The Ultimate Road Trip Packing List: 60 Essentials for Long Drives

The road trip essentials you can’t skip are a spare tire or inflator, a jump starter, a first aid kit, a headlamp, a gallon of water, offline maps and a paper atlas. Everything else is comfort. Pack by where things live in the car: safety gear in the trunk, documents in the glovebox, snacks and chargers within reach of the front seat. That system matters more than any single item on the list.

This list is organized by where things live in the car. It covers safety gear you hope never to use, comfort items you will use every hour, and the small, cheap things that rescue a trip. Print it, check it off, and skip anything that does not fit your route or season.

• 60Items in this list
• 5 zonesTrunk, glovebox, front, back, bag
• 1 dayBefore: check tires and fluids
• PrintableUse it as a checklist

Before you pack: prepare the car

The most important “item” is a car that is ready for the trip. A week before you leave:

• Check tire pressure, including the spare, and inspect tread depth.
• Top up or change the oil if it is due.
• Check coolant, brake fluid and windshield washer fluid.
• Test headlights, brake lights and turn signals.
• Replace worn wiper blades.
• Make sure the battery is healthy. Many auto parts stores test it for free.
• Confirm your roadside assistance coverage, whether through an auto club, your insurer, your car manufacturer or your credit card.

Zone 1: The trunk (safety and emergencies)

These items stay in the car for the whole trip, ideally in one labeled bin so you can find them quickly.

1. Spare tire, jack and lug wrench, or the inflator kit many newer cars carry instead. Know which one your car has.
2. Jumper cables or a portable jump starter. A compact lithium jump starter can start your car without another vehicle and charge phones.
3. Portable tire inflator that plugs into the car’s 12-volt outlet.
4. Tire pressure gauge.
5. First aid kit with bandages, blister care, antiseptic wipes, tweezers, pain relievers, antihistamines and any personal medications.
6. Flashlight or headlamp with spare batteries.
7. Reflective warning triangles or LED road flares.
8. Multi-tool and a roll of duct tape.
9. Work gloves.
10. Emergency blanket or an old wool blanket.
11. Extra water: at least one gallon, more in the desert.
12. Non-perishable snacks such as energy bars, nuts and crackers for emergencies.
13. Small shovel and traction aids if you will drive in snow or on sand.
14. Tire chains for mountain routes in winter, where they may be legally required.
15. Ice scraper in cold seasons.
16. Paper road atlas. It never runs out of battery or loses signal.

Zone 2: The glovebox (documents and quick-reach items)

17. Driver’s license for every driver.
18. Vehicle registration and proof of insurance, or the rental agreement.
19. Roadside assistance card and phone number.
20. Printed copies of reservations, especially for areas with no signal.
21. National parks pass if you have one. See our pass guide.
22. Pen and small notebook for notes, directions and mileage.
23. Tire pressure chart for your car (usually on the driver’s door jamb).
24. Some cash in small bills for small-town cafés, campground honor boxes and tolls.

Zone 3: The front seat (comfort and navigation)

25. Phone mount so navigation stays hands-free. Many states prohibit holding a phone while driving.
26. Car charger and cables for every device, plus a multi-port USB adapter.
27. Offline maps downloaded for your whole route.
28. Sunglasses, including a spare pair.
29. Sunscreen and lip balm with SPF. Your left arm will thank you on long western drives.
30. Reusable water bottles.
31. Travel mug for coffee refills.
32. Hand sanitizer and tissues.
33. Small trash bags. Keeping the car clean keeps you sane.
34. Wet wipes.
35. Gum or mints to stay alert.
36. Playlist, podcasts and audiobooks, downloaded in advance.

Zone 4: The back seat (snacks, entertainment, rest)

37. Cooler with ice packs, sized to fit behind a seat.
38. Healthy snacks: fruit, cheese, jerky, trail mix, sandwiches.
39. Reusable utensils, napkins and a small cutting board for roadside picnics.
40. Travel pillow and light blanket.
41. Window shades for kids or for napping passengers.
42. Books, games and tablets with downloaded content.
43. Headphones for everyone.
44. Motion sickness remedies for anyone who needs them.
45. Car seat organizer with pockets for small items.

Traveling with children? Our family road trip guide has a full kids’ checklist and tips for keeping everyone happy.

Zone 5: Your bag (personal items)

46. Layers: T-shirts, a warm fleece and a waterproof jacket. Weather changes across regions and elevations.
47. Comfortable driving shoes plus hiking shoes or sandals.
48. Swimsuit. Hotel pools, lakes and hot springs appear when you least expect them.
49. Hat for sun and cold.
50. Toiletries in a hanging bag that’s easy to grab for one-night stops.
51. Medications in original containers, with a few days’ extra supply.
52. Insect repellent.
53. Small daypack for hikes and city walks.
54. Headlamp for campgrounds and late check-ins.
55. Laundry bag and a few detergent pods.
56. Power bank for days away from the car.
57. Camera and memory cards, if you shoot beyond your phone.
58. Binoculars for wildlife and scenery.
59. Earplugs and an eye mask for noisy motels.
60. Overnight bag: one small bag with a change of clothes and toiletries, so you don’t unpack the whole car every night.

The “overnight bag” trick

This is the single best packing habit for multi-stop road trips. Keep your main luggage in the trunk, and pack one small bag with tomorrow’s clothes, toiletries, chargers and medications. Each night, carry only that bag into the motel. Swap clothes into it from the main luggage every few days. It saves time, effort and the risk of leaving things behind.

Packing by region and season

• Desert Southwest: Extra water (a gallon per person per day), sun hat, electrolyte tablets, windshield sunshade.
• Mountains: Warm layers, rain gear, tire chains in winter, motion sickness remedy for curvy roads.
• Coast: Windbreaker, beach towel, sand-friendly bag, tide chart app.
• Winter anywhere: Ice scraper, warm blanket, snacks, phone charger, winter boots, traction aids.
• National parks: Park pass, printed reservations, bear spray where needed, the ten essentials.
• Cities: Comfortable walking shoes, a nicer outfit, parking app, lock for valuables.

How to organize the car

A well-packed car is safer and far less stressful. A few principles we follow on every trip:

• Heavy items low and forward. Coolers, water jugs and heavy bags go on the trunk floor, close to the back seats, which keeps the car stable and prevents things from flying forward in a hard stop.
• Nothing loose at head height. Avoid stacking items above the rear seatbacks, where they block your view and can become projectiles.
• Use bins and packing cubes. Clear plastic bins for gear and soft cubes for clothes make it easy to find things without unloading everything.
• Keep a “today bin” accessible. Snacks, sunscreen, a jacket and the day’s hiking gear should be reachable without opening the trunk at a crowded overlook.
• Leave the emergency bin on top or to one side. If you get a flat tire, you will want the jack and the reflective triangles without pulling out a week of luggage.
• Hide valuables before you arrive. Move laptops and bags into the trunk before you pull into a trailhead or city parking lot, not while people are watching.

Food packing that actually works

A cooler pays for itself within a few days, but only if it is organized. Pre-chill the cooler overnight. Use frozen water bottles as ice packs so you have cold drinking water as they melt. Pack in layers: drinks on the bottom, sandwich fillings and cheese in the middle, fruit and anything fragile on top. Keep a dry snack bag separate so you are not opening the cooler every hour. Restock ice every second day, and drain meltwater so food doesn’t get soggy.

Easy road trip foods that need little or no cooking: wraps and tortillas, peanut butter, hard cheese, cured sausage, hummus, cherry tomatoes, carrots, apples, oranges, grapes, trail mix, granola bars, instant oatmeal and canned beans or tuna for emergencies.

Packing for an electric vehicle road trip

• Your car’s mobile charging cable and any adapters for different plug types along your route.
• Accounts set up in the apps for the charging networks you will use, with payment methods saved.
• A backup plan for each long stretch: two possible charging stops, not one.
• Patience for the occasional broken or busy charger, plus a book or podcast for the wait.

Packing for a dog

• Leash, harness, ID tags and a copy of vaccination records.
• Food, collapsible bowls and extra water.
• A crate or a crash-tested car harness.
• Waste bags, an old towel and a lint roller.
• A list of pet-friendly hotels on your route. Remember that most national park trails don’t allow dogs.

If you break down

1. Pull as far off the road as you safely can and turn on your hazard lights.
2. If it is safe, put out reflective triangles or flares well behind the car.
3. On busy highways, it is usually safer to wait outside the car, away from traffic and behind a guardrail, than inside it.
4. Call your roadside assistance provider and share your location from your phone’s map. Mile markers help when there is no address.
5. In remote areas with no signal, stay with the vehicle unless help is very close and visible. A car is easier to find than a person.

What not to pack

• Too many clothes. Plan on laundry once a week.
• Valuables you don’t need. Car break-ins happen at trailheads and in city parking. Never leave anything visible in the car.
• Glass bottles that can break in the cooler.
• Big hard-shell suitcases that don’t fit the trunk. Soft duffels pack better.
• Firewood from home. Many states restrict moving firewood to prevent the spread of invasive insects. Buy it locally.

The day-before checklist

• Download offline maps, playlists and reservations.
• Charge every device and power bank.
• Freeze water bottles to use as ice packs in the cooler.
• Check weather and road conditions for the first two days.
• Share your route with a friend or family member.
• Fill the tank so you can leave first thing.
• Pack the overnight bag last.

Once the car is packed, run the numbers on your trip with our road trip budget guide, then pick a route. Our Pacific Coast Highway itinerary is a great first big drive.

Small items that punch above their weight

After many long drives, these are the cheap little things we never leave home without, because they solve problems that would otherwise eat an hour or ruin an afternoon:

• A roll of paper towels. Spills, foggy windows, dirty hands, muddy boots.
• Zip-top bags in several sizes. Wet swimsuits, leftover snacks, a phone in the rain.
• A small bungee cord or two. They hold a cooler in place or a trunk lid on a stuffed car.
• A headlamp, not just a flashlight. Changing a tire with a flashlight in your teeth is no fun.
• A collapsible crate or laundry basket. It turns into a grocery tote, a laundry hamper and a trunk organizer.
• Clip-on sunshades or a towel for the side windows. Afternoon sun on one side of the car can be brutal in the desert.
• A spare phone cable. The original always breaks on day three.

None of these cost much, and all of them earn their space in the car many times over.

Frequently asked questions