An epic road trip packing list

Road trips are the best for a reason. Heading out across a big country on the open road, going as fast or as slow as you like. You can see what you want, take your time, choose your route, be the boss of the road. 

But what do you need to pack? To answer that, here’s a road trip packing list with all the road trip essentials you need for a good time!

Read next: Best places for a road trip

For the car

You’ll be spending a lot of time in the car, and so of course there are going to be some road trip essentials that you’ll need to have in the car with you at all times. The most important ones are right here.

License and registration – Everywhere you go, you’ll need to have your licence and registration with you. Keep them somewhere safe, like in your glove box.

A copy of your car insurance policy and the relevant contact numbers – The same goes for your insurance policy and emergency numbers. Have them handy somewhere in the car in case something happens.

Your car’s manual – Here’s another obvious one, but a lot of people forget it’s there! This is certainly one of those essential travel items, especially if you’re renting a car.

UV Window shade – You’ll eventually get the sun in your face, and then these ones will be life savers.

Travel cup – A reusable travel cup or thermo is a must for any coffee lover. You’ll need it if you’re driving through the night.

Winter road trip packing list

Winter is an entirely different beast altogether. The roads are treacherous in the snow and ice; the nights are longer, and fog can set in out of nowhere. Taking the right precautions starts with a good road trip packing list full of all the essential travel items needed to brave the winter.

Ice scraper – This simple tool could save your life. Being without one can make driving through a cold day impossible. Make sure you’ve got a strong and high-quality ice scraper on you at all times.

Shovel – It might take up a bit of room in the back, but it’s worth it in the height of winter. Adding a shovel to your ultimate travel packing list may seem ridiculous, but it won’t when your car is half buried!

Tire chains – This might be an extra expense but it’s worth it if you’re taking a winter road trip, especially across rugged terrain like that of Iceland or northern Canada.

Gloves – For outside adventures.

Read next: How to plan an Iceland road trip in winter

Accessories and supplies

Here are a few things for your road trip packing list that you might accidentally overlook, and we wouldn’t want that! These accessories and supplies are just a few things that are essential when you’re wondering what to pack for a road trip, no matter what kind of road trip you’re about to head out on.

A map – Yes, even if you have a mobile phone with Google Maps or a GPS, a map should still be high on your travel packing checklist. Your phone can break, lose signal, or lose battery and in those moments,  you’ll be glad to have a map. Just make sure it’s a map of the area! You can also use maps.me, which you can download and use offline.

Spare money – For parking meters, air pump at gas stations, tolls and so on, spare change can be a real lifesaver. And a lot of countries deal more in change than others. If you go to Sweden or the UK, everything is card friendly. But go to the US or Japan and you’ll need some spare change.

Garbage Bags – These are great for keeping your car tidy, for picnics, snacks and for generally picking up after yourself.

Trunk organiser – If you’re taking a lot of different things, don’t pile them up in your trunk. Buy a trunk organiser to help keep your stuff tidy.

Tent – This one’s only if you’re going camping.

Entertainment

Whether you’re road tripping solo, with family or on a girls road trip, packing some entertainment is an absolute must. You can’t survive a days-long road trip without some music. I mean, you can, but you shouldn’t. And there’s a lot more than just music that you’ll need in the quieter moments, both on the drive and if you’re in your tent or hotel room at night. Here are five fun things to have on your ultimate travel packing list.

Phone, chargers and USB cord – Your phone is probably where your music comes from. It’s also where you can have games, podcasts, social media, and YouTube during the quiet hours of your road trip.

Road trip playlist – A road trip playlist needs to be awesome! Music from a few different genres, and only the songs you like. If it’s something you may be tempted to skip, don’t add it. You want your road trip playlist to be excellent from start to finish. And songs good enough to listen to on repeat as well!

Your camera + charger – A camera is one of the obvious things to bring on vacation. And the sights you’ll see on an epic road trip! And for that, you’ll want to bring your camera. Add it to your travel items list, and don’t forget the charger and maybe a spare battery!

A good book – (only if you don’t get car sick!) For when you’re not in the driver’s seat, or you’re in your tent or hotel room at night. My advice is to bring a novel with some pace; something long and full of adventure. A fantasy novel, perhaps. Something gripping that will match the adventure you’re on yourself.

Travel Games – This can mean video games, like a Nintendo Switch or games on your phone. Or it can mean games to play with your road tripping friends when you’re relaxing: board games and card games.

Stay comfortable

Yeah, a long road trip is great, but have you tried sitting for hours – even days – in a car with nothing to make you comfortable? It can take a toll on the body. So, here are a few things to help you out and keep you comfy on a long road trip.

Neck pillow – Although neck pillows are usually taken on flights, what’s good enough for a plane is good enough for a car!

Cosy blanket – They can help you sleep and keep you warm if your road trip is during the winter months.

Umbrella – You’ll be in a car a lot of the time, and this can lead a lot of people to overlook an umbrella. But don’t. They take up no space and can save you in a pinch.

Clothes

Here’s a tough question: what clothes do you pack for a road trip? You’ll sit down a lot, inside a car most of the time, and you want to be comfy. But you might also be hiking, swimming, and exploring. Well, here’s a list of clothes that should be on every travel packing checklist for a long road trip.

Duffel bag and hand bag – For keeping all your valuables and essentials with you at all times.

Pants – Something comfy like sweatpants or leggings.

Sweaters – I prefer oversized sweaters and pullovers.

Top and T-shirts – Bring both long and short-sleeved.

Underwear + bra and socks – Again, something comfy.

Sunglasses 

Easy slip-ons or sneakers – But don’t ever wear flip flops while driving!

Raincoat – I love this one in yellow (it comes in other colours, too).

Scarf – For cold days and to snuggle up in.

Hat – Any hat will do, but I prefer a simple baseball cap.

Toiletry Bag

Your toiletry bag is one of the trickiest things to pack. You’ll either end up packing too many things that you’ll never use, or too few things and you’ll be in a shop within a day buying toothpaste or a hairbrush. Rather than either of those things happening, here’s a travel item list with every kind of toiletry you’ll need for a road trip.

Deodorant (roll on) – I’ve used this one from Rexona with aloe vera for the past 10 years. It’s so good.

Medicine – Another obvious one, specifically for travel sickness! Remember your daily medicine, too.

Hand sanitiser – 

Sunscreen – If you like to drive with your arm out the window, slather it in sunscreen! Your arm will thank you later.

Body Wipes – When you need to freshen up.

Lip balm – It’s just one of those items you should always bring wherever you go.

Hairbrush – and bring hair elastics, too.

Toothbrush & Toothpaste – I think it goes without saying that a toothbrush should be on every road trip packing list.

Makeup and makeup remover

Glasses and/or contacts – If you’re taking a long road trip and you’ll be in and out of hotels a lot, my advice is to favour glasses over contacts. They’re easier to manage and much less of a fiddle each day. Road trips should be carefree, after all!

When you get hungry

A great road trip requires snacks! And apart from snacks, you might also want to bring some actual food, and for that you need a few essentials.

Snacks – I always bring crackers, chocolate and liquorice (but I’m Danish so that last one is probably just me).  

Paper towels – Great for cleaning up after yourself when you’re eating on the road. You don’t want to end the road trip and find that you’ve got a car full of crumbs and chocolate stains!

Cooler bag – For cold cokes and sandwiches.

Portable grill, charcoal and a lighter – If your trip has some camping mixed into it, a portable grill is an absolute must-have item on your road trip packing list! We’ve brought our Smokey Joe with us for years!

Utensils – Another often-overlooked travel item. If you’re not planning on living off snacks alone, you might want to consider bringing a few utensils with you.

Food Storage Containers – Just like the paper towels, these are part of the secret to a clean car, as well as clean food and easy storage. Much better than keeping your food loose in a shopping bag or something. Organisation reduces stress.

Toothpicks – These are a must!

Can opener – Of course, you can bring canned food with you on a road trip! As long as you also have a can opener. So just make sure that you do. They’re super useful if you’re going camping and you’re planning to set up tent and light a fire.

Wine opener – What’s a road trip without wine? I mean, absolutely do not ever drink and drive. But at the end of a long day of driving, a glass of wine is the best. So make sure you’ve brought your bottle opener!

Re-usable water bottle

For emergencies

Whether you’re on a girls’ road trip with friends, a family trip, or a solo trip, you’ll need a few emergency items. In fact, this list is of a few things to bring on vacation – any vacation, anywhere, any time.

Spare tire – Most cars have one in the trunk by law, but it’s always worth double checking before you head out. A spare tire is a time-saver, to say the least.

Roadside Emergency Kit – A roadside emergency kit mostly contains a few useful tools and safety items for if your car breaks down and you’re stranded: a waterproof poncho, a crank or wrench, a warning triangle, a high-visibility jacket, jump cables, and a bungee cord. Don’t set out on a road trip without these!

First aid kit – This goes without saying: don’t head out on any vacation without first aid. That includes road trips.

Flashlight – Don’t rely on your mobile phone. Have a flashlight with some spare batteries for any kind of roadside or night-time emergency that could happen. Better safe than sorry.

Swiss army knife – You never know when you might need a Swiss army knife!

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