So, you are going on a road trip for the day, you’ve decided on where you are road tripping to and now you need to pack for the day. Well, packing for an Australian road trip requires some thoughtful planning. A little planning ensures you and those you are travelling with have everything required for a comfortable and enjoyable journey. I love road trips and have been on many in Australia. From day trips to travelling full-time for an extended period doing my big lap of Australia, I’ve learnt a thing or two about what to pack. So here is what to pack for a 1 day road trip.
In this post I am providing a checklist with links to everything you will need for your one day road trip. Packing for a road trip is quite different to packing for a day at the beach or a day in the snow. I’ve broken down the essentials to pack for a one day road trip by category to make it easier. This guide for what to pack for a road trip contains affiliate links to trusted partners.
Table of Contents
Before You Hit the Road Packing Tips
- Before hitting the road on your road trip do a few road trip maintenance things to your vehicle. Like check the oil, water, tyre pressure, etc. And check you have the basic car tools, jumper cables and the spare tyre is OK. Is the GPS working or do you have printed maps. Start with a full tank of petrol.
- Give some thought to your road trip and decide where your one day road trip will be to. Will it be to the beach? The mountains? Or inland? Think about things you will need for the specific place you are heading to.
- Choose the appropriate luggage for the day. I usually have a day pack for the day and this is fine when travelling solo. But if I’m travelling with other people, I sometimes take a bigger bag to hold all our things in the one place.
- Consider the weather of the day. Is it a warm sunny day or a wet and windy day? The weather can determine where you are going on your day road trip.
Essentials Packing List for a Day Road Trip in Australia
Paperwork
- Driving Licence. You should always keep your driver’s licence with you on your Australian road trip. If not the physical licence, but a digital copy on your phone.
- Road side assistance details in case of a break down.
- Insurance details – just in case something happens.
- Car manual. Before calling road side assistance it is worth looking through the car’s manual to guide you on what lights might be appearing on the dashboard.
- GPS systems and maps to help you get to your destination.
Clothing
Dress for the weather of the day. And add:
- Lightweight jacket or jumper if road tripping in warm weather as sometimes the weather can change or it can be cold and windy at your destination.
- Comfortable shoes in case you do a lot of walking on your road trip
Sun Protection
Sun protection is a big consideration when travelling in Australia. Better to be prepared than end the day looking like a lobster!
- Sunscreen (SPF 50+ or higher and reef safe)
- Hat
- Sunglasses
For the Car Journey
- Snacks – non-perishable snacks (trail mix, granola bars, nuts) plus fruit (apples, dried fruit)
- Rubbish bag for snack packaging
- Water bottle filled with fresh water
- Neck pillow in case you want a snooze
- Entertainment – music chosen, headphones, travel games
Food
- Snacks for the car
- If planning to self-cater take picnic food plus picnic gear.
Extras
- Quick-drying towel. You never know when you might have a swim at the beach, in a lake or get wet from the rain. And a quick-drying towel will come in handy.
- First Aid & Emergency kit – insect repellent.
- Umbrella or rain coast.
- Hand sanitiser
- Wet wipes.
- Camera
- Phone charger and power bank
- Flashlight – if your day trip extends into the night.
- Toilet paper – don’t laugh – many toilets don’t have paper
Packing for a Road Trip with Kids
Going on a road trip with kids means packing differently if only going on a road trip solo or with your partner or friend. So what do you pack for kids road trip? Well, it depends on how old the kids are. Again, packing for a road trip with a baby will be a little different to packing for a road trip with a toddler or young school age kid. And packing for a day trip with teenagers can be different again – that’s if the teenagers want to come!
Are You Ready for Your Road Trip?
A road trip is one of the best ways to discover Australia now. I hope ‘what to pack for a 1 day road trip’ packing list suggestions has been useful. Planning ahead will definitely help ensure a smooth and enjoyable day. All there is to say is, enjoy your road trip.
Some day road trips to consider:
Grand Pacific Drive
Drive around the Bellarine Peninsula
Sydney Day Trips
Day Trip to the Blue Mountains
Drive around the Dandenongs
Goldfields Way – Bendigo to Ballarat
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