5 Essentials for a Long Drive

I am no stranger to long car trips. Growing up, one set of grandparents was five hours north and the other was 12 (TWELVE) south of our house. Even though I’m sure none of us enjoyed the hours spent in the car, it was definitely worth it to visit family and catch up. I’m very lucky to be close to my family, and that means I’ve taken lots of long car trips to visit them. Through the  years, I have gotten my essentials down to a science. If you’re planning on taking a long trip this Thanksgiving, you’ll want to check out my list of essentials for a long drive.

1. Comfortable clothes

This one definitely goes without saying, but you want to make sure you’re comfortable on your drive! My go-to traveling outfit consists of leggings, a soft shirt, a cardigan or zip-up, sunglasses, and shoes you can easily get on and off. Sunglasses are a must because those of us relegated to the backseat (a.k.a. the “kids”) don’t have the luxury of a sun visor. If the sun is in your eyes on the highway, you can bet it will be in your eyes for a good while along that looooong stretch of road. As for shoes, I like to go for a pair that I can slip off in the car, but throw on quickly whenever we stop for food or gas. These loafers from Lands End have been a LONG time favorite of mine. This particular pair is probably eight years old, but I’ve provided a link to a similar style.

2. Hand sanitizer

Trust me, y’all. This is a must. You’re going to stop at a gas station that looks ok from the outside but has the restroom from Trainspotting on the inside. If you haven’t seen Trainspotting, it’s not exactly a clean bathroom. A nice-smelling hand sanitizer will save the day, and also protect you from all of the diseases that the dozens of people that pass through that bathroom may be carrying. This is not new, but I’m all about some Bath and Body Works hand sanitizer, especially in the Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin scent.

3. Music and headphones

Not everyone in your car is going to want to listen to the same thing, or talk about the same thing, or even do those things at the same time. I like to take my iPhone with me loaded up with audiobooks and music, so if I need to tune something out I can. I definitely can’t read in the car because even thinking about it makes me sick, but listening to something on my phone provides entertainment without the possibility of blowing chunks!

4. Dramamine

Honestly, I probably should have listed this first. I never, ever, go on a trip without Dramamine. I like to joke that I get motion sick on elevators, so a motion-sickness medicine is a absolute must for me. I’ve been using Dramamine for years and I KNOW it works for me. I tend to stick with the original, knock-you-out-so-hard-you-drool formula, but there are also less drowsy versions, too.

5. A blanket

I know not everyone has the space for extra things in the car like blankets, but I love taking one along with me. People in the car may have different internal temperatures, so not everyone is going to be 100% comfortable. I tend to be a bit cooler on car trips than my parents, so it’s nice to have a cosy blanket like this one from HomeGoods handy. Even if you don’t need extra warmth, a blanket can be bunched up and used as a pillow, or even as a picnic blanket at a rest stop if you need to take a break!

What are your long trip essentials?