How to take a road trip on a budget

Road trip essentials you need to make your life easier!

I’ve always loved a good road trip! I like the fact that you get to go at your own pace and you can just stop whenever you like. Over the years, I’ve realized that being organized makes it so much more fun and easy for everyone!

So I’ve gathered a list of my best road trip essentials that I use on every single escapade. Having the car organized while driving helps prevent unnecessary fights because one of your kids can’t find the toy he is looking for but also, you won’t be emptying the car every time you stop to find something.

So here are the best items I’ve been using lately to make my life easier when I leave on a road trip.

If you want to know what to pack for your next road trip, head to my road trip essentials packing list!

Car backseat organizer

This one is especially useful if you have kids in the car with you! This backseat organizer is going to be your best friend! It has waterproof materials and is super easy to clean! It has multiple pockets, kick mats, and a touchscreen window for the kid’s tablets! For me, this is one of the most important items in my road trip essentials list if the kids are coming with us!

Car back seat organizer

Pop-up car trash bag

Are you always wondering where to put your trash while you are driving? Putting everything inside the pocket doors? I know I used to do it all the time and forget most of the time to throw it out when we stopped. Now, this was a great investment! This small pop-up trash bag is leakproof, hangable, folds flat when you don’t need it, and has a rubberized bottom so it doesn’t move everywhere while you are driving.

It can become a must item to any type of expedition. You could bring it on a hike and use it after your lunch and just hang it on your bag on the way down to throw out your garbage before leaving. There are so many uses other than a car trash can!

Road trip essentials you absolutely need to make your life easier!

Car middle seat organizer

With or without kids, this middle seat organizer is a must for your next road trip! It is super easy to fold. So if you don’t need it, you can just fold it and tuck it under a seat. There are large storage compartment to put all your stuff in it too. Having the kids use this is especially useful as they can store books, toys, video games, and more… Instead of having them sort through their messy backpack full of toys, they can just look into the organizer and find what they are looking for.

Road trip essentials you absolutely need to make your life easier!

High Road CarHop car seat organizer

This middle seat organizer is more expensive than the previous one but so worth it! This one is probably my favorite long drive essential! It isn’t just a middle seat organizer. It has a tray so the kids can have a small tray to eat their snacks or even use it to play with their toys! The flip-top lid actually converts from a cover to a tray. Inside, there is also a cooler so that you can keep stuff cold while you are driving!

The dividers are adjustable so you can basically arrange it however you like! There is also a front compartment that can convert from a storage bin to a double cup holder which is great when you have kids sitting in the back with no cup holder! Each side has compartments as well so you can put a couple of toys if you need to.

High road carhop car seat organizer

Magnetic phone mount

This barely cost anything but is a travel must in your car! You just stick a magnet on your phone and you clip it on the mount while you are driving. If you need to use your GPS, it will be visible at eye level! The mount has adjustable viewing angles so you can hang it, however, works best for you. It has very strong magnets to keep your phone steady while you drive.

Road trip essentials you absolutely need to make your life easier!

Swell snack container

I love these cute 24 ozs. containers! I use them for everything so of course, they became a must for our road trip adventures! They have double-layered insulation so it will keep your food cold or hot if you need to. They are condensation proof, leakproof, BPA/BPS-free as well. You can put them in the fridge and freezer and are dishwasher safe too. I don’t necessarily use them to keep food warm or cold. It’s great for any type of snack! I also bought one for myself because, well I just had to!

Road trip essentials you absolutely need to make your life easier!

So whether it’s your first big road trip or your an avid road tripper, these are amazing items to have with you to make your life easier on the road. These road trip essentials will not only make your life easier, but you will also be more organized as well!

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, I earn a small commission if you make a purchase through these links. I would never recommend anything I don’t personally love and use!

If you are looking at planning a road trip, here are some great tips to help you plan it out!


My road trip essentials

The ultimate coast to coast Canada itinerary

10 things you should do before your next family vacation

7 reasons why you should travel as a family

Family road trip survival guide

Our 14-day itinerary across Scotland

Road trip essentials you absolutely need to make your life easier

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