easily. Definitely worth the price!"

Mark & Graham Leather Overnighter

The classic leather bag has been a mainstay for people on the go since the dawn of time. And while Mark & Graham's duffle is a fine tribute to its former renditions, its designers have given it a few characteristics worthy of a modern traveler. Made from leather with a soft cotton lining—plus a monogram option for a unique touch— this beauty is proof that San Francisco-based Mark & Graham knows leather.

D imensions: 22" L x 11" H x 9.75" D | Material: Leather and cotton (lining)

Leatherology Kessler Medium Duffle

Can't decide between a classic leather bag and a designer purse? Leatherology's medium leather duffle is both. Its finely-grained texture and soft feel make for a sturdy-yet-supple exterior that is a testament to its quality. To be sure, it's as chic as that petite Louis Vuitton clutch that barely fits your cell phone and some lipgloss—but with the promise of comparatively endless bag real estate.

D imensions: 22.25" L x 13.5" H x 10" D | Material: Leather

A Leatherology reviewers says: " Terrific quality leather. Was looking for a soft, supple full grain leather and this was the perfect find. Love the vibrant blue color. I already own the same type of laptop case so now this is a great set for travel. Beautiful polished metal buckles. My only recommendation would be if this could be a tad bigger."

Dagne Dover Landon Carryall Bag

For this ELLE DECOR editor, Dagne Dover's Landon Carryall bag has become that bag yours truly won't leave home with out. It has survived three years' worth of weekend escapades, gym visits, and sticky ice cream mishaps (mother, here!). Still, the bag (I have it in light gray) shows little signs of wear. Its neoprene makeup makes for a unique essential that is water resistant and everything-protective. But don't take our word for it—some 4,417 reviewers have also given it their five-star stamp of approval.

D imensions: 16.5" L x 11" H x 9" W | Capacity: 29L| Material: Neoprene

A Dagne Dover reviewers says: "I was honestly shocked at how great of quality this bag was. It's the perfect size for a weekend trip (I am an over packer). and the black color is so sleek. It even came with a drawstring bag to protect in storage. Amazing!! Cannot wait to travel more this summer."

MZ Wallace Black Rec

Skipping town for a spontaneous overnighter? MZ Wallace's Black Rec bag is perfect for that last-minute getaway, complete with seven exterior pockets. a key ring strap, and a luggage sleeve. Its black nylon exterior and signature red leather edging make for a sexy exterior, no matter how many items you've crammed into this tote-turned-porthole.

D imensions: 16.93" L x 12.20" H x 7.09" W | Material: REC Oxford and black Italian leather

A MZ Wallace reviewers says: "Love it. Excellent carry on tote. It was functional and the pockets were exactly what I needed to hold my tablet, my phone and all the other things I like to travel with. I even put my travel pillow in and it fit under the airplane seat perfectly. Very light."

The Weekender in Beige

If you need a second opinion on Beis’s most popular travel bag, look no further than the 12,612 reviews—all of which are mostly five stars. Little surprise, given that this bad boy is an impressive 19 inches in width. "Literally bigger in person and when you think it's full, it's not," notes a happy reviewer. An overpacker's dream.

D imensions: 19" L x 15.7" H x 9.8" D | Capacity: 49 L | Material: Jute canvas and vegan leather

A The Weekender reviewers says: "Beis has officially taken over my travel closet😍 All Beis errythang!"

lululemon City Adventurer Duffle

Lululemon's City Adventurer Duffel certainly makes our list, a classic, no-frills bag that suggests a sporty vibe but is versatile enough to fit in anywhere. Carry it by the handles or across the body with the detachable strap—and you're set to jet anywhere.

D imensions: 18.1" L x 11.6" H x 9.3" D | Capacity: 29 L | Material: Recycled polyester and nylon

A Lululemon reviewers says: "I love this bag. Perfect amount of pockets, I love the bottom compartment. It’s become my go-to bag for almost everything."

Patagonia Black Hole Duffel

This is a bag that doesn't mess around. Patagonia's Black Hole Duffel, which can seamlessly function as both a duffel bag and a backpack, is the kind of bag that can be useful in any scenario, whether you're trekking across Europe's cobble stone streets or galavanting off to a nearby Airbnb retreat. The sleek matte finish is available in eight different colorways and four different sizes, ranging from 40 liters to 100 liters—the latter of which is big enough to fit a small adult in—with room to spare.

D imensions: 19" L x 15.7" H x 9.8" D | Capacity: 40 L | Material: Recycled TPU-film laminate

A Patagonia reviewers says: "Just took this duffel on its first trip! Used packing cubes which I totally encourage to keep everything organized. So far I love it. It is roomy and also I managed to pass it as a personal item on multiple airlines when I wore it a backpack (just got lucky because it is quite large). Next, it comes with me on a two week European adventure. I look forward to using it for years to come!"

Katie Loxton Chelsea Weekender Bag

Katie Loxton's bestselling bag is worth every penny. Its sleek, modular design makes it easy to sit in narrow spaces. Its vegan leather-covered straps that stand up on their own, giving it more of a feminine purse vibe that is far from clunky. The crossbody strap is removable—and it comes in three colorways, including this deliciously understated mink, which will match with any outfit you choose to flaunt for your moment in the sun. Did we mention they'll personalize it for you?

D imensions: 23.06" L x 12.25" H x 9.43" D | Material: Polyurethane leather

Zara Travel Duffel Bag

Don't discount fast fashion for a bag option. Their faux leather duffle bag is a decent specimen in the running—at a fraction of the price (most weekender bags retail for well over $100). It features a small interior pocket, a front flat open pocket, and two handles with an adjustable and removable strap. Throw a few packing cubes in there, and you're ready to hit the road—with money to spare for that summer frock you've been eyeing.

D imensions: 16.9" L x 12.2" H x 7.7" D | Material: Polyurethane and polyester

Bostanten Judea Leather Travel Duffle Bag

Bostanten's preppy-chic tote bag will make you the grand dame of any social event this season. This water-resistant weekender features an elegant bottom shoe compartment that doesn't detract from the bag's proportions. Inside, there are six pockets. Described by one reviewer as spacious enough for a pair of shoes and charge of clothes as well as toiletries for an overnight trip—you'll have everything you need for a low-effort three-day escape.

D imensions: 17.72" L x 12.6" H x 8.66" W | Material: Polyurethane leather

A Bostanten reviewers says: "This bag is nothing short of amazing. The quality of the leather and stitching are great and the bag seems durable enough to last a long time. This is definitely perfect for that weekend getaway."

Herschel Supply Co. Novel Duffle

If you want to have your cake and eat it too, Herschel's novel duffle is just the treat. It's a versatile bag that boasts plenty of storage, an attachable shoulder strap, and the classic Herschel style. All the while helping to save the planet, as it's signature Raven Crosshatch material is composed of 100% recycled post-consumer water bottles. As if you didn't need any other reasons to click "Add to Cart," it even has a secret shoe compartment.

D imensions: 20.5" L x 11.5" H x 11" D | Capacity: 42.5 L | Material: Recycled post-consumer water bottles.

A Herschel Supply Co. reviewers says: "I travel a lot and this duffle is my favourite thing to pack in. It can hold so much, not to mention the great shoe compartment so that your clothes do not get dirty! I highly recommend this duffle for travelers."

Winnow Charleston Green Cabana Stripe Weekender Bag

Ready to embrace poolside vibes? Nothing beats the clean lines of a classic stripe. This quilted fabric, with two grab handles and a long shoulder strap, is ready to transport you and your closet from car to plane to sand. Its gold zippers and hardware offer a sophisticated edge, and its chic monogram moment allows fellow beach house bunkers to know exactly who's It bag this is.

D imensions: 19.6" L x 11.8" H | Material: Cotton and poplin

Cotopaxi Allpa Travel Pack

The most OCD of packers will gladly eschew any additional organizational containers when packing for a weekend away with Cotopaxi's Allpa Travel backpack—It's all there already. This durable backpack has its own inner compartments, including a hidden laptop pocket that is easily retrievable for that awkward TSA moment when they call for electronics. With gear this impressive, why end the fun after just three days? Plus, buying a Cotopaxi product is basically contributing to a charity, as the company donates at least 1% its annual revenue to grants through their Utah-based nonprofit—an initiative that’s reached 3.8 million people, according to the company.

D imensions: 22" L x 12" H x 10" D | Capacity: 35 L | Material: TPU-coated 1000D polyester and nylon paneling

A Cotopaxi reviewers says: "I love everything about this travel pack. It is so easy to use and I can fit SO MUCH STUFF in it. Using it to pack clothes for a short stay in Barcelona before our cruise, but I love it so much I'm ordering another one for my husband and we plan on taking only these for our Greek Isles cruise in October 2025!"

Longchamp Expandable Travel Bag

Going on a trip that might require more luggage space after you've bought all those souvenirs? Enter the Longchamp Expandable Travel Bag, which expands to nearly double its size (to 20.5 inches). We're obsessed with the steel color, which feels like a fun pop of color but also pairs with anything you're wearing.

D imensions: 17.75" L x 20.5" H x 9" D | Capacity: 49 L | Material: Jute canvas and vegan leather

A Longchamp reviewers says: “I snagged this on a rare markdown in red and didn't use it until I took went overseas. It is a terrific bag for airline carry on and hotel room, especially on longer trips. Like Le Pliage totes, this bag folds up, saving space at home or on the go. I always take a folded Le Pliage large tote in this carry on for use upon landing and at my destination. This expandable bag is great when returning from trips with more stuff.”

Quince Italian Leather Triple Compartment Weekender

This triple compartment weekender is almost too chic to be called a weekender bag. With its Italian leather exterior, removable and adjustable shoulder strap, and metal feet to protect it from dirty surfaces (we see you airplane floor!), this bag is proof that quality is in the details.

D imensions: 19" L x 15.7" H x 9.8" D | Capacity: 49 L | Material: Italian leather and cotton twill A Quince reviewer says: "This is a beautiful quality bag. It is substantial and has great organization. It will be an heirloom piece."

Large Travel Duffel Bag

Vera Bradley’s personality-filled duffel will inevitably get you many “where did you get that?” questions. But, of course, it's what's inside that counts: Three mesh slip pockets form the interior, perfect for flat irons, your socks, or shower products. At 50 liters, this is the biggest bag in our lineup—because a new swimsuit each day is the bare necessity.

D imensions: 22" L x 11.5" H x 11.5" D | Capacity: 50 L | Material: Cotton

A Vera Bradley reviewers says: "I packed 7 pairs of pants and shorts (1 pair of jeans, ) 7 tops, 2 dresses, a swimsuit and coverup, underwear, 2 bras, 2 pairs of shoes, and a Vera Bradley Hanging Travel Organizer in this duffle for a recent trip, and it all fit beautifully."

Ralph Lauren Heritage Leather Duffel

If it’s good enough for Ralph , it's good enough for us. This Ralph Lauren weekender is as chic as this year's clothes collection. Its full-grain leather and finished Polo Heritage logo debossed on the front, makes for a forever weekender bag that is actually worth passing on to posterity—but not until you've had your fun with it.

D imensions: 23" L x 10.5" H x 1.5" D | Material: Leather and a cotton interior lining

A Ralph Lauren reviewers says: "This is the the carrying bag that I had my eye on getting when I first saw it in the store in the blue suede. But when I saw the tan in color leather one I was sold and it was a must buy once getting it I can tell you that it is a nice size large bag and worth the money."

Why Trust Us?

For more than three decades, ELLE DECOR has covered style makers, trendsetting interiors, and must-have home furnishings. With a focus on the latest design trends and ideas about how to incorporate them into improving your own space, we’re your go-to resource for elevating and beautifying your home. Our team of editors and interior design pros research and review every new article we publish to ensure you have the most up-to-date, expert-approved information.

Rachel Silva, the Assistant Digital Editor at ELLE DECOR, covers design, architecture, trends, and anything to do with haute couture. She has previously written for Time, The Wall Street Journal, and Citywire.

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Money blog: 'Stealth tax' on Britons' incomes to stay until 2028

A squeeze on people's incomes due to frozen tax thresholds will continue until 2028, with the Tories and Labour confirming they wouldn't end the "stealth tax". Read this and the rest of today's consumer and personal finance news below, and leave your thoughts in the comments box.

Thursday 30 May 2024 23:11, UK

• 'Stealth tax' on incomes to remain until 2028, Hunt says
• Energy prices 'will be high for a decade'
• Think twice before buying clothes from Zara before your holiday
• Scotland to introduce tourist taxes

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Ask a question or make a comment

Energy prices are expected to rise again in the autumn and last week's announcement of a cut in the cap from July should not be taken as a "sign of stability", the head of the Energy Saving Trust has said.

"Confirmation that energy prices are coming down for the next quarter is very welcome," Mike Thornton said.

"However, no one should take this lower price cap as a sign of stability."

He added: "Forecasts show that energy prices are set to rise again this autumn and will be staying high overall for the next decade."

He urged the next UK government - to be decided in the general election on 4 July - to focus on policies that "support people to use less energy and install cost-effective energy efficiency improvements in their homes".

The cap will fall to £1,568 a year from 1 July - a drop of £122 from the previous quarter. 

McDonald's customers have taken to social media to complain about a "naughty" detail in one of its new deals. 

The fast food giant started a new mix and match deal this week - which allows shoppers to pick up three items for just £3 in store.

However, those ordering online have found the price increase to £4 for the same deal. 

Writing in the Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK group, one user shared a screenshot of her My McDoanld's app, writing: "It's gone from 3 for £3 to 3 for £4. Which is odd, or is that cause it's on the app."

Another branded the price difference "naughty". 

McDonald’s has since confirmed that this price is correct on app.

The increase is due to delivery fees charged by couriers like Uber Eats, Deliveroo and Just Eat - and is fairly standard across the industry. 

Sony Music is reportedly in talks to purchase the entirety of rock band Queen's music catalogue in a deal mooted to be worth some $1bn (around £800m). 

Bloomberg reports  the company has partnered with another anonymous investor to engage Brian May, Roger Taylor, John Deacon and the estate of Freddie Mercury over a sale that would be the largest of its kind.

Queen Productions Ltd, of which the bandmates and Mercury's estate are equal shareholders, recorded revenues of $52m in the year that ended in September 2022. 

This comes after the catalogue of Bruce Springsteen was acquired by Sony in 2021, while rival Warner Music bought David Bowie's songbook for around $250m in 2022, as industry giants battle to invest in songwriting catalogues. 

They are seen by many as attractive investments as the music can be used in future films, advertisements and on the radio - which all produce royalties for the rights owners. 

A squeeze on people's incomes due to frozen tax thresholds will continue until 2028 under Tory plans, Jeremy Hunt has confirmed.

Rishi Sunak introduced a freeze on tax-free personal allowance thresholds (the amount you can earn before you start paying tax) when he was chancellor back in 2021. In his autumn 2022 budget, Mr Hunt extended the time it would need to be in place from 2026 to 2028.

The frozen rates mean many have failed to feel the benefit of a the national insurance cut which kicked in this year.

The Office for Budget Responsibility also estimates the static rates will drag an additional four million people into paying tax by 2028 and push three million into a higher tax bracket. This is because wages will go up alongside inflation but the threshold won't. 

The policy is often referred to as a "stealth tax".

Mr Hunt told BBC Radio 4's Today programme today: "The tax rises that happened as a result of the pandemic and the energy shock, these two giant shocks, will stay for their allotted time period."

But he reiterated the Conservatives' pledge to end the freeze after 2028, saying: "I can absolutely undertake that the threshold freeze that we introduced until 2028 will not continue after that."

The Tories have said they will unfreeze the thresholds for pensioners if they win the election.

Labour has also refused to commit to unfreezing overall tax thresholds.

Sir Keir Starmer said earlier that he believed the tax burden on working people was "too high" but that his party was not going to "make commitments that we cannot afford".

"Therefore I'm very clear about the tax that will remain and will be locked and where we cannot make those commitments," he said.

What are the tax thresholds and what do they mean?

The personal tax allowance is frozen at £12,570. You don't pay income tax on anything you earn below that - anything above is taxed at the 20% base rate. At the same time, the higher rate has been frozen at £50,271 - anything above that is taxed at 40%.

Tom Selby, director of public policy at AJ Bell, said the personal allowance, if it had been inflation-linked since 2021-22, would be forecast to rise to £15,989 by 2028 - nearly £3,500 higher than the frozen threshold.

Tourists headed to Scotland for holidays will face a tourist tax for hotels, bed and breakfasts and holiday lets.

The Scottish Parliament passed the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Bill two days ago, meaning local authorities can set a charge for overnight accommodation.

According to the bill, the fee will be a percentage of the cost of a hotel or other room.

For instance, a 1% levy on a £200 booking means a visitor would pay £2 in tourist tax.

However, any charges or levies will not come into effect until spring 2026, as councils will first have to consult local businesses before carrying out an 18-month implementation period.

Those receiving disability benefits will not pay any charges, with children and young people also exempt.

Ministers will also have the power to set a cap on the number of nights where a levy would apply.

It will also be up to councils if they want to put a charge in place - but with Holyrood research suggesting 17 of Scotland's 32 councils backing the plans, it is likely some visitors will be hit by charges.

Scotland's employment and investment minister Tom Arthur said on Tuesday the charge would be a " force for good", suggesting it "has the potential to be an important tool enabling investment in the local economy, and supporting an important industry".

However, Scottish Conservatives argued there needed to be a more "robust" exemption scheme, with housing spokesman Miles Briggs saying: "Scots will be pretty unhappy when they realise that they will have to pay a 10% tax to stay in a hotel when their house is flooded."

The new law means Scotland joins Manchester, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole in charging tourists to stay the night.

Manchester's £1-a-night City Visitor Charge was introduced last April, and is estimated to have raised around £2.8m in its first year.

European hotspots like Barcelona and Venice have also introduced tourist taxes, with the Spanish city charging visitors €3.25 if they're staying in official accommodation.

Workers posing as Disney favourites such as Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and Snow White in California have formed a union - Magic United.

There are roughly 1,700 performers and assistants who help to bring popular characters to life at Disneyland near Los Angeles.

Disney has faced allegations of not paying them a living wage, despite many facing exorbitant housing costs and commuting long distances.

Parade performers and character actors earn a base pay of $24.15 (£19) an hour, up from $20 (£15.75) before January.

Read on here... 

Nike is celebrating a partial victory over rival brand Adidas in court, as it has been permitted to put three stripes on some of its clothing designs in Germany.

The decision came during a second appeal hearing between the two sportswear brands at a regional court in Dusseldorf.

The court previously barred Nike from using two or three stripes on five trouser designs due to a lawsuit filed by Adidas in 2022, which is on a mission to protect its trademark three-stripe design.

Following the appeal, Nike can now use the stripes on four disputed trouser designs, while a ban for one is still in place.

Adidas has filed dozens of lawsuits and signed hundreds of settlement agreements related to its three-tripe design since 2008.

The Conservatives and Labour have ruled out VAT hikes if either party wins the election.

Jeremy Hunt, the chancellor, said tax rises on products and services would "hammer families' finances", while shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves said Labour did not plan to raise tax, national insurance or VAT.

The pledges come after the Institute for Fiscal Studies said the next UK government would face the toughest fiscal inheritance in 70 years.

Ms Reeves said: "I want taxes on working people to be lower, not higher."

New tax rises were restricted to those policies already announced, such as a plan to charge 20% VAT on private school fees, she said.

Writing in The Telegraph, Mr Hunt said: "We won't increase the main rate of VAT for the duration of the next Parliament."

He continued: "A VAT increase will hammer families' finances and push inflation back up."

He urged Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer to make a similar commitment "on camera".

Follow all the latest election campaign news live in the Politics Hub ...

People who bank with TSB have had trouble getting into the mobile app this morning.

Many took to social media to report difficulty logging in to their accounts.

The official X account of TSB, responding to several complaints about the app being down earlier, said: "We're aware that customers are experiencing issues with our digital services. We're sorry for any inconvenience and are working hard to resolve it."

One customer reported that the app had remained down overnight:

In an updated statement, the bank said the issue has now been resolved.

"We're sorry for any inconvenience it caused," it said.

By Daniel Binns, business reporter

Shares in Auto Trader have rocketed more than 13% to a record high this morning.

It comes after the company reported a bumper set of results for the 2023/24 financial year - including a 26% rise in group operating profits.

The online car marketplace says recent demand has been strong - and it expects its performance to continue.

Dr Martens is also up on the FTSE 250 index - despite revealing it suffered an almost 43% fall in pre-tax profits during the 12 months to March (read more below...)

Its shares climbed more than 9% at one point earlier this morning, but have since eased back to almost 6%.

The British footwear brand has said it is "confident" it can revive its fortunes and says it plans to make savings of up to £25m to turn things around.

Elsewhere, the FTSE 100 is pretty flat - it opened 0.2% down but is currently up by a tiny 0.03%.

Mining firm Anglo American is among the companies hit by falls this morning.

Its shares have dropped by just over 1% after its rival BHP Group walked away from a proposed £38.5bn takeover of the company.

On the currency markets, £1 buys $1.27 US or €1.17 (or €1.1753, to be precise).

It comes after the pound reached a 19-month high against the Euro at one point yesterday - with £1 equalling €1.1784 - before later dropping back down.

The cost of a barrel of benchmark Brent crude has dipped slightly compared to yesterday. The price is $83 (£65).

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