No road trip is complete without an angsty anthem you can belt out as you put the pedal to the metal. With an eye toward whatever experiences lie ahead and no time for what’s behind you, your life consists of mile markers and speed limit signs for the foreseeable future. Whether you blast Steppenwolf or opt for a softer, more dramatic track, the person you are when you leave may or may not be the same person who comes back.
Regardless of your destination, it’s critical to prepare for your road trip by packing everything you think you might need — and a few extras, too. Check out our list of the best road trip essentials you can travel with to get the most out of each mile. As you load up your car for the adventures ahead, don’t forget to start things out right with a Drift car freshener to set the mood.
Prepare For Your Next Adventure: 20 Road Trip Essentials
Whether you’re spending a day or two away from home or traveling across the country, the following list of road trip essentials ensures you’re ready for any challenge.
1. Travel Journal
Smartphones make it easy to take pictures and record videos of your travel experiences. However, there’s something to be said for writing everything down and recording your thoughts and feelings in the moment. Many years later, when you look back on your journey, you’ll be able to relive it all through your own voice.
2. Signature Drift Car Freshener
Creating road trip memories has as much to do with the scents you smell as the places you visit. Pack a Drift premium car freshener to create a familiar scentscape in your vehicle. As you embrace new experiences along the way, you can always return to a welcoming smell.
Drift’s car fresheners are made from sustainable materials, like alder wood, organic stone, and alloy metal. Our luxurious Wood, Stone, and Metal car fresheners incorporate essential and fragrance oil blends that are free from phthalates, parabens, petroleum, formaldehyde, and other harsh chemicals. Best of all, you can use our deluxe car fresheners around your pets and children!
3. Portable Car Battery Jump Starter
A dead battery means an immovable car — and an abrupt halt to your road trip. Avoid unexpected stop-offs and delays with a portable car battery jump starter. Just make sure it’s charged before you head out on the open road.
4. First Aid Kit
First aid kits are a bit like a fire extinguisher on a race car: you may not ever need it, but you’re glad you have one when you do. You can easily purchase a basic first aid kit online if you don’t have one already. If you do, review the contents to ensure you’ve got all the supplies you need.
5. Physical Maps
Navigating to your destination on a road trip has since gone high-tech, but it’s never a bad idea to have a physical map handy. Smartphones can quickly lose service and battery life. You don’t need a battery or a screen to view a physical map.
6. Tire Inflator
Traveling with a functional spare tire can help out in an emergency situation. However, if you’ve got a flat and need to limp to the nearest town, a tire inflator can make quick work of the situation.
7. Flashlight
Listing out all the uses for a flashlight would take more space than this blog post. Suffice it to say that a flashlight is one of the most versatile tools you can carry with you on your next road trip. Just be sure to pack extra batteries!
8. Hand Sanitizer
Road trips often involve roughing it in many senses, but it’s still good to have some hand sanitizer ready. Hand sanitizer works well as part of a first aid kit and goes a long way in keeping your hands clean so you don’t spend the last few days of your road trip battling a cold.
9. Toilet Paper
We all have differing definitions of modern-day comforts, but a roll of toilet paper is a common element. Pack a few rolls in a sealable plastic bag in case nature calls at the most inopportune moment.
10. Trash Bags
Similar to a tote bag (also on our list), trash bags make for a convenient carrying device that can be used in multiple applications. Trash bags can also be worn as garments to help avoid the rain.
11. Wet Wipes
Jam-packed itineraries may leave little room for showering or personal hygiene. In those times, it’s best to have a few wet wipes you can use to wipe away grease and grime.
12. Blanket
Besides food and water, shelter is the next most important survival element. A thick, durable blanket can easily become part of a lean-to or something to keep the cold at bay.
13. Water
Packing a reusable water bottle — and water purifying kit — can help you make the most of your surroundings if you get lost while on a road trip. These reusable bottles also mean less space taken up in your vehicle by bottled water.
14. Extra Clothes
An extra pair of clothes in your car could mean the world of difference if you need to change out of wet garments or put on another layer to keep warm. Store your backup pair of clothes in a waterproof bag to ensure they’re fresh and dry when you need them.
15. Portable Games
Staying occupied between road trip stops can prove challenging unless you have a set of portable games to play. These portable games help pass the time and keep your brain focused so you can make the most of your downtime.
16. Quick Dry Towels
A quick dry towel does exactly what a regular towel does, but better. Designed to dry faster, weigh less, and resist odors, quick dry towels can be a lifesaver to have on a road trip, whether you’re dying of heat stroke or need to warm up after a chilly dunk in frigid waters.
17. Food
Non-perishable food items like granola bars or trail mix often make a welcome meal if you’re traveling and don’t have immediate access to a meal. If you get lost, snowed in, or somehow can’t make it back to civilization, these food items can sustain your health until help arrives.
18. Phone Charger
Cell phones are our connection to the world at large — in more ways than one! Bring along a phone charger to ensure your battery is at maximum capacity. Should something happen to you and you need to call for help, your phone battery will sustain your communications for longer.
19. Snow Broom
Obviously, a snow broom comes in handy during the colder months when removing snow from your vehicle or the path ahead. However, snow brooms can also be used for various other applications, from signaling for help to becoming sturdy walking sticks.
20. Tote Bag
Chances are your road trip takes you off the beaten path, where carrying your essentials in a tote bag is more convenient and possible than bringing your entire car. Tote bags can store numerous items and allow you to carry your supplies without exposing them to the elements.
Take the Comforting Smell of Home With You on Your Next Road Trip
Wherever the road ahead leads you, take exclusive Drift car fresheners with you. Join our Scent of the Month Club to experience a new, refreshing scent every 30 days, or find your next favorite fragrance by taking our Scent Quiz. Where will you take your Drift car freshener?
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