Road Trip Accessories Worth Packing for Long Drives
The Anker 525 Car Charger is the accessory we rank first because everything else in the car depends on power. The iOttie Easy One Touch 5 is the mount worth having, and the Jackery Explorer 300 turns a car into a mobile power source for coolers, laptops and camp gear.
If you only add three things before a long drive, our ranking starts with the Anker 525 Car Charger, the iOttie Easy One Touch 5 mount and the Jackery Explorer 300 power station. Those three cover power, navigation and everything that needs a socket away from the car.
Road trip gear is easy to over buy, because most of it looks useful in a listing and then rides in the trunk unused for a thousand miles. We compared charging output, mount grip on real dashboards, cooler ice retention, dash cam night footage and organiser capacity across seven current listings, and kept only the items owners report reaching for repeatedly.
The best picks, ranked
Anker 525 Car Charger (67W)
Two USB C ports and one USB A share 67 watts, which is enough to fast charge a phone and a tablet while still feeding a dash cam. The metal body stays cool where cheap chargers get uncomfortably warm. Owners report it fits snugly in older sockets that loosen larger chargers.
Pros
- Charges a laptop as well as phones
- Stays cool under sustained load
- Compact enough not to block the console
Cons
- Full output splits when all ports are used
- Cables sold separately
iOttie Easy One Touch 5 Dashboard Phone Mount
The telescoping arm and sticky gel base combine into the most stable dashboard mount we compared, and the one touch lock genuinely works with a single hand. It holds large phones in thick cases without straining. On very hot days owners report the gel base needs a wash and re press to regain full grip.
Pros
- Very stable on rough roads
- Genuine one handed operation
- Adjustable reach suits deep dashboards
Cons
- Suction needs cleaning in hot weather
- Bulkier than vent mounts
Jackery Explorer 300 Portable Power Station
A 293Wh battery with two AC outlets, USB C Power Delivery and a car port covers laptops, camera batteries, small coolers and CPAP machines at a campsite. It recharges from the car while driving, so the trip itself tops it up. Weight is around seven pounds, which is the practical limit for carrying any distance.
Pros
- Runs real mains devices anywhere
- Recharges while you drive
- Quiet with no fumes
Cons
- Limited capacity for high draw appliances
- Solar panel is an extra purchase
Garmin DriveSmart 76 GPS Navigator
A dedicated satnav still earns its place on routes through canyons, national parks and rural stretches where phone data disappears. The seven inch screen is easier to read at a glance than a mounted phone, and maps update over Wi-Fi for free. It duplicates a phone in cities, so its value depends on where you drive.
Pros
- Navigates with zero mobile signal
- Large clear display
- Useful driver alerts for unfamiliar roads
Cons
- Overlaps with a phone in covered areas
- Live traffic requires a paired phone
VIOFO A129 Plus Duo Dual Dash Cam
Front 2K and rear 1080p recording with a Sony sensor gives readable plates at night, which is the specification that actually matters in a claim. Parking mode with a hardwire kit keeps watch at motels and rest stops. Installation is fiddly because the rear cable has to be routed the length of the car.
Pros
- Strong night plate legibility
- Covers rear impacts too
- Reliable loop recording
Cons
- Rear cable routing takes time
- Hardwire kit needed for parking mode
Coleman 316 Series 52-Quart Wheeled Cooler
Coleman rates this at multiple days of ice retention, and owners report two to three days is realistic in summer heat if it is prechilled and kept shut. Fifty two quarts holds enough food and drink for a family weekend, and the wheels matter once it is loaded. It is bulky, so measure your trunk first.
Pros
- Excellent capacity for the size
- Wheels make it manageable when full
- Durable latch and hinges
Cons
- Takes a lot of trunk space
- Heavy to lift into a high vehicle
FORTEM Car Trunk Organizer
Collapsible walls, adjustable dividers and a waterproof liner keep bottles, tools and snacks from rolling around the trunk on every corner. Non slip strips hold it in place without straps in most vehicles. The fabric is functional rather than luxurious, and heavy loads will bow the sides.
Pros
- Stops cargo sliding on corners
- Folds away when not needed
- Wipe clean waterproof liner
Cons
- Sides sag under heavy items
- Straps needed in larger trunks
What matters most
Sort power before anything else Modern road trips run on charged devices, and a single low output socket charger will not keep a phone navigating, a tablet playing and a dash cam recording at once. A 60 watt or higher multi port charger with Power Delivery is the base layer. Add a power station only if you genuinely stop away from mains, since it is the heaviest item on this list.
Mounting position affects safety and comfort A phone mounted low on the console pulls your eyes off the road far more than one near the top of the dashboard or beside the A pillar. Check local rules, since some states restrict windshield mounting. Owners report gel suction bases hold best on a clean, hard, flat surface, so wipe with alcohol before the first mount and expect to reseat it after very hot days.
Cooling and food logistics Prechill the cooler overnight and use block ice or frozen bottles instead of cubes, which roughly doubles retention in practice. Pack in reverse order of use so you are not digging through everything at a rest stop. Keep drinks in a small separate cooler if children will be opening it constantly, since every opening costs cold.
What actually earns its space Before packing, ask whether each item solves a problem you have had on a previous trip. Charging, navigation, a dash cam and organised storage cover the recurring ones. Novelty accessories such as seat back trays and tyre inflators are worth adding only after the basics are handled, and a compact first aid kit and jumper pack belong in every car regardless of the route.
Side by side
| # | Model | Total output | Best for | Score | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anker 525 Car Charger (67W) | 67 watts | Best overall | 9.4 | Check price |
| 2 | iOttie Easy One Touch 5 Dashboard Phone Mount | Dashboard or windshield suction | Best phone mount | 9.2 | Check price |
| 3 | Jackery Explorer 300 Portable Power Station | 293Wh lithium ion | Best for camping and remote stops | 9.0 | Check price |
| 4 | Garmin DriveSmart 76 GPS Navigator | 6.95 inch touchscreen | Best for navigation without data | 8.8 | Check price |
| 5 | VIOFO A129 Plus Duo Dual Dash Cam | 2560 x 1440 at 30fps | Best dash cam | 8.6 | Check price |
| 6 | Coleman 316 Series 52-Quart Wheeled Cooler | 52 quarts, about 85 cans | Best cooler | 8.3 | Check price |
| 7 | FORTEM Car Trunk Organizer | 3 adjustable sections | Best for keeping the car tidy | 8.0 | Check price |
Questions worth asking
What are the most useful road trip accessories?
A high output car charger, a stable phone mount, a dash cam and a cooler cover the four recurring needs on almost any long drive. Everything else depends on your route and whether you camp.
Do I still need a dedicated GPS if I have a phone?
Only if you drive through areas with unreliable coverage such as mountain passes, deserts and national parks. In well covered regions a mounted phone does the same job.
How long will a portable power station last on a trip?
A 293Wh unit charges a laptop roughly three to four times or runs a small 12V cooler for several hours. It recharges from the car while driving, so daily driving usually keeps it topped up.
Is a dash cam worth it for road trips?
Owners report it is most valuable for disputes far from home, where there are no familiar witnesses. Dual channel models also cover rear impacts, which are common in stop and go highway traffic.
How do I keep a cooler cold for several days?
Prechill it, use frozen bottles rather than loose ice, pack it full, keep it out of direct sun and open it as rarely as possible. Draining meltwater is optional, since cold water still helps insulate.
Are windshield phone mounts legal everywhere?
No. Several states restrict what may be attached to the windshield, so dashboard or vent mounting is the safer default when driving across state lines.
What should I carry for emergencies?
A jump starter, tyre inflator, basic first aid kit, flashlight and a physical map cover most breakdown scenarios. Keep them accessible rather than buried under luggage.
How much charging output do I actually need?
Around 30 watts per phone charging quickly, so a 60 watt or higher charger covers two devices comfortably. Laptops need a 60 watt or 100 watt USB C port on their own.
Our pick
The Anker 525 Car Charger is our first pick simply because every other device in the car depends on it, and 67 watts covers a full family load. Pair it with the iOttie Easy One Touch 5 for navigation you can glance at safely. If your trips involve campsites or long stretches away from mains power, the Jackery Explorer 300 is the accessory that changes what is possible.
