Dreaming of driving off into the sunset?
Videos by TravelAwaits
Americans are some of the world’s most active drivers—and why wouldn’t we be? From Route 66 to the Pacific Coast Highway to Glacier National Park, stunning and picturesque drives crisscross the country.
Whether heading from coast to coast on a wild, romantic adventure or simply driving interstate for a holiday, road trips signal big fun.
But those who buckle up with all the right preparations and road trip products in place will get more out of their journey.
They can take advantage of those little roadside surprises, stay more comfortable during long travel days, and rest easy knowing they’re prepared for just about any crisis.
And what’s the best way to prepare for a perfect road trip? Having the most handy road trip products on the market.
While companies launch and sell new items to drivers year in and year out, I’m hyper-focused on high-quality brands that offer unique solutions.
Looking for a list of road trip products that will double the fun while minimizing messes, delays, and more? Start here.
*Tis the season for massive Black Friday sales! All road trip products marked with an asterisk* are on sale for Black Friday and potentially up until Travel Tuesday. Take advantage while you can.
Quick look at our must-have road trip products
- A multi-purpose emergency kit: *LIANXIN Emergency Roadside Kit
- A perfect shade solution for sunny drives: PEMOtech Window Shade
- A single place for all your drinks: *Seven Sparta Car Cupholder
- A seamless driving buddy: Qifutan Car Phone Mount
- A multi-functional charging port: *CociVivre Car Charger Port
- Your back’s best friend: *Qutool Lumbar Support Pillow
- The end-all solution for back-seat silence: *Fangcor Car Headrest Mount
- A more functional way to store coats: *Amooca Car Seat Headrest Hooks
- A storage solution for in-car activities: High Road Carhop Organizer
What we looked at/metrics
- Public opinion—we select favorites only
- Size and shape—our road trip products should fit in just about any car
- Quality of construction and materials—no cheap duds
Review for must-have road trip products
*LIANXIN Emergency Roadside Kit
Nobody wants to get stuck on the roadside—but if it happens, you’ll be happy to have the LIANXIN Emergency Roadside Kit with you. This large pack comes with absolutely everything a stranded driver could need.
It’s got the necessary technical items like jumper cables, a full tool kit, emergency reflectors, and safety hammers. But it also has those little extras you want like a poncho, traction rope, and even a safety blanket.
PEMOtech Window Shade
These window shades are some of my favorite road trip products because of their added features. Unlike most standard window shades, you get three top-tier benefits from the PEMOtech Window Shade.
First and foremost, its window shades don’t absorb heat, meaning you won’t be hotboxing your car while trying to defend yourself from the sun. Second, they fit on almost every type of window—it’s basically a large pillow-like shade that fits over your door. Third, that means any tiny fingers won’t be able to rip it out of place.
*Seven Sparta Car Cupholder
Whether you’re using a Stanley Cup, a standard coffee mug, or a 7-11 Big Gulp, the Seven Sparta Car Cupholder is a one-size-fits-all solution. This is one of those deceptively fantastic road trip products because I imagine American cup sizes will continue to evolve with new trends.
Speaking of Stanley Cups, I highly recommend you check out the Aerolight Transit Bottle. It’s lighter than their other models and perfect for traveling. Plus, it’s on sale for Black Friday.
Qifutan Car Phone Mount
I imagine the vast majority of drivers already have a preferred phone mount in their car—but in the even you’re renting (either domestic or abroad), I suggest this car phone mount.
The Qifutan Car Phone Mount is versatile and durable, offering a handful of ways for you to set up smartphone-based navigation. That’s particularly important if you’re not sure what size vehicle you’ll be renting.
*CociVivre Car Charger Port
Charing ports aren’t hard to come by—so why list the CociVivre Car Charger Port as one of my favorite road trip products of the year? It’s got a few sexy features that make it highly functional and discreet.
First, its cables are retractable, letting you pull them out when you need them and retract them when you don’t. No more rolling up cables and shoving them into consoles. The charger also adjusts in different directions, which is helpful for those with smaller cars.
Lastly, it has four types of charging capabilities: 2.4A lightning cable, 2.4A USB, Type-C 3A, and PD 3A.
Qutool Lumbar Support Pillow
Lumbar support comes in all shapes and sizes. You should consider the Qutool Lumbar Support Pillow for two primary reasons
One, it’ll mold to your back giving you personalized and unprecedented support. Second, you can adjust the pillow to support either your upper or lower back. As an added bonus, you can also use this bad boy for driving, working, or even gaming.
*Fangcor Car Headrest Mount
Want to install an entertainment center in your backseat for your passengers? If you have a tablet, all you need is this Fangcor Car Headrest Mount.
It’s designed to fit around the headrest of the front seat(s), letting you slot in a tablet for those sitting in the back. It’s designed to fit almost all tablets on the market—but it also comes with a year-long warranty just in case anything goes wrong.
*Amooca Car Seat Headrest Hooks
Want to free up space in your car—especially when winter hits and you’re lugging around a massive coat? The Amooca Car Seat Headrest Hooks turn your back seat into a closet.
Whether you want to hang up heavy coats, school bags, shopping bags, or just about anything else, these tiny hooks will see you through. For anyone embarking on a cross-country road trip, this product will free up space as your car gets messier and messier.
High Road Carhop Organizer
Do you need a mini-cooler for your road trip? What about a storage bin with multiple compartments and pockets? Are you looking for solutions that come with built-in seatbelts?
If you answered yes to any of those questions, the High Road Carhop Organizer was made for you.
It’s marketed toward kids and busy families but, once again, I think it’s ideal for anyone going on a long road trip. With every mile, the mess just seems to build and build.
