This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Utah chapter.
Ahhhh. Spring break is finally almost upon us. It’s the time off from school and/or work we’ve been waiting for the past couple months. A time when we don’t have as much work to worry about and, if we’re lucky, can use to escape to some warmer weather. Some of us are jetting off to tropical islands or spending our week exploring Europe. Others are, however, using their week to take a road trip. Besides avoiding airport security, one of the best things about road trips is the freedom to pack more than you would in a carry-on suitcase (and in your personal item/bag). The only downside to this is the possibility of packing too much and neglecting the actual necessities. When we’re able to pack more, we tend to try to fill the space rather than pay attention to a packing list. When you’re on a road trip, you can usually just buy what you forget, but why would you do that when making a packing list is so quick and easy?
Read on to figure out exactly what you’ll need for your spring break road trip.
Anna Schultz / Her Campus
Food
One of the most important things to bring on your road trip is food, whether it be pre-made meals or just a bunch of snacks. Chances are you’ll get hungry on the road and forgetting to bring food, or not bringing enough, can instantly bring down your mood, especially when you’re trapped in a car for however many hours. When packing food, it’s a good idea to have an estimate of how much you generally eat in a day and match that up with the length of your drive. If you’re only driving a few hours away, you’ll likely only need some granola bars and fresh fruit to hold you over until you reach your destination. On the other hand, if your trip is likely to last most of the day you’ll need to plan for about 3 meals on the road. You can choose to stop for fast food when you get gas or you can bring all of the food you’ll need. It’s up to you, but you’ll have to remember to pack enough food no matter what your plans are. Some of the best foods to take with you on road trips are granola, granola bars, fruits, literally anything you can find at Trader Joes, etc.
Comfort insurance
Now I’ve called this category comfort insurance because it comprises anything you need to feel comfortable. Get cold in the car when the air conditioning is on? Bring a blanket. Have a tendency to fall asleep in cars? Bring a neck pillow. (We don’t want any sore necks when you finally get out of the car.) Are you one of those people that likes to read on long drives (yes we exist)? Bring a book or two! Need darkness to take a nap? Bring an eye mask! Literally the sky is the limit when it comes to getting comfortable during long drives.
Entertainment
Sitting in a car for hours does not get any more fun after the first hour. No matter what, it will wind up feeling like you’re in the car waiting for your mom in the grocery store after she’s found someone she knows. At least, in this case, you can prepare for it. One of the best things you can do is download a few shows or movies on Netflix so you can make the time fly by. If you’d rather sit and listen to something while you dramatically look out of the window for hours, podcasts, audiobooks, and music are all viable options for your road trip. Lately, I’ve been into a few podcasts that I believe would make great road trip entertainment: “Office Ladies” (Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey rewatch and discuss episodes of “The Office”), “My Favorite Murder” (lighthearted true crime), “Man in the Window” (very crimey true crime), and “Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness” (it’s Jonathan Van Ness and that’s all you need to know).
Self-Care
Do NOT underestimate the importance of self-care on a road trip. No, it does not matter that you’re just sitting in a car. After all, isn’t that how you choose when to do self-care at home, by choosing the time you know you’ll be sitting around for a while? Bring a face mask or two! Throw in a lip scrub! Get crazy! This is your time to really get relaxed and treat yourself to some self-care. Remember, it doesn’t have to be skincare to be self-care. Whatever you like to do for yourself will suffice (as long as it can be done in a car).
Practical Must-haves
There are, of course, things that you cannot forget to bring on your next road trip that aren’t necessarily as fun. Chargers for your electronics are an absolute must. You’ve got to keep those phones at full battery in case of an emergency! Another important thing to have is a pair of headphones or earbuds. How else are you going to watch those movies you downloaded on Netflix or listen to those podcasts? If you don’t have access to Bluetooth in your car, you’ll need an aux cord to play those road trip playlists you made especially for this trip. Sure, you can just listen to the radio, but after a while, you’ll hear the same overplayed songs and you won’t have the opportunity to choose what you hear. And sometimes, if you’re passing through areas with limited service, you might not have any music at all!
Cleanliness on road trips is just as important as it is on plane rides, so you need to prepare appropriately. Be sure to bring hand sanitizer and a roll of toilet paper. Trust me, there will come a time that these are necessary and you will be glad you brought them. To keep your car clean as you eat your way through a Trader Joes grocery bag or two of food, bring a trash bag or have a designated receptacle for trash. That way, you’ll be able to keep all your trash together and it’ll be much easier to clean your car upon arrival.
There you have it: my guide to packing for road trips. It’s not an exact science. It really depends on your own preferences and space limits but it will help you make sure that you’ve got everything you’ll need for your next road trip.
