Travel In Style & Comfort
Believe it or not, there is such a thing as being too prepared, even for a road trip. Bulking up your vehicle with unnecessary items will not only make finding essentials a hassle, but it can also make you burn through gas quicker by literally weighing you down. Here are 10 road trip essentials and 10 things to leave at home.
1. Comfy Clothes
Trust us, you do not want to wear jeans if you're going to be in the car all day. Not only is denim uncomfortable to sit in for long periods of time, it also takes a long time to dry after washing. You'd be best off with lounge wear.
2. Eye Mask
Whether you're napping in the backseat or the curtains at your hotel don't block out the light, never underestimate the power of an eye mask. Eye masks take up hardly any room and are enormously helpful. Having a good night's (or afternoon's) sleep will help make the driving experience safer and more enjoyable for everyone.
3. Offline GPS
No matter how high-tech your smartphone is, you should always have a GPS just to be safe. While phones can have spotty reception and delays, an offline GPS will never let you down. Download your maps in advance and save yourself so much stress.
4. Multi-Use Charger
Living in the digital age means that you probably have more electronics in your bag than you can count on one hand. Luckily, we don't have to worry about each model having a designated charger. Most chargers are compatible with several devices, and if you have one that lets you charge multiple devices at the same time, all the better!
5. Reusable Water Bottle
Not only is using plastic bottles bad for the environment, it's also bad for your wallet. The average reusable water holds more water than disposable ones, so you won't have to worry about filling up as often. Also, reusable bottles keep hot drinks hot and cold drinks cold.
6. Wipes
Ending up in a sketchy restroom in the middle of nowhere is a road trip rite of passage. If this happens to you, you can rest assured that you won't take any germs with you on the rest of your trip. They're also handy for spills and messy snacks.
7. Cooler
One of the most fun parts of any road trip—picking up gas station snacks—can also be the most expensive! You can pack some of your fave snacks and drinks in a cooler and enjoy them no matter where you are. You'll save time and money.
8. Pillows
The best road trip is a comfortable one. You never know what sort of pillows you'll get when you stop for the night, and car headrests aren't the most comfortable. If you're on the road, a little bit of home can make all the difference.
9. Toilet Paper
Sometimes it's best to err on the side of caution. Depending on where you're traveling, you may encounter some sketchy bring-your-own-TP rest stations. You never want to be caught on the side of the road with your pants down.
10. Emergency Kit
You should keep an emergency kit in your trunk regardless of the scenario, but it is especially important if you're going to be far from home. Make sure you emergency kit is up to date before heading out. It could save your life—or someone else's.
Mathurin NAPOLY / matnapo on Unsplash
Now that we've covered some road trip essentials, let's look at a few that are best left behind.
1. Paper Maps
One of the best parts of 2025 is that the days of printing out directions on mapquest and relying on out-dated paper maps are far behind you. While there is a vintage charm to using a paper map, it's ultimately not worth the hassle. A good GPS will not only have the most recent routes, but also traffic updates and nearby amenities.
2. Makeup
If you're going to be sitting in a car all day, there's really no reason to have a full face of makeup. A hefty makeup bag will take up a ton of space in the car that can be better used for things like entertainment or snacks. If you're the sort to wear a full beat every day, a road trip can be a great opportunity to take a break from makeup
3. Full-Size Toiletries
Don't think that just because you don't have to comply with TSA regulations that you should pack your full-size shampoo and body wash. Think of all the souvenir space those bulky bottles are hogging! Also, are you really going to use that much product on your trip?
4. Trunk Organizer
If you're bad at packing, a trunk organizer may seem like just the thing to help. In fact, you'll see a lot of brands encouraging you to make the most of your trunk space by purchasing an organizer. Those brands are trying to sell you something; a little luggage jenga will do the trick.
5. Multiple Chargers
We don't want to retread old territory by restating our points. There's no point in bringing a cat-o'-nine-tails' worth of tangled chargers when a single multi-pronged one will do the job just fine.
6. Heavy Blankets
Comfort is a priority when traveling long distances, but there's a fine line between comfort and clutter. That cozy sherpa throw may seem like just the thing for snuggling up with on a winter road-trip, but it will take up a lot of valuable packing space. Focus on quality rather than quantity.
7. Plastic Bottles
As with our point about chargers, we don't want to belabor well-trod territory. Instead, let's look at things from a different angle. Cleaning out all accumulated clutter at the end of the day is a hassle, you don't want to add more plastic to it.
8. Oversized Luggage
As we've said, a heavier car will go through gas more quickly. When traveling long distances, you want to make the most of every mile. Besides, wrangling a massive overnight bag into a hotel each night can wreck your back.
9. Excess Clothing
Just like with luggage, less is more. There's nothing wrong with repeating an outfit when you're on the road. Even when you've reached your destination, you're likely to find laundry to keep your top-tier outfits feeling as fresh as they look.
10. "Just In Case" Clothing
Be realistic when packing. If you're hitting a bunch of National Parks on your trip, you aren't likely to need loafers and black tie. You also probably won't need 30 pairs of underwear for a two-week trip, no matter how bad the gas station food is.
