Cooler packed with sodas and snacks. The license plate game. Getting lost. Finding the coolest little diner in the middle of nowhere. Love them or hate them, road trips are one of kind travel experiences. On my journey to visit all 50 states in the US, road-tripping has been essential to combining multiple states into one vacation. Leaning to park the perfect car took some trial and error, but my road trip packing guide has finally been perfected.
Depending on where you call home, it’s sometimes necessary to fly to the starting point of your trip and then fly home after some time on the road. I’ve done it many times, so I will work in some tips for that option as well!
Before Hitting the Road
Planning a road trip takes a little extra prep than other vacations. Taking these pre-trip precautions can save a lot of headaches in the long run and add a little extra fun!
- Get a Vehicle Inspection: A basic checkup and tire inspection is crucial if you plan to drive your own vehicle. At the very least, make sure your tires are properly inflated.
- If it is almost time for an oil change, get one.
- Check your insurance coverage. This is a good time to review your accident coverage and roadside assistance plan. If you don’t have it already, save your insurance company’s emergency number in your phone’s address book.
- Print a copy of your map and driving directions for those times of spotty cell service.
- Google “Odd Roadside Attractions.” Plan to see something ridiculous.
Packing the Cooler
There is an art to packing food for a road trip! You want to eat healthy to feel energized, but at the same time you want to bring some treats. It’s vacation after all! Not to mention if you bring food that you aren’t excited to eat, you will probably just end up stopping for fast food and spending extra money.
Stock up on your favorite healthy travel snacks for the trip. For some delicious ideas, check out this post. For fun, add mini sodas, cookies and candy for treats. Personally, I don’t think I can go on a roadtrip without Twizzlers. They are a required snack in my car!
Flying to the first destination can make packing food more difficult. What I have learned works best is bringing a collapsible cooler in my suitcase. This it the one I use.
After landing, just make a quick stop at the grocery store to load up on supplies. I always pack a few things ahead of time, like any specialty items or some paper goods if I already have them at home. When getting ice, it’s fun to get a few bags of frozen fruit. They help keep everything cold and can be eaten as a snack when they thaw!
This list is a basic guideline for what to buy, and what I use every time I am shopping for a road trip.
- Bottled water **Update: In an effort to reduce waste I now travel with a Swell Water Bottle, and fill it up whenever possible.
- Sodas (I love the mini cans, because soda for us is a treat)
- Meat, bread and small containers of condiments for sandwiches.
- A few favorite sweets, like Twizzlers!
- Salty snacks like crackers, nuts or popcorn.
- Easy to eat and pack fruits like apples and bananas.
- Protein Bars ..Lara Bar and RX bars are my go-tos.
*** Ladies, one more thing to throw in the cooler, makeup! If you are in a hot location, make SURE to put your makeup in the cooler. Otherwise, it will very likely melt and be ruined. I’ve had that happen to me. Don’t be like me.
Packing the Car
OK, now that the most important part of the road trip is organized (food, duh) it’s time to think about what you are going to need on the road. This is a good time to overpack if you can, since there are so many unknowns when driving. Having all this stuff in a designated “car bag” is super helpful too, so you’re not digging through your suitcase all the time. This list is everything I bring with me on a road trip:
- Change (for parking and tolls) & Cash (for random roadside farm stands!)
- Insurance Card
- Phone Chargers
- GPS (or GPS app)
- Car Safety Kit (make sure jumper cables are included)
- First Aid Kit
- Swell Water Bottle: I LOVE these bottles for road trips. I pour cold water in my biggest Swell and it says cold for me all day.
- Bug Spray
- Sunscreen
- Eating Utensils/Plates **Update: We no longer use any disposable utensils or plates. Try something like this camping kit instead.
- Umbrella/Rain Coat
- Sweater or light jacket
- Extra Sunglasses
- Picnic Blanket
- Playing Cards
- Bottle Opener/Corkscrew
- Pillows and Blankets for car naps!
Embarrassing Tip: Make sure you put on sunscreen. I know, you’re in the car not outside! Well once I spent an entire day driving across Texas in the hot summer sun, and I got sunburned…sitting in the car. I didn’t even know that was possible. My skin is very light, so I burn easier than most people.. but just keep it in mind! I’d feel like a terrible human if I didn’t warn you.
Along the Way
Yay, time to hit the road! When planning the route, be sure to leave plenty of time for extra stops. You never know what fun things will turn up. Don’t be in a hurry to get to your destination, that is not the point of a road trip. Stop at anything that looks interesting, fun, or downright silly. Those will end up being some of the best parts of your trip. That said, do make sure you are aware of the closing times of must-see attractions. Even National Parks close at night.
If you are driving the whole trip (not flying to the first destination) you have an opportunity to pick up some extra special souvenirs. While driving through South Dakota on a trip to see Mount Rushmore, we stopped at an awesome rock shop and got some huge pink and gold quartz crystals to take home. That would never have happened if we hadn’t been driving. Just one of those babies would have easily put my suitcase over the weight limit.
Another great part of driving is the ability to visit off the beaten path restaurants. I love looking up special mom and pop places like those on the Travel Channel or Diners Drive-Ins and Dives. It’s an easy way to meet cool people and try local dishes. Driving a little out of the way for a place like that beats a chain restaurant off the highway any day.
And…GO!
Car is packed, route is planned, music is on..you’re ready! Have a great time!
These are the best travel hacks I’ve ever read. I just learned a lot of unique packing tips which I haven’t tried before while traveling. This is so helpful for travelers, I think. Thank you so much for sharing these amazing travel hacks with us.
great content!! Not a really huge fan of road trips but I know someone who’ll find it really helpful. I loved how you mentioned to the list of things you should make sure to pack inside the cooler, as it happened to me on some of the few occasions where our food rationed got stale because we didn’t bother to pack a cooler with us.
I love road trips, but it’s been such a long time since I’ve been on one. I definitely never thought about putting my makeup in the cooler! Great idea. So, after reading your post and Adela’s post I’m in the mood to start some trip planning!
Maybe a road trip to Cleveland? Hint Hint
This is a such a great list… I forget most of these things!!! especially extras!!! I’m definitely pinning this for our next trip!
Awesome, I hope it helps you! I have to refer to it myself every single trip or I would forgot at least one thing!
What a fantastic guide!! I’m always worried I’ll forget something or not even realize something that I’ll need. Your list has got us all covered! Just in time for summer road trip plans!
Yay i’m glad this helps you Sarah! I hope you have some great summer road trips planned!
I love a good road trip. I’ve taken many over the years. Red Vines are my snack of choice on a road trip! Music is of the utmost importance! Gotta get new tunes before a long drive. Great list of everything to bring when packing up for a trip.
I couldn’t agree with you more, what is a road trip with great music?!
Oooh! Great tip on throwing the makeup in the cooler! I usually only bring the basics, but they still get hot!
Even chapstick can melt inside a purse or duffle bag on a hot day. This is know for a fact. 🙂
I think it’s so cool that you have visited all 50 states!! That must have been lots and lots of driving days. I like the cooler idea on the road!
Well at this point I have 3 more to go, but without roadtripping I would have WAY more than that! Tons of driving, but worth every mile!
Oh I love this comprehensive list. Makes me want to pack up right now and head out on the road with my hubby!
You and me both Leigh! 🙂
We have some fun trips planned this summer so this is great!
Perfect! I hope it helps you make the most of your trips!
Putting makeup in the cooler is such a smart tip
I learned the hard way!
Wow! This is honestly the best and most thorough road-trip packing list I’ve seen! The pre-trip car prep bit is definitely something I’ve forgotten and easy to overlook.
Thank you so much Christie! I agree, thinking about oil changes before a vacation is not something on the top of of my mind, but important none the less!
I would love to road trip in the US, I feel like there is so much to see but it is all sooo spaced out. Obviously America is massive so I don’t know why that surprises me! I’ve only ever been to New York which must be super different to everywhere else. This advice is great, wish I’d read this before my road trip around New Zealand haha.
From Jenny; Local Leo x
I bet a roadtrip around New Zealand was incredible! New York City and an awesome part of the country, but you are right it is very different than everywhere else! The states are so different they are almost like little countries. I hope you get a chance to see more. 🙂
I love all of these! I especially love the point about googling “odd roadside attractions” – I watched a film not too long ago about these guys going on a road trip and they just explore all the wacky side attractions that a US path had to offer, and I would love to do the same sort of thing myself.
These are all mega important points and I will definitely keep them in mind for when I do go on a road trip – I really want to go down Route 66 and I think that these would all be really good. Also, I also adore the idea of the little mom and pop restaurants – I’ve never really been to many, especially the sort that you see in classical American movies, but boy would I want to!
Have a great week!
Amy x
Such a good list! I also would have never thought to put makeup in the cooler (but I probably wouldn’t bring makeup on an outdoor road trip). Going to be pinning this for the summer, for sure!
These are some amazing tips! I drive more than fly, and I never even thought about the make-up in the cooler! Thank you for sharing 🙂
This post is amazing. I want to take a road trip soon and I’ll definitely be saving this for when I start packing. I would have never remembered to pack all of things you mentioned. Thanks 🙂
Oh my gosh! How great is this list?! I’ve needed this my entire life. ? I love a good road trip.