Essentials for Every Road Trip
Whether you’re travelling through rolling hillsides, mountains with spectacular views, or alongside the coast with waves washing the shore, road trips are one of the best ways to truly see an area. When travelling with friends or family, they can be even more enjoyable.
With every road trip comes preparation that either elevates or hinders a long journey by car. Packing everything ahead of time and ensuring the correct essentials are accounted for can help make a road trip more stress-free memorable. If you’re planning a trip, take a look at this list of essentials for every road trip below.
GPS or Maps
One of the most important things to pack when planning a trip is a GPS or map book. This will help guide you and allow you to navigate to points of interest along the way. Not having an available GPS or map could also increase the chance of driving aimlessly and wasting fuel or time.
One of the benefits of modern technology is that almost all smartphones come equipped with accurate GPS navigation. These keep track of upcoming traffic, provide alternative routes, and suggest enter multiple stops along the way. However, many rely on internet connections, which may be unreliable when travelling across large areas.
Therefore, when relying on a smartphone for navigation, it is a good idea to download offline versions of area maps before setting off. For further redundancy, it is also a good idea to pack a map book or print your route maps so that physical copies are available in the car, too.
First Aid Kit
A simple first aid kit is a commonly overlooked item to pack for any road trip. While often not needed, having one available is a huge benefit should anyone start feeling ill or get a minor injury while travelling.
The kit should include gauze, antibacterial ointment, bandages, and treatment for common ailments, such as car sickness, stomach medication, and mild painkillers. Should anyone in your group need them, having these on hand can help avoid additional stops to find help.
Water and Snacks
No road trip is complete without the accompanying snacks and refreshments that energise everyone for the next leg of the journey. Because of this, pack plenty of drinks and snacks to enjoy on the road.
While snacks can vary from crisps to sandwiches, water is the recommended drink. This is because it provides proper hydration without extra sugar and additives, which could cause more frequent bathroom breaks or a sugar rush that could lead to a crash where everybody on the trip wants to sleep.
Wet Wipes and Tissues
Although usually used only by the substantially younger members of the family who may still be learning about cars and road trips, wet wipes (and hand sanitiser) are essentials to have on hand while in a car without hand-washing facilities. These can help clean up minor spills and refresh anyone in the group after eating a delicious snack.
Like wet wipes, tissues are essential for any long trip, particularly for those that take inland dwellers closer to the ocean. With varying pressures, sinuses may occur, and somebody in your party may need to blow their nose. Having tissues on hand keeps everything sanitary and helps those who may experience sinus congestion.
Power Bank or Car Charger
Whether using them for navigation or just to enjoy the types of games found on casinos.com, mobile devices can provide a range of enjoyment while on the road. Running out of battery, however, can quickly dampen the spirits of those behind a screen.
To combat this, make sure to pack a car charger that can provide continuous charging or a power bank, which is more convenient for those sitting in the back. If packing a power bank, make sure it is fully charged before hitting the road and top it up whenever it drops below 50%.
Dash Camera
Dash cams are inexpensive items that help capture the memory of where you’ve been and provide valuable evidence in the event that something goes wrong. They can be neatly fitted to your windscreen under your rearview mirror without inhibiting your view while driving.
In addition to capturing what’s happening on the road ahead, many dash cameras have dual cameras that also record the inside of your car. This can also help you capture the memories created inside and is perfect for creating a digital scrapbook of your trip.
Emergency Car Kit
Although it is best to ensure your car is properly serviced and maintained before leaving home, the unexpected can still occur while out and about. Therefore, packing a car emergency kit is a necessity for dealing with any situation that may arise.
Inside the kit, it is best to include jumper cables, a portable air compressor, tyre repair gel, and possibly some basic tools for minor repairs. It is also a good idea to pack a flare gun if your travels will take you off the beaten path beyond where regular traffic may flow.
Blankets and Pillows
Those not driving or keeping the driver engaged for long trips may often want to pass some time by taking a nap. But napping in a car isn’t the most comfortable and could lead to stiffness or pain if done incorrectly.
Pillows and blankets can greatly aid in getting a good snooze while protecting your body from the awkward angles that sleep offers in a car. If you’re travelling in a fully climate-controlled car, you can also opt to leave the blankets behind to save space.
Road Trip Playlist
Aside from bonding with companions, one of the best parts of a road trip is the chance to enjoy some incredible tunes while on the road. Therefore, planning an epic playlist before you set off is something that shouldn’t be forgotten.
While playlists can be formed using various CDs, modern alternatives make this much easier. Searching road trip playlists on Spotify or Apple Music will even allow you to listen to playlists made by others that you may enjoy, too.
