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For some, the best kind of travel is all about the journey — not the destination. Think wide-open highways, spontaneous detours, and the freedom of the open road. Whether it’s a quick weekend getaway or a cross-country RV adventure, road trippers know that the right gear can turn a good trip into a great one.
From clever car essentials and portable food gear to comfort-boosting accessories, these 10 gifts — nominated by an expert panel and voted by readers as the best — are designed to make every mile more enjoyable.
The Healthy Back Bag Tote is compact, versatile, and ideal as a streamlined carry-on that also looks professional. Its ergonomic design and material choices make it adaptable for business or leisure travel.
Spoil your pup with this waterproof memory-foam bed from The Calm Pet that shields the backseat upholstery from mess. It also helps your furry friend stay comfortable and steady during sudden stops or turns.
This 20-liter cooler is designed for ease of transport and maximum temperature control, thanks to its oval shape and light weight — it’s 25% lighter than most competitors. The Laka 20 offers up to 10 days of ice retention and comes with built-in, handy extras like cupholders and a stainless-steel bottle opener.
The America the Beautiful Annual Pass grants one-year access to over 2,000 federal recreation areas, including national parks, forests, wildlife refuges, and other public lands. Accepted across six federal agencies, it makes a great gift for those who want to recharge outdoors.
This compact, plug-in cooler/warmer from Wagan Tech keeps meals or beverages at just the right temperature, either hot or chilled (without ice). It’s eco-friendly and also has two cup holders to prevent spillage.
The Nomadix Changing Poncho is a comfy, quick-dry, wearable towel complete with a hood and oversized kangaroo pocket. It comes in several fun colors and patterns, and it serves as a mobile changing room. Road trippers without access to laundry, a bathroom, or a private campsite corner will definitely find themselves reaching for it on the reg.
The Garmin Dash Cam Mini 3 offers exceptional peace of mind for frequent travelers, whether you’re cruising in a rented RV or your favorite SUV. With a wide 140-degree field of view, seamless app connectivity, and voice control functionality, this compact dash cam delivers smart, hands-free protection on the road.
The Roadtrippers app is the tool you need to plan your next road trip. A Roadtrippers Premium membership will allow you to map out your journey, include up to 150 stops along the way, choose a customized RV route, and get real-time traffic updates too. Plus, members get discounts on trip necessities like travel gear, campsite bookings, and vehicle rentals.
The Explorer PLUS toiletry bag is built for the open road. Its compact 3-liter design stashes easily in your glove compartment or weekender bag, keeping essentials organized with multiple internal compartments. A clear sleeve makes it easy to spot your items at a glance, and the hidden hanging strap is perfect for roadside motels or campground showers. Whether you’re cruising cross-country or heading out for a weekend escape, this bag keeps your travel routine smooth and stress-free.
This sleek duffel is made from ripstop nylon that’s both featherlight and water resistant, making it carry-on approved (for when the user isn’t road-tripping) and also easy to clean. It features a built-in sleeve to slip onto a suitcase handle, exterior and interior zipper pockets, and padded handles.
Annita is the on-air personality of Travel With Annita radio show, the recipient of two Gold Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Awards. With 40 years of travel experience she has been to 119 countries and territories, and has worked in several areas of the travel industry. She started her travel career with Pan American World Airways and later worked for the Atlanta CVB during the 1996 Olympics. The multi-media journalist not only host a travel show on terrestrial radio, but also a Lowell Thomas Bronze Award winning podcast – Quarter Miles Travel featuring stories based on the U.S. Mint coins programs. She writes for Upscale Magazine and is an ambassador for Oprah Daily digital magazine. Annita’s mission is to inspire Baby Boomers and Empty Nesters to go out and explore the world, creating memorable experiences. She values storytelling, cultural awareness, sharing human interest stories and highlighting sustainable travel brands. Her mission is to help shape the listeners and readers perspective of beautiful destinations around the world. She is the proud fur-baby mom of two fun loving Chocolate Labs, Boris and Natasha. Her favorite destination – the last place she visited. Her favorite travel quote – “Let’s Go!”
Jenny Peters – aka Jet Set Jen – is a Los Angeles-based freelance journalist, editor and party columnist specializing in travel, entertainment, film, food, wine, fashion and the other good things in life. She is a founding/voting member of the Critics Choice Association, who present the Critics’ Choice Awards every January. Her favorite places to be are on the beach in Southern California playing volleyball, scuba diving with the sharks in warm tropical waters or strolling the streets and soaking in the atmosphere of one of the world’s great cities (New Orleans and Florence are her favorites).
Laurie Lyons-Makaimoku is a Hawai‘i Island-based freelance journalist and travel writer. She has had the privilege to visit all six of the major islands in Hawai‘i and has written about them for such publications as Fodor’s Travel, Matador Network, Hawai‘i Magazine, SF Gate, Trip Advisor, Local Getaways, and others. Her writing carries with it the kuleana (responsibility) of helping to produce more educated, conscientious visitors to this culturally and ecologically sensitive place, advocating for tourism that is sustainable and ethical. Laurie’s areas of expertise include Hawai‘i hotels, family travel, luxury travel, food & beverage, Indigenous excellence, animals, sustainability, voluntourism, and nonprofits. You can read her work on her website, or follow along with her on social @hawaiitravelwriter.
Marla is an award-winning writer with a passion for travel, music, surfing and culinary adventures! An avid globetrotter and guidebook writer, she has covered topics such as the Hawaiian islands (including food trends and luxury beachfront resorts), as well as European getaways and global destinations. Her articles have appeared in many publications worldwide, including USA Today.
Marla lives in New Jersey (Philadelphia area) and is a frequent visitor to Hawaii and Southern California, and often covers those destinations. Her travel website is: www.marlacimini.com
Melody Pittman is the owner and creator of Wherever I May Roam Blog and is co-owner of the Southern Travelers Explore annual conference, in its 4th year, which brings CVBS and writers/influencers together from all over the country.
She is a digital influencer and writes for both online and print publications, such as Travel Awaits, Charleston Home and Living Magazine, Matador Network, She Buys Travel, and more. Melody has worked with major brands during her nine-year career, such as Viking River Cruises, Ritz Carlton, Four Seasons, Disney, hundreds of tourism boards, and GO RVing.
Melody’s first book “100 Things to Do in West Virginia Before You Die” was released in the spring of 2023. She has a podcast, 100ThingsWV, and social channels to go along with the book.
Melody loves road trips, small towns, cruising, and sharing lesser-known destinations with her followers via TikTok, Youtube, IG, and FB. After a year of full-time RV travel, she now resides in Mesquite, Nevada.
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