There is nothing that’s more exciting than taking off on a road trip, whether it’s by yourself or with a car load of friends. Some of the best memories that you will ever make are on the road trips that you take. You will meet interesting people and find amazing places that you never expected to find. There is something extremely special about road trips that stay with you long after the trip has finished.
While some of the best road trips are spontaneous, that doesn’t mean that you should ever leave on a road trip unprepared. Whether you have taken months to plan the trip or decide to go at the very last minute, there are certain essential items that you should have in your car for any road trip that you take. Here are a few of them:
Car Toolbox
Road trips are a lot of fun, but before you embark on one, it’s important to make sure you have a couple of items in your car. First, it’s a good idea to have a small toolbox in your car in case of emergencies. You only need to include the essential items, such as a flashlight, a tire repair kit, wrenches, duct tape, a tarp, or road salt. You never know what type of weather emergency or car emergency you’ll encounter and it’s important to be prepared. You don’t want your road trip to be ruined by breaking down on the side of the road!
Spare Tire and Tire Pump
Having the essentials to fix a flat tire is just as important as having a car toolbox. What happens if you get a flat tire while you’re driving on a long stretch of road with no gas station or auto shop for miles? You don’t want to be stranded in the middle of nowhere. So make sure you keep a spare tire and the required tools to fix the flat. These are necessary items to have in any car, let alone for any road trip.
First Aid Kit
A first aid kit should be an obvious item to have in a car, but a surprising amount of people don’t think to include one. It doesn’t have to be large, just something big enough to carry the essentials: band-aids, aspirin, sunblock, gauze, medical tape, motion sickness medicine, and any other type of medication you can imagine. The first aid kit should be easily accessible as well. You don’t want to have to go digging around to find it if you need it in an emergency.
GPS or Maps
Having a GPS or a couple of maps or atlases are some of the best items you can bring on a road trip. After all, you want to know how to get to your end destination, right? Nor do you want to get lost trying to get there! Your GPS or map will become your best friend on your road trip. Before you leave for your trip, remember to borrow or purchase a GPS and stock up on some maps, whether you buy some in a store or print them from the Internet.
Cell Phone
Not only should you take a cell phone on your trip, but you should make sure you bring a cell phone that has great reception. A cell phone is great if you have an emergency or need to find alternate directions or a place to stay for the night. You’ll want to make sure someone on your trip has a phone with good reception in case you’re driving through an area that has poor reception.
Blankets
You should always have a blanket in your car. This is an essential for everyday trips, but it’s definitely important for a road trip. A blanket is great for emergencies or in case your car breaks down. You never know what types of climates you’ll encounter and sometimes a blanket comes in handy when you’re unprepared for colder weather.
Water
Water should be another item on your road trip list for two reasons. One, it’s a great idea to have some sort of beverage for a long trip — no one wants to go hours without a drink! Second, and more important, if your car breaks down for an extended period of time, it’s very easy to suffer from dehydration. You can stock up your car with a cooler or keep some jugs or bottles of water in the trunk. Just remember to pack some before you leave so no one gets dehydrated.
Snacks
If you’re going on a very long road trip, you’re going to get hungry. Sometimes you drive for miles without seeing a fast food place or truck stop. And when no one’s eaten for awhile, tempers start to rise. Make sure you head to the grocery store and pick up some of your favorite snacks.
Toiletries
You should also make sure your car has tissues, toilet paper, wipes, paper towels or napkins, and hand sanitizer. Items like a spare toothbrush or spare t-shirt are also recommended. Cleaning supplies like paper towels and wipes are great to have if there are messes, and toilet paper is such an important item in case someone needs to make an impromptu bathroom trip!
Music
Last, but certainly not least, you need to include some great music on your trip! Hook up your iPod or mp3 player to your car stereo — or turn on satellite radio — and enjoy your trip! If you’re driving with a friend or family member, create a playlist you can both enjoy. Music will provide a great background for your trip.