Everything You Need for the Perfect Road Trip

It goes without saying (although I’m saying) that you definitely need a driver’s license, car insurance, and a working car. This list extends to the less obvious necessities.

We’ll assume that your car currently works at the time of leaving. If not, consider renting a car from Booking.com.

You must be prepared for when your car isn’t working properly while your out adventuring.  Imagine this – the next highway exit is 20 miles away and it’s after 10 pm. You hear a strange sound and must pull over immediately.

This list will help you get back on the road as quickly as possible while keeping you safe until help arrives – covering the most likely culprits.

• Car Manual. If something happens to go wrong, it’s often helpful to first understand what the problem is. The car manual is the first step in understanding your car. Rather than be a car expert, its best to carry the manual.
• A Spare Tire and Tools, including a wheel lock, a jack, and a lug wrench.  Be sure to understand how to change a tire before leaving (without use of YouTube University in case you don’t have phone service)
• Jumper Cables. While a flat tire is common, so is a dead battery. Be prepared if your car, won’t start. It’s pretty easy to flag down a good samaritan to give you a quick jump.
• Safety Vests. In Belgium and other European countries, anyone outside of a broken down car must wear a safety vest especially in areas when stopping/parking is prohibited.
• Water, specifically for the car. While drinking water is an obvious necessity, I’m talking about water to keep in the car. You can keep it in your trunk for emergencies. Trust me – you never want to be without water when traveling.
• Safety Escape Tool. Every day, I carry at safety escape tool in my car. They are used to break the windows and cut the seat belt if you need to leave the car and cannot open the doors.
• Roadside Emergency Kit. Remember our scenario and you are stuck on the side of the road? Rather than make a bad situation worse, a roadside emergency kit is required.

• Personal Protection Equipment (PPE). This includes items such as face masks, plastics gloves, hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, and toilet paper. After the 2020 pandemic, PPE is required travel equipment for everyone.
• DOWNLOADED Navigation Maps. While I don’t think you need a paper map after 2015, you must download the relevant area maps. Downloaded! – in case you lose service in remote areas. My favorite offline maps are Google Maps – they allow you to download cites and broader areas for offline use.
• Portable USB Charger. Because you are downloading and really dependant on your phone, it’s important to carry a portable battery. My phone dies at least once a day so I always stay close to a charge.
• Basic First Aid Kit. I wouldn’t go too crazy with the first aid equipment. A simple one form Amazon should cover the most basic medical emergencies.
• Phone Mount. In 2018, my home state, Georgia, passed a “hands-free” law that stops drivers from holding their phones while in the car. The idea is to prevent texting and eliminate distractions. The solution is to purchase a phone mount so you can easily see the navigation steps and change songs without breaking the law.
• Motion Sickness Medication. If you experience motion sickness, an extended road trip is not the time to forget it. Although, if you do, you can always pick some up at a convenience store or pharmacy.
• Multi-Tool. For whatever comes up. MacGyver type of deal
• Extra Cash including coins. One time we were driving through Florida and got stuck at an exact change toll booth for $0.42 and I’ll never NOT travel with some spare change.