This is yet another year for Americans to gear up and travel. Over 100 million Americans have plans to take a vacation in 2019. This translates to 4 in 10 US adults.
Part of their travel plans includes summer and spring road trips. That means more than 53% of Americans are planning to pack up their cars for a road trip. Some of the popular routes include Northern California, Las Vegas to National parks.
Without road trip essentials, your journey can turn out to be a nightmare. Don’t want to be stuck while on the road? Want to know what things to bring on a road trip?
Read on and learn the 7 road trip essentials every car owner should have.
1. Pack Your License and Car Registration
Before leaving, it is important to ensure that you have your license and car registration. With these crucial documents, it will notify the police that you are allowed to operate your car. By not carrying your license, it indicates that you have no right to drive.
You need to carry your insurance policy and relevant contact numbers too. In case of a minor accident when on the road, you can exchange insurance details with other drivers. One more thing. Don’t forget to carry your car manual.
You never know what issues will crop up as you drive and need a quick fix.
2. Carry a Roadside Emergency Kit
As you travel from state to state, you might encounter bad weather. In one state, it might be hot and sunny but in another, it might be raining or snowing. Having a roadside emergency kit allows you to fix common issues.
Here is what you need to carry:
- Light sticks
- Reflective Vest
- Warning triangle
- Whistle
- Battery booster cables
- Emergency rain poncho
- Tire pressure gauge
- First aid kit
- Roadmaps
- Fire extinguisher
- Car fluids
- Tow rope
With this in your car, you are prepared for common road emergencies. Don’t forget to check your spare tire is in good condition before setting off.
Learn more about the air filter cleaner and its many features.
3. Entertainment Gadgets and Classic Games
If you are traveling with the kids, what you need to know is that they get bored fast. This means they will start quarreling and even fight. As such, they will end up throwing items at each other.
This can be distracting as you drive. To ensure they remain occupied during the road trip, follow this road trip packing list.
- Pack video games
- Classic card games
- Snacks
- Bluetooth headsets
- iPods and MP3 players
Also, pack your multiway charger, kid’s tablet, and e-readers.
To keep your kids entertained, create a road trip playlist. You can use Amazon Music, Apple Music or Spotify.
4. Baby Supplies
Are you traveling with your baby? Then, you need to be prepared with the right road trip essentials. By that, we mean packing hand sanitizer, tissues, baby wipes, diapers, water, and baby food. You should also pack bug spray in case you plan on camping.
Don’t forget to carry a travel baby bottle warmer, a cozy blanket and a baby car seat. This ensures that your baby is warm and comfortable on your trip.
5. Miscellaneous Items
To keep your car from becoming a mess, pack a small travel trash can and garbage bags. You also need to pack:
- Travel mugs
- Snacks
- Water bottle
- Car mount
- Umbrella
- Travel camera
- Polarized sunglasses
Other items to pack include a travel pillow, towels, cooler, hats, solar batteries, power bank, books, swiss army knife, and an extra car key. This comes in handy in case you lock yourself out of your car.
Make sure the key is not on the same key ring as the original set.
6. Personal Care Kit
To keep the UVA and UVB rays of the sun from damaging your skin, include your sunscreen in your road trip checklist. This also comes in handy when sunbathing at the beach. You also need to pack a mini hairbrush, hair ties, toiletry bag, and toilet paper.
7. Weather-Related Essentials
If you are traveling through different states, you need to know what to bring on a road trip. For instance, if it’s snowing at your next destination, a snow shovel, salt, tow rope, and ice scraper will come in handy.
Must-Have Road Trip Essentials for a Pleasant Experience
Packing the road trip essentials listed above can be an all-out sanity saver. Not only you will be prepared for any emergency car issues but you will keep your kids entertained and their bellies full. This ensures that you all have a pleasant road trip.
In search of more tips on how to prepare a road trip packing list? Bookmark our website’s Lifestyle section and be informed.
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