Road Trip Essentials: Must-Haves for Family Travel

As our family prepares for our next road trip, we’re sharing our favorite road trip tips and resources. Here’s our list of Road Trip Essentials for your vehicle.

Day Trip Essentials | Road Trip Essentials | Road Trip Apps | Ultimate Packing List

Car Care

Hopefully you have many of these in your vehicle already. This section doesn’t include any vehicle-specific items. Needs vary so widely from car to car and family to family that we’ll hope you take what works for your family and leave the rest!

Atlas

I know you plan to use GPS, but let’s face it, electronics are unreliable. An atlas works when you aren’t in range of cell service or your phone’s battery dies.

It also serves as entertainment for our children! They like to see where we are and where we are going. The atlas helps them understand the relationship better than GPS.

License & Registration

Be sure that each driver has his/her license handy and that both the current driver’s license and the car’s registration are accessible from the driver’s seat.

Insurance

Printing out a couple copies of your insurance information will save you time and frustration if something happens to your vehicle. Be sure these items are also accessible from the driver’s seat as accidents can limit access to a car’s trunk or other areas.

Review your policy to see if you qualify for roadside assistance. We have saved the phone number for roadside assistance in our phones so we don’t need to search through documents during the stress of a roadside issue.

Additional Paperwork

Passports and medical documentation, if they are relevant to your destination or travelers, may also be important to bring.

Spare Tire, Tire Iron, & Jack

Be sure your spare tire is in good working order before taking off on your trip!

Emergency Kit

Your emergency kit should include flares or reflectors in case any issues arise. Other good items to have include Fix-a-Flat, jumper cables, coolant, oil, and replacement wiper blades and/or fluid.

An ice scraper is a good addition to your emergency kit for cold climates.

Also consider packing a back-up battery or power bank for your mobile phone in your emergency kit.

Electronics

We rely heavily on our mobile phones while traveling, both for navigation and entertainment. A little tech can go a long way when it comes to road trips, so we recommend postponing the unplugging till you’ve reached your destination.

Mobile Phone Car Mount

Most of us rely on our mobile phones for navigation. A car mount gives you hands-free access, plus the ability for other passengers to view the route, limiting the “How much longer?” prodding.

Chargers, Cords, and Cables

Multiport car chargers are my top pick for family travel as they allow two or more devices to charge at a time. Be sure to also bring wall chargers for when you reach your destination.

Be sure to bring enough of the correct cords/cables for all of your devices!

Headset

Many states have laws against driving while wearing headphones or earbuds in both ears. Drivers can still use a single-side headset to take calls. I use mine to listen to podcasts while on the go.

Passenger Entertainment

Mobile phones or tablets with headphones can keep little ones occupied for hours on end.

Clean-Up

This is the perpetual struggle of road trips! We’ve learned over time what works for us, which includes a large reliance on disposable bags and wipes. When possible, we reuse items and seek out eco-friendly products (biodegradable or compostable).

Car Seat Protectors

Perfect for those who are potty training or prone to travel accidents, a waterproof car seat protector is an under-the-car-seat protector that keeps your vehicle’s fabric or leather safe from accidental spills.

Trash Bags

Old grocery store bags are perfect for this because they are free, plentiful, and easily tie to contain potential spills. We also like the sturdier plastic bags from stores like Lidl or Aldi as they fit perfectly between our front seats (by sliding the handles onto the arm rests).

You can also use plastic bags to contain wet umbrellas, swimsuits, or clothing until you reach your destination.

Wet Wipes

Spills are inevitable, especially with kids. Wet wipes are great for sticky hands and car seats! Sometimes I use them as a refresher for my face, too.

We’ve also had to stop more than once for an emergency roadside potty break. Our wet wipes were a godsend! (In this case, they paired perfectly with a plastic bag!)

Coronavirus Accessories

This is currently a reality of travel. We have masks and hand sanitizer at the ready.

Comfort

If you have a large family or a small vehicle (or both), finding comfort with few items is key! Here are our go-to comfort items that are useful and versatile.

Blanket

A blanket makes our list for versatility. We’ve curled up under it while resting, rolled it up to make a pillow, laid it out for a roadside picnic, and even used it for a giant spill (when a beverage from 7-11 took a dive out of a cupholder).

A lightweight cotton blanket is our preference. It’s easily washable and it’s also absorbent!

Water Bottles

Reusable water bottles are an environmentally-friendly way to stay hydrated on the go. Our in-car water bottles are insulated and fit perfectly in our cup holders. They don’t tip, even when full.

If you’re sensitive to the taste of tap water or worry about the spread of germs from communal fountains and faucets, consider bringing your own gallon jugs and refilling your reusable water bottle from those. You’ll still use less plastic overall.

Cooler

A small cooler full of our favorite snacks helps us get farther without stopping for a meal. We also have a place to save leftovers! (Consider packing plastic baggies or collapsible food storage containers, too.)

We typically don’t drink much soda, juice, or Gatorade. Filling the cooler up with these gives our kids an exciting surprise for later in the drive. It’s cheaper than stopping at a convenience store and doesn’t require stopping the car!

Sunglasses

I don’t leave home without them, but my children typically don’t wear sunglasses… except on road trips. Whether they’re trying to nap or we’re driving due west at sunset, they’re just much more likely to need them on a road trip!

Sunglasses may be a must-have for your destination, too!

Change of Clothes

Accidents happen.

We’ve learned that packing a change of clothes for everyone — one that’s accessible without opening the trunk and suitcases — is an essential for long trips. If you don’t wear them on travel day, wear them during your stay!

Entertainment

Sometimes it feels like no matter how we prepare them or what we bring, my kids get “so bored” while traveling. These are our staples,

Frisbee, Football, or Soccer Ball

A Frisbee takes up the least amount of space, but any ball can be used for a quick game of catch when stopping to fill the gas tank or use the restroom.

Books

Audiobooks are my favorite! Sometimes we listen to them together and sometimes I listen to them on my own. Always download and queue up your book before you leave the house!

I also have a Kindle that I pre-load with books for the trip or for my kids to read during the drive. While I love the feel and smell of books, you can’t beat the portability of a lightweight e-reader!

Camera

We have long used our mobile phones in place of a true camera, but pulling out our old digital cameras for the kids gives them something to do on the drive and when we arrive. They don’t mind that the megapixels can’t compare and we don’t mind if it’s accidentally dropped.

Over-the-Seat Organizer

Devices can strap into this backseat organizer, allowing kids to watch hands-free. This is particularly useful for my remote learners.

It also has room to hold drinks and other activities!

Road Trip Essentials: First Aid

First Aid Kit

Expect the unexpected! Don’t forget to include a first aid kit in your car.

What would you add to this road trip essentials list?