Hitting the Road: What to Bring Along for a Comfortable Trip

Who doesn’t love a road trip—the thrill of the open road, the siren song of what may be hiding just around the next bend? It’s the kind of freedom that can only come from chewing up the asphalt on some well-worn two-lane or freshly paved Interstate. The way the wind from a cracked window caresses your hair, the allure of the world’s largest ball of string at a roadside pull-off. This is the lure that created our nation’s fleet of flatbed cowboys, pulling steel or grain from one end of this great nation to the other. You may not feel the need to ditch your day job to mount up an iron steed, but the urge to run hits us all at some point. And you can still go on that three-day haul, and be back at the office before your boss knows you are gone.

With a little planning and forethought, these trips can be even better. A few creature comforts go a long way when you are confined to a steel box for hours at a time. Entertainment can be one of the most important parts of this equation; too much windshield time even in the most beautiful scenery can be a bit mind-numbing. Some of the following tips and tricks can really improve your time on the road, as can the addition of a few key items. Of course, no matter how short your journey may be, you should always have some sort of non-emergency car kit with you. This, in and of itself, could be an entire article, so instead of trying to cover this in a few sentences I will refer you to this excellent one right here for more information. And a quality first aid kit belongs in everyone’s glove box, at all times.

Entertainment

Music soothes the savage breast, or so they say. I can still remember burning CDs specifically for a long trip, choosing the perfect songs to set the mood. You can certainly still do that, but most cars have a port so you can plug your mp3 player in. Set up your playlist in advance and cruise into the sunset with just the right soundtrack. Good fences make good neighbors, and so can good headphones, in the case of differing musical tastes, although they are certainly not recommended for use by the driver. There are a number of great games you can play from the comfort of your seat to help the miles go by. Rock, Paper, Scissors is a classic; but the driver should probably sit that one out. The Name Game is a good one, where you start with “A” and then progress through the alphabet with a different name for each letter. There is always the timeless guessing game of I Spy. Twenty Questions has passed many an hour for me, as has the License Plate game. And if any of those fail to quell the incessant “Are we there yet?” from the little ones in the back seat, portable DVD players can keep them engrossed in a story while you enjoy the passing view of the countryside.

Food and Beverage

Food and drink can play an important role in anyone’s mood. I don’t know about you, but I can be a bit of a bear to be around when I’m hungry. And you can, more or less, say the same thing about me when the caffeine has yet to hit therapeutic levels. Having an assortment of energy bars is always a good idea. Because they don’t need refrigeration, you can leave them in the trunk without worrying about them spoiling in the heat of the summer. While these bars are good at keeping hunger at bay, there is no substitute for a warm meal. And with the assortment of vacuum-insulated containers available now, there is no need to go without. Whether you fill these with a home-cooked meal or at a rest stop, they will keep hot for hours, so whenever you stop you will have something warm to fill your belly. Add a set of utensils and you can eat no matter where you are. And speaking of warmth, the right mug will keep your choice of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate piping until you finish it. But if you are traveling in warm environs, you may want to keep a small cooler in the trunk or back seat to provide all of the cool beverages you could want, and keep you from paying exorbitant rest-stop prices for a frosty drink.

Pillows and Blankets

The driver’s posture is dictated by the need to see the road, turn the wheel, and depress the gas and brake pedals. For everyone else, it is up to them. A travel pillow takes up little to no room when not in use and can provide a great place to rest your head. Having a few blankets can add an extra level of comfort, and even let you take a nap. There are also a number of models out there that have a water-resistant coating on the bottom, such as the Picnic Time Blanket Tote. These are perfect for a roadside picnic—just spread one out on a grassy knoll and enjoy your lunch. And because they are synthetic, they dry quickly in the event they become soaked by an unexpected shower. Folding up into a convenient tote, complete with carrying strap, this blanket takes up very little space in your car’s trunk.

Keep it Clean

Staying comfortable can mean staying clean, especially if you are traversing a desert that is testing the limits of your car’s air conditioning. And no one likes the sticky fingers that can sometimes come along with our favorite finger foods. Bath wipes can go a long way toward eliminating dirt and grime from your hands and face, and can be used to wipe down parts of your car’s interior in the event of a spill. Hand sanitizer is always a good idea to have handy for eliminating any germs you may have come into contact with at that questionable rest stop. For those who may prefer to (or don’t have any other choice), you can take advantage of a coin-operated shower in a truck stop or KOA. Some biodegradable soap and a quick-drying towel can provide a welcome respite when the road starts to take its toll. And don’t forget a trash bag; it will be easier to toss garbage as you go instead of having to pull it out from underneath the seats when you stop.

Take a Break

Getting out of the car and stretching your legs occasionally is a great idea. Bringing along a Frisbee or tennis ball and having a catch is a great way to get the blood flowing after a long period of relative inactivity. It will help fight drowsiness and fatigue, keeping you alert as you head on down the line. Many health experts warn against long periods of inactivity, such as those experienced behind the wheel or in a passenger seat. So doing even the simplest of exercises can be a good idea. If you have pets traveling with you, they are going to need to burn off some pent-up energy, as well. You can use this opportunity to change drivers, or rotate passengers for a new perspective. And by all means, stop at whatever “World’s Largest” item you encounter.

Travel Chargers

As a society, we have become more and more connected. It seems like every day a new social media platform is launched, bringing us ever closer with our peers, no matter how far away we are geographically. And we certainly like to share. From pictures of the World’s Largest Ball of Yarn, to screenshots of our GPS unit showing how far we have gone, we feel the need to share every possible bit of minutiae with our friends. But staying connected means staying charged; camera and cell-phone batteries only last so long. Luckily, almost every modern vehicle has at least one power port conveniently located to handle your charging needs. Just plug in the appropriate adapter and keep firing off those 140-character updates your fans are waiting for. If you want to take advantage of your phone’s built-in navigation technology, the right mount will place the screen right where you need it, so you can see where the next turn is without taking your eyes off of the road. Some of your items may require AC power, such as a laptop, so pack an inverter and get all of the juice you need.

There are 2,605,331 miles of paved roadways out there in the USA, just begging to be explored. Load up the family truckster and head out on the scenic byways, because sometimes the journey can be as much fun as the destination. You’ll see more details than you ever would peering out of an airplane window, and get a more intimate picture of what makes this country so unique. And being crammed into a confined space with friends and loved ones for an extended period of time is a great way to bond…