10 Best Road Trip Essentials 2025 in the United States

The GoPro HERO12 Black action camera is a fantastic addition to your road-trip essentials, especially if you prioritize capturing high-quality photos and videos of your adventures. It's waterproof up to 33 feet, making it perfect for capturing moments in all weather conditions and underwater activities. The camera features 5.3K HDR video and 27MP photos, ensuring you get stunning visuals with great detail and vibrant colors.

The HyperSmooth 6.0 stabilization technology ensures steady footage, even during bumpy rides or while engaging in high-action sports like biking or skiing. The extended battery life allows for up to 2.5 hours of continuous recording at lower settings and up to 90 minutes at higher resolutions, which is ideal for longer road trips. Additionally, the bundle includes a 64GB memory card and a 50-piece accessory kit, providing everything you need to start capturing your journey right away.

While the GoPro HERO12 Black excels in capturing memories, it does not directly fulfill some other key road-trip essentials like portable GPS navigation, car chargers, or first aid kits. Its primary focus is on recording and capturing moments, so you'll need to complement it with other practical items from the list to ensure a smooth and well-prepared trip. The camera's compact design and lightweight nature are convenient, but some users might find it unnecessary if their focus isn't on documenting their trip in high definition.

The Garmin Edge Explore 2 is a reliable GPS cycling navigator that stands out with its user-friendly interface and robust feature set, making it an excellent choice for cyclists who prioritize navigation and safety. The 3-inch high-resolution touchscreen is glove- and rain-friendly, ensuring visibility even in direct sunlight. With preloaded road, off-road, and indoor activity profiles, users can start using it immediately without complex setups. The improved ride type-specific maps highlight popular roads and trails, enhancing route planning for various bike types.

When connected to a compatible eBike, it offers navigation guidance based on battery status, assist level, and range, which is a thoughtful addition for eBike users. Connectivity features like LiveTrack, GroupTrack, smart notifications, and incident detection add to its safety and communication capabilities, making it suitable for group rides and solo adventures alike. The built-in GPS accurately tracks distance, speed, elevation, and location, supporting a comprehensive biking experience. Compatibility with additional sensors and Varia cycling awareness devices enhances customization and safety.

For those looking for a multi-purpose road trip GPS, its focus on cycling might limit broader applications. The 16-hour battery life is decent but may require frequent charging on longer trips. Additionally, at 4.1 ounces, it is lightweight but might feel slightly bulky on smaller bike setups. The Garmin Edge Explore 2 is tailored for cycling enthusiasts who want precise navigation and safety features during their rides.

The Coleman Roadtrip 225 Portable Propane Grill is a versatile and convenient addition to any road trip. Its portability is a major strength, with quick-fold legs and wheels making it easy to transport and set up at various locations like campsites, beaches, or tailgates. The grill's InstaStart push-button ignition system ensures an effortless and matchless start, enhancing user convenience.

With 11,000 BTUs of heating power and a 225 square inch cooking area, it provides efficient and ample cooking space for outdoor meals. This makes it particularly valuable for those who enjoy barbecuing on the go. The grill operates on a single 16.4 oz. propane cylinder, which needs to be purchased separately, but offers a decent fuel efficiency for a portable unit. The build quality is robust, with a cast iron frame and powder-coated finish ensuring durability.

Additionally, the grill comes with a 3-year limited warranty, providing some peace of mind. However, at 35.12 pounds, it may be a bit hefty for some users to handle easily, and the need for assembly might be a drawback for those looking for a plug-and-play option. Despite these minor inconveniences, the Coleman Roadtrip 225 stands out as a reliable and efficient portable grill, ideal for outdoor cooking enthusiasts on road trips.