The Ultimate Road Trip Packing List: 13 Essentials You Don’t Want to Leave Home Without

A tire-pressure gauge is one of those must-have essentials for the road, and the Exwell Digital Tire Inflator Gauge makes for seriously easy maintenance. Its digital readout is backlit (so you won't need a flashlight to check the pressure at night), and its hands-free nozzle clip means you can walk away as it takes its reading.

Whether you need to quickly jot down a license plate or take notes during a business call (though not while driving!), this memo pad will ensure you’re an arm’s length from a pen and paper at all times. It fastens onto the dashboard using a durable suction cup, providing a sturdy surface for all your in-car note-taking.

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Be prepared for all kinds of disasters, from bites and scratches to aches and infections, using this compact first-aid kit, which easily fits into a glove compartment or center console.

This Swiss Army pocket knife will come in handy in a variety of situations, from opening bottles and cans to fixing your glasses and removing splinters.

We always travel with a cozy wool blanket in the event of impromptu picnics or in-car disagreements about AC levels.

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Sure, you’ll always have the bright light feature on your iPhone, but in the case of a true emergency, you’ll want to have an extremely powerful flashlight at your disposal. Our go-to is this BYB aluminum flashlight, which has a 20-foot beam distance and super bright LED bulbs. It’s no wonder it has a 4.5-star rating based on close to 2,000 Amazon reviews.

Investing in a stainless steel water bottle is a must for staying hydrated (and environmentally friendly) on long road trips. We love the Hydro Flask, a BPA-free option with a vacuum insulated wall that keeps liquids hot for up to six hours and cold for up to 24.

Regular road trippers know the importance of being prepared in the event of a car accident. This means having your insurance and license in your car at all times, and investing in a dash cam like this bestselling option from YI. The gadget mounts on the dashboard easily and comes with G-Sensor technology that instantly captures footage in the events leading up to, and immediately after a collision. Its wide-angle lens sees the whole road at once, its high-speed video captures fast-moving scenes with perfect clarity, and its LCD screen allows you to easily review footage.

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Put your phone on the dash so you can keep your hands on the wheel and your focus on the road. Bonus: This Soaiy mount also charges your device as it cradles it.

Most road trips involve a fair bit of in-car dining. Keep clean using these all-natural hand wipes, which give you that “soap and water clean” without the use of artificial dyes, alcohol, BZK, or triclosan.

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In-car spills are inevitable, but irreversible damage to your clothing doesn’t have to be if you travel with a Tide to Go pen. We always have one in our glove compartment.

Stay hydrated—or caffeinated—for the drive with this vacuum-insulated stainless steel travel mug.

This seat organization unit hangs over the back of any car seat to keep items, like tissues, books, and hand wipes, easily accessible.