25 Best Gifts For Road Trips (2025 Gift Guide)

Long story short, I have been road-tripping basically since I got my license. This ultimate gift list is written by someone who loves road trips and has been many.

I’ve traveled from Washington State to Florida, driving along the coasts, taking local road trips, and more! Typically, my dog, Reign, is my passenger prince (well, he actually sits in the backseat, but that’s not the point).

I’ve had epic fails or “dangit, I wish I had this item” more times than I can count. So, to help others find the best gifts for road trips, I have thought a lot about my travels and what I wish I had.

You’re in the right place if you’re looking for a gift for a road tripper. I have personally used each of the 25 items on the list, and all of them have been ones that I actually use. We can save the fluff for Reign’s toys! 🐶

25 Gift Ideas For Road Trips

If you’re shopping for a birthday, holiday, or a “just because” gift, your road tripper will love any of these presents.

I have taken many trips in my 2002 Highlander or my Promaster Van, and I want to share my experiences with you to help you decide which gift might be best for your road tripper.

If you don’t spend a lot of time on the road, it can be tough to decide what people actually need. There are plenty of gift baskets if you want to go that route, but I highly recommend each of these items.

7 Best Gift Ideas For Road Trips

These 7 gifts are ones that you can’t go wrong with, they’re the best!

1. YETI 20 oz Coffee/Tea Insulated Tumbler

Pretty much everyone drinks some type of coffee, tea, hot chocolate, iced matcha, and so on. This Yeti Insulated Tumbler is great because it fits in a car cupholder.

I’ve bought (more than I would like to admit) insulated tumblers that I have to return because they don’t fit in car cupholders. This Yeti Tumbler keeps hot drinks hot and it cold drinks cold.

Another bonus is that it’s reusable so you aren’t wasting more plastic at coffee shops.

2. North Face Slipper Shoes

Think about wearing the same shoes the entire drive, and all day long. Let me tell you from personal experience, it’s not ideal. Whenever I stop at hotels, hang out at a rest stop, or set up for camp if I’m car camping, I slip on my North Face Slippers.

They have traction, they feel like little duvets for your feet, and they are super easy to drive in if you want to switch between normal shoes.

P.S. I always bring a pair of my Chacos for hotter weather or hanging out at a river or lake.

3. Leatherman Multi-Tool

I received my Leatherman Multi-Tool as a gift 12 years ago and used it almost every day while I was in the Army. It’s always in my purse and has been one of the best gifts I have ever received.

It’s funny once you use one, you will realize how often they come in handy!

4. Reusable Water Bottle

The struggle is real when you are driving and your water bottle is too big to fit in the cup holder or the lid is too tight and it feels impossible to drive and unscrew the lid.

This Reusable Water Bottle fits in cup holders, is insulated, and comes with a straw, solving all of the previously listed struggles.

5. Kindle

I was the person who refused to get a Kindle because I loved holding a real book. This is not ideal while traveling and trying to fit multiple books in a bag. They take up a lot of space, and you worry about the pages getting bent and all that other book stuff.

This is a great way to read multiple books, without glare, and the best part – it has weeks of battery life.

6. North Face 42L Duffle Bag

Finding a durable duffle bag can be a struggle. Some don’t open wide enough, others aren’t made to last, or they take up way too much space in a car. This North Face Duffle Bag is practical, durable, and affordable!

The bag comes in different colors and sizes, is water and wear-resistant, and has adjustable shoulder straps that turn the bag into a backpack.

I also love to use these Compression Packing Cubes to keep clothes organized. (Plus, I use one to keep my dirty clothes separate.)

7. Yeti Cooler

Road trippers love to snack. Road trippers don’t love warm snacks that should be cold or vice versa.

This Yeti Cooler keeps items cold, is portable, durable, and fits multiple different items that your road tripper will need on their journey.

9 Useful Gifts For Road Trips

These 9 gifts for road trips are the most useful ones that any road tripper would need and love!

8. Stanley Adventure 2 Gallon Water Jug

I didn’t invest in one of these till a couple of years ago. Now I will never go back. The Stanely Water Jug is easy to fill up at home and at grocery stores along the trip.

Most grocery stores have a drinking water fill station that is more affordable than buying individual water bottles. Saving money and the environment!

9. Car Rooftop Cargo Bag

Whether it’s for dirty gear, wet outdoor gear, stinky boots, or to just free up space in the car, this is a must-have item! The Rooftop Cargo Bag is waterproof, fits all cars (with and without top racks), and it’s antislip.

If there are multiple people in the vehicle or if you are planning on car camping, this is a lovely way to free up space so everyone isn’t crammed in there with all the luggage.

10. Headlamp

A great item to have in the car at all times. This Headlamp is very affordable and the batteries last a long time. There are also different settings on it to make the light brighter or a red light. Perfect for travelers who love to hike or car camp!

If you’re looking to create your road-tripper a basket, I would add one of these!

11. Comfy Clothing

Road tripping gets dirty pretty quickly, even if you’re just driving. After a day of traveling, you typically get that gross feeling for just sitting or using public restrooms, etc.

Investing in moisture-wicking, odor-resistant, and looser-fitting clothing, will make the road tripper happier (and their road trip buddies will appreciate it too).

These are some of my personal favorites:

• T-Shirt: BYLT Drift T-Shirt
• Shorts: Patagonia Women’s Baggies
• Pants: Coalatree Trailhead Pants
• Compression Socks: Best Support Circulation Socks
• Jacket: Packable Puffer Jacket

12. Travel Blanket

A Travel Blanket is another item that isn’t just great for road trips, but all car rides.

On road trips, I have used my travel blanket for hanging out at a grassy park, taking naps by a lake, or wrapping myself in it when I hop on a ferry and have to turn my car off.

There have been a couple of times where I haven’t been able to get into a hotel because they were filled up or I was too tired to continue to drive. Gifting a Travel Blanket will keep your road tripper warm if they have to do last-minute car camping.

13. Portable Car Jump Starter

Having a Portable Car Jump Starter on a road trip is necessary. Your gift receiver will be stoked to receive this. For those traveling in cold temperatures, sometimes cars can be a bit finicky in the cold. I have used mine at least a dozen times.

If your road tripper brings a laptop, camera, or other electronics, this Portable Car Jump Starter has a USB and 120 amps to charge those items! (And it’s a cute rose gold color).

14. Cell Phone Mount

Many new cars have a feature that allows drivers to hook up their phones and provide directions on their car screens. Sometimes the car will have technical issues and not always want to connect.

This Cell Phone Mount is a backup to this issue! It’s useful and helps with safety for the driver not having to look down at a phone screen for directions.

15. Gas Cards

Gifting a Visa Gas Gift Card is a generous and helpful gift. I wouldn’t recommend buying a gift card for a certain chain of gas stations because they vary across the country.

16. Garmin inReach Mini 2 Messenger

If the road tripper loves to hit the back roads or drive to non-populated places that don’t have service, this is a great gift! The Garmin inReach fits in the palm of your hand and has a SOS feature just in case.

You can also communicate via two-way messaging. The road tripper can communicate with their device to someone’s phone who can then text them back. It’s very user-friendly!

3 Fun & Unique Gifts For Road Trips

These 3 fun and unique gifts help create long-lasting road trip memories!

17. Polaroid (With Extras)

I actually bought my Polaroid specifically for road trips, and love it! I will say that on the first trip I brought it on I ran out of batteries and film. I ended up putting the pictures I took in my writing journal so they wouldn’t get damaged. One fell on the ground and got ruined in the muddy ground.

Please learn from my failures and buy the photo album and other extras so your road tripper can capture all of their favorite moments (and keep them safe)!

18. Nomadix Changing Poncho

This is a unique gift because how often do we think about where we are going to change clothing on our drive? For me, it wasn’t too often. I always figured it was easiest in the car, when in reality changing in the car is awkward and sometimes there are too many people around.

If you spill coffee all over your lap or a burrito falls apart on your shirt, this Nomadix Changing Poncho is a great way to change, without a fuss.

19. Two-Way Radio for Caravaning Road Trippers

Great for long road trips with your friends traveling in multiple cars. It’s easier to use these than calling for needed rest stops or if you have a quick question. Plus, the Two-Way Radios can make it more fun if you also purchase #25 of this gift list.

The Two-Way Radios (aka walkie-talkies for adults) feel nostalgic in a way like you’re a kiddo again playing in the woods with your friends or pretending to be in a spaceship.

3 Essential Gifts For Road Trips

These are 3 essential gifts for road trips!

20. Car Roadside Emergency Kit and/or AAA Membership

My dad always asked if I had these before my trip throughout my teenage years. (Thank you, Dad, for instilling this in my mind.)

The Car Roadside Emergency Kit includes a first aid kit, safety items for a car breakdown, reflective triangles, and more.

And/or: AAA Membership to help with any issues on the road such as needing a tow.

21. Travel Pillow

Similar to the travel blanket, this is a love and need for road trips. I’ve taken naps in my car at a rest stop or stopped and put up my hammock at a park to relax and read.

This ultralight inflatable Travel Pillow weighs only 3.9 oz and is smaller than a can of soda! It saves so much space versus bringing a normal-sized bed pillow. The travel pillow is comfortable and gives great neck support for back, side, and stomach sleepers.

22. Traveling With Pets: Seat Covers

If you are traveling with a dog, seat covers are a lifesaver. My dog, Reign, loves to swim, and zoomie through the grass and will avoid rain at all costs.

The Dog Car Seat Cover fits perfectly on the backseat of any car and keeps the seats protected from dirt, rain, or whatever else your furry friends get in. It also adds a bit more safety for your dog so they don’t slide on the seats.

3 Gifts For Quick Stocking Stuffers

Whether it’s for a holiday, a work party, a birthday, or “just because” – these are 3 great stocking stuffers!

23. Annual National Park Pass

If you know your friend or loved one is planning on visiting national parks – this is a HUGE money saver for them. This National Park Pass admits the pass owner and passengers in a non-commercial vehicle.

The pass includes entrance fees to all parks for one personal vehicle, an RV/motorhome, or one motorcycle!

24. Spotify or Audible Subscription

There is nothing like listening to the radio or music that isn’t downloaded and then you hit a spot with no service and it goes completely silent. With a Spotify or Audible subscription, this solves the problem. The road tripper can download as many songs or audiobooks to be fully prepped to stay entertained for their trip.

I have gone an hour or more without any music and let me tell you when I say conversations with yourself get weird haha.

25. 3,000 Unique Questions

Sitting in the car can get boring at times, or you may run out of things to talk about with friends. This 3,000 Unique Questions book has a lot of thought-provoking questions. It’s great for solo journeys or with friends to deepen connections.

It’s fun to answer questions that you may not think of regularly. I wouldn’t have thought about this gift if I hadn’t received it, but it’s a fun and thoughtful gift!

The 25 Best Gifts For Road Trips “Wrapped Up” 😜

As a road-tripper myself, I have had only great experiences with the 25 gifts on this list. I wouldn’t be recommending them if I didn’t love them.

(Many of these gifts are on Amazon so you can get it fast, too!)

Happy Trails,
Mindful PNW Travels

(If you love this list and want to continue to follow my journey and guides, I would really appreciate it if you are able to share. Reign says thank you!!)