Packing up your vehicle and heading out on the open road is one of the best ways to see the world. Road trips provide such freedom that other forms of transportation cannot. They allow you to see unique places, take part in incredible experiences, and make memories with your loved ones that will last a lifetime.
In the past, you’ve probably packed some sort of digital entertainment, books, and maybe a snack or two for your journey. Though this is an excellent start to your packing list, there are some other fantastic items out there that will elevate your next road trip like never before. Read on for 10 summer road trip essentials your whole family will love:
100 Parks 5,000 Ideas Book
Before setting off on your trip, you need to plan out where you’ll go. There are many destinations to visit throughout the United States, and it can be tricky to choose the best stops for you and your family. The 100 Parks 5,000 Ideas Book can help give you ideas on where to go, when to go, what to see, what to do, and so much more. The possibilities are endless!
Phone Holder
Using a map to navigate is crucial for getting to your destination safely and promptly. Thankfully, technology allows us to use GPS directly on our mobile phones rather than using a clunky GPS device or paper map.
This phone holder allows you to view directions safely while on your route. You simply place the holder onto your car vent, then rest your phone on the holder so that you can keep an eye on where you’re going without putting yourself and others at risk.
Car Trash Can
It’s easy to let your car get messy while on a road trip. You end up accumulating wrappers from snacks, bottles and cans from drinks, and other miscellaneous trash. Instead of stuffing the garbage into your cup holders or backseat pockets, you can simply store all of your waste inside of this compact car trash can. Then, when you need to refill your gas or take a rest stop, throw out the waste directly into an actual trash can.
Trunk Organizer
Keep all of your travel gear in one place with this compact trunk organizer. If you have a small number of items to take with you, simply use the one square bin, but if you have a lot of gear, quickly expand the organizer into multiple compartments. The trunk organizer will help keep all of your items safe and secure while out on the open road.
Child Travel Tray
Kids can quickly become bored and antsy while driving for an extended time. It can be hard to find activities that they enjoy and keep them engaged, and snacks only keep them preoccupied for so long.
Luckily, this child travel tray is the perfect solution to keep your children entertained. This tray gives your child easy access to their coloring supplies, food, drinks, tablet, and more. The best part about this item is that your child can color directly on the tray as it doubles as a whiteboard.
Accessory Organizer
Chances are, you’re going to be bringing various accessories with you on your road trip (phone chargers, headphones, USB cords, and headphone splitters, for example). It can be hard to keep track of all these items, and on top of that, trying to store them neatly can seem nearly impossible at times. If you’re tired of misplaced/messy cords, this accessory organizer will help keep all of your items nice and neat.
Solar Powered Lantern
This solar-powered lantern allows you to have access to light no matter what time of the day it is. Simply leave the lantern next to your window while driving or plug it into a USB port to charge. We enjoy using this unique gadget as a reading light, but it can also be used when stopping at campgrounds or hotels as a night light!
Ceiling Cargo Net
If you have too much to pack but not enough room in your car, this next road trip essential is for you. Simply hang this ceiling cargo net inside of your vehicle and store any extra items inside. We recommend placing jackets, blankets, and pillows in the net when you don’t need them so that they’re easily accessible when you do need them.
Emergency Car Kit
This kit from AAA has everything you need in case of an emergency while on your road trip. The emergency car kit includes 42 items to help in nearly any situation. Some of the items you can expect to find are a flashlight, screwdriver, first aid kit, jumper cables, bandaids, duct tape, batteries, a poncho, and so much more.
CraveBox Snack Care Package
You must bring along enough snacks in your car to keep your entire family happy, but it can sometimes be challenging to decide what kind of snacks to bring. The CraveBox Snack Care Package takes out all of the guesswork when it comes to packing food for your next road trip. Open the box to find a variety of delicious and nutritious snacks that everyone will enjoy. You can expect to find items such as popcorn, veggie straws, graham crackers, fruit bars, and so much more. Say goodbye to hangry car passengers!
These 10 essentials are sure to be a hit on your next road trip. Each item brings a unique comfort or convenience that will truly elevate your car ride, no matter how far you plan on going. As always, stay safe, stay healthy, and most importantly, have fun. Enjoy your summer getaway!
