These Road Trip Essentials Will Save Your Sanity

Summer is almost over, which means the thirst for adventure is begging to be quenched. Before you know it, winter’s wrath will be upon us. Don’t sweat it, though, map apps are still being put to the test, fuel prices are being watched with hawkish scrutiny, and mechanics are performing oil changes round the clock. That's right, the season of the road trip isn’t over yet.

But great road trips don't just happen by accident—for every great cross-country success story there is a highway tragedy waiting to happen. Thankfully, we have put together 10 essentials guaranteed to make your end-of-summer road trip the fun, memorable, and fulfilling experience you have always dreamed of.

Many of us nowadays barely remember the bygone age of road maps, and thankfully those folded wastes of paper have been replaced by smartphone apps, GPS systems, and dashboard computers. Outside of boredom, arguably the biggest challenge to your road trip sanity is the risk of getting lost. Not only is it frustrating in the moment, but also operating on a fixed amount of vacation time, it takes away from better activities that could have otherwise been enjoyed on the trip. Having a satellite-guided navigation system at your side allows for the best route selection, the ability to avoid tolls, and the freedom to take little side excursions. While your phone may provide a lovely map app, err on the side of caution by bringing a devoted GPS along. You never know when your unsuspecting phone will be rendered useless up by a puddle, toilet, or dead battery.

It was Dick Clark that said, “Music is the soundtrack of our lives,” so why not spend the time putting together the ultimate-road-trip playlist? Having enough music to fill in the longer parts of the drive not only helps break up the monotony, but can also provide the perfect mood for the sweeping landscapes you are bound to encounter along the way. Apps like Pandora and iHeartRadio make sure that your favorite stations are never out of reach, no matter where you are in the country. For those of you who prefer talk to music, long trips are a perfect opportunity to listen to your favorite podcasts or tackle your reading list with a few audiobooks.

Arguably the most important item you will pack for your road trip is one you hopefully will have no reason to use. But, in the unfortunate event that you blow a tire on Route 66 or kill your battery running the air conditioner overnight, being well-prepared with an Emergency Roadside Kit will go a long way to keeping cool in a heated situation. Essentials for any good Emergency Kit include: jumper cables, fix-a-flat, car jack, flashlight, duct tape, engine oil, transmission and brake fluid, and road flares. Ideally you’ll have a full-size spare, but it’s important to check your doughnut tire before you start any road trip. Many insurance policies offer towing as part of their plans, so make sure that phone number is readily available if needed.

You know what goes great with a cross-country journey of self-discovery and personal fulfillment? A friend. Having someone who can keep you stimulated with conversation, manage the music and GPS, and most importantly, share in the driving responsibilities, is invaluable during any long trip. That being said, you might not be able to find someone willing to commit to the time or cost a road trip will entail. That doesn’t mean you’re relegated to a realm of isolation the entire time. Road trips are a great opportunity to make all those calls you have been putting off, and Bluetooth has made it all the easier (not to mention safer). Saying hi to grandma will take your mind off the seemingly never-ending pavement before you, and it has the added benefit of making her day.

Remember those games you hated playing with your parents during lengthy family vacations? They are a lot more fun as an adult, especially if your friends are viciously competitive. Driving games give you a completely different outlook on the road, essentially turning the roadside landscape into a giant chessboard. So try the alphabet game, pick up a highway bingo board, and see if you can spot all 50 U.S. license plates. You may be surprised how intense they get!

One of the best cost-saving measures you can utilize on a road trip is bypassing the motels for the comfort of your own vehicle. Comfort is something of a relative term to be sure, but there are a couple of ways to maximize the quality of your four-wheeled mattress. Cars have very little by way of insulation, and, especially in the desert areas of the American Southwest, temperatures can drop extraordinarily low at night. Having a good thermal sleeping bag or blanket can be a lifesaver, both figuratively and literally. A supportive pillow under your head will minimize stiff necks and grouchy mornings as well.

You would think this is a no-brainer, but the dry-mouthed reality is that a frightening number of people decide to take long road trips without water or food. The thought is the less you eat and drink, the fewer pit stops along the way. The problem is that dehydration can impair response times with symptoms such as lethargy, headaches, and mood swings. One study even likened driving while dehydrated to driving while intoxicated. In addition, keeping a fully stocked cooler in the car isn’t just a good idea to keep your body and mind fueled for the drive, it’s also a good safety measure in the event of an emergency. Easy, non-perishable foods paired with fruit juice, a 24-pack of bottled water, or even just your trusty Nalgene will keep you well fed and hydrated, even if your vehicle becomes disabled. They are as essential to your road trip as they are to life, not to mention packing food is a great cost-saving measure. You may need that extra spending money because…

…the sad reality is that even great services like E-ZPass don’t have universal application across the country. To make matters worse, despite the fact that it’s the 21st century, and virtually everything from vending machines to your local farmer’s market stands now take cards, good luck finding a tollbooth that will. Cash is still an absolute necessity for any long road trip. Thankfully, there are now smartphone apps that will calculate how much you need to have on-hand to avoid that awkward moment when you frantically scour the car looking for spare change.

You have probably noticed by now that a lot of these essentials—GPS, music, company, and toll calculating—can all be handled by one device. Smartphones are incredible pieces of technology, and their usefulness on a road trip doesn’t stop with just that. Most people use their phones as a primary camera or video recorder, event reminders can keep you on schedule with your sightseeing, and you can chronicle your journey on countless social media platforms in real-time. That is, of course, if you remember to pack your charger. A phone without a charger is patently useless.

If you’re reading this list, then you are already doing the most essential task of all: taking the time to develop an itinerary for your road trip. While there is allure in just hitting the road and letting the adventure happen, trips that begin without any forethought run the risk of falling apart just as quickly and with the same amount of fervor. There are so many opportunities for things to go wrong on a lengthy trip, easily the best plan is to, well, plan! Having a route chosen, a list of points-of-interest you want to visit along the way, being fully supplied, entertained, and prepared for anything that may come along will give you the peace of mind you are likely seeking in the first place.