I’ve Road Tripped Solo on 3 Continents — Here’s What I Always Keep in My Car for a Safe, Comfortable Drive

A road trip was a novelty when I was growing up. As the daughter of an airline pilot, we typically used our standby privileges for family vacations. That’s why, when the time did come for a family road trip, it was a big. stinking. deal. The middle seat came out of the minivan, CDs were burned (tracks ranging from Celine Dion to the Fugees), and snack prep began months before we’d ever leave our garage. I fell in love early on with the freedom that came from being on the open road — so much so that I even wrote a children’s book about it — and as an adult, I have taken nearly any chance I can get to venture out on the road … even if it’s on my own.

None of my friends were as interested as I was in exploring Eastern Europe, so I flew into Vilnius and rented a car to drive solo through Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, stopping along the way whenever something caught my interest. I’ve traversed American national parks, Albanian mountain roads, Texas highways, and French country roads, all alone. 

Spending so much time with myself forced me to learn me; what excites me, what doesn’t, and what I gravitate to when no one else is guiding my influence. It’s also taught me what is essential for a solo traveler on the road, whether it's a safety lock for my hotel in the middle of nowhere Missouri, a car seat cushion to keep my back pain-free, or a comfy pair of shoes that can slip on and off easily between gas station stops. Read on for my required road trip essentials, most of which are available at Amazon. 

Sinsen 3-in-1 Car Safety Tool

There are some things I pack on my road trips that I hope I will never have to use, like this emergency 3-in-1 safety device. I know exactly where it is in my car when I travel, and I know it could potentially save my life if I ever needed to cut my seatbelt off me, break a window, or hammer my way out of a situation. 

Fortem Car Seat Cushion

I first tried this memory foam cushion out while borrowing my father-in-law’s car for a short errand, and my coccyx still remembers that cush ride. It’s fast selling out, but luckily there are tons of highly rated options out there, like the Fortem chair cushion, which has more than 13,000 five-star ratings, including one from a traveler who took a 12-hour road trip and said “this saved me.” These types of seat cushions are good for so many drivers, and they do just as much good preventing any future sciatic pain as they do to lessen any existing pain. 

Andobil Phone Mount for Car

I typically travel with a PopSocket air vent mount since I have a PopSocket on my phone and it’s so easy to toss into whichever bag I’m traveling with at the time, but this military-grade car mount is a solid choice for a universal option. I love a hands-free phone holder on road trips, and so do the nearly 20,000 reviewers who gave this device five stars on Amazon.

EMDMAK Door Stop Alarm  

Staying safe while road-tripping solo doesn’t only apply to time spent on the road; and I always travel with a door-stopper alarm (yes, even in upscale hotels). It’s rare, but electronic room keys can get duplicated (whether on purpose or accident,) and having a little alert helps me sleep better at night. I like this brand because you can adjust the trigger sensitivity, so it doesn’t go off unnecessarily. 

Emergency Road Kit: Jumper Cables, Blanket, & First-aid Kit

Not the most exciting road trip essential, but I leave an emergency road kit in my trunk. In addition to jumper cables, a first aid kit, a flashlight, and extra bottles of water, this emergency blanket comes with me on every drive. I’ve never had to use it, and I hope I never will, but I bought it before driving through the Italian Alps and it’s so easy to toss in my bag or in the trunk before hitting the road.

She’s Birdie Personal Safety Alarm  

I love this keychain-sized personal safety alarm for so many reasons, namely because it makes me feel like I have “someone else” with me to scream for help if I’m unable. The siren is extremely loud, which is ideal for anyone traveling alone, and I keep mine on my keychain so it’s always in my hands while walking around parking garages, walking in and out of gas stations, or even while on my nightstand in my hotel room. 

Everfun Insulated Cooler

I like traveling with a small cooler like this one because they travel so well; whether that’s on an airplane (yes, you can bring a cooler on an airplane!) or just going in and out of hotels while on the road. My cooler is pretty much always stocked with carrots, a sandwich, and whatever fruit I was able to snag from the breakfast buffet from the previous night’s hotel. Then I just pop the entire thing into the mini fridge in my next hotel room to keep it all chilled. 

CamelBak Forge Travel Mug  

I field-tested so many travel coffee mugs before landing on this vacuum-sealed version. Staying alert while driving is essential, and for me, I do that with caffeine and a solid rotation of guilty-pleasure playlists and audiobooks. This mug is insulated for hot or cold beverages and is spill-proof (thanks to a locking device that can be controlled with just one hand). I use this for hot coffee, cold sodas, oatmeal, and more. I attach a carabiner to the handle so I can easily hook it to my backpack or duffle when I’m heading into my hotel (I’m a one-trip girl!), and I do the same after filling it up at the breakfast buffet before heading back out on the road. It’s never even so much as leaked during any of my travels. For water, I fill up my Owala FreeSip Insulated bottle that keeps it cold and spillproof.

Sinaliy Travel Backpack

As a solo traveler, I don’t love hauling in a big suitcase every night to a hotel while on a road trip, for safety reasons and convenience reasons. A great road trip backpack, like this bag from Sinaliy, is spacious, but also easy to access while driving (if necessary). My go-to is the Lojel Niru Daypack since it can hold a toiletries bag, a packing cube with pajamas and a change of clothes, my laptop, chargers, and more. I actually got my Lojel bag for commuting on the Metro, but the side zipper access is super convenient for road-tripping since I can just set the bag on its side and have easy access to the entire contents anytime I need it. 

Sojos Polarized Aviator Sunglasses 

A good pair of driving sunglasses should always have UV protection (to block harmful rays) and polarized lenses (to prevent eye fatigue and reduce glares). They should also be cute, in my opinion. Chances are, if you ever see me on the road, I’ll be wearing my favorite Bajio Soldado sunglasses (they’re even scratch-resistant!), but this pair on Amazon is great to toss in your car as an inexpensive backup. 

Roxy Minnow Slip-On Sneaker  

I grew up near the lake in Texas, where the official road trip shoe was the flip flop. It’s not an ideal shoe for every situation, but there’s something to be said about the convenience of being able to flip them off between gas stations and flop them back on in a moment’s notice. I’ve matured my footwear choices a bit — like this sneaker — but I will always opt for a slip-on shoe when it comes to road trips. No laces, no problem. 

Skechers Women’s Go Walk Pant

I’ve learned the hard way why shorts are not an ideal choice for road trips (i.e., hot seats, weird sunburns, etc.) and why not to wear jeans (i.e., uncomfortable, hot, shows stains, etc.). A good road trip pant is breathable, dark, and just a bit stretchy … which is why I often travel in DU/ER’s NuStretch Kick Flare Pants. This more affordable version from Skechers is on sale and just as easy to dress up and down depending on your top and easy to spot clean in a hotel room.  

Parallelle Traveller Bag  

The last thing I want to do after a day of driving is unpack a bag. I use packing cubes when possible to organize what I’ll need each night, and I use this toiletry bag. It unzips and unfolds to become a portable vanity with everything already in its place regardless of where I open it. I love the compartments and mesh pouches to keep everything organized.

National Geographic Road Atlas: Adventure Edition

I know it may seem old-school, but I try to always have a physical map of the roads for wherever I’m driving when I’m solo. Obviously, I use my phone for navigation, but it would only take one lost phone charger or one water-logged phone to leave me stranded without a map … and that’s not a risk I’m willing to take. Most gas stations still carry physical maps in Europe and the U.S., but it never hurts to order one before your trip to make sure you have what you need. 

Durcord iPhone Charger, 10 Feet

I originally made fun of this “overkill” charger when my husband bought a three-pack, but now it’s the only charger I use. It’s durable for tough travel and flexible, but mainly I love it when I’m in a hotel room since it never fails that the nearest outlet is nowhere near the bed. Yes, the cable is long (10 feet!), and no, you’ll likely never need to lift a tire with the cord (which it can do), but when you need a strong rope or are trying to reach from a poorly-placed outlet to your nightstand, this lighting charger is a game changer. 

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