Over the last few years, we’ve crossed borders, climbed mountain passes, and navigated coastal tracks across more than 10 European countries, with kids in tow and snacks eternally underfoot. From a scorching summer road trip along the Croatian coast to a dreamy, sun-soaked week winding through the Loire Valley, we’ve learned exactly what essentials actually deserve precious trunk space. After sharing our personal packing notes with friends and family for years, we’ve finally pulled our tried-and-tested road trip checklist into one place.
Now that you’ve planned your road trip, it’s time to start packing your essentials!
Vehicle Essentials
:: Rental Car Only
- __ Rental agreement and insurance documents.
:: Own Vehicle only
- __ Vehicle registration and insurance documents. (“not all European countries are covered by default, we always check before planning each road trip).
- __ Spare tire, tire changing tools, or a 12v tire pump with a tire repair kit.
- __ Extra car key (optional).
- __ Car manual (consider a digital PDF version, they are often available online and you save space and weight).
- __ Jumper cables. (ask me how I know they are needed).
:: Rental and Own Vehicle
- __ Navigation apps like Waze or Google Maps preinstalled (I prefer Waze it is usually more reliable than Google Maps).
- __ Spotify playlist for the road (optional).
- __ Emergency supply of water and snacks. (with kids in the car, we never leave without at least a litre per person).
- __ Sunglasses (optional).
- __ Sunshade for windshield
- __ Phone charging cable (we went through a few cables before realising a bad one actually drains your battery even while plugged in, not ideal when you’re relying on GPS all day).
- __ First aid kit.
- __ Roll of toilet paper.
Identification
- __ ID card.
- __ Passport (if required, verify specific country requirements).
- __ Driving license.
Money
- __ Credit Card.
- __ Contactless app on phone.
Gadgets and Miscellaneous
- __ Day backpack.
- __ Picnic blanket (optional).
- __ Water bottle.
- __ Phone and charger.
- __ Powerbank (we use a 20.000mAh and a small 5000mAh both from Anker, since we don’t take camera, our phone is used for pictures and movies and the battery gets drained easily).
- __ Umbrella (optional).
- __ Mosquito repellent (France in July taught us this one the hard way).
- __ Swiss Army Knife (check local laws).
- __ Quick-Dry Towel.
- __ Hat.
- __ Sunscreen (essential for summer trips).
Health and Personal Hygiene
- __ Spare contact lenses or glasses
- __ Prescription medicines (and medical documentation for the medicines you take).
- __ Toiletries: soap, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, shaving products.
- __ Feminine hygiene products.
Before you start loading the car, make sure to check our 10 things you should know before making a road trip to avoid common fines and toll mistakes.
