The road trip packing list
What to keep in the car, what to keep within reach, and the small things that save a long drive.
A road trip packs differently from a flight. There is room for more, so the risk is packing so much that nothing is easy to find. Sort by where it rides: within reach, in the trunk, and in the bag you carry inside each night.
Within reach of the front seat
- Phone mount and a charging cable that reaches it
- Sunglasses and a hat
- Water and a few snacks that do not melt
- Napkins, wet wipes, and a small trash bag
- A paper list of the day's stops and their closing times, in case the signal drops
In the trunk
- A small cooler if the day is long
- A blanket or a light jacket for each person
- A basic first-aid kit
- Jumper cables or a portable jump starter, a tire gauge, and a flashlight
- One reusable bag for shopping stops along the way
The overnight bag
Pack one small bag with everything for a single night, so the big bags can stay in the car until the end of the trip.
- One change of clothes and sleepwear
- Toiletries and medications
- Chargers
Before you leave
Check the rental agreement or your own car's manual for the spare tire and jack, and save the roadside assistance number in your phone. If the car is a rental, note the return time and fuel rule: a late return can cost more than the last stop was worth.
Put it into practice
Save the stops you want as you find them. When it is time to plan, the request the planner writes for your AI asks it to check each stop's hours and plan around your return time.