5 Necessary Road Trip Essentials You Need To Be Packing
A road trip is a perfect opportunity to escape from the humdrum of everyday life. Listening to music, telling tales, reviving old memories, and making fresh ones can be an ideal way to break away from your monotonous routine. The most important task while going for a vacation is packing the essentials to ensure you are comfortable and safe from the unpredictabilities of the trip.
Are you wondering what things you must pack for your next road adventure? Here are some road trip essentials that will ensure your next road trip is secure, sustainable, and enjoyable.
1. Roof Rack
When you are going on a road trip, there are innumerable things you need to carry. Phones chargers, cameras, laptops, car papers, sleeping bags, emergency kits, clothes, and the list goes on and on.
If you have an abundance of luggage to carry for your road trip, you might want to get a roof rack installed. It is necessary to avoid overloading the space amid your car. You don’t have to rethink about reducing your luggage twice when you have a roof rack. It will keep your precious belongings safe while exploring the untouched areas and are busy making lifetime memories.
2. Day Bag
A day bag is as important as your primary travel bag. It lets you carry all your essential items, such as your phone, charger, camera, etc. without reaching for the main bag again and again. The day bag you choose should be not only stylish but also sturdy and durable. Make sure that it has handles at the top along with sturdy shoulder straps.
The best day bags open up at the very front and extend out so that you get a lot of space to pack. Some of them even come with classified sections and multiple pockets that make packing a lot more fun. You can also pick neutral colors like black or white, but there are several shades and colors you can opt for instead, in case you’re feeling particularly bold. Several things can go in the right bag like your laptop, camera, phone accessories, travel adapter, water bottle, purse, and cardigan.
3. Hiking Boots/Shoes
When you go on a trip with fellow adventure seekers, you always have the option to stop exploring the surroundings. The incredible scenery that a road trip brings makes it too hard to resist, and going for a hike can be an ideal way to enjoy the picturesque views. For that, hiking boots or shoes are a must.
As you shop for hiking shoes or boots, you need to make sure that you test their support, look, weight, breathability, water-resistance, and comfort. Certain shoe brands manufacture boots especially built for hiking, and if you can’t decide on a pair of footwear, it is suggested that you go for trusted brands only.
Travel boots can look as good as they perform, so don’t worry even if you are looking for something trendy. With the several options available today, such as my favorite Palladium, you will be able to find shoes that you can take to the pub right after you have climbed up and down a hill. And when you decide to switch for another pair, you have your day bag to carry them.
4. Waterproof Jacket
A waterproof jacket is a must-have for road trips, especially if you are traveling on a motorcycle. One thing that experts recommend when buying a waterproof jacket is that you don’t compromise on the quality because of the cost. Waterproof jackets are long-term investments and will go on to help you even after you’ve come home from the trip.
The relevance and importance of a waterproof jacket cannot be stressed enough. To elaborate, you can experience frequent weather changes in foreign lands. Moreover, you never know when it might pour, and you get drenched to your bones or the winds get chilly, but here the jacket will keep you warm and safe.
You can get jackets with versatile fits and in any desired color. Softshell jackets are some of the best options that keep you dry but are very easy to pack.
5. First Aid Kit, or Pill Organizer
Let’s face it! When you’re out on your road trip, it is on you to keep yourself safe. You should not rely on experts to come to your aid in the middle of the road that you’re traversing, especially at odd hours.
Here, it becomes crucial to carry a first aid kit to keep you and your fellow travelers safe. It must be well-equipped with the essential medicines and ointments that you might need.
A list of road trip essentials in a first aid kit would include
- Antiseptic cream
- Painkillers
- Cough medicine
- Mosquito-repellant
- Antihistamine cream or tablets
- Scissors
- Cotton balls
- Bandages
When keeping a first aid kit, or a travel pill organizer for your road trip, check if all these essentials are present in it or not. Besides that, keep in mind to check the expiry date for medicines and get new medicines if they have expired already or will expire during your trip. The kit will help you take care of any minor injury or inconvenience without having to rush to a doctor or hospital in the middle of your journey.
Other Road Trip Essentials
Finding the right food can be tough when you are on the go, especially those road trip essentials for kids. Here are a few handy meal ideas for your voyage that will keep your hunger pangs at bay.
I. Some Breakfast Food Includes
- Porridge, milk, and fruit
- Overnight oats
- Cereal, milk
- Eggs
- Sausage
- Beans
- Tortillas
II. Lunch and Dinner
- Omelet
- Chilli
- Tuna, pasta, sweetcorn
- Spaghetti Bolognese
- Salads
- Soup
- Sandwiches/wraps
- Lunchables like cheese, meat, and crackers.
III. Road Trip Snacks
- Cereal bars
- Rice cakes
- Crackers
- Caffeine drinks
- Fruit
- Jelly sweets and candy
- Hummus and carrot/celery
- Potato chips
- Hard-Boiled Eggs
Conclusion
No experience can compare to the freedom that a road trip offers! If you are having trouble with packing for your adventure, this packing guide will ensure you have everything you need while exploring the untouched areas. Keep these things in mind while packing and make your trip more fun and comfortable.
Note:
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The Broad Life
The Broad Life is a travel blog with guides, stories, and reviews to inspire people to explore the world and live a more interesting, experience, and adventurous life.
30 Comments
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Khoi Nguyen
Don’t forget the items in the list if you plan to do a road trip soon!
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JP
Hiking boots and Snacks! A definite must have for our next plan to go on a road trip. Would love to try hiking with my wife.
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Khoi Nguyen
Hope you find nice hiking boots for your trip with your wife 🙂
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THE JOYOUS LIVING entertainment + disabled blogger (@thejoyousliving)
thanks for your list. there are so many details you’ve put together. i was interested especially that you would include so many cooked meals for your meal suggestions during a road trip.
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Khoi Nguyen
I’m so glad that you like the list. Thank you for your comment!
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Marie
This is a perfect list and matches well the types of trips I would be taking, especially the food options.
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Khoi Nguyen
Thanks for your complement!
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Olivia Robins
hiking boots – or good boots are a must ! i made a mistake once not getting one with me and my feet … oh my gosh they are so painful – kind regards pati robins @ style squeeze blog
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Khoi Nguyen
Also please make sure you don’t buy a fake one with cheap quality. Good price for a good one!
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TheHappyMommie
Saving this for my next road trip! just cant wait to pack my bags and whit the roads again!
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Khoi Nguyen
I’m glad that this post is helpful. And hope your road trip is awesome with a lot of experience!
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emily
This post came at the right time. Because were not allowed to fly overseas at the moment, I have planned a road trip from perth to broome next weekend so you have given me some great ideas what i must pack.
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Khoi Nguyen
It’s great seeing this post can help you planning your coming road trip! Thanks for the comment!
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Ntensibe Edgar Michael
Waterproof jackets and first-aid kits are two things I never leave behind! You can never really know when it will rain, these days or when you will cut your finger, for example.
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Khoi Nguyen
Yeah, you can bring an umbrella in some cases but a waterproof jacket is always more convenient, imo.
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Emily Michelle Fata
So many people often forget the first aid bag. It’s so important — you never know what might happen while on the road and it’s best to come prepared.
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Khoi Nguyen
Totally agree with you. First aid kit is always a must-have stuff in any of my road trips.
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Angela Ricardo Bethea
Never experienced going on road trips before but those are wonderful tips to keep in mind. First aid kits are always are important item to have.
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Khoi Nguyen
Don’t forget those all essential items when you take your first road trip.
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Matt Taylor
We road tripped a lot when I was younger, in our Volkswagon bus! And we had a roof rack on top haha. Such good memories.
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Khoi Nguyen
I love the Volkswagon bus a lot but it’s very hard to find one in my country. You are such lucky to have that nice memories!
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emmandamian / thetennisfoodie
Hiking boots really helps! You’ll never know where you’ll go so it’s an essential for me. Also, a day bag is necessary so at least you can use it when you walk around.
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Khoi Nguyen
Definitely true!
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Lily
Great essentials for a travel roadtrip. I havent been on one all year I need to.
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Khoi Nguyen
The virus will end soon and you can come back to your road trip soon.
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katrina Kroeplin
great essentials. i have to make a list or i will forget something. i will have to save this.
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Khoi Nguyen
The items in this list would support you a lot in your road trip.
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Elizabeth O
The right shoes and hydration are definitely the two most important items to have on a trip. Others we can make do with what we have.
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Khoi Nguyen
I get your point. Thanks for commenting!
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Christine Weis
This is such a comprehensive list! A roof rack definitely frees up some room inside the vehicle and provides lots of extra storage space. I can’t wait to travel again.