Due to economic uncertainty and air travel issues, Americans are hitting the road this summer more than they have in previous years. The old-fashioned road trip across the state or across the country is popular again.
Prepare for a road trip using our Summer Road Trip Ready guide.
KYSEK’s Road Trip Ready Checklist:
Check Out Your Car
The vehicle that you're driving needs to be in tip-top condition. Driving for several hours at high speeds in the summer heat can be too much for a car or truck that is in need of maintenance or repair.
- Ensure that the tires have enough tread, have a good quality spare, have a tire gauge, and have a portable tire inflator packed in the car. You should always have tire-changing tools in the trunk.
- Have your oil changed at regular intervals. Don’t take off for a few weeks when you’re due for an oil change now. Check your coolant level as well and top off if it’s lower than it should be.
- Have emergency supplies in case of a breakdown like a flashlight, jumper cables, flare, and empty gas can. You should keep a charged up portable phone charger in the car for this reason.
Bring the Essentials, and Don’t Overpack
You may be able to stow some cargo on the roof or on a trailer, but you probably won’t need all of those items for your summer road trip. Just keep it to the essentials like one or two outfits per day, toiletries, medications, and necessary electronics/entertainment.
- KYSEK’s Tote Bag is a stylish travel bag made of a taupe wax canvas exterior and cool blue interior. The bright interior lining makes it easier to find things within the bag. There are multiple pockets and zippered pockets to stow your items.
- Take along the necessary paperwork like car registration and insurance forms (don’t rely on phone apps for these as you may not have service), personal IDs, and health insurance cards.
- Don’t forget to pack emergency supplies like a map, cash, first aid kit, hand sanitizer, and even wipes/toilet paper.
Keep Snacks in the Car
It can be tempting to stop at fast food restaurants or roadside diners, but all of that stopping and eating can add extra drive time and expenses (as well as calories) to the road trip. Keeping snackable items or even meals and plenty of drinks in the car can cut down on those unnecessary stops. You also need to pack water and food for your pets.
- KYSEK’s Scout Lunchbox is ideal for small snacks. The freezable ice pack that sits in the bottom ensures that the contents stay cold for hours. The lid has a clasp that can hold the included stainless steel thermos or two beverage cans. The Scout was created in part to keep medications cold while on the road, so this is a great product for taking insulin and other prescriptions with you on the road.
- KYSEK’s TREKKER LT is a soft-side backpack ice chest that holds a large amount of ice, drinks, and more for hours. You can roll it up and stash it under a car seat when empty. TREKKER has a 24 can capacity. The extra-cushioned shoulder straps and chest buckle make it easy to carry to the car, to the beach, to the campsite, and beyond.
Summer 2025 is definitely the year of the nostalgic American road trip. The more you prepare for a road trip, the less you’ll have to worry about.
