planning a year long road trip checklist

#Planning a year long road trip checklist full
#Planning a year long road trip checklist portable

So print out emergency contact information for your parents, siblings, or whoever else you’d want contacted if something horrible were to happen on your journey.įirst Aid Kit – Similar to the roadside emergency kit for your car, this kit is for the people and pets along for the ride. I believe that preparing for the worst means that everything will go smoothly. Sage Advice: Don’t forget to pack enough AA, AAA, and other batteries needed to power your flashlights and other electronics for the duration of your road trip.Įmergency Contact Information – Nothing on this comprehensive list is more important than the passengers who travel with you. From unloading the car after arriving at your destination after the sun goes down to making s’mores over a campfire, it provides hands free illumination like no flashlight or lantern can. Headlamp – One of my best tips I can share is to pack a few headlamp lights on your road trip. It’s also been a comforting nightlight for my daughter.

#Planning a year long road trip checklist portable

About the size of a coffee cup, this lightweight portable lantern has been a life saver when the power has gone out in my hotel room. I also pack my BioLite Alpenglow lantern. I keep a small flashlight stashed in the glove compartment and at least one camping lantern-style flashlight in the trunk. Reusable Shopping Bag – Great for toting snacks from the car to a picnic table during a pit stop or carting a few souvenirs to the car.įlashlight and/or Lantern – Even if your roadside emergency kit contains a flashlight, it’s always a good idea to store at least one more. Trash Bags – Whether you stash a few plastic grocery store bags or bring a small roll from home, these come in handy for storing everything from wet clothes to, um, trash. Notebook and Pen or Pencil – Whether you want to keep a travel journal or need to exchange insurance information with another driver, toss these pre-Internet communication devices in the glove box so you have them if you need them.P

#Planning a year long road trip checklist full

Sage Advice: If you are a AAA member, be sure to take full advantage of the free maps and travel guides that come with your annual membership when packing for a road trip.Ĭash and Coins – While more and more toll roads and parking meters offer a credit card or digital payment option, some places still require old-school cash and coins. Download your route from Google, pack an atlas, or buy a map for the destinations you’ll be visiting. So ensure things go smoothly on the road less traveled even if your digital maps stop working or are out of cell/satellite range. Paper Map – Half the fun of a road trip vacation is all the memories you make along the way. Sage Advice: If you’re driving a long distance on your road trip, be sure to check out these helpful tips.