Yay! We are quick approaching road trip season. No other form of travel is quite as cleansing and liberating as a road trip. Before you adopt your carefree attitude though, you should take great care to prepare and pack well. There are a lot of example packing lists on the web, but we found that they are almost too extensive. So we’ve compiled what we feel is the ultimate list because it covers the basics without making your brain hurt just by looking at it.

First and foremost, the golden rule is this: Bring less stuff and more money! Then focus on what’s most important and work your way down.

Despite narrowing down our list quite a bit, it turns out there’s still a LOT of stuff to remember so we’ve segmented our list into four parts. This makes it easy for you to tackle the various considerations without feeling overwhelmed. Now, let’s get started. We recommend first reading all four blog posts to give yourself an overview and an opportunity to make notes. Don’t worry, they’re brief and to the point. Then come back to this list one and start checking things off until you’re done with all of it!

TRAVEL PLANS

• Itinerary – use a travel app and carry a written copy
• Tickets to special event

CAR & ROADSIDE

• Double check roadside assistance coverage, bring membership card
• Ensure auto insurance coverage includes all that you expect
• Two copies of insurance and registration
• Jumper cables, spare tire, car jack
• Atlas, in case electronics fail
• Emergency roadside kit
• Flashlight and extra batteries, tripod light for mechanical emergencies
• Extra washer fluid

FUNDS, IDENTITY, ACCESS

• Cash – lots of it, find a safe hiding place
• Credit Cards – call ahead to release funds for unusual spending, make copies of cards front and back in case they get lost
• Know your Paypal password in case you need it, and check for bank transfer limitations on amount and time necessary
• Driver’s license and passport if you have both, in case you lose one; also make copies of them
• Extra set of house and car keys
• Back up copy of crucial contacts / phone numbers in case electronics fail