Our road trip essentials

Have you thought about everything you need for your road trip? Then, check it out with our list of road trip essentials!

Being well-prepared for a road trip ensures you get the most out of your journey. Going on a road trip means giving yourself extreme freedom and unique flexibility to explore new places, meet local people, and discover incredible landscapes. It’s a way of getting off the beaten track and exploring magnificent destinations more personally and authentically.

At any point on your journey, there’s nothing to stop you from stopping, branching off, changing your plan on the advice of a local, or following what you’ve just seen on the road. Or to live fully in the moment and stay longer than planned to enjoy a place you love.

But that’s not all! To make the most of your road trip adventure, you must have all the equipment and essentials for your comfort and safety.

It’s time to let us guide you through our list of road trip essentials to help you prepare for your adventure on the road. Following this list of conditions, you can travel with complete peace of mind, knowing you have everything you need to enjoy your road trip.

1. Basic required documents

This may sound simple, but bring your driver’s license, registration, and proof of insurance for your vehicle. Also, if traveling to another country, check in advance and get your passport and any necessary visas or travel documents.

We also recommend scanning these documents and having a copy on a secure cloud to make things easier if you lose them!

According to certain countries (I’m thinking of Mexico in particular), leave a paper copy of your documents and give them to the police in case of a check. If they insist on having an authentic record, give them your license, but never your passport! That way, you won’t have to negotiate (or pay…) to get your papers back. Tested and approved in the middle of a village lost on Mexican roads ^^

Don’t forget to bring a map and a GPS device to help you navigate the unknown roads. Don’t be surprised by areas with little or no network!

👉 In addition, the Fleeps community urges you to download a few apps to take with you on your phone. For example, the Maps. me app downloads maps in advance and can access them without a network while still being geotagged. An efficient application for Mylène @unreveunvoyage:

The application Maps.me helped me a lot during my road trip to Thailand. It was so much easier when I took a tuk-tuk and asked it to go from point A to point B!

2. Essential equipment for day-to-day living, especially in remote destinations

The advantage of a road trip is that you can get off the beaten track and enjoy an immersive experience. However, depending on your destination for your road trip, you can expect long hours cut off from the world or even several days! Therefore, it’s essential to be prepared for this experience without being disgusted by it.

• To save space, the bare minimum is kitchen utensils, including reusable cutlery sets and folding bowls.

  👉 Mylène is no stranger to roadtrips around the world. And that’s what she takes with her on every trip:

  I always have a small kit of reusable cutlery in the form of a Swiss Army knife and a few folding bowls. It’s the most practical thing on the road!

When it comes to cooking, Mélanie has lots of great tips to help you on your road trip. These are typically tips for road trip travelers, so this equipment may be handy if you have to take a plane or train. > 1 small kettle, flat-bottomed, if possible. Handy for making tea or coffee! But above all, you can use it to cook rice, bulgur, or noodles! > > > Besides the kettle, we bought a small 1.5L warming bowl that plugs into the car’s cigarette lighter or a wall socket! It’s great for reheating meals you’ve bought ready-made or leftovers you’ve cooked beforehand. > > We always carry a small jar of coarse salt and a small bottle of oil, which also helps us to prepare simple meals! > > We also take a sponge, a bar of soap, mini dishwashing liquid, and a tea towel! >

• A shovel and ecological toilet paper, so you can quickly relieve yourself in any situation. You can dig a hole in the ground and fill it up to bury everything, hence the biodegradable and untreated paper.
• A solar shower, especially if you’re traveling with several people. Otherwise, the hours of driving will seem very long! It’s easy to use: fill it with water and leave it under the sun for a day: hot water is guaranteed without electricity! As with toilet paper, you should use natural cosmetics if you dispose of water in the environment.

Whether for ecological or practical reasons, you don’t want to be burdened with water bottles. However, investing in good water bottles and a filtering straw for regions where the water quality isn’t the best is a must! Especially if you like fresh water, filling your insulated water bottles in advance will know how to refresh you in any circumstance.

👉 This is typically a tiny accessory that travelers forget or neglect. And yet, our community of road trip experts and enthusiasts is unanimous:

Absolutely! The water bottle is my must-have for every trip!

We wondered how we would get around the world without buying bottled water—the solution: a steel flask and a filtering straw. So we drank everything and everywhere on our tour of Asia, and we’re pretty glad we did.

An isothermal gourd is ideal for storing certain liquids before finding a fridge!

3. Equipment and tools in case of technical worries

Depending on the length of your trip, everyone will advise you to pack a few essential tools and equipment in case of car problems. These may include a spare wheel, jack, wrench, flashlight, jumper cables, and tool kit.

If you’re traveling to a remote area, you may also want to pack a portable air compressor and tire sealant in case of a puncture.

In addition to tools for your vehicle, you can also take an external battery to ensure that you can always recharge your electrical appliances. And don’t forget to bring an adapter to ensure you can restore your devices at local sockets, such as camping sites.

A bonus that’s a bit bulky too, but it can be handy if you’re doing the car + accommodation combo or a digital nomad: a power strip! Especially when you need to charge your computer, camera, phone, etc.

👉 Audrey et Steve lived on a major road trip in Australia for several months. If you’re planning a similar journey, their advice will greatly help! Check out their 12 essential items in your van on a road trip.

4. Something to make yourself comfortable for the long hours on the road

Take comfortable, hard-wearing clothes suitable for the weather and the activities you plan to do during your trip. In any case, you should pack enough clothes to keep warm or cool as required: night can quickly fall, and temperatures with it.

And don’t forget to pack a raincoat or umbrella in bad weather. If you’re camping or spending time outdoors, bring appropriate clothing and equipment: a sleeping bag, thermal clothing, blankets, etc.

The hammock option is seriously worth considering if you’re looking for the ultimate comfort during your road trip breaks. Moreover, it doesn’t take up much space, so it’s perfect for resting by a tree!

5. Don’t forget foot comfort

When it comes to shoes, wear a comfortable pair, suitable for driving and walking. It’s a good idea to take an extra pair of shoes with you, just in case. If you plan to go hiking or participate in outdoor activities, we recommend bringing an extra pair of shoes suitable for these activities.

The little extra: take a pair of easy-to-slip-on shoes like flip-flops! Handy when you’re out and about and don’t want to get your feet dirty or have to tie those laces again every time you go in and out.

6. A small first-aid kit and a few accessories

It’s always a good idea to have a basic first-aid kit on hand, including bandages, antiseptic wipes, and painkillers, which can be found in any pharmacy. For example, you can also bring any medication you regularly use when traveling to combat digestive problems. In addition, including items you might need in a pinch, such as a whistle or firefighters, is always a good idea.

Depending on your destination, you could have several mosquitoes knocking at your window! Please ensure you have something to keep them at bay, like a small mosquito net.

I’m thinking of multi-purpose essential oils like tea tree or peppermint, which don’t take up much space :)

We’ll also mention in bulk:

• A camera to avoid wasting your cell phone’s battery, for example, but especially to immortalize the landscapes that will pass during your road trip.

• Some entertainment to help you enjoy your evenings away: board games, books, comics, or something to listen to are essential!

  👉 You can also pack a few audio series for the road. Émilie and Cédric have become fans! They’ve even written an article on their favorite audio series, a great source of inspiration if you’re planning a road trip very soon.

• Comfort-wise, we can never resist a little extra pillow if you have one to hand, pillows specifically for travel, whether by plane or on a road trip, are sold in most stores. The small investment is well worth it, we guarantee!

• For the more organized among you, you can easily find small coolers to keep your snacks, especially a few drinks, cool.

  A small cooler with a block of ice can come in handy when you need to move from one home to another to store open or fragile products, for example.

👉 If you’re planning to work during your road trip, our guide 6 tips for successful teleworking on a road trip during your road trip is for you.

With this list of road trip essentials, I think you’re ready to hit the road! By planning to take these essentials with you, you’ll be prepared for all the adventures the road can bring. Don’t forget to plan your itinerary and make any necessary reservations for accommodation or activities along the way. With some planning and the right equipment, you’ll be ready for a memorable and enjoyable road trip.

Some experiences from the Fleeps community that might interest you

• Road trip in New Zealand: this is one of the best ways to enjoy the North and South Islands and their incredible landscapes. Aurélie spent three weeks there: if you need advice, she’ll be a great help! Check out her practical info, tips, apps, and budget for your New Zealand road trip.
• Road trip in the USA: The American West is a well-known destination for enthusiasts. If you’d like to take advantage of her tips and tricks, Mylène will be delighted to help you create an unforgettable road trip. Before heading to the USA, we recommend her guide to prepare for your trip to the American West.
• Road trip in Europe: There’s much to discover across the old continent. If you’re looking for the tips and tricks of a true pro, Amélie et Anthony have already crisscrossed 27 countries in their converted van. What could be better? Check out their destinations and tips on Fleeps.