19 Gift Ideas for the Road Tripper in Your Life

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Road trips are a great way to explore the country, spend time with loved ones, and experience things you probably wouldn’t have at home. But they can also be a lot of work, especially if you’re not prepared. That’s why we’ve put together this list of 17 gift ideas for the road tripper in your life. Whether you’re looking for a practical gift or a fun one, you’re sure to find something on this list that anyone will love. So what are you waiting for?

Photo above by Honey Fangs on Unsplash

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The Roadtrippers app is an absolute must for any road trip! Plan, save, and share trips with friends while discovering tons of places along your route – lots of cool, quirky roadside attractions, too. You can also log in via desktop, for those at-home, pre-trip planning seshes. We think anyone who loves road trips will be thrilled to have all of the features of this app at their fingertips with a membership.

This might be our favorite gift idea on this list. If you think you might make it to at least three national parks within a year, you 100% should buy an annual parks pass. Each park that charges an admission (which is most of them) costs $25-$30. The pass costs $90. So, by your third park, the pass has paid for itself. You can purchase one at any park entrance, or buy one online. If you’re not convinced yet, read this for more reasons: Why You Should Buy an America the Beautiful Annual Pass.

America The Beautiful annual pass for U.S. national parks. Makes a great gift idea.

Photo: National Park Services

Don’t leave home without ‘em. In fact, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to have a backup pair along for the ride, as sunglasses are often the first thing people leave behind after making a pit stop. Not only do they protect your eyes and help you see better on the road, but you’ll look cooler singing songs and eating snacks.

Let’s face it, keeping devices charged is as crucial to a road trip as gas in the tank and air in the tires. If you’ve got a newer model vehicle, you might likely have built-in USB or USB-C ports. Otherwise, you’ll need an adapter, like one of these.

Cables take a lot of abuse, especially in the vehicle. If damaged, they can charge poorly or even worse, cause damage to your phone or device. Freshen things up – but only if necessary! We hate the idea of creating more waste – especially e-waste – just for the sake of getting something shiny and new.

Power Bank (they’re not just for phones anymore)

No trip is complete without a portable charger. And this bada$$ can do even heavier lifting than just charging a phone – like juicing up your laptop! (*adds to personal wishlist*)

How else are you going to get that Flamin’ Hot Cheetos stuff off your hands? Seriously though, these are great when you need a little freshening up on a long drive, too. We always keep a few packs in our van for those in-between shower days. Sure, by itself it might be an awkward gift idea, but would great as part of aa little “road trip gift bundle,” along with some other items on the list.

We pretty much recommend these as a gift idea for every occasion at this point. They’re good for so many practical uses, and are so small they take up virtually no space. The “never-lose-your-_________” list is endless: keys, bags, pet, vehicle,… you name it! And if you’re not sure what Apple AirTags even are, be sure to read this: Why You Need Apple AirTags Before Your Next Trip.

All of that sun, snacking, and chatting can make for some parched lips. Be sure to arm yourself with some lip balm to fight it. We’re fans of Burt’s Bees products in general, but especially their lip balm. These would be a great gift idea as part of that “road trip bundle” we mentioned above!

This might seem like a no-brainer, but do you actually have a working set of jumper cables in your vehicle? We’ve all been there. You don’t think about it until you need them. So why not be sure you have them so when that time comes, you’re prepared?

In case you plan on having some off-grid outdoor activities, or maybe you just wantto power up a whole bunch of stuff while driving, this portable power station will have your back with 300W and multiple outlets for USB, 12V, AC, and more. It’s small, weighs only 7 lbs., and can be recharged in just 2 hours while you drive, or by a solar panel (sold separately) while you’re off-grid. And by the way, you can even use it to jump start your vehicle, along with the next item in the list.

Taking the whole jumper cable situation we mentioned above to the next level of self-sufficiency, this 12V cable allows you to jump start your car with all but one of Jackery’s Portable Power Stations.