Planning A Road Trip? Here’s Your Complete Checklist Of 100+ Items

Road trips are always a great idea. They are a fun way of traveling and come with a long list of ‘pros.’ To start off, you are in charge of your time and itinerary. You can always change your mind at the last minute, switch routes, or add new stops. 

Plus, you do not need to wait in line, eat tasteless food, or worry about overweight baggage. And, most importantly, road trips are usually a cheaper option when compared to plane or train tickets. 

Nonetheless, a road trip can quickly go south if you are not well prepared. But do not worry, we got you covered! Whether you’re going on a short trip to your grandparents’ house or on a long cross-country adventure, here, you will find the ultimate road trip checklist!

1. First Things First: The Road Trip Essentials

Itinerary

First things first! Before you even think about packing, you need to have your itinerary covered.

Even if you are not much of a planner, you always need to have a precise itinerary. Plan out what car you’re going to take, if you are going to rent a car for your road trip, your route, and estimate the time it will take you to complete it. If you are making more than one stop, decide how much time you will spend on each place. 

Of course, this does not mean your itinerary is set in stone. Like we mentioned before, one of the greatest things about going on a road trip is that you have total control over your time. 

Nonetheless, if you do not know where you are going, it is hard to pack for your trip efficiently. Thus, you may end up with a bunch of things you do not need or skip objects that might have been crucial. 

More so, it is always recommendable to map out your route and know beforehand how many rest-stops you will encounter along the way —especially if you are traveling with children or the elderly. 

Also, if you are staying at various hotels, motels, or even hostels, always confirm your reservation and notify your expected time of arrival. There is nothing worse than driving for hours to a location, and finding out you are not expected. 

Besides, while tracing your route, you might encounter exciting attractions worth visiting that you might have missed otherwise!

Important Documents

If you are driving, make sure you have a valid driver’s license. If you are a passenger, always make sure your designated driver is carrying their driver’s license. 

Also, check that you have all the required car documents, including the manual, insurance card, car title, and roadside assistance service card (in case you have it). For safe-keeping, you can store them in your vehicle’s glove compartment during your trip or in a portable lock box. 

Additionally, if you are leaving the country, make sure you have everything you need to cross the border (e.g., passport or valid ID, cross border card, traveler card). 

First Aid Kit

Packing a first aid kit may seem like a no-brainer. Nonetheless, most people forget to pack a complete emergency kit. Be prepared! If it works for boy-scouts, it will definitely work for you. 

Hence put together a first aid kit including the following items:

• Adhesive Band-Aids 
• Gauze pads
• Adhesive tape
• Antibiotic ointment
• Antiseptic or hydrocortisone cream 
• Allergy medication
• Antiseptic wipes 
• Aspirin, Ibuprofen, or other pain-relieving medication
• Insect bite relief cream
• Cotton balls/swabs
• Vaseline
• A digital thermometer
• Eye drops
• Hydrogen peroxide 
• Dramamine or other motion sickness medication 

Additionally, if you have a pre-existing condition or take specific medications, make sure you pack them. Plus, we always suggest you carry a valid prescription with you just in case. 

2. Vehicle Safety And Preparedness

Road trips are unpredictable! It is one of the beauties of setting out into the unknown. Especially if you’re going on a long trip, there are lots of safety considerations to think about beforehand.

We’ve all heard horror stories of friends or family members taking a road trip and have the unfortunate happen. A tire blows out and they didn’t have a spare or the car overheated because they forgot to check the fluids. Unfortunately this happens all too often and can ruin a fun, adventure-filled road trip in a moment.

Car problems can turn your epic road trip into a epic disaster. Don’t be the next victim of a road trip gone wrong due to issues with your car! Let’s discuss all of the things you need for your car so you can make sure your road trip goes exactly as planned!

If you want the short version of it, here’s a simple table showing you everything you should check prior to leaving the house. More information on all these topics can be found below!

Check Your Fluids

Keeping the fluids in your vehicle topped off is crucial to keeping it in good running condition. Any fluid that is low should be topped off immediately to prevent any potential damage to your vehicle. If you notice any leaks you should have them fixed asap.

The fluids you should be concerned with are:

• Motor Oil
• Transmission Fluid
• Brake Fluid
• Power Steering Fluid
• Anti-Freeze
• Windshield Wiper Fluid

Motor Oil

It wont take long for your motor to start knocking if it becomes low on oil. Most modern vehicles have a warning light in the dash that shows when you are overdue for an oil change. If you see this light come on, you need to put oil in your vehicle immediately and find out what caused it to come on in the first place, whether it be leaking oil or burning it.

Depending on the type of vehicle you have, and its age, oil changes are recommended to be done every 3,000-10,000 miles. Keeping the oil changed in your vehicle is by far the most crucial step you can take towards keeping it in good running condition.

Transmission Fluid

Transmission fluid is what keeping all the internal parts of the transmission smooth and lubricated. Without it all the parts inside would grind and eventually bind up. Over time, transmission fluid will become contaminated with small metal shavings and other contaminants that will shorten its life span. That’s why its important to keep transmission fluid changed regularly. For most vehicles, this means between 30,000-60,000 miles.

Brake Fluid

The significance of low brake fluid cannot be overstated. Brake fluid is responsible for moving all the parts of your vehicles braking system. In simple terms, no brake fluid-no brakes. Its recommended that your brake fluid be changed every year or so. Over time, brake fluid can absorb moisture from the air which will cause it to wear down and not work as effectively.

Power Steering

If you’ve ever driven a vehicle without power steering, you know how much of a hassle it can be. Most modern vehicles are equipped with power steering which makes steering your vehicle very easy. However, in the event your car is low on power steering fluid, you’ll find out very quickly how much of a convenience it actually is. Low power steering fluid can lead to many issues, including a loose steering wheel.

Power steering fluid is what lubricates and protects your power steering components. Its also what allows your power steering system to function properly. Be sure your power steering fluid is topped off before any road trip. You’ll thank me later.

Anti-Freeze

Anti-freeze, aka coolant or radiator fluid, is the liquid inside your radiator. Its responsible for keeping your radiator from overheating in the summer, and freezing in the winter. If you’ve ever seen someone on the side of the road with the hood popped and smoke rolling, it was probably due to overheating. Overheating is a common bad radiator symptom that can lead to costly repairs such as head gasket replacement, or even motor replacement.

Windshield Wiper Fluid

Ever had a disgusting windshield and no windshield wiper fluid to clean it with? Yea, it sucks. Keeping your windshield clean while driving is essential to staying safe on your road trip. A good all around windshield wiper fluid is the Prestone All Season 3-1. It has a built in de-icer which is 100% necessary for winter driving. Its also formulated to help clean bugs and road grime from your windshield while also repelling water. Definitely keep a jug or two on hand. It will come in handy!

Check Your Tires

Nothing is worse than cruising down the highway without a care in the world and then blowing a tire. Checking your tires before leaving for your road trip is by far one of the most important things you can do. How often you should replace your tires depends on if you get good set of tires. A good set can last well over 50,000 miles, but one bad one can be devastating.

Its important that your tires be filled with the right amount of air. You do not want to leave your house with overinflated tires; this could cause an issue like a tire bubble, which could ultimately leave you with a popped tire. Most tires have this information on them so this is something that you can do yourself.

Its also important that your tires have a good amount of tread left on them. Low tread can cause your vehicle to hydroplane in rainy conditions or lose control completely. Also note that new tires wear out fast, so don’t be surprised if you come back from a long trip with your tires performing noticeably worse than when you left.

You’ll also want to make sure there are no punctures or dry rot on your tires. If you don’t feel comfortable checking your own tires, get a professional to do it just to be safe. You don’t want to assume on this one.

Since tires are so expensive, we all hope to never have to buy new ones. This is why its a good idea to keep a tire repair kit in your vehicle. This tire repair kit comes with everything you need to patch your tires in the event your run over a nail or any other foreign object. Just be sure to learn how to properly patch a tire before attempting it yourself. Here’s a quick video on how to do so.

Brakes

Properly functioning brakes are crucial to keeping you safe while on the road. As mentioned earlier, maintaining the proper amount of brake fluid is a big part of this. However, brake fluid alone isn’t enough to guarantee that your brakes will work properly.

Take a moment to inspect your brake pads/shoes, rotors, brake lines, and brake calipers. If any of these parts are damaged, worn, or in overall bad shape, it may be time to have them replaced. If they look questionable, or if you hear unusual noises such as your brakes grinding, have your mechanic take a look and replace them if necessary. The last thing you want is to have brake issues while hundreds or thousands of miles away from home.

Heat & AC

A big part of staying comfortable while on a road trip is having a well working heater and AC. While its easy enough to tell if the heat and AC are working properly, this is a step that’s easy to overlook. We use our heat or AC every day, right? So of course we know if its working. But the one time we don’t check will be the one time it goes out when we need it most. Take a moment to cycle through your heat and AC settings just to be sure everything is working properly.

Also, it’s a good idea to go ahead and check your car’s freon level at this point. Freon is a brand name of refrigerant that is used in your air conditioning system to help heat and cool the air before its blown into your car. Simply put, if your vehicle is low on refrigerant, it won’t heat or cool as effectively as it could.

Defrost

While checking out the heat and AC settings, don’t forget to check your defrost. Defrost is especially important if weather conditions leave your windshield foggy or covered with frost. To test your defrost, simply turn the air on and set it to defrost mode. Place your hand where the dash and windshield meet to see if you feel any air coming out. If you do, you’re good to go. If not, you need to get your vehicle looked at.

Windshield Wipers

A good set of windshield wipers can go a long way towards maintaining visibility in the event of a heavy rain. The last thing you want is to get caught up in a rain storm and have the rain smeared across the windshield, further reducing your visibility.

Be sure to check your windshield wipers for tears, nicks, or rips prior to hitting the open road. If you notice any damage whatsoever, its probably best to go ahead and have them replaced. They’re not that expensive and most auto parts stores will even put them on for you for free. Windshield wiper blades usually last 6-12 months, anyways.If you want to be extra safe you can even apply some water repellent like Rain-X to the outside of your windshield. This three pack of Rain-X comes with a bottle of its famous Rain-X Original and a separate bottle of Rain-X Anti Fog. This dual combination is a great way to keep you and your passengers a bit safer while traveling.

You should also be wary of the windshield itself. Always look for signs of pitting or delamination, and be sure to get your windshield replaced if your see any cracks. It usually takes about 30-60 minutes for windshield replacement.

Belts & Hoses

All vehicles are equipped with belts that are essential for your vehicle to function properly. These belts, however, can become worn out over time and need to be replaced. With some older vehicles, these belts are easily visible and can be inspected easily. With most newer vehicles, however, the belts are typically behind a cover plate which makes inspection a bit more inconvenient.

The same can be said with radiator hoses and other hoses/vacuum lines under the hood. If you can see any visible cracks or dry rotting on any hose or belt on your vehicle, its a good idea to have it replaced. Not doing so could result in some major issues if a belt were to break or a radiator hose were to bust. Again, if your not sure what to look for its best to have your mechanic take a look.

Air & Cabin Filters

Air filters play an important role in keeping your engine running properly. They are responsible for keeping contaminants such as debris and dirt from making their way into the engine. As you can imagine, the cleaner the inside of your engine is the better it will run. Therefore its vital to keep your air filter changed out every so often. Most experts agree that every 15,000-30,000 miles is when your air filter should be replaced.

Cabin filters, like air filters, are designed to keep contaminants out. The only difference is that air filters keep contaminants out of your engine whereas cabin filters keep contaminants out of your car. Cabin filters are responsible for keeping pollutants such as dirt, dust, and pollen from making their way into your vehicle through your AC vents. To keep your interior as fresh as possible, change your cabin filter every 15,000-30,000 miles.

Battery

Inspecting your car battery prior to a road trip is a must. Always looking to see if your car’s battery discharge warning is going off, if your battery is leaking, or if your battery is dead in general. Battery terminals and cables can also erode over time, causing a week connection. If the connection is lost, there’s no way to supply power to the starter. No starter means no running vehicle. If you notice large amounts of buildup on your battery terminals, you can always clean it off with a wire brush. Once they’re clean, check to make sure you have a tight connection by wiggling the battery cables back and forth. If they slip off the terminal, tighten them up. Alternatively, you can have your mechanic do this for you.

Headlights & Other Lights

Checking your headlights out before hitting the open road is always a good idea for obvious reasons. After all, driving in the dark and low light conditions is inevitable. And being able to see well while driving at night is crucial to staying safe on the road. Be sure to check your headlights out, high beam and low beam, before leaving for your road trip.

Besides checking to see if they’re working properly, you should also check your headlight lenses for fogginess. If your headlights are foggy or cloudy looking, you should consider having them restored. There are tons of headlight restoration kits like this one by 3M that making restoring your headlights super easy. For under $20 you can have your headlights looking brand new again. This kit will not only make your headlights look better, it will allow your lights to shine though brighter as well.

Tail Lights, Emergency Lights, Etc.

Besides your headlights, there are lots of other lights you should check as well. This includes your turn signals, emergency lights, tail lights, interior lights, and dash lights. Checking out all of your lights prior to leaving can save you a lot of time and or frustration in the event that you need them and they’re not working. Not to mention, a busted tail light or turn signal can get you pulled over. Nothing ruins an epic road trip adventure quite like getting a ticket!

Horn

Another function of your car you’ll want to check out is the horn. While its not that often that we use our horn, unless we experience road rage, it can come in handy. The horn is designed to be a safety feature, a way of getting the attention of other drivers or pedestrians, and without it we don’t have a good way of getting their attention while behind the wheel. Give your horn a toot just to make sure!

Do You Have a Spare Key Handy?

Nothing is worse than being somewhere unfamiliar and locking yourself out of the car. Keeping a spare key somewhere on your car, like in the fender well, can be a real life safer. This spare key holder by Optimus is perfect for keeping your keys safe and within reach when you need them. It has two Neodymium magnets which is the strongest type of magnet available commercially. Its also water tight and has enough space to fit a GPS tracker inside. Definitely check out this little box if there’s any chance of you locking yourself out of your car or misplacing your keys.

Let Your Mechanic Check It Out

Its always a good idea to get a second opinion. The same can be said for your car. Even if your good with cars and you’ve looked your vehicle over thoroughly, its possible that you missed something. Besides, its better to be safe than sorry.

For those of you who may not be savvy with auto maintenance, its definitely a good idea to take your car to the shop prior to your road trip. Sure, its going to cost you a bit to have it looked at but the peace of mind that comes from knowing your vehicle is in perfect shape for a road trip is priceless. Who knows, your mechanic may even tell you that your car is too old for a long trip to begin with – it would be nice to know this before you set out on the open road!

After you and your mechanic have checked out your vehicle its time to go for a spin…around the block that is. Hop in your vehicle and drive for a few miles around town and on the highway. Be listening and feeling for anything unusual such as popping or grinding noises and any vibrations that you aren’t used to feeling. You know your vehicle better than anyone else and you are the most qualified person to tell when something just isn’t right. If you have any doubts, speak with your mechanic again and get to the bottom of it. After all, you want to enjoy your road trip, not worry through it.

3. Personal Items For The Road

Now that you have planned out the details of your trip and taken care of all the safety measures, you can start packing! Note that if you’re bringing a pet such as your family dog with you, this list will become even longer. A road trip with a puppy requires additional, dedicated planning. Here, we touch things you should pack for your yourself and your human companions.

Self-care

Start by packing everything related to self-care from pillows and blankets to deodorant and toothpaste. If you do not know where to start below, you will find a list of 16 essentials to get you started:

• Deodorant
• Shampoo/Conditioner
• Body wash
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Mouth wash
• Wipes
• Toilet paper
• Hairbrush 
• Feminine care products (e.g., menstrual pads, tampons)
• Shaving kit
• Bug spray repellent
• Towels
• Travel pillow
• Blankets
• Garbage bags

Use this list as a starting point and add or eliminate items that may not apply to you (or your needs.) 

For instance, if you wear contact lenses, make sure you have everything you need to take care of them. Or if you are traveling with small children, remember to include diapers, diaper rash cream, formula, extra bottles or sippy cups, breast pump, and more. 

If you’re carrying a lot of stuff and are having a hard time keeping it all organized, this trunk organizer should help out a ton!

Tech Gadgets 

Technology has come a long way, and it usually makes our lives easier. Thus below, we will go over a few of the tech gadgets that we consider a ‘must-have’ for every trip:

GPS System 

When going on a road trip, having a GPS is indispensable! Long gone are the days of complicated and hard to read paper maps. 

Thus, make sure you purchase a reliable GPS system with updated software. Or, if you are more tech-savvy, we recommend downloading a map apps to keep you on track. Some of the most reliable map apps include Waze, Google Maps, Sygic, and Map Factor. 

If you’d rather have a dedicated GPS system and not use the maps on your phone, we recommend the Garmin Drive 51. Its 6″ screen is perfectly sized and it comes with lifetime map updates.

Portable Power Bank

Usually, modern cars have a built-in USB port that makes it easier for us to keep our devices’ battery charged. But what if your vehicle does not have it and the phone runs out of battery? This is where a portable power bank comes in handy!

Depending on how long the road trip is, you can buy a power bank with adequate capacity. But remember that the more capacity the battery has, the heavier it will be. 

Phone Mount

Using your phone to play tunes, serve as a roadmap, or call in case of an emergency is much simpler (and comfortable) if you have a phone mount or phone holder. 

There are many designs available, but we usually choose mounts that you can stick to the air vent. Mainly because they do not obstruct the view of the road, are very convenient when sliding your phone in/out, and are compatible with most phones. 

Nonetheless, there are plenty of options ranging in price, color, and design readily available online. 

Dashboard Camera

If you want to record everything that happens on your road trip, a dashboard camera is undoubtedly an excellent gadget to have. Dashboard cameras come in different sizes and designs. Thus, the right one for you will highly depend on your needs, wants, and budgets. 

The most advanced cameras are designed to record with an image resolution up to 4K, but anything over 3 megapixels will suffix. 

Food & Fluids

If you don’t want to stop countless times along the way or if you are looking for ways in which you can save up some money, packing your own food and drinks are a must.

There is something about road trips that instantly makes us crave snacks. Besides, hot or very cold temperatures can dehydrate passengers (and drivers) quickly. Thus, it is always important to keep water and other beverages handy. 

Below a list of some of the snacks, you should pack on your next trip, that can easily fit into a bag or cooler:

• Water
• Sodas
• Gatorade
• Juice boxes
• Pistachios
• Potato chips
• Popcorn
• Protein bars
• String cheese
• Mixed nuts (e.g., peanuts, walnuts, cashews)
• Yogurt
• Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches
• Pretzels
• Guacamole, hummus or any other kind of dip
• Baby carrots
• Grapes, apples, bananas or fruits that are not messy to eat

If you need a way to keep your food cool in the car, check out these iceless coolers.

Entertainment 

Driving for hours on end requires some sort of entertainment to keep things interesting. Even more so, if you are planning to make only a few stops along the way. Thus below, we will go over a few things you cannot forget when packing for your next vacation.

Music

Music can be a determining factor when traveling. It is an indispensable element to help you enjoy the journey and can even turn your trip into an unforgettable experience. 

We always suggest making a playlist before the trip and download it to your phone to avoid distractions along the road. Besides, you need to keep in mind that you may not have the best cell reception on the road. You can also listen to music on the radio, but you might not find something as appealing. 

Another alternative is audiobooks or podcasts. They are especially great to do on a long car ride by yourself. These will keep you entertained and will make the time pass by faster. 

Media Players

Tablets, portable DVD players, or even a smartphone are other great options when looking for on-board entertainment. Mainly for children and back seat passengers who do not need to focus on the road. 

So, pack your favorite media player and download movies, games, or books to enjoy along the way. 

Deck of Cards

Do not underestimate the power of a deck of cards. It offers endless possibilities of games for all ages and can bring hours of entertainment. 

And you do not need to worry about batteries running out or kids fighting over what should they watch next. 

Road Games

One of the coolest things about road trips is that it allows you to coexist and relate to those around you. Thus, what better way of getting the whole family or group together than by suggesting you play a game were everyone (even the driver) can partake. 

There are many road games you can choose from, below a list of the most popular:

• Simon says…
• The license plate game
• Mad libs
• “I spy with my little eye” game
• Sweet or Sour

Sweet or sour is not as common as the other four games listed above. Thus, if you are unfamiliar with it, the only thing you need to know is that it consists of waving to other fellow road trippers.

If someone from different care waves back, it means they are “sweet,” and you get the point. But if they do not, it means they are “sour,” and you do not get any points. In the end, the person with the most points wins. 

Hot Seat 

Hot Seat is a fun game to play if not everyone in the car knows each other that well. It is an “ice-breaking” game that consists of choosing a person to sit on the “hot seat” while everyone else in the car gets to ask a question. The game ends once everyone on the vehicle has been seated on the “hot seat.” 

Additional Road Trip Items

The following list of items includes additional things you could add to your list. And even though these may not be ‘road trip essentials,’ it is safe to say that if you have extra space in your car, they will be very useful:

Car Air Freshener

You can roll your windows down and thoroughly clean your car; but, traveling in a confined space with two or more people can make the air stinky faster than what you can imagine. 

Thus, having a car deodorizer or a car air freshener is the perfect fit. There are many scents to choose from, ranging from pine and cinnamon to ocean breeze and lavender. Besides, they are usually less than $5 and can be easily found on pharmacies, rest-stops, and supermarkets. 

Portable Shower

Driving for a long time, especially in the summer, can be a genuinely stressful thing. Sometimes you will feel the urge to take a refreshing shower to relax. Hence, what you need is a portable shower. You can also use it to wash dishes (or the car.) 

Moreover, most portable showers can store up to ten gallons of pressurized water and allows you to choose between hot and cold water.

Car Seat Covers

Car seat covers are very useful, especially when you are spending long hours sitting in the vehicle or when traveling with kids. These are a cheap way of making sure you do not stain or ruin your seats.

Plus, car seat covers can help you keep cool while car camping during the summer by avoiding direct contact with hot leather seats. This set of car seat covers even features a cooling function to help you stay cool in the summer.

Portable Coffee Maker

With this gadget, enjoying a coffee will no longer be just something you can do at home. You can have a delicious espresso while on the road or fuel up when feeling tired when driving. 

This small device is designed to operate connected to the cigarette lighter or to a 12-volt outlet and comes in a wide range of models. 

4. After Your Trip

Your trip might be over, but it always recommendable to do a complete check-up of your vehicle to make sure nothing was damaged during your vacation. Additionally, this will allow you to get the car in perfect condition for your next adventure!

Thus, after your trip, make sure you:

• Fuel up your tank
• Check the tires
• Check the oil level
• Check the coolant level
• Replace any items missing from the first aid kit
• Replace the spare tire (if need be)
• Remove the car title and other important documents from the glove compartment 

Season-specific Roadtrip Checklist 

Traveling during the winter season is not the same as going on a summer road trip. Within October – February, we have to be especially careful on the road. More so, if traveling to locations with freezing temperatures. 

If this is your case, we suggest you add a couple of valuable items to your checklist, including:

• Snow Shovel 
• Tire Chains
• Ice-scraper
• De-icer Windshield Fluid
• Hot Packs
• Flashlight/Flare lights
• Sand or kitty litter (to help you out of slippery spots if needed)
• Winter survival kit (available at many hardware stores)
• Gloves

More so, it is advisable to check the weather forecast before hitting the road and follow all safety precautions to avoid incurring an accident. 

In Conclusion

If you’ve taken the time to go through this checklist, you should feel confident that your road trip will be a success. It’s always a good idea to check your vehicle and supplies when planning a long trip. Doing so could save you a lot of time and frustration. Time that you could be enjoying doing something else and frustration that you shouldn’t have to experience on your road trip. I hope this article has been helpful and that you have an awesome, and safe, road trip. Thanks for reading!