California Road Trip Essentials: Your Ultimate List

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The key to traveling well in California is to dress in layers. Layers are the key to happiness.

Planning a California road trip soon? As someone who has lived in California her entire adult life, I know the California road trip essentials which are…essential.

California is undeniably one of the world’s most stunning locations, boasting an incredible diversity of beaches, mountains, forests, and deserts. What’s not to love?

Whether it’s a Big Sur road trip from Los Angeles or a one-day road trip to Joshua Tree National Park, we love a good California road adventure. Rent a convertible or roll down the windows in your car, queue a good California playlist on Spotify, and hit the open road. There is no better way to see California.

When you live in California, an amazing place is a short or long road drive away, and a solid road trip packing list is crucial.

To ensure that you don’t forget anything, we’ve compiled a list of must-haves for California road trips.

Below is the ultimate road trip packing list for exploring the Golden State.

Some Things to Consider When Packing For a California Road Trip

Embarking on a California road trip offers an unrivaled blend of breathtaking landscapes, iconic landmarks, and vibrant cities.

However, meticulous planning is not just a necessity, it’s part of the adventure, essential to maximize this enriching experience.

Starting with a well-thought-out itinerary can help ensure you hit all the must-see destinations, from the misty avenues of the Redwood Forests in the north to the sun-soaked beaches of Southern California, giving you the freedom and flexibility to explore at your own pace.

The key to traveling well in California is to dress in layers. Layers are the key to happiness.

Booking accommodations in advance is wise, especially in popular areas like San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego, where demand can surge.

Consider the timing of your journey to avoid peak traffic times and seasonal crowds.

Your Ultimate Road Trip Packing List

The basics

Before we get to the specifics, let’s cover the basics. These are no-brainers that most Californians have in their cars on an average day; you never know when a beautiful California beach will call you.

The basics include:

• Clothes that layer
• Beach gear
• Water-resistant flip-flops or sandals. Reefs are the most comfortable flip-flops!
• Sun protection: hat (Coolibar makes the best sun hats), sunglasses, sun block and a rash guard
• Hiking shoes
• Map
• First-aid kit
• Camera
• Binoculars
• Snacks and water
• Sweatshirt, jacket or sweater
• UGGs (this is my number one essential; I never go anywhere without them)

California Road Trip Essentials You May Not Consider

We get hungry on the road. We bring our favorites instead of stopping at a fast food place; that way, we always have something to munch on while driving and watching the beautiful California scenery.

Some areas of California are remote, and there’s not much around except for the lone gas station selling less desirable “food.” Pack a cooler before you go, and you’ll have snacks for hiking and the beach.

My favorite road trip cooler is the Maelstrom Soft Cooler Bag because it can be molded into a tight spot in the car; the outside isn’t hard like a lot of coolers. It comes in several different sizes and many colors.

The Maelstrom Soft Cooler Bag is my go-to cooler for long California road trips.

Food and Snacks

✓ A cooler to keep things fresh
✓ A plastic bag for trash
✓ Utensils
✓ A paring knife
✓ Paper towels
✓ A box of tissues
✓ Dried fruit, granola, and nuts
✓ Apples, strawberries, and oranges
✓ Hummus and baby carrots
✓ Chocolate!
✓ Water
✓ Granola bars
✓ Beef jerky

Creature Comforts

Nothing is like having a warm, fuzzy blanket on a California road trip. The passenger can get some much-needed rest before it is their turn to drive. Put your feet up on the dash and cover yourself. We take this one from Anthropologie.

I never travel anywhere without my Water-to-Go Bottle. It has a built-in filtration system so that you can fill it from any water source, and it will filter out harmful contaminants so you don’t have to drink them.

✓ Pillow
✓ Fuzzy blanket
✓ Water-to-Go Bottle

Electronics

Don’t forget headphones for when your traveling companions start to bother you after 20 hours in the car and a portable speaker for your hotel room or on the beach.

It’s also essential to have a smartphone holder for your car if you don’t use the screen that comes built in for directions (I don’t like them) so you aren’t tempted to hold your phone at any time.

After testing out a ton of phone holders for the car, I’ve found the absolute best one. It is amazing. And I have everyone in my family using it. I have to credit my little brother; he found it and told me about it.

The best smartphone holder you will ever use. You’ll never use another one after you try it.

✓ Smartphone holder
✓ Headphones
✓ Portable charger
✓ Car charger
✓ Portable speaker

Other Essentials

Below are some things you might forget to bring. Travel insurance is important. Accidents happen. And it’s better to be covered than not when they do. I use SafetyWing when I travel, and it covers me when I least expected that I would need coveage.

While I always approach travel as if nothing horrible will happen, having insurance takes the pressure off when plans go sideways, as they sometimes do. Sometimes the unexpected happens, something we didn’t plan for or is out of our control. Always hope for the best, even expect the best, but prepare for the worst.

SafetyWing

✓ A deck of cards
✓ A small backpack for hiking – The Artic Titan doubles as a cooler and a backpack, great for hiking in California
✓ Health insurance card
✓ Passport and/or ID
✓ Driver’s license
✓ Mints and chewing gum
✓ Travel insurance
✓ A tumbler for refills of caffeine
✓ Baby wipes (these almost always come in handy in the car, even if you don’t have a baby)

California Road Trip Essentials: FAQs

How to pack for a road trip to California?

Go shoe-heavy and pack layers. You’ll need sandals and hiking shoes. You will be on the beach, so sandals are a must. Bring a jacket. Many people think —incorrectly — that California is warm and humid. It isn’t. It is cold at night, even in the summer. Make sure you pack beach gear, including sunscreen and a hat. As soon as you step off the plane, you will wish you had sunglasses. Also, a daypack is a must for all the hiking. These are the essentials to pack for a trip to California.

What do you need for a trip to California?

The trick to a great California packing list is always to pack layers. It goes from chilly in the morning to hot in the afternoon to cold in the evenings. You want to bring a jacket and a sweater or sweatshirt. Beach gear is a must, as are several different shoe options: walking/hiking shoes and some sort of sandal or flip-flop. Other essentials include sunblock, a sun hat, a daypack, binoculars, and a camera.

What shoes should I bring to California?

You need every kind of shoe in California. The three to pack are hiking shoes, beach shoes like flip-flops or sandals, and shoes to hit the town on or to go to a nice restaurant. If you have UGGs, this would be the fourth. UGGs are great to slide on after a day at the beach when the sun sets, and the Pacific Ocean air makes you shiver. They are also great for the plane.

California Road Trip Essentials

I hope you’re fortunate to spend time on the road in California. This California road trip essential packing list will make your trip more complete. California has everything. You can go from the mountains with snow to the beach on the same day.

Whether you are road-tripping in Northern California or Southern California, one-of-a-kind scenery will enthrall you along your journey.

Safe travels!