Vital Road Trip Essentials to Pack for Your Next Adventure

Packing for a road trip though has different requirements than packing for other types of trips, and there are some essential items that you’ll want to have on hand, along with a few fun things you don’t necessarily need but that you’ll be glad to have on any long drive. here’s is a list of road trip essentials. No matter what type of road trip you’re embarking on, there are some things that are guaranteed to make your time on the road easier and more enjoyable. Below are top recommendations for road trip necessities that you shouldn’t get in the car without,

Cooler

No one likes a hungry passenger, and there’s nothing worse than having to stop and find a place to eat every time hunger strikes. Having a cooler stocked with a few of your favorite snacks and refreshments to help you get by to the next stop is definitely a long road trip essential.

Snacks

Driving distances can be long and supermarkets are sparse outside major towns, making a strategic snack plan essential, Make sure to pack your own snacks to last for a while  Plus, this is a great way to save money on food if you’re traveling on a budget.

Liquids

Staying hydrated is so important on the road, and making sure you have water at all times . Tap water is generally unsafe for drinking and brushing teeth. Rely on sealed bottled water from recognized brands like Rwenzori. Purchase large quantities of water in major cities (Kampala, Entebbe, or Mbarara) before entering isolated national parks.

Travel/Car Trash Can

Trash accumulates fast on road trips, so you’ll want to have one central place to put everything so your car isn’t a mess. A simple grocery store shopping bag works fine, but you could also opt for a trash can designed specifically for cars too.

Cash

While most places take cards, you’ll inevitably stumble on a place or two that doesn’t, so it’s always helpful to have at least a little cash in your wallet. Especially if you’re road tripping through a bunch of national parks, you’ll find that cash is often useful at these sites.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is one of those things you don’t think you need until you do. It’s almost always advisable to get travel insurance, but a lot of travelers overlook this if they’re planning a trip that doesn’t require them to get on a flight.

If you plan on driving your own car on a road trip, it’s a smart idea to check with your auto insurance policy to see what is covered in the case of a road trip and what won’t be, so you’re aware of the risks and what you may need as far as additional trip coverage goes.

If renting a car, keep in mind that many credit cards often include rental car insurance in their coverage, so look into the details of your bank’s coverage first before opting into the rental car company’s insurance add-on.

First Aid Kit

Hopefully you won’t need to use it, but you’ll be glad you have it if you do. A little first aid kit like this one from Coleman is perfect to toss into the glove compartment or trunk for general use, but you may want to get a more serious kit like this one from Hart if your road trip will involve a fair amount of adventuring.

Offline Google Maps or Paper Maps

There are surprisingly large sections of  Uganda without reliable cell service and net work. You can’t always rely on the GPS on your phone to get you where you need to go if cell service suddenly drops, but you CAN download areas from Google maps to view when you’re offline, which can be a lifesaver when handling navigation. Don’t forget to do this one before embarking on your trip! Alternatively, investing in a good atlas or some old-fashioned paper maps is never a bad idea.

Phone Charger/ USB Cord

You probably wouldn’t leave home without it anyways, but I think it’s important to note that a phone charger should absolutely be on your road trip essentials list. If you’re taking your own car on your trip, you’ll know exactly what type of charger will work with your car, but if you’re renting a car, what’s compatible might be different. Typically, a USB charger will work to charge most iPhones in the car, but you could always call the rental company in advance to double-check.

Phone Mount

This is one of those things you might not think you need but is super helpful to have for long road trips when you’re in unfamiliar territory and relying on your phone for navigation. Phone mounts help give you easier visibility to your device so you’re not looking down at it constantly and putting yourself in a dangerous situation. There are options that clip onto air vents and some that attach to the dash or windshield too.

Day Backpack

You’ll have your main luggage to hold most of your things, but don’t forget to pack a smaller day backpack for short hikes/excursions, beach days, etc. that you can pack before each day for easier access to the immediate items you need.

Sunglasses

For those times when you’re driving directly into the sunset or you’ve got the top down on a sunny day, you’ll definitely want some shades.

Packing Cubes

In addition to keeping your suitcase organized on any trip, packing cubes are especially amazing on road trips so you can quickly and easily find and grab the things you need.

Headphones

If you’re traveling with a few people, having headphones is great for when you want to tune out for a little while and listen to your own music or podcasts. I’m a huge fan of these noise-canceling headphones from Bose.

Refillable Water Bottle

It’s much more economical and environmentally friendly to use a refillable water bottle as opposed to buying disposable plastic ones along your road trip. use this LARQ UVC Filtering water bottle that purifies water in 60 seconds and is self-cleaning. It’s perfect for when you’re traveling through areas where the tap water isn’t necessarily the best and you can’t find filtered water stations.

Camera

Though a camera in my book is essential on any trip, it is an even bigger must when embarking on a road trip. When you’re driving, you’re in complete control of your ability to stop at a moment’s notice, and there will inevitably be some amazing photo ops that pop up out of nowhere that you’ll want to capture. Your iPhone might be enough, but I’d recommend bringing your DSLR camera along as well if you’ve got one!

Flashlight

Always a good thing to have stashed in the glovebox, a flashlight is a road trip packing staple that can be everything from helpful at night to a life saver in emergency situations. This Fenix Rechargeable Flashlight is small, the battery conveniently charges via a USB-C port, and it’s waterproof. Or try one of these affordable headlamps from Amazon for a hands-free alternative.

Driver’s License and Registration

Don’t leave home without your driver’s license and car registration and always double-check that everything is up to date! If you’re road-tripping overseas, be sure to look into the international driver’s license requirements for the country you’ll be traveling to (some countries require it, some don’t.

Jumper Cables

These should be in your car at all times anyway, but especially on a road trip. No need to get anything fancy either, these simple (and cheap) jumper cables from Energizer will do the trick.

Travel Umbrella

We all picture road trips with perfect blue skies and endless sunshine, but the reality is that sometimes it rains, so it’s always useful to have a compact travel umbrella so you can still participate in the activities you had planned while also staying dry.

Toilet Paper

It’s not sexy, but I think it’s always best to have some stashed away for emergencies plus it can double as tissues or napkins if needed.

Wet Wipes

Handy for all sorts of things, wet wipes are great for cleaning up sticky fingers, spills in the car, or let’s be honest, when it’s been a few days since you’ve showered and you could use a little refresh. Combat Wipes makes a biodegradable wipe made with natural aloe and vitamin E that will help you to stay fresh and clean on all your adventures.

Sunscreen

Essential year-round on sunny and cloudy days, we should all be applying sunscreen every day. The car windows won’t necessarily protect you either, so be sure to slather some on whether you’re on the road or hitting the trails. I’m personally a big fan of everything Sun Bum makes, but if you plan on doing any swimming, make sure you’re picking up something that’s reef safe.

Mosquito Repellent

Nothing ruins a nice evening outdoors quite like a swarm of mosquitos—or a drive when they inevitably get trapped in the car! I definitely recommend having a bottle of mosquito repellant stashed away. Repel makes a nice Lemon Eucalyptus scented insect repellent that is deet-free and non-greasy.

Comfortable Driving Clothes

Depending on your itinerary, you’ll probably want to have a few cute outfits packed, but for the most part, road trips are all about comfort. Athletic and athleisure wear always makes my list of things to bring on a road trip—basically, anything with a bit of stretch to it is key.

Spare Tire

Most cars have a spare tire stowed away in the back somewhere, but definitely double-check before you take off so that you know where it is and that it’s in working condition. You might as well brush up on your tire-changing skills while you’re at it too.

Now that we’ve covered the essentials for road trips, here are a few fun extras that you might want to consider bringing along as well.

Small Portable Speaker

Your car stereo is great for when you’re actually in the car driving, but sometimes it’s nice to have a little portable speaker to bring along on excursions, like this Bose SoundLink Micro Bluetooth Speaker.

Car Games

Not just for kids, car games are a great way to pass the time for adults too. Chronicle Books has some great question-style game decks in little tin boxes, Regal Games makes fun vintage road trip bingo boards, and a bunch of classic board games come in travel sizes with magnetic pieces which are perfect for the car.

Notebook and Pen

Whether you’re a journaler or not, it’s always nice to record the details of your trip—not just so you can look back on your travels years down the road, but also so you can share your favorite trip finds with friends and family who may be traveling to the same areas. Any notebook will do, but there are some fun journals designed specifically for travel too.

Backseat Car Organizer

To keep all your road trip essentials in one, easy-to-reach place, this backseat car organizer attaches to the front seatback and has compartments for your water bottle, iPad, and everything you’ll want easy access to on the road.

Camping Chair

If you’ve got a little extra space in the car, having some small camping chairs comes in handy for beach days, picnic lunches, sitting around the campfire at night, and more. The Helinox Chair Zero packs down to about the width of a water bottle and only weighs a pound.

Windshield Sun Shade

When traveling in the warmer months, there’s nothing worse than getting into a stifling hot car that’s been baking in the sun for hours. A simple windshield sunshade can keep car temps down while also protecting the interior from heat damage. Plus, they fold up super small so they’re easy to store.

A Great Playlist

Music and road trips go hand in hand, so you may want to put a few playlists together for your trip, or you can always search Spotify for the perfect road trip mixes. Don’t forget to download prior to your trip too so that you can listen offline.