I've spent more than 400 hours on road trips across the US. Here are 8 things I always pack for a long-haul drive.

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I've spent more than 400 hours on road trips across the US. Here are 8 things I always pack for a long-haul drive.

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Business Insider's newsman has been on additional than a dozen highway trips. Here are her essentials for a gentle ride. Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I'm 30 years old, and I motionless don't cognize how to drive, but that hasn't stopped me from spending hundreds of hours in the passenger place on highway trips throughout the country.

I've road-tripped additional than 26,000 miles throughout 31 states in all area of the continental US.

When it comes to packing up the car, I've certainly made several mistakes. I've forgotten crucial items and desired I'd packed essentials I hadn't equal considered bringing.

But 400 hours and additional than a dozen trips later, I think I've mastered the art of packing for a highway trip. Here are the things I'll continually bring alongside me, no matter the destination.

I frequently ignore to group motion sickness medication for highway trips and end up stopping for several on the way.

Dramamine

The author uses Dramamine to combat motion sickness. Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I've continually been prone to motion sickness, but equal if you're not, driving on winding, hilly roads may create you awareness woozy if you're not used to them.

I continually group my own origin of caffeine.

A hand holds a mio energy bottle

The author's favorite Mio flavor. Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I dislike that I need caffeine to remain alert, but that's anywhere I'm at.

I affection a coffee halt on a highway trip. But I don't akin to depend on them for caffeine since expenses rack up quickly — particularly on lengthy journeys.

I favor to bring Mio Energy to squirt into my h2o bottle. It adds a flavorful boost akin to Gatorade and keeps me hydrated.

I download playlists and podcasts to keep the car entertained.

A hand holds a pale iPhone in a yellow case alongside a display displaying a Spotify playlist called Not Quite Classical

The author's downloaded playlist. Joey Hadden/Business Insider

When you're driving on open roads, you never cognize whenever you'll endure service.

Especially whenever road-tripping alongside others, comfortable shoes awareness essential to sustaining my fine mood.

White stumble on shoes in forefront of a dreary backpack and a pale pillow on a blue place inner a train cabin.

The author wears her comfiest shoes for a 30-hour train journey in 2021. Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I continually choice a cozy brace that slips on and off easily, akin Wally shoes or Crocs.

Another mood booster for me is a spotless car.

a banana peel, bottle, and cup filled alongside wrappers on the mid console of a car alongside a dreary interior

This car likely doesn't have a trash can inside. victorass88/Getty Images

From bare food containers to candy wrappers, a highway trip can quickly create a car messy. So don't ignore to bring a small trash can or bag to keep things tidy.

Don't ignore wipes — particularly whenever dining in the car.

The author's toiletries on a pale panel including a sweatband and pale bundle of laundry sheets on top of a pink rag. Below these items, there's a pale and blue electric toothbrush alongside an astronaut helmet shaped cover, an orange bag of liquid items, a dreary bundle of wipes, and a thick, pale scrunchy meant for drying hair.

The author packs wipes for a trip. Joey Hadden/Business Insider

When item spills, or your hands are sticky, you'll be glad you packed them.

And lastly, don't ignore a camera to grasp those stellar American landscapes.

A silhouette of the author holding a camera alongside a sunset and cable towers in the background.

The author stops for photos during a highway trip in southwestern America. Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Of course, there are another essentials for highway trips, akin emergency gear, sunglasses, and a reusable h2o bottle. But the items on this catalog have helped me create a long, bumpy journey go smoothly.

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Business Insider tells the innovative stories you desire to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you desire to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you desire to know

Joey Hadden is a journey newsman and photojournalist at Business Insider based in NYC. She covers transport modes, substitute lifestyles, and luxury travel. Many of Joey's stories are ocular features that provision readers a front-row place to her individual experiences at residence and about the world.Joey graduated from St. Edward's University in May 2019 alongside a BA in Photocommunications. Since joining Business Insider in 2019, Joey has traveled by train in seven distinct countries, including overnight rides enduring up to 53 hours. She's ridden on many distinct train lines, including Amtrak, Via Rail, Nightjet, and the iconic Orient Express of the 21st century, among others. During her travels, she's slept in countless accommodations — five-star hotels, unique small homes, and personal train cabins, to name a few.When traveling in North America, Joey takes readers inner the continent's wealthiest enclaves anywhere billionaires conceal away, from Jackson Hole, Wyoming, to Medina, Washington. When she's not taking trains, notes, or pictures, Joey spends her period chanting and playing drums for the indie-rock collection Blanket Approval.

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