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Road Trip Essentials

It is the summertime and time to take a vacation! Are you going to visit a place you have been dreaming to visit? Or perhaps this is the perfect time for a college tour road trip. When there are limited time constraints we would rather drive than to fly to our destination. A road trip is usually less stressful, fewer constraints, and your luggage limitation is only restricted to the space you have in your car. You also may save more money in the end when you include airfare and the cost of a rental car. Road trips can also be an opportunity to bring people closer together and finding out more about each other. 
 
I have been on enough road trips and wish I had all of these items with me. Here is a list of road trip essentials that could make your road trip safer and pleasant.
road trip driving on highway

Road Trip Cleanliness

Just like any trip, you may stop at places like rest areas that are very public and not very clean. 
 
Toilet Tissue – Toilet tissue is a necessity. I can say that I have been caught in a situation where these items were not well-stocked at one of the rest areas we visited. Always bring your own!
 
Facial Tissue – Facial tissue packets are not only good for blowing your nose and covering your mouth when you cough, but I also found it helpful when I forgot my gloves, I grabbed a tissue to open the door.
road trip essential hand sanitizer
Hand Sanitizer – Bring hand sanitizer and use it every time you get back in the car before touching anything.
 
 
Baby Wipes – Baby wipes are good for cleaning messes especially anything that is sticky. I like to use them to feel freshen up after a long road trip.
 
 
 
Disinfectant Wipes – Alcohol wipes or disinfects wipes can be used to clean the steering wheel and gear shift when switching drivers. Also, you may want to wipe down your phone a few times a day as this is one item that is touched quite often.
 
Lysol Spray -If you plan to make an extended stop, like spending the night in a hotel, bring a can of Lysol to disinfect the room.

Road Trip Snacks

road trip healthy snacks
Try to include some healthy road trip snacks. The chances are when you stop to grab a meal, that will not be as healthy. Some snack suggestions are:

  • Cut-up fruit (strawberries and blueberries are my favorites),
  • Bananas (easy to grab and eat)
  • Dark chocolate (for that sweet tooth)
  • Almonds (for an energy boost)
  • Granola bars
  • Trail mix
  • Almond butter, and crackers
 
Also, throw in some mints. After several hours in the car and drinking coffee, you will probably need them!
 
 
Make sure you also stay pretty hydrated and pack plenty of water. Coffee is great to keep you awake but can dehydrate you quickly. I know, then that means more stops to the public restrooms, but it beats getting leg cramps!
 
Don’t forget to pack a small cooler to keep your perishable items cool. You can always pick up ice along the way.

Items for Road Trip Stops

melody wearing mask
Face coverings / masks are a must in public places in some states. In my opinion, having one on is also saying you respect others by keeping them safe from you. 
 
Toilet seat covers… just keeping it real…. The older we get the harder it is to squat! 
 
Gloves – When you can, wear gloves to keep from touching handles. If you don’t have gloves, bring some tissue to use as a barrier between the object and your skin. This includes pumping gas, opening doors to establishments, and opening / closing the restroom stalls.

Road Trip Comfort

road trip pillow
Neck pillow/ Blanket – If you the passenger, you want to be comfortable. The last trip we took, my husband wished we had brought the neck pillow and a blanket. We were dressed for the summer but in the evening it was quite chilly.
 
Sweatshirt – You don’t want to bring a blanket? How about a hoodie or sweatshirt? The driver and passenger(s) may not agree on the temperature setting in the car. You can always add on clothing but limited to how much you can take off! 
 
Medication -If you take medicine at designated times, do not let the road trip throw you off. Make sure you keep your medicine accessible to you in the car and not packed in the luggage.

First Aid Kit – Fortunately, we have not had a need for this, but it is a great idea to keep a first aid kit handy in your car. A good first aid kit will have gloves, ointments, ibuprofen or acetaminophen, band aids, bandages, swaps, and antiseptics.

Miscellaneous Road Trip Items

road trip essential phone charger

Cash – There are still many areas that have tolls that accept cash only, therefore be prepared. Also, you may not be to use a store restroom without buying an item. Use cash instead of a credit card so you are not charging something as small as a stick of gum.

Trash bag -The outside of your car may be filthy from the drive but you can keep the inside of your car neat. Keep a store plastic bag or little trash bag liners in your car to dispose of trash and gloves. 
 
Phone Charger -Don’t forget to pack a phone charger compatible with your car. You would hate for your phone to die when you rely on it for directions! Make sure you pack extra chargers for other devices such as tablets.
 
Umbrella – You never know when a shower can pop up, especially in the southeastern states of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. Make sure you have an umbrella that you can easily reach when the skies open up just as you were making a pit stop
 
Hat – When you finally arrive at your destination, you may not want to look like you have been on the road for hours. Make sure to bring a hat that you can throw on to cover unruly hair. 

Road trips can be even more enjoyable with a little planning and proper packing!