We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
1. A portable car vacuum that conveniently plugs right into your car to pick up road trip messes quickly, keeping the car clean and *you* stress-free.
2. A pair of kick mats so you don't have to worry about your little ones scuffing your seats during one of their temper tantrums because your answer to "Are we there yet?" just wasn't good enough.
3. Road trip games that'll keep everyone in the back seat entertained for hours while you get some much-needed "you time." It's perfect for parents who prefer their kids not look at screens the entire trip!
4. A near-universal phone holder so you can easily see any incoming calls *and* your navigation without ever having to look away from the road.
5. An essential oil diffuser that allows you to add drops of your absolutely favorite essential oil to the felt pads and have your car smelling amazing the second the AC blows through the vents, minimizing the smell of stinky feet in the back seat that suspiciously started around mile 56. Did someone take their shoes off?!
6. An air mattress, because is there anything more uncomfortable than trying to sleep in the front seats during a road trip? Okay, maybe like two other things, but this is on the top of *my* list! Reviewers say their dogs love it too!
7. A surprisingly effective essential oil stick infused with peppermint, spearmint, and lavender that'll quite literally make road-tripping way less of a headache by easing those pesky migraine and tension headaches you get during trips.
Read our review of the Migrastil headache relief stick!
Promising review: "I have had tension and migraine headaches for around 20 years. I have tried everything. OTC medication, prescription medication, pain injections, chiropractor etc... This topical oil has given me relief for nearly six weeks now. I have only had two to three headaches in that time, and they were mild. I ordered more already so I have some in my car and at home, and I bought some for two of my friends who suffer from chronic migraines. I would recommend this product to anyone with migraines. It is phenomenal." —Mary D.
Get it from Amazon for $11.99.
8. A car seat gap organizer to not only create extra storage space in your car but also keep those rogue road trip french fries from falling into the dark abyss of the Seat Gap Trench.
9. Or a set of seat gap fillers that will also handle the Seat Gap Trench beautifully. This one molds easily to your gap and fits effortlessly around your seatbelt. When you're halfway into your road trip, you won't have to worry about your phone falling through and having to fish it out in a panic. That's dangerous!
10. A bug remover to get all those nasty splatters off the hood and side view mirrors of your car at the next rest area. This bad boy works as a pre-wash to save you time *and* energy on your next car wash by loosening up all the bug guts. Yum.
11. A tissue holder so when that sad song on your "Road Trip Essentials" playlist plays, you're ready for it.
12. A mesh organizer that will keep your luggage organized *and* keep it from tumbling out of the car when you open the trunk.
13. A replacement air filter because you probably haven't changed it since you bought your car, and you're going to want the cleanest air if you're going to be in the car for the next 12 hours.
14. A stick-on shade to block the sun's bright rays and also all the haters from judging you for napping in your backseat during a wee road trip break. Mind ya business.
15. A compact trash bin that can keep your car tidy and clean throughout the road trip without the hassle of picking everything up off the floor at the next rest stop.
16. Or if you like a little more ✨ pizzazz ✨, some cute trash cans — they simply hook to the gearshift and there are tons of pattern options to choose from!
17. A blind-spot mirror that will give you some peace of mind knowing that you can *definitely* go into the next lane without having a truck blare their horn at you. Driving can be stressful in general, but even more during long trips — at least you'll be less stressed about your surroundings with this mirror!
18. A comfy memory foam chair cushion because sometimes the road trip is just way too long, and we deserve some extra cushion for the tush.
19. A pair of lightweight and durable escape tracks that, as someone who lives in New England, I know basically every car owner should have, especially when going on a trip. It's not just for snow, though! These work great for super muddy areas or even if you're stuck in sand.
20. A pack of six cable clips to keep your cables from tangling *and* making it really easy for your road trip buddy to spot the AUX cable so they can play their favorite playlist.
21. A dog bowl water bottle that makes hydrating your pup on your next trip a ~breeze~. All you need to do is squeeze the bottle to release water into the bowl on top. Let the squeeze go, and the water will return to the bottle. Easy peasy, puppy squeazy.
22. A leather cleaner and conditioner because leather is cool and sleek, but it's not immune to stains — especially when you're doing a lot of eating in your car during your road trips!
23. A keychain car escape tool that hopefully you'll never need to use during any of your trips, but it's better to have one than not, right? This is not just a window breaker, but will also cut your seatbelt if it gets stuck. Yay for preparedness!
24. A travel pillow to make road trip naps waay more comfortable, *hopefully* resulting in a happy kiddo when they wake up!
25. And a Trtl neck pillow that's 10 times more comfortable than other travel pillows and perfect for the passenger who *truly* deserves a nap too. This pillow is designed to keep your head in a comfortable position the entire time you snooze during the road trip, so you won't wake up to a painful head-bob.
BuzzFeed editor Ciera Velarde says: "I've used this for the past few years and swear by it! Before this, I always found traditional neck pillows uncomfortable and would end up ditching them halfway through the flight and getting frustrated. The Trtl pillow is adjustable — you wrap the pillow around your neck and secure it with Velcro, and if you find it's too loose, just make it a bit tighter! I've truly never slept better on a plane than with this pillow."
Get it from Amazon for $33.99+ (available in three colors).
26. A trunk organizer, which works really well when you don't have a ton of trunk space but want to keep everything for the trip tidy and neat. Nothing is more of a headache than a messy trunk after a long trip.
27. A snack pack because snacks on a road trip are not just a good idea, but are absolutely essential to keeping the peace and happiness.
28. No Cow protein bars to hold you and your family off until dinnertime, which at this point of your road trip seems so far away, but I have faith — and the chocolate brownie bar will save the day.
29. Silicone sleeves so you can comfortably drive without having to drag your glasses back up the bridge of your nose for the 102819th time. This will *also* help prevent all headache-inducing discomfort that comes when your frames are digging into the side of your head. Consider your next roadtrip headache-free!
Promising review: "I love it, prior to these, my glasses were a pain in the ass. My glasses and sunglasses would constantly fall forward or irritate my ears (painful) after prolong wear, but now it's un-noticeable. Also, I work in a hospital so I use them on my personal protective glasses and they fit soooo much better. I will mention that they are smaller-to-medium, I did get them on larger frames so it can be challenging BUT it's worth it." —Brittany
Get a pack of five from Amazon for $6.99 (available in three colors).
30. A urination device because sometimes you just can't wait for the 45 miles to the next rest area, and that's okay.
31. A car seat organizer so all the things your kids need to stay entertained during the road trip are easily accessible and in plain sight. Now stay quiet while I listen to podcasts.
32. A tablet holder that'll easily mount on the headrest, making it easy for your kids to binge all the Studio Ghibli films during the trip and not have to tire their arms holding the screen up. Or worse, drop it when they fall asleep.
33. And finally, Dramamine because no road trip is complete until one person complains of motion sickness from looking down at their phone for too long. It's me. I'm the person.
You, enjoying your road trip, stress-free:
Looking for the perfect gift for any occasion? Check out all of BuzzFeed’s gift guides!
