Road trips are an excellent way to have local experiences because you can easily find yourself getting off the tourist path. If you are trying to find amazing gifts for road trips, these 23 ideas will help you decide on the perfect present.
Amazing Gifts For Road Trips
Everlast memory foam cushion – $40
With long hours spent driving and sitting in the car, a cushion can help to make the journey more comfortable. A lightweight, ergonomic seat cushion can be one of the best gifts for road trips! You can’t put a price on comfort, it can make all the difference.
Safetywing travel medical insurance – $40 for 4 weeks
Though travel insurance is essential for any trip, many do not realize that it can make the perfect present! Usually, road trip gifts do not include thousands of dollars in coverage and peace of mind, so this is a great way to get them something that stands out. Check out these 12 tips for choosing travel insurance.
Emergency car kit – $40
This is an affordable and necessary road trip gift for any vehicle. An emergency kit is armed with supplies to cover a host of different emergencies that can arise during both short or long trips. They can be especially important when driving through remote areas.
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Menstrual cup – $40
Contributed by My Eco Flow
Menstrual cycles around a popular topic, but they are a necessary evil. It seems as though they like to start at the worst times, so you don’t want to be caught off guard. Switching to a menstrual cup will save you time, money, frustration, and the planet. Although it can be a learning curve when learning to use a menstrual cup, once you have it down your life will be forever changed. You can travel with no worries, and still do the things you love.
Can you imagine taking a road trip and not having to stop to change your tampon or pad? You can wear menstrual cups for up to 12 hours (depending on your flow), before needing to empty it. If you think it sounds too good to be true, trust me it isn’t. Menstrual cups will make traveling a lot easier, especially during that time of the month.
Looking for affordable gifts for road trips? Check out 30 inexpensive gifts for a road tripper that are all under $40!
Travel yoga mat – $45
Contributed by Lucile HR
The long car rides may be fun and exciting but sitting for hours can cause tension in your lower back, hips, butt, and shoulders. And with the shape of the car seat, the prolonged sitting position can also affect the natural curve of your spine.
Release the tension in those muscles and relieve the body aches and pains by doing some yoga at a rest stop. This should leave you feeling refreshed and more comfortable as you drive.
But who needs a bulky rolled mat that will take up extra space? This is where a lightweight, foldable yoga mat comes in. I recommend Manduka Yoga Travel Mat, which is perfect for all kinds of travel. It folds up nicely to fit in a purse or any bag and is made from sustainable materials.
This yoga mat may be thin but the dense cushioning supports whatever fitness activity you like to perform. It should help you keep up with your fitness routine while on the go.
Solar string lights – $45
Both pretty and useful, these lights are great gifts for road trips because they are solar-powered and last up to 20 hours on a single charge. They are waterproof, 18 ft. long, weigh only 11.3 oz / 320g, can charge electronic devices, and have a 1-year warranty included.
Cell phone + mobile phone holder – $50+
Contributed by Dr Jam Travels
A smartphone is one of the best gifts for road trips. It is a tech swiss knife for travelers with so much at your fingertips. Besides the obvious purpose of telephone calls, it enables communication via SMS, Whatsapp, chats, email.
It can replace your computer so you can research a certain location or make a booking for your lodging. The camera is a big functionality where you eternalize your memories. It helps you find your way around with GPS and compass. Big guides and books are now compactly stored in this small device.
Also, it can provide entertainment via games, music, movies. It also serves as a wallet, so you can pay for things or store your boarding pass. But it doesn’t stop here, it can be a torch, mirror, clock, etc. Make sure to lower your cost and buy a local SIM when you arrive in a new country too.
Wonderboom 2 Bluetooth speaker – $65
Contributed by The Orange Backpack
One of the best parts of any road trip is singing along to your favorite music. Make sure to bring the right equipment to not fully depend on the radio of your rental: bring a music speaker!
We’ve experienced too many times that the car radio of our rental car was so old, it would hardly connect to the local stations and not at all to our phones. As music is essential to any road trip dream, we made sure to pack some equipment all the next trips.
We always bring audio cables to connect our phones to the car radio. This works most of the time, but not with our car in Namibia. We bought a budget music box during our trip there and decided to bring one with us on all our later road trips. Our music box has saved us from quiet drives many times since and we loved having it with us when driving around Mexico last winter, especially during our long drives.
Omnia oven – $67
If you are looking for gifts ideas for long term road trips then this portable oven is perfect! This unique present means you will be able to bake on any type of burners like gas, electric, kerosene, or camp stove, or even on a grill.
UHF two way radio – $70
Contributed by Emma Todd at MY RIG Adventures
Something that we simply would not embark on a road trip without is a good quality UHF Radio. They are an essential item that allows you to communicate easily with other drivers on the road.
You may find yourself in a situation where you can see that another vehicle is not quite right and you need to contact the driver. Or, it may be that you want to let the truck driver in front of you that you’re about to come around and overtake them. They’re also a life-saving device in times of emergency, especially if you don’t have any telephone reception.
Many regular road trippers choose to fit a permanent UHF Radio into their vehicle so that it’s always there and ready to go when need be. But don’t stress if you don’t have a permanent set up. There are plenty of handheld versions on the market these days for those one-off occasions.
Portable folding table – $70
A high-quality multifunctional table will be an amazing gift for a road tripper! This foldable table is small, lightweight, and can be set up in seconds. It can be adjusted for two different heights and has a 1-year warranty. Oh, and it is designed to withstand high heat so it can be used as a table to hold a grill too!
ENO hammock – $70
Get outside of the vehicle wherever you want with one of the most versatile gifts for road trips! Hammocks help to enjoy incredible views by letting you relax and take it all in. More specifically, ENO hammocks are the best of the best! Their hammocks are trustworthy, super lightweight, and compact.
Car jump starter – $80
Usually, most people pack car jumping cable before they go road tripping, but this car jump starter is a game-changer. It fits in your hand or pocket but can jump start your vehicle. There is no need to wait for hours in the rain or scorching heat for another vehicle to get power. This starter also acts as a flashlight and power bank to charge electronics.
Portable espresso maker – $80
For any coffee lovers, gifts for road trips should include a way to get a quick caffeine fix. This impressive espresso maker does not need a battery or electricity, comes with a protective case, and weighs only 12oz / 336g.
Compact outdoor cooking set – $95
This outdoor cooking set will help you make delicious meals anywhere the road takes you, even if it is remote. Cooking does not have to be difficult with this compact set that includes 2 pots, a frying pan, 2 strainer lids, a cutting board, folding pot handle, and a stuff sack (portable sink for washing).
Car cooler – $111
Contributed by Wander-Lush
A car cooler is a perfect road trip accessory, especially if you’re hitting the highway in summer. This nifty gadget can keep beverages chilled and food fresh when you’re on the go, making it ideal for longer journeys as well as day hikes and camping trips.
A car cooler is essentially a small portable refrigerator that you plug into your car’s cigarette lighter socket to power up. There are dozens of models on the market ranging from large iceboxes to small, portable cases. I love the YAPASPT brand of car coolers that are housed in a soft bag with shoulder straps, so you can take it out of the car and carry it with you.
It has a generous capacity of 25 liters (34 beer cans, if that’s your thing) and when you’re not using it, folds down for easy storage. You can also use a car cooler in winter to keep food warm without having to plug it in.
Backpacking chair – $120
Contributed by Voyageur Tripper
A backpacking chair isn’t only useful while you’re out on the trail. It’s perfect to take on road trips as well! Whether you need a place to sit while stopping at a rest stop, plan on hiking during your trip, or just want your throne for whatever this trip may throw your way, the Helinox Chair Zero is a great item to take along.
I love the Helinox because it is super lightweight and packs up to almost the size of a water bottle. This chair also comes with a 5-year warranty and is a great bang for your buck. I love taking my chair along with me no matter what adventure I’m headed out on.
Dashboard camera – $120
Contributed by The Travelling Tom
One item that many people don’t think about taking with them on a road trip is a dash camera. You may wonder why it’s necessary, but if you’re unfortunate enough to be in an accident, you’ll know why.
A dash camera records everything that happens in front of you, so if you’re in an accident, you can use the footage as evidence if necessary. If you’re doing a big trip such as a Sydney to Brisbane road trip, a dash camera can be invaluable if the worst-case scenario does occur.
You can also use the footage to create a fantastic time-lapse video of your trips, which you can post to YouTube, or share with your friends. Dash cameras may be a little pricey, but they’re worth their weight in gold in the long run!
Portable Jetboil stove – $130
Contributed by Meandering Wild
The JetBoil stove is perfect for a road trip on the open road as it allows you to make a brew on the go. While flasks allow you to take hot water ready boiled, there is nothing better than waiting for the water to boil surrounded by stunning landscapes in an isolated spot. It is made up of a large mug/pot that fixes securely onto a burner with a small gas canister below.
Unlike other boilers, this is far more stable as the pot sits right over the canister and the flame is sheltered from the wind making it far more efficient. We made use of the JetBoil while traveling Iceland and enjoyed lots of tea, coffee, and soups throughout the day wherever we were.
Tough waterproof camera – $349
Contributed by A Nomad’s Passport
If you plan a road trip with a lot of stops in national parks or at the ocean, a waterproof and shock-proof camera like the Olympus TG-6 is a must-have. It allows you to capture all the great and memorable moments so you can remember them forever.
Be it something as simple as running out of gas in the Australian Outback or snorkeling with a turtle – the Olympus TG-6 enables you to capture it all. And as it is waterproof to a depth of 15m (50 feet), you do not have to worry about camera cases or other things. It is possible to take photos in the ocean right before capturing an incredible sunset from the beach.
It is small so it does not take up much of the limited space in your car on road trips. And if you accidentally drop the TG-6, the worst thing to happen is usually nothing more than a scratch.
DJI Mavic Mini drone – $497
Contributed by It’s Sometimes Sunny in Bangor
These day’s drones are small enough to take off from your hand, they can fit in your pocket, and they’re just essential for a proper photography kit. And while there are general restrictions for their use in built-up areas, they are perfect for road trips and capturing the landscapes in between.
But most of all they are great for couples’ photos as they give an unlikely opportunity for romantic shots when traveling just the two of you. You can pull the car to the side of the road, to launch the drone at a safe distance, and snap some of the most memorable moments of a road trip.
With GPS tracking as well, they are simple and idiot-proof to use with automatic return home functions. It’s hard to go wrong with these as gifts for road trips!
Rumpl down puffy blanket – $249
Looking for high-quality gifts for road trips? This lightweight outdoor blanket is filled with responsibly sourced down feathers. The blanket is washable and dryer safe and has a DWR coating making it water, odor, and stain-resistant. It repels dirt, sand, spilled drinks (pretty much everything you throw at it), and includes a ‘cape clip’ to make it wearable.
Amazon gift card – any amount
Hopefully, these ideas have helped you figure out some gifts for road trips that you can give. If you are still stumped with what to give or if it is a last-minute gift, consider getting an Amazon gift card!
How To Pick Gifts For Road Trips
The magical thing about road tripping is that it usually makes funny and memorable travel stories to look back on later. Road trip gifts can be a great way to show your friends or family that you care about them and that you can not wait to go on an adventure with them. Here are a few travel tips for choosing the perfect gift.
Know The Person / People
Think about who you are buying for. What do they like? Are they a wine or coffee lover? What would they use when road tripping? Is there anything they need? Are they an avid road-tripper or a beginner? Example: Road trip gifts for outdoorsy women should be practical and durable to handle the elements.
Know The Place
Think about their destination or region. Where are they going? Are there any location-specific items or ideas that they might need?
Know The Vehicle
Think about their transport. What do they drive? Do they usually use a car, camper, truck, van, RV, etc? This helps to determine the size, weight, and usefulness of a road trip gift. Example: Gifts for van lifers should be minimalistic; small and lightweight items with maximum usefulness.
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