Traveling and going out on the open road are some of the best parts of life. If you’re in the mood for a getaway with flexibility and a not-so-rigid structure, taking a road trip can be a very satisfying and enjoyable experience. 

Know someone who is about to go on a road trip? Here are some care package ideas to make sure that your loved one won’t be wanting for anything on their travels. 

When planning for a road trip, it can be easy to overlook some of the basic, essential items. Although each traveler hopes for the best while on the road, unexpected challenges can come up, and it’s important to be prepared for every circumstance.

Supplies to Survive

When taking a road trip, you never know what conditions or challenges you might encounter. Although it is likely that no hitches will come up in your travels, it’s important to be prepared for whatever might come. By adding these items to your care package, you can ensure that your loved one will be safe and not stressed out on the road. 

Maps

With so many new GPS apps and electronic location technology, it can be easy to forget that travelers once had to rely on paper maps to find their ways. Even though GPS technology is reliable and accurate, it is still a good idea to bring a few paper maps on a road trip. This way, a dying phone battery or a lost cellular connection won’t leave your traveler stranded on their drive. 

Flashlights and Batteries

Whether your loved one is camping or just driving long distances at night, it is always helpful to have a little extra light. Useful when dealing with car troubles or finding things in the dark, flashlights can be lifesavers on the road. Worried about these losing power as well? Be sure to add batteries to your care package so that the traveler you know will always be able to find their way. 

Roadside Emergency and First Aid Kits

It’s better to be safe than sorry, and adding a first aid kit to your care package can add an extra layer of security to a traveler’s road trip. From dealing with minor injuries or illnesses to needing emergency supplies, emergency kits are really beneficial to have.

• Car Survival Kit - This kit from the American Red Cross is equipped with standard survival items and also includes winter supplies, for travelers who might get caught in less than ideal weather conditions. 
• Roadside Emergency Kits - These kits include mechanical tools that will help with the technical issues that might come up on a road trip. 

Reusable Water Bottles 

Sometimes it’s difficult to plan out or know where the next rest stop will be on the road, so including a reusable water bottle in your road trip care package will allow your loved one to store water and other beverages and keep these liquids cold during their ride. 

With many brands and types to choose from, it won’t be hard to find a reusable bottle that will be perfect for your care package. 

Long car rides can be tedious, but they can seem even more frustrating if passengers are hungry. Be sure to include convenient, portable snacks in your care package, so that your loved one won’t go hungry on their travels. 

Food On the Road

Even when travelling, everyone has to find time to eat. Since it can sometimes be difficult to find restaurants and stores when driving cross-country, it is important to stock up on snack options before starting a trip. 

All About the Chips Care Package

Interested in sending your loved one all of the road trip snacks they could want in one convenient, pre-assembled care package? Consider checking out the All About the Chips care package. Perfect for having a portable snack on the road, this care package includes: 

• Doritos-Nacho Cheese Flaming Hot
• Doritos Nacho Cheese
• Chex Mix - Traditional
• Herr's Popped Chips Sea Salt
• PopCorners Popped Chips
• Inka Plantain Chips
• Real Deal Veggie Chips
• Hippeas ChickPea Puffs White Cheddar
• Uniq Pretzel Shells
• Go Lite Sweet Maui Onion Popped Chips
  

Also interested in sending a message to the recipient? You can create a personalized greeting card to go with this care package at check out. 

On the Go Breakfast Care Package

Leaving for a trip early in the morning or late in the evening can sometimes mean sacrificing parts of our daily routine, but it doesn’t have to. With the On the Go Breakfast Care Package, road trip passengers can make sure that their travel schedule does not compromise their balanced diet.  

Here are the items included in this care package:

• Kar's Sweet & Salty Trail Mix
• Pure Organic Bars
• Bear Naked Granola Bites
• Quaker Instant Oatmeal packets
• Nature Valley Granola Bar
• Dang Coconut Chips
• Avalanche Swiss Granola
• Lärabars
• Annie's Organic Granola Bar
• Clif Bars
• Stash Chamomile Tea Bag
• Stash Earl Grey Tea Bag

With this care package, your traveler will always be able to enjoy the most important meal of the day, even on a tight travel schedule.

Instant Coffee

Even though you’re on the road, it can be nice to maintain some morning routines. If you know your traveler will be staying in hotels or other overnight locations, they might appreciate having instant coffee mix in their care package. Selecting instant coffee for your care package will be especially helpful if your loved one is anticipating long drives in the early morning or late evening. 

Candy and Gum

Although too much sugar can be bad for you, it’s okay to have a treat once in a while. Sweeten up your loved one’s time on the road by including an assortment of candy or gum in your care package. Mix and match chocolate, fruit snacks, mints, and classic bubble gum. No matter what combination you settle on, these small desserts will definitely be something your traveler looks forward to on the road. 

A car might not be a home away from home, but traveling on the road doesn’t have to be a painful experience. Traveling with a few helpful items can transform a small space into an inviting one. 

Car Comfort

It’s true that most cars aren’t known for their spaciousness, but you can help your traveler combat the discomfort of close quarters by adding a few simple comfort items to your care package. 

Travel Pillow and Blanket

Even though getting quality sleep in a car seat can be difficult, travel pillows and blankets can really help passengers get some rest on the road. Especially if your loved one’s road trip involves driving through different climates and altitudes, these items will help travelers stay at a comfortable temperature throughout their trip. 

Air Fresheners

Depending on how long your loved one’s road trip is, it might be a good idea to include a car air freshener in your care package. Small but effective, car air fresheners help keep a confined, shared area smelling clean — even over the course of a cross-country trip. 

Phone Mounts

Using a phone for directions? Phone mounts are a great item to include in your care package if you know that your traveler will need to use their phone while driving but will want to do it in a safe, hands-free way. Vent, dashboard, or windshield attachment — no matter which kind you choose, it will definitely come in handy for a driver. 

Car Sunshade

If someone you know is going to be driving through and parking in hot, sunny locations, a car sunshade could be a valuable addition to your road trip care package. With a sunshade, passengers won’t have to worry about having to sit in stifling heat while they drive, and car owners won’t have to worry about sun rays damaging a car’s interior. 

Notebooks and Pens

Traveling to new places is often inspiring, and writing down your thoughts during a trip can be a rewarding activity. With a personal notebook and other writing supplies, a traveler can make lists, record their thoughts, and keep track of all the things they encounter on their travels. Simple yet significant, journaling can be a way to pass the time on long road trips and to process new experiences. 

Headphones

Sometimes, traveling with a group of people can mean being surrounded by a lot of noise and disruptions. If your loved one will be taking a road trip with multiple people, they might be interested in receiving noise-cancelling headphones. Helpful for listening to music or for tuning out background noise, a pair of headphones will definitely be of use on the road. 

Car Phone Chargers

The last thing that any traveler wants is to see that their phone battery is almost dead. Having a fully charged phone is important in case of emergencies, and if someone is depending on a phone for directions to their destination, then having power at all times is even more essential. 

Fortunately, car chargers are easy to come by. Add a car charger to your care package to guarantee that the traveler you know will always be connected — both to their directions and to their loved ones. 

Road trips are one of the most accessible forms of travel, but that doesn’t mean that all road trips are the same. A care package can really be enhanced with specific, personal items. 

Setting out on a road trip often means taking a break from familiar surroundings and exploring new areas. In the midst of this excitement, however, it is also important to think ahead and bring with the necessary items that will ensure a safe and comfortable travel experience.

Thinking of including something that isn’t on this list? Don’t be afraid to add other items that will best suit your traveler. Every road trip is unique, and each care package is, too.

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