Best Car Accessories for Long Trips……Back in 8th grade, I wore two different shoes to school. Not on purpose. It was a Monday.
Fast-forward a decade or so, and I’m still showing up to life a little… disorganized. So when I decided to take a 1,400-mile road trip from Texas to South Carolina last summer with my cousin, two overstuffed duffel bags, and a playlist that was 40% Avril Lavigne (don’t ask), I knew I had to over-prepare. Because chaos is my default.
And guess what saved me from a total meltdown on mile 743? The best car accessories for long road trips. (That, and peanut M&Ms.)
These little lifesavers made the ride smoother, the backaches fewer, and the arguments about directions slightly less frequent.
🧵 1. Neck Pillow That Doesn’t Suck
Not all neck pillows are created equal. I learned this the hard way in a gas station outside Baton Rouge. It was lumpy. It squeaked when I leaned back. I have regrets.
Then I found this memory foam one with a snap button in front—so it didn’t just slide off and vanish into the seat crack abyss. Honestly felt like being hugged by a marshmallow. Big win.
Side note: My cousin stole it halfway through the trip and I never saw it again.
Keyword Tie-In: This is absolutely one of the best car accessories for long road trips if you plan to nap like a champ.
🚐 2. Backseat Car Organizer (AKA Trunk Goblin Tamer)
You ever reach for a snack and instead grab a flip-flop, a melted chapstick, and a receipt from 2017?
Same.
Until I got one of those backseat hanging organizers. You know, the kind with all the pockets. Boom—snacks, wipes, chargers, sunglasses, and that one mystery item you might need but never use.
It was like the trunk turned into a snack bar / command center hybrid. Highly recommend.
Great for: families, road-tripping couples, solo chaos goblins like me.
🌍 3. Phone Mount That Stays Put
I used to be a “stuff the phone in a cupholder and pray” kinda person. (Not proud.)
Then I found a magnetic phone mount that actually stays on the dash. Even on bumpy roads. Even when you make that one sketchy U-turn because you missed the Buc-ee’s exit.
Now I feel like a functional adult who can follow Google Maps without risking a screen dive mid-merge.
Also made my cousin stop yelling, “YOU MISSED THE TURN!” every six miles.
🌧️ 4. Compact Cooler for Snacks and Sanity
This isn’t just any cooler. It’s a soft-sided, compact, zippered, glorious lunchbox of joy.
I filled mine with cold brew cans, cut fruit (okay, mostly cheese sticks), and LaCroix. Saved us from sad gas station sandwiches and impulse-buying $4 bottles of water.
Plus, it made me feel like the responsible one for once.
Even if I forgot to pack socks.
⚡️ 5. USB Charger with Multiple Ports
I don’t care how fancy your car is. The factory charger setup is NEVER enough for two people and five devices. Trust me.
We grabbed a 4-port USB charger that lit up slightly (so you can find it at night without digging like a raccoon).
Charged our phones, tablet, Bluetooth speaker, and portable fan without starting a single argument.
Highly underrated accessory.
🍌 6. Reusable Trash Can That Doesn’t Flop Over
Why does road trip trash multiply like gremlins after midnight?
Wrappers, receipts, that random banana peel you swear you’ll toss at the next stop (but don’t).
Enter: a collapsible, waterproof, velcro-bottomed trash bin. Hooks onto the back of a seat. Holds the chaos. Bonus: mine came with extra liners and a built-in tissue box.
Honestly? This changed the game.
🚗 7. Seat Cushion That Saves Your Spine
Three hours into our drive, my butt was basically begging for mercy.
So we stopped, stretched, and I impulse-bought one of those orthopedic memory foam seat cushions. I have zero regrets.
It made the last 1,000 miles way more tolerable. Even my cousin said, “Okay, that actually helped my sciatica.”
Translation: This isn’t just an old person thing. It’s a smart person thing.
🚬 8. Essential Oil Car Diffuser (Yes, I’m That Person Now)
Hear me out: after a few hours of fast food and closed windows, your car starts to smell like despair.
I picked up a little vent clip diffuser that used essential oil pads. Lavender and peppermint. Instant spa.
Even my cousin said, “It smells like yoga class in here,” and she meant it as a compliment.
🎼 9. Road Trip Playlist + Bluetooth Speaker (Trust Me)
Okay, your car probably has Bluetooth. But sometimes it glitches. And nothing ruins the vibe like music cutting out right before the chorus.
So I bring a portable Bluetooth speaker as backup. It’s like my emotional support jam machine.
Also helps when you stop for a picnic and want tunes that don’t sound like they’re coming from a tin can.
Important: Don’t forget to download the playlist ahead of time. Learned that the hard way in the mountains.
🚨 10. Emergency Kit (a.k.a. The Just-in-Case Bag)
Flat tires. Random cuts. Weird bug bites. Mystery engine lights.
I’ve seen it all. So I now carry a zippered emergency kit: jumper cables, first-aid stuff, flashlight, bandaids, tire patch kit, and—no joke—peppermint gum.
You’ll thank me when you’re 100 miles from the nearest Walmart with a suspicious rattle and no signal.
Bonus Stuff I Threw in That Surprisingly Helped: Best Car Accessories for Long Trips
- Travel-sized Febreze (cars get funky)
- Extra sunglasses (mine flew out the window once)
- Cheap blanket (for spontaneous naps or roadside picnics)
- Mini whiteboard and marker (we played car charades—hilarious chaos)
