✅ The ultimate road trip checklist

Happy Wednesday and welcome back to another Roadtripper,

We’re doing something a little different today.

September is National Preparedness Month, and while that may be geared more towards emergency preparedness at home (think natural disasters), it’s just as important to be prepared on the road.

So, with that in mind, I’ve rounded up some info I hope will be useful and wanted to share!

• ✅ The Ultimate Road Trip Essentials Checklist

• 🏆️ My most-used road trip items

• 💳️ But what about when I’m in a rental car?

• 🛑 Pit Stop Poll: Double whammy

 ✅ The Ultimate Road Trip Essentials Checklist

Road trips are the ultimate Americana fantasy: open highway, limitless opportunities ahead, freedom in its purest form… until something goes wrong.

A check engine light, flat tire, or bad weather situation can quickly turn your iconic road trip into a Hollywood movie plot device where everything starts to go dramatically downhill.

And that’s why it pays to be prepared — and why I’ve done the legwork to pull together the ultimate checklist so you can stay safe on the road — or get back on it ASAP.

This is a pretty comprehensive packing list, and I can say without a doubt that I do not have all these items in my car (yet) – but if you do, I think that earns you the Daily Drop Road Trip Preparedness merit badge!

If you lack most of these items and assembling your own emergency kit sounds daunting, you can buy pre-made car emergency kits — like this one (affiliate link) that comes with jumper cables and an auto air compressor. This would also make an easy gift for new drivers, so you can send them out on the road with a little more peace of mind, knowing they’re prepared.

🏆️ My most-used road trip items

While there are definitely some items I will be adding to my own packing list after building the checklist, here are items that I DO have and have used on just about every road trip we’ve taken:

#1. An RTIC cooler

It’s hot in Texas, and we’re serious about keeping our stuff cool. I’m a little biased toward RTIC because they started here in Houston, and I live minutes from their flagship store. We have more RTIC tumblers, coffee mugs, and travel mugs than we can use, but their coolers are a must-have when we hit the road.

The RTIC 30 Can Ultra-Tough Soft Cooler (affiliate link) is smaller, waterproof, floats, and is perfect for a short day trip to hold a few drinks or snacks. 

And on longer trips, like when we plan to buy groceries before heading to the family cabin, our RTIC 32 QT Ultra-Light Hard Cooler (affiliate link) keeps things cold — even in the truck bed in the middle of summer — on long drives and for a day or so after. Then when we arrive, we use it as a little drink “fridge” on the porch.

The hard coolers come in multiple sizes and definitely take up some space – though they recently released their ‘Road trip’ line that is much smaller and can fit between the seats and holds 2 upright wine bottles! May or may not be putting one of these on my Christmas list. 👀

#2. Dashboard phone holder

This is easily my most-used car item, both on road trips and during daily drives around town.

I wanted a hands-free way to have access to my phone while driving – to follow directions and occasionally change the music – and this magnetic phone holder (affiliate link) allows me to do that.

I love that it doesn’t require any adhesives like the last one I had, which melted in the Texas heat and left sticky residue all over my phone and dashboard. This one clips onto the air vent and is easily moved since there’s no adhesive involved. The downside is it only works with phones that are MagSafe/have built-in magnets.

#3. A retractable car charger

The 12v power outlet (AKA the cigarette lighter) is buried deep in the armrest compartment between the front seats in my car. I wanted an adapter that could stretch from the compartment to where my phone sits on its holder, so I could charge it while still using it, and this one (affiliate link) fit the bill. This one tilts back and forth for more flexible use, and best of all, retracts, so the cords don’t clutter the gear shift area when not in use. 

Plus, I can charge multiple items (with different plug types) at a time, so we don’t have to decide what takes priority.

#4. Trunk Organizer

Admittedly, I got this one as a baby registry purchase. But this trunk organizer (affiliate link) has now earned its long-term place in my car.

It’s great for storage, whether that’s diapers, toys, snacks, or any other items you want to keep handy. It stands up, doesn’t collapse, is easy to pack, and easy to carry. I can pack it in the house and carry it to the car, or move it between vehicles as needed, without losing anything. It also fits in the floorboard between seats, which is where I tend to store it for easy access on longer rides.

And even if you’re past the baby-wipe stage, the included wipes container is still great for quick clean-ups — like coffee spills or wiping down grimy hands after being outside.

#5. Car top carrier

If you have a smaller car or tend to road trip with family or pets, then space inside the car quickly comes at a premium. And on longer road trips, everyone is more comfortable and less likely to start a fight when they have more space to spread out. Which is why, after my daughter was born, we got this soft top carrier (affiliate link) to store stuff on top of the car.

It’s roomy, flexible, easy to set up, and waterproof (zipper included). Plus, a soft top carrier means it can accommodate weird shapes – like strollers and pack n plays – and still pack away small in the garage when not in use.

Bonus Item: Resqme Tool

I just bought one of these Resqme tools (affiliate link), designed to live in your car and help you escape quickly if you get trapped.

The two-in-one tool can break through tempered glass windows and has a blade that can quickly cut through your seat belt, but it's small enough to keep on a keychain. Plus, it comes in a two-pack, so I got one for both of our cars at a reasonable price.

I really hope we never have to use it, but the sometimes-anxious mom in me would rather be safe than sorry.

Note that it won’t break through laminated glass, so know what kind your car has, and stow it in checked luggage if you plan to fly with it.

Bottom Line

The beauty – and convenience – of road tripping is that you don’t have the same luggage restrictions as flying and can pack whatever you think you might need – as long as it fits in the trunk. A few well-chosen essentials can make a dreaded long drive much more enjoyable.

Unless, of course, you flew to your starting point and picked up a rental… in that case, you may still need to pack light, and different preparedness rules apply. 👇️ 

💳️ But what about when I’m in a rental car?

If your next road trip starts with a flight, I imagine you won’t be packing your roadside emergency kit for your trip in your rental car.

So how can you stay prepared for roadside emergencies when you’re in a new place and in an unfamiliar car?

The short answer: roadside assistance and travel insurance.

You can buy roadside assistance plans through select insurance providers, AAA, or as an add-on to an annual AARP membership (open to anyone ages 18+).

But several credit cards also include some of these perks, in addition to the points and miles you might have originally picked them up for. My colleague Sam shared some of her personal experiences with travel insurance in a recent newsletter, but I’ll give a quick rundown of the best cards for road-trip coverage.

Best cards for rental coverage: A travel card with primary coverage.

• This card includes primary coverage in the card’s $95 annual fee.

• This premium card has a higher annual fee and higher rental car coverage — up to $75,000.

• And the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card offers primary rental coverage up to the cash value of the vehicle.

The best option for you depends on your home state and desired maximum coverage amount, and you usually have to waive any additional coverage offered at the rental counter.

Best card for roadside assistance: This one. 👇️ 

• This premium card includes 24/7 roadside assistance (within the U.S. and Canada) that may cover towing, tire changes, battery assistance, lockout services, and fuel delivery with up to $50 per event coverage, 4x a year.

Meanwhile, this $95 annual fee card gives you access to roadside dispatch, but you’ll have to pay a pre-negotiated fee per service call.

As for the best programs and credit cards for travel insurance, we have a great guide to help make sense of it all and differentiate between the many different options out there.

🛑 The Pit Stop Poll: Double whammy

And to make up for the lack of aspirational road trip route content this week, you can help decide where we go next week!

🚘 The Dashboard 🚘

TL;DR: Check the car, pack your bags, load up on snacks and entertainment for the road, and be prepared for any emergency without worrying you forgot anything. So you can enjoy the adventure ahead.

Hopefully this was helpful, and lemme know where you want to head next!

Till next week, ❤️

Katie Begnoche
Writer, Daily Drop
29.7604° N , 95.3698° W

with contributions by Sam Anthony.

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