When packing for a road trip, versatility is the name of the game. These striped woven blankets — often called Mexican blankets, falsa blankets, saddle blankets or yoga blankets — are ideal for traveling. You can use them as a beach blanket, towel, table cloth, picnic blanket and truly anything else. They shake off dirt and sand easily and dry really quickly. This is the exact blanket I have; it’s handmade with recycled fibers on a traditional loom. It’s 50 by 80 inches.
Get it from Amazon for $23.59.
Keeping your teeth clean is an easy way to trick yourself into feeling fresh, even after 10 hours of driving in a hot car. I owe it all to my battery-powered Phillips toothbrush, which comes with its own little traveling case. It works with a AAA battery, so you don’t need to worry about packing a charger. It also has a little timer in it, so you can ensure you’re scrubbing for the whole two minutes, even on the road.
Get it from Amazon for $19.49 (available in four colors).
Everything tastes better out of a camp mug. For hot and cold drinks away from home — from morning coffee to cheap white wine with ice cubes in it — you can’t beat a Yeti mug. It comes with an easy on-and-off sliding top, so it’s great to take on walks and hikes. If you’re staying at a hotel for a night, you feel a lot more put together pouring the hotel room coffee into this in lieu of the dinky paper cups they give you. This comes in three sizes and 13 colors.
Get it from Yeti for $30+.
My Amazon earrings are another holy grail item that come with me whenever I travel. They’re super light and add an instant chic boost to any outfit. Pop ’em on and you’ll feel all made up, even in dirty bike shorts. They’re ideal for road trips because they have attached backs, and they’re under $15, so if you do lose them, it’s not the end of the world.
Get them from Amazon for $12.95+ (available in three colors and multiple sizes).
You don’t think you need a waterproof duffle bag until you’re eight days into a 14-day excursion and you didn’t properly close your water bottle so that after a short stop on the highway, everything in the backseat is now sopping wet. Luckily, I know myself and I prepared for such accidents by taking my waterproof Rains weekender bag with me. It’s surprisingly spacious for a “weekend” bag (you can easily fit a week’s worth of clothes, sans shoes), and it looks super chic, even after two weeks in the car. It’s fuss-free, with one big pocket, so you won’t lose stuff in too many side pockets.
Get it from Amazon for $95.
I’ve written about my Jackery power bank before, and it was the first thing to go in the car when packing for this trip. You want to make sure you charge it at home before you go, though you can charge it with a car charger or at a hotel outlet, too. A single charge contains enough juice to charge a phone 30 times or a laptop four times.
Get it from Amazon for $169.
Let me start by saying that I wore dollar store knock-offs for three summers before bucking up and getting a real pair of EVA Birkenstocks, and boy, they do not disappoint. They’re really sturdy sandals, even for being rubbery, and they keep their integrity after long walks in nature or when drenched in water. I like to wear them for long periods of time, if I’ve actively driving or exploring a new city on foot, and haven’t gotten blisters or foot pain from them. And they’re super easy to dress up (I’ve worn them to a couple of weddings and other summer cocktail parties and events), so they’re a great pair of travel shoes. I have this lime green color (as well as red and baby blue) and truly wear them daily. These come in a ton of colors.
Get them from Dick’s Sporting Goods for $49.95 (available in women’s sizes 5–10.5).
Long trips on the road mean comfort is key. These bike shorts from Lululemon are so airy and light, you feel like you’re not wearing anything at all. Still, they’ve great for keeping your legs all dry and not sweaty and stuck to your car seat after hours of sitting and can easily be worn under a dress or skirt. They come in 35 colors, two inseams, and in women’s sizes 0–14.
Get them from Lululemon for $44+ (originally $64).
