26-05-2025
What to pack in your car for a summer road trip, according to automotive experts
Ah, the summer road trip — one of my favorite pastimes. Every year growing up, my family packed up the minivan and hit the road, driving all over the country to visit national parks and roadside monuments (Corn Palace and Wall Drug, anyone?). Now that I'm a father myself, I've kept the tradition going — minus the minivan. These days, it's a whole lot easier. No paper maps. No TripTiks from AAA (remember those?). An iPad keeps the back seat happy, and instead of digging through a pile of CDs, I just queue up my kiddo's favorite soundtracks on my phone.
Of course, even with all the modern upgrades, a good road trip still takes some prep. To make sure I wasn't missing anything, I tapped car expert and longtime automotive writer David Gluckman for his best tips on how to get your car road-trip ready — from what to check under the hood to what to stash in the trunk. Between his advice and the setup I've dialed in over the years, we've got a formula that keeps everyone charged, entertained and (most importantly) full of snacks.
Here's how to prep for a road trip — and the summer essentials I bring on every adventure to make sure things go (somewhat) according to plan.
First things first, before leaving your driveway, you should make sure your car is in good working order. That means checking the brakes, battery, tires and getting an oil change. And in the off-chance that your car has a few hiccups on the road, it's better to have the tools to deal with those issues than wait for a tow truck. Believe me, I've been there.
Make sure all of the equipment that came with your car is still there as well, says Gluckman. "This should go without saying, but make sure your car has its jack onboard and the spare tire is inflated or you have a tire-repair kit if the car didn't come with a spare."
You've got kids in the middle seat, dogs in the third row, snacks flying everywhere and drinks being spilled. Keeping a car clean during a road trip can seem like a Herculean task. Don't stress. The car will end up messy. But by making a couple of changes, like starting the trip out with a clean car and using a car trash can instead of that old Target bag, you can keep your sanity and limit the disaster.
Want to get to your destination quickly? One of the major slowdowns I've encountered is stopping for every meal. Don't get me wrong, sometimes you need to pull into that Waffle House parking lot just to stretch your legs, but if you really want to eat those miles up as fast as possible, keep your food in your car. My wife and I pre-make sandwiches and stash them in our portable fridge to be eaten whenever hunger hits. It'll save you quite a bit of money too, especially these days, when fast food no longer equals cheap food.
Our phones are our lifelines more than ever, especially on the road. Maps, music and movies (not to mention the ability to call for help) all disappear once that battery goes dead, so keeping all of your electronics charged is incredibly important.
While driving has gotten safer and safer, for most of us it is still the most dangerous thing that we do, and while we hope that nothing bad will happen when we're on the road, it's better to be prepared for the worst.
