what to pack for a cross-country road trip

It’s been almost a year since Miss Rona came and shot our 2020 travel plans to the ground. The good news is now in the spring of a new year, we can finally see some light at the end of the tunnel.

If your wanderlust has been brewing, think about planning a road trip. This is a safer option, considering the fact that overseas travel has more risk for infection and contact. If you have a car that’s been parked in your driveway for months and some willing members of your pod, a road trip could be a weekend to a week excursion that you’re able to safeguard during this time.

I organized a cross-country road trip with my best friend last fall, in order to spend a couple months in my home state of Michigan. We drove from Los Angeles all the way over to the Mitten State in a week, hitting a couple national parks that I never would’ve visited otherwise. It was a beautiful experience that (safely) got me out of my four walls.

extras to pack for a road-trip

Collapsable water cube

This collapsable cube was so useful, especially now because it’s hard to find places to refill your water bottles when driving cross-country. The only place I noticed we were able to refill our bottles was at the information site at Zion National Park. The 20-liter cube I purchased took a couple hours to fill with filtered water so I did that throughout packing day.

External battery

Not just for trips, but also just great to have in general. Be sure to charge the external battery before you start driving!

Reusable tote bags

I like to have a larger tote bag exclusively for road trip snacks. The smaller ones I used for dirty laundry, hiking shoes, and other miscellaneous items.

Phone car charger

An essential to keep in your car for long drives.

Insulated carafe

This was a game changer- an insulated carafe will save you a little cash if you fill it up with coffee for the trip. One quart lasted me a couple of days when I filled it each morning before setting out on the road.

Cooler

A small cooler or insulated tote bag is wonderful to keep in the trunk for prepared meals and cold drinks.

Duct tape

Great to have in case of any car mishaps! A few days before my road trip, I was the unfortunate recipient of a parked car hit-&-run, where someone hit my front bumper and it completely ripped off. I tried gluing it back on with the strongest adhesive I could find, but at the end of the day duct tape was my knight in shining silver armor.

First Aid kit

This is always a great essential to keep in your car!

Hand sanitizers

You should have a smaller personal hand sanitizer you can bring with you in a purse or fanny pack, as well as a car sanitizer for your road trip pod.

Clorox wipes

As part of my ‘clean’ kit, I kept sanitizing hand wipes as well as Clorox wipes for wiping down door handles and surfaces at our stays.

Warm socks

I found that my thick fuzzy socks were perfect for our camping nights, as well as in-transit comfort.

Sleeping bag and pillow

A sleeping bag and pillow is added safety to have for overnight stays in hotels or Airbnbs.

Car sun shade

A sun shade for your car windshield is a great addition, especially if you’re driving through warmer regions where your car can get hot when parked.

Wait! Before you go:

Look into getting a AAA membership in case you get locked out or get a flat tire. Always better to be prepared!
Learn how to use your car’s cruise control. Trust me, this will make things easier for you!
Get you and your traveling pod tested beforehand and afterwards, as well as set a plan in place if there is an emergency.
Be sure to check out your local dollar store for items before heading to Amazon or other retailers. You’ll be surprised how much you can find.
Your car will get dirty during the trip, make sure you have sturdy rubber car mats to be able to shake off dirt and dust.