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 JoyTutus 2 Pack Cup Holder Tray is a handy accessory designed to improve comfort and convenience during road trips. Its large 10-inch tray can hold meals like burgers and fries, while the built-in cup holders fit most large bottles and mugs between 18 to 40 ounces, including popular brands like Yeti and Hydro Flask. The tray also features a dedicated phone slot with cable holes, allowing you to keep your device charged and watch videos hands-free, which is a nice touch for entertaining passengers.

One of its standout features is the 360° rotatable design, enabling you to adjust the tray to the most convenient position for eating or reaching snacks without hassle. Its universal fit is compatible with many vehicles, from SUVs to golf carts, as long as your car's existing cup holder is between 2.75" and 3.25" in diameter. The offset long base helps the tray fit in tight spots like near the gear shifter or center console, making it versatile for different car layouts.

This product focuses mainly on food and drink organization and serves as a comfort and convenience booster. The rubber material is durable but may require cleaning after spills. If you often eat on the go or want to keep drinks and gadgets organized while driving, this cup holder tray is a practical addition.