Packing for a solo road trip requires more than stuffing your favorite hoodie and a bag of Snickers in a backpack and hitting the road.

While that sounds cool, the majority of road trippers want (and need) realistic strategies and expectations that equip us not only for fun and freedom, but also for confidence and peace of mind. 

When you're traveling solo, especially as a woman, packing becomes less about the art of the quick getaway and more about carefully weighing what actually works for your particular style of adventure.  After 60,000+ miles on the road (and a few hard lessons along the way), I’ve figured out what I must pack to stay organized, safe, prepared, and confident.  It's a little extra work, but that feeling of wonder every time I drive around the bend makes the effort totally worth it.

In this post, I’m walking you through my must-have solo road trip packing items— every one of them are real things I use, carry, rely on, and recommend to every solo traveler I know. These are the essentials that help you feel secure and organized so you can actually relax and soak in the wonder.

If this is your first time thinking about solo road tripping—or you’ve been dreaming of doing it but haven’t made the leap— welcome!  I’ve got something special for you at the end that might just be the nudge you need to get started.

PLEASE NOTE:  Links for all items are included in 🚙 The Most WONDER-filled Road Tripping Shopping List on Amazon, unless otherwise noted.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.  It's a win for both of us!

Let’s start with what matters most—your safety.

1. Personal Safety Items: Birdie Alarm + Pepper Spray

I never hit the road without two small but mighty items: my Birdie personal alarm and my pepper spray. Both are lightweight, easy to keep on your person, and give me that extra layer of confidence whether I’m hiking a trail, camping, or just walking in unfamiliar territory.

The Birdie is a whistle-meets-strobe-light combo that hangs around your neck or clips to a backpack. One quick pull emits an ear-piercing sound that can deter threats.  It's great for scaring off unwanted wildlife or people, and it will grab the attention of anyone within earshot.  

The pepper spray clips right next to it, also on my lanyard. It’s legal in most places, and I’ve picked mine up at Costco or on Amazon. Keep in mind, carrying these items doesn't come from a place of fear—but rather they provide peace of mind. Having them nearby helps me explore (and sleep) better in unfamiliar places, and that’s priceless.

2. Emergency Information - No Purchase Necessary!

This next bit of road trip packing advice may be completely free, but the peace of mind it brings is priceless.  Take time before you leave to gather your emergency information.  It may be the most important thing you take along for the ride.  Not only that, but it's a simple one-time investment of your precious time. 

Please don't brush this off with the "but everything I need is on my phone" response.  You're not wrong, of course, but what happens if your phone breaks, becomes lost, or dies with no way to charge it?  It's incredibly important not to "put all your eggs (in this case - emergency information) in one basket". 

All this is priceless information if you find yourself without online access, and becomes even more valuable if you are involved in an accident of some sort and you need help.  Your emergency envelope ensures they have access to information you may not be able to verbally provide.

Contents:

1.  Copy of health insurance card

2.  Names and phone numbers of emergency contacts.

3.  Names and numbers for doctors and vet (if applicable).

4.  Your blood type, weight, height, allergies and list of medications.

This serves two purposes:

1. You lose access to information on your phone, or you need to access these details quickly.

2.  If anything happens and you're not able to verbally provide this information.

In both cases, it's close by for both you and anyone trying to help you.

I've actually done several videos on all the details things you need to deal with in case of emergency, and I'll put the link to that right here.  

📍 PRO TIP:  Keep everything in an envelope in your center console or glove box and clearly label it "In Case of Emergency".

Do NOT include banking information, credit cards, cash, etc.  All of these items have their place, but not here.  Check out this video and blog post to learn more about storing your essential items safely in your car: Must Know Road Trip Safety Tips.

Car Care Items

Taking care of your car is directly connected to your own personal safety on a solo road trip.  In the video above, I spoke specifically about my air pump, but I'm adding a few more thoughts here.  This isn't a comprehensive list, but I wouldn't travel without these few car care items:

1. Air Pump

Whether I'm inflating my tires or my air mattress, carrying a compact air pump gives me a lot of peace of mind.  I like having one that can be plugged into the "cigarette lighter" in the back of my SUV, which makes it incredibly easy to use for camping items.

2. Jumper Cables

We've all been there, and yet we all know better!  (Cue my dad's warning voice reverberating in my head.)  Yup.  Been there and done that.  My parents bought me pick jumper cables once upon a time, and while they were occasionally received with scoffs and ridicule, those cute little cables bailed me out on several occasions, as well as providing me the opportunity to bless a stranded stranger.  Funny how guys especially didn't seem to care what color they were when I came to the rescue!

3. Car Jump Starter with Air Compressor

I've traded in both items above for my new handy dandy all-in-one jump starter and air compressor.  If space matters, then consider this option for yourself.  But far more importantly, this little item allows me to jump start my car without help from another person or vehicle.  I can do it all by myself!

📍 PRO TIP:  Here's are 3 more must-have car safety items: 

1. Rechargeable flashlight with emergency flashing light

2. Snowbrush/Ice Scraper

3.  Tool Kit

Road Trip Organization

Front Seat Road Trip Organizer

I fully admit I'm a bit of a geek when it comes to organizers of any kind.  It's the teacher in me.  If a "Trapper Keeper" brought your joy and fulfillment in your school days, then you're going to love this Front Seat Organizer.  If you weren't blessed to go to school in the days of that particular magical organizer, don't sweat it.  You're still going to want this!

Over the years I have had a few different strategies for front seat organization.  (When you travel solo, there is much joy in discovering you have the entire passenger side of the car to organize as you please.). I soon realized that how imperative it is to have certain items within arm's reach.  Secondly, I recognized the importance of keeping all my paperwork, chargers, and maps in a place where I could grab them when I stop.

After a few different iterations of organizers, I wholeheartedly recommend his particular one:  The High Road Large CarHop Seat Organizer.  It's been a game-changer for me.  You can check it out HERE.  If this exact organizer doesn't quite suit your particular needs, the High Road Store on Amazon has tons of other options, so you're bound to find one that works for you. 

I love that mine has a lid to cover the contents when I'm away from the car.  It also works with the seat belt to stay secure, includes extra cup holders and plenty of nooks and crannies for pencils, tech gear, chargers and maps.  Lastly, the wide shoulder strap makes it easy to carry the whole thing into a hotel or other destination. 

Coolers

 There just might be as many cooler options out there as there are charming small towns to visit on your next cross country road trip.  Don't let that thought overwhelm you if you're in the market for a great cooler.  Here's my best advice:

Strategize a little bit.  What do you need to keep cold?  For how long?  How about easy access?  Do you need or want something up front with you, or are you satisfied with keeping everything in the rear?

In my opinion, brand isn't that important.  Finding a cooler (or coolers) that meet your specific needs outweighs everything else. Price, size, color, weight and length of time items stay cold is all over the map, not to mention wheels or no wheels, soft or hard.  It's a lot.  But what do you really need?  

Your best option may not be the $500 lime green Yeti with wheels.  Maybe you're better off with the $149 Igloo from Costco that performs almost as well.  Do your research and then buy the best performing cooler that fits your budget and your travel style and needs.

In my SUV, I always travel with an "up front" soft zippered cooler that fits in the well of my front seat.  My particular favorite is made by REI, and it has a shoulder strap for ease of carry.  I can easily reach in and grab a cold drink or some fruit during the day without a big production.

My main cooler sits in the back and rarely comes out of my SUV because it's heavy when it's empty, let alone when it's packed to the brim.  I have an 45 quart RTIC cooler I bought 6 years ago that I'll probably have forever.  It does the job well when I'm on the road for weeks and keeps things cold for 3 days at a time before I stop to refreeze my inserts or get some ice. 

📍 PRO TIP:  I highly recommend these two brands of frozen cooler inserts.  They keep things cold for days:  Titan High Performance Ice Packs (they come in lots of different sizes) and Cooler Shocks Reusable Ice Packs.

Clear Bins

This is about as straight-forward and simple a recommendation than I can make.  Years of solo travel (and let's face it, many more years of being a mom and homeowner) have taught me the value of seeing what's in the dang storage container so I don't have to open it to find out.

In my little packing system, here's how I use bins:

1. One big clear plastic bin for dry goods and non-perishable food items.  Can goods, small pots, bags of chips, salad dressings, etc.

2.  Another big clear bin for camping items:  extension cords, firestarter, flashlight, lantern, etc. 

3.  Smaller bin for shoes.  I've learned to not take more shoes than I need, but also to have one central location for them.  For me, being on the road can be messy with lots of camping and hiking, so a bin that I can just clean out occasionally is the best place to throw all the shoes.

4.  Long bin for clothing:  My SUV has a "secret" compartment in the back, which lifts up for storage. A long wide bin fits snugly in this space and holds most of my clothing.  This keeps my clothes clean and out of the way. 

5. Small bin behind front seat with dog items:  As Lexi my Golden goes pretty much everywhere I go, she has her own bin with a few toys, extra leashes and collars, dog brush, etc. 

6.  Mini chest of drawers:  Yup.  Still clear bins.  This little 3-drawer chest gets strapped in to one side on my back seat and holds 1) socks and underwear, 2) cleaners, sunscreen, etc., and 3) plates, utensils, etc. 

This system works great for me, but I know lots of people who do things completely differently.  I'm not building out my SUV anytime soon, so this is what works for me!

📍 PRO TIP: I keep the majority of your clothing stored away, and pack a small overnight bag that includes a few days' worth of clothes.  Every few days I head back into the storage area and refresh. 

More items coming to this post!

I have a few more specific (and terrific!) items to share with you, so check back tomorrow for the rest of the list.  In the mean time . . . 🔻🔻🔻

🧭 The Resources You Need to Get Started

Going Solo Quick Start Guide

If you’re serious about solo female road trip planning, I’ve put together a FREE 5-day Going Solo Quick Start Guide to help you break through the overwhelm and get going. It’s packed with practical tips and inspiration to help you confidently take your first solo adventure, whether it’s a mini road trip or something bigger.

📍Grab my 5-Day Quick Start Guide to Going Solo here and take it one step at a time.

There's Wonder Around the Bend

If you're ready to truly be inspired and equipped to seek freedom and wonder on your own, then it's time to get your copy of There's Wonder Around the Bend:  an Inspiring Guide to Solo Road Tripping.  Just go for it!

📍 You can learn more HERE.

All the Camping Gear and Goodies

I've put together an Amazon wish list of many of my favorite go-to road-tripping goods, including many of the ones in this article.  From car gear and organizers to favorite tech goodies and must-have dog items, it's all put together in one convenient spot.

📍 Find it all here in the  🚙 The Most WONDER-filled Road Tripping Shopping List  Happy shopping!!