The Ultimate Road Trip Packing Checklist

Road trips are the best. Just you and your faves on the open road with a banging soundtrack, and a whole world out there to explore.

If you’re yet to experience the fun that a road trip in the UK (or further afield!) can bring, then you’re seriously missing out! Once you’ve decided on your destination and recruited some travel buddies, make sure you’ve got all the essential items to make sure it all runs smoothly…

*post written in collaboration with Dayinsure*

You’ll need…a car

I mean, yeah. Putting the ‘road’ in road trip and all.

If you don’t have a car yourself (like me), it’s fine – you can always hire one! There are plenty of car hire options for you – make sure you check what’s included (mileage or base hire?) and compare prices to make sure you’re getting the best deal.

In Your Car

• Insurance details – make sure your insurance covers you for accidents, breakdown assistance and theft/criminal damage. If you’re only using the car for a few days, check out competitively priced temporary car insurance options to get the best value for your trip.
• Driving License & registration info
• Extra car key
• Spare tyre – and the knowledge of how to change it!
• Toolkit including tyre jack
• Flashlight – separate from your phone, in case you need to conserve battery.
• Ice scraper (in winter/colder months
• Cash including coins (for parking)
• GPS
• Atlas/map (in case your GPS fails!)
• Car Phone Charger/in-car USB adapter
• Hands-free phone mount

Entertainment & Comfort

Because as much as gazing out the window watching the world go by is fun, sometimes that tarmac can get tiresome. Whether it’s just two of you, you’ve got small people in the back, or less small but equally easily bored people along for the ride, having some entertainment helps pass the time perfectly on long drives

• Playlist/Audiobooks – put these together before your trip to save fiddling around in the car
• Kindle/books/games – uh, for the non-drivers, obviously
• Travel pillow – if you’re a passenger and fancy getting comfy

Clothing

This one’s pretty much up to you, as you’ll probably be packing in the same way you would for a non-road trip. Consider the activities you’ll be doing, and pack accordingly, with a couple of spare items

When you’re on the road, it’s good to have comfortable clothes for travelling in: leggings, tracksuit bottoms and a jumper are all comfy, cosy car options.

Eating & Drinking

• Snacks – healthy or unhealthy, it’s up to you…
• Reusable water bottle
• Travel coffee cup – stay awake AND save the planet!
• Gum/Mints

BUDGET TRAVEL TIP: Pack some sandwiches, drinks and snacks in a cool box before you set off. Because as great as McDonalds halloumi burgers and M&S salads are, service station food stops can get pricey pretty fast.

Toiletries

Obviously, your main toiletry bag will have all your usual items in. However, some good things to keep handy in the car – maybe in a separate, smaller bag – would be:

• Lip balm
• Hand sanitiser – for the service station toilets
• Tissues – see above…
• Hand cream
• Toothbrush and toothpaste – in case you fancy freshening up on the road