They are worth it to keep your feet properly supported and comfortable. Invest in good quality walking and hiking shoes that are waterproof and breathable. If you expect rain, pack a waterproof bag cover to keep the contents in your bag dry. Nothing leads to cranky teens faster than dead smartphones.īackpacks/daypacks. For younger kids, singing along and listening to stories can keep them entertained for hours. Travel games. Good old-fashioned car games are still a fun way to keep kids entertained on a long drive. Snacks. To prevent the kids from becoming “hangry." They make the kids' naps in the backseat more comfortable, and should you break down at night or when it's cold, you can keep warm while waiting for roadside assistance. Many are leak-proof and have a cover or drawstring top that prevents things from falling out.īlankets. Rather than dump trash all over the car or in a shopping bag, buy a travel trash can.
Travel pillows. To help you catch a few z’s while on the road, especially if you plan to travel at night. If it’s too cool, you can put a sweater on. Everyone has a different AC temperature preference. Make sure you are able to layer your clothing. Pack light breathable clothing that’s wrinkle-free.
You’ll be spending several hours a day on the road, so plan for comfort.Ĭomfortable clothes and shoes. Medication. Headache pills, antihistamines, nausea and diarrhea pills, and chronic medication.
Plenty of water. Staying hydrated is essential. A must-have if you plan to have roadside picnics and want to avoid messy hands touching car surfaces. The last thing you want is to run out and have to drive for miles with a smelly baby. Laundry piles up quickly if you’re traveling as a family.Įnough diapers and wet wipes. Sunscreen, sun hats, swimwear, and sunglasses for summer.Ī drawstring laundry bag. Umbrellas, rain ponchos, boots, and warm coats for winter. Important documents. Vehicle registration, IDs, insurance document, and travel and accommodation booking confirmations.įirst aid kit. You should keep one in your car at all times anyway. Let's start with the essential items you shouldn’t leave home without: So how can you pack smart? Here's a checklist of what to pack when going on a long road trip. If you’re a family, the amount of stuff to pack can be overwhelming. With all of that said, let’s get packing.When packing for a road trip, it’s easy to want to take everything but the kitchen sink. We’ve also written up a massive road trip guide to help you navigate all of the other aspects of a road trip (safety, finding accommodations, the best way to pack your car, and more), so check it out if you’re so inclined. We have other packing lists, guides, and reviews to help you find gear that works for you. So, if the items on this list aren’t your thing, don’t worry. Of course, we know that what works for some isn’t going to work for others (even the Pack Hacker team differs). (And, if you’re going abroad, there may be additional things you need to pack.) Road Trip To Glacier National Park Plus, you need to pack your driver’s license, insurance, registration, passport, car manual, and other like items. Make sure you consider these vehicle-specific essentials before you take off, including tools, battery cables, a spare tire, nice windshield wipers (splurge on these, trust us), windshield washer fluid, etc. We haven’t included a section on vehicle specific items because what you need differs from vehicle to vehicle. We’ve taken what’s worked and what hasn’t and distilled all the gear you need down into one mega list-with one exception. That way, you can worry less about rummaging through your stuff and focus more on those classic road trip experiences.Ĭollectively, our team has driven thousands and thousands of miles. But we believe this list will help you pack what you need (while staying comfortable) without being burdened down with a bunch of excess gear.
We don’t guarantee that this packing list will prevent misadventures-which are part of the fun, anyway. On that note, we’ve kept this list as minimal as possible while keeping comfort and convenience in mind.
Additionally, you won’t have to go digging through a trunk full of stuff to pull out the few things that you actually use. Beyond ensuring more legroom, we’ve found that packing minimally helps to keep a clear mind. Now, it can be tempting to pack a lot of gear for a road trip-you’re not limited by airline restrictions, after all-but we suggest packing the least amount of stuff possible. (But you can adapt it to fit your needs.) While road trips can last anywhere from a weekend to a year or more, we’ve formulated this list to work for trips that span from a week to a month or so. Welcome to the Road Trip Packing List where we’re going to cover everything you need to make your road-tripping adventure worthy of the big screen.