15 Road Trip Essentials That Need to Be on Your Packing List  

Road Trip Essentials

Are you planning a Roat Trip? If so, you’re in the right place! I will share the perfect packing list to minimize stress and optimize fun! My family and I go on road trips almost every year, and I’m always the person who organizes everything! 

If you’re the designated organizer and list maker of your family and friends group, we can definitely relate! to one another. I created this list to be your saving grace because I know how overwhelming I can be to ensure you have everything! I created this list using my personal experience and thorough research to alleviate your planning stress and ensure you’re equipped with all the road trip essentials. 

In this post, you will learn all about road trip essentials for adults, road trip essentials for couples, road trip essentials for family, road trip essentials for kids, road trip essentials for dogs, road trip essentials for car, and road trip essentials Amazon. 

After reading this post, you’ll know what to include on your packing list and ensure that you have everything you need for your road trip so you enjoy your experience on and off the road! 

This post is all about the best road trip essentials you need for your next trip! 

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links at no extra cost to you.

Best Road Trip Essentials 

Road Trip Essentials for the driver

When you go on a long-distance road trip, you’ll need to take everything with you to ensure a fun experience. This waterproof rooftop cargo carrier is vital for your trip! At 21 cubic feet, it can hold five suitcases, four tents, and much more. The carrying case is easy to set up and take down and withstands the high winds of the highway.      

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Road Trip checklist for family

It’s all fun and games until you can’t find something while driving on the highway. That’s why a backseat organizer is crucial for a road trip! This 2-pack organizer from Amazon is highly rated because it has 9 different-sized pockets and a touchscreen tablet holder. It’s super easy to install and fits most car seats, but make sure you order it ahead of time just in case it’s too small for your seats. 

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essentials to bring on a road trip

Keeping your stuff organized and clean on a long road trip is important for comfort and stress relief. Similar to the backseat organizer, this seat storage provides extra pockets on the side of your car seat. This side seat storage had two mesh and one zipper pocket that could store various small objects, like wallets, phones, or glasses. The organizer doesn’t fit all seats, so make sure you order with enough to test it out.

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Road Trip Essentials snacks,

Your car’s trunk is another place to ensure it stays organized. In the trunk, you’ll store things that don’t need to be frequently accessed. For example, you might put the excess supply of drinks, snacks, or first aid, things you’ll need but won’t use too often. This collapsible trunk organizer is perfect because it has lots of pockets on the outside and big compartments on the inside. My favorite part is that it is sturdy, with a lid to place things on top. 

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Road Trip Essentials Amazon

I’m sure by now you have figured out that organization is the most crucial aspect of a long-distance road trip! This Car Ceiling Cargo Net Pocket should come as no surprise! This mesh car roof organizer helps you utilize all aspects to give you more legroom while still accessing all road trip essentials. The ceiling cargo is sturdy, easy to install, and gives you extra storage space.    

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Road Trip Essentials for car

One of the most frustrating things you can experience when driving is having your phone fall between the gaps in your seat. That’s why this top-rated 2-set Seat Gap Filler is a must-have for all drivers, especially those going on a long-distance trip. The Drop Stop is a Shark Tank product, and it really lives up to the hype. It is easy to install and clean and prevents everything from falling between the seats.   

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Road Trip planner

Wearing your seatbelt is vital for your safety, but it can be super uncomfortable. That’s where these top-rated seatbelt covers from Amazon come in handy. These soft Faux sheepskin covers help prevent the seatbelt from rubbing your neck, which leads to a more comfortable driving experience. They are made with velcro, so the installation and adjustments are super easy. I highly recommend getting one for every seatbelt in your vehicle.   

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Road Trip necessities list

A trash can is one of the most critical yet forgotten road trip essentials. This 2-pack waterproof hanging trash can from Amazon has a convenient buckle with adjustable straps, so you can place it wherever it is most accessible. The trash can is leakproof and the perfect size for a road trip. It also has an elastic opening, which ensures nothing will fall out and any smells will stay in.  

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Road Trip Essentials list

A neck pillow is one of the most crucial road trip essentials. This Travel Pillow from Amazon is super comfortable! It’s made of memory foam and a breathable cover, so it comes in handy on a long car ride. Just like a pillowcase, you will need to clean your neck pillow, so the fact that it is machine washable is helpful. 

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Road Trip Essentials for dogs

If you’re anything like me, you can’t sleep without a blanket, no matter where you are.  This top-rated throw blanket is perfect for traveling! The blanket is gorgeous and comfy. I love how lightweight and soft it is while still being warm!  It is large enough to cover you completely but small enough for a road trip.   

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Road Trip Essentials for kids

Sleeping on a road trip can be difficult, especially if you are sensitive to light. This highly-rated sleep eye mask is a must-have while traveling. It has a soft zero-pressure design with an adjustable strap, which makes it super comfortable. The best part is that it is 100% light-blocking for those who need complete darkness to sleep. The mask comes with a travel pouch and earplugs for storage. 

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Road Trip must-haves for adults

When on a long-distance road trip, your entertainment options are limited while driving, so this tablet mount is a must. It is durable, easy to use, and install! The car mount is wrapped around the headrest and secured with velcro. The mount holds the tablet vertically or horizontally with an anti-slip strap to hold it securely. When ordering a tablet mount, verify that the size will fit your device; this mount is meant for a 12.9-inch tablet.   

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Road Trip Essentials Reddit

When traveling with people, you must compromise on music and temperature. That’s why I always take a portable neck fan with me. It helps when your fellow travelers want to keep the temperature higher than you like and when you are outside on a hot day. This rechargeable bladeless neck fan has 3 speeds and is highly rated on Amazon. 

Best Places to Get Luggage:

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Road Trip Essentials list

Making sure you have Wi-Fi is crucial while driving long distances because you need to be able to communicate with your emergency contacts, entertain yourself, and get directions. That’s why a mobile hotspot is a must-have for a road trip! The Solis Lite 4G is super popular with Nomad because of its convenient size and local and international reliability. Using this portable hotspot, you will have monthly access to 1GB of global data and connect up to 10 devices simultaneously.  

Best Places to Get Luggage:

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Road Trip Essentials for couples

The most crucial road trip essential is a roadside assistance emergency kit. You may never use an emergency kit on your journey, but it is better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. This compact kit comes with jumper cables, a tool set, a safety hammer, a seatbelt cutter, and more. Whether you purchase this kit or another one, I highly recommend you have one in your car at all times.   

Best Places to Get Luggage:

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After reading this post about the best road trip essentials, you’ll be ready for your next vacation! 

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