preparing for a long range road trip

A long-range road trip requires supplies you can reach without unpacking the trunk. Water at one gallon per person per day, non-perishable food for several days, a first aid kit, flashlight, and phone charger form the core. Copies of identification and insurance cards belong in the cabin, not luggage. Cash in small bills covers tolls and purchases when card systems fail. (Ready.gov, Harvard Global Support Services, Westchester County Emergency Services, University of California, Berkeley Office of Emergency Management)

The one-gallon-per-person-per-day water figure accounts for drinking, basic hygiene, and a margin for heat or exertion. On a road trip, that means a family of four needs four gallons per day minimum. Store it in the cabin or immediately behind the rear seat where you can reach it without opening the trunk at a rest stop. Collapsible jugs save space when empty. (Ready.gov)

Non-perishable food means items that require no refrigeration and no cooking. Protein bars, nuts, dried fruit, and shelf-stable meals work. A several-day supply for a road trip means enough to sustain your household if you are stranded between towns or if a detour adds unexpected hours. Calculate portions, not optimism. (Ready.gov)

A first aid kit for a vehicle is not the same as the one in your bathroom. It needs supplies for road injuries: adhesive bandages in multiple sizes, gauze pads, medical tape, antiseptic wipes, tweezers for splinters, and pain relievers. Pre-assembled kits exist, but check the contents against your household's needs before assuming they are complete. (Ready.gov)

A flashlight and spare batteries, or a crank-powered light, matter most when you are stopped on a roadside at night. A phone flashlight drains the battery you may need for a call. A battery-powered or crank radio provides weather updates and road closure information when you are out of cell range. (Ready.gov)

Copies of identification, insurance cards, and vehicle registration should be accessible to the driver without digging through bags. A waterproof pouch in the glove box or door pocket works. Originals stay in your wallet; copies are for the moment your wallet is not where you thought it was. (Westchester County Emergency Services)

Cash in small bills means fives, tens, and ones. ATMs fail. Card readers go offline. Toll booths and rural gas stations may not take cards at all. Carry enough to buy fuel, food, and a night's lodging without assuming any electronic payment will work. (University of California, Berkeley Office of Emergency Management)

Ready.gov - Build a Kit — Ready.gov, retrieved 2026-08-12

Go Bag Checklist — Harvard Global Support Services, retrieved 2026-08-12

Having a Go Bag — Westchester County Emergency Services, retrieved 2026-08-12

Make a Go Bag Kit — University of California, Berkeley Office of Emergency Management, retrieved 2026-08-12