Road trips are an exciting way to see places in the world you’d never experience by train or airplane. But let’s be honest: they also leave you susceptible to certain elements beyond your control. Put these essential items on your To Bring list though, and you’ll be (mostly) covered.
What are you waiting for? Get on with it, Kerouac.
1. Duct Tape
So you lost the passenger-side rearview mirror in a small altercation with a parked tractor trailer? Duct tape will sort you out. Couldn’t resist that weird chair from the antique shop? Strap it to the roof! Duct tape will never let you down, nope, not like the terrible companion of yours who drove off while you were still eyeing that vintage mirror.
2. Paper Towels / Wet Wipes
Handily wipe up a whole host of food and drink evils, without having to find a petrol station. The paper towel roll can be a makeshift pillow in a pinch, too.
3. Tool Kit
Something basic and compact is usually perfect — just check to make sure it’s got all its bits first. Most importantly is a wrench (socket wrench if you can swing it), screwdriver, hammer, and pliers. You never know how far it will be until the next town — unless you do, and it’s even worse then not knowing.
4. Non-Perishable Snacks
Granola bars, crackers, biscuits, beef jerky, maybe a can or two of baked beans. No, this isn’t camping, but all maybe all the resturants in that sleepy little town will be closed by the time you arrive and what then? Bean time.
5. Sunglasses
For purposes both practical and fashion-related. Driving during sunset is no joke though — better cars than… you have been taken out due to those pesky, bright sunrays.
6. Tunes
The days of the A-Track are sadly gone, but that’s no excuse for not having cruisin’ music ready and waiting. Luckily a lot of cars these days have an auxiliary connection that turns your iPod or smartphone into a personal radio. May we recommend Truckin’ by the Grateful Dead? You’re welcome.
7. Sensible Shoes
And by this we mean any shoes you own in which you can walk more than three miles without losing a toe or gaining some blisters. You never know when you might have to walk to the next petrol station/town/auto mechanic, and you don’t want to do that across unfamiliar terrain in platform wedges (probably while it’s raining #life). In this vein, better pack a rain coat too.
8. Spare Tire and Car Jack
Anything can happen! But with a proper tool kit, spare tire, and car jack, you’ll be able to defeat that sneaky anything one-handed (well, maybe use both hands when changing a tire). Make sure before you leave, though, that the jack and spare tire are in working condition.
9. Book(s)
There’s only so much scenery-gazing and napping one can do. Not to mention, if you do get stranded somewhere uninteresting and have to do a bit of waiting, some literary entertainment will come in handy. Make sure it’s a real paper-and-binding book too, as there’s nothing worse than a dead e-reader and nothing to read but your map.
10. Jumper Cables
Sometimes all you need is a jump-start you know? And sometimes that’s all a fellow traveler needs too, and then you’ll get karma points for having these on hand.
11. Insurance Information / Driver’s License
This one is so obvious it will obviously be the one you forget — and won’t know you’ve forgotten until you’ve been pulled over by the coppers. So do yourself a favour and double (or triple) check that it’s in your glove compartment, preferably in a waterproof container.
12. Blanket
At worst, you’ll use this if have to sleep in the backseat for whatever reason. At best, it makes a great napping pillow. Or if you have more altruistic intentions, it can be used to carry an injured animal to safety on the side of the road, though hopefully you won’t have to use it for sleeping any time after.
13. Flashlight
Self explanatory. An excellent ghost-story prop besides. Make sure you bring an extra set of batteries too, or at least a lighter.
14. Map
And by this we don’t mean the Google Maps app. What if there’s no signal and you didn’t offline the place you’ve ended up because you got lost? What if (heaven forbid) your phone dies or gets eaten by a bear? Physical maps have been guiding people for far longer than Siri. You’ll love it.
Maree Hamilton
Maree is a blogger and expat who loves tacos, shoes and the number five. She believes that the best things in life are often found on the sale rack.
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