There is nothing quite like a road trip. The freedom of a few days or a few weeks on the open road is hard to beat, and it is as much about the journey as the destination. To make the most of those long stretches, though, you need the right gear. These are the road trip essentials we have learned to never leave home without.
In the early days we rarely set off without forgetting something. After dozens of trips across the US, Canada, Australia, Namibia and beyond, we have refined the list into a complete, category-by-category set of road trip essentials that keeps us safe, comfortable, fed and entertained. Use it as your master packing list, and tick off what suits your trip.
This is the full gear list. For the deeper gadget picks, see our road trip accessories guide. Heading off in a camper? Our van life essentials guide covers the living-on-wheels extras.
Key Takeaways
- The true road trip essentials fall into eight groups: paperwork, car safety gear, electronics, entertainment, food and drink, hygiene, clothing and other accessories.
- Never leave without your licence, registration, insurance and a car manual, some are legally required to drive.
- A spare tire, jack, roadside emergency kit and first aid kit cover the most common breakdowns and scrapes.
- Reusable items (water bottle, mug, utensils, straws, containers) cut waste and cost on the road.
- Download offline maps and playlists before you leave, cell reception fails exactly when you need it most.
Road Trip Essentials at a Glance
Here is the quick overview before the full list below.
| Items covered | 50 road trip essentials across 8 categories |
| Best for | Any road trip, from a weekend away to a multi-week drive |
| Absolute must-haves | Licence, registration, insurance, spare tire, first aid kit, offline maps, power bank |
| Sustainable swaps | Reusable water bottle, mug, utensils, straws and reef-safe sunscreen |
| Pair it with | Our pre-trip checklist and road trip accessories guide |
The Full Packing List by Category
Short on time? Here is the whole packing list by category, so you can scan it fast before a trip. The detailed picks, including the gear we actually use, follow below.
The Road Trip Essentials, by Category
| Category | The essentials to pack |
|---|---|
| Basic + paperwork | Licence, registration, car manual, car + travel insurance |
| Car safety | Spare tire, jack, roadside emergency kit, map, flashlight, multi-tool, first aid kit |
| Electronics | Power inverter, phone charger, USB cords, phone mount, wifi hotspot |
| Entertainment | Car games, downloaded playlists, podcasts, kids’ games |
| Food + drink | Snacks, water bottle, SteriPen, reusable mug, storage containers |
| Hygiene | Toiletry bag, toothbrush, sunscreen, bug spray, wet wipes, hand sanitizer, lip balm |
| Clothing | Travel clothing, rain jacket + pants, running shoes, flip flops, blanket, hat, sunglasses |
| Other | Microfiber towel, daypack, garbage bags, cooler, reusable utensils + straws, power bank |
Basic Road Trip Essentials (Paperwork First)
Do not leave the driveway without these basic road trip essentials. In some cases you are not legally allowed to drive without them.
1. Licence and Registration
The most important thing to sort before you set off is paperwork. Make sure you are licensed to drive, and if you are heading abroad, check whether you need an international driving permit, as some countries will not accept a home licence alone. Carry your vehicle registration too: it proves the car is legally yours (or the rental company’s), and police will ask for it alongside your licence if you are pulled over.
2. Car Manual
Keep the car manual in the glovebox, whether the car is yours or a rental. It covers the maintenance schedule, safety features and troubleshooting, so when you need the ideal tire pressure or cannot work out the AC, the answer is right there.
3. Car and Travel Insurance
We once made the mistake of travelling without insurance, and we will not do it again. Make sure both you and your car are covered. Car insurance covers the cost of an accident and is mandatory to drive in many countries, including Canada and the US, usually for an extra fee at the rental desk.
If you are abroad, you may also need separate travel insurance on top of car cover. Check whether personal injury from a motor accident is covered by one policy or the other before you rely on it.
Car Road Trip Essentials
No list of road trip essentials is complete without the gear that keeps your car running when the unexpected happens. Road trips take you off the beaten path, so it pays to be able to handle a flat on your own.
4. Spare Tire
Wear and tear, rough roads and even heat can all cause a flat, so pack a spare. Most cars carry one under the vehicle, on the tailgate or in the trunk. If you are renting, ask the agency where to find it before you drive off.
5. Jack
A spare is only useful if you can fit it. Pack a car jack so you can actually lift the vehicle and swap a blown tire without waiting for help.
6. Roadside Emergency Kit
A roadside emergency kit bundles the bits you need when trouble strikes, typically jumper cables, a tire-pressure gauge, road flares, washer fluid and oil. It also makes a genuinely useful gift for anyone who drives. For a cold-weather trip, add hand and foot warmers, a thermal blanket and an ice scraper.
7. Map
Phones are not foolproof, and cell reception drops out exactly when you need it, so a backup map is one of the most important road trip essentials. A paper map helps you orient yourself and tempts you onto the scenic route a GPS would skip. Prefer digital? Download the Maps.me offline app and save your region before you go for full navigation with no signal.
8. Flashlight
Rural areas can be properly dark. If you will be driving at night or camping, pack a light. A regular flashlight does the job, but we prefer a headlamp for its hands-free versatility.
9. Multi-Tool
A multi-tool handles all sorts of minor repairs and everyday problems, with everything from scissors to files and a bottle opener in one compact package that will not weigh you down.
10. First Aid Kit
Pack a first aid kit for the inevitable minor aches and scrapes. If you build your own, include these basics:
- Tylenol: relieves pain and fever
- Ibuprofen/Advil: anti-inflammatory and pain relief
- Pepto Bismol: nausea, heartburn and upset stomach
- Imodium: traveller’s diarrhea
- Tums: antacid for heartburn
- Benadryl: antihistamine for allergies
- Polysporin: antibiotic cream for cuts
- Bandages: to cover wounds
Road Trip Electronics
To stay connected and powered up on the road, add these to your list.
11. Power Inverter
Charge almost anything, anywhere, with a power inverter. It plugs into the car’s 12V socket, adds a household outlet plus USB ports, and will not drain your battery. If you are travelling with kids, it is perfect for keeping tablets and laptops alive.
12. Phone Charger
It sounds obvious, but a phone charger is one of the most commonly forgotten items. Your phone is your GPS, music player, camera and lifeline, so do not set off without a way to keep it charged.
13. USB Cords
Pack a couple of universal USB cords. Cameras, battery packs and wifi hotspots mostly charge over USB, and a spare cable weighs nothing.
14. Dashboard Phone Mount
Texting while driving is never a good idea. If you use your phone as a GPS, though, a dashboard phone mount keeps it safely in view and out of your hands. Look for an adjustable model like the RAM X-Grip so the driver can angle it however they like.
15. Wifi Hotspot
For reliable internet on the road, a travel hotspot like the Solis Hotspot is one of the best long-trip essentials. It connects up to 10 devices across more than 130 countries, with flexible plans by the day, month or gigabyte and no contracts or hidden fees.
Fun Road Trip Essentials
Do not rely on the radio alone. These keep everyone entertained across the long stretches.
16. Car Games
Car games are not just for kids. Come armed with a few to keep the whole car laughing, these 14 road trip games are a good place to start for friends or family.
17. Downloaded Playlists
Some say the playlist makes the road trip. Build and download a few from Spotify before you leave so signal drops do not cut the music. Heading abroad? Grab a playlist of local music to set the mood.
18. Podcasts
Keep your mind engaged, catch up on the news or have a laugh with a good podcast. They top the list for solo trips, and starting a new series together is a great way to pass the miles with a companion.
19. Games for Kids
To avoid a chorus of “are we there yet,” pack a few games for the little ones. Cards, mini board games and a loaded tablet are road trip essentials for kids.
Food and Drink Road Trip Essentials
To keep hunger and thirst (and the dreaded “hanger”) at bay when the next town is a long way off, pack some food and drink essentials.
20. Snacks
Go for high-fibre, high-protein snacks that suit long stretches of sitting. Apples, bananas, cereal bars and trail mix all travel well and keep energy steady.
21. Water Bottle
Staying hydrated matters as much as eating well, so never set off without a water bottle. We always bring our Hydro Flask bottles. They are double-wall vacuum insulated, keep drinks cold for up to 24 hours (or hot for 12), and are built with sustainability in mind, supporting initiatives like Parks For All.
22. SteriPen
In areas with questionable tap water, a SteriPen zaps it clean using UV light, killing 99.99% of protozoa, bacteria and viruses. It even works on water from rivers and lakes in a pinch.
23. Reusable Coffee and Tea Mug
Most disposable coffee cups have a plastic lining that makes them impossible to recycle. Keep them out of landfill with a reusable mug you can fill at a drive-through or at home before you leave.
24. Storage Containers
Portion snacks and save leftovers in collapsible storage containers. The silicone kind flatten when empty to save space, which makes them ideal for long trips and quick weekends alike.
Personal Hygiene Road Trip Essentials
Anything that keeps you feeling fresh belongs on the list, especially if you are camping or spending long days outdoors.
25. Toiletry Bag
Keep your toiletries organised in a proper toiletry bag. We use the Wash Pouch from Peak Design, a well-made bag in 100% recycled nylon with a hanging hook so it sits on a counter or hangs in the shower.
26. Toothbrush and Toothpaste
Easy to forget in the last-minute rush, so add them to the list early. An antibacterial toothbrush cover keeps the brush clean against the rest of your bag.
27. Moisturizer
Long days in the car and sun are dehydrating, so pack a good face and body moisturizer to keep skin healthy. Bonus points for a face moisturizer with built-in SPF.
28. Make-up
If make-up is part of your routine, bring it. Oksana has switched to zero-waste make-up and rounded up her favourite zero-waste makeup brands that are kinder to skin and the planet.
29. Bug Spray
Fend off mosquitoes, flies and ticks with a good bug spray. It is a must-have that also helps you avoid the diseases those bites can carry.
30. Sunscreen
Warm climate or cold, sunscreen belongs in every kit. Pick a water-resistant, reef-safe, all-natural formula that is better for you and the environment.
31. Biodegradable Wet Wipes
Clean up spills fast with biodegradable wet wipes. If you are travelling with kids, they are essential for keeping the car liveable.
32. Toilet Paper
Self-explanatory, but easy to overlook. Whether you are camping or relying on roadside facilities, do not get caught without a roll.
33. Hand Sanitizer
When there is nowhere to wash your hands, sanitizer kills the bacteria and viruses that can cut a trip short. Keep a bottle within reach in the car.
34. Lip Balm
There is nothing worse than chapped lips with no balm in sight. Pack one, or two if you tend to lose them.
Clothing and Travel Accessories
We cannot talk about packing for a road trip without the right clothing. Aim for light, comfortable, easy-care pieces you can layer, mix and match, so you look good without doing daily laundry. These are our road-trip-proven brands.
Our favourite is prAna, a sustainable clothing brand with quality athleisure, travel and everyday pieces for men and women at fair prices (US-based, ships worldwide). Another winner is Unbound Merino, which focuses on merino wool, an anti-microbial, thermo-regulating fabric that resists wrinkles and odour and needs washing far less often (Canadian-based, ships worldwide).
36. Rain Jacket
Weather turns fast. A packable rain jacket means those outdoor plans do not fall apart the moment the sky opens.
37. Rain Pants
Often overlooked, rain pants keep you dry from the waist down when you are out and about in bad weather. Worth the small space they take.
38. Running Shoes
Running shoes pull double duty: comfortable for exploring cities or hitting a trail, and safe for driving. Closed-toe shoes are the recommended footwear behind the wheel, and in Canada you can even be fined for driving in flip flops.
39. Flip Flops
Light and packable, flip flops make great camp shoes in warm weather and are perfect for kicking off between gas stations. Invest in a hard-wearing pair of Chaco sandals and they will last for years without a blowout.
40. Blanket
A blanket or cosy rug keeps passengers warm on a chilly drive or a roadside nap, and doubles as a picnic rug or beach blanket when you stop.
41. Hats
Will & Bear is a small Australian brand of road-trip-tested hats, from caps to felt hats and beanies, all made from 100% Australian wool in earthy tones. They ship worldwide from a US warehouse and are a perfect accessory for a hike or a beach day.
42. Sunglasses
Avoid squinting the whole way. Sunglasses cut glare and improve visibility, which keeps everyone safer. We recommend Pela Sunglasses, made with far less CO2, water and waste than conventional eyewear.
43. Microfiber Towel
Tight on space? A microfiber towel is one of the most overlooked road trip necessities, super absorbent, compact, quick-drying and usually packed with its own little storage bag.
44. Daypack
When a purse is too small and a suitcase too big, a daypack is the answer, roomy enough for a water bottle, snacks, camera and layers on an active day out. Our favourites are the Everyday Backpack from Peak Design and, when we are hauling camera gear, the McKinnon Camera Bag from Nomatic.
Other Important Road Trip Accessories
45. Garbage Bags
Littering is bad for the environment and will earn you a fine in most countries. As sustainable travellers, we pack biodegradable garbage bags and dispose of them at proper receptacles.
46. Cooler
A portable cooler keeps snacks and drinks cold and safe from insects. We have found a Yeti cooler to be one of those road trip essentials we never leave home without.
47. Reusable Utensils
Swap plastic cutlery for reusable bamboo utensils, lightweight, 100% biodegradable and good for trip after trip.
48. Reusable Straws
Like reusable utensils, reusable straws keep plastic out of landfill. They come in metal, bamboo, silicone and glass, usually with a cleaning brush to pack along.
49. Solar-Powered Light
For camping, a solar-powered light harnesses the sun by day and needs no batteries or bulbs to fuss with at night. A quiet, sustainable way to light a campsite.
50. Portable Power Bank
A portable power bank keeps your USB devices alive without draining the car battery, ideal for overnight stops or when the engine is off. It is the reassuring backup that rounds out the list.
Final Thoughts: Your Next Road Trip
Wherever the road takes you, packing these road trip essentials means you travel light but ready for almost anything. Tick off the categories that fit your trip, and leave the rest. So where is your next road trip taking you?
Need some inspiration? In the US, we have broken down the cost of a two-week USA road trip, and our favourite of the lot was the Colorado road trip. In Australia, start with the 5 best road trips in Australia, then dig into the Sydney to Brisbane drive and the Western Australia itinerary, two of the best we have done.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most important road trip essentials?
The non-negotiables are your paperwork (licence, registration, insurance), car safety gear (spare tire, jack, roadside kit, first aid kit) and a way to navigate and stay charged (offline maps, phone charger, power bank). Everything else adds comfort on top of those basics.
What should I pack for a long road trip?
Pack by category: paperwork, car safety gear, electronics, entertainment, food and drink, hygiene, clothing and other accessories. This guide lists 50 items across those groups so you can build a complete packing list and skip what does not apply.
What are good road trip snacks?
High-fibre, high-protein snacks suit long stretches of sitting, think apples, bananas, cereal bars and trail mix. Pack them in reusable containers and bring a cooler for anything that needs to stay cold.
What road trip essentials do you need with kids?
Beyond the basics, add downloaded games and a loaded tablet, plenty of snacks, wet wipes, a power inverter to keep devices charged and a first aid kit. Entertainment and easy clean-up are what keep a family trip smooth.
How do I make a road trip more eco-friendly?
Swap disposables for reusables: a water bottle, coffee mug, utensils, straws and storage containers, plus reef-safe sunscreen, biodegradable wipes and garbage bags. Choosing a fuel-efficient vehicle and offsetting your trip help too.
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