Road-Trip Essentials
The picnic blanket we like was redesigned and enlarged; we’ve compared the new version, the Nemo Victory Picnic Blanket, with the old one and still recommend it.
Our staff spends a lot of time on the road—for both work and play. We’ve discovered that a road trip can also be a welcome break from routine. Our road-trip essentials will keep your gadgets charged and your wheels moving, but don’t forget that the real magic happens when you take a moment to connect with the world around you.
Road-trip essentials
Get the most important things taken care of—safety, basic comfort, and staying connected and clean.
USB car charger
Smartphone battery life is notoriously short—it’s almost guaranteed you’ll need a charge at some point between where your trip starts and ends. And not all cars have USB ports. Our picks are quick and dependable.
This pick adheres to USB-C power standards, can charge phones and computers, and has a second port for charging USB-A devices.
The Best USB Car Charger
This pick adheres to USB-C power standards, can charge phones and computers, and has a second port for charging USB-A devices.
For the fastest charge possible on two modern devices—such as an iPhone 8 or later, or a Samsung Galaxy S8 or later—this is your best bet. Bring your own USB-C cables.
The Best USB Car Charger
For the fastest charge possible on two modern devices—such as an iPhone 8 or later, or a Samsung Galaxy S8 or later—this is your best bet. Bring your own USB-C cables.
Car phone mount
Using a car phone mount is the easiest way to comply with safe-driving laws, and in some states one such law is that you can’t hold a phone while driving. For a small investment, a mount offers peace of mind and gets your phone out of your hands.
Whether on a dashboard or windshield, it’s easy to set up, grips securely, and has a strong magnetic mount that supports most phones in any position.
The Best Car Phone Mount
Whether on a dashboard or windshield, it’s easy to set up, grips securely, and has a strong magnetic mount that supports most phones in any position.
This mount attached quickly and firmly to our cars’ CD slots and has the same magnetic mount as the other iTap Magnetic 2 versions.
The Best Car Phone Mount
This mount attached quickly and firmly to our cars’ CD slots and has the same magnetic mount as the other iTap Magnetic 2 versions.
It’s easy to set up or remove, securely held onto our cars’ vent slats, and has the same strong magnetic mount as the dash version.
The Best Car Phone Mount
It’s easy to set up or remove, securely held onto our cars’ vent slats, and has the same strong magnetic mount as the dash version.
Jump starter or cables
A dead battery is a road trip rite of passage—it’s only too bad that where and when you might be blessed with one is completely unpredictable. A portable jump starter is a worthy investment, but a traditional set of cables can do the job too.
This jump starter has the right safety features and contains enough juice in a small package to start most cars and SUVs.
Wherever We Go, We Bring the Weego 44s Portable Jump Starter
This jump starter has the right safety features and contains enough juice in a small package to start most cars and SUVs.
Long and durable enough for any situation, with a current rating that can handle SUVs.
The Best Gear for a Roadside Emergency
Long and durable enough for any situation, with a current rating that can handle SUVs.
UV passenger window shades
Passenger-seat navigators, backseat drivers, sleepy children, excited pets, electronics, chocolate bars, and gummy bears all have something in common: They need relief from the sun on a long drive.
Sticks easily to your windows and provides great sun protection for passengers.
The Best Gear for Your Road Trips
Sticks easily to your windows and provides great sun protection for passengers.
UV windshield shade
The obvious benefit of a UV shade for the windshield is that it keeps the car cool when you’ve parked in the sun. The less obvious advantage is that it helps obscure any cables, electronics, or valuables that anyone happens to leave behind.
Custom built for your vehicle to ensure no sun gets in, this should help even in the sunniest climates. The price will depend on the vehicle, but the range starts at $55 and goes up to $180.
The Best Gear for Your Road Trips
Custom built for your vehicle to ensure no sun gets in, this should help even in the sunniest climates. The price will depend on the vehicle, but the range starts at $55 and goes up to $180.
Soft cooler
Even if you’re not the type to load up on groceries, a cooler can be a lifesaver on a road trip. Got a flat tire? Took a wrong turn? An ice-cold lemonade or well-timed snack works wonders to alleviate stressful driving situations.
This simple lunch-box-style cooler is insulated with thick closed-cell foam and made from a durable coated nylon.
The Best Coolers
This simple lunch-box-style cooler is insulated with thick closed-cell foam and made from a durable coated nylon.
Water bottle
This is a must-have item in daily life, as well as on the road.
The Hydro Flask is an insulated steel bottle that’s easy to add ice to, pleasant to sip from, and simple to carry. And it was completely leakproof in our tests.
The 8 Best Water Bottles
The Hydro Flask is an insulated steel bottle that’s easy to add ice to, pleasant to sip from, and simple to carry. And it was completely leakproof in our tests.
A bottle with a straw lets you drink without tilting your head back, the easiest way to drink water while keeping your focus on the road.
The 8 Best Water Bottles
A bottle with a straw lets you drink without tilting your head back, the easiest way to drink water while keeping your focus on the road.
If you’re sensitive to the taste of metal or plastic, or if you simply enjoy how nice it feels to drink out of glass, this bottle is our favorite.
The 8 Best Water Bottles
If you’re sensitive to the taste of metal or plastic, or if you simply enjoy how nice it feels to drink out of glass, this bottle is our favorite.
Stain-remover wipes
The likelihood of coffee spills down your chin—and all over—increases exponentially the minute you get in a car. It’s nice to have something on hand to clean up, so you can get another wear or two out of that shirt.
A pack of these in your glove box will keep you tidy through multiple meals at drive-thrus.
The Best Gear for Your Road Trips
A pack of these in your glove box will keep you tidy through multiple meals at drive-thrus.
First-aid kit
This is the type of item that goes unnoticed—until you really need it, of course. Major incidents aside, something as simple as an antacid or a fingertip bandage can save the day.
This kit is chock-full of bandages and cleaning supplies suitable for minor incidents.
The Best Gear for Your Road Trips
This kit is chock-full of bandages and cleaning supplies suitable for minor incidents.
Flare alternative
If you’ve ever gotten a flat and pulled over on a busy highway, you know how unnerving it is to have high-speed traffic barrelling down on you. These will let other drivers know you’re there.
Crushproof and water resistant, and much safer than traditional flares.
The Best Gear for Your Road Trips
Crushproof and water resistant, and much safer than traditional flares.
Road-trip nice-to-haves
After the road-trip essentials, load the car with the fun stuff, the little extras that’ll keep people from getting cranky two hours into a five-hour drive.
Reusable grocery bag
When it’s time to move from the car to the hotel for the evening, a reusable grocery bag makes it easy to gather up loose items and take them inside. Plus, it can’t be beat for corralling trash, bundling wet items, and yes, getting groceries.
The Baggu can fold into a compact pouch for easy storage and holds the most groceries without being difficult to carry.
Great Gear for Picnics and Grilling
The Baggu can fold into a compact pouch for easy storage and holds the most groceries without being difficult to carry.
Blanket
For enjoying daytime picnics or lounging on a starry night, a good blanket is a versatile travel companion. Plus, a cold passenger can wrap up in it and nap.
With a soft flannel top, padding, and a waterproof underlining, our favorite picnic blanket will keep you dry and comfortable even on damp grass. It also rolls easily and compactly, thanks to an attached flap and straps.
The Best Picnic Blanket
With a soft flannel top, padding, and a waterproof underlining, our favorite picnic blanket will keep you dry and comfortable even on damp grass. It also rolls easily and compactly, thanks to an attached flap and straps.
Reusable utensils
When traveling, you’ll have three meals a day, plus all kinds of snacking in between, while you’re on the go. Even if you mostly eat out, the moment will come when you wish you had a spoon to stir your coffee or a fork for your to-go salad.
The 4 N 1 is a full cutlery set that stows away easily and takes up minimal space. It will open bottles, too. At around $6 for each set, it’s particularly affordable if you want a few for your picnic or camp setup.
Great Gear for Picnics and Grilling
The 4 N 1 is a full cutlery set that stows away easily and takes up minimal space. It will open bottles, too. At around $6 for each set, it’s particularly affordable if you want a few for your picnic or camp setup.
Compressible pillow
As plane travel has taught us, there is no comfortable way to take a quick nap without a pillow.
This firm and supportive pillow packs to 50 percent of its expanded size.
The Best Gear for Your Road Trips
This firm and supportive pillow packs to 50 percent of its expanded size.
Binoculars
Birds, buildings, natural vistas, and everything in between—whether you’re in the passenger seat, on a hike, or at a picnic table, there’s always something to do if you have a pair of binoculars.
Amazingly affordable with great optics, these binoculars have performance comparable to that of many models costing thousands more.
The Best Binoculars for Birds, Nature, and the Outdoors
Amazingly affordable with great optics, these binoculars have performance comparable to that of many models costing thousands more.
These binocs combine pocket-size convenience with enough magnification for you to actually identify things.
The Best Binoculars for Birds, Nature, and the Outdoors
These binocs combine pocket-size convenience with enough magnification for you to actually identify things.
Paper road atlas
There are many reasons, from practical to nostalgic, to take a paper atlas on your trip. Use it as insurance against a lost GPS signal, or simply to remember how good it feels to open a big map and explore where the road may take you.
Large enough to use while you’re in motion, with a logical, straightforward layout.
The Best Gear for Your Road Trips
Large enough to use while you’re in motion, with a logical, straightforward layout.
What not to bring on a road trip
Flares
If you have a basic set of emergency beacons, there’s no need for these.
Radar detector
A specialized, expensive piece of equipment. We wouldn’t recommend buying one unless you’re sure you really want one. They are also illegal for passenger vehicles (as of this writing) in Iowa, Virginia and Washington, D.C.
