Road Trip Checklist: Everything You Need for a Long Road Trip (From Full-Timers)

A long roadtrip or world trip is often romanticised. Endless freedom, sunsets every night, waking up somewhere new every morning. And yes, we have many of those moments and we truly love them. But they’re only part of the big picture.

The beauty of roadtripping long-term lies in the slow rhythm. You stop chasing highlights and start noticing details. You learn how little you actually need. You get comfortable with uncertainty.

But there’s another side too. Days when nothing works (we had quite some). Weather that ruins your plans. Small problems that feel bigger because you’re tired. A good roadtrip checklist won’t prevent those moments but it helps you stay a bit more grounded when they happen.

This is the checklist we've refined over thousands of kilometres. We've grouped it into categories so you can work through each area systematically. This isn't an exhaustive "just in case" list — it's a "this actually gets used" list.

Things break, usually at the worst moment. Not on a calm day, but when you’re tired, the weather turns, or you just want to stop. Being prepared doesn’t prevent breakdowns, but it changes how stressful they are.

Before any long road trip, your vehicle is your first priority. Everything else is secondary if the car isn't reliable.

Mechanical basics:

• Engine oil — check level, change if due
• Coolant fluid topped up
• Tyre condition and pressure (including spare)
• Brakes checked
• All lights working
• Belts and hoses inspected
• Air filter cleaned or replaced

What we always carry:

• 2 x 20L Diesel Jerry Can from Dometic
• Basic toolkit: spanners, screwdrivers, pliers, torque wrench
• Tyre repair kit and portable compressor/air pump
• Duct tape
• WD40
• Tow strap
• Jumper cables
• Winch
• Spare fluids
• Diesel- & Airfilters

Getting good sleep is one of the most underrated factors in a long road trip. Bad sleep compounds over weeks and months.

Sleep affects everything. Your mood, your patience, your decision-making. Good sleep is essential

Our setup (roof tent on the Defender):

• Roof tent (ours is from X-Vision) — fast to set up, keeps you off the ground
• Quality sleeping bags rated for the temperatures you'll encounter - even if we went for Pillows and blankets from home for the coziness
• A proper mattress
• Pillows (a cosy pillow is worth the space)
• Headlamps for each person (we use Black Diamond — reliable and bright)
• Eye masks and earplugs for light and noisy campsites

Alternatives if you don't have a roof tent:

• Van or 4x4 with a built-in sleeping platform
• Ground tent (lighter, cheaper, but more setup time)

Florian loves to cook, and we cook most of our meals ourselves. Of course, we try local food wherever we are but since we’re often off-grid, cooking is still part of our daily life.

A simple setup is key, but yes, we probably carry too many knives, pans, and spices. And we’re okay with that, we love good food, and that requires some essentials.

Cooking equipment:

• 2-burner gas stove (we prefer this over a single burner for flexibility) (Dometic)
• Pots and pans (1 large, 1 small — non-stick saves washing up)
• Sharp knives (a good knife makes everything faster)
• Cutting boards (1 large, 1 small)
• Cooking utensils: spatula, ladle, tongs, peeler
• Oven mitt/pot holders
• Dish soap, sponge
• Quick-dry microfibre cloths

Food storage:

• Waeco fridge/freezer — we have the "cool freeze CFX35". It runs off the car battery and keeps food fresh for days. Worth every penny.
• Water jerry cans (we carry 40L) — essential in remote areas
• Water filter (we use a Sawyer — a literal lifesaver for remote water sources)
• Dry food storage containers (airtight, stackable)
• Reusable bags and beeswax wraps

Spices and staples to always carry: Salt, pepper, olive oil, garlic powder, cumin, chilli flakes, soy sauce, honey. These transform basic ingredients into real meals.

Oh, and good coffee. We never leave without our NoNormal Coffee — it's become a non-negotiable part of life on the road

A road trip safety kit is not optional — it's the difference between an inconvenience and a crisis.

Keep it on a place where it’s easy to get. We were lucky so far and didn’t need it.

First aid kit (beyond the basic):

• Wound care: plasters, sterile dressings, surgical tape, antiseptic wipes
• Medications: ibuprofen, antihistamines, rehydration salts, anti-diarrhoea tablets, broad-spectrum antibiotics (ask your doctor before your trip)
• Tweezers, safety pins, scissors
• Instant cold pack
• Blister treatment
• Any personal prescription medications — carry double the amount you think you'll need

Emergency and safety equipment:

• Fire extinguisher (mounted in the vehicle — this is non-negotiable)
• Emergency triangle
• High-visibility vest
• Emergency cash in multiple currencies

Staying clean and healthy on the road is more achievable than it sounds — but it requires a different mindset.

How do you shower on a road trip? This is one of the most common questions we get. Our approach:

• Solar shower bags (cheap, effective, brilliant in sunny climates — hang from the roof rack, fill with water, leave in the sun for 1–2 hours)
• Campsite showers wherever available
• Gyms — many gyms offer day passes for €5–10 and are a great shower option in cities
• Wild swimming — rivers, lakes, and the sea. Sometimes the best shower is no shower at all.
• Wet wipes and dry shampoo for days between proper washes

Hygiene essentials:

• Biodegradable soap, shampoo, and conditioner (important for wild camping)
• Microfibre towels (fast-drying, compact — we each have 2)
• Toilet paper and a small trowel (for when nature calls in nature)
• Hand sanitiser
• Dental hygiene: toothbrush, paste, floss
• Sunscreen (SPF 50) — you spend a lot of time outdoors
• Insect repellent — essential in tropical and equatorial regions
• Lip balm with SPF
• Any personal skincare you can't live without — but keep it minimal

Navigation:

• Primary GPS app downloaded offline (Maps.me or Google Maps offline)
• Backup GPS device (Garmin or similar)
• Physical maps for each region
• Satellite communicator (Garmin inReach or SPOT)

Power setup:

• Dual battery system in the vehicle (one for starting, one for accessories) ours is from Redarc
• Solar panel (roof-mounted or portable) — also from Redarc
• Starlink (something we will be adding soon)
• Power station  (ours is RIVER 3)
• Laptop
• Camera gear

Communication and connectivity:

• Local SIM cards for each country (often cheap and easy to find)
• Satellite communicator for emergencies and check-ins when off-grid
• Passports and copies

The key principle: less is more, and layers are everything.

• 3–4 t-shirts / base layers
• 1–2 long-sleeve shirts
• 1 fleece or mid-layer
• 1 waterproof / windproof outer layer
• 2 pairs of trousers (one quick-dry, one warmer)
• 1 pair of shorts
• 5–7 pairs of socks and underwear (merino wool if budget allows — it resists odour longer)
• 1 pair of sturdy walking / hiking shoes
• 1 pair of sandals
• Warm hat and sunhat
• Gloves for cold climates
• Swimwear

There are a few things people rarely mention when talking about long-term roadtrips.

Planning fatigue is real. We constantly have to think ahead: checking routes, watching the weather, figuring out borders, looking for places to sleep, finding water to fill our water tank. Even on the days that look relaxed from the outside, our heads are still working. And over time, that adds up.

There are moments of doubt. Days when we’re just tired. When everything feels a bit heavier than expected. Weather that stops us in our tracks. Repairs we didn’t see coming. Plans that fall apart. And sometimes, of course, we miss our family and friends back home.

At the end of last year, we really felt it.

The constant moving. Living in the Defender. Always exploring, always planning the next step. What once felt exciting started to feel exhausting. Not because we didn’t love it anymore but because we hadn’t paused in a long time.

So we did something that felt almost unfamiliar: we stopped.

We took time off from living on the road. Stepped away from the constant movement. Gave ourselves space to breathe, to reset, to not chase adventures for a while.

Now we’re figuring out what “keeping going” looks like in a way that feels sustainable. Slower maybe. More intentional. But the hunger for more is still there. The curiosity. The pull of the unknown. We’re not done yet.

And maybe that’s the real lesson, it doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Sometimes the bravest thing you can do on a long journey is to pause.

This question comes up constantly, and the honest answer is: it depends on your skills and your preparation.

A long roadtrip doesn’t have to be as expensive as many people expect. The main costs are fuel, vehicle maintenance, food, visas, and insurance. Beyond that, your lifestyle choices make the biggest difference.

We actually became self-employed while being on the road. Both of us work in the design and communication industry, focusing on brand design, websites, and UGC. It wasn’t perfectly planned, and it definitely didn’t happen overnight but the road gave us the space (and push) to build something that works remotely.

Others freelance, create content, or take on seasonal jobs along the way. Making money on the road isn’t always easy, and it rarely looks perfect, but with flexibility and realistic expectations, it’s possible.

After thousands of kilometres and more than a year on the road, here's what we've actually learned:

• Overpacking was our biggest mistake. We shed about 30% of our gear in the first three months. If you haven't used it in two weeks, you probably don't need it.

• Simplicity beats complexity — in gear, in plans, in routines.

• Flexibility beats rigid planning. Things will go wrong. The ability to adapt is worth more than any checklist.

• Vehicle reliability matters more than aesthetics. A dependable, boring car will serve you better than a beautiful one that breaks down.

• A daily structure creates freedom, not restriction. Our morning routine: a cup of NoNormal Coffee, some writing, a short walk — anchors every day, no matter where we are.

Our roadtrip checklist changed during the trip many times, yours probably will change too. Items will come and go. What felt essential at the start might feel unnecessary months later. We had to get rid of quite some stuff, donated it people who where in need, sold it or sent it home to our parents.

This roadtrip checklist isn’t a rulebook. It’s a reflection of what works for us, right now, on a world trip that’s still unfolding.

Pack less. Stay curious. Build routines. And remember: the road doesn’t reward perfection, it rewards presence.

— Florian & Stephanie, SunsetandDust