Essentials for a solo road trip
We are all stuck inside with barely any hope to travel again someday soon. The summer will be there soon and we’re not sure if we can plan any trips or not. Well, to stay mentally sane, I decided to plan a very long road trip (from Quebec to Oklahoma) to go see my boyfriend that I haven’t seen since early January.
Best case scenario, I go there by plane, as usual. But I am not sure if flights will be allowed or anything, so to lift my spirits, I decided to plan a road trip to go visit him! I already wrote about the essentials for a road trip with kids after visiting him in Kansas last summer. This time, if the borders reopen, I’m going solo! A 24 hours drive!
I put together a list of essentials to bring along on that road trip. I still doubt that I’m gonna do this alone (road trips are way more fun with people!), but I like to be prepared, and this quenches my thirst for just getting in my car and doing the drive RIGHT NOW.
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Have your car inspected by a mechanic
First, make sure to ask your mechanic to inspect your car to make sure everything is running smoothly. You don’t want to be caught on the side of a road with nothing around you for miles. I’m not saying that if you get your car checked, you won’t get car problems on the road, but better safe than sorry, eh?
Pack up comfortable clothes
Listen, if you’re gonna be sitting in a car for hours, forget about high heels and skinny jeans. Grab your fave tee-shirt and your sweatpants, or your colorful yoga pants. You should also wear flats or sneakers, and I really don’t recommend driving with flip flops.
Don’t run out of battery
Your phone is going to be your best buddy here. Whether it’s for the maps, the music, or calling your mom to confirm you are still alive, you will, more than ever, need your smartphone. To ensure your phone is adequately charged for the whole drive, you have 2 options:
Charger adapter: I couldn’t find the exact one that I have (I bought it in 2014), but this one has good reviews. You simply need to plug the adapter in the cigarette lighter of your car (does it still exist in recent cars? Mine is a 2013 and I have one). Then you plug in your wire, and voilà! Your phone charges as you drive.
Battery pack: it’s always useful to have a battery pack on hand, but especially in your car or when you travel. My mom got this one a couple of years ago and she likes it. Make sure to charge it before you go on the road!
Think about the planet: reusable bottles, mugs, and utensils
When you’re on the road, you usually get food to go, which unfortunately leads up to a ton of trash. Why not be part of the solution and buy reusable items? You can find a lot of cute, modern, or sleek items like water bottles, and travel mugs everywhere. If you can, you should support your local green stores. If there’s nothing around, I have a few suggestions for you:
Water bottle
I have a similar one at work and I love it (I really should go get my stuff from the office…). It keeps the water cold for HOURS. Downside: some people said they don’t like these kinds of bottles because it makes the water taste like metal, but I’ve never felt that. You be the judge!
Travel mug
I bought this one for my stepdad last fall and I think he would cuddle it when he goes to bed, lol. He keeps on thanking me for getting him this mug because he likes that you have to press a button to take a sip, and it shuts when you’re done. As soon as winter is over, my parents spend most of their time outside, so he REALLY appreciates that ants or other bugs can’t get in his coffee. Downside: I swear, this travel mug keeps your coffee hot for SO LONG that after an hour, you can still burn your tongue…
Straw
Why are plastic straws still a thing? SAVE THE TURTLES, GUYS. For real, there are so many options out there, and most of the time, they come in kits with a few straws and a brush, like this rainbow kit. Do your part for our planet.
Utensils
Instead of using disposable cutlery, you can either bring utensils from home or get this cute travel kit. Bonus points: it’s a company from Quebec, Canada. You also support a local business by grabbing this!
Emergency kits
Like I mentioned in my other blog post, you will need a first aid kit and a roadside emergency kit. Accidents can happen anytime, so it’s best to be prepared for any situation.
One important item that you should always have in your car is a fuel can. You never know when you’ll get stuck on a highway with no gas. But this is especially important on a road trip!
I’ll repeat myself from the other post, but you should also get these items in your kit:
- Non-drowsy anti-nausea medication
- Non-drowsy allergy medicine
- Tylenol and/or Advil (or any other brands you use)
- Wipes (to clean messes, or your greasy hands after eating that breakfast sandwich)
- Hand sanitizer (if you manage to get some, it’s out of stock almost everywhere!)
- Health insurance cards, proof of insurance (especially car insurance, if you get into an accident)
- Emergency contacts
- Travel insurance documents (especially when you are traveling to another country)
Snacks
I ALWAYS buy Reese’s Pieces for long car rides! But you could also get beef jerky, pretzels, gummy bears, sour worms. Vacation is not the time to follow a diet; just enjoy your favorite treats! But make sure to not eat too much of them at a time or you’ll get nauseous!
Of course, download your favorite playlists and podcasts
Road trips are not the same without music. However, I love listening to podcasts when I drive, so check out my top 15 podcasts! Spotify and Stitcher are my favorite apps (I pay for Spotify Premium, but I use the free version of Stitcher. So far, ads don’t bother me). You could also get a subscription to Audible. I know this is a very popular app, but I haven’t tried it yet.
Last tips
- DO NOT TEXT AND DRIVE. This can ALWAYS wait until you can stop at a safe place.
- As soon as you hit half of your tank, stop at the closest gas station you can find. Sometimes, you can drive on a highway and not find any pit stops for hours (looking at you, highway 55 in Illinois!).
- While you’re stopping for gas, take a bio break! No one likes to pee on the side of the road (is that even legal?)
- If you are tired, don’t push yourself. Find a safe place to sleep, even if it’s a shady motel, get some rest, and go back on the road. Driving while tired is as dangerous as drunk-driving or DUI. Don’t risk your life.
- If you’re crossing the borders, there are some things you can’t bring, like meat, produce, and other products or items. Make sure to check out the Canadian Border Service Agency’s website to know what you’re allowed to bring or and avoid any problems. And bring your passport!!!
17 Comments
Amanda Kerr
These tips are great! I love that you mentioned about using a reusable water bottle and straws! 🙂
Valerie
Thanks! And yeah, I took a mental note last year about bringing reusable stuff after we threw away SO MUCH GARBAGE from grabbing food at drive-thru 🙁 FYI, I’m preparing a blog post on must-have reusable items at home ❤️
Tana
I love these tips! Especially making sure your car is safe ahead of time when traveling alone. It’s the perfect time to daydream of travel and plan ahead.
P.S. A solo 24 hour drive as a mom sounds like a vacation in itself! I love being alone in the car with my podcasts 🙂
Paige
Great tips! I always pack snacks because I’m a hungry person and no one wants to make a hundred pit-stops for food!
Julie
Great tips! Love your snack selection. I usually go for Reese’ peanut butter cups and Cheetos! 🙂
Nursing Decoded
Great post! Thanks so much for sharing!
Jessica
I’m solo traveling to Jekyll Island in GA late this summer, if it’s safe by then. Lots of helpful info in this post!
tonyalee
These are some GREAT tips. Especially about being in comfy clothes. There is nothing worse than being uncomfortable while driving.
Thanks for sharing!
tonyalee @ https://www.vivaciousbibliophile.com
Patricia Sheehan Brock
Valerie, what a great article. I am a solo traveler. I am always scrambling to figure out what I’m supposed to be doing and I always forget something. Thanks for the use for information. I love your blog. Blessings, Patricia
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Laura
Road trips are my absolute favorite. My husband and I took a road trip for our honeymoon and we are planning one for us and the two girls too! Great tips!
Beth
So true on the clothes and shoes! Nothing like wearing uncomfortable jeans for a long haul… And thank you for emphasizing the safety issues! Exhausted and distracted drivers are bad news for literally everyone.
Jeannette
Love all the tips. And loved that you emphasized in the safety. This times have been so difficult to travel.
Kara
YES these are great tips for road trips. I like that you mentioned caring for our environment and not creating too much waste so bringing along a reusable water bottle is a great idea.
sydney
Great tips!! Thank you for this article 🙂
Lina Thao
These are great tips! That is a long trip going solo. Our last stop in our last road trip was in Quebec City. From Quebec City to home in Minneapolis is just as long as your planned trip. We ended up stopping in Toronto for the night then continued on to home. Take it easy and do not rush. You got this!
Linda Egeler
Great tips for a road trip. I love that you are promoting reusable water bottles and straws. Let’s all join together to rid the world of single use plastics!