Keep Your Provisions Close At-Hand

If you’re looking forward to going on vacation this Summer, and your vacation is going to involve some driving, make sure you’ve got your provisions stocked up before you go! We’ve mentioned before about vehicle safety and making sure you’re roadworthy, but let’s take a moment to address personal provisions that you should consider taking along. There are obviously a million things you could also bring, but we’ve cherry-picked a list of things we’ve found most useful.

1. Water: we recommend making sure you’ve got adequate water. Keeping gallon jugs of clean water are always a good idea, especially if covering large distances in poorly-populated areas. If you like it cold and refreshing, consider taking along a cooler. Yes, soft drinks are great and tasty to take along, but consider always having water as a backup for emergencies.
2. Snacks: no one likes being around “hangry” passengers, especially little kids. Keeping “Die Kinder” (“The Kids” in German) occupied can be a challenge, so plan accordingly as they can quickly lead to distracted driving. Driving for long distances on an empty stomach can also lead to trouble if you’re blood sugar-sensitive. Consider taking along some quick and convenient snacks just to keep everyone “topped” off is a good idea.
3. USB Charging Cable and GPS: remember the “old days” of maps and having to ask for directions? Yeah, we’re trying to forget those, too! GPS are a modern must-have for travel, particularly when visiting unfamiliar areas or plotting good navigational routes. If your vehicle doesn’t have a built-in GPS system, make sure you’re covered not only with your handy dandy handheld device but also with w USB charging cable to be sure you’ve got the “juice” to get where you’re going! A dashboard cellphone mount is also a “nice-to-have”.
4. Roadside Emergency Kits: these are always a good idea for the occasional emergency situations as well as for peace-of-mind. These are available at many hardware stores as well as “superstores” and also online and are definitely smart investments. We’ll go into specifics about what should be included in a later, more focused article, so keep your eyes open for that.
5. First Aid Kit: so long as we’re in “kit mode”, we should also consider having a good, complete first aid kit handy for any unforeseen medical problems or injuries that might come up. In the interest of brevity, we’ll spare you the specifics of what should be included for another article.  
6. Jumper Cables: if these are not already included in your roadside emergency kit, a good pair of jumper cables can be a lifesaver! Make sure you’re not hitting the road without them!  
7. Portable Tire Inflator and Tire Gauge: flat tires are always annoying to have to deal with, so make sure you’re prepared. We’ve mentioned before about checking your spare tire before hitting the road, but we’d also recommend a portable tire inflator that can be run off your cigarette lighter socket (see here: Best Portable Tire Inflators 2025, Tested) as this will eliminate the need to find an external electrical outlet. Of course, a tire gauge is also handy to have with you!
8. Blankets, Towels, and Pillows: these always find use on the longer trips, especially if travelling with kids. Having these around for any “road naps” that you might need are also good ideas.
9. Hand Sanitizer: these always find numerous uses on the longer trips!

We at Ditmire Motorworks are always concerned about your safety and wellbeing! For more tips about roadtrip gear that you might find handy, see the weblinks provided below. Safe driving, and we’re here if you need some help staying safe and road worthy!

1. 32 Road Trip Essentials for Adults and Kids
2. 71 Items: Road Trip Packing List Essentials | Pack Hacker