Growing up my family would take ridiculously long road trips up and down the west coast for any number of reasons. We traveled from Mount Hood and Seattle, to Shasta and Tahoe, all the way down to Palm Springs and San Diego. This was all before I left the West Coast to go to University on the East Coast and continued on my road tripping adventures. I have accumulated a range of experience in all kinds of different situations and I am happy to share my strategies for a comfortable road trip.

TIps for taking a comfortable road trip by preparing in advance

Like many other things, planning and preparation can make all the difference in a successfully comfortable road trip. I recommend making the following preparations for your road trip a day in advance:

Prepare your car

Fill gas tank
Check your oil: If possible I recommend changing your oil before a long road trip because a healthy care can improve the experience.
Check you have a spare tire and tools to change it
Set up bluetooth and car systems
Sync devices to bluetooth and car systems: you don’t want to try and figure out possibly complex car systems when you are ready to get on the road
Vacuum the floors: dust can be dangerous for your respiratory system and since you will be cramped in the cabin for an extended period of time vacuuming can help remove some harmful particles from the air
Wipe down car: just a simple wipe down of the car with a rag and water can make a big difference in getting rid of dust

Prepare your personal entertainment

Download media ahead of time: this includes books on tape for the driver, podcasts, or movies if you are a passenger
Charge portable chargers

Prepare necessities and put them in an easy to access part of the car:

Pack of disposable masks
Rubber gloves
Cleansing wipes
Disposable ziplock bags: I actually pack clean clothes into gallon ziplock bags to keep them clean and then later re-pack those bags with used clothes. I feel that this helps to keep my clean clothes clean and separate from used clothing.
Flashlight
First aid kit
Map: I am still surprised by the amount of times my phone service cut-off or ran out of battery and I was driving without directions
Disposable poop bags: if you have animals

Take out cash to bring with you: you never know when you may need cash to pay tolls or not want to use your credit or debit card at a certain venue while on a road trip.

Pack personal necessities in a small, portable bag: If you have ever traveled with a big family and had to pack the car like a tetris game or if you simply don’t enjoy lugging around a big, bulky, and heavy piece of luggage, one of the most comfortable ways to travel includes a small travel or overnight bag.

I like to pack a larger bag which I put in the trunk and a smaller backpack or duffle bag which I keep close to me. If I am spending more than one day on the road I like to have everything I need for a hotel or airbnb stay in this bag so I do not have to take my big bag out of the trunk.

Here is a checklist of items I like to include in my smaller bag:

Vitamins and or medication: check to make sure you have vital medication and vitamins. Vitamin c and zinc are my two favorites
Sleepwear and a change of clothes: I like to pack some layers that are easy to compress so maybe a t-shirt, sweatshirt, and scarf with leggings
Slippers or comfy shoes and socks
Sunglasses
Skincare essentials: including soap and moisturizer in a plastic bag or carry case. I do not pack my entire skincare regime in this bag just what I need for a quick night somewhere that won’t be too heavy or get messy
Hair care essentials: including hair ties, bobby pins, and a hair straightener
Electronics and corresponding chargers: like your tablet and/or laptop
Portable Chargers

TIps for taking a comfortable road trip for the day of traveling:

Bring quality water and healthy packaged food that can last without being refrigerated like quality nuts and dried fruit.

I believe the most important thing for having a comfortable road trip is having quality food and water close by to avoid uncomfortable thirst and hunger. I have driven through many areas where the only places to eat were fast food or restaurants I didn’t like. Even grocery stores did not have any food I wanted to eat in stock. By having snacks readily available I have more flexibility in choosing where I stop to eat because I am not so hungry that I am obligated to stop and eat.

Quality water is important as it keeps you hydrated. I prefer to avoid other types of beverages, especially sodas, because they can actually cause de-hydration. I prefer brands of water like Fiji, Icelandic Glaciel, and 1907 because they are said to be sourced naturally as opposed to purified and I like how they taste.

Here are some ideas of snacks to bring with you:

Raw nuts and dried fruit packages: Trader Joes has a great selection
Single Serve Fruit Sauce Packets: These snacks usually taste like mini-smoothies depending on the brand and can usually be found in the canned foods or baby foods aisles. Check that the ingredients are just whole fruits or veggies and don’t contain corn syrup or other surprise ingredient
Nut bars: like Kind Bars or other brands
Power bars or nutrition bars
Chocolate bars: I am a strong believer that chocolate bars with ingredients limited to whole organic ingredients is a healthy and filling snack
Rice Cakes
Dried seaweed

Another great way to help with hunger during long road trips is bringing protein and fiber drink mixes. Just mix them with water!

Try to leave as early as possible!

I personally prefer to leave as early as possible so that I can get to my stop of the night before dinner. I am a big fan of a tasty dinner followed by relaxing in a hotel or airbnb room before going to sleep. I feel that this process helps me to sleep well and get up early for the next part of the trip. I also enjoy the trip a lot more if I can treat myself with comfortable layovers.

Fill up your gas tank before there is only a quarter tank left.

I have been traveling before with gas stations every couple of miles until suddenly there wasn’t one close by and I was on an empty tank. At least for ease of mind I definitely recommend filling up your tank frequently in areas that look safe as opposed to waiting until the tank is empty. Not only do you risk not being close to a gas station but you also may have to stop in an area that seems dangerous.

I hope you like these tips on how to have a comfortable road trip, please let me know if you have any thoughts or things to add!