20 Essentials for Your Next Winter Road Trip

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Road-tripping is one of modern life’s great pleasures—on that, we all agree. Packing up and hitting the road—not because we have to, but because we want to—is a blessing that drivers all over the world dream about.

A road trip requires certain necessities, like a travel mug, water bottle, snacks, and the perfect sunglasses. But the wintertime road trip provides a special set of challenges for both driver and vehicle. So what do you need to hit the road when the temperatures drop?

Top Winter Road Trip Essentials

Driving in winter is tricky enough, with unpredictable weather, changing road conditions, and of course, snow, ice, salt, and sand all over the asphalt. You and your vehicle both have to be prepared for slippery pavement, obscured vision, and other hazards inherent to driving in snow. And if you have an emergency in inclement weather, you (and your passengers) need to be prepared to hunker down inside a cold vehicle for a while—perhaps hours.

How can you and your passengers stay as safe and comfortable as possible on a long winter road trip? Check out these suggestions.

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best car blanket

Stalwart Electric Car Blanket

best travel mug

Wagan 12V Heated Travel Mug

best snow brush / ice scraper

AstroAI 27-inch Snow Brush and Ice Scraper

best phone mount

iOttie Auto Sense Qi Wireless Charging Car Phone Mount

best car power inverter

Bestek Power Inverter

best winter driving shades

Maui Jim Red Sands Polarized Sunglasses

best jump starter air compressor combo

Buture Portable Car Jump Starter with Air Compressor

best cell signal booster

weBoost Sleek Car Cell Phone Signal Booster

best winter driving gloves

Simari Winter Gloves

best cargo carrier

Fivklemnz Rooftop Cargo Carrier

best roadside emergency kit

Ranallto Emergency Roadside Kit

best backseat organizer

Uleeka Car Backseat Organizers

best car activities kit

Lifetime Inc. Road Trip Travel Games Activities Kit

best backseat mattress

Hiraliy Backseat Air Mattress

best quick interior cleaner

Chemical Guys

Chemical Guys InnerClean Wipes

best audiobook service

Amazon Audible Subscription

best affordable dash cam

Rove R2 4K Dash Cam

best water bottle

Hydro Flask

Hydro Flask Water Bottle

best car trash can

EPAuto Waterproof Car Trash Can

best road trip snacks

LakeHouse Salty Sweet Snack Box

Jon Langston
Senior Commerce Editor
The Senior Commerce Editor for Hearst Autos, Jon Langston is an avid motorcyclist and gear collector whose work has appeared in Men’s Journal, The Drive, Rider, Iron & Air, Cycle World, and more.

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