Planning a Road Trip? Don’t Forget To Pack These!

A list helps us get our heads together about what is important and what is not. This time, we bring together a list of top things to carry while on a road trip. The kind of utilities that one should ideally be carrying depends on the destination, time of the year and the number of days that you will be travelling for. Following is a list of the top most important things that you should be carrying while on an extensive road trip:

Medical Kit

A well-stocked medical kit is perhaps, the most obvious thing to pack. It should consist of the basic first aid items including band aid, crepe bandage, specific medicines for your fellow travelers, motion sickness medicines, anti-allergens, antacids and ORS, which come especially handy for minor health issues. You never know what kind of road you are headed towards and thus, it is always better to be safe than sorry.

Car Essentials

Road trips are the most fun when you’re traveling by car. However, the car is also after all a machine that can face mishap at any given time. The good thing is that most automobile manufacturers offer roadside assistance for their customers. In other words, the highways are riddled with small repair shops of these companies. Therefore, one need not necessarily worry about the possibility of the car breaking down. However, it is always useful to carry specific emergency kit for the car such as the basic tools, puncture repair kit, car jack and jumping cables. Here’s an extensive list of the top things that your car must be packed with:

i) Duct tape & WD40 ii) Extra washer fluid, oil, transmission oil, brake fluid iii) Booster cables, vise grips, 3/8ths drive socket set, set of combination wrenches, crescent wrench, multiple tip screwdriver. iv) Roadside signal flares or reflective cones/warning signs v) Spare belts (alternator, fan and air conditioner belts)

Electronic Gadgets and Its Counterparts

It goes without saying that you’ll be travelling along with your smartphones, tablets, music systems and whichever other electronic gadget that you can’t imagine your life without. While you’re at it, don’t forget to pack your bag with a USB cable as nothing is worse than being in possession of a discharged phone or tablet. Having a USB cable certainly helps one charge up power banks, which are another handy mobile charging pads that are considered to be essential for your road trip.

Don’t compromise on the hygiene

There’s no saying when the nature call arrives. It can arrive at the most unexpected times and you won’t have any other option but to answer it. Highways are usually filled with a lot of rest rooms along the way. However, there’s no guarantee on how clean and well-equipped these restrooms actually are. It would definitely help to carry your own cleaning wipes and soap. Hand sanitizer is another important thing that you must carry. Tissue papers may help you in cleaning up any spills and mess in the car.

Food and Water

If you’re depending on the shops that you might find while you’re on your way to your destination, especially for water and food then don’t. Fill up your vehicle with enough number of water bottles. Following which, you must keep a tab on how much water is remaining in your car. As far as snacks are concerned, don’t pack a full-fledged lunch or dinner meal. Little munchies that can get you going till you find yourself a good restaurant or dhaba surely helps.

Plastic Items

The list of top plastic items that you’re supposed to carry includes good quality plastic bags, proper shower caps, glasses, plates and spoons. As far as the plastic bags are concerned, they help in keeping humidity at the minimum and keep the insects away from eatables. They are also highly useful when it comes to carrying toiletries or any other knick-knack. Carrying plates, spoons and glasses is helpful when you’re travelling with kids.

Sunscreen/Moisturizer

It is pretty obvious that you won’t remain locked inside your car while traveling. You will obviously step out and spend some quality time with your friends or family in the sun. Keep a sunscreen handy in such situations. If you’re in the presence of constant air-conditioning in your car, then chances are your skin has dried up. In such cases, you must keep your skin constantly moisturized. This item somehow is the most forgotten item on the road trip packing list.

Essential things for a comfortable time

You will be spending a lot of your time in the car. Therefore, it is advisable for you to carry towels, pillows, bed sheets to make your time go by as comfortably as it can. These things can come especially helpful when you are faced with an unforeseen circumstance like spending the night in the car. Another important aspect that may complete your comfortable time during the road trip is an extra pair of spectacles or contact lenses. Especially if you’re going to be driving for most of the time.

For entertainment

It is pretty obvious that you won’t be spending all your time staring at the road ahead. You are eventually going to get bored of it. Why not add some fun while you’re busy spending quality time with your friends and family members? Update your playlist with the latest or some beautiful old songs. Make sure you finalize all the songs that will hit the right chord and elevate your mood. It will help in delivering just the right type of vibe. There are many applications such as Saavn, Gaana and Apple Music that already have preloaded playlists for your road trip. You can also carry a book or kindle to help spend your time on a road trip. Often forgotten part of a road trip is a pen, pencil and a notepad. You may have a lot of thoughts going through your mind? Why not jot them down on a book and re-read it later in life? It is one of the most fascinating ways of recollecting fond memories from the past.

To Stay On Track

Make sure you are carrying maps and have proper information regarding the direction on which you are set. Just ahead of the trip, make sure you go through it at least twice and are sure of where exactly you are headed. It is important for you to give it a try and make it a part of your road trip packing list. Another thing that will come handy to you while travelling is loose cash. Even though we are headed towards a digital economy, there are tools that still require change. Above mentioned is a list of all the essential things that you must carry on a road trip. While they may appear to be a bit too many things to remember, trust us when we say this, they will definitely help you gain a better experience. Above all, make sure you carry your dose of fun as well.