Category: Travel

Be prepared. Travel safer. Enjoy the journey.

There’s something special about loading up the family, hitting the open road, and heading toward your next adventure.

Maybe you’re driving across the state to visit relatives, spending a week exploring national parks, or embarking on that long-awaited family vacation (remember the Griswolds’ trip to Wally World?)

You’ve packed the suitcases, booked the hotel, and loaded enough snacks to feed a small army.

But have you prepared for the unexpected?

A dead battery, flat tire, unexpected storm, or vehicle breakdown can quickly turn a fun road trip into a stressful experience—especially when the kids are along for the ride.

The good news is that a little preparation can make these situations easier to handle.

Here are 12 useful emergency supplies every family should consider packing before hitting the road.

1. Portable Jump Starter

A dead battery can leave you stranded in a parking lot, campground, or unfamiliar town.

A portable battery jump starter can help get your vehicle running again without needing another vehicle nearby.

Many models are compact enough to fit in a storage bag.

Quick tip: Choose a jump starter rated for your vehicle’s engine, learn how to use it before your trip, and follow the manufacturer’s safety instructions. Check its charge regularly.

A jump starter isn’t something you’ll necessarily use often. But when you need it, you’ll be very glad it’s there.

2. Portable Tire Inflator

Low tire pressure can become a problem when you’re far from a gas station or traveling through an unfamiliar area.

A portable tire inflator lets you add air to a tire without searching for the nearest air pump.

Some models plug into your vehicle’s 12-volt outlet, while others operate using rechargeable batteries.

Quick tip: Know your vehicle’s recommended tire pressure, usually listed on the driver’s door-jamb label. Check pressure when the tires are cold.

An inflator can help with minor pressure loss, but it doesn’t repair a damaged tire. If you suspect serious tire damage or a rapid air leak, stop somewhere safe and arrange assistance.

3. First Aid Kit

Minor scrapes, cuts, and blisters can happen just about anywhere.

A basic first aid kit is useful for road trips, campground visits, outdoor adventures, and everyday travel.

Consider including adhesive bandages, sterile gauze, antiseptic wipes, disposable gloves, medical tape, and tweezers.

Quick tip: Customize your kit for your family. Keep necessary medications and medical supplies accessible, follow their storage requirements, and check expiration dates before each major trip.

A basic kit helps with minor injuries. Significant injuries require appropriate medical attention.

4. Flashlight

A flashlight becomes especially valuable when something goes wrong after dark.

It can help you find supplies, inspect an area safely, or locate items in the vehicle during a nighttime stop.

Choose a durable flashlight that’s easy to operate.

Quick tip: Keep spare batteries or maintain the charge on rechargeable models.

And don’t rely exclusively on your phone’s flashlight. You may need your phone for calling roadside assistance, navigation, or contacting family.

5. Portable Power Bank

Today’s phones do much more than make calls.

We rely on them for navigation, hotel reservations, emergency contacts, weather updates, and communication.

A charged portable power bank can keep important devices running if your vehicle loses power or you can’t reach an outlet.

Quick tip: Charge your power bank before departure and pack the correct charging cables.

Store it according to the manufacturer’s recommendations, and don’t leave lithium-ion battery packs exposed to excessive heat.

6. Emergency Blanket

A compact emergency blanket takes up very little room but can provide an extra layer of protection from wind and heat loss while waiting for assistance.

Reflective emergency blankets are lightweight and easy to store.

Quick tip: Pack enough suitable warming supplies for everyone traveling.

In cold weather, a lightweight emergency blanket should supplement—not replace—proper coats, hats, gloves, and warm blankets.

7. Rain Ponchos

Unexpected rain can make an already inconvenient roadside situation even more uncomfortable.

Lightweight rain ponchos are inexpensive, compact, and useful beyond emergencies.

They can also come in handy during theme-park visits, outdoor attractions, and sudden storms.

Quick tip: Keep one appropriately sized poncho for each family member.

If your vehicle breaks down in dangerous roadside conditions, don’t assume it’s safe to get out or work on the vehicle. Follow roadside-assistance guidance and prioritize everyone’s safety.

8. Basic Tool Kit

A compact tool kit can help with minor adjustments and simple tasks during a trip.

Consider basic items such as screwdrivers, pliers, an adjustable wrench, work gloves, and a small roll of duct tape.

Quick tip: Choose a compact kit designed for vehicle storage, and familiarize yourself with its contents before leaving home.

You don’t need to become a roadside mechanic. If a repair involves traffic exposure, an unstable vehicle, or unfamiliar mechanical work, call for professional assistance.

9. Drinking Water

Water is essential on any road trip, but it becomes even more important if unexpected delays leave your family waiting for help.

Pack enough drinking water for everyone, with additional supplies appropriate for your route, weather, and travel conditions.

Quick tip: Keep water somewhere accessible instead of burying it beneath the luggage.

Check stored supplies regularly. Extreme temperatures can affect containers and water quality, so rotate your emergency stock as appropriate.

10. Nonperishable Snacks

There aren’t always convenient food options when you’re stranded or delayed.

Pack a small supply of nonperishable snacks that your family will actually eat.

Good options include protein bars, dried fruit, crackers, nuts when allergies permit, and appropriately stored jerky.

Quick tip: Rotate snacks regularly, check expiration dates, and choose age-appropriate items for younger children.

A hungry child in the back seat can make a two-hour delay feel significantly longer. Sometimes the emergency isn’t mechanical—it’s that everyone is hungry!

11. Phone Car Charger

A portable power bank is useful backup power, but a dedicated vehicle charger is equally important.

A working USB car charger allows you to maintain your phone’s charge during the trip.

Quick tip: Keep a charging cable permanently in the car, along with the correct adapter for your family’s devices.

Before leaving, test the charger rather than assuming it works.

It’s a small thing that can make a big difference when you’re depending on navigation or need to contact someone.

12. Extra Clothes

An unexpected overnight stay, cold weather, rain, or a messy roadside situation can make extra clothing extremely useful.

Keep a small bag with spare socks, comfortable clothes, and weather-appropriate layers.

For longer trips, consider including shoes suitable for walking.

Quick tip: Use a packing cube or labeled bag so you can find everything quickly.

If you’re traveling with young children, you already know that extra clothing has a way of becoming necessary even when absolutely nothing goes wrong with the vehicle.

---

The Extra Mile: Build a Grab-and-Go Road Trip Emergency Kit

Here’s a simple way to keep everything organized without turning your trunk into a traveling hardware store.

Use a sturdy, portable storage bin or emergency bag to organize your supplies.

Divide your kit into three sections:

Vehicle and roadside supplies: Jump starter, tire inflator, tool kit, flashlight.

Comfort and weather supplies: Emergency blankets, ponchos, extra clothes.

Family essentials: First aid kit, drinking water, snacks, phone charger, and power bank.

Keep the kit secured so it can’t become a projectile during sudden braking.

One of the biggest advantages of a portable kit is that you can remove it when you need the cargo space. Just remember to put it back before your next trip.

You can also use the same kit for family vacations, sports tournaments, camping trips, and weekend getaways.

Your Road Trip Emergency Kit Checklist

• ☐ Portable jump starter — charged and compatible with your vehicle
• ☐ Portable tire inflator
• ☐ First aid kit — stocked and checked
• ☐ Flashlight — working, with batteries or charge
• ☐ Portable power bank — charged
• ☐ Emergency blankets and weather-appropriate warming supplies
• ☐ Rain ponchos for the family
• ☐ Compact basic tool kit
• ☐ Drinking water
• ☐ Nonperishable snacks
• ☐ Phone car charger and cables
• ☐ Extra clothes and socks

Bonus items worth considering: Reflective warning triangles, a high-visibility vest, roadside-assistance information, a tire-pressure gauge, paper maps, and seasonal equipment.

For winter travel, consider an ice scraper, small shovel, traction material, boots, and additional warm clothing.

Before You Leave: The 10-Minute Road Trip Safety Check

An emergency kit is important, but preparing the vehicle matters just as much.

Before a major trip, take a few minutes to check:

• ☐ Tire condition, tread, and recommended pressure
• ☐ Spare tire or tire-repair equipment, where applicable
• ☐ Fuel level or electric-vehicle charging plan
• ☐ Headlights, brake lights, and turn signals
• ☐ Windshield wipers and washer fluid
• ☐ Weather and road conditions along your route
• ☐ Current vehicle maintenance needs
• ☐ Roadside-assistance and insurance contact information
• ☐ Your destination address saved in your phone’s maps app
• ☐ Emergency supplies secured and accessible

This quick check isn’t a replacement for regular maintenance or a professional vehicle inspection. It’s simply another way to reduce avoidable surprises.

One More Tip: Prepare for the Unexpected Stop

If your vehicle breaks down, your first priority is keeping everyone safe.

Move out of traffic to a safe location when possible, activate your hazard lights, and call roadside assistance or emergency services as appropriate.

Never attempt a tire change or other repair in an unsafe roadside location.

If you’re traveling with children, help them understand that they should remain in a safe place and follow your directions during an emergency.

The goal isn’t to scare anyone. It’s to make sure the entire family knows what to do if plans suddenly change.

Road Trips Should Be About Making Memories

No one leaves home hoping to use their emergency kit.

Ideally, you’ll complete an entire vacation without touching most of these supplies.

But when unexpected situations happen, having the right equipment can help reduce confusion and make it easier to respond safely.

You don’t need to buy everything at once. Start with the essentials, build your kit over time, and check it before major trips.

Small items. Big peace of mind.

Because the best part of a family road trip should be the memories you make—not the roadside problems you weren’t prepared for.

As John Lennon said, “Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans.”

Command & Simplify

Getting ready for a weekend trip shouldn’t feel harder than the trip itself.

But it’s easy for that to happen.

You’re trying to finish laundry. Someone can’t find what they want to bring. You’re looking for toiletries. You realize you’re out of something. The car needs gas. Bags are half packed. There’s stuff all over the house.

Then departure morning arrives and you’re still getting ready.

That’s the part I try to avoid.

Over time, I’ve developed a pretty simple system for getting my family ready for a weekend trip.

It isn’t complicated.

Most of it comes down to one idea:

Do as much as possible before departure day.

Because departure morning shouldn’t be preparation time.

It should be departure time.

Start a Couple Days Before You Leave

I don’t wait until the night before a trip to start thinking about packing.

A couple days ahead, I start making a list.

That list gives me a place to put everything I’m thinking about instead of trying to remember it all later.

It also gives me time to discover what we don’t have.

Maybe somebody needs something from the store.

Maybe something needs to be washed.

Maybe there’s something we haven’t used in a while that I need to find.

I’d rather discover that two days before we leave than two hours before we leave.

Get the Laundry Done Early

This is a big one for me.

Before I really start packing, I want the laundry done and the clothes we’re taking available.

Otherwise, you end up planning around things that are still sitting in the hamper or washing machine.

Get the laundry out of the way.

Now everybody’s clothes are available, and you can actually pack.

It’s one less moving part.

Go to the Store Before Packing Day

If we’re missing something for the trip, I want to know about it early.

That’s another reason I make the list a couple days ahead.

It gives me time to go to the store and get whatever we need.

Then when it’s time to finish packing, everything is already there.

I’m not trying to finish a suitcase while also making a last-minute run to the store.

Keep Some Things Permanently Packed

One thing that makes our trips easier is that I keep most of our regular travel toiletries packed and ready.

I don’t want to rebuild the toiletry bag from scratch every time we go somewhere.

If there are things you use on almost every trip and you can keep a separate travel version packed, do it.

When you get home, refill or replace what needs it and put the bag away.

Next trip?

One less thing to think about.

Pack Each Person Separately

When I’m packing the family, I pack everyone separately.

That keeps things organized.

I’m not trying to remember whether one giant pile of clothing contains everything everybody needs.

Each person’s things have a place.

I usually start doing this a couple days before we leave and finish the night before the trip.

Again, the goal isn’t to get everything done in one marathon packing session.

It’s to spread the work out so the last few hours aren’t chaotic.

Finish the Night Before

By the night before we leave, I want the real preparation basically finished.

Bags packed.

Anything we need for the trip ready.

Anything that can’t be packed until morning identified and organized.

At that point, I don’t want to be wondering:

What haven’t I thought of yet?

I want to know what’s left.

There’s a big difference between having three known things to put in the car tomorrow morning and having an entire trip left to prepare for.

Clean Out the Car Before the Trip

This is another job I don’t save for departure morning.

I clean out the vehicle ahead of time.

You’re about to put luggage and everything else you’re bringing into it.

Starting with an already cluttered vehicle makes that harder than it needs to be.

Get the old water bottles, wrappers, sports gear and whatever else has accumulated in there out of the way.

Now you have a clean space to load.

Get Gas Before Departure Day

Same principle.

If I know we’re leaving for a trip, I’ll fill the vehicle ahead of time.

I don’t want the first stop of our vacation to be the gas station five minutes from our house.

Could I get gas that morning?

Of course.

But why leave another job for the morning when I can eliminate it beforehand?

Every little job you finish early is one less thing standing between your family and the road.

Clean the House Before You Leave

This one might sound strange in an article about packing, but it’s an important part of my system.

I like to clean the house before we leave.

You’re already going to come home with work to do.

The vehicle needs to be unloaded.

Suitcases need to be unpacked.

You’re going to have laundry from the trip.

The last thing I want is to walk through the door and also discover the mess we left behind.

Coming home to a clean house feels different.

You can unload.

Unpack.

Start the laundry.

Put everything away.

And you’re basically done.

You’re not returning from a trip to another giant to-do list.

To me, preparing for a trip includes preparing for coming home from the trip.

Set Yourself Up for an Easy Departure

That’s actually the goal.

I don’t want departure morning to be exciting.

I don’t want everybody running around the house.

I don’t want to be searching for something.

I don’t want to discover that we need to go to the store.

I don’t want to be cleaning out the car.

I don’t want to need gas.

I want departure morning to be boring.

Load the car.

Get everybody in.

Leave.

That’s a successful departure morning.

Some Things Have to Wait Until Morning

Obviously, you can’t pack absolutely everything the night before.

There may be refrigerated food, medications, chargers or other things you’re still using.

That’s fine.

The goal isn’t to somehow make morning disappear.

The goal is to make the morning list short and known.

If five things have to go into the vehicle in the morning, know what those five things are.

Set yourself up so you aren’t relying on memory while everyone is trying to get out the door.

Don’t Try to Remember Everything

This is exactly why I use a list.

There’s too much going on before a family trip to expect yourself to remember every little thing.

And forgetting something isn’t always a disaster.

Most things can be replaced.

But I’d still rather not spend vacation time and money buying something we already own because it’s sitting on the kitchen counter at home.

Write it down.

Check it off.

Move on.

Simple systems beat trying to keep everything in your head.

Coming Home Is Part of the System

The system isn’t finished when we pull out of the driveway.

When we get home, I want to reset things.

Unpack.

Start the trip laundry.

Put the travel gear away.

Refill the toiletries that stay packed.

That last part matters.

If I used the last of something on this trip and put an empty container back into the toiletry bag, I’ve just created a problem for Future Me.

Reset it now.

Then the next time we’re going somewhere, part of the work is already done.

You Don’t Need a Perfect Packing System

You can make packing incredibly complicated.

There are packing cubes, elaborate lists, travel organizers and all kinds of systems available.

Some of those things may be useful.

But the biggest improvement for me isn’t a particular product.

It’s starting earlier.

A little work two days before.

A little more the night before.

Almost nothing left for departure morning.

That’s the system.

Use the Weekend Trip Command List

I’ve turned this process into a simple Weekend Trip Command List that you can use before your own trips.

It breaks the preparation into five parts:

2–3 Days Before

Night Before

Load the Car

Before You Leave

Coming Home

Instead of trying to remember the entire trip at once, you can work through the right jobs at the right time.

[Download the Free Weekend Trip Command List]

The Goal Isn’t Better Packing. It’s an Easier Departure.

You can have the most beautifully packed suitcase in the world and still have a miserable departure morning.

That’s not what I’m trying to optimize.

I’m trying to make leaving easier.

Do the laundry ahead of time.

Get what you need from the store.

Pack over a couple of days.

Keep reusable travel items ready.

Clean the vehicle.

Fill the gas tank.

Reset the house.

Know exactly what’s left for morning.

Then when departure day arrives:

Load the car and go.

Because the best thing you can do for departure morning is finish most of the work before it gets there.

Departure morning shouldn’t be preparation time.

It should be departure time.