The 5 Essentials of a Summer Road Trip

Summer is here and the road beckons folks young and old to visit their favorite destination or sites throughout the country. When we think road trip the first things take into consideration are gas money, food, cameras, and enough music to seemingly last a lifetime. However, there are a few other essential things you want to make sure you have before you head for the horizon.

1. Multiple Phone Chargers

Aside from the fact that you and the friends with you could all potentially have different types of phones, it is important that at least one person has a charged phone at all times. Even if it is just you it is important to bring multiple. I can’t begin to tell you how many times I have brought a charger into my hotel room to make sure the phone would be good to go and left the next day without remembering to grab it until I was in a different state.

2. Spare Tire and Proper Tools

Accidents do happen on the road and even though someone has said it to you a million times, it is always better to be safe than sorry. Find a way to pack a spare tire, jack, and a lug nut wrench in the vehicle you are driving. There are just too many better things to be doing and too many better places to be than on the side of the highway waiting for help to come.

3. Map or GPS

In today’s world you are more likely to have GPS on your phone than a road map in your car. This makes it all the more important bring phone chargers as well. It is still good to have map as a backup since those don’t run on batteries. Just make sure it is reasonably updated.

4. Toiletries

You ate at a fast food joint one hour ago and are now fifty miles away from anything resembling a human constructed building. It never ceases to amaze me that some don’t even think to bring toilet paper on a road trip. Sometimes the woods on the side of the road are your only option. On that note, consider bringing hand sanitizer as well.

5. Spare Set of Keys

Arguably the most important item of the trip, yet very few ever think to bring an extra set. There is no bigger disaster than losing your car keys on a road trip. You can always call a professional to help you get into your car if you lock yourself out but without the keys themselves you’re stuck where you are. Keep an extra set somewhere in the car or on you in your personal pack.