30 Amazing Road Trip Must Haves

Planning a road trip and don’t know what to bring? Check out this post on the 30 amazing road trip must haves you need to bring on every trip!

For this post, I thought it would be a great idea to collaborate with other bloggers in my community to help you find the best must haves for every road trip! So, if you’re getting ready to hit the road, you’ve come to the right place. This post has 30 amazing road trip must haves you need to bring on every trip!

Snacks (road trip must haves)

Snacks is a great must have on every road trip! Here is what Lanie van der Horst of Make More Adventures had to say about them…

“After having a car and money for gas, snacks might be the most important part of a road trip!  It is important to have a variety of snacks including both sweet and salty options as well as fresh, healthy, and fun snacks.  Not only are road trips perfect for snacking, but sometimes the snacks you bring end up becoming a meal when you run out of better options.“

Reusable Coffee Mug (road trip must haves)

A reusable coffee mug is another great must have on every road trip! You can use it to carry your hot beverage on the road as you avoid wasting plastic and paper.

In fact, what better way to pair a reusable coffee mug than with a camp french press! They’re great for making coffee on the road and you can carry them with you whenever.

Antibacterial Hand Wipes (road trip must haves)

Antibacterial hand wipes are another great must have on every road trip! Here is what Lisa of Waves and Cobblestones had to say about them…

“Antibacterial hand wipes are an essential item for every road trip.  Just think about the questionable cleanliness of public restrooms that you use on the road at rest areas and gas stations.  You will certainly want to make extra sure that your hands are clean before you grab a snack!“

Playlist/AirPods Max (road trip must haves)

Having a playlist is another great must have on every road trip! Here is what Meg of Fox in the Forest had to say about it…

“Planning a long haul road trip to Colorado and beyond? If so then you’re gonna need a wicked awesome playlist to listen to along the way. And while you can create your own compilation using sites like Youtube, why not download an app like Pandora or Spotify instead? After all, these music streaming apps are free (with premium, ad-free options available), easy to use, and allow you to quickly and easily create a musical playlist that suites your personal tastes. This way, your long road trip and go from drab to fab in an instant.“

Hand Sanitizer (road trip must haves)

Hand sanitizer is another great must have on every road trip! Here is what Alaina of Beyond the Moments had to say about it…

“Pack a small bottle as well as a large bottle of hand sanitizer for your road trip. The small bottle is perfect to bring along for daily adventures, whether that be hiking a mountain or exploring a new city. The large bottle can be kept in the car at all times.”

Bluetooth Car Adapter (road trip must haves)

A bluetooth car adapter is another great must have on every road trip! Here is what Alaina of Beyond the Moments had to say about it…

“Older cars do not have the functionality of automatically playing music from your phone through the car speakers. You thus need a bluetooth car adapter, which will allow you to connect your phone to the car speakers through bluetooth. Be prepared to blast music or listen to some podcasts.”

Phone Car Mount (road trip must haves)

A phone car mount is another great must have on every road trip! Here is what Alaina of Beyond the Moments had to say about it…

“While newer cars often have GPS functionality built into their systems, older cars do not. You thus will have to rely on utilizing google or apple maps on your phone for directions. The safest and easiest way to do this is by attaching a car mount for your phone to the dashboard.”

Emergency Car Kit (road trip must haves)

An emergency car kit is another great must have on every road trip! Here is what Alaina of Beyond the Moments had to say about it…

“Road trips come with the inherent risk of potential damage to the car. Whether you are a car expert or know nothing about cars other than how to drive one, be prepared with a 125 piece roadside emergency kit.” 

Peak Design Camera Strap (road trip must haves)

A Peak Design Camera Strap is another great must have on every road trip! Here is what Karla of Colorful Journeys had to say about it…

“A photographer’s must-have accessory is the Peak Design Camera Strap. It features an excellent fast release mechanism that provides easy access to your camera, which is excellent for road trips. It is very comfortable and exceptionally easy to use. With the Peak Design camera strap, you won’t have to worry about lugging your heavy camera bags around and you can just focus on taking beautiful photos on your trip!”

Microfiber Towel (road trip must haves)

A microfiber towel is another great must have on every road trip! Here is what Brandon of Zimmin Around The World had to say about it…

“The microfiber towel absorbs water easily and dries quickly. I pack one in my bag wherever I go to include road trips. The microfiber towel can be used as a drying towel, a towel to sit on, used to dry and clean dishes, protect equipment, and is even used as a sun shade.“

Notebook/Journal (road trip must haves)

A notebook/journal is another great must have on every road trip! Here is what Brandon of Zimmin Around The World had to say about it…

“Sounds simple and cliché, but bringing a notebook while on a road trip can help with organizing, planning, and jotting down thoughts. You never know when a notebook might come in handy. You might need to write down the name and information of someone you just met, or use it to keep track of travel expenses while on the road.“

Water Bottle (road trip must haves)

A reusable water bottle is another great must have on every road trip! Here is what Paulina of UK Everyday had to say about it…

“One of the best road trip essentials is a good water bottle that will keep your drinks warm or cold for many hours. An eco-friendly water bottle that is BPA-free and leakproof is a must-have for every driver.“

GoPro (road trip must haves)

A GoPro is another great must have on every road trip! Here is what Paulina of UK Everyday had to say about it…

“During every road trip, there will be views that will take your breath away. If you want to capture your amazing journey, there is no better travel gear than GoPro. This is one of the best backpacking cameras, that takes incredible pictures and videos at high quality.”

Flashlight (road trip must haves)

A flashlight is another great must have on every road trip! Here is what Sam Opp of Find Love & Travel had to say about it…

“A flashlight or even a small headlamp is a great addition to have on any road trip! A flashlight will come in handy as the sun goes down and you are searching for something in your car, you need to check under the hood, or even just get out of the car to go down a walking path. It can also help signal others in a worst-case scenario!“

Cooler (road trip must haves)

A cooler is another great must have on every road trip! Here is what Donna Emperador of Explore the Road with Donnamarie had to say about it…

“A cooler with wheels is a must when planning a road trip. You can pack it with fixings for sandwiches, raw fruits and veggies to snack on, and yogurts and string cheese for easy breakfast on the go. The wheels make it easier to transport to your lodgings without straining your back.“

Card Games (road trip must haves)

Card games are another great must have on every road trip! Here is what Nicole of Niki in New Zealand had to say about it…

“Travel card games are great to bring on a road trip because they can keep the whole family occupied for hours. Games like UNO, Monopoly Deal, and Rummikub are fun and super portable, making them an easy addition to any road trip bag. There are tons of different types of travel card games out there that can suit anyone’s taste.“

Swiss Knife (road trip must haves)

A swiss knife is another great must have on every road trip! Here is what Mary of Be Right Back had to say about it…

“A Swiss Knife is one of the best tools you should bring with you on a road trip. It is a small portable multi-tool, that was originally intended to be used by soldiers for a multitude of tasks such as opening cans and repairing their guns. Inside the handle of the knife, you will find a main blade with smaller blades, small scissors, a screwdriver, and a can opener that are all attached together via a pivot point mechanism. Swiss knives are small so they easily fit in a purse or a hiking backpack. Besides their obvious practicality, they can also help travelers feel safer!” 

Portable Car Battery Jump Starter (road trip must haves)

A portable car battery jump starter is another great must have on every road trip! Here is what Catherine Xu of Nomadicated had to say about it…

“Better safe than sorry! You never know what may happen on a road trip, so it’s best to be prepared with a Portable Car Battery Jump Starter with USB Charge capabilities. This powerful lifesaver can jump-start most vehicles and comes equipped with multiple USB outputs to charge your small devices and an LED flashlight.“

Blanket (road trip must haves)

Having a blanket is another great must have on every road trip! Here is what Cristina of My Little World of Travelling had to say about it…

“When going on a road trip don’t forget to take a blanket. No matter the season, you can always get cold or if you want to get cozy at night, a blanket comes in very useful. This is even more important if you take children with you.“

First Aid Kit (road trip must haves)

A first aid kit is another great must have on every road trip! Here is what Melissa of My Beautiful Passport had to say about it…

“When planning what to bring from a road trip, don’t forget to pack a first aid kit, even a small one. You never know if you will need items like band-aids, Tylenol, or ointments, so it is best to prepare. Pick up a small first aid kit from the store or make one with items you already have at home.” 

Car Phone Charger (road trip must haves)

A car phone charger is another great must have on every road trip! Here is what Melissa of My Beautiful Passport had to say about it!

“One important road trip item to pack for a road trip is a car phone charger. When you are on the road, having your phone charged can be handy for when you need it, to snap photos, pull up accommodation details, or use for directions. Having a phone car charger will keep your phone alive while you drive.“

Sunscreen (road trip must haves)

Sunscreen is another great must have on every road trip! Here is what Cris Farinas of Wander Florida had to say about it…

“Living and traveling primarily in Florida, one of my main road trip must-haves is sunscreen. It’s so important to protect my and my family’s skin from Florida’s harsh sun, especially in the summer. One of my favorite brands is Protekt, whose products are eco-friendly and reef-safe.“

Mini Tripod (road trip must haves)

A mini tripod is another great must have on every road trip! Here is what Triplyzer had to say about it…

“Ulanzi mt-16 is a mini lightweight tripod and my go-to device for photo and video shooting. Its biggest USP is its compact size which makes it fit perfectly in your pocket. It also extends so you can even use it for taking selfies.“

Fabuday Travel Pillow (road trip must haves)

A Fabuday travel pillow is another great must have on every road trip! Here is what Nomading Solo had to say about it…

“A perfect travel companion Fabuday is a soft yet firm travel pillow made up of memory foam. Thanks to its ergonomic design, the travel pillow fits snugly around your neck. It comes with a snap strap which just lets you tie it with your backpack.“

Paper Map (road trip must haves)

A paper map is another great must have on every road trip! Here is what Val of Voyages With Val had to say about it…

“One essential part of planning a road trip, is to have paper maps of the places you intend to visit. You never know when you may lose service or GPS coverage, and having an atlas or paper map can save you from getting lost!“

Cutlery and Straw Set (road trip must haves)

A cutlery and straw set is another great must have on every road trip! Here is what Charu Goyal of Travel With CG had to say about it…

“Another useful thing to bring on a road trip is a reusable cutlery and straw set. Containing a fork, spoon, knife, cloth napkin, and some straws, this kit is not just convenient for when you are grabbing food on the go but also much better for the environment.“

SteriPen (road trip must haves)

A SteriPen is another great must have on every road trip! Here is what Anjali Wadhwa of Cheerful Trails had to say about it…

“One of the most useful things to pack for your road trip should be a SteriPen. It is your perfect on the go water purification device. Fill up your water bottles from tap or streams, then stir the SteriPen in the water until the indicator light turns green. This purification process will ensure that the water is free from any viruses or bacteria and is safe for drinking.“

Kindle (road trip must haves)

A kindle is another great must have on every road trip! With it, you can read a gazillion of ebooks on the road.

Portable Speaker (road trip must haves)

A portable speaker is another great must have on every road trip! With it, you can blast music outside during those pit and rest stops.

Female Urination Device (road trip must haves)

A female urination device is another great must have on every road trip! With it, you can pee outside in the bush if you need to pull over.

Overall, I really hope you enjoyed this post on the 30 amazing road trip must haves you need to bring on every road trip! Please let me know in the comments down below which must have you would like to bring the most! I would love to hear from you.

P.S. If you’re planning a road trip from Boston, be sure to check out this post too!

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