Everything You Need for a Smooth Road Trip
With every successful journey comes the all-important moment of preparation. Just as Frodo didn’t leave the Shire without lembas bread to keep the Fellowship going, you shouldn’t hit the road without a few essentials of your own. 🛣️
Consider this your guide to packing smart—so your road trip feels less like a trek through Mordor and more like a smooth ride there and back again. 🍃 I’ve linked everything below to make your quest even easier. ⬇️
Here's my list of essentials for a successful journey:
1. Bento/lunch boxes:
I recently took a road trip from Miami, FL to Washington Depot, CT—three full days on the road (there and back)! I tend to get hungry pretty quickly, so I knew it would be more cost-effective to pack food, but it was also about being preventative. I packed meals for the three days for me and my husband, which meant fewer pit stops and no last-minute hangry scramble for an exit with mediocre food. Staying fueled and prepared made the journey way more enjoyable—and way less stressful. For the three days back, I stopped by Publix before we left and tried to remake similar bento boxes in our Airbnb before we left for our journey home. If you aren't willing to do that, then hopefully there's a Buc-ee's onyour route! ⛽
Here are some quick bento box ideas for your road trip:
Turkey & cheese wrap with hummus, pickles, and mustard
Peanut butter & jelly sandwiches
Ham & cheese Hawaiian roll sandwiches
Japanese soba noodle salad with cucumbers and radish
Carrots & hummus
Grapes & blueberries
Salami (cut) and cheese
Bell peppers stuffed with cream cheese
Banana pancakes with maple syrup
Starkist Lunch-to-go (tuna fish and crackers)
2. Snacks:
This is a no-brainer. Most people will pack snacks or buy some chips from the nearest gas station before leaving for a road trip. The difference in buying snacks ahead of time is that it saves time and money. You also make smarter choices when you aren't rushing to get on the road. I made my own granola, and I purchased (this may sound weird) baby food snacks, which have some good nutrients and aren't calorie dense. Even with our packed meals, we needed these snacks. It helped hold us over until our next meal, and it lasted a long time!
Here are some quick snack ideas for your road trip:
Homemade granola: pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, dried figs, dried apricots, raisins
Granola fruit bars
Yogurt melts
Cheddar cheese balls
Chicken sticks (cut-up)
Cheddar whales (or Goldfish)
Almonds
Peanuts
Popcorn
Chocolate-covered fruit
SmartChews Swedish fish
Broccoli & cheese melts (baby food)
Fruit packs - strawberry & banana (baby food)
3. Cooler:
You can't store any of those bento boxes and snacks without a good-quality cooler! We bought this one from Target. It's perfect for keeping your meals safe for your days on the road. I recommend keeping it in the trunk or in the back seat. When you make rest stops, grab a bento box because you never know if hunger will hit you quickly! 🥪
Here's a list of things we pack in our cooler for road trips:
Bento boxes
Drinks
Dog food (if frozen)
Ice packs
Fruits
Snacks that need to be refrigerated
Dog snacks
4. Drinks:
I highly recommend bringing a Stanley cup, and no, I don't mean the one from the movie Cars. 🏆 I mean any large heat/cold insulated cup that will hold you over for a long time. I also recommend getting drinks that don't need to be in the cooler! We grabbed 2 apple juice boxes every time we grabbed a bento box, and it was perfect. 🧃 I also kept my "Stanley" cup up front with me, filled with water and ice, so that I could stay hydrated and refill it whenever needed. It was my own personal cooler for whatever drink I chose! KACHIGA - KACHIGA! 🚗💨
Here are some drink ideas for your road trip:
Apple juice boxes
Mixed fruit juice boxes
Iced Water
Homemade Gatorade
Smoothies
Hydration drinks
Protein drinks
Ginger ale (for nausea)
Iced Coffee
5. Stuffed Animal/Blanket:
Nothing makes my road trips more comfortable than bringing a little home with me on the road.
A simple stuffed animal/pillow can make a huge difference. If I'm really channeling my inner passenger princess, I'll even bring a blanket! This completely changes the setup from a boring chair to a comfy ride.
Sometimes, when I am going numb from sitting for too long, I'll put a pillow or stuffed animal on it and sit on it. It helps give me more cushion!
✨ Pro tip: If you recline your seat and use your stuffed animal as a pillow and put your blanket on, you might even be able to get a little rest without waking up in pain.
6. Spare Tire Kit, First Aid Kit, Medicine, etc.
Boring as it seems, treat it like Bag End: small, tucked away, and absolutely crucial for the journey ahead.
You can pack every snack, blanket, and stuffed animal in the world, but if a tire pops or someone gets a headache mid-journey, your carefree road trip suddenly turns into a quest worthy of Mount Doom.
Passenger princess? NOPE. Suddenly, she’s a survival queen. Don’t let a minor emergency derail your adventure. Bring a spare tire kit, first aid supplies, essential meds, and anything else that might save the day.
That way, when life throws you a curveball, you can channel your inner Aragorn and confidently say, “Fear not, I’ve got this.” 🧔🗡️👑
7. A (good quality) Suitcase:
Every road trip starts with a reliable suitcase to hold all the essentials—clothes, shoes, skincare, and everything in between. 👕
Why invest in a good-quality one? Because the LAST thing you want is a broken zipper or a wheel falling off right as your trip begins.
If your suitcase is starting to show its age, consider this your sign that it might be time for an upgrade.
My little trick: if I know we’ll be shopping at our destination, I’ll pack a small empty suitcase. It’s perfect for bringing home souvenirs without worrying about running out of space.
Trust me... your suitcase is one item you don’t want to cut corners on. It can make your entire trip smoother and far less stressful. 🚗✨
To help you feel fully prepared for your trip, I’m sharing my personal packing checklist that I use every time I travel. If you’re anything like me and worry about forgetting something, you can always come back to this list before your trip for a quick packing check! 🧳 📱
⬅️ Click here to see my secret packing list:
Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Floss 🪥
Retainer, Retainer Case 🦷
Shampoo, Conditioner, Body wash 🧼
Face wash, Skincare, Masks 🧖🏻♀️
Face wash headband/Shower cap 🛁
Makeup 💄
Nail clippers, tweezers 💅
Razor, shaving kit 🪒
Deodorant 🧴
Perfume, Cologne 🌸
Brushes, Hair clips, Hairbands 🎀
Hair oil, Hair spray 👩🏻🦳
Blowdryer 💇♀️
Toiletries, Pads 🧻
Glasses, Glasses case 👓
Face towel, Glasses towel 🫧
Contacts, Case, Solution 👁️
Coconut oil, Vaseline, Lotion 🥥
Dude Wipes, Hand wipes , Hand sanitizer🧴
Clothes 👘🧣👙
Pajamas 🛌
Shoes, Slippers 👟
Underwear, Socks 🧦
Sleeping mask 🛌
Jewelry 💍
Cooler ❄️
Food 🥪
Snacks 🍿
Drinks 🧃
Passport / ID 🪪 (if traveling far)
Travel/Car insurance info 📝
Earphones 🎧
Chargers 🔌
Polaroid Camera, Film 📸
Purses, Epi-pen, Essentials 👜
Books, Journals, Pens 📒✍️
Nintendo Switch 🎮
Cash 💵
Laptop & Charger 💻
Supplements, Medications 💊
Stuffed Animal (Stitch) 💙
Umbrella ☂️
Bug spray 🦟
First aid kit 🩹
Gifts 🛍️
8. A fire playlist:
There's nothing worse on a road trip than dead silence. If we're not playing car games, then we better be jamming out! 🎶
A fun way to start your next trip on the right foot is to play music that reminds you of where you are headed OR share some of your favorite songs.
I even enjoy playing instrumental music in the background when my husband and I are having a really good conversation.
Music really sets the scene for your beautiful adventure... which is why Lord of the Rings has such a fire soundtrack! 💍🔥🌋👁️
Below are a few links to my favorite Spotify playlists for road trips:
This is the playlist I play when I am driving through some beautiful scenery and I want to feel like I'm embarking on my own LOTR adventure! 🏞️ It’s perfect for when you want to feel like Frodo and Sam, but with Waze and snacks instead of a perilous quest. Plus I am part Scottish, so if you haven't listened to Scottish music, check it out. 🎶
Don't let the name fool you. Yes, this is also great music for the beach, but I think this is a really good playlist if you want to start your road trip with stress-free vibes. Just imagine Gandalf chilling in the back seat, pipe in hand, while this playlist plays—instant good vibes. 🧙♂️🎶
I actually played this non-stop for our 6-day road trip to Connecticut—it was a Gilmore Girls-themed adventure! ☕💖 Perfect for anyone who wants a trip full of coffee, witty banter, and all the small-town charm.
Remember that background music I was talking about earlier? Yeah, this is it. Perfect for Studio Ghibli fans! 🌸🎶 It’s the kind of playlist that makes you feel like you’re flying with Kiki on her broom, no matter where you are.
This is Spotify's playlist of Classic Road Trip Songs. If you want a playlist where you know all the songs, then this may be the one for you! It's a great one for when you want to sing your heart out on the way to your destination!
There are sooooo many more playlists I want to share with you, but alas, this is not a blog about Spotify playlists. (Although I can make one for you, bestie)
Just as promised, the all-important list of links: 🔗👇
Bento Box Tupperware: https://amzn.to/3OwFPvL
Snack Box Tupperware: https://amzn.to/4tZfRBd
Cooler: https://amzn.to/4aHsYPW
Hydro Flask "Stanley" Cup: https://amzn.to/3N5JoZi
Squishmallow Stuffed Animal: https://amzn.to/4s060K9
First Aid Kit: https://amzn.to/3P7gAA7
Halo Car Kit: https://amzn.to/4aIZDVm
Suitcase: https://amzn.to/4dbTgLF
There you go! These are all the tips and tricks I learned through years of bumpy road trips to smooth adventures. I hope you have fun with these ideas and make them your own.
Here's to many, many more road trips to come — because one does not simply walk into Mordor without snacks, playlists, and a full tank.
Enjoy the ride! 🚗💨🛣️🎶🌄📸
Love, Chels
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