A Guide to Solo Road Trip Essentials

I have learned a majority of all of my important traveling knowledge while on the road. I would consider myself quite the road tripping guru as I have driven through 43 of the 50 states and have spent upwards of 3 weeks on the roads. What I am hoping to do is put the highlights of my road tripping experiences into a small guide to cover all of my road trip essentials.

I’m also working on a printout list of all the essentials that you will need. I will make a separate post for all of the people who want to road trip with their pets. So here it is, my guide to road trip essentials for a solo road trip.

Safety:

Cash Money:

When it comes to traveling on the road I always keep at least $100 in cash. If it is possible for you to take some more than I would do that. One of the main reasons that you want cash is for unexpected tolls. You know those little detours that save you 10 minutes on the GPS? Sometimes it takes you to tolls you didn’t expect.

You don’t want to risk a ticket by not have cash on hand. In addition you may run into dry areas of the country where cards aren’t accepted or there are limits. You may need gas or to get a hotel for the night. You need to have cash if your cards don’t work.

A AAA membership:

I’m not one to just drop $100 bucks for nothing but I find a AAA membership to worth every penny. When you are traveling on the road, especially solo, you never know what will happen. What if you pop a tire? Run out of gas? Need to have your car towed?

If your insurance doesn’t cover these things, then you can always get them free from AAA or at a deeply discounted price. I have locked myself out of my car and been able to call AAA. They also provide discounts on hotels. It’s a great way to save some money.

Portable Charger:

I always carry a portable charger. I want to make sure that I avoid my phone dying at all possible costs. You don’t want to end up being in the middle of no where and have no way of contacting someone.

Offline map:

Google Maps has an offline option. It is one of my biggest recommendations that people actually use it. There are certain states like Wyoming, Idaho, the mountains of Colorado, and other rural parts of the country that have little or no reception. It’s important to have a backup to avoid getting lost.

You can download a map of the area that you are planning to drive through and it will work regardless of having access to the internet. I would also make sure that when you are passing through the visiting centers that you pick up one of the free maps of the state. They also come in handy.

A flashlight/ flares:

This really depends on where you are going but if you are going to be on the road at night you really need to have a flashlight. If your car breaks down it is important to have some simple flares so that people can see your car in the dark. No all highways are lit and someone may see your car after it is too late to avoid it.

It may be gross but I have had to pull over to pee and you don’t want to take a wrong step and end up sliding down a cliff or stepping on a snake. I have also used it when walking my dog in the dark when I have taken her on the trip with me.

If possible try to make your flashlight water resistant.

A copy of all your important documents:

You never know what will happen. What happens if you lose a license, drop your passport, need your social security number? It will be super helpful to have backups to things that you may need. I always make sure that I have backups of my insurance cards and my registration as well. Even just a picture on my phone in case my car is stolen or I lose something.

A weapon:

As a woman who travels alone almost 99% of the time, I never travel without some sort of physical protection. I have a small metal bat that has a flashlight on the bottom. I think of it as a blind them then beat them approach. In my middle console I carry a small knife that flips open. I also carry larger knives that I will keep under my seat or on the passenger side seat. My safety packs also include a whistle.

I don’t know much about gun laws. It doesn’t seem appropriate to suggest or deter someone from taking their gun. If you however have a permit or are allowed to carry across state lines then that is an option but make sure that you do your research.

I have never run into an issue where I felt that my safety was at risk but I am always aware that there may be safety risks out there. There are always opportunities for hiking and sometimes I have to travel at night. I don’t want to be caught off guard and in danger.

Spare Tire:

I learned how to change a tire when I was in high school. One things that you should always make sure to do is to check that you have a spare tire with you. You should also make sure that the spare tire has air in it. If you end up with a flat tire they will use your spare until you can make it to a facility that can replace your tire. Spares are super important.

What should you pack:

Snacks:

When it comes to packing snacks I would avoid anything that has to be refrigerated or possibly could melt. I have been the victim of something rolling under the seat and a few days in a hot car, there is an unbearable smell that I can’t find. Super gross!

It can also be difficult to find a place to keep things refrigerated. Trust me, I have tried having a cooler in the back of my car and periodically getting ice at gas stations. It’s easier to stick to things that don’t take the extra effort.

Water:

If you bring nothing else with you, bring water. Lots of water. I’m not talking about any sort of liquid that has water as a component. I’m really talking about pure water. When you are driving for long periods of time it can be easy to get dehydrated.

It also helps to prevent yourself from getting altitude sickness. Not only is it a safety risk but it may save you money from getting random drinks at the gas station. I also suggest avoiding too much caffeine. You don’t want to have a “crash” and make your drive more difficult.

You may notice your skin drying out in different locations. Perhaps its bad around your lips or your eyes are getting dry. I always carry chapstick or a lip balm wherever I go.

A small laundry soap:

You don’t want to stink. If you are staying in an Airbnb or even hotels with laundry, you will eventually have to wash some clothes, especially if you have been on the road for an extended period of time. It may come down to you washing some clothes in a sink and letting them air dry. I would always carry a small 10oz laundry soap so it is one less thing to worry about.

Hand Wipes/ Clorox Wipes:

Bring all the wipes. I can not tell you how important I have found wipes. There will come a time where you will get in your car and notice some sort of spill, smudge, grossness, and be very happy to have those wipes. I have taken them into bathrooms with me, wiped down hotel rooms during flu season, been in an Airbnb bathroom that I wanted a little cleaner, got melted chocolate on a seat… You name it, it’s happened.

I will legit go to Costco and stock up for all of my road trips. People can be super germy and when you are bouncing around lodging, restaurants, tourists sites, and everything in between, you will want to wipe your hands off. You may even want to wipe off your bag if it’s been on the floor. I have wiped off bus seats, steering wheels, toilet seats. The list can go on. Don’t limit yourself. Clean all the things. You don’t want to end up getting sick in the middle of your trip when you could of just bought a $4 tube of lysol wipes.

Plastic Bags/Ziplocks:

I like to buy food. I like to eat food in my car. What I don’t find to be enjoyable is trash all over my car or papers blowing in the wind. I always take a couple of grocery bags/ trash bags with me on the road. It helps to keep the car clean and so many other helpful tips.

I don’t want to smell dirty laundry while I am on the road. What I will do is put my dirty clothes in a large ziplock or grocery bag so that it is separate from my clean clothes.

Ziplocks are super helpful. You can use the large one’s as a poor man’s “space bag.” If you put some clothes in there and then push out all the air, you will be able to pack more. It also helps you keep your smaller trinkets like keychains from getting lost. I also like to get little rocks from beaches or flowers from the side of the road. Ziplocks will help prevent surprise bugs from being all over your car.

First Aid Kit:

I take a first aid kit whenever I am on the road. I make sure that I have a basic assortment of band-aids, a small scissor, Neosporin for cuts, bug spray, gauze, and an ace bandage. There are others things that I like to take such as rubbing alcohol or peroxide. I also make sure to have some sort of pain killer packed and a pair of tweezers.

Sun Glasses:

You will run into several weather changes that may challenge your eye site. During times when I was broke I would use the 3D glasses from the movies. If you have the money you should buy a real pair of sunglasses.

Umbrella:

This speaks for itself. It rains. You don’t want to get caught in the rain. Bring an umbrella, especially one that is travel size and can be put in a bag easily.

Just in Case:

I happened to have plenty of room in my car for some extras that I find convenient:

1. A blanket and pillow: you never know how accommodations will turn out. You may need your own items.
2. A small tank of gas: You can keep a small tank of gas in your trunk just in case. I will double wrap it in garbage bags so the smell doesn’t permeate my car.
3. A rain jacket: I suggest packing a rain coat, maybe even just one of those cheap rain ponchos.
4. Podcasts: For me, podcasts are high on my list of road trip essentials. I love music but it quickly can start to make me zone out. I find it to be an effective tool to go between music, audio books, and podcasts. Falling asleep can be a safety risk. I try to avoid it.
5. Roadside Emergency Kit: This can include battery booster cables and a window breaker.
6. Ice scraper: This is only if you are going into relevant winter weather.
7. A book or two: You might get bored and want to stop for a bit
8. Travel Mug: This is a good alternative to having a cooler. Many travel mugs can keep things cold for close to 20 hrs. This can be more convenient than a cooler. Fill it up when you stop for gas.
9. UV Window Shade: These block out the sun when you park your car. It will help to avoid the inside overheating while you are parked.
10. Dry pack: I will put important documents inside a dry pack. This way if the bag gets wet, my documents aren’t ruined.
11. 3 T’s: Pack your own toiletries, toothbrush, and toothpaste

My last little tip is to make sure that you dress comfortably. I will typically wear some workout legging and a t-shirt. This is a great base that you can build on. If you get cold you can slip on a pair of jeans or some sweats. You can also add a fleece or a jacket. Whatever you want.

I will also make a day pack bag the night before. This way, when I check into a location I only have to bring in one bag. It will have the next day’s clothes, my toiletries, and anything else that I need to start my day.

There you have it! My list of road trip essentials. Believe it or not, there aren’t many items that I find to be essential. When you get comfortable on the road you will take less and less. In truth I feel like I can do all of my trips out of a carry-on. As long as you are staying hydrated and generally are traveling safe you should be fine.

Feel free to connect with me if you want some one-on-one training!