I'm going to be driving across the US in a couple weeks and want to know the best things to bring along for the ride!
Binoculars. You will be traveling across lots of landscapes, stick a pair in the sidedoor of your car so if you stumble across a nice vista or see a cool animal you can get a better look!
I got a ton of use out of hanging a hydration bladder/camelbak off the back of my seat. Being able to drink water one handed without have to fiddle with bottle caps felt much safer on the road.
Tooth brush, towel, and basic toiletries are nice if you want to get a quick shower at a truck stop.
You can download maps from google in advance in case you run in to spotty coverage. It might be worth getting an old school printed on paper road atlas in case you have any trouble with your electronics
Ymmv, but i have a couple of magnetic "yay police" and other right wing brainworms bumper stickers for driving through hostile territory. Idk if it helps, but anything that keeps thieving rural cops off your tail is worth considering.
Sunscreen! I've gotten sunburn on my left arm while driving for long distances before. I though car windows had uva/uvb filters but i guess not?
Bring some change in case you run in to an unexpected toll road somewhere.
Toilet paper! You never know.
Extra socks and an extra pair of shoes.
I hope you have a fun trip!
- Snacks - stock up at the grocery store, you'll spend way more across the states in gas stations
- Advil/pain reliever - you'll get headaches staring at the road for that long, and muscles will cramp up
- Water. So so so much water. Soda is fine but bring a few gallons of water
- Get a good charger system for your phone, and make sure you can hook it up to your car reliably
Oh and most important, bring peace of mind by getting your car checked before going. Go in and ask for a full inspection, tires, brakes, fluids, belts. I had a belt burst 8 hours from anywhere and had to sleep in my car, just get that stuff checked now
Podcasts / audiobooks
- Behind the Insurrections
- Behind the Police
being my first two recommendations
If someone wants a fantastic fantasy audiobook, the His Dark Materials series is voiced by a full cast and narrated by the author. It’s a really awesome series!
Slippers so you don't have to wear shoes, make sure you have 'radio.garden' app on your phone so you can Bluetooth to your car. Sandwiches, simple home-made that needs no refrigeration for days, and a water bottle. Trash bags, small ones, and your chargers.
Don't rely on being able to stream content. Huge parts of the US don't have cell coverage. Have a library of downloaded music, movies, TV shows, games, books, etc. prepared
Something to play, such as a cards deck or dice or your 90s knockoff handheld tetris device if group games are a no go
Chips, water, soda, a good playlist on your smartphone, a charger obviously and offline maps, if possible a non annoying partner.
If you have roadside stops planned you can make an itinerary, I use the Evernote app for organizing trip plans.
You may already have these in your car, but sunglasses, flashlight and tire patch kit are the only things I can think of that others haven't mentioned.
