Essential Road Trip Hacks To Save You Time And Money

What You’ll Need: A cell phone, the app
Cost: Free

There are so many apps out there that are designed to make our lives easier, we just don’t know about half of them. GasBuddy is a great invention that’s free to use. The app lets you know where the cheapest gas is in the area that you’re in. 

Download GasBuddy to Find The Cheapest Gas @racheljones3020 / Pinterest.com

You can save a little and a lot by just knowing where to head to fill up your car on your route. It doesn’t take much to find out and it’s always there in your pocket, ready for you to pull out when you need it the most. 

What You’ll Need: An empty gum cup
Cost: Free 

Every driver knows that tolls are a bit of a pain in the butt, but they can’t always be avoided. Instead of fishing around for change at the last minute and holding everyone else up, keep a pot full of change in your cup holder. 

Keep Change For Tolls in a Gum Cup @AylaandCo / Pinterest.com

You don’t need a special cup. Empty gum cups will do just fine. They’re a perfect size and the easy-open lid makes it great to dip in and out. Little hacks like this make road trips much less stressful and way more organized. Everyone in the car will thank you when you’re not desperately rummaging through a million purses. 

What You’ll Need: A foam noodle
Cost: $5*

Foam noodles are great for all kinds of things. They can help non-swimmers learn to navigate water, they can protect wires – they can also go between seats so when you drop something, it doesn’t fall down. 

Put Foam Noodle Between Seats to Prevent Losing Things @houseinteriordesign1027 / Pinterest.com

This simple trick is a lifesaver when you’re driving. Modern smartphones are the perfect size to fit through the gap and can be a nightmare to fish out. It’s not easy to stop the car and figure out where something is, but it is easy to prevent it from happening in the first place. 

What You’ll Need: A solar-powered battery pack
Cost: $30* 

If there are several passengers in the car with phones that need charging, it can be difficult with just one charging point. Instead of battling over who gets to use it when, invest in a couple of solar-powered battery packs. 

Let the Sun Charge Your Phone Through the Car Window @elvirapuga95 / Pinterest.com

The packs can be placed on or near the window and your phone can charge while it’s soaking up the sun. What’s more, they aren’t that expensive and usually last a decent amount of time, making this a product you’ll use again and again without fail.

What You’ll Need: Ipad with foldable case
Cost: Free

Many moons ago, cars that came with built-in DVD players were the coolest of the cool. Then, DVDs became almost obsolete and tablets started to take over the world. Still, some people want a hands-free entertainment experience while in the car. 

Hang an Ipad Off of Your Car's Sun Visor @thehuffpost / Pinterest.com

There are a few things you can do in the backseat, but if you’re in the front seat you could hang the iPad or tablet case over the sun’s visor. We wouldn’t recommend it if it hampers the driver’s visibility of course. Safety first, entertainment later. 

What You’ll Need: A cookie tray
Cost: Free/$5*

Kids love to color, but it can be difficult when traveling as there isn’t a solid surface for them to lean on. However, you could have something in your kitchen that will double as the perfect travel accessory. Cookie trays are great for kids to use in the car because they have a lip that will stop pens from falling off. 

@two sisters/Pinterest.com

That way, kids can happily entertain themselves by coloring in the back seat, without having to hear “I dropped my crayon!” every two seconds. It’s an investment for the kids and for the adults. Happy children, happy parents – especially in the confines of a car. 

What You’ll Need: Cling wrap, cups
Cost: $2* 

If you don’t want to go to multiple drive-thrus and don’t happen to have a travel cup, then don’t panic, all is not lost. Bring a normal cup and some cling wrap. In no time at all, you can make a makeshift lid so your beverage won’t spill out all over the car seats. 

Use Cling Wrap for a Makeshift Lid to Avoid Spills @jennfossum / Pinterest.com

It’s still a great idea to invest in a travel cup, but this is the next best thing. Plus, cling wrap is cheap and even free if you already have it in your cupboard at home. If you brought proper cups to have a mid-route picnic, then it also keeps the bugs out. 

What You’ll Need: A mini car fridge
Cost: $100*

Even if you have top-tier air conditioning in your car, drinks can get warm and sandwiches can get mushy. You can avoid all this by investing in a personal fridge that plugs into your car and can easily sit in the backseat. 

Car Fridge @voval/Pinterest.com

It may not be huge, but they’re big enough to hold some drinks and snacks that might otherwise get ravaged or go bad on a long journey. Smaller ones cost less, but 40-liter ones might set you back around $100. It’s worth every penny when you’re traveling a long way.

What You’ll Need: Paper, scissors, coloring pens
Cost: Less than $5*

It’s no secret that kids can be super impatient when traveling. They just want to get to where they’re going without any of the in-between stuff. If you’re planning a long trip, it might be worth making a little map like this one, that shows how far along you are. 

Make a Road Map for the Kids @hailbail007 / Pinterest.com

That way, they might stop yelling “Are we there yet?” every five minutes and give you a little bit of peace. It’s a great visual reminder for the adults of how much progress you’ve made since you set off. All you need is some coloring pens, sticky tape, and a little bit of artistic prowess. 

What You’ll Need: Research skills
Cost: Free 

Sometimes, the biggest favor you can do for yourself when you’re planning a road trip is making sure you do enough research. It’s often easiest to pick any random hotel that fits into your route, but “closest to” doesn’t always mean “better than.” 

Choose Hotels With Free Breakfast ©Ksenija Toyechkina / Shutterstock.com

It’s worth going a little way off your route to stay in a hotel that has free breakfast. That way, the entire family can load up on food (and maybe even sneak out a croissant or two) at no added expense. It also means you’ll have more time on the road without stopping for an early lunch. 

What You’ll Need: A shower caddy, take out meal
Cost: $5* 

Shower caddies aren’t just for living in college dorms. They’re great for organizing tons of stuff – including your drive-thru order. Next time you’re on the road, don’t panic about juggling your Big Mac and fries or trying to find enough cup holders. Instead, bring a shower caddy with you. 

Use Shower Caddies for On-The-Go Meals @giwastar / Pinterest.com

They’re the perfect size for McDonald’s orders, and they’re not very big so each person in the car can have their own. Why stress about eating everything as quickly as possible to get it out the way when you can travel in style like this?

What You’ll Need: A crib sheet, Scotch-guard
Cost: $5*

Buying a new set of car seat covers just for a road trip can be a bit excessive. However, we all know that seats can get messy on long trips. Drinks get spilled, crumbs get left – it’s not a pretty sight. Instead of buying the expensive cover set, buy a crib sheet and spray it with Scotchguard. 

Use a Crib Sheet As a Seat Cover @charmedwithayano / Instagram.com

Place it over the back seats and you have a moisture-repellent seat cover that doesn’t cost much at all. When the trip is done you can throw it in the laundry and store it for another day. This genius hack might have started out as one mom’s brilliant idea, but it’s great for everyone. 

What You’ll Need: An inflatable raft
Cost: $15*

If you’re traveling a really long way and need to make a pit stop every now and then but don’t want to fork out for a hotel, then this one’s for you. Buying an inflatable pool raft might seem weird when you’re just planning a road trip, but you’ll thank us later. 

Bring an Inflatable Pool Raft for Maximum Sleeping Comfort @buzzfeed / Pinterest.com

You can easily inflate the pool raft and stick it in the back seat, making a makeshift mattress. It’ll only cost you around $15 at stores like Target, and it means you’ll be able to get some decent shuteye without having to book a room for a whole night. 

What You’ll Need: Your phone
Cost: Free

At some point in our lives, most of us have lost something while traveling. It’s easy to put down your phone at the gas station and forget about it until you’ve crossed state lines. Luckily, there’s an easy way that you can try and get that phone back to you.

Change Your Phone's Lock Screen @marissaduhn / Pinterest.com

Before you travel, change the lock screen to a note screenshot that has your name, phone number, and address on it. That way, you just might get your iPhone back if someone finds it and is kind enough to mail it back to you.