The Ultimate Packing Checklist for Your Road Trip (Plus Free Guide!)

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We have taken many road trips this year including two cross-country road trips from Florida to California and back, so we have become experts when it comes to preparing and packing for road trips.

Before going on road trips, you need to prepare properly (especially for long road trips) and it’s best to pack efficiently so it’s easy to find things as you are moving along day to day.

ROAD TRIP PREP

• Get Your Car Checked
  We like to get the 21-point inspection at car shops to make sure everything is good to go on our car. They usually check your tires, engine oil and filter, radiator, fluids, and more. This will give you the peace of mind that your car is in good working order before you leave. Get your car checked at least a week before you leave on your road trip in case your car needs special repairs and the mechanic needs extra time to get the parts.

• Download Offline Maps

  Some parts of America are very remote and will not have a signal, so you will not be able to use your phone to navigate. The best solution for this is to download offline maps in some regions with Google Maps. Another option would be to print out your route as a backup.

• Prep Food
  We like to prep some food for the first day of our road trip. Being on the road means we’re probably going to have more fast food options than anything else, so having something other than convenience food (even if it’s just the first day) makes us feel better. We typically pack in our cooler some Japanese rice balls and karaage (Japanese fried chicken). We also carry an extra bag filled with protein bars, breakfast bars, trail mix, and more. If you want to save some money, this is a bag you will want to prepare since gas station prices for snacks are higher than the grocery store.

• Become a Member of AAA
  We’ve been AAA members for years now and it has come handy in so many situations including a flat tire and dead battery. If you don’t already have AAA, it’s a good idea to go ahead and get it. It’s one of those things you wish you had when your car breaks down in the middle of the road.

CAR ACCESSORIES

• Roadside Rescue Emergency Kit
  Having an emergency kit inside your car will be smart in case of any emergencies on the road. The kit we got includes a first aid kit, cables, poncho, jumper cables, gloves, ropes, zip ties, a rescue blanket, window smasher tool, a warning triangle reflector and more.

• Portable Power Station
  Crystal initially bought this for hurricane season (she lives in Florida), but it’s a handy power station to have for an emergency. You can use it to power common personal electronics and small appliances without the need for an AC outlet.

• WiFi Hotspots
  There are two different brands we use on our travels when we need WiFi overseas: Skyroam and TravelWiFi. It isn’t necessarily something we utilize often when we are traveling within the US, but it comes in handy if we need a boost of signal to get some work done in the car. Sometimes tethering from a phone to the laptop is useless or slow, so having a device that can provide a strong WiFi signal anywhere is super convenient.

• USB Car Charger
  Long days on the road means we use our phone a ton especially for Google Maps and Podcasts. Having a USB Car Charger is a must for us so that we never hit that dreaded red zone on the battery life.

• Sanitizing Products
  Wet Wipes, Hand Sanitizer, and Dissolvable Soap Sheets - we stash all three of these products in our car, purse, and pockets while on the road. We’ve all been in those situations where you turn on the faucet and there is no soap to be found (it’s a frustrating moment for sure). You’ve already touched the sink so taking responsibility and carrying these items yourself will help wash those germs away.

• Cooler
  A cooler is a smart investment especially if you want to keep your drinks cold and food fresh. We like to use our handy cooler that has a top hatch, so we can easily grab something. To help keep our contents cool, we use reusable Ice Sheets or Gel Ice Packs.

WHAT TO PACK AND HOW TO ORGANIZE

We always take our favorite travel luggage on our road trips and like to organize them properly. The Away suitcases, Pacsafe bags, and Lo & Sons bags are usually our go-to on road trips.

• Clothing
  We like to use our Pacsafe packing cubes to organize all of our clothes and also other travel cubes that come in different slim sizes so that we can play Tetris a little easier in our suitcases. We usually organize each cube in these categories: shirts, pants, undergarments, fitness wear, pajamas, socks, and bathing suits. For our extra shoes, we like to use the Lo & Sons Canvas Tote since it has a convenient storage compartment for your shoes. For clothes that you need to keep wrinkle-free, the Away Centerfold Garment Sleeve is an excellent accessory.

• Toiletries
  We usually have two toiletry bags we take with us since it’s hard to fit all of our toiletries into one bag. We use clear leakproof bags for everyday items like toothpaste, contact solution, lotion, face wash, deodorant, etc. And for all other miscellaneous items (medications, sunscreen, bug spray, etc.), we put them in a separate larger bag.

• Cosmetics
  We put all of our makeup in a hanging cosmetic case.

• Travel Jewelry Case
  There are a couple of jewelry cases we like to use, but recently our go-to jewelry case has been the WOLF Marrakesh Travel Case.

• Tech Gear
  We use several different bags for our tech gear. All of our cables and chargers go in the Cable Organizer Bag and our laptop and/or iPad usually goes in our Pacsafe Backpack or in the front pocket of the Away Expandable Suitcase.

• Camera Gear
  We have been using the Pacsafe Travel Tote to hold most of our camera gear and usually keep our main camera in the Pacsafe Backpack. We also use the Vessel Boston Bag because it’s more structured and gives the camera gear more protection.

BONUS MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

• Magnetic Phone Mount
  If you are renting a car, having a universal car mount holder will come in super handy. It will keep you safe by having your head up and on the road and not tilted down looking at your phone. We have used this accessory on several trips and it’s inexpensive ($6). It also has an impressive 10,600 reviews on Amazon with 4.5 stars.

• Bandolier
  If you like being hands-free, having a Bandolier is a stylish yet convenient way to carry your phone. We have been huge fans of Bandolier for at least 5 years now and can’t rave enough about this amazing phone accessory. It literally goes everywhere with us.

• 3-Outlet USB Surge Protector
  If you have a lot of gear that you need to charge, it’s a good idea to pack one of these. Hotels that have been remodeled typically have plenty of outlets, but there are still many hotels with limited or hard to reach outlets.

• CalPak Baye Hat Box
  This hat bag is everything I have ever wanted for holding my delicate hat collection. It’s designed for both storage and travel and made from a durable lightweight hard shell that’s also water-resistant. This round CalPak Baye Hat Box will keep all your hats in excellent condition.

• Fancii LED Lighted Travel Makeup Mirror
  I am not a fan of doing my makeup in a dimly lit room, so I carry a compact light mirror just in case. It’s not a huge mirror, but large enough to get my face ready when I need that light.

• Hot Iron Cover
  If you are in a rush to pack and can’t wait for your curling or flat iron to cool down, this heat resistant pouch is a time saver.