Road trip packing

The list adapts to you

When you add it, the checklist asks a couple of questions and keeps only the items that fit your situation.

• Traveling with kids? NoYes

What's inside

1. Car documents and driver's license

   License, registration, insurance. Check the policy's expiry date — on the road it always runs out at the worst moment.

2. Route with overnight stops

   Plan no more than 300–450 miles a day and book overnight stays ahead: hunting for a hotel at midnight with a tired crew is a bad quest.

3. Download offline maps for the route

   Signal dies exactly where the road forks. Download maps for every region on the route ahead of time.

4. Download playlists and podcasts

   Five hours of highway without signal will test your library. Download extra, add audiobooks.

5. Phone mount and car charger

   A phone in your hand means a fine and a crash risk. A windshield or vent mount plus a longer cable.

6. Water and snacks for the cabin

   A bottle per person and low-crumb food: nuts, bars, fruit. Roadside diners show up rarely and never on schedule.

7. First aid kit and motion sickness remedy

   The car's kit plus personal meds and motion sickness tablets for passengers.

8. Wet wipes and paper towels

   Spilled coffee, gas-station hands, a dusty trunk — wipes earn their keep every single day.

9. A trash bag for the cabin

   Two hours in, a bagless cabin becomes a landfill. Swap it out at gas stops.

10. Blanket and pillow for passengers

    A sleeping passenger is a happy passenger. A neck pillow saves backs on long stretches.

11. Sunglasses for the driver

    Low morning and evening sun blinds you exactly on the highway. Keep a pair in the car full-time.

12. Cash for tolls and parking

    Small bills and coins: not every toll booth or parking meter takes cards.

13. Plan stops every 2–3 hours

    Fifteen minutes of stretching resets the driver's focus. Fatigue is sneakier than alcohol — you don't notice it.

14. A car seat matched to height and weight — mandatory Yes

    Check the installation and harness fit before leaving. A car seat only works when it's installed right.

15. Entertainment: screen-free games plus a tablet Yes

    Stickers, magnet games and 'I spy' for the first half of the day; offline cartoons are the strategic reserve.

16. More kid snacks than seems reasonable Yes

    A hungry kid in a car seat is a siren with no off switch. Familiar food and a spill-proof bottle.

17. Stop more often: every 1.5–2 hours Yes

    Kids need to run. Find rest stops with playgrounds or any open field — 20 minutes of sprinting buys 2 hours of quiet.

18. A sunshade for the side window Yes

    Sun in the eyes wakes a sleeping kid in a minute. A suction-cup shade fixes it for a few dollars.