Road Trip Packing Guide: Tips & Tricks

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!

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