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After years of road-tripping across Kansas during the winter season, plus three years of trekking across snowy Colorado highways, I never leave home without ten road-trip essentials.
I’m a planner when it comes to packing for a long-haul trip when temperatures are frigid and snow or ice is forecasted. I don’t have a AAA membership (yet!), so ensuring the following road-ready supplies are packed in the trunk gives me peace of mind.
10 Winter Road Trip Essentials I Never Leave Home Without
HotHands Hand Warmer Value Pack
Not only does the HotHands Hand Warmer Value Pack keep you feeling toasty for up to 18 hours, but they’re portable. I throw them in coat pockets if I need to keep warm for up to 18 hours.
They’re also ideal to use during or after a winter hike or holiday parade event. 10 Count, $8
Snow Brush and Ice Scraper Combo
Snowfall is no joke during a Midwest winter storm or when you’re vacationing in a mountainous region. Use the Snow Brush Ice Scraper for Car Windshield to remove snow from your car, SUV, or truck.
Plus, it comes in various colors and easily stores away during the off-season in the garage on a peg wall. $13
Jumper Cables
After years of driving used and not-so-reliable cars, I learned that having my own jumper cables available when the battery runs dead is ideal. Once, I let a stranded motorist use them to help him return to the road in Missouri. We took a selfie photo before he left.
Freezing temperatures can drain a car battery up to 60 percent. Order Amazon Basics Jumper Cable for Car Battery for each car in your family’s fleet. $13
De-Icer Windshield Washer Fluid
Large trucks and cars often splash back snow melt on your windshield. I fill my windshield fluid reservoir with Rain-X® -25F Degree De-Icer Windshield Washer Fluid to clear it away while eliminating refreeze on the glass.
It also works on frost and ice, and a single jug comes with a funnel for hard-to-reach areas under the hood. $20
Crank Flashlight / USB Charger
If you use a little manpower, the Rechargeable Hand Crank Flashlight/Generator/USB Charger for Phone works like a charm when you desperately need to illuminate the car. It provides 30 minutes of light after one minute of cranking.
Each traveler in your car, especially kids, will appreciate the USB interface, which is useful for 5V-input devices like mobile phones. $25
Travel First Aid Kit
Look in my truck and you’ll find a Travel First-Aid Kit containing bandages, tweezers, basic over-the-counter medications, alcohol swabs and more. It’s come in handy when I’ve need bandages for blistered feet after a town tour.
During winter, you may need its contents to relieve cuts and bruises from winter sports or roadside car repair sessions. $18
Fleece Blanket
Are you waiting on roadside assistance? Or perhaps you parked the car outside in a snowstorm and it’s slow to warm up inside? I like to use a travel blanket to warm my lap like the Cozy-Soft Microfleece Travel Blanket 50×60 Inch.
The blanket also ideal in a clutch when you’re attending riding in a holiday horse carriage tour or waiting for Santa during a Christmas parade. $13
Down Hooded Winter Coat
A lightweight puffer doesn’t keep me warm enough during Kansas winters, so when it’s frigid, I wear my Columbia Women’s Apres Arson II Long Down Jacket. My boyfriend thinks it’s obnoxious in size, but guess what? I’m always warm.
It’s windproof and waterproof. $263
YETI® Rambler Travel Mug
Warm drinks or extra water keep their temperature in my YETI® Rambler Travel Mug. The base fits in my SUV’s cupholders so it doesn’t tip over when I turn corners.
The dent-resistant tumbler uses a lide with dual-slider magnet technology preventing leaks. $31
Fruit and Nut Granola Bars
I throw several granola bars in my car console or glove box in the event hunger strikes. You never know when you may need a snack to hold you over when stranded on the side of the road waiting out a winter storm.
Larabar® Variety Pack includes 18 bars made with three of my preferred flavors prepared with natural ingredients. $18
You’re a person who likes to stay prepared, which includes packing essentials for a comfortable overnight stay. Refer to my blog post 5 Best Travel Items to Pack For A Comfortable Hotel Stay to view the items I can’t live without.
Stay prepared and every trip is a delightful one no matter the circumstance.
Totally agree on all these essentials! Winter travel is fun, but does take special gear. Hand warmers are such a smart idea too. You think because you’re in the car you wouldn’t need them but all those times waiting for the car to warm up or de-icing the car… will bring on my next trip!
Exactly! Things seem to go better when you prepare for emergencies. Or just bitter cold temps.
This list has some of the best essentials to have on hand for travel. Need to add some of these to our stash! Love it, thank you for sharing!
My pleasure! The crank-up flashlight is a game-changer. Happy Travels.
This a great list for winter travel. Well done.
Thanks, Kristina!
The HotHands! Yes, these are my favorites! You have some really good essentials in here. Some of them I haven’t thought of. Thanks for sharing.
Oh, good! I’m glad it inspired your road trip packing. I wanted the list to include items that I use annually and products that don’t always appear on the typical road-ready supply list.