I take a lot of road trips with WhereJoeGoes.com, and even previous to starting my website I travelled extensively for both business and leisure. Throughout my time traveling I have tried a number of items designed for road trips, etc. that worked extremely well. I have also tried a number of things that either failed or were not useful at all. 

Below is my top 5 list of road trip items. These are the more like groups of items, since some of these items have accessories that I use and have listed. Also note that I have not listed any of the cameras or gear that I use(d) to photograph and/or record my trips.

(Please note that this is NOT a sponsored article. The items listed below have been personally selected and used by myself, and I have not been paid by any manufacturer to write this article.)

1. Therm-a-Rest Z-Seat– I originally bought my Z-Seat for hiking and camping, but I have also found it useful for driving and road trips. During hiking and/or camping, the Z-Seat comes in handy any time  you need to sit somewhere wet or cold. During road trips, I found that one the biggest problems I have when driving for longer than about 2-3 hours is the fact that you are sitting in exactly the same position for hours. The Z-Seat helps me mix that up a little bit. I can put the Z-Seat under me and sit on it, can put in behind my back, etc. all to ensure that I do not start cramping after long hours behind the wheel. I also find it useful to adjust the lumbar support, steering wheel position, and/or seat positions on the car seat. I put this piece of gear at the top of my list because I will never take another road trip without my Z-Seat.
   
   
2. iPhone with Waze– There are a number of different reasons why you want to travel with a smart phone. I would like to first focus on the information aspect. I personally use an iPhone, but an Android or Google phone would also work here without issue. I prefer the application Waze when I take road trips. Waze is a great navigation app, but I use my built-navigation system in my car. I use Waze to get the crowd sourced information about traffic and road hazards. I find that this is just as useful as the navigation system. I also use my iPhone to find weather, research info as needed while on the go, I use Waze to help find alternative routes, and the obvious communication use of talking/texting/etc. I also put my hands-free windshield mount for my phone in this section, as well as the 12v adapter. 
   
   
3. Yeti Rambler 20oz Tumbler– I have tried a number of different cups/mugs/water bottles/etc. during road trips. The best item that I have used so far is my Yeti Rambler 20oz Tumbler. I have also tried some very similar products from other companies, and the Yeti literally stays colder for about 2-3 hours more. The Rambler fits in the cupholders of my car, is easy to wash, and has a closeable lid to help prevent spills. I typically always also travel with a bottle of water, so I can rinse out my cup when I switch from coffee to soda or water. In this category I also put a soft-side cooler. I usually throw my soda and water in there with some ice so that I do not have to stop each time I want a beverage, which I also usually bring cans of soda and refill my Yeti.
   
   
4. Sunglasses or Window Tint– I currently live in Florida and am fortunate enough to have very dark, ceramic tint on my automobile windows. The window tint prevents the need for me to wear sunglasses while driving, however if I did not have the window tint sunglasses would be a great alternative to the window tint. This is really imperative if you will be taking a long road trip. Usually at some point during the trip, you will more than likely be driving into the sun. Window tint or sunglasses will make this portion of the considerably more enjoyable than without. 
   
   
5. Hazard Kit– This is really not a single item, but more of a group of items that I have assembled that I automatically throw in the car when I take a road trips. Here is a rough list of what this ‘kit’ contains: 1 gallon of water, 1 gallon of windshield washer fluid, 1 bottle of cheap ammonia-based window cleaner, tool kit (hammer, screwdrivers, pliers, needle-nose pliers, wire cutters, SAE & Metric sockets/ratchet, electrical tape), duct tape, leather gloves, rain suit, nylon zip ties, folding shovel, hatchet, multi-tool, flash light, first aid kit, jumper cables, tow rope, trash bags, roll of paper towels. Not listed in that kit is the spare tire accessories that are included with my vehicle. I always make sure that my tires (including the spare tire) is inflated properly and are in good condition before leaving. I am not sure how I actually ended up with this list, but it just sort of happened throughout the years of needing one item or another. 
   

There are some items that are worth mentioning that I do not have on this list. The primary item being that I always carry some sort of paper maps with me. Usually this is a set of printed Google directions or a physical atlas of the U.S. I also tend to travel with a snack, usually this snack is something like trail mix, energy bars, or other snacks that I’d typically eat while hiking. 

Hopefully you will find one or two items on this useful for your next road trip.