I’m going to be driving across the US in a couple weeks and want to know the best things to bring along for the ride!
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Thanks for the extremely detailed response!
Just want to say that this is a fantastic answer. Pay attention to the parts about printing/downloading stuff. There are huge parts of America where you won’t get a reliable cell signal sometimes for hours.
Binoculars. You will be traveling across lots of landscapes, stick a pair in the sidedoor of your car so if you stumble across a nice vista or see a cool animal you can get a better look!
Great idea, wouldn’t have thought of that!
Audiobook.
- Snacks - stock up at the grocery store, you’ll spend way more across the states in gas stations
- Advil/pain reliever - you’ll get headaches staring at the road for that long, and muscles will cramp up
- Water. So so so much water. Soda is fine but bring a few gallons of water
- Get a good charger system for your phone, and make sure you can hook it up to your car reliably
Oh and most important, bring peace of mind by getting your car checked before going. Go in and ask for a full inspection, tires, brakes, fluids, belts. I had a belt burst 8 hours from anywhere and had to sleep in my car, just get that stuff checked now
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Slippers so you don’t have to wear shoes, make sure you have ‘radio.garden’ app on your phone so you can Bluetooth to your car. Sandwiches, simple home-made that needs no refrigeration for days, and a water bottle. Trash bags, small ones, and your chargers.
What? Sandwiches definitely shouldn’t go days without refrigeration!?
Peanut butter would be safe to eat, but gross after it soaks into the bread
“Long” is relative.
Don’t rely on being able to stream content. Huge parts of the US don’t have cell coverage. Have a library of downloaded music, movies, TV shows, games, books, etc. prepared
Excellent. The only thing I would add to this list is maybe a basic first aid kit and towel.
Deck of cards, compass, map, hunting knife.
According to my dad that is…
Water and a couple jars of peanut butter and you are set.
Toilet paper, water and trash bags
Edit: kitty litter, roadside repair equipment and spare tire
Podcasts / audiobooks
- Behind the Insurrections
- Behind the Police
being my first two recommendations
If someone wants a fantastic fantasy audiobook, the His Dark Materials series is voiced by a full cast and narrated by the author. It’s a really awesome series!
Steamdeck
Chips, water, soda, a good playlist on your smartphone, a charger obviously and offline maps, if possible a non annoying partner.
Sex toys
I got a ton of use out of hanging a hydration bladder/camelbak off the back of my seat. Being able to drink water one handed without have to fiddle with bottle caps felt much safer on the road.
Tooth brush, towel, and basic toiletries are nice if you want to get a quick shower at a truck stop.
You can download maps from google in advance in case you run in to spotty coverage. It might be worth getting an old school printed on paper road atlas in case you have any trouble with your electronics
Ymmv, but i have a couple of magnetic “yay police” and other right wing brainworms bumper stickers for driving through hostile territory. Idk if it helps, but anything that keeps thieving rural cops off your tail is worth considering.
Sunscreen! I’ve gotten sunburn on my left arm while driving for long distances before. I though car windows had uva/uvb filters but i guess not?
Bring some change in case you run in to an unexpected toll road somewhere.
Toilet paper! You never know.
Extra socks and an extra pair of shoes.
I hope you have a fun trip!
Take a train.
If you have roadside stops planned you can make an itinerary, I use the Evernote app for organizing trip plans.
You may already have these in your car, but sunglasses, flashlight and tire patch kit are the only things I can think of that others haven’t mentioned.
I used to do a lot of cross country driving. Here are my recommendations:
AAA membership if you don’t feel comfortable changing your own tires, a good lug nut wrench and bottle jack if you can do it. There’s a lot of areas where you’re “in the middle of nowhere” and it can take some time for any support to get to you. Make sure your spare has air. Audiobooks, podcasts, and playlists downloaded. There may be long stretches of no service. If you can download the Google Map or Apple Map for your trip, it’s not a bad idea. Non-messy snacks, gum, and a small cooler of drinks if you want to save money. Gas station food/ drinks add up. There are a few apps to check rest areas/ bathroom recommendations. I liked Trucker’s Path but it’s been a while since I’ve travelled like that so there may be others/ better ones. Get a dash cam before you go. There’s a lot of idiots out there. And the more you’re on the road, the more likely something could happen. Plan a little time to make some extra stops if you can. There’s a lot of neat stuff you can do on your way that you won’t know about until you see signs for them. Or check Google Maps for places to stop on your route. Get out and stretch your legs somewhere fun. And when you start to get hungry, look for good local spots to stop and eat. There are TONS of options that are so much better than the chain restaurants. Look for 4-5 star places in the area on Google Maps.
Make sure your spare has air.
That’s one that most people don’t often think about. You just assume that you’re OK because you have a spare. Happened to me once, although fortunately not in the middle of nowhere.
