25 Important Things To Pack For A Road Trip

This post is all about things to pack for a road trip

There is nothing like taking a road trip with your family or a loved one! The excitement of being on the road and looking forward to arriving to your destination is such a fun experience! Driving for hours upon hours, all while sight seeing, singing along with your favourite tunes or just having deep conversations.

Although this is may be such an exciting experience, if you aren’t organized, this fun getaway can easily turn sour. There are so many small details that you must think to pack. If you forget something important, this can easily put a damper on your highly anticipated road trip.

In this post, not only will I give you great recommendations on items that will help your road trip run smoothly, I will also include a checklist that you can print out to make sure don’t forget anything!

I truly believe that in life that as long as you’re organized, all will go well! When planning for any sort of event, whether it’s a road trip, a day at the beach or even my spring cleaning, I make checklists for everything! It’s the only way I can keep my anxiety levels low. If I am organized, I feel like I am able to enjoy every moment.

So let’s break down every way you can stay organized while planning for a road trip. Whether you are traveling with your entire family or just as a couple, you are guaranteed to find this post useful to you.

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Wait! Before you go, there are a few safety issues you must take care of. This will give you peace of mind knowing that you are prepared for the worst.

The first thing you should do is make sure that you have a spare tire in the car with the proper equipment to change a tire in the event that you find yourself in a situation where it’s necessary.

Another important thing you should make sure of is that your car has an oil change and have a mechanic look at your car brakes. This will just keep you from worrying, especially because you will be driving for many hours. Charger cables would also be something to keep with you when traveling long distances.

It’s very important to make sure to have a first aid kit somewhere in the car in case of emergency. You should also have some basic meds in a pill box like Advil and Tylenol. If you are traveling with kids, you should also have some Tylenol and Benadryl available to you in case of emergency.

Depending where you are traveling, I suggest you call a health insurance company such as Blue Cross. Especially if you are traveling from Canada to the USA. This would be super important in case someone gets sick and you need medical attention. You don’t want to be stuck with a hefty bill just to see a doctor. Having some sort of health insurance will put your mind at ease even if you never use it, it’s good to have.

This is an important category that probably needs a checklist of its own. We’re always thinking about what everybody else needs when leaving for a road trip, especially when travelling with kids. Sometimes we forget about the essentials like passports and our ID! Here is a list of all the personal items you need to bring for yourself! I will also link a great product to help keep your important documents safe while traveling.

• Wallet
• GPS or download Waze on your phone
• Credit Cards
• Cash
• ID
• Passport
• Travel Documents
• Car Insurance
• Keys
• Phone Mount
• License
• Registaration
• Umbrella

The next items on this list are for your own personal use. These are things that you may need if you will be spending hours or days on the road. If you will be spending more than one day on the road, I suggest packing a separate toiletry bag you can access easily. This would be in case you need to brush your teeth a a rest stop or use some hand sanitizer while on the go. You can purchase small travel bottles of everything from amazon or Walmart that way they don’t take too much space in your bag.

Don’t forget to wear really comfy clothes and shoes! This is super important because your road trip will not be as enjoyable. I suggest packing a separate travel bag with a change of clothes in case of emergency that way you can access it easliy. The last thing you want is digging into your suitcases searching for a change of clothes.

• Toiletry Bag
• Toothpaste & Toothbrush
• Mouthwash
• Hand sanitizer
• Hand Lotion
• Lip Balm
• Sunscreen
• Deoderant
• Sunglasses
• Phone Charger and Wire
• Phone

Being as comfortable as you can on a road trip is essential. This can make or break your trip. So make sure you are wearing comfy clothes that won’t irritate you on your long drive. Bringing a pillow and blanket is also essential so when it’s your turn to sleep, you can be more comfortable. It would be great for all the passengers in the car to have their own personal blanket and pillow so that everywhere is comfortable. Adding a sleeping mask to block the sun out when you want to nap is just next level!

Something that is completely unnecessary but really cool to purchase would be a car humidifier with an essential oil everyone agrees on. That was the air in the car will feel fresh during your long drive.

This category is what will make the time pass on a long road trip. Finding a way to keep you busy and not constantly focusing on when you will arrive to your destination will be much more enjoyable.

There are a few things that can help your time pass a little quicker in the car. Music a my number one go-to entertainment source. Whether it’s on your own personal head phones or on the car speakers, music helps pass the time. And everyone can sing along together which is always fun!

Bringing a travel board game is also an option if you have children riding in the back. Other options to keep you busy is reading a book or your kindle!

Again, staying organized while traveling, especially while road tripping, is crucial. So this means that you need to be prepared for anything. Here are a few things that you will need to stay organized and I promise you will be grateful you packed these with you.

• Cooler
• Luggage with all your personal item for your trip
• Garbage Bags
• Lysol Wipes
• Tissue Paper
• Flushable Wipes
• Paper Towels

This is a pretty obvious and sort category. Bringing some yummy snacks and drinks is a must. Don’t forget to pack some ice for your cooler to keep your drinks and food cool during your trip. You can also repurchase ice when you stop to put gas once the ice melts.

As promised, here is my “what to pack for a road trip” Checklist. This is sure to help you keep organized while preparing for your trip.

I hope you have a great and memorable trip! Remember that organization is key. Keep your stress at a minimum with all my tips and tricks and remember to enjoy every moment!

Where will you be traveling to this summer? Let me know in the comments!