Everything You Need for a Happy and More Comfortable Road Trip

Some people don’t need much for an amazing road trip—just pack an overnight bag and make sure the tank is full. But for others, including families like mine, especially when we travel with relatives who are aging and have some accessibility issues, planning to bring the right products makes the trip not only more enjoyable, but safer. 

“Road trips really create what I call the perfect storm for physical discomfort,” says Jake Meyer, physical therapist at Wave Physical Therapy & Pilates in Cincinnati. “You’re asking your body to stay still for hours while dealing with road vibrations and tight spaces. From what I see in my clinical work, the most common complaints after long drives are low back and hip pain.”

Beyond that, products can help keep kids engaged to prevent meltdowns, which can quickly turn a fun vacation into a miserable moving prison, where everyone just wants to get out and away from each other. But as Rob Jones, host of “The Family Vacationer” podcast and father of three from Georgia, says, “The family vacation isn’t a vacation from your family—it’s a family field trip.”

Some items might be more essential than others depending on your family structure, including who you are traveling with. After all, infants and elderly relatives have very different needs.

Almost nothing is more frustrating than going to put your fresh large ice water in a cup holder for a road trip, only to find out it doesn’t fit at all. Car cup holder expanders insert into your car’s cup holder, extending its height, and adjust to fit different-sized cups. My favorite cup holder I tested, the Gorilla Grip, has two adjustable features—one that secures the product into the cup holder, and another that adjusts for different-sized cups. Some others I’ve used in the past have only one adjustable function (the cup size part); this one more is versatile and helpful.

Compared with our runner-up, the Swigzy, the Gorilla Grip is also easier to set up and is less than half the price.

Kids and adults alike love snacks. And if you’ve ever seen a well-organized tackle box, you’ll appreciate where the combo term “snackle box” comes from. These boxes are a lifesaver with picky kids and big groups, and the one I tested offers small, removable compartments that make things easier when a kid is yelling “pass the Goldfish!” from the back seat. 

The sealable box with a handle makes it easy to transport to an outdoor rest area picnic, and it serves as an important and helpful item once you’ve made it to your actual location—take off the top and use it as a fruit and veggie serving tray on vacation.

It was easy to clean each little section in the dishwasher, as well as the outer container box. One downside is that since the smaller containers don’t “click in” to the larger container, they are easy to lose.

Traveling with my mom, who has hip issues, has helped me understand just how necessary a car exit assistance tool is. I tested and liked the Stander Handybar. The tool is meant to hook into a metal loop in the doorframe, and a traveler can lean on it or use it to pull themselves into or out of the car. It also doubles as a seat belt cutter in an emergency. 

The handlebar holds up to 350 pounds, so most people can really put their full weight on it and use it as intended without worrying about falling. It has an ergonomic, no-slip grip handle for extra security. I just kept this in my door compartment, so anyone exiting could easily reach it, though storing it in the center console is also helpful. 

Whether you buy this option or another, Meyer says to ensure it holds at least 300 pounds because you generate more force than just your own weight when you transfer, doesn’t rely on any sort of “suction” function, and has a comfortable grip that’s easy to use and won’t slip. “Look for handles that let you pull sideways, not just straight up, since that’s easier on your spine and shoulders,” he adds. 

Buy the Stander Handybar at The Alzheimer’s Store, Amazon, Home Depot, and Walmart.

Cold drinks are a must-have on road trips, but stopping to refill a cooler with ice can be annoying, especially if you are traveling in more remote locations. Instead, the BougeRV 12-volt 23-quart cooler has two adapter/plug options to plug right into your car. It cools down in just 15 minutes, so you can set it up and load drinks all while packing the rest of the car. You can fit 28 soda cans, or six 33.8-ounce water bottles, which is essential for safety in an emergency.

Buy the BougeRV cooler at Amazon, BougeRV, and Walmart.

“You should travel with some water (enough for everyone in the car, including pets if you are traveling with your pets),” says Kara Hitchens, public affairs manager for AAA (Triple A, formerly the American Automobile Association) in Ohio. 

If you don’t want to mess with one more electronic device/charger situation (I get it!), a more traditional cooler to try out is the RTIC 22 QT Ultra-Light Cooler—available at Amazon and Walmart—which can hold up to 30 cans. It comes in some funky fresh colors I love, and has super-malleable and stretchy closures that keep things super secure while you’re driving, yet remain easy to open. So if you don’t mind grabbing bags of ice along your journey, opt for this one instead.

Whether you have back pain or tailbone pain, or you just find your butt and back getting sore on long trips, a seat cushion can bring some relief and put the fun back in your travel experience. As a mom with a chronic back condition, who has frequently been recovering from pelvic pain as well throughout the last decade of childbirths, a comfortable seat cushion is a must. In testing the Cushion Lab Pressure Relief Seat Cushion, I found not only general pain relief in my back, butt, and hips, but also a specific type of pressure relief based on the hole in the back for the tailbone. Even if you don’t have a history of tailbone problems, sitting for a long time can make you sore there, and this pillow is a lifesaver. 

I tested it against the Tempur-Pedic Seat Cushion—available at Amazon and Walmart—and found the Cushion Lab option to be a bit wider, which is helpful for a variety of body types. In addition, the pressure relief on the tailbone was superior, and the Cushion Lab had less “sink down” feeling when you sit on it. This means it will feel more comfortable and maintain its shape after hours.

However, if you are tall, you might notice that having a seat cushion positions you too high in the car, and you might even be hitting your head on the interior roof, depending the type of vehicle you have. So keep that in mind as you look at seat cushions.

Note: Seat cushions pose a safety risk in the event of a car crash.

There’s nothing worse than a dead phone while you are trying to navigate in a new city or state, or a dead iPad right when your kid is halfway through a movie they love. So look to retractable car chargers, which have a variety of port options to ensure they can accommodate different types of devices and chargers. 

I chose the Superone Retractable 4 in 1 Charger that is compatible with iPhones, Google Pixel devices, Samsungs, and also has USB-C and USB-A ports. Though it is slightly bulkier than its competitor, the Lisen Retractable Charger, the Superone is also less expensive. Note that these types of chargers do not help with CarPlay, Bluetooth, or other data transfer functions. If you haven’t used this before, you’ll enjoy the quick retract cord that snaps back into place after being stretched out like a tape measure in use. Also, you can bend this charger to help it fit a variety of small spaces and dashboards in your vehicles

Here are some more products to consider as you look to make your next road trip safer and more comfortable. 

First aid kit: My family loves the Keep Going First Aid Kit because it’s colorful, refillable, and compact, and has things in there you didn’t even know you need until you do. “My first aid kit is a hodgepodge of different things,” says Rob Jones, the podcaster. “I’ll take an over-the-counter first aid kit and add the moleskin [the foam padding for tired feet, not the famous notebooks]—Liquid IV for hydration, suntan lotion, aloe, Dramamine, and then whatever medicine we might need individually. I like the Neosporin foam, so I’ll have some of that too.”

A car seat that fits the child properly.

A travel stroller, preferably one that collapses easily and becomes compact when you do so. The Nuna Trvl has been a longtime favorite with my kids, but MomCozy’s travel stroller is also lightweight and easy to use. 

A step stool that opens and closes for older travelers’ easy in and out. I also like the Boreeman collapsible stool, which expands and collapses in case you aren’t sure where your next seat will be on a roadside stop, during a little picnic, or at your location.

Games like car bingo are a fun throwback, nondigital entertainment source. 

Noise-canceling headphones, such as Bose QuietComfort Wireless headphones, that block out that background noise when your family or passengers are becoming just a little … too much. Or if someone in your party has to work on the go, these provide a quiet spot in the action. Buy them at Best Buy and Bose.

Floor mats that hold up to lots of in and out (I have these WeatherTech mats).

A diaper caddy that is great for the whole family as a floor/stuff organizer, too.

A little car trash can, so there’s less cleanup when you arrive.

Mini portable baby changing stations make diaper stops much quicker and easier, so you can avoid digging through luggage for supplies during a blowout.

Cleaning supplies such as paper towels, multipurpose wipes, trash bags, microfiber cloths, disinfectant wipes, extra toilet paper, etc.

Before you start adding extra products to your vehicle, consider what those products, such as iPad holders or over-the-seat organizers, might do during a collision. “Safety experts don’t recommend these items because they can become projectiles during a crash, increasing the risk of injury to passengers,” says Emily A. Thomas, PhD, associate director of auto safety at Consumer Reports.