subject: What to pack when taking a road trip [print this page] What to pack when taking a road trip What to pack when taking a road trip
In order to prevent this from happening, it is helpful to create a list the night before or even several nights before you are scheduled to leave. On the list, write down all of the items that you know you will need for your trip. As you go through the list and pack each of the items, check it off or cross it off of your list so that you make sure you are not duplicating anything that you might need.
Depending on where your road trip is taking you, you may need to pack more or less of a particular item. For example, if you are planning a trip by car from Florida to Canada during the winter months, you may have to pack extra sweaters. Planning is especially important when taking trips by car. You must also remember to pack items inside of your vehicle that you may need in the event of an emergency or some sort of mechanical failure. For example, if you are driving in the middle of the night when your car suddenly breaks down, it can sometimes take hours for help to arrive. And if you break down like this during the winter months when it is extremely cold or during the summer months when it is extremely hot (depending on where you are), it can leave you in a bit of a hairy predicament.
Cell phone chargers, extra batteries, extra clothing and packaged foods are some of the things that you should probably have in your vehicle at all times if you travel frequently by car to places other than where you live. Keep water and packaged foods stashed all over your car. For instance, you might keep a small package of crackers in your glove box and/or in the door of your car as well as a stash in the trunk area of your car. In this case, if there is ever anything that goes wrong where you are unable to access a certain area of your vehicle, you will at least have access to some food elsewhere. It is also helpful to keep a flashlight in the main area of your car. In the event that you break down somewhere and need to leave your vehicle, you already have a flashlight in your hands to help illuminate your path as well as the area around you.
