36 Solo Road Trip Essentials To Pack For Your Next Adventure

We know that planning a road trip can be daunting. However, a solo road trip is one of the most exciting, life-changing experiences you can have! It is also challenging and more than a little scary.  Since you will be on the road by yourself for an extended amount of time, you should think of your packing list as your support system.  You’ll need essential items for your personal well-being, safety, day-to-day living, comfort, and entertainment.  

The great news is, it’s just you and the open road!  So whatever fits in your car is yours to take.  We’ll get you started with these solo road trip essentials, but you’ll still have plenty of room left over for all the extras.

For extra relevant advice, why not check out our solo road trip tips?

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Solo Road Trip Essentials List

Here is a quick list of solo road trip essentials to add to your packing list. We’ve gone into detail further down in the article and outlined the most useful items that you must have!

1. Driving License and Car Documents
2. Car trunk Organizer
3. Smartphone Mount
4. In-Car Phone Charger
5. Power Bank
6. Roadside Emergency Kit
7. Travel Mug
8. Day Pack
9. Dash Cam
10. Travel Cooler
11. Water Bottle
12. Car Sunshades
13. Lug Wrench
14. Car Jack
15. Jump Leads
16. GPS Navigation For Hiking
17. Lumbar Back Support
18. First Aid Kit
19. Travel Towel
20. Audiobooks
21. Car Power Inverter
22. General Clothes
23. Waterproof Clothes
24. Hiking Shoes
25. Toiletries
26. Sunglasses
27. Food Containers
28. Cooking Stove
29. Camping Table & Chairs
30. Tent
31. Sleeping Mat
32. Sleeping Bag
33. Travel Pillow
34. Flashlight
35. Books
36. Portable Speaker

Detailed List Of Solo Road Trip Essentials

Here we will go into detail on all of the solo road trip packing list items that will prepare you for the ultimate adventure!

You are going to be on a road trip alone, so look out for yourself by making sure you’ve got the essentials for your personal well-being handy!

Documentation

This includes the obvious like driver’s license, registration, and proof of insurance. We also recommend your passport and a red Emergency Folder.  Keep this in the glove box or driver’s side door and include any medical information you may want a first responder to know and emergency contact information.

A simple Car Document Holder such as the one above can be useful to keep everything safe and in one place.

Car Trunk Organizer

A car trunk organizer is one of the first items I would recommend. It’s a great way to keep all the items for your road trip organized.

Car Trunk Organizer on Amazon

You can use the different sections to store food, cooking equipment, and clothes. It’s also useful to stop everything moving around and getting damaged while you’re driving.

Smart Phone Mount

Your phone is going to be your lifeline, for communication, GPS, entertainment, and so much more! Keep your hands free and your eyes on the road with a smartphone mount. You can get a high-end one that includes wireless charging, or go for a budget option.

Budget Smartphone Mount on Amazon

If you will need to charge your phone and plug it in for music at the same time, go for the wireless charging option. Otherwise, you will have to choose between music… or battery.

Smartphone Mount With Wireless Charging On Amazon

Both of these attach to your vehicle’s air vent for ease of installation and use. Compatible with all major smartphone models!

In Car Charger

If you already have a smartphone mount but no ability to charge your phone. You can grab a budget car charger.

Anker Car Charger On Amazon

Simply plug this into the cigarette lighter socket and insert a USB charging cable to connect to your smartphone… simple!

Power Bank

A power bank is something useful to keep in your day bag when you head out on a long hike. Keep those electronic devices fully charged!

Anker Portable Charger On Amazon

It’s also useful if your car charger stops working and you need a backup device. This one charges via USB, so you can plug it into the Anker car charger listed above which has two ports.

Roadside Emergency Kit

Accidents and breakdowns are likely to happen, especially if you’ll be on an extended solo trip. Keep yourself safe by preparing ahead of time with a roadside emergency kit.

Roadside Assistance Emergency Kit On Amazon

This kit contains all the major items you’re likely to need including jumper cables, various tools, and a warning triangle. We’ve also listed some of the individual items lower down in the article. Make sure you don’t buy duplicates!

Travel Mug

Who doesn’t like coffee? A travel mug should be part of your solo road trip essentials packing list. It’s a great way to save money by making your own coffee at the start of the day.

Travel Mug on Amazon

Check out the one above if you need a good solid travel mug for your journey. There is nothing like a hot cup of coffee/tea to get you energized on the road.

Day Pack

If you’re the adventurous type, you’re sure to be off hiking or rambling around a new city. A day pack is useful to put all the essentials in before you set off.

Day Pack on Amazon

It’s also useful if you are planning to stay in a hotel for the night. I like to just pack the things I’m going to need and store the majority of items in the car.

Dash Cam

A budget dashcam isn’t just useful to provide footage in the event of an accident, it can also be used to record scenic roads during your journey!

Budget Dash Cam On Amazon

This one attaches to your windscreen for ease of use. You can also get much fancier ones with all kinds of features but I like the simple options.

Travel Cooler

A decent cooler is perfect for keeping drinks and food cold while on your solo road trip.

Travel Cooler on Amazon

Fill it with snacks, beverages, and even pre-packed lunches. Grab a few ice packs too in order to ensure everything stays cool.

Water Bottle

Have a reusable water bottle that you can fill up from your personal store or at rest stops to cut down on costs and plastic waste.

Water Bottle On Amazon

It’s also useful when you go on a long hike or a walk around a new place.

Car Sunshades

When you go out for a hike during your solo road trip, the last thing you want is for the car to be super hot when you return. Car sunshades are also useful for privacy as they can be used as window covers.

This 4 pack of Enovoe Car Window Shades is really useful.

4 Pack of Enovoe Car Window Shades on Amazon

You can also get a sunshade to use for the windscreen, to ensure maximum protection.

Enovoe Windshield Sunshade on Amazon

Keep the car cool when traveling in the summer months by investing in some sunshades!

Lug Wrench

Essential tool for removing bolts so you can change a flat tire. You’ll also need the locking wheel nut which should be in your vehicle at all times.

Lug Wrench On Amazon

I always keep one of these in the trunk just in case. It’s an absolutely essential item!

Car Jack

If you get a flat tire you will need a car jack to change it. Make sure you get the right jack for your vehicle weight!

Car Jack on Amazon

Always be very careful if you are planning to change a tire yourself and you aren’t experienced in doing so. It’s not worth getting injured in order to change it yourself rather than getting assistance. Get a good roadside breakdown cover package and request help if you’re not confident.

Jump Leads

Jump leads are included in the roadside emergency kit above, so don’t buy them if you already have some. Battery issues are one of the most common reasons for car trouble on a road trip.

Jump Leads on Amazon

A set of jump leads won’t set you back much but they sure come in handy if you need to get your car started.

GPS Navigation For Hiking

GPS Navigation can be really useful if you plan on doing some trail walking or heading out into the wilderness. Getting lost is a real risk.

GPS Navigation Device on Amazon

This navigation device from Garmin is really useful.

Lumbar Back Support Cushion

Use a Lumbar Support Cushion so you don’t develop a backache or aggravate an existing injury.

Lumbar Support Cushion On Amazon

Using one of these and practicing good posture while driving are two ways to reduce back pain from driving.

First Aid Kit

A first aid kit is another must-have item. They’re cheap and can be easily stored in the car trunk organizer. You can also take essential items with you in your day bag if you head out for a hike.

First Aid Kit on Amazon

This is a simple one you can throw in the trunk of your car as part of your solo road trip packing list.

Travel Towel

If you’re looking to pack light you may prefer a travel towel to a normal one. These are easy to throw in a backpack and they also dry quickly.

Travel Towel on Amazon

There are lots to choose from but I thought this seemed like a good budget option for a solo road trip.

Audiobooks

I love listening to audiobooks and podcasts on road trips. Sometimes listening to the same music playlists can get a little boring. Audible has a massive library of audiobooks and podcasts to choose from and you can get a free trial with the link below.

Audible Free Trial

Car Power Inverter

a car power inverter allows you to charge electronic devices from your car’s battery. It’s useful for things like laptops, cameras, and drone equipment.

Car Power Inverter on Amazon

If you’re planning to stay in a lot of hotels this may not be necessary as you can charge your devices there. They’re very useful for charging drone batteries though!

Clothing & Personal Items

Now that we’ve covered those essential items, here are some more lists of things you may wish to take, broken down into useful categories.

• Clothes- You’ll want enough clothes to cover the length of your trip and any weather conditions you may come across.  As you are on your own, you will have more room to be extra than if you were traveling with others, but you’ll still want to keep it simple so you aren’t wasting time routing through bags and bags of clothes.
• Waterproof Clothing
• Hiking Shoes
• Towels- Pack a few towels of varying sizes for different jobs. Small towels for cleaning up messes, a larger towel for showers, and maybe even a travel towel for discrete public restroom sink baths.
• Toiletries -Your toiletries bag should be easy to carry, discrete, and have plenty of room.  Hot showers can be tough to come by on the road so you’ll be pretty reliant on a public restroom wipe down.  We recommend a toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush, extra hair ties/clips, personal wipes, a razor, a bar of soap, and travel-size shampoo/conditioner for when you come across a shower.  Ladies, depending on when and how long you will be traveling, you may want a separate bag for your feminine hygiene products so you don’t have to bring all your toiletries with you for every bathroom visit.
• Sunglasses -No one wants to spend their road trip squinting into the horizon!
• Camera
• Pain Killers- The last thing you want on a long stretch of road is a headache or a little tennis elbow to get you down. Keep some Advil or Tylenol handy.
• Anti-Bacterial Wipes- Keep some wipes handy for cleaning down surfaces in public spaces.

Don’t worry, we also have a printable Essential Road Trip Packing List ready to go!

Sleeping Essentials

If you’re planning on camping or sleeping in the car then you may benefit from the below list of solo road trip essentials.

• Blanket/Sleeping Bag- If your road trip is going to last longer than a day, you’ll need the sleeping essentials!
• Tent- If you have any camping planned, and you don’t want to sleep in the back seat of your car, a tent is a must!
• Travel Pillow
• Blanket
• Flashlight- a must-have for those late-night runs to the restroom. We recommend a MagLite as they are powerful and hardy.

Food Preparation Items

We can get so caught up in the excitement of the adventure that we can forget the everyday essentials!

• Food- You’ll want to keep plenty of nutritious and filling travel snacks handy so you don’t have to stop every time you get a little snacky. Keep things like trail mix, nuts, peanut butter sandwiches, beef jerky, or protein bars handy. Vegan? Don’t worry, we’ve got some ideas for you in our Vegan Travel Snacks post.
• Cookware- It’s a good idea to bring some utensils, a cooking pot, a plate, and a bowl, ESPECIALLY if you will be camping.
• Canister Stove and Fuel- Eating out for all your meals can get expensive and tiresome. Plan to do a little cooking for yourself with a canister stove (don’t forget to bring plenty of fuel).
• Water- Store plenty of drinking water in the trunk for consumption or a quick washout on the road. We suggest keeping a large storage in the back and refilling a smaller bottle to keep upfront with you.

Personal and Vehicle Safety Essentials

The best way to stay safe is to be prepared for as many scenarios as possible.

• Jack- You may need to get under the car, especially for a tire change, so don’t forget a car jack!
• Spare tire- All the tire-changing tools won’t do any good without a quality spare tire to see you through!
• Top-up fluids– It’s a good idea to keep a plastic box dedicated to things like coolant and washer fluid. You want to have them if you need them, but you don’t want them to spill everywhere!
• Change of bulbs- Bring some spare bulbs for the headlights.
• GPS Transmitter- We love our cell phones, but great stretches of the country actually have very limited service. A GPS Transmitter works on satellites and allows you to send text messages, an SOS signal, and access maps. They’re expensive, but if you plan on a rural solo road trip, you shouldn’t go without it.
• Self-defense item- Traveling alone can unfortunately make you a target. You may want to consider having a self-defense item to make you feel more secure. Make sure you are aware of the laws on what is and isn’t allowed in the states you are passing through.
• Multi-Tool- You never know what kind of situations are going to come up, so be prepared with a little multi-tool!
• Insurance/Roadside Assistance- best to make sure your insurance is up to date.  We also strongly recommend springing for some premium roadside assistance coverage, especially if you will be on a high-mileage trip.
• Charging Cables/Chargers Have a little bag that contains charging cables, spare batteries, and portable chargers for all of your electronics.  Make sure it is clearly labeled and stored in an easy-to-reach, but out of direct sunlight, spot.

Your safety always comes first, especially if you are traveling alone. Make sure to keep a friend or family member regularly updated on your location. If you ever feel unsafe, have a plan to exit the situation.

Entertainment Essentials

It’s not all work and survival, you are on this solo road trip to have fun! Make sure you bring some entertainment; you’re going to need it for the miles ahead.

These are things you may not NEED, but you will definitely appreciate them as the miles start to pass you by!

• Journal and Pen/Pencil- A solo road trip is all about introspection, personal development, and making memories! Write things down, and save scraps of receipts and tickets to paste in later. Your future self will thank you.
• Activity Books- coloring books, Sudoku, word puzzles, whatever occupies your mind! Have something to do at rest stops or in the mornings/evenings so you don’t get too lonely.
• Audiobooks + Podcasts– Download those podcasts you’ve been meaning to catch up or purchase audiobooks of those titles you haven’t gotten around to reading. It’s a great way to fill the hours on the road without causing too much distraction. We have some inspiring ideas for Best Road Trip Audiobooks and Best Road Trip Podcasts.
• Book- Bring some books to read with meals or before bed.
• Movies- Movies can be a great way to unwind after a long day of driving.
• Portable Speaker- Create a little ambiance by using quality portable speakers.

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