Road Trip Essentials: 12 Things Every Driver Needs

Road Trip Essentials: 12 Things Every Driver Needs

Road Trip · 7 min read

A great road trip is all about the journey - and the right gear makes the miles fly by. Before you hit the open road, run through this road trip essentials checklist. We have grouped the 12 must-haves into comfort, tech, freshness and being prepared, so nothing gets left behind.

Comfort for the long haul

Hours in the seat add up fast. Sort out comfort first.

  • 1. Lumbar & neck support - a memory-foam cushion set keeps your back and neck happy mile after mile.
  • 2. A soft headrest - a contoured headrest pillow makes rest stops and passenger naps far comfier.
  • 3. A travel blanket - a car blanket for chilly mornings, cold A/C and roadside breaks.

Stay charged and connected

  • 4. A fast car charger - keep phones and devices topped up with a 100W USB-C charger. A dead phone on a road trip is no fun.
  • 5. A phone mount - a vent phone mount keeps navigation in view and your hands on the wheel.
  • 6. A dash cam - a 2K dash cam records the trip and gives you peace of mind on unfamiliar roads.

Keep it clean and fresh

Be prepared

  • 9. A tire inflator - a portable 150PSI inflator handles low or soft tires anywhere, no gas station needed.
  • 10. An OBD2 scanner - if a warning light pops up, an OBD2 scanner tells you what is wrong before you panic.
  • 11. Window sunshades - sunshades keep the cabin cool and protect passengers from glare.
  • 12. Seat protection - seat covers shrug off spills, sand and pet hair so your interior survives the adventure.

Your printable road trip checklist

  • Lumbar & neck cushions
  • Headrest pillow
  • Travel blanket
  • Fast car charger
  • Phone mount
  • Dash cam
  • Handheld vacuum
  • Air freshener
  • Tire inflator
  • OBD2 scanner
  • Window sunshades
  • Seat covers

FAQ

What should I pack for a long car trip?

Cover four bases: comfort (cushions, blanket), tech (charger, phone mount, dash cam), freshness (vacuum, air freshener) and preparedness (tire inflator, OBD2 scanner, sunshades, seat protection).

What is the most important comfort item for a road trip?

Lumbar and neck support. Hours of driving are hard on your back, and a memory-foam cushion set makes the biggest difference.

Do I really need a tire inflator and OBD2 scanner?

They are cheap insurance. A portable inflator saves you when a tire goes soft far from a station, and an OBD2 scanner turns a scary warning light into a clear answer.

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