Because over the road tripping years, I have found that women have specific things that they need to have a successful and stress-free road trip that is different than what men or kids need.
From make-up wipes (I’ve learned the burning way that lotion DOESN”T work in a pinch) to car organizers (so you don’t lose my mind 4 hours in), men don’t think about these things.
Plus, road trips are all the rage right now! With quarantine and travel restrictions many of us have turned to our childhood roots and begun exploring the road.
I LOVE road trips! I get some great snacks and a great audiobook and get exploring.
My ultimate dream is to find a little diner that sells slices of homemade pie (hit me up if you know a place!).
So after compiling my packing lists from MANY road trips and talking to other road trip-loving women I present you with the ultimate list of road trip essentials for women!
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Personal Items
Wet wipes– There’s something about being in a car all day that makes you feel grimy. These are great between showers.
Makeup remover – wet wipes alone don’t take off all your makeup. I’ve used lotion in a pinch… (OUCH burns!!) Be wiser than I in taking your makeup off your precious eyes… Plus you don’t always have access to a sink to wash your face, hence a road trip essential for women.
Deodorant – Again being in a car all day makes you gross…be less gross feeling when you finally arrive
Travel-friendly top – Comfy is king, but also non-wrinkle, dark fabrics! Try to get odor resistant fabrics like certain exercise wear or wool if possible.
Clothes and underwear – Duh, of course! But less is more!!! (Read more about how to pack light in 16 Tips to Fit Everything into a Carry-On) Try to choose clothes that can be mixed and matched. Wrinkle resistant and dark. Use packing cubes (later on the list) to prevent it from becoming a mess too soon.
Blanket – bring a few! A cosy blanket is a road trip essential, especially if you’re traveling with people that have a different opinion of “ideal temperature” than you! You can use them as a extra pillow or picnic blanket. I like to cover items in the back seat that I don’t want stolen when I’m out of the car.
Travel pillow or YOUR pillow – if you’re the person that needs a special pillow to sleep. I usually bring my favorite travel pillow and wad up some blankets to lean on. But unless you have a GREAT travel pillow that actually is supportive and comfortable (like this one we use for long-haul flights), a normal pillow is usually better. (Let’s be honest the blow-up ones are horrible!)
Eye cover – when you need to rest up before it’s your turn to drive! (Or bright hotel lights…) These are the ones I have and love because they block nearly all the light, don’t smush your eyelashes and are cheap
Water bottle – staying hydrated is super important to not getting sick when traveling, especially to new altitudes. Get a nice one, you’ll drink more and your drink will stay cold.
Toilet paper
Sunglasses
Day bag – for small outings like museums, beaches or hikes that you’ll need a small backpack for. I use ___ bags because they have locks to prevent pickpockets!
Toiletries – toothpaste, toothbrush, face wash, etc.
Feminine products
Makeup – because you want to feel nice and look good in the pictures of all the amazing places you’ll go!
Dirty clothes bag
Laundry detergent – stop at a laundromat to do a load if necessary (we do this all the time traveling, even internationally!)
Dry shampoo! – cause you don’t always have access to a shower
Good shampoo/conditioner – hotels don’t usually provide the best and some women’s hair is particular
Lotion
Compressible jacket – in case it gets cold or you get stranded with no heat. Bring a jacket that can smush down (or at least be used as a pillow!)
Hairdryer? – I don’t pack one but my sister-in-law always does because she has curly hair and hotels ones are not always reliable
Slip on/off shoes – to quickly put something on for a quick stop or photo-op!
Swimsuit – hotel pools, duh!
CAMERA -(with extra batteries, memory cards, etc.)
Clorox wipes – to wipe down picnic tables and gas pumps (especially in 2020)
Masks!! – This is a major way COVID is changing travel, MOST public places are going to require one.
Sunscreen
Chapstick
Tissues
Snacks/food
You’re mom warned you to not get too hungry…
Cooler – we love one with flexible sides and is easy to carry if we want to take it on the go. Like this one!
Healthy snacks – I know I sound like your mom but you’ll get sick of gas station food really fast and just want some fruit and veggies over those mini powdered donuts
Stay awake stuff!
Crunchy snacks – my secret weapon when I was a night shift nurse
Caffeine – You can do drinks or pills (I prefer the pills when traveling and like this one that burns slower. I use it for jet-lag too!) My husband likes energy drinks but I find not all women like them, and this is a list of road trip essentials for women… so you got options girl
Water bottle – I put it on here twice because it’s that important!
Travel mug – keeps you drinks hot for sooo long and won’t spill all over your car and actually fits in your cup holder. Try this one.
Candy/gum – hey you don’t need to be 100% healthy…
To keep entertained
Phone/ electronics chargers – for EVERY electronic you bring
Phone mount – to allow you to see easily while driving
Audiobooks – Use this link to get two free audiobooks when you try Audible (you can cancel without an issue if it’s not for you, but you’ll get hooked! My non-reader husband is loving audiobooks right now!) Yes yes yes! If I only had 10 things for a road trip, this would be one of my top 3 road trip essentials for women. If you find a good book, it will make the drive fly! (Sometimes I even sit in my car at the destination for a while to finish my books…)
Bluetooth headphones – ain’t nobody got time for corded headphone when driving! Let different people in the car enjoy different music (or AUDIOBOOKS!!)
Bluetooth speaker – my sedan has a great speaker system, our old jeep we take camping…not so much. But we bring a speaker and jam on the way AND at our destination
Guidebooks/Podcasts for the areas your traveling through – it’s always more interesting when you know the history and fun facts beforehand. I highly recommend the Rick Steve’s free app if you’re road tripping through Europe
Offline music – when wifi runs out
Conversation starter games -interesting things to talk about when the drive gets loooong. This one was an Oprah fav!
Roadside emergency kit – this small everything-you-need-in-one bag has (shocker) really anything you might need for a road trip emergency. Jumper cables, tow rope, headlight… I particularly like this one because it comes with a mini first aid kit AND a air compressor! So you can fill tires that are low (we air down all the time in sand or gravel to make it easier to grip the road!).
Flashlight – every gal needs a good LED flashlight in their life. The roadside emergency kit has a headlight but another is never a waste. (Plus they are pretty cheap)
Spare batteries – for any battery powered item you bring
Spare tire in car (check the tire pressure!) – I’ve had friends go to change it to only realize that it’s missing or flat!!
Tire chains – help keep tires from slipping on icy roads. We use these ALL the time in the Colorado mountains in the winter. I’m not sure where ours came from now but these came highly recommended to me. Very easy to put on and make a major difference in not slipping off the road!
Miscellaneous stuff:
Bag for garbage – you know it will all end up on the floor of your car if you’re not prepared… You don’t want to have to clean that all out later.
Copies of car license/registration
Trunk/car organizer – to keep all your supplies (somewhat) organized and easy to find later. I like this one because you can use it as a caddy to carry around to where you need it and you can collapse it down when not using it!
Travel credit card – so when you get things you have to buy anyways (like gas and food) you start putting away points for a FREE awesome vacation later! You don’t have to be super aggressive with travel credit cards to get eventual rewards from them (honestly the extra perks are worth it alone) but here’s how to pick out the best one for YOU.
Road trip insurance
Ziplock bags
Sun shade for window – you know one of these things! Total lifesaver in HOT places.
And once you have all this packed make sure you take one ESSENTIAL more step…
Make sure your car is going to make it!
If you’re not car-saavy have a mechanic look at it. A blown engine is always more expensive than a tow and a blown engine (or a rental car!).
So you go girl!
This ultimate list of road trip essentials for women is to get you off and exploring!
