You’ve made the decision to take an adventure but now you need a road trip packing list to get you sorted. You’re in the right place!
The great open road has invited travelers since the days of the covered wagon when pioneers followed in the footsteps of hunters and trackers, riding alongside old game trails to destinations unknown. And in many respects, the modern-day road trip still holds much of the same mystery and wonder as in the days of old, though now offering much more convenience.
But one thing that anyone with a taste for the open road needs today is a sound road trip packing list to ensure that you can reach your destinations without much difficulty.
With the recent onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, traveling by car across the country needs a bit more consideration than it did prior to 2020. But as we’re still not out of the woods just yet, and with new variants still popping up as of 2021, going on your next trip could use a little extra precaution.
Here, we’ll detail your essential road trip packing list for 2022.
The Essential Road Trip Packing List for 2022
COVID-19 Compliance
First up on our road trip packing list are COVID-19 considerations. As mentioned, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused worry and disruption across the globe. And even though most states have relaxed their policies on mask mandates and the like, some locations have strict rules in place.
For example, many hotels, restaurants, and other businesses are requiring proof of vaccination in order to use certain services. So if you’ll be visiting a place like Los Angeles, be prepared to show proof of vaccination to use these services.
Masks are another item that you may want to bring along with you just so you won’t limit yourself on where you can go. Some businesses are still requiring masks as of 2021, so be prepared to mask up when required.
Additionally, you also want to keep yourself safe, so ensure that you travel with a bottle of hand sanitizer or disinfectant wipes in order to clean your hands and other surfaces.
Vehicle Safety
In addition to keeping yourself safe and healthy, you’ll want to ensure that your vehicle is also running at an optimal performance level. While these are more tick-offs on the list rather than road trip packing list items, they are still very important.
Your vehicle is essentially your trusty horse while you’re on the road. And just like in the pioneer days, you’ll want to ensure that it’s well taken care of every step of the way.
As such, taking your vehicle to a competent mechanic to get it checked out is the first step to ensuring that it’s road-worthy.
Additionally, you’ll also want to ensure that all of your insurance information is up to date. This includes making sure you have adequate roadside assistance coverage just in case you’re involved in an automobile collision.
That way, you can make sure you’re adequately prepared to file a claim, as well as seek damages if your car or yourself was severely harmed.
Further, make sure all of your tires are properly inflated, and that you have a fully inflated spare tire as well just in case.
Creature Comforts
What’s a road trip without a little feel of home? The answer is–a bad one. And in order to make yourself feel at home and at ease, ensure that you bring a few of your favorite items along with you to help pass the time at stops.
Perhaps you’re a music lover. Well, if this is the case, make sure that you put together a righteous playlist for the open road. And if you’re a sports fanatic, ensure that you can stream the latest game on your tablet or smartphone.
Maybe you’re the active type. If so, bring along a frisbee, a football, hiking or camping gear, or whatever your pleasure is so you can get out there and be active at any of your destinations.
The point is, bring along the things that you love, and this will help you to enjoy your road trip even more.
For this road trip packing list consideration, try to take all the miscellaneous things along with you which can help you throughout the trip. If you do get a flat tire, keep a spare tire in good condition in your trunk.
Monitor the availability of the spare tire in your trunk before departing. We all know that there are bugs that can irritate you throughout the trip.
Other than that, you should also have some spare cash with you. Although credit cards are accepted almost everywhere these days, it is always a good idea to have some cash on hand.
You never know when machines will go down or when cash-only parking will be required. If you misplace your wallet, I suggest storing this in a different bag.
In Closing
Taking a cross-country road trip is often looked upon as a rite of passage for young adults, especially if you’re traveling solo. But no matter if you’re traveling solo or with a group, make sure that you’ve covered all the essentials of this road trip packing list before getting behind the wheel and hitting the road.
