Our No-Stress Guide on How to Prepare for a Road Trip

One of the most frequently asked questions we get is how to prepare for a road trip.

We’ve been there, and after a decade of living on the road, trust us, we’ve made all the mistakes so you don’t have to. Like forgetting to pack the airbed pump, or leaving without having a fully charged battery (don’t do that).

These days, road trip prep is second nature, but it definitely wasn’t always. So we’ve pulled together everything we do before hitting the road.

From vehicle checks and packing the essentials, to keeping things organised and actually enjoying the drive, this guide covers the lot.

Whether you’re heading off in a campervan, or packing the car for a weekend away, here’s exactly how to prepare for a road trip — the real life way

Vehicle prep

Road trips put a lot of pressure on your vehicle, so one of the most important things to check before a road trip is that your vehicle is actually safe for the journey!

Here’s what’s on our pre-road trip car checklist:

✅ Check all fluids (oil, brake, coolant etc.)

✅ Inspect tire tread and pressure (including the spare)

✅ Test all lights and wipes

✅ Check the battery health (including secondary batteries in the camper)

✅ Consider a maintenance check up if it’s been a while

You always want to start a road trip with a clean car or campervan — well, we do anyway!

The less clutter, the fewer distractions, and generally the more comfortable you’ll be — especially if you clear away anything that doesn’t belong in the front (I’m looking at you, empty water bottles, extra charging cables, dog toy and spare pair of shoes…)

We love a good seat organiser for keeping all those little odds and ends from vanishing into the footwell.

Pack The Essentials

Every road trip will have slightly different ‘essentials’ but there are a few that you’ll definitely not want to leave behind.

What we tend to do when preparing for a road trip, even before we start packing, is keep a running list of things as they come to mind, this completely avoids the “oh sh*t, I meant to add the air bed pump to the list and forgot!” panic once you’re four hours from home.

You can use scraps of paper, or better yet, a digital road trip planner that you can recycle and reuse for every trip and keep all of your organisation in one place. We keep ours inside the Road Trip Ready Toolkit and just duplicate it for each trip.

Don’t Forget Your Documents

We have all of our important documents stored together so when we’re heading out the door we know we have everything we need.

You’ll want to make sure you have:

✅ Your drivers licence and International Driving Permit (if needed)

✅ Passports

✅ Pet Passport or animal health certificate

✅ Visa documentation

✅ Insurance documentation

Snacks and Water 

Forget about documentation and first aid kits (well, don’t — but still): snacks and water are the most important things to pack for a road trip.

One of my favourite parts of getting ready is running to the supermarket to stock up on pastries and supplies for homemade sandwiches.

Yes, on long drives we’ll stop off at local places too, but we’ve been stung one too many times thinking we’ll grab snacks later, only to be left hangry and snackless because everything was closed.

Entertainment Prep 

I’m an absolute podcast and audiobook fiend so setting up our episodes playlist is pretty much the first thing we do before setting off.

Having it ready before you go means no last-minute “what do we listen to?” arguments, and it keeps the driver focused, especially on those early starts.

If you use Spotify, don’t forget to set your playlists to offline to save data. And if you need inspo, we’ve put together the Officer Travels Podcast Playlist with some of our favourites!

Comfort Items

Long drives can be super uncomfortable, especially if you’re travelling with a packed car, so don’t forget your comfort items.

I will always have my dressing gown, slippers, a pillow, and a blanket. That might seem extra, but when Dec insists on having the AC blasting to stay alert, it’s very much needed.

Weather Gear

This is where your packing will be a little more nuanced. Consider the weather of your destination(s) and pack accordingly.

This might mean window shades or snow chains for the car, or extra layers and warm socks for you.

Planning For Your Trip

Planning your road trip is arguably one of the biggest, and most fun, things to do before a road trip.

It really can make or break your trip, but planning doesn’t mean you have to have every hour of every day set in stone.

Set A Budget

Think about your fuel costs, tolls, accommodation, food, and always add extra for unexpected expenses.

Tracking your spending makes the whole trip smoother (and keeps the “where did all our money go?” moments to a minimum).

If this feels overwhelming, our Road Trip Ready Toolkit breaks it down and helps you plan everything out clearly.

Research Places To Go

I love this part, and it’s honestly one of the reasons we started this blog!

Getting lost in Pinterest or discovering hikes on random local blogs is half the fun.

We’ve definitely extended trips before because we found something unmissable mid-plan.

Plan Your Route

Remember, the Google Maps drive time is not always accurate.

Mountain roads are slower. You’ll want to stop for photos. And sometimes, you’ll get detoured… on purpose or by accident.

We always build in extra time, and we’d rather arrive early than feel rushed.

Schedule Breaks

Especially if you’re road tripping with a dog, plan proper rest stops!

We’ve been stuck on long stretches of motorway with no services and a dog who really needed a pee. It’s not fun.

Before You Set Off

This is the 24–48 hours before your road trip.

The part where things either come together, or get forgotten completely.

Pack The Car The Night Before

Even if you’re not leaving early, loading the van the night before is a lifesaver. You’ll thank yourself when you wake up groggy and everything’s already done.

For anything you can’t pack early (chargers, toiletries), leave a note – we stick them to the door or steering wheel.

Get Enough Sleep

We can’t stress this enough: road trip safety starts with sleep. Try to get to bed early and aim for at least 5 hours of solid rest if you’re the driver.

Have Someone Keep An Eye On Your House

Have someone you trust pop by once or twice while you’re away.

And please, don’t post publicly that you’re on holiday. It sounds dramatic, but it can invalidate your home insurance if something happens while you’re away.

Let Someone Know Your Plan

If you’re heading off-grid or wild camping, tell a friend or family member where you’re going and when you’ll check in.

We did this in the Australian outback, and very nearly needed someone to raise the alarm after a very close call.

Clear Away Clutter

Part of our road trip prep now includes tidying the house. There’s nothing worse than coming home from an incredible trip to a messy house that looks like it’s been ransacked by baboons.

Safety On A Road Trip

When getting ready for a road trip, you want to consider your safety while on the road too.

It’s true you can’t prepare for everything, but it pays to try and prepare for some things, and do your best to avoid any nasty surprises.

Don’t Over Do The Daily Driving

When we first started road tripping wayyyy back in 2013, we prided ourselves on doing as many miles as we could in a day.

Our first trip was from our home in the North of England to Cornwall, way down in the South. It was a 7-hour drive (without breaks) and almost 400 miles. On top of that, Dec is our only driver and we set off after work — so we didn’t arrive until the middle of the night.

Was that smart though? Not really.

While it can be great to just get to your destination, you really do miss out on all the good stuff along the way. The things that really make a road trip, well… a road trip!

Now, we plan smarter. We think about our driving times and try not to cram so much in. If we need to add a day, we do. If it means skipping something to have a more relaxed journey, we’re okay with that.

There’s something called the 330 rule in the road trip and van life community:

Don’t drive more than 330 miles in a day, or stop by 3:30pm (some also say to stay in one place at least 3 days – but we rarely stick to that part).

We don’t follow it religiously, but it’s a great guide to help keep your trip more about the journey than the distance.

And remember, those fun roadside stops are usually the most memorable part of a trip. Don’t skip them just to rack up miles.

Have A Backup For Emergencies

Whether it’s road closures, extreme weather, or something else entirely, it’s always good to have a backup plan if you need to change your route or itinerary.

We had this happen a lot in Australia and New Zealand. Storms, bushfires, and even flooded roads meant we had to reroute at the last minute. Having a solid plan (with backup things to do or places to stay) made everything way less stressful.

Drive Safely

This shouldn’t need saying… but after nearly being run off the road in the outback, helping a guy who’d crashed on a corner after speeding past us, and seeing so many near misses, it needs saying.

Here are some safety mistakes we see all the time:

• Driving too fast on icy or mountain roads
• Stopping in the middle of a main road to take photos
• Stopping on roundabouts when you don’t know which way to go
• Being on the wrong side of the road (especially in new countries)

We know it’s exciting, but it’s not worth putting yourself – or others – at risk.

Ready to Hit the Road?

Road trip prep doesn’t have to be stressful, and honestly, once you’ve done it a few times, it becomes second nature.

But if you’re anything like us when we started, having a bit of structure makes all the difference.

That’s why we created the Road Trip Ready Toolkit – to help you prep smarter, not harder.

It’s packed with printable checklists, budget trackers, automated route planners, and space to keep everything organised for your next adventure.

We’ve used it on every major trip since we built it, and it’s saved our butts more times than we can count (hello, forgotten charging cable… again).

So if you’re getting ready for a road trip and want to feel calm, organised, and actually excited instead of overwhelmed – grab the toolkit and make your prep easy.