With Memorial Day weekend here, many people are planning road trips. As a result, Fox News Digital interviewed van dwellers who live in renovated vans and travel across the U.S. about their road trip essentials. These tips and items are perfect for the unofficial beginning of summer.
Jasmine Wilson, along with her dog Ice, moved into her renovated van on December 1, 2020, with the goal of visiting every national park in the country. By last fall, they had already visited around 15 national parks.
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According to Wilson, the best advice for road trippers is to be present and enjoy the experience. She also emphasizes the importance of being prepared. Prioritizing safety items and snacks allows her to avoid unnecessary stops.
Jasmine Wilson and her dog Ice in her renovated van. (Courtesy of Jasmine Wilson)
“It’s always better to be more prepared. I feel like there’s a limit to overpacking, but I’d rather have more than I need,” Wilson said. She also mentions that she never lets her gas tank go below half in case she can’t find another gas station.
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On the other hand, Will and Kristin Watson, along with their daughter Roam and their dog Rush, have been traveling in their renovated bus since April 2019.
Kristin emphasizes that planning is crucial for a successful road trip, but also emphasizes the importance of being flexible as things may not go as planned.
“They say it’s not an adventure until everything starts to go wrong,” Kristin said.
The Watsons’ renovated bus, named Juan. (Courtesy of Will and Kristin Watson)
“We set a goal and go with the flow to get there. Along the way, we discover many cool things we wouldn’t have known about otherwise,” Kristin said. Will added that enjoying the little things during the journey makes the road trip more memorable.
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Here are some essential items for road trips according to Wilson, Will, and Kristin:
Snacks and water
Both Wilson and the Watsons always have snacks with them. “Snacks are a must-have,” Kristin said. The Watsons recommend carrying cutie oranges as they don’t require refrigeration and are healthy. They also emphasize the importance of staying hydrated by keeping water handy.
“It’s important to have water with you for changing altitudes or elevations and to stay hydrated,” Will said. Kristin specifically suggests carrying water bottles with built-in filters for easy access to clean water from any sink.
The Watsons’ renovated bus, named Juan. (Courtesy of Will and Kristin Watson)
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Cooler
Wilson considers her cooler as one of her favorite items in her van. Her Icybreeze cooler serves as both a cooler and an air conditioner. It runs off a battery and has a vent that blows out cold air. Wilson’s dog loves it as well.
“My dog just sits in front of it and stays cool all day,” Wilson said.
Roadside assistance
For the Watsons, roadside assistance is at the top of their essential items list. It provides extra protection and help in case of emergencies such as a flat tire or running out of gas. Kristin mentions that roadside assistance is available for both RVs and cars.
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Safety items
As someone who travels alone, Wilson emphasizes the importance of carrying self-protection items like mace spray and multitools for emergencies.
Wilson’s renovated van. (Courtesy of Jasmine Wilson)
“Being aware of your surroundings and having those safety items easily accessible are crucial,” Wilson said.
Roadtrippers app
The Watsons rely on the Roadtrippers app to plan their journeys. It helps them discover interesting places and attractions along the way, giving them the estimated driving time to these spots.
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Entertainment kits
The Watsons recommend having entertainment options for both adults and kids. They enjoy listening to audiobooks, podcasts, or playlists during the drive. For their daughter, they have toys and books, and as a last resort, an iPad for watching videos.
“If she’s too fussy and nothing else works, we let her watch the iPad,” Kristin said.
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Dash cam rearview mirror
Since Wilson’s van doesn’t have a back window or rearview mirror, she uses a dash cam rearview mirror. It also functions as a back-up camera for vehicles that lack one.
“It’s been super essential,” Wilson said.
