When you buy through our links, Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more. Sally Kaplan/Lauren Savoie/Insider Insider Reviews editors and reporters have road-tripped thousands of miles.
During our travels, we’ve discovered some products that make car travel infinitely more enjoyable. Here are our favorite road trip essentials, whether you’re traveling solo or with friends, kids, or pets. Summer is the perfect time to hit the road and check out attractions far from home or simply meet up with friends and family.
Yet packing for these trips is both an art and a science. You want items that will provide enough value to justify taking up precious space in your ride and to skip the stuff that’s just dead weight. The Insider Reviews team has already taken several road trips this year and found products that have enhanced our experience immeasurably, whether you’re traveling alone, with your best pal, or you’re bringing the kids and pets along.
Here are 20 road trip essentials to improve your travels in 2022:A car phone holderLauren Savoie/InsiderI shudder to remember a time before I had a car phone holder, balancing my phone in one hand while I tried to interpret directions and drive at the same time. I’ve tried a few different holders (including a magnetic one, which was a major bust) and I really like this one because it’s sturdy and fits both my smaller iPhone and my husband’s massive Samsung. It keeps a phone in easy reach for following directions or controlling the music.
I don’t even go on short trips without it. — Lauren Savoie, deputy editorJumper cablesAmazonThere are plenty of fun road trip items to recommend but perhaps the most important things to make sure to bring along are those that can keep you safe and your car running smoothly. This includes jumper cables, extra fluids, a spare tire, and even a roll of duct tape.
It’s smart to also pack along a first-aid kit, a small set of tools, and some spare cash, just in case. These may seem superfluous, especially if you’re in a newer car, but the cliche of it being better to be safe than sorry is spot-on here. — Rick Stella, editorA portable power bankAmazonWhen you’re spending hours in a car, chances are you’ll need some extra juice for your devices.
Whether it’s your phone, tablet, or some other time-killer, a portable power bank comes in handy avoiding low battery warnings, especially if your car doesn’t have a USB port. Even if you do have a way to charge your phone built into your car, a power bank can help you power up without being tethered to the front seat. — Sarah Saril, reporterA cargo carrierAmazonWhen you squeeze four people into a Prius, there isn’t much room left for gear, especially when camping your way across the US.
So, before our Oregon-to-Michigan trip, I bought the RoofBag Rooftop Cargo Carrier to give us some additional storage space. I like that it can go on cars with no rack system. Instead, you attach it using straps that thread through the car doors.
The spacious carrier had more than enough room for our tent, sleeping bags, and other gear. — James Brains, reporterA backpack coolerHydro FlaskWhat’s a road trip without steady access to drinks and snacks? Instead of packing along a full-size cooler, I opt for a smaller backpack version because it not only takes up less space, but it’s also far easier for someone (other than the driver) to access while the car’s moving. And if you’re the type of road tripper who likes to stop off at a trailhead (or if you’re cruising through a state or national park), you can easily throw the bag on your back to bring your goodies along with you.
— Rick Stella, editorA national parks passLauren Savoie/InsiderAn annual national parks pass is one of the best things you can gift yourself. We keep one in our glove compartment at all times because you never know when it will come in handy. The pass offers free admission for the driver and all passengers in the car to 2,000 federal parks and preserves.
In the past year, we’ve used it for entrance to Zion, Arches, Acadia, Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon, the Cape Cod National Seashore, and more. Every year we get close to triple or quadruple its value out of it, and it encourages fun stopovers when we’re on the road. — Lauren Savoie, deputy editorAn easy-to-use portable coffee makerAmazonSure, there’s likely a Starbucks or Dunkin’ located at just about every off-ramp, but for those long, multistate road trips, being able to make your own coffee whenever you want is a major plus.
My go-to is the AeroPress, a sort of French Press-style coffee maker that whips up a few cups of coffee in a matter of minutes. And not only does it do well to avoid getting grounds into the brewed coffee but it also manages to pump out a truly tasty cup of joe. I use it on road trips, while camping, and even at home when I’m craving a quick cup.
— Rick Stella, editorA versatile paracord braceletLauren Savoie/InsiderI wrote about these cheap little doodads after watching a Masterclass by an Air Force Survival Specialist who recommended them for hiking. The bracelet contains a fire starter, compass, a loud whistle, and 550 paracord (rope capable of holding up to 550 pounds in weight). These are some of the 10 essentials experts recommend you take on any hike, so I like to have them around in the car so we can quickly slip them on for a day hike.
— Lauren Savoie, deputy editorA waterproof car seat cover for your pupChewyRoad tripping with a dog can be messy. If I hadn’t bought a seat cover, the back seat of my car would be completely covered in fur and drool. I bought a simple Frisco water-resistant seat cover that’s now out of stock, but Chewy also has some fancier versions that carry the Frisco label.
This quilted hammock cover will also keep your dog from haphazardly poking its head into the front seat. These covers are pretty easy to install and can be cleaned in the washing machine. — Lisa Sabatini, senior editorA steering wheel traySally Kaplan/Insider Inc.
My wife and I use this steering wheel tray all the time when we have to eat in the car. You obviously cannot drive while using it, but it’s perfect for eating Taco Bell in a parking lot while on a road trip (or literally any time, because Taco Bell is the greatest). — Sally Kaplan, executive editorA disposable cameraAmazonI know buying a disposable camera may seem like a redundant purchase with the existence of today’s smartphones, but hear me out: There’s something just that much more special about the spontaneity and imperfection of using a disposable camera, especially when it’s used to document something like a road trip.
You can then relive the experience all over again when it comes time to develop the photos, and it’s way more fun to do so by flipping through physical pictures than thumbing through an iPhone camera roll. — Rick Stella, editorAn insulated, reusable water bottleLauren Savoie/InsiderI pretty much go everywhere with my Hydro Flask. Mine is covered in stickers from my trips to national parks.
It keeps water cold for hours, and I love that the interior is metal, which feels easier to clean thoroughly. — Lauren Savoie, deputy editorPocket-sized trip journalsLauren Savoie/InsiderIf you can’t tell by now, I’m a big fan of documenting adventures. These Letterfolk passports are so well designed and fun for tracking your trips.
There are passports for chronicling states, hikes, trips, national parks, birds, fishing, campgrounds, and more. Plus a whole collection for kids. — Lauren Savoie, deputy editor A hands-free dog leashAmazonWe took our three dogs with us on our last road trip up to Portland — that’s over 17 hours on the road with a handful of pit stops.
These hands-free leash belts really came in clutch for the countless potty breaks we made for our pups. I didn’t have to worry about any leads slipping out of my hands when hopping out of the car since they were already securely latched to my belt. Picking up after them was also much easier since my hands were free from leash wrangling.
— Sarah Saril, reporterHeadphonesAmazonMy road trips usually include my wife, a teen, and an 8-year-old. Not surprisingly, we can’t agree on what to listen to. So, my wife and I usually listen to a true crime podcast on the Prius’s sound system, and the kids have headphones so they can enjoy their Power Rangers, TikTaks, or whatever kids are into these days.
I like the Stiive Bluetooth Headphones because they’re affordable, durable, and aren’t easy to lose like AirPods. — James Brains, reporterAn FM transmitter/car audio adapterLauren Savoie/InsiderI have an older car without any built-in Bluetooth or charging capabilities so one of the first things I purchased for it was this Bluetooth transmitter. It plugs into the cigarette lighter and lets you stream music and audio from your phone into your car’s speakers via Bluetooth and FM radio.
It also has two USB ports so that you can charge phones while you drive. I use this every single day to listen to music in the car and charge my phone. It connects easily and you don’t need a special app to use it.
— Lauren Savoie, deputy editorA good assortment of snacksAmazonYou gotta have good snacks on a road trip. I like this snack box because it’s marginally healthier than the usual gas station fare. In addition to any health benefits this might provide, it keeps my kids from pigging out as much as they might with Doritos, Cheetos, candy, and other junk foods they love.
I also recommend stopping at the roadside stands you see in farm country. — James Brains, reporterA first aid kitAmazonAccidents happen. It’s important to be prepared for inevitable disasters.
One piece of gear that you should always have in your car is a fully stocked first aid kit. This 298-piece kit is the top pick in our guide to the best first aid kits. Best of all, it’s affordable and has a small footprint.
— James Brains, reporterA national parks passportLauren Savoie/InsiderOne of my favorite “secrets” about the federal parks system is the passport stamps that are available at most parks. I’ve been collecting them for a few years now via this passport and it’s a fun challenge to find them throughout the parks. There are whole websites devoted to cataloging the unique and rare stamps and their locations.
The stamps themselves are like free souvenirs; you could collect them in your own journal if you’d like, but the passport has dedicated sections for each region and info about the parks. There’s also a kids’ version. —Lauren Savoie, deputy editorBug sprayHome DepotOn a recent road trip to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, I was enjoying a beautiful view of Lake Superior when I kept feeling these harsh bites.
These hateful biting flies were eating me alive. It got to be too much and really harshed my enjoyment of the hike. Learn from my mistakes: Remember the bug repellent! In addition to pesky flies, OFF! Deep Woods Insect Repellent will keep the ticks and mosquitoes away.
It’s the top pick in our best bug sprays and repellents guide. — James Brains, reporterRead the original article on Insider.
From: insider
URL: https://www.insider.com/guides/travel/best-road-trip-essentials
