TRAVEL PREP 101

REAL SIMPLE AND TRAVEL+LEISURE PRESENT TRAVEL PREP 101

Your road-trip checklist

Tracking down these essentials in advance paves the way for happy wandering.

AN EMERGENCY KIT:

In a click-shut plastic bin, stock jumper cables, a first-aid kit, a flashlight with extra batteries, road flares or reflective triangles, a fleece blanket, bottled water, and a few protein bars. Extras that are good to have on hand for a road trip: neck pillows, wet wipes, hand sanitizer, a cooler with drinks and snacks, and gallon-size zippered plastic bags (for messy trash).

SOFT-SIDED LUGGAGE:

Duffels and tote bags, which are easy to squeeze into a stuffed car, are the key to effective packing. Place large items in the trunk first, then work in smaller pieces around them like a puzzle. (Be careful not to bury the emergency kit or the cooler in the trunk!) And if you’re planning to stop for the night, stock a separate overnight bag with toiletries and a change of clothes, and pack it last.

Illustration by

Peter Oumanski

A UNIVERSAL CAR CHARGER: Your smartphone is your lifeline. Make sure it doesn’t run out of juice with a Ventev Dashport q1200 ($35, ventev.com), which plugs into the car’s cigarette lighter to power up devices lightning fast. And it works with just about any phone.

REAL-TIME TRAFFIC UPDATES: The Waze GPS mapping app (free, Android, iOS) will give you directions and reroute you if there’s a tie-up ahead, thanks to crowdsourced information from users. MAPPING TOOLS: Have some sights you want to hit along the way? Use the Roadtrippers app (free, Android, iOS) to plot and save a route that hits them all. You can also use it to discover local-gem restaurants and hotels en route. If your tastes run toward quirkier attractions, try Roadside America ($3, iOS), which points you to offbeat landmarks and museums around you.

NEVER-ENDING RADIO:

What’s a road trip without some music? The TuneIn Radio app (free, Android, iOS) will give you access to local stations, along with thousands of others around the globe. You can live-stream music, talk, sports, and news stations, or check out the latest podcasts.

GAS-STATION FINDER:

The GasBuddy app (free, Android, iOS) takes scouting gas stations one step further by helping you identify those with the lowest prices. Type in your origin and destination, and it will even calculate how much you can expect to spend on gas for the entire journey.

CAR SMARTS Don’t forget these crucial details.

VEHICLE CHECK: Test the air pressure in the tires and top off the oil, coolant, and wiper and brake fluids before you embark. Also be sure you’ve packed a spare tire, a jack, and a lug wrench.

IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS:

Confirm that you have your registration, insurance card, and, yes, license. If you have roadside assistance, put the number in your phone.

BREAKDOWN KNOW-HOW:

First pull off the road and put on your hazard lights. Then set out a road flare or a reflective triangle behind your car to alert motorists. Before calling for assistance, note your location by looking for the mile markers on the side of the road.

ROAD RX Quick fixes for when you’re feeling weary.

FATIGUE: Pop a peppermint. The aroma stimulates the area of the brain responsible for arousal.

MOTION SICKNESS: Avoid watching the landscape whizzing past the side windows. Instead, look out the windshield to the horizon line. Also, try acupressure: Using your thumb, apply pressure to the underside of a wrist, about two inches below your palm and between the two tendons. STIFFNESS: Adjust the seat’s lumbar support to align with your lower back, or tuck a small pillow behind your lower back. Stop every two hours for a quick stretch.