What are some of the best things to bring on a long road trip?

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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.

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

Get a DC inverter for the car. A really good one not the cheap ones you buy at Wally’s world. It’s worth it’s weight and helped me fill up an air mattress once during a camping trip.

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.

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.

Toilet paper, water and trash bags

Edit: kitty litter, roadside repair equipment and spare tire

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

Chips, water, soda, a good playlist on your smartphone, a charger obviously and offline maps, if possible a non annoying partner.

I got a ton of use out of hanging a hydration bladder/camelbak off the back of my seat. Being able to drink water one handed without have to fiddle with bottle caps felt much safer on the road.

Tooth brush, towel, and basic toiletries are nice if you want to get a quick shower at a truck stop.

You can download maps from google in advance in case you run in to spotty coverage. It might be worth getting an old school printed on paper road atlas in case you have any trouble with your electronics

Ymmv, but i have a couple of magnetic "yay police" and other right wing brainworms bumper stickers for driving through hostile territory. Idk if it helps, but anything that keeps thieving rural cops off your tail is worth considering.

Sunscreen! I've gotten sunburn on my left arm while driving for long distances before. I though car windows had uva/uvb filters but i guess not?

Bring some change in case you run in to an unexpected toll road somewhere.

Toilet paper! You never know.

Extra socks and an extra pair of shoes.

I hope you have a fun trip!

Sex toys

Take a train.

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.

If you have roadside stops planned you can make an itinerary, I use the Evernote app for organizing trip plans.

You may already have these in your car, but sunglasses, flashlight and tire patch kit are the only things I can think of that others haven't mentioned.

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.

Make sure your spare has air.

That's one that most people don't often think about. You just assume that you're OK because you have a spare. Happened to me once, although fortunately not in the middle of nowhere.

Sunglasses. Sometimes the sun will be at just the right angle to blind you, and the sun shade won’t help.

Advil or Tylenol or something like that. Especially handy if you forget the sunglasses.

Pesto Bismol, some antacid tablets, etc. It’s possible that one of those those new restaurants or gas station snacks won’t agree with you.

Toilet paper. Just because someplace has a toilet doesn’t mean it’s well equipped. Also useful if there’s NO toilet, but it’s an emergency.

Pesto Bismol sounds delicious.
- Damn autocorrect lol! I’m leaving it

If you're driving with someone, a good neck pillow for the passenger so they can rest when you trade off.
Back pillows for everyone.
Be sure to text someone everytime you make a stop for gas and let them know where you are, where you're headed next and approximately when you'll get there - that way if you don't text they'll know to call and have an approximate location to look for you.
building off the last item, add air tags in your car and belongings that you can track and also share the account info with trusted family/ friends to help locate you in the event something goes wrong
Bring little orange cones in case you break down or have to fix a flat. Safety first - vest doesn't hurt either.
Download music or audio books as you won't get reception in many areas.
good pair of sunglasses and a backup pair
extra prescription meds - split between two bags in case you lose one
cut proof and RFID blocking bag of some sort put your wallet, phone, keys in when you stop - fanny packs are great but not for everyone. Find one that works for you whether it be a backpack or something else. Travelon is a great brand.
stop for gas each time you get to half a tank. I know it sounds like overkill but you never know if you'll be diverted for a road closure through the heartland with no services for 100+ miles. It never hurts to have a full tank, give yourself a stretch, bio break and caffeine refill.

I've done road trips with a partner and solo - you'll have s blast. Make sure you're safe first and foremost. Do tons of research before you go so you hit all the spots you're interested in and have backup plans in case places are closed. Take some pictures but also just enjoy your journey.

Have a great trip!

Edit: many swipe typos

Can’t believe no one has said piss jugs yet

With the number of gas stations and rest stops not sure why you would need them
- Because there’s no time to stop. Way of the road, Bubs.
Way of the road.

A big tarp and ratchet straps. So you can create a rain shelter virtually anywhere.

Something to play, such as a cards deck or dice or your 90s knockoff handheld tetris device if group games are a no go

Weed

So I agree with most of the comments before. When I was young my family used to pile in a car and drove for a couple of days to visit family. Man, if you’ve got kids in the car you want to be sure you’ve got things for them to do. Unoccupied kids (speaking from experience) are distracting. We used to play the “license plate game”. We’d look for novelty plates and try to decipher what they mean, and look for each state plate too. Not sure if your driving alone or with someone.

I’d also recommend a couple blankets, towels (paper and fabric), a flashlight, and a first aid kit, and a roadside emergency kit too. Bring some cash, and have a backup payment method. Also if alone, make a plan to checkin with family at least daily. Let em know where your at, and where your headed.

Have fun and stop at cool sights and little touristy places too! Take lots of pictures. Wish you a safe and fun trip!

Quiz book, snacks, playlist, hammocks, camping chairs.

LSD to make driving less boring and more memorable.