Ah, the joys of the open road. Rolling down the windows, cranking up the tunes, and heading to a new destination is the kind of adventure travel you just can’t get from a train, bus, or plane. However, if you’ve ever jumped into a car and left it to the GPS to find your way, you know that road trips are actually one of the more challenging kinds of travel to pull off.
Driving without a destination can result in a headache of missed exits, panic stops, flat tires, or hungry passengers at every turn. (Literally.) But road trips aren’t just spur-of-the-moment excursions. The best ones require a plan so that you don’t become too overwhelmed to enjoy the journey.
That’s where a road trip kit comes in handy. The perfect collection of car travel accessories and small toys to help you travel by motor. Just as you’d pack suitcases for vacation, your road trip kit keeps all your essentials in one spot for easy access. So you’re prepared for just about any event on your journey.
Your travel bag includes not only essentials for emergencies, first aid, and car maintenance but also car games for kids, snacks to keep the family happy, and the tools you’ll need to make your destination a success. In fact, planning a road trip is less about where you’re going and more about the preparation. So whether you’re going on a weekend family getaway or a three-week cross-country adventure, you’ll want to take time to make a checklist and prepare for it all.
The purpose of this complete guide is to introduce all the best car travel accessories, list what to pack in your car for any road trip, and provide useful tips to help you pack and organize a great road trip kit.
Why a Road Trip Kit Is Essential
Road trips are all about being carefree and spontaneous. Whether you take one that’s been planned months in advance or just get in the car and drive, road trips have a way of throwing unexpected surprises at you.
Road travel may seem easy but is rarely without its issues. You might get a flat tire, run into sudden rainstorms, find you’re miles from anywhere without food or fuel, or even get a sunburn at a rest stop. On long drives, you may also run into dirty vehicles, bad gas stations, cranky kids, and overheated tempers.
The great thing about these unplanned disasters is they can make a road trip so much fun! But when you’re prepared, they also don’t have to be disastrous. A well-assembled car travel accessories kit can prepare you for:
Safety: Emergencies on the road can be dangerous, but if you’re ready for flat tires, car malfunctions, and flat batteries, you’re less likely to get into accidents.
Comfort: Blankets, pillows, and seat cushions can turn even the longest of drives into an enjoyable experience.
Convenience: Packing all your chargers, maps, snacks, and even clothes in one bag is a real time- and sanity-saver.
Fun: Games, travel activities, toys, and music or audiobooks turn car rides into happy memories instead of screaming fits.
Road Trip Kit Categories
When putting together all the accessories and toys you should pack in your car for your next road trip, you’ll find it helpful to divide your list into categories.
By organizing your travel bag or bag of car travel accessories into categories, you can prepare for every possible need.
The main categories of the best accessories to pack for a road trip are:
Safety & Emergency
Health & Personal Care
Comfort & Convenience
Food & Snacks
Navigation & Tech
Entertainment & Fun
Car Essentials & Organization Tools
Let’s take a closer look at each of these road trip categories.
1. Safety & Emergency
Safety comes first on any adventure travel, especially on the road. You may never need your roadside emergency kit or first aid supplies, but it’s great to have peace of mind in an accident, breakdown, or flat tire.
Road Safety & Emergency Essentials
First Aid Kit: bandages, antiseptic wipes, gauze, pain relievers, allergy medications, prescriptions.
Roadside Assistance Kit: jumper cables, tire repair kit, jack and lug wrench, warning triangles, shovel.
Flashlight & Extra Batteries: for night breakdowns.
Multi-tool or Swiss Army Knife: for emergencies.
Portable Air Compressor: to inflate flat tires.
Blankets: for cold weather or unexpected delays.
Emergency Phone Numbers: in case your phone dies.
Pro Tip: Store your roadside emergency kit and first aid kit in a clearly marked bag or box in your trunk for quick access.
2. Health & Personal Care
Travel accessories and car travel toys are all well and good, but nothing is worse than getting caught miles from anywhere without a snack, washroom, or clean clothes. Staying healthy, comfortable, and clean while in your vehicle takes some supplies of its own.
Road Trip Travel Accessories & Car Travel Toys: Health & Personal Care
Hand Sanitizer & Wipes: for dirty hands on the road.
Toiletries: Toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, tissues, feminine hygiene products, face wipes, etc.
Sunscreen & Bug Spray: you’ll likely stop outdoors on the way.
Travel Towel: for spontaneous swims or spills.
Reusable Water Bottles: to stay hydrated on the road.
Eye Masks & Earplugs: for resting during long drives.
Pro Tip: Keep your toiletries and personal care items in a small pouch or toiletry bag that’s easy to access during rest stops.
3. Comfort & Convenience
A long drive is made easier with some travel toys that will make you and your fellow travelers feel right at home.
Road Trip Travel Accessories: Comfort & Convenience
Neck Pillows & Blankets: for sleeping passengers.
Travel Mugs & Spill-Proof Cups: to keep beverages hot or cold and prevent spills.
Sunglasses: for eye protection.
Reusable Shopping Bags: to carry groceries or organize snacks.
Trash Bags: for a tidy car on the road.
Wet Wipes & Paper Towels: for quick cleanups.
Pro Tip: Give each passenger their own small bag for carrying personal items to keep essential items from getting lost.
4. Food & Snacks
You can’t have a road trip without a cooler full of snacks, and everyone knows it. Stopping for gas and grub is half the fun!
Road Trip Travel Accessories & Car Travel Toys: Food & Snacks
Healthy Snacks: Nuts, trail mix, dried fruit, granola bars, cheese sticks.
Treats: Candy, chips, cookies.
Packable Meals: sandwiches, wraps, or pre-cooked pasta salad.
Cooler Supplies: small cooler and ice packs for drinks, yogurt, or perishables.
Reusable Utensils & Napkins: for practical and eco-friendly snacks.
Pro Tip: Prepare individual snack bags before the trip so passengers can easily reach them instead of digging in the cooler.
5. Navigation & Tech
Travel is a whole lot easier these days with technology, but it’s good to be prepared in case your electronics fail.
Road Trip Travel Accessories & Car Travel Toys: Navigation & Tech
Phone Mount: for easy, hands-free navigation.
Car Chargers & Power Banks: to keep devices charged on the go.
Offline Maps: downloaded in case of poor service.
GPS Device (Optional): for additional backup if you don’t trust your phone.
Headphones: for passengers who need quiet time.
Camera or GoPro: to capture memories.
Pro Tip: Prepare a shared playlist before the trip so everyone can contribute their favorite music.
6. Entertainment & Fun
Open road or not, kids are still kids, and parents (or passengers) are parents. Staying entertained is a key part of any road trip.
Road Trip Travel Accessories & Car Travel Toys: Entertainment & Fun
Audiobooks & Podcasts: to keep drivers and passengers occupied during long stretches.
Road Trip Games: I Spy, trivia, printable bingo cards, etc.
Books or E-Readers: for downtime at stops.
Notebook or Journal: to document memories.
Travel Guidebook: to learn about your destinations along the way.
Pro Tip: Rotate fun items—allow each passenger to take turns choosing music, games, or conversation topics.
7. Car Essentials & Organization Tools
Your car deserves special attention on any road trip, so make sure it’s stocked with the best car travel accessories and organized for easy access.
Road Trip Travel Accessories & Car Travel Toys: Car Essentials & Organization Tools
Spare Tire & Tools: make sure they’re in working condition before you leave.
Car Manual: keep it in the glovebox at all times.
Extra Fluids: motor oil, windshield washer fluid, coolant.
Umbrella or Rain Gear: for unexpected showers.
Organizer Bins: for snacks, tech, and travel toys.
Seatback Organizers: for kids or backseat passengers.
Pro Tip: Get a vehicle service check before the trip. Oil changes, tire checks, and topping off fluids are always a good idea.
Packing and Organizing Your Road Trip Kit
Having the right collection of travel accessories and travel toys in your car for a road trip is one thing. However, it’s only useful if you can access it!
Tips for Packing a Road Trip Kit
Divide by Category: Use different bags or bins for each category of travel accessories or travel toys.
Keep Essentials Within Reach: Place snacks, chargers, and other frequently used items in an easy-to-access location.
Use Clear Containers: Transparent bins help you see and access items quickly.
Prioritize Safety Gear: Keep emergency and first aid kits in the trunk or in an easily accessible location that won’t get buried.
Label: Label bags or bins for easy identification, especially when traveling with family or friends.
Bonus: Road Trip Kit Essentials for Families with Kids
Traveling with kids requires a few extra special toys and supplies, too!
Kid-Friendly Snacks: cut fruit, string cheese, juice boxes, dried fruit, popcorn
Activity Packs: Coloring books, stickers, and travel toys like puzzles.
Comfort Items: Blankets, favorite stuffed animals, or pillows.
Portable Potty or Training Seats: For toddlers or potty training kids.
Extra Clothes: always a good idea for accidental messes.
Pro Tip: Plan for more frequent stops when traveling with kids so they can stretch their legs and burn off energy.
Road Trip Travel Accessories Checklist
If you’re looking for a complete list of the travel toys and travel accessories you’ll want to pack for a road trip, here’s a handy printable checklist for your road trip kit:
Safety & Emergency: First aid kit, roadside tools, flashlight, blankets, portable air compressor.
Health & Personal Care: Hand sanitizer, toiletries, sunscreen, reusable water bottles.
Comfort & Convenience: Pillows, blankets, trash bags, paper towels, sunglasses.
Food & Snacks: Healthy snacks, cooler, utensils, napkins.
Navigation & Tech: Chargers, maps, phone mount, power banks.
Entertainment: Audiobooks, podcasts, road trip games, books, journal, guidebook.
Car Essentials: Spare tire, extra fluids, organizer bins, umbrella.
Final Words on Road Trip Kits
Road trips are one of life’s greatest adventures. They’re about freedom, exploration, making memories, and enjoying the journey as much as the destination. But that freedom feels a lot better when you’re well-prepared with all your road trip toys and travel accessories.
A great road trip kit is like an invisible co-pilot that helps keep you safe, comfortable, and entertained at all times. With everything in one place, all you need to do is choose a destination, pack up your playlist, and hit the open road.
Travel is all about making memories, and with the best travel toys and travel accessories in your car and by your side, every mile is a new memory. Every stop is a new adventure.
Save pin for later
