The Definitive Road Trip Packing List: Essentials for You, the Family, the Pet, and the Car!

Road trips will never go out of style. They are by far the most scenic way to see a country, often more affordable than flying, and there’s a great chance you’re going to make a lot of memories in the process.

Good or bad times, still memories! Driving through New England or the Blue Ridge Mountains during peak fall color is not something you’ll soon forget. Neither is the time the AC went out just hours into your family’s multi-day road trip in the middle of summer vacation. 🤷‍♀️

To help make the most of your road trip, we’ve compiled decades of road tripping experiences to create the most complete and detailed road trip packing list we could muster. Not only does this list cover standard road trip essentials, but it also provides detailed lists for various activities, the family, the pet, and the car!


This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate and associate of other programs, I earn from qualifying purchases. This means if you click a link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.


13 Road Trip Essentials – The Condensed List

Looking for the short version? Here’s our condensed list of road trip essentials.

Every line has an “etc.” at the end. For a more detailed list of each of these, use the convenient table of contents above to jump to that section.

  1. Pre-departure check-up for the car: brakes, wipers, fluids all topped off, etc.
  2. Luggage with your clothes and toiletries
  3. Travel Documents: car registration, proof of insurance, etc.
  4. Backup maps: offline maps at a minimum, but a road atlas is the safest
  5. Emergency kit for the car: jumper cables, spare tire, lug wrench, etc.
  6. Emergency kit for people: bandages, gauze, Neosporin, tweezers, etc.
  7. Food: car snacks, small cooler for drinks, large cooler for food (if cooking)
  8. Entertainment for everyone aboard: playlists, books, movies/shows, car games, toys, etc.
  9. Electronics: phone, tablet, camera, GoPro, portable gaming system, etc.
  10. Comfort items: easy on/off shoes, comfy car clothes, travel pillows & blankets, etc.
  11. Pet items: food, bed, leash, bathroom accessories, etc.
  12. Activity specific items: camping, skiing, hiking, beach, etc.
  13. Season specific items: winter driving, spring allergies, summer cooling accessories, fall warming accessories

A female mechanic checks a car engine

Road Trip Essentials for the Car BEFORE You Leave

Road trips require one absolutely essential ingredient: a reliable vehicle.

Whether you’re taking your car or RV or renting one of those, you need to make sure your primary mode of transportation is in good working order before hitting the road.

There’s nothing more annoying than getting 5 hours down the road and the change oil light comes on. Or you planned a road trip through the mountains, but all you hear is the screeching of your brakes.

Or the worst-case scenario: the transmission gives out.

Why yes, thanks for asking, that did happen to my family on one trip. They were, luckily, very near a city and able to stay in a hotel for a couple days while a local mechanic fast-tracked the repairs. Talk about a huge damper on your trip, but at least it gave out before they got to the mountains.

You can’t always catch something like that beforehand, but a quick check-up before a trip can’t hurt.

To help you avoid the worst-case scenario and get you started on the right foot, here are several car-care items to check off your road trip packing list before you even leave home.

  • Oil change
  • Tire rotation
  • Brake check
  • Confirm all headlights, tail lights, and signals are working.
  • New windshield wipers, if needed
  • Top off fluids: wiper fluid, coolant, etc.
  • Check the spare tire is in good condition.
  • Vacuum the floorboards.
  • Install Weathertech floorboard liners, if you’re very concerned about making a mess.

Close up of a car tire as it drives down the road

Road Trip Essentials for the Car During the Trip

The devil’s in the details. It’s that one little item that you don’t think about until you need it that you’ll really miss.

Like a sunshade when you burn your hands on your steering wheel after leaving it at a trailhead for a few hours in the desert. Or a tire pressure gauge, or a flashlight, and on and on.

We could tell a story for each of these of when we needed it and didn’t have it, but we’ll spare you.

Here’s a thorough list of random, everyday items you want to keep in the car at all times during a road trip, just in case you need them.

  • Sunshade
  • Travel trash can
  • Umbrella 
  • An extra pen
  • Toilet paper
  • Chapstick
  • Duct tape
  • Extra car key, kept in a day pack or purse or something that is ALWAYS with you and will never be locked in the car.
  • Jumper cables
  • Spare tire
  • Tire pressure gauge
  • Gas can
  • Fix a flat
  • Extra coolant
  • First aid kit (for people)
  • Emergency kit (for the car), usually includes jumper cables, lug wrench, car jack, flashlight, and reflective cones, but should include winter items too, like tire chains, snow shovel, and sand/kitty litter for traction
  • Ice scraper, it may be spring where you live but the mountains can see snow into April and May in some areas
  • Hands-free phone mount
  • Flashlight or small lantern

Two American passports lay on top of a world map

Travel Documents & Cash to Bring on a Road Trip

When you’re flying, it’s important to keep certain travel essentials and documents within easy reach: an ID, a boarding pass, etc., or else you can’t get on the plane.

When you’re driving, you can hop in the car and go at your leisure.

But, while you may not end up showing any of these to anyone, you still need to have a few important travel documents on hand, just in case.

Here’s every document you could possibly need while on a road trip.

  • Driver’s License
  • Passport, if crossing an international border or if you’re road tripping through a foreign country
  • Vehicle registration
  • Insurance cards (car, medical, etc.)
  • Travel insurance policy
  • Roadside assistance policy
  • Emergency medical information card/bracelet (for diabetes, epilepsy, severe allergies)
  • Vaccine card (Some places are requiring these for entry to restaurants, etc.)
  • Hotel confirmations
  • Reservation confirmations (tours, restaurants, a show, etc.)

It’s always important to have at least some cash on hand, but toll roads can further complicate the matter. It used to be important to have the right kind of cash on hand, i.e. exact change for toll booths.

But luckily, we’re finally starting to see updated tolling systems in the United States, many of which don’t require cash, or even stopping at a traditional toll booth.

Open tolling uses cameras to take pictures of your license plate and sends a bill to the address the car is registered under.

Unfortunately, there is no consistent implementation across the US. You might encounter the newer open tolling systems and the ancient coin-only, no attendant toll booths in the same road trip.

Our advice: be prepared for anything!

  • Cash, including coins for tolls (or laundromats)
  • Credit cards

Red luggage, a blue backpack, a hat, and a soccer ball are packed into the trunk of a car

Clothing Road Trip Packing List

The essentials that most people have a good grasp on, but it can never hurt to make a list and check it twice before leaving! The number, of course, depends on how long you plan to be gone.

Pro Tip: Anything over 2 weeks, we recommend hitting a laundromat rather than packing more clothes.

It is always a good idea to pack 1 or 2 extra of all the biggies: shirts, pants, underwear, and socks.

  • Packing cubes, keep items organized and helps you pack more
  • Tops (T-shirts, blouses, dresses)
  • Bottoms (pants, shorts, skirts)
  • Socks
  • Underwear/Bras
  • Pajamas
  • Light jacket
  • Rain jacket (could be same as above)
  • Lounge clothes, a set or two of clothes strictly for driving and/or hanging out at the hotel after a long day
  • Slip-on shoes/flip flops
  • Hiking boots, if applicable
  • Walking shoes
  • Minimal jewelry
  • Hats
  • Sunglasses

A toiletry bag full of road trip essentials

Toiletries for the Road

Self-explanatory; these also vary by person. Less is better! A single, gallon sized Ziploc bag or a small toiletry bag is sufficient.

  • Soap
  • Shampoo
  • Face wash
  • Toothbrush
  • Toothpaste
  • Brush/Comb
  • Hair ties or Hair Products
  • Shave gel
  • Shaving razor
  • Bandages
  • Antibiotic ointment (Neosporin)
  • Q-tips
  • Deodorant
  • Contacts case/solution & Glasses
  • Medications: ibuprofen, upset stomach, motion sickness, allergies, prescriptions, etc.
  • Lotion
  • Minimal makeup
  • Nail clippers
  • Tweezers
  • Quick dry towel
  • Bug spray
  • Sunscreen 
  • Chapstick

A cooler full of food, ready for a road trip

Road Trip Snacks

What’s a road trip without food? One sad, hangry drive.

In our experience, this is THE MOST IMPORTANT category when packing for a road trip. It will make or break your trip faster than anything else.

First, we have snacking essentials that are not food, but rather accessories that make eating in the car easier.

  • Hand wipes
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Extra napkins, straws, forks, spoons
  • Reusable travel mug (good for coffee or pop from gas stations or fast food joints)
  • Reusable water bottle (for everyone in the car)
  • Small cooler for storing drinks and snacks that need refrigerated

Second, there are many different types of food you could take on a road trip. There’s classic junk food, the bulk shopper’s prep, and the health-conscious, to name a few.

Rather than get into all that here, we’ve listed a few from every type in generic form.

  • Granola bars
  • Trail mix
  • Muddy Buddies
  • Chips
  • Pretzels
  • Pre-popped popcorn 
  • Cheez-its
  • Club crackers
  • Cereal
  • Animal crackers
  • Pre-sliced & diced Fruit & Veggies (so no cores or peels to deal with)
  • Dried fruit
  • String cheese
  • Cheese cubes
  • Beef jerky
  • Mini muffins
  • Mini candy bars
  • Lollipops
  • Gummy candies, sour or regular
  • Bottled pop and/or juices

Pro Tip: If you’re planning to cook full meals on your road trip, bring another cooler that stays in the back and only comes out for cooking. You’ll save on ice if you keep the big cooler closed in the back and have a smaller cooler up front that can be repeatedly opened throughout the drive.


Electronics to Bring on a Road Trip

A controversial topic in some circles. Honestly, we can all do with less screen time, but the 4 hours between your last hike and your hotel & dinner is not the time to torture yourself.

Also, there’s some pretty sweet cameras out there nowadays for capturing photos and videos of your adventures. Road trips are jam-packed with memory-making opportunities, so use a camera to help you remember later.

A word of caution: less is better. The fewer expensive electronics you bring with you, the fewer you have to worry about protecting while you’re out and about.

Pro Tip: Never leave electronics, money, or bags visible when leaving your car unattended. Petty theft is a crime of opportunity. Thieves will break in for something as little as the change in your cup holder or as big as a tablet in a seat-back pocket.

There’s a good chance you don’t need a laptop and a tablet on your trip. Opt for the tablet as it’s smaller and easier to conceal from view if you leave your fully-packed car at a trailhead for a few hours.

We’ve listed all the possible electronics for a road trip below, but feel free to pare down as much as you can for your trip.

  • Camera and/or GoPro, and chargers/extra batteries
  • Tripod & remote
  • Extra memory cards
  • Cell phone & charger
  • Tablet & charger. Do the kids have their own tablets? 
  • Watch charger
  • Wireless headphones & charger
  • Laptop and charger
  • Portable gaming system, like a Nintendo Switch
  • Portable bluetooth speaker
  • Solar charger
  • Portable GPS, especially useful if hiking

Three kids in the back seat of a car play rock, paper, scissors

Road Trip Entertainment

Being a passenger on a road trip is fun! You can get comfy and appreciate the scenery more, but it does leave you with several hours of down time to fill.

Catch up on reading, your favorite shows, or play a road trip game with your car mates.

Be sure to have something available that doesn’t require the internet. There’s a great chance at some point you’ll pass through an area with no cell signal, and you’ll want something to fill that void.

Pro Tip: Download offline as much content as you can before you leave. If you need to do one day at a time and download new content each night at your hotel, that’s fine. Just start downloading when you arrive. Hotel wifi is typically slow.

Here are our entertainment suggestions so you don’t die of boredom while driving.

  • Music
  • TV Shows & Movies
  • Audiobooks
  • Travel Games
  • Sketchbook
  • Travel journal
  • Books
  • Coloring books & coloring devices (markers, crayons, pencils)
  • Binoculars, also great when hiking
  • Mobile WiFi, helpful but not strictly necessary

Orange hoodoos of Bryce Canyon are covered in white after a winter snowfall

Winter Road Trip Essentials Packing List

Winter reveals a beautiful variation on landscapes, especially in areas of the country where snowfall blankets the ground.

I hate snow but can’t deny that it does wonders for a bleak winter landscape.

But driving amongst snow and ice is no picnic. Ice and snow make roads slick and sometimes impassable. Sudden storms can reduce visibility so much that it’s better to pull off the road and wait it out.

Here are a few things to bring with, just in case, if you’re venturing out during this time of year.

  • Tire chains
  • Ice scraper
  • Extra blankets in the car
  • Emergency food in the car (non-perishable and water bottles)
  • Portable charger
  • Road flares/reflective cones
  • Kitty litter or sand, for traction in case you slide off the road
  • A small shovel, for digging out the tires if you slide off the road

A family in a car sets off on a road trip

Family Road Trip Packing List

Family road trips always leave an impression.

Whether it’s a good impression or a bad impression is completely up in the air, but there are a few things you can bring to help make it easier.

  • Kid travel pillows
  • Kid road trip games pack
  • Books, for those that don’t get car sick
  • Mobile gaming, like a Nintendo Switch
  • A tablet preloaded with offline shows & movies
  • Playlists and/or podcasts saved to your device
  • Headphones for everyone
  • Extra hand wipes
  • Extra plastic bags, for everything from trash to leaking drinks to wet and/or muddy clothes/shoes
  • Lots of snacks (see Road Trip Snacks section for ideas)
  • Floaties & deflatable pool toys and a foot pump for inflating

A small girl sits in her car seat, ready for a road trip

Road Trip Essentials for Little Kids (Infants & Toddlers)

Sometimes, you have to road trip with young kids. I don’t recommend it, speaking from experience, but some kids are great travelers and other times it’s just unavoidable.

In those cases, here’s a helpful road trip packing list for all things baby/toddler. Brace yourselves.

  • Many, many diapers. You can buy along the way so they’re not taking up too much room in the car, but it’s always good to have an emergency stash in the car.
  • Diaper disposal bag (leak-proof and sealable so no odor escapes). Dispose as you go, but sometimes there are roadside diaper emergencies and you have to take your trash with you. Be prepared for this.
  • Fully stocked diaper bag: diapers, wipes, butt cream, powder, etc.
  • Changing pad
  • Extra clothes, at least 1.5x as many as you think you need
  • Bibs
  • Pacifiers
  • Car seats
  • Favorite doll/toy/lovey/blanket. You know what I’m talking about. Every little one has something they will not live without.
  • White noise machine
  • Pack n play
  • All.The.Snacks.
  • Sunshade for their window, usually attached with suction cups or similar

A copper-haired dog enjoys the breeze out of a car window

Pet Packing List for a Road Trip

Bringing your furry friend along for the trip? Some pets love road trips just as much as their owners; possibly more so.

We’ve seen many a dog living their best life with their heads out the window as their car cruises down the back roads. It always makes us smile.

If you do bring along your favorite adventuring dog or cat or what-have-you (yes, I’ve met a cat that loved to hike), make sure you can take them with you everywhere you plan to go.

Many parks don’t allow pets on trails, or if they do they have to remain leashed.

Here’s a quick pet road trip packing list:

  • Food
  • Bowls
  • Leash
  • Carrier
  • Bathroom materials (poo bags; possibly litter & box for cats)
  • Hiking shoes. Some trails are too hot or too rough and will tear up the pads on your pet’s feet. Get them used to wearing shoes before you leave home.
  • Flotation device, if applicable
  • Vet records. Some places require proof that pets are up to date on shots to allow them to stay the night or participate at doggy daycare, etc.

Tents and camp chairs are set up around a fire ring at a campsite in a forest

Camping Packing List

Camping deserves its own post, really. There’s a lot to remember to bring, from the tent or linens for cabins to food and other activities.

Here we’ve provided a good, condensed camping packing list. We have a separate section for Road Trip Snacks above.

If using tents:

  • Tent(s)
  • Small hand brush and dustpan, for removing excess dirt or unwanted critters from tents/cabins
  • Sleeping bag(s)
  • Sleeping pad or air mattress per sleeping bag
  • Portable stove
  • Camp cooking set: pot, pan, utensils
  • 5 gallon water jug/cooler, for drinking and cooking
  • Lanterns, min. 1 per tent
  • Flashlights/LED headlamp, 1 per person
  • Bucket for water for putting out the fire, or bring sand
  • Camp table
  • Camp chairs
  • Bear spray, if applicable

If staying in cabins:

  • Sheets for every bed (flat and fitted)
  • Warm blanket for every bed
  • Pillows with pillowcases
  • Lots of hand wipes
  • Backup bug spray (wasp or roach killer), just in case

Blue beach chairs and a teal beach umbrella sit on the beach in front of the ocean

Beach Packing List

A road trip to the beach is the goal of many a Midwesterner. It’d be a shame to drive all that way and forget something.

  • Beach Towels
  • Reef-safe Sunscreen & aloe
  • Beach chairs
  • Beach umbrella or canopy/tent
  • Wagon for toting supplies (or small kids) back and forth from the car
  • Beach bag, to hold towels, books, valuables, etc.
  • Waterproof bag, for changing out of wet swimsuits
  • Beach reads, preferably physical books so the sun doesn’t interfere with a tablet screen
  • Sand castle building: bucket and shovel
  • Outdoor speaker
  • Go Pro or waterproof camera
  • Frisbee/Football/Soccer ball
  • Body board
  • Snorkel gear or goggles
  • Floaties, if applicable
  • Water shoes
  • Flip Flops
  • Swimsuits
  • Beach coverup (shirt/shorts per person)
  • Hat
  • Sunglasses

Three hikers walk along a golden ridge in the mountains

Hiking Packing List

Some of the most beautiful road trips in the country pair perfectly with beautiful hikes. Take a road trip down Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia and North Carolina, stopping for hikes as you go.

Here are our must-haves for hiking:

  • The 10 Essentials
  • Day pack with comfortable straps
  • Water bottle & filter
  • Sealed, salty snacks
  • Hat
  • Sunglasses
  • Hiking boots
  • Hiking poles
  • Layers (elevation change = temp change)
  • First aid kit
  • Compass & map of the area
  • Whistle 
  • Bear spray, if applicable

Happy travels!


Headshot of Rachel Means at Clingmans Dome in Smoky Mountains

About the Author: Rachel Means

With six-figure student loan debt and only 10 PTO days per year, Rachel started traveling the world. A decade later, she’s paid off her loans, changed careers, and been to 36 US states and 14 countries. She’s an expert at planning and budgeting for travel and loves to help others do it, too! Read her full story here.


Share it!

The Definitive Road Trip Packing List: Essentials for You, the Family, the Pet, and the Car!