There is a lot of planning that goes into a road trip, from making sure your car is ready for the road to planning the best route for getting to where you are going. In addition to this, making sure you are packing all the essentials is a must—from snacks to games to emergency supplies, you will not want to forget a thing on this list.

So when you are ready to load the family up and hit the road, reference this list to make sure you have everything you need for an enjoyable journey in between point A and point B!

Essentials to Pack for Any Road Trip

While road trips certainly do not require as much advanced planning as flying (no need for size restrictions here), you do typically have a much longer period with much more variance to consider. Here are some of the must-pack items every car should have for a long trip:

• An emergency kit with food, water, roadside flares, cones and medical supplies for everyone in the family, including pets
• Chargers for your phone and/or GPS system if it is not powered by your vehicle
• Physical maps such as an atlas in case you lose service
• Sunscreen (Yes, it is possible to get sunburned through a car window!)
• Reusable water bottles with refills
• Your car’s manual, registration and insurance information
• An extra car key on a separate key ring
• Spare tires and tools
• Extra oil, coolant, wiper fluid and gas

Extra Comfort Items for Road Trips

In addition to the above must-have items, there are plenty of things you can pack that will make your road trip far more comfortable for your entire family. Those items are:

• Hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes
• Gum and mints
• Games (either physical travel games or a mental list of roadway games to play)
• An over the seat organizer to keep snacks and supplies conveniently within reach
• A phone mount
• Lumbar supports and/or seat cushions for your car seat
• A garbage bag or bin for bits of trash

If you are heading out on a road trip, we are here to check your vehicle out before you get going! Our technicians can perform thorough inspections on any make or model of vehicle so you can be certain you are ready to hit the road. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.