Are you looking for the best road trip essentials for any road trip in the UK and beyond?
The UK is a fantastic location for road trips, there is no doubt about that. No matter where you go, there is always plenty to see and do.
However, no matter if you are planning a road trip around the Cornish Coastline or the Celtic mountains of Snowdonia, it’s a good idea to have some road trip essentials with you.
The last thing you want is to be exploring somewhere new, and not be able to make the most of it because you forget something essential.
This has happened to me too many times, probably more times than I would like to admit…
So to make sure you have the road trip essentials for driving around the UK, We have created this ultimate guide.
This UK road trip essentials guide includes everything you may need and how to make your journey more comfortable.
We have also included the frequently asked questions about road trip essentials for the UK and Europe so you are fully prepared for your next trip.
What are the essential things needed before you start a road trip?
Before setting off on any road trip, it is important that you have the basics covered. As they commonly say, preparation is key!
There are a few road trip essentials you will need before any UK road trip.
It’s pretty important to have these as a minimum, especially if you are planning to discover more remote locations.
Before you go on your UK road trip, here are the top items you will need before setting off:
✔️ A Valid Drivers License
✔️ You may need a credit card to rent
✔️ You Car Manual
✔️ Breakdown Cover
✔️ A spare Key to your Car if you have one
✔️ A good roadside emergency kit
✔️ Sat Nav Or GPS system. If you are planning on using google maps, have your route downloaded so you can use it offline. This is great if you are in an area with no internet, phone signal or just an awful E-Sim.
( For the same reason, you may want to download any playlists or podcasts you may want to listen to)
✔️ A first aid kit
✔️ A travel pet crate if you are travelling with your dog or other animals
✔️ Double check that your tyres and breaks are in good working condition
By planning ahead and packing the right road trip essentials for your UK road trip, you can save a lot of time and money.
They will also help you out massively if you run into a bit of trouble.
For those wanting to sleep in their car during their road trip, I recommend the best cars to sleep in UK guide.
This guide tells you everything you will need to know about staying overnight in your car throughout the UK.
The Road Trip Essentials to have close to hand
When packing for a road trip, it’s so easy to pack the stuff you need quickly to hand somewhere amongst the many bags.
Then you end up with the hectic task of raiding all of your packed bags, just to try and find that one thing.
There are a few road trip essentials you should have available all the time when driving through the UK to just make your life easier.
Having these items close to you will save you a lot of time and make your road trip go really smoothly.
Here are some of the best road trip essentials you should keep close to hand on any UK road trip:
✔️ Small change for toll roads and car parks.
✔️ Any medication and painkillers
✔️ Sunglasses
✔️ Water bottle- The ONTA Collapsible water bottle is perfect for this!
✔️ Portable phone charger
✔️ Toilet paper and hand sanitiser (very handy if you have to use a public toilet)
✔️ A water-resistant torch- The FAGORY Torch is fantastic if you ever get stuck in the rain
These items probably aren’t the typical UK road trip essentials you first think of when preparing for a trip.
So if you forget them it’s not the end of the world, but they do make travelling a lot easier!
Clothing to pack for UK road trips
You’ll want something comfortable to wear while on the road. Whether you’re planning to hike or drive for hours at a time, you’ll want to be prepared for all sorts of weather conditions.
With this in mind, bringing layers on any UK road trip is a great idea, so that you can adjust your clothing as needed.
When packing clothes for UK road trips, it doesn’t really matter what you take, as long as you have the basics. So just pack what you want to wear for your trip!
However, there are a few road trip essentials you may want to consider taking for your UK road trip:
✔️ More Socks than You Need & Comfy Shoes
✔️ A Rain Jacket
✔️ At least one jumper or hoodie- especially during Winter
✔️ Cheap flip-flops in case you want to shower anywhere
✔️ At least one outfit that is loose-fitting and comfortable
One of the best things about road-tripping around most locations in the UK is that there are often shopping facilities nearby.
So if you ever forget any of your UK road trip clothing essentials and are in desperate need, you should be able to find somewhere.
Gadgets and Electronics
I love anything that makes my life a bit easier, who honestly doesn’t love a good gadget?
Even though it’s not essential to have road trip gadgets on any UK road trip, some can be really helpful.
Lots of gadgets and electronics that are aimed at travellers and road trip enthusiasts are actually great for day-to-day use.
This makes whatever you buy fantastic value for money because you know you will use it more than once or twice a year.
Here are some of the best UK road trip essentials if you are looking for gadgets to travel smarter:
✔️ A portable charger: You can never know when your phone or tablet will run out of battery
✔️A walkie-talkie for when you have no phone signal
✔️ A power bank
✔️ Item locator: this is a saviour when you can’t find your keys! The Tile Mate is honestly my most used item on a daily basis and is well worth the money
Even though gadgets probably aren’t most people’s UK road trip essentials, some should be.
For any driver who is using a phone to navigate their road trip, these road trip essentials will make your trip so much less stressful (We figured this out the hard way!)
Food and Drink For UK Road Trips
Food- the best part of any trip!
It’s important to have enough food on your road trip so that you don’t get hangry, and also so that you have the energy to enjoy your surroundings.
Make sure to pack snacks and drinks in case you run out of anything during your journey or you get delayed.
During one trip we got stuck in horrific traffic and I was absolutely starving.
You know the hanger is bad when you are tempted by the tomato sauce you have in your glove compartment…
It’s so easy not to pack food because you think you won’t be far from a shop. However, make sure you have something packed just in case.
Here are some of the best UK road trip essentials for snacking your journey away:
✔️ Carrot sticks and hummus
✔️ Walkers crips, especially ready salted for anyone who may get motion sickness
✔️ Wine Gums
✔️ Sausage rolls/ any pastry
✔️ Ginger ale or beer to cure travel sickness
✔️ Water and reusable water bottles
These UK road trip essentials are easy to find throughout the country and are great for on the go.
However, as long as the hanger monster is fed, it doesn’t really matter what foods you pack.
Just keep in mind that depending on the length of your journey, you may need a cool box to keep whatever you pack cool.
Road Trip Essentials to make your UK trip more comfortable
Some road trips can be done within an hour or two, but some can take days or even weeks.
There is nothing worse than not being able to enjoy your journey because you are so uncomfortable.
It can totally ruin your trip if you feel like you are doing anything just to get your location as quickly as possible, just so you can be comfortable again.
To make any road trip more comfortable, there are a few road trip essentials you will want to pack for your UK road trip.
Here are the ultimate UK road trip essentials to pack so you can be super comfy in the car:
✔️ Sleeping mask
✔️ Compression socks
✔️ Travel Blanket
✔️ Window Sunshade
For those who struggle to get comfortable on a car journey, try getting some of these UK road trip essentials. They will seriously change the way you travel!
FAQs about UK road trip essentials
You probably have a few more questions about how to make your road trip go flawlessly, to help answer these, we have put together the most frequently asked questions about UK road trip essentials.
To help you plan what UK road trip essentials you may need and how to make your trip the best, here are the most frequently asked questions:
What are some fun things to bring on a road trip?
Being stuck in the car for hours on end completely bored is no fun for anyone. Especially, If you are travelling with children or pets. To make it to your destination in one piece, you will want to pack some fun things for your sanity.
Whether you are travelling alone or as a group, there are loads of cheap things you can get to make your road trip less boring. Here are some of the best UK road trip essentials you can get to keep you entertained on the road:
✔️ A pack of Playing Cards
✔️ Travel Games- Ossian pack of 4 magnetic games from Amazon is a personal favourite for when I’m on the go
✔️ A good audiobook or two
✔️ A disposable camera
✔️ For those travelling with dogs- lots of blankets with hidden treats will keep them entertained for hours
Europe Road Trip Essentials
Most UK road trip essentials will be exactly the same if you want to hit the road in Europe.
However, there will be a few extra things you will need. Here are some road trip essentials you will need when driving in Europe:
✔️ If you are driving your car from the UK, you will need a UK car sticker– Amazon have plenty of options
✔️ Hight visibility jacket
✔️ First Aid Kit
✔️ Breatherlsisers
✔️ Headlight adapters- The AA Headlight adapters are great value for money
✔️ Passport and valid drivers license
✔️ Proof of insurance documents
➡️ You can also get a complete Europe Driving Set. I highly recommend this to anyone driving in Europe as you will have everything you may need to drive in Europe legally. Most sets don’t include first aid kits though, so you will have to get one separately.
Road trip essentials UK sign off: From the coast of Pembrokeshire to the Lake District, the UK is full of the most magical road trips for anytime of year. No matter how long your trip is, packing some of the best road trip essentials for UK trips will make your journey a breeze. Use this guide to make your next road trip the best one yet.
Lowri Thomas is the founder of Many Other Roads. She lives and travels in Europe and has explored more than 40 countries. She is joined on her travels with her dog Scout and they explore Europe mostly by road. Born in Wales, she also shares the best things to do in Wales, UK and beyond. She helps over 50,000 people per month plan epic Europe adventures and road trips.
