55 Road Trip Packing List Essentials [With PDF Checklist]

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There are lots of different aspects to consider when planning a road trip. However, remembering to pack all of the required road trip essentials can seem like a mammoth task!

When you are thinking about what to pack for a road trip, there is so much to consider.

After 1000’s miles on the road, and hours compiling travel lists galore, I’ve finally created the only printable road trip packing list you’ll ever need. There’s also a simple pdf that you can download.

In addition, I’ve included a simple road trip checklist for leaving day and detailed info on all the items you may need. We also have a useful article full of road trip food ideas to help you prepare! If it’s cold outside, check out these winter road trip essentials.

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Road Trip Essentials Checklist

1. Car Registration and Insurance Documents
2. Drivers License
3. Car Trunk Organizer
4. Smartphone Mount
5. In-Car Charger
6. Roadside Emergency Kit
7. Spare Tire Tools
8. Day Pack
9. Travel Mug
10. Reusable Water Bottle
11. Travel Cooler
12. Food Supplies
13. Snacks
14. Toiletries
15. Bug Spray
16. Sun Protection
17. Hand Sanitizer
18. Power Bank
19. Portable Speaker
20. Camera
21. Sunglasses
22. General Clothing
23. Jackets & Coats
24. Waterproof Clothing
25. Swimwear
26. Hats, Scarves & Gloves
27. Travel Towel
28. Hiking Shoes
29. Window Sunshades
30. First Aid Kit
31. Lumbar Back Support
32. Dash Cam
33. Portable Table & Chairs
34. Cooking Stove
35. Cooking Utensils
36. Cutlery, Plates & Cups
37. Food Containers
38. Garbage Bags
39. Road Trip Playlist
40. Travel Games

Use this road trip checklist to make sure you have all the essentials you need on leaving day. Feel free to download one of our road trip playlists or choose one of our favorite road trip podcasts to entertain you on the journey. Alternatively, keep the conversation flowing with these road trip conversation starters.

Printable Road Trip Packing List PDF

Here you can use our printable road trip packing list PDF on leaving day. Simply click the button below to access our road trip checklist pdf.

Whether you’re road-tripping across the country with the family or traveling abroad in your car with friends, this ultimate road trip essentials list will ensure you don’t forget a thing.

Detailed Road Trip Packing List

This is the detailed road trip packing list with suggested items. Firstly, gather your essential documents and pack them in a wallet so they are all together and secure.

The Basic Essentials

• Car Registration Document
• Driving License
• Proof of Car Insurance
• Car Document Wallet
• Your Car Owner’s Manual: You may need this should you have any issues with your car that you don’t know how to solve.
• Car Trunk Organizer With Cooler Bag
• Smartphone Mount With Wireless Charging: Your smartphone is probably the single most important road trip accessory you will take on your trip. You’ll most likely use it for navigation, music, and a range of road trip planning apps.
• In Car Charger

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Comfort Essentials

• Reusable Water Bottle
• Travel Coffee Mug
• Lumbar Back Support
• Car Sunshade
• In-Car Trash Can
• Road Trip Snacks
• Sunglasses
• Bug Spray
• Sun Protection
• Hand Sanitizer
• Spare Cash
• Tissues
• Day Pack: An Osprey Day Pack can be useful for storing some of these comfort items. You can keep it in the car with you during the journey and take it out with you on your adventures.

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Insurance and Roadside Safety

• Travel/health insurance: Ensure you are covered for any activities you might take part in. Travel insurance is essential if you are traveling abroad as you will most likely not be covered for any medical expenses without it. We are partnered with World Nomads so feel free to grab a quote!
• Contents insurance: Chances are you could be taking some pretty pricey gear on this road trip. Play it safe and purchase contents insurance for peace of mind.
• Spare Tire
• Roadside Emergency Kit: A Car Emergency Kit is designed to cover you for any eventuality.
• Jump Leads
• Lug Wrench
• Spare Tire & Locking Wheel Nut Key
• Car Jack: Along with the other car safety items in this packing list, it will mean you are well prepared. They typically contain Jumper Cables, Light Sticks, Reflective Vests, Rain Ponchos, Warning triangles, Whistles, Tire Pressure Gauges, etc.

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Road Trip Accessories To Remember

• Dash Cam
• First Aid Kit : This should contain at minimum band-aids, sterilizing wipes, bandages, scissors, painkillers, medication
• Blanket
• Torch
• Laundry Bag
• Shopping Bag
• Garbage Bags
• Toilet Roll

We covered the core essentials in the previous section. There is a list of key road trip accessories to make your trip easier.

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Dashcams can protect you against false allegations, undisciplined drivers, and fraud. What’s more, you can record your entire road trip with little effort (great for editing montages of beautiful roads). There are many makes and models out there, but we break down our 5 favorites here: Best Dash Cams

Road Trip Personal Care Items

Most of these items will fit nicely into your wash bag. Here is the list of essentials I like to take to look after myself on any road trip:

• Toilet roll
• Lip balm
• Hairbrush
• A Towel: Some hotels (especially the more budget-friendly ones) don’t always provide them, and again, if you’re camping (or plan on swimming in a remote lake, etc) you’re gonna need one.
• Baby Wipes: Baby wipes serve as a shower when in a pinch and they’re perfect for toilet roll (or lack thereof) emergencies.
• Soap/Shower gel
• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Deodorant
• Toothbrush & Toothpaste
• Hand Sanitizer: Take a few mini bottles. I use this so much when I’m on a road trip, especially if I’m camping and there are no or limited bathrooms around. Hygiene is important.
• Painkillers: Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Cold and Flu tablets, etc.
• Allergy tablets
• Prescription Tablets: Take your prescription with you, especially if you’re crossing borders. Border officers sometimes want to see them if it relates to medication that requires a prescription in their country.

Car Gadgets

In addition to the road trip accessories above, you could consider some great car gadgets!

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A standalone GPS unit from Garmin is really useful if you like going out on long hikes. I personally love to use All Trails. A GPS device can help keep you safe by tracking your position.

Road Trip Electronics & Entertainment

I tend to take a fair number of electronics on any road trip, as this allows me to stay connected (when I want to be), entertained, and document my trip. Some people may prefer to take fewer, but this list of electronics will certainly come in useful on the road.

Whatever electronics you decide to take with you, they are often expensive pieces of kit. Remember to keep an eye on them when they’re with you and to keep them hidden and locked away when leaving them in the car.

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GoPro cameras are awesome for capturing photos and footage when taking part in more lively activities and your main camera would be at risk of breaking. These times can provide some of the coolest photo opportunities.

Day Packs and Duffel Bags

Even though you’re taking a road trip, you will still need a couple of different bags and packs to take everything with you and pack everything away.

• Day packs – Day packs are for treks and activities and luggage/duffels for packing everything away in the car!
• Duffels – Duffel bags are my go-to bag for packing everything away in the car. DO NOT just throw everything in the car. I can tell you from experience, it’s a nightmare when you arrive at your destination at night as you can’t find anything!
• Suitcases would also happily work to pack away your items.

Day packs are a must-have on any road trip or the days you want to go exploring.

If you’re planning on ambling around a city and soaking up some sites, a good 15l pack should see you through. It will have enough room for a drink, your camera and maybe a hoody.

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If you plan on hiking or trekking or taking on something more active, I would recommend a solid 25-30l pack with a chest and waist strap. That way you’ll be more comfortable, and have ample room for additional fluids, a packed lunch, your rain jacket, and anything else you might need for a big day out!

Here are a couple of duffel bags for your main luggage.

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I like to have a range of different-sized duffel bags for different items. Each person can use one for their clothes and personal items, you can use one for cooking stuff, one for games, etc.

Cooking Equipment and Food

• Portable Stoves – Not only does taking your own cooking equipment and food on your road trip give you more freedom as you drive and explore, but it can also save you from having to eat awful, overpriced food from gas stations.
• Gas Canister
• Travel Cooler – Taking a cooler on your trip gives you much more freedom as it means you can take foods that you wouldn’t otherwise be able to store.
• Food Supplies
• Cutlery
• Cooking Utensils
• Switchblade – A sweet road trip gadget that has all kinds of uses
• Swiss Army Knife – Multi-purpose tool that can certainly help out when preparing food on your road trip
• Portable Set of Cooking Gear – I prefer to have a set that packs away nice and easily and has everything I need in one place. That way it takes up less space and ensures you don’t forget anything. A set typically contains: 1 pot, 1 frying pan, 1 kettle, 4 plastic bowls, 4 cutlery sets, 1 spatula, 1 cleaning towel, 1 net bag for storage

I’m a big fan of a road trip picnic! Check out this article for the best road trip food ideas

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Overmont 14pc Camping Cookware Mess Kit, Portable Camping Cooking Set for Backpacking, Outdoor Hiking and Picnic Pot Pan Folding Spork Knife Spoon Kit" />

• Coffee percolator: One of my favorite things on this packing list. If you enjoy a coffee in the morning as much as I do, you’ll appreciate this being here. Gas cooker + Coffee Percolator = road trip coffee made easy
• Corkscrew: How else are you gonna crack open the good stuff once the day’s driving is over?
• Bottle Opener
• Picnic Blanket/Set
• Large Water Container: Water containers are great for storing drinking water and saving you from having to keep buying plastic bottles of water. You might also appreciate them in the case of an emergency.
• Travel Mug: For your coffee from that coffee percolator!
• Reusable Water Bottle: Reusable options are always the best options – they help save the planet and they are actually more cost-effective in the long run.

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More Road Trip Resources

Camping Gear

Camping can be an integral part of any road trip, and that’s why it deserves its very own packing list. If you’re simply driving between cities and sleeping in hotels, feel free to skip this section.

I personally like to take all the below on any road trip as they allow for a bit more adventuring. I also love camping, and these items are essential for nights around the campsite.

• Swiss army knife:The perfect multi-functional tool to get you out of a sticky situation (or just to use as a cool corkscrew to impress your friends)
• Tent: Pop-up tents are the best as they are so quick and easy to put up and take down. However, if you need more of a canvas palace as you have a larger group, go for a more traditional style.
• Sleeping bags
• Blow-up mattress
• Fold-out chairs
• Fold-out table
• Flashlight
• Head torch: Try putting up a tent at night without one.. makes for an interesting evening!
• Hanging/magnetic led lamp
• Fire starting equipment: Hatchet, firewood, fire starters, matches – be sure to research whether fires are ok where you’re traveling, and remember to stay safe when making a fire!
• Gas fire pit: A great alternative to building your own fire which can come with complications and only requires a…
• Gas Bottle

For a more in-depth list, take a look at our Complete Road Trip Camping Packing List.

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Useful Apps

• Google Maps / Maps.me – Google Maps allows you to download areas for use offline. If you’re not taking a standalone GPS system this can be extremely useful in areas where you might not have data (abroad for example). Similarly, Maps.me is a great app to download which lets you navigate without data
• Ioverlander – Shows you all free and paid campsites in a certain area
• Gas buddy – Finds you the cheapest gas prices within a certain area
• Road trip music playlist
  Belting out your favorite tunes behind the wheel is the road trip dream, right? Remember to ‘pack’ or download your favorite road trip playlists before you go. I personally like to use Spotify to listen to music.
• Netflix – Alright, I know I shouldn’t be watching TV when I’m on vacation, and honestly, I don’t tend to. I like to spend most of my time outdoors. However, if you’re road-tripping for a long time it’s sometimes nice to cuddle up with a movie at night. My girlfriend and I have frequently enjoyed pulling up at a sweet spot in our van, brewing some tea, and settling down to a movie and a great view.

Download anything you need before you leave (while you still have guaranteed Wi-Fi)

While these things might not necessarily always come under ‘packing’, I like to have a list of things to download before I go. If you have read our list of best road trip planner apps then you know there are a number of apps to help you on your way with your road trip (I would personally recommend downloading all of these). However, it’s not just apps that you will want.

Road Trip Safety Items

Ok, they’re not the most exciting things to pack, but they are one of the most important – you’re taking a road trip in a car, after all. You will need all of the below in case of an emergency. They also help prepare your car for a road trip and will hopefully keep you moving on your trip.

• Roadside assistance documents – If you’ve read my article on how to save money on a road trip, you’ll know that roadside assistance could be the key to saving you a lot of money on your trip and to getting you out of any unexpected sticky situations. Purchase roadside assistance if you haven’t already got it. Print off your documents so you always have a copy available should you need them. The American Automobile Association (AAA) offers a well-known and reliable breakdown cover.
• Jerry Can When traveling long distances in remote areas, it’s a good idea to fill up your tank AND a jerry can whenever you come across a gas station
• Windscreen Washer Fluid
• Coolant
• Engine oil
• A spare tire and equipment for changing it – Check your spare tire is in good condition. Make sure you know how to change a tire before you go. If you’re unsure, use this helpful resource to revise: