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Between Real ID headaches and pervasive air traffic control issues, even those without flight anxiety might choose to skip the airport and head out on a road trip instead. With road trips, there’s no rushing to your gate or tossing liquids, and you only have to take your shoes off when you want to.
Even though road trips require little more than car keys and a driver’s license, there are still a lot of accessories and essentials that can make road travel more fun, comfortable, and safe. From tech toys to ways to hack your comfort, the best travel accessories go a long way towards making your road trip experience more enjoyable. And before you head out, it’s worth doing a precheck. Not all new cars come with spare tire kits. You should also check tire tread/pressure and fluids, according to AAA.
Many products are ones we’ve tested ourselves, some are from brands we love, and others are just cool things you should have on your radar. All of them have their own way of making your trip feel less tedious, whether your journey is 10 miles or 10 hours. Sadly, though, we still haven’t found the gadget that fixes your passengers’ questionable taste in road-trip music. We’ll keep working on that.
Fellow 16 oz Carter Move Travel Mug
$36.00
Buy Now at blue bottle
Buy Now On Amazon
Fellow’s Carter travel mug will keep coffee hot for up to 12 hours or cold for 24, but that’s not all that makes it great. The insulated mug has a ceramic coating, rather than stainless steel, so it won’t have that dreaded metallic taste travel mugs sometimes get.
Anker Nano 75W Car Charger
$24.99
$33.99
26% off
Buy Now On Amazon
Buy Now at anker
Anker makes some of the best wireless charging accessories, and this cleverly designed Nano charger plugs into a car’s DC port for on-the-go charging. What sets it apart is the built-in, retractable USB-C cable. There’s also a USB-C port for charging a second device.
Black Diamond Astro 300 Headlamp
$19.95
Buy Now at rei
Buy Now at backcountry
While it’s hopefully an essential you won’t need, a headlamp can make any roadside breakdowns easier to manage — no more fumbling with a flashlight. Black Diamond’s headlamp is impressively bright, despite its size, and it’s also dimmable.
North Face Base Camp Duffel
$129.00
Buy Now at rei
Buy Now at the north face
Unless you’re taking a day trip, you’ll need a way to carry all of your stuff. Duffel bags are a versatile option for road trips, and the North Face’s Base Camp duffel is a classic for a reason. What it lacks in internal organization, it more than makes up for in its durable construction and capacious interior.
Twelve South AirFly Pro 2
$59.99
Buy Now On Amazon
Buy Now at Bespoke post
The AirFly Pro 2 is designed for flying, but it can be useful for road trips, too. If you have an older car with Aux ports but no Bluetooth, the AirFly lets you stream music from your phone to your car speakers. It’s both a transmitter and receiver, so you can listen to music on headphones as well.
Wet Ones Hand and Face Wipes
$3.28
$3.99
18% off
Buy Now On Amazon
Buy Now at target
It’s hardly the most exciting item to buy, but hand wipes are a must-have for any road trip. The container easily fits in any cup holder, and the wipes are ideal for hands that are sticky from finger food or rest stops without soap.
AeroPress Go Travel Coffee Press
$39.95
$49.95
20% off
Buy Now On Amazon
Buy Now On Amazon
Just because you’re hitting the road doesn’t mean you have to settle for bad gas station coffee. The AeroPress Go is impressively compact and makes rich coffee in a matter of minutes. It can make espresso or drip-style coffee, and even cold brew. Just don’t forget that you’ll need a way to heat the water first, whether that’s a camp stove or a mini electric kettle.
YETI Roadie 24 Cooler
$250.00
Buy Now at yeti
Buy Now at rei
Yes, Yeti coolers are expensive. But the rotomolded design has unbeatable ice retention, and the coolers are built to last. The availability of fun colors doesn’t hurt, either. The aptly named Roadie 24 is the right size for stashing in the back seat or trunk, and the sturdy latches resist accidental spills.
NOCO Boost GB40
$99.95
$124.95
20% off
Buy Now On Amazon
Buy Now at home depot
Jumper cables are a reliable way to jump a dead battery, but they depend on another car to work. If you’re traveling the road less traveled, a portable booster can buy peace of mind. NOCO is a trusted brand in portable jump starters, and this option features a built-in light and a convenient USB-C charging cable to recharge the starter.
BioLite CampStove 2+ Complete Cook Kit
$249.95
Buy Now at rei
We previously reviewed the BioLite’s heartier companion, the FirePit+, which is a great option if you want the full roaring campfire once you get to your destination. But the CampStove 2+ is an excellent choice for anyone with an already overstuffed road trip car, since it weighs just under four pounds and folds up compactly into a carrying bag. Plus, you can even use foraged sticks to fuel it.
REI Co-op Camp Blanket
$69.93
$99.95
30% off
Buy Now at rei
Whether you’re camping, napping in the back seat, or trying to stay warm in a hotel without adjustable AC, a camp blanket is a great thing to keep in the car. This one from REI is reasonably priced and packs down to a compact size. Plus, it’s machine washable.
Welly First Aid Kit
$24.94
Buy Now On Amazon
The Red Cross recommends keeping a well-stocked first aid kit in your home or car, and even provides a list of the items you should keep inside. Welly’s Excursion is stocked with everything you’ll need in a single, compact package that you can take with you on camping trips, hikes, or road trips.
BOOX GO 6 E-Ink Tablet
$159.99
Buy Now at target
An ereader can be a handy option for passengers who are bored of looking out of the window. BOOX is a unique alternative to Kindle or other ereaders, because it runs Android. That means you can download your preferred apps from the Google Play Store or use BOOX’s native NeoReader app.
