Packing for a road trip: accessories, organization, & easy meals
During the pandemic, I discovered a passion for road trips – and found that packing for a road trip means adding accessories to my travels that keep me organized, fed, safe, and very happy on the road.
I suppose I could say, “thank you, pandemic,” for forcing me to find a passion for long road trips. Until March 2020, so much of my travel had been by plane or train – suddenly, impossible. But necessity is indeed the mother of (re)invention: I discovered solo road trips. Plus, with the pandemic, I was forced to become an expert in packing road trip accessories, food, and meal prep essentials so I could travel safely, comfortably, and stay self-contained.
Knowing what travel accessories to pack for a road trip during the pandemic couldn’t be haphazard since so many local stores, restaurants, and facilities were closed or had very limited hours. Even after things opened up, I found that my detailed planning and packing solutions, complete with specific road trip accessories, made road trips much more enjoyable. Without the need to constantly stop or rely on restaurants for meals, I was much freer to explore.
Want to have a safe, flexible, and independent, yet adventurous and fun road trip yourself? Here are some of my key tips and recommendations for travel accessories.
Fox Fury has been my road trip companion — although sometimes he can be a bit bossy.
No. 1 – Road trip accessories packing and organization
Certainly, you can pack up your stuff in shopping bags or toss it all in the back of a car, but that’s not my style. I’m more of the “everything in its place, a place for everything” type. Plus, when you are carrying all your gear and food in and out of accommodations, keeping your stuff consolidated means you make fewer trips to and from the car. I can’t tell you how many trips I have made up and down stairs at motels – all those less expensive lodgings without elevators – even when the accessories are packed up well. So, think organization.
To make things easier, I chose a bag for non-perishables and accessories, and an ice chest to keep food items cool.
Freeway Longhaul Duffel by Think Tank Photo – not just for photo gear! I love the pockets and dividers in this bag. I am fine with the 50L, but a 75L exists if you need more space.
Think Tank’s Freeway Longhaul Duffel does exactly what the name says – keeps you organized for the long haul. And Eagle Creek Protect-It Cubes are durable for extra organization.
Ice Mule Traveler – This was a lifesaver since I could wear it like a backpack to go up and down those motel stairs and along corridors. Surprisingly light, it held its cool very well, although you still need to replenish ice every few days – just as you would with most any cooler. The 35L worked great for me, but there are smaller ones, too.
Housekeeping staff were entertained when I asked them to take a photo of me schlepping the Ice Mule cooler on my back.
Another option if you prefer a hard shell is the Igloo BMX line. Lighter than many ice chests, it is also durable and travels very well.
CamelBak Carry Cap 64-ounce Insulated bottle – ALWAYS keep extra water in the car, not only to replenish your personal reusable water bottle and avoid lots of plastic waste, but also in case of emergency. Top it off each day as needed, adding ice if you’d like. Then skip the constant stops for water!
CamelBak’s large insulated bottle at 64 ounces is a great size for carrying extra water in the car to eliminate plastic waste and stops.
No. 2 – Cooking and prep accessories for the road
I cooked and ate most of my meals in a motel room or along the road, occasionally stopping for take-out (with leftovers) to mix things up. Look to backpacking gear for compact, light portability.
GSI Ultralight Java Drip – Clips securely to the top of most mugs and cups, allowing you to choose your own blend. The light fabric mesh means no paper waste, and you can easily dump out grounds—a must for folks like me who are picky about their java.
Hot Plate or Multi-Cooker/Rice Cooker – I have often relied on a hot plate (the Oster single burner) for my road trip gear. I have also recently experimented with a multi-cooker/rice cooker when staying somewhere without a microwave for basic cooking needs. (Please abide by rules at lodgings when it comes to cooking.)
A little breakfast prep in a road trip lodging: hot plate heats the water in a Sea to Summit X-gear kettle (it collapses flat!), a GSI coffee filter (that folds flat) is ready to put my fave brew into a Pirani insulated tumbler.
Sea to Summit X-pots cookware – A road trip accessory and another backpacking tip — is superb due to its packability. The X-Set 32 has a collapsible tea kettle, a small fry pan, and a pot. Everything you need for a perfect road trip kitchen!
Foldable lightweight camp cutting board – From slicing tomatoes to cheese, it comes in handy.
A lightweight camping/backpacking cutting board folds in half to tuck into your road trip bag.
No. 3 – Meal accessories for your road trip gear bag
Pirani Insulated 16-ounce Tumbler with no-spill lid – LOVE this stainless steel mug as a travel accessory! Keeps things hot or cold and is just the right size.
Sea to Summit bowls and plates – Whether you choose the Delta bowl (my choice, below) or one of the collapsible X-series items, you will get superlight gear as a perfect road trip accessory.
Light My Fire sporks – More road trip gear that comes from the backpacking world. Pick a personal-sized one to eat (I prefer the titanium, see below) or a larger one for serving.
A little dinner of soup in Sea to Summit’s camping Delta bowl with a Light My Fire titanium Spork that is a travel must-have.
Sea to Summit X-Seal and Go – I hate to sound redundant, but if you need small storage, then go for these. They're collapsible with a non-leak lid and come in four sizes.
Collapsible plexiglass wine glass – Of course, you can drink your beverage of choice from your Pirani mug or a plastic cup in a motel, but come on, have a little fun on your road trip! Collapsible versions (i.e., stem screws off and pops into the top part) keep plastic waste out of the landfill and pack great.
No. 4 – Utility road trip accessories for everything else
Multitool – A multitool with small scissors, a wine opener, a little knife, etc., will always be a must-have in your road trip accessory kit. Trust me.
Capabunga bottle stoppers – If you don't always have a screw-on lid on your beverage bottles, these soft rubber stoppers are a great solution. They are really leak-proof, too, for such a simple gadget.
Can opener and utility knife in a sheath – For opening a can of soup or tuna, or cutting up tomatoes or apples, these two items are indispensable accessories for the road.
Miscellaneous travel and packing musts: small garbage bags, paper towel roll (comes in real handy as a back rest in rental cars too!), rubber bands, safety pins, foil, plastic wrap, zipper baggies....
Yup, when you road-trip after getting a rental car, a paper towel roll can serve as a cheap back rest, too!
No. 5 – Emergency, safety, comfort and other helpers
Foil emergency blanket
Flashlight, headlamp, or camp lantern – Turn to camping and backpack suppliers such as Nite Ize to find small, light items
Map and travel apps
Basic medical kit supplies
Disinfecting wipes, hand sanitizer, and a face mask – for those times you are in crowded public places.
A towel or two for sitting on, wiping up, blocking the sun, etc.
Comfort items – Why not? That emergency foil blanket may come in handy on a window, even, and I always have my inflatable camping pillow with me for those lodgings that have those “why bother” pillows
And of course, all your electronics, a power bank, and any cables or adapters you need for charging.
No. 6 – Packing for a road trip means food that lasts
I call my travels “hotel camping” because I rely heavily on camping and backpacking essentials. Although I didn't turn to freeze-dried backpacking meals, there are plenty of good ones available these days to consider. My list of non-perishable ideas to choose from includes:
>> Tuna in a can or pouch, Instant oatmeal, peanut butter (in a pouch for outings), dried fruit, tea and coffee, nuts, trail mix, jerky, snack or protein bars (I find the NuGo protein bars pretty yum), muesli cereal mix, crackers, instant meals like mac and cheese (go to the organic or health food section for healthier versions), cans of soup, condiment packets to add a little zip, and powdered drink mixes such as ice tea or lemonade to add to your water bottle.
Depending on the length of your road trip, consider preparing some perishable items in advance to pack for the first week or two, along with a few store-bought items. My go-tos include:
>> Hard-boiled eggs, almond milk, banana bread, fresh fruit, cold cuts, cheese (or cheese sticks), and bread (I prefer breads that don’t smoosh, such as flatbreads, pita, or naan).
Sounds like a lot, but if you keep your basic gear contained and stashed in a closet, you’ll be ready to grab and go next time the road trip bug bites!
