20 Road trip essentials: What to pack on a road trip

Essential gear and documents to take on a road trip
1. Car manual
2. Spare tyres
3. Roadside emergency kit
Road trip navigation and communication tools
4. Paper maps
6. Cell phones, phone chargers, USB cords, and power banks
7. Portable Wi-Fi
8. CB radio
Personal and medical supplies to take on a road trip
9. Cash and cards
10. Medical first aid kit
11. Personal care kit
12. Comfort kit
13. Clothes, headgear, and footwear
14. Medium and large water bottles
Road trip entertainment and media kit
15. Road trip playlist
16. Camera and USB chargers
17. Books, magazines, and board games
Road trip miscellaneous items
18. Garbage bags
19. Food and snacks
Time to tackle the open road

With endless kilometres of beautiful nature and rememberable country towns, caravanning in Australia continues in high gear. And if you’re looking for a place with a diversity of places and experiences to offer, caravanning in Western Australia ticks all the right boxes.

Whether you’re looking to enjoy stunning scenery on land or by the sea, you’re sure to enjoy a road trip adventure with the whole family in WA.

You can start with Perth and head to Broome, or go on an adventure in Karijini National Park near Tom Price. You might also want to focus on the Indian Ocean Drive route and take detours to various other places along the way, like Cervantes, Jurien Bay, Green Head, Leeman, and the twin towns Dongara and Port Denison.

Aside from planning your route, you should also know what to pack on a road trip. By preparing your packing list for a road trip, you’ll be ready for the adventures that lay ahead. Also, knowing what to bring on a road trip means you’ll have all the food, water, clothes, and gear you need to have a fun and stress-free adventure.

So if you’re making preparations for your road trip in Western Australia, pack the following road trip essentials.

Essential gear and documents to take on a road trip

Everything in this category is non-negotiable — you need to have these with you whenever you’re embarking on a long drive.

1. Car manual

No matter how thoroughly you stay on top of vehicle care and maintenance, it’s possible for something to malfunction or stop working out of the blue. When this happens, you’ll need your car manual to troubleshoot the issue, whether it’s a malfunctioning light or windshield wiper.

2. Spare tyres

Besides conducting a tyre check before you go, don’t omit a spare tyre or two from your road trip checklist. This includes both tyres for your towing vehicle and your caravan (if you have one in tow).

3. Roadside emergency kit

Another one of the top things to bring on a road trip is your roadside emergency kit. It could be your saving grace if you get a flat tyre, get into an accident, or lose your way. A basic roadside emergency kit should contain the following:

Rescue knife or Swiss Army knife
Two light sticks or bright flashlights with spare batteries
Tyre pressure gauge
Battery booster cables
Jumper cables
Heavy-duty work gloves
Basic toolkit
Fire extinguisher
Mini duct tape
Permanent markers
Emergency blanket
Umbrella
Waterproof poncho, reflective vest, or jacket
Warning triangle
Whistle
Window breaker

If you’re going to a place for the first time or you have a long itinerary planned, it’s crucial to have the right navigation and communication gear on your car trip checklist.

4. Paper maps

Sure, you may have GPS or Google Maps and other similar apps. However, these are not 100% reliable, especially in places with a weak to non-existent signal. If you want detailed downloadable maps which you can use offline, use something like the Maps.me app.

5. Compass

Even if you’re not going on an ocean voyage, a compass is still a useful navigation tool in case you lose your way.

6. Cell phones, phone chargers, USB cords, and power banks

Cell phones are useful for not only communication and navigation but also for information and entertainment. However, never operate yours while driving. Instead, take your wireless hands-free or Bluetooth kit with you so you can take important calls. Better yet, park your vehicle if you’re on a long call.

7. Portable Wi-Fi

A portable Wi-Fi device can come in handy if you need to stay connected to the outside world but don’t have cell service where you are.

8. CB radio

An ultra-high-frequency citizen band (UHF CB) radio is useful if you’re planning to head into the bushland or remote Australian outback where cell service tends to be weak.

Personal and medical supplies to take on a road trip

Aside from the above, on your packing list for a road trip, you’ll also need some personal items and medical supplies to keep you covered while on the road.

9. Cash and cards

You’ll need your bank and credit cards in places that accept these. However, always bring cash with you, as you might need it in some remote or cash-only facilities.

10. Medical first aid kit

Accidents or other mishaps can happen while you’re on a long drive, so it makes sense to be prepared with a medical first aid kit containing some or all of the items below.

Alcohol, antibacterial spray, or liquid
Bug spray
Cleaning wipes
Conforming cotton bandage
Cotton balls
Crepe bandage
Dressing combination pad
Emergency rescue blanket (for hypothermia or shock)
Fabric or plastic bandages
Gauze pieces in different lengths
Hypoallergenic adhesive tape
Injury dressing or pad
Instant ice pack (for bug bites)
Instruction or guide on providing basic first aid, including CPR
Notebook and pen
Personal prescriptions, medications, and other items (e.g., inhalers, EpiPen, etc.)
Safety pins
Scissors and tweezers

11. Personal care kit

Stock up on toiletries and other personal care products. These include your toothbrush, toothpaste, sunscreen, wet wipes, hand sanitiser, lip balm, comb or hairbrush, tweezers, hairpins, ties, and scrunchies. Also, bring lots of toilet paper and feminine hygiene products.

12. Comfort kit

You’ll also need to take those items that’ll help you enjoy a comfortable and fun ride, such as your sunglasses, blankets (to keep you warm this winter), pillows, eating utensils and travel mugs, reusable water bottles, car window shade, reusable bags, breath mints, and sling bags.

13. Clothes, headgear, and footwear

Take several changes of clean clothes with you, as well as hats or caps and various types of footwear appropriate to the weather and places in your itinerary. Bring swimwear and towels, too, in case you plan on going swimming.

14. Medium and large water bottles

Other than your main drinking water supply, take a couple of portable drinking bottles filled with water. These will come in handy in case you need to go on a hike or are stranded.

Road trip entertainment and media kit

Put together an entertainment kit that’s sure to keep you relaxed and entertained along the way. If you’re going on a road trip with kids, this is even more essential.

15. Road trip playlist

Create a road trip playlist comprising classics and all-time favourites you and your party can sing along to as you continue your road adventure.

16. Camera and USB chargers

Capture fabulous views and once-in-a-lifetime experiences on camera using photos and videos. You’ll enjoy these mementoes for years to come.

17. Books, magazines, and board games

Chill with your family over some reading materials and board games as you take it easy on your first day at a Western Australia caravan park.

Road trip miscellaneous items

Depending on how far your journey is, you’ll also need to bring the following:

18. Garbage bags

These are great for storing soiled clothes aside from your refuse.

19. Food and snacks

Although you’ll surely be eating at some local restaurants wherever you go, there’s no harm in bringing some food supplies like bread, canned tuna, and instant noodles. Also, bring along your favourite and healthy road trip snacks like granola bars, crackers, dried fruit, and nuts.

20. Cooler

Quench your thirst with your favourite cold drinks by putting these in a car cooler. You can also keep your homemade sandwiches here, as well as other perishable food items.

Time to tackle the open road

So, now you know what to take on a road trip, are you raring to go on your Western Australia adventure?

You know you’re ready when you have the above supplies loaded in your vehicle.

If you are needing to park your caravan while on your road trip adventure, Summerstar Tourist Parks have family-friendly accommodation available across Western Australia.

Happy road tripping!