Road trips are seriously my favourite things. Getting in the car and driving on the long open road, sometimes with no destination in sight. You get to listen to your favourite music blast through your car speakers and have everything you could need for adventure in the backseat of your car. Adventurous road trips are the best, because you have so much to do and see, and you need to be prepared to climb a mountain and swim in a waterfall. This is your ultimate packing list for a road trip.
On a road trip, the nice thing is you have enough room to hopefully not forget something and to pack everything you could need for an adventurous road trip no matter what season it is. Besides clothes, which are a personal preference, these are your must-have road trip essentials.
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What to Remember When Packing
Packing comes down to personal preference and the amount of space that you have available in your vehicle. Packing for a road trip means you will constantly be on the move and you want everything to be readily available. This is why you need a solid packing list for a road trip.
Some things to remember:
- Hide your valuables, because you will often leave the car alone
- Don’t leave things in the vehicle that you can’t live without
- Make sure to check your vehicle insurance for content insurance
- Make everything accessible, and your cooler, clothes and camping gear easy to grab
- Don’t pack in multiple layers, you don’t want to be digging through a pile of junk
Bags to Bring Along
As much as you have lots of room to pack in, you are definitely going to need to organize everything in your bag to keep your car nice and organized. You also want to have an additional “adventure bag” for all of your daytime activities.
The North Face Base Camp Duffel
Seriously, this duffel bag is a must-have for those planning a longer road trip or any trip in general. This bag is durable, lightweight, strong and perfect for everything from the plane to the great outdoors.
Herschel Backpack
From my iPad to my camera and everything in between, this backpack is light, easy to carry and totally accessible. I take mine everywhere when travelling!
Gregory Pack for Hiking
Adventurous road trips can easily take you on longer adventures. I always travel with my Gregory pack filled with my backcountry hiking gear so we can get on a trail whenever we want!
Electronics You Can’t Go Without
When road tripping nothing is better than getting out of the car and experiencing everything around you, and you are sure going to want to take pictures! I am a sucker for carrying a whole bag filled with electronic gear, but here are my must-haves!
Canon 80D Bundle!
The Canon 80D is my go-to DSLR camera, it is light, relatively inexpensive and I love taking it all over the place with me! The 18-135 lens is so versatile that you can take wider images and close-ups with ease.
GoPro Action Camera
I do not know where I would be without my GoPro camera. Sometimes on multi-day hikes I can’t fit my Canon 80D camera (read: I don’t want to add weight to my bag).
IPad Pro
Lugging my computer around can be weighty and I love the ease of use and ability of my iPad pro. It works seamlessly with the wifi on both my Canon and GoPro so that I don’t have to worry or fiddle with memory cards!
BeatsX Headphones
Seriously cannot go anywhere without these, they are great for the trail, the road or anywhere else!
Camping Gear That You Need Right
When on an adventurous road trip, you often end up camping in crazy places and camping gives you the freedom to stay wherever you want. From wind to snow, being prepared for camping is essential for your adventurous road trip.
The North Face Wawona 4 Person Tent
This tent has been with me through rain, snow, sunshine and everything in between. We outlasted a thunderstorm that shook the entire thing and it didn’t leak at all. We use this as a car camping and put a large air mattress inside. It is great for two people to basically make into a cabin.
Yeti Cooler
When it comes to car camping, you cannot survive without a cooler. Ice, food and beer all need somewhere to keep cool. The moment you light up your campfire and start cooking you want to ensure that all your cold food has stayed cold!
Clothing For Your Adventurous Road Trip
When on an adventurous road trip, you want your wardrobe to be prepared for anything. You never know when you will get caught in a thunderstorm or a sudden heat wave. Bring great shoes and be prepared for all the weather! Your clothing should be versatile, long lasting and moisture wicking, I’m a fan of adding merino wool to my packing list for a road trip too.
The Hiking Boots I Can’t Live Without
I have struggled with hiking boots in the past (read: blisters forever!). But, these hiking boots were perfect from the moment I put them on! They are comfortable, super waterproof and perfect for all climates. Remember, always get half a size bigger if you are carrying a heavy pack as your feet will flatten.
Patagonia Fleece
Where would I be without my Patagonia lightweight Synchilla fleece? Um, without half my Instagram photos and totally cold. This fleece keeps me warm and cozy no matter the weather.
A Waterproof Jacket
From late night trips to the bathroom to hiking up a mountain when it is pouring rain (like we did on the Berg Lake trail), you need need need to have a waterproof jacket on your adventurous road trip!
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