It’s road trip time, and you’re checking off boxes: Route? Mapped. Out-of-office reply? Set. Now, you’re ready to load up the car with your road trip essentials.
Whether you’re hitting the road for a day trip, weekend drive, or cross-country adventure, there are some key items that will make any road trip smoother. (In fact, many of these are good to have in your car at any time.) Before you finalize your list, make sure to check the weather along the route, because rain, snow, or sunshine can be on the horizon. And as always, check for travel restrictions and closures before planning your trip.
Car and Technology Essentials
Paperwork: If you’re renting a vehicle, make sure to have the rental agreement and paperwork somewhere accessible in case you need to call the rental company. If you’re driving your own wheels, be sure you’ve got your license, registration, and proof of insurance handy.
Car trash bin: Accumulated trash from snacks, meals, receipts, and other random tidbits can quickly clutter your car. A small car trash bin keeps car waste concentrated in one place and can easily be dumped out when you stop for gas. Paper and plastic bags can also be reused as trash bins.
Car organizers and bins: It’s easier to find and reach everything you packed when the car isn’t stuffed at random. Just as packing cubes keep suitcases organized, bins and over-the-seat pockets can stow large and small items.
Power inverter: Most cars now have USB charging outlets, but not everything runs on a USB. A power inverter will plug into your car’s lighter outlet and can charge laptops and other devices with AC cords.
USB charger/splitter: If you have multiple devices that need a charge, toss a dual USB plug in your bag. This type of charger plugs into the cigarette lighter and can charge two devices at once.
Car phone mount: If your car doesn’t have built-in navigation or CarPlay, a cell phone holder that clips onto the dashboard will let you see your route with ease.
Clothing and Accessories
Polarized sunglasses: A road trip is not the time for a cheap pair of shades. Pick up sunglasses with polarized lenses, which will help prevent eye strain and make it easier to stay focused on the road and the sights around you.
Comfortable Shoes: No matter what the purpose of your road trip is, comfortable shoes will allow you to take that coastal trail that you spotted from the side of the road or take an impromptu hike.
Heavy coat or wind breaker: Pack layers for those chilly mornings or cold evenings on the road. Even a scarf can come in handy.
Versatile Clothing: Pack something you can dress down for a diner or dress up cocktails at the hotel bar. Bring plenty of extra socks, undergarments, and other clothing to expand your road trip wardrobe.
Food and Drink
A good cooler: Keep your drinks and refrigerated snacks cool with an insulated cooler, like this backpack version from The Ritz-Carlton. For nonperishable items, toss a reusable tote bag, like this summery striped beach bag, in the mix as well.
Napkins and travel cutlery: It’s always good to have an extra fork and knife on hand, and you can never have too many napkins. We recommend packing a reusable set, but in a pinch you can grab some from a takeout restaurant.
Reusable water bottle: Avoid single-use plastic bottles by refilling a glass or metal bottle. Many of our hotels, national parks, and visitor centers have water fountains where you can refill your bottles. This one from Gaylord Hotels ICE! will keep the water cool and should fit in most standard-size cupholders.
Cash: While most road tolls and businesses accept credit cards, some small businesses, parks, and parking lots may still be cash only. Try to keep some smaller bills of the local currency on hand just in case.
Road Trip Apps
Local parking app: If you’re stopping in cities or towns and plan to park at paid meters, it can be useful to download the local parking app and load your payment info ahead of time.
Gas Finder: Be smart about gassing up — tools like GasBuddy can scout out gas prices and point out where you’ll get the best deal. Google Maps also integrates gas prices into its maps. (If you’re driving an electric vehicle, find tips for road tripping here.)
Marriott Bonvoy App: Plan your road trip as you go with the Marriott Bonvoy App. Download the app and then enter in your start and end point to find hotels along your route.
Google Maps: Apps like Google Maps allows you to find your route, find gas stations, restaurants, and other points of interest. You can even read restaurant reviews on the app. You can also use the image gallery to scope out each point of interest.
Entertainment
Podcasts, movies, and audiobooks: Download books and podcast episodes before you hit the road in case you hit areas with limited service. For kids, download movies and shows on your tablet for a more entertaining ride. For stories about the lesser-known sides of popular cities and road trips, check out the About the Journey podcast.
Binoculars and bird guide: Birdwatching is an easy road trip activity — keep your eyes peeled for eagles, hawks, and other birds along your drive. A good bird book or app will help you identify local species. Binoculars make it easier to spot or identify birds, as well as other wildlife.
A solid playlist: Of course, no road trip is complete without rocking out to the perfect tunes.
Outdoor Gear for Road Trips
Folding chairs: Lightweight foldable camp chairs can turn any spot into a picnic area.
Waterproof blanket: A blanket can come in handy for pop-up picnics or bundling up on a chilly morning. Splurge on one that’s waterproof on one side so you can set it down on damp ground without worry.
Sunscreen and bug spray: Stash a bottle of each in the car to make sure you’re protected from sunburns and bites.
Umbrellas and rain jacket: Plan ahead for inclement weather with an umbrella or rain jacket.
Duffle bag or daypack: Make sure to pack a bag for just the essentials if you are doing a day hike or don’t want to unload the hotel car before checking into a hotel for the night.
Emergency Items
Portable tire pump: If your tires lose air, a portable tire pump can be a game changer. The device plugs into your car’s lighter outlet and will inflate a tire to your desired PSI. It also can double as a tire gauge to check air pressure.
Portable battery charger: Just like a portable tire pump when you have a flat, if you need a jump-start and no one’s around, a portable car battery starter can be a trip-saver. Charge up the battery pack, stow it in your car, and use the jumper cables to kick-start your engine if the car battery stalls. The pack can also charge USB devices.
A headlamp: Sure, your phone has a light, but a headlamp lets you go hands free.
A paper map: If you’re driving out of cell phone range, make sure to grab a paper map of the area. (Many visitor centers have them for free.)
First-aid kit: You should have a few emergency first-aid items on hand, like adhesive and elastic bandages, antiseptic wipes, sterile gauze, and antibiotic ointment. It’s a good idea to toss in a few extra surgical masks, too; some businesses may require them for entry.
Winter gear: If you’re road tripping during the winter, or in the mountains at any time of year, be sure to pack cold-weather essentials, such as a blanket, hat, mittens, snow chains, and a snow/ice scraper in case the weather turns.
Kids and Babies
A lot of planning goes into road tripping with the littles — these general tips can help make a drive with a baby go smoothly. Overall, some key things to pack for a road trip with kids are:
A good car seat: You can rent one from the car rental agency, use a local baby gear rental service, or bring your own.
Window shades: Even with tinted windows, sun can be hot and harsh on backseat riders. Retractable window shades can protect skin from sunburns on long drives and help keep the car cooler.
Car vacuum cleaner: If you want to keep crumbs at bay, a portable hand vac can come in handy on a long drive — look for one that charges via USB cord or your car’s lighter outlet.
Portable changing pad or portable potty: If you’re in the diaper years, a foldable changing pad can turn any surface — a picnic table, parking lot, or backseat of the car — into a changing table. Get one that can be easily wiped down. If you are out of diapers, pack a foldable potty for long stretches on the road.
Games and toys: While tablet screens may be your go-to’s, remember that coloring books, Mad Libs and sticker books are lightweight and provide lots of fun. Don’t forget some toys for outside the car, like balls, Frisbees or lawn games.
Extra hand sanitizer wipes and diapers: Trust us, it’s better to have too many than not enough.
Snack containers and extra snacks: Stacklable snack containers are helpful for long trips so you can load up on heathy snacks like fruit, veggies, nuts, and other goodies to keep the hanger at bay.
Sensory toys, fidgets, and activity books: Kids with autism and ADHD might struggle with long road trips. Pack car-friendly (read: safe and mess free) sensory items like fidgets, LCD coloring tablets, visual calendars, essential oil rollers, and activity books. Also make sure to take frequent movement breaks, this might mean discovering a really cool park or playground on the road.
Pets
From travel beds to road trip toys, there are a few essentials to pick up when you’re driving with your dog.
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