I’m going to be driving across the US in a couple weeks and want to know the best things to bring along for the ride!
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Just want to say that this is a fantastic answer. Pay attention to the parts about printing/downloading stuff. There are huge parts of America where you won’t get a reliable cell signal sometimes for hours.
Thanks for the extremely detailed response!
Binoculars. You will be traveling across lots of landscapes, stick a pair in the sidedoor of your car so if you stumble across a nice vista or see a cool animal you can get a better look!
Great idea, wouldn’t have thought of that!
Audiobook.
Deck of cards, compass, map, hunting knife.
According to my dad that is…
Water and a couple jars of peanut butter and you are set.
- Snacks - stock up at the grocery store, you’ll spend way more across the states in gas stations
- Advil/pain reliever - you’ll get headaches staring at the road for that long, and muscles will cramp up
- Water. So so so much water. Soda is fine but bring a few gallons of water
- Get a good charger system for your phone, and make sure you can hook it up to your car reliably
Oh and most important, bring peace of mind by getting your car checked before going. Go in and ask for a full inspection, tires, brakes, fluids, belts. I had a belt burst 8 hours from anywhere and had to sleep in my car, just get that stuff checked now
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Slippers so you don’t have to wear shoes, make sure you have ‘radio.garden’ app on your phone so you can Bluetooth to your car. Sandwiches, simple home-made that needs no refrigeration for days, and a water bottle. Trash bags, small ones, and your chargers.
What? Sandwiches definitely shouldn’t go days without refrigeration!?
Peanut butter would be safe to eat, but gross after it soaks into the bread
“Long” is relative.
Don’t rely on being able to stream content. Huge parts of the US don’t have cell coverage. Have a library of downloaded music, movies, TV shows, games, books, etc. prepared
Excellent. The only thing I would add to this list is maybe a basic first aid kit and towel.
Toilet paper, water and trash bags
Edit: kitty litter, roadside repair equipment and spare tire
Sex toys
Podcasts / audiobooks
- Behind the Insurrections
- Behind the Police
being my first two recommendations
If someone wants a fantastic fantasy audiobook, the His Dark Materials series is voiced by a full cast and narrated by the author. It’s a really awesome series!
Steamdeck
The advice here is good, but it may be a little too safe.
If you want an adventure, use an atlas and truck stops like Loves or Pilot for snacks, a nap or shower. These places are rad, super safe and clean (the stigma is bullshit). It can be a little more expensive and take a little longer, but there are a LOT of great and interesting people in the US and it’s pretty much the safest it’s been since the sixties.
Also, I recommend favoring AM or FM radio (in that order) to hear some wild stuff out in the boonies.
Edit: Make sure your car’s lights are all working so the cops don’t waste your time. The US may be safer than it has been, but the cops sure ain’t.
Chips, water, soda, a good playlist on your smartphone, a charger obviously and offline maps, if possible a non annoying partner.
I used to do a lot of cross country driving. Here are my recommendations:
AAA membership if you don’t feel comfortable changing your own tires, a good lug nut wrench and bottle jack if you can do it. There’s a lot of areas where you’re “in the middle of nowhere” and it can take some time for any support to get to you. Make sure your spare has air. Audiobooks, podcasts, and playlists downloaded. There may be long stretches of no service. If you can download the Google Map or Apple Map for your trip, it’s not a bad idea. Non-messy snacks, gum, and a small cooler of drinks if you want to save money. Gas station food/ drinks add up. There are a few apps to check rest areas/ bathroom recommendations. I liked Trucker’s Path but it’s been a while since I’ve travelled like that so there may be others/ better ones. Get a dash cam before you go. There’s a lot of idiots out there. And the more you’re on the road, the more likely something could happen. Plan a little time to make some extra stops if you can. There’s a lot of neat stuff you can do on your way that you won’t know about until you see signs for them. Or check Google Maps for places to stop on your route. Get out and stretch your legs somewhere fun. And when you start to get hungry, look for good local spots to stop and eat. There are TONS of options that are so much better than the chain restaurants. Look for 4-5 star places in the area on Google Maps.
Take a train.
A big tarp and ratchet straps. So you can create a rain shelter virtually anywhere.
