Road Trip Packing List

We typically keep an umbrella in the trunk, but where you place this gear depends on how rainy your destination is. Our umbrella guide can help you choose the best one for you, so pick one depending on where you plan to stow it. We appreciate the Davek Mini Umbrella for how well it works in travel situations, and it's also small enough to fit in the front seat without monopolizing space, making it a do-it-all umbrella. That said, if you need more coverage, the trunk is a great storage option, as you can fit a larger model without breaking the bank.

We know what you might be thinking—a packable duffel? When we've got all that room in the trunk? Well, hear us out. You aren't always going to need all the space a duffel bag offers, so it's nice to be able to pack it up and stow it elsewhere to save space in the trunk. This is also handy because you can leave the duffel in the trunk until you need it, so you're never left without it. If you don't need the duffel on the way to your destination, you can load it up with dirty clothing, souvenirs, or rocks for a smooth ride home without extra gear clogging up your trunk. If you want something with more structure, go with the EVERGOODS Transit Duffel 35L or The Brown Buffalo Duffalo. If you want to wear it like a backpack, go with the BAGSMART Paz 43L Duffle Backpack or the Thule Chasm Duffel Bag 40L! We have an entire guide to choosing the right duffel bag, so that's a solid place to look if you still can't decide on a bag.

One of our staff writers actually gifted the K KNODEL Car Trunk Organizer with Lid without testing it first (a cardinal sin for a gear tester), but it was a hit! The recipient liked it so much that we picked one up for this guide. We appreciate its simple design and non-slip bottom because it doesn't slide around very easily once in place in the trunk. It has a middle divider to separate your gear into two compartments (or three if you get the large size). Typically, this can live in your trunk, and most of the gear we'll list below should be in your car anyway!

If you've read our reviews or checked out our packing lists, you know what we're putting inside this duffel bag first: packing cubes. This will help keep your clothing organized and easy to find. Finding a single pair of underwear in a mess of clothing is a lot harder than finding one of your three packing cubes, so this can save you time and frustration. The Thule Compression Cube is a solid option thanks to its durable materials and compressibility. There are ultralight options out there, like the Osprey Ultralight Packing Cube Set, but we prefer the Thule for its combination of durability and weight.

Whether you use packing cubes or not, the bulk of your clothing will go in the duffel bag. We aren't going to tell you how to dress (this time) because we don't know where you're going, what your style is, or how long you're going for. But, we recommend Merino wool because of its moisture-wicking properties, how well it layers, and for its natural odor resistance. We also recommend traveling with a capsule wardrobe and bringing less gear! Most of all, you’ll want options to layer, since it’s hard to find a balance with the air conditioner when the sun is beating down on you through the windshield.

I know we said we wouldn't tell you what clothing to wear…but this is technically an accessory, so we didn't lie. The Arcade Aero Mag belt is incredibly comfortable, even on long drives, thanks to a stretchy construction and a plastic buckle.

A Buff is a great way to add sun protection or stay warm if you get cold easily, and different models excel in warm or cool climates. Plus, you can use it as a headband or an eye mask in a pinch.

We typically pack a dirty laundry bag and a shoe pouch in the duffel in the trunk, just in case we need them. This can be as simple as two grocery bags or as complex as dedicated bags designed for the purpose. We recommend starting with grocery bags to see if you even use them, but we often do. Both can be removed from the duffel when in use, or left inside for safekeeping.

A mini cooler is an essential part of any road trip. Inside, you'll put snacks and food that you want to eat on the trip. This can be as simple as a chocolate bar from the gas station you don't want to melt in the car, or as complex as the second half of a sandwich you got from a deli on the side of the road. This cooler won't keep things as cold as the one in your trunk, so keep that in mind when deciding what to put in it and how long it'll last. We like the Bellroy Lite Cooler Caddy 6L for its versatility and packability. Plus, once you get to your destination, you can use it for afternoons at the beach and a picnic in town. We recommend bringing an ice pack to keep your food and drink cold. You can leave it in your primary cooler in the trunk until you need it, then grab it when you add food to the mini cooler!

A daypack will come in handy when you arrive at your destination for various adventures and hijinks, but it also serves a purpose in the car. It makes a great packing cube for keeping all your small gear organized. You'll put all the items you want quick access to in here during the driving part of your journey, and empty the nonessentials when you arrive to use this pack for your trip. On the way home, load it up with car essentials again, and hit the road. We love the ULA Equipment Dragonfly because it has a clamshell opening that makes it easier to organize and see your gear so you can grab the right thing, and because it's so versatile. Because it doesn't lock you into any kind of organization, you can use it for the car, hiking, photography, and general use. If you're looking for something different, we have an entire daypack guide dedicated to helping you find the best bag for your needs. The contents of your daypack will depend on your needs and the trip you're taking, but we have a few suggestions to get you started.

We typically store our sunscreen in a daypack because we like to be able to grab it and go if necessary, and we don't want it to gum up space in our sling. Sprays are nice, but a cream sunscreen is better since it’s easy to reapply in the car (yes, you can still get sun damage while sitting inside a vehicle). The type that's best for you will depend on where you're going and your skin type, but we recommend mineral sunscreens because they are gentle and better for the environment.

Similar to sunscreen, you’ll want to choose a type that won’t irritate your skin. We look for bug spray with low levels of DEET because they tend to be less irritating. However, if you’re road tripping where mosquitos are notoriously horrible, you may want to get something stronger.

Please, don't scroll away yet. Yes, you should bring a paper map on a road trip. No, seriously, you really should. One, they're fun and can help you build better spatial memory and offer cognitive engagement while on the road, listening to podcasts about true crime or famous people telling silly stories. Plus, you never know when you're going to lose cell service or something could happen to your phone, so having a paper map in your daypack is a great way to add peace of mind and a little retro fun while hitting the highway with friends and family.

Like most items on this list, this next one is subjective depending on where you're going. That said, there are very few places we wouldn't tell you to bring a rain jacket. We prefer to bring a packable rain jacket to save space, especially if you're going somewhere where it won't rain every single day. You can leave this stowed in your daypack until you need it. We’ve got a rain jacket guide to help you choose the best model for you and your next trip.

Most water bottles and travel mugs will help keep you hydrated and awake on the road, and your water cold and coffee hot between fill-ups. That said, some bottles are better suited to road trips than others. Ensure the bottom of the bottle you choose fits snugly into your car's cupholder. If it's too big, it won't fit, and you'll have to figure out a different place for it to live. If it's too small, it'll rattle around and could spill. We like the Owala FreeSip Sway because it fits nicely into most cupholders, and you can open it one-handed, so you don't have to be dangerous on the road. For warm drinks, the Zojirushi Stainless Mug (SM-KHE48) is a great option, but it's a little skinny for some cupholders, so keep that in mind. If you already have them, go with the bottles you own that fit these criteria! If you're new to the subject, we wrote guides on choosing the best water bottle and travel mug for your next trip.

If you don't have napkins in your car, are you really a road tripper? You can pick these up for free the next time you get food or bring some from home.

Depending on the kind of car that you drive, this might be a dated solution, but we think it is worth including either way. A car phone mount is great for vehicles without an integrated maps system, but it serves other purposes, too. Even in newer cars, you can use a phone mount with a dash cam app on your phone to record time-lapse videos of your drive and FaceTime friends and family when parked or taking a break to eat a snack. We like the iOttie Easy One Touch 5 because it is simple, and you can customize where it's located and how sharp the angle is. There's an air vent version, too. More minimalist options like the UGREEN Car Phone Mount for MagSafe are great for keeping your dash sleek, but they aren't as customizable! As always, texting and driving is an awful idea, and you should never do it.

We like to keep a tech pouch handy, so all our cables and dongles have a place to live, keeping the front seat uncluttered when we aren't charging. We love the Aer Split Kit for its simplicity and for the ability to expand the bottom to sit flat on a desk or table when you get to your destination. It's small enough to fit in most glove boxes and can slide into the slip pocket behind your seat in a pinch. Our tech pouch guide will walk you through choosing the best model for you, but the Split Kit is a great place to start.

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A sling will be handy once you get to your destination, and it also serves as a container for all the little goodies you'll want in the car to make your life easier on the road. We dig the BAGGU Medium Nylon Crescent Bag because it holds a surprising amount of gear, can be worn multiple ways, and isn't super structured, so it can fit into different nooks and crannies in your car to take up less space. It won't offer wholesale protection for your gear because of that lack of structure, but we aren't putting much breakable stuff here anyway. Similar to your daypack, you'll likely put different items in here than we will, but we have a few suggestions.

Keeping your wallet in the same place all the time is a good idea while on a trip, so you don't lose or misplace it and have to tear the car apart looking for it. We opt to toss it in our sling so we can easily grab the whole bag, run into the gas station, restaurant, or hotel, and have it with us without digging through the glove box. We wrote a minimalist wallets guide to help you find the best choice for you, but we always recommend the Chums Surfshorts Wallet for its versatility and budget price point. Plus, you can attach your keys to it, ensuring you don't lose your home keys while you're away.

You probably already knew to bring a pair of sunglasses, but we thought you might like the reminder, because nobody likes realizing they forgot them 20 minutes into a trip when the sun sneaks out from behind some dodgy clouds. As with much of the gear on this list, we wrote an entire sunglasses guide to help you choose the best pair for you, and you probably already own some you can bring. So, we'll recommend some unique options that you might not have heard of before. We love the Ombraz Viale because they're durable enough to handle rugged travel and don't have arms, so they won't make the tops of your ears sore. They have a hefty price tag, but they're some of the most durable sunglasses we've ever tested, so they'll last you a long time. Another option is a pair of folding sunglasses to save space. You'll either love these or hate them, but just in case you fall into the former, we recommend the Foldies Polarized Folding Classics.

Bluetooth headphones are a part of our daily lives at this point, so bringing a pair on your next road trip is a no-brainer. These are for the passengers, not the driver, as that would be unsafe. But sometimes you want a break from what the driver is listening to, or you have to catch up on a work meeting and don't want everyone to hear your call. Go with whatever you already have—you don't need a special pair just for road trips!

An iPad or a tablet is a great way to keep everyone entertained. A passenger can use it to stay entertained with books and games, including road-trip versions everyone can participate in. Plus, you can download podcasts and music to your tablet, saving space on your phone and letting you avoid losing service midway through an engaging podcast on the history of buttons. If your iPad has cell service, you can use it as a GPS, too!

Road trips often mean eating in the car, which can lead to accidentally spilling condiments on your shirt. A Tide To Go Instant Stain Remover ensures you don't have to live with that mistake for the rest of the trip and takes up a small amount of space, so you don't have to meet your in-laws for the first time with a big ketchup stain on your shirt.

Hand sanitizer is great when you get out of the car for a quick look at something or use a bathroom that's out of soap. If you plan to eat and drink in the car, you want to make sure you're cleaned up before diving in.

Tissues are a given, as you never know when a sneezing fit will come on in the car.

In a similar vein to staying clean before eating, bringing a reusable straw and cutlery is a great way to be ready for anything. Plus, they're better for the environment and better than the disposable ones you get at takeout restaurants or gas stations. We appreciate the Final Co. FinalStraw 2.0's durability and ease of use.

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While we don't love that the Humangear Trio is plastic, the metal ones can be expensive and much heavier. These work well and are sturdy, which we dig, and you can leave them in your glovebox in between uses if you don't want to keep them in your sling. We appreciate the container that it comes with; you can leave the dirty ones inside it until you're able to clean them without getting the inside of your sling, center console, or glovebox dirty.

Lip balm is a great companion for longer trips because, for whatever reason, sitting in the car for a long time can cause chapped lips. When you've got the AC or heat blaring, the air can dry out, and you're left more chapped than a motorcyclist's leather pants. We typically store this inside our sling because if you leave it in the car, it can get all melty, even if the weather isn't that hot.

Now, it's time to argue. Are you a mint madam, a gum guy, or somewhere in between? If you're going on a trip with a big group, it's fun to get both and then argue with your passengers the whole trip about which is better and why. Obviously, it's gum, but we'll forgive you if you say mints. If you leave them in your sling, you'll have them after a garlic-laced meal, so there's less time for garlic breath between eating and when you get back to your gum or mints.

We like to bring a two-port car charger so we can charge two phones simultaneously. Or, charge up one phone and another device, like a GoPro or headphones. If your phones have enough power, you can put the charger away or charge two non-phone devices at once. Though most two-port chargers charge each device more slowly when charging both at the same time, everyone should get a little juice, rather than one person getting a top-off while another is in the red. This is handy for solo travelers, too, as you can charge up all your devices on the trip between stops. We've used multiple iterations of the Anker USB-C Car Charger, all of which have held up well and haven't caused any charging issues or problems in the cars we've used them in! If you like to keep a clean form factor in the front seat, we recommend plugging your car charger into the backseat port if it has one and routing the cables around the center console. This keeps things a bit cleaner and enables you to plug another device into the front accessory plug.

To save space and weight, we get the equivalent of the two-port car charger for use outside the car (or in the car, if you have a plug). That way, you can stop by the coffee shop for half an hour, use the same cables you used in the car, and charge your devices faster. The Anker Nano 47W Fast Charger USB-C is reliable and will charge your phone much faster than the car charger, which we appreciate.

Since both charging devices have two USB-C ports, it makes sense to use two USB-C cables. The format of these cables depends on the device you're charging, but in the modern era, it likely makes sense to go with two USB-C to USB-C cables, or one USB-C to USB-C cable and one USB-C to Lightning cable if you have older Apple devices. You likely already have cables you can use for this purpose. Or, you could also get a universal cable, since it’s versatile and works for any device.

A power bank is handy on a road trip because you never know when you're going to need a little juice when you're away from the car. Or to charge your phone in an emergency if your battery dies. Power banks are very affordable now, so there isn't much of a reason not to bring one just in case. We appreciate the large 25000 mAh capacity of the INIU Cougar P63-E1 Power Bank, and that it has a built-in USB-C cable, so you don't have to move one of your longer USB-C to USB-C cables. For some trips, you won't have to charge this power bank again until you get home, depending on how you use it!