Get your car and supplies road-trip ready before you leave. Covers vehicle prep, snacks, entertainment, emergency gear, navigation, and comfort items for long-distance driving.
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Vehicle Preparation
Check tire pressure and tread depth
Under-inflated tires waste fuel and increase blowout risk. The correct PSI is on a sticker inside the driver's door jamb, not on the tire sidewall. Tread should be at least 2/32 inch deep — insert a penny head-down into the groove; if you see Lincoln's entire head, the tires need replacing.
Inflate all 4 tires to the recommended PSI
Check the spare tire pressure and verify the jack works
Top off all fluids
Check engine oil, coolant, brake fluid, windshield washer fluid, and transmission fluid. If your oil change is due within the next 1,000 miles, get it done before the trip. Bring an extra quart of oil for older vehicles.
Test windshield wipers and replace if streaking
Worn wipers are dangerous in heavy rain or at night. New blades cost $15-30 and take 5 minutes to install. Auto parts stores typically install them for free if you buy them on-site.
Test all exterior lights
Walk around the car with headlights, turn signals, brake lights, and reverse lights on. A burned-out bulb is a $100+ ticket in most states and takes 10 minutes to fix. Carry a spare bulb kit for common sizes.
Emergency Kit
Pack jumper cables or a portable jump starter
A portable lithium jump starter is the size of a phone and starts a dead battery without needing another car. Costs $50-80 and doubles as a USB power bank. Charge it fully before departure.
Bring a first-aid kit
Include bandages, antiseptic wipes, pain relievers, antihistamines, and any personal medications. A pre-assembled kit from a pharmacy or outdoor retailer covers the basics for $15-25. Add motion sickness medication if anyone in the car is prone.
Pack a flashlight and reflective safety triangle or vest
A headlamp keeps your hands free for roadside tire changes in the dark. A reflective triangle or LED road flares placed 50 feet behind your car warns approaching traffic if you're stopped on the shoulder.
Stash a blanket and water in the trunk
A wool or fleece blanket and 2-3 liters of water covers you if you break down in a rural area. Space blankets (emergency mylar) fold to the size of a wallet and retain 90% of body heat.
Navigation & Communication
Download offline maps for your route
Cell coverage drops in rural and mountainous areas. Download offline maps for every state or region you'll pass through. Save your hotel addresses, campground locations, and key stops in the app before leaving.
Get a dashboard phone mount
Holding your phone while driving is illegal in most states and genuinely dangerous. A vent-clip or suction-cup mount costs $10-20 and keeps navigation at eye level. Position it so it doesn't block your line of sight.
Bring a car charger with at least 2 USB ports
GPS navigation drains phone batteries in 2-3 hours. A dual-port car charger lets you charge the navigation phone and a passenger's device simultaneously. A USB-C cable with fast charging keeps up with GPS power draw.
Comfort & Entertainment
Pack a cooler with drinks and snacks
Gas station snacks are 2-3 times grocery store prices. A soft cooler with ice packs keeps drinks cold for 8+ hours. Stock trail mix, fruit, granola bars, and sandwiches. Avoid messy or crumbly foods in the car.
Water bottles and a few caffeinated drinks for the driver
Non-perishable snacks and premade sandwiches
Prepare a playlist or download podcasts and audiobooks
Download everything before departure — streaming eats mobile data and dies in dead zones. A 10-hour drive needs 10+ hours of audio. Mix genres: music for energy, podcasts for engagement, audiobooks for long stretches.
Bring travel pillows and blankets for passengers
Neck pillows let passengers sleep comfortably during long stretches. A thin blanket covers the temperature gap between blasting AC for the driver and freezing passengers. Pack sunshade screens for rear windows on sunny routes.
Hang a small trash bag in the car
A reusable silicone trash bag or a plastic bag hooked over the center console keeps the car clean over multiple days. Empty it at every gas stop. A pack of wet wipes handles sticky hands and spills.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I stop on a long road trip?
Stop every 2-2.5 hours or 100-150 miles for a 10-15 minute stretch and walk. Driver fatigue causes 20% of serious highway crashes, and alertness drops significantly after 2 continuous hours. Gas station stops double as restroom and snack breaks so plan them around the quarter-tank mark rather than waiting until near-empty.
What car maintenance should I do before a road trip?
Check tire pressure (including the spare), oil level, coolant, brake fluid, and windshield washer fluid at minimum. Tires should have at least 4/32-inch tread depth. An oil change is cheap insurance if you are within 1,000 miles of the next scheduled service.
How much does gas cost for a road trip?
Estimate total fuel cost by dividing your route's total miles by your car's MPG, then multiplying by the average gas price along the route. GasBuddy shows real-time prices along your planned route and can save $0.20-0.40 per gallon versus highway exit stations. A 2,000-mile trip in a 30 MPG car at $3.50/gallon costs roughly $233 in fuel.
What snacks should I pack for a road trip?
High-protein options like trail mix, jerky, and cheese sticks provide sustained energy without sugar crashes. Whole fruit (apples, bananas, clementines) travels well in a small cooler and adds hydration. Avoid heavy, greasy food that causes drowsiness and save the burgers for meal stops when you are not driving.
Do I need a paper map if I have GPS?
Download offline maps in Google Maps or Apple Maps for your entire route before departing since cell service drops in rural and mountain areas. A physical road atlas serves as a backup if your phone dies or GPS reroutes you into a dead zone. National parks and BLM land often have no cell coverage for stretches of 50+ miles.