I’ve spent more than 400 hours on road trips across the US. Here are 8 things I always pack for a long-haul drive.

• I’ve seen 31 US states from the passenger seat.
• I’ve viewed countless towns and city skylines from highways and overpasses across the country.
• I’ve figured out exactly how to pack for a successful road trip.

I’m 30 years old, and I still don’t know how to drive, but that hasn’t stopped me from spending hundreds of hours in the passenger seat on road trips across the country.

I’ve road-tripped more than 26,000 miles across 31 states in every region of the continental US.

I often forget to pack motion sickness medicine for road trips and end up stopping for some on the way.

I always pack my own source of caffeine.

I hate that I need caffeine to stay alert, but that’s where I’m at.

I love a coffee stop on a road trip. But I don’t like to rely on them for caffeine because costs rack up quickly — especially on long journeys.

I prefer to bring Mio Energy to squirt into my water bottle. It adds a flavorful boost similar to Gatorade and keeps me hydrated.

I download playlists and podcasts to keep the car entertained.

When you’re driving on open roads, you never know when you’ll lose service.

I pack headphones to take breaks from socializing in a full car.

I’ve always road-tripped with other people. And as someone who values alone time, I find that packing headphones is the only way to get it in a cramped car.

Especially when road-tripping with others, comfy shoes feel essential to sustaining my good mood.

I always pick a cozy pair that slips on and off easily, like Wally shoes or Crocs.

Another mood booster for me is a clean car.

From empty food containers to candy wrappers, a road trip can quickly make a car messy. So don’t forget to bring a small trash can or bag to keep things tidy.

Don’t forget wipes — especially when eating in the car.

When something spills, or your hands are sticky, you’ll be glad you packed them.

And lastly, don’t forget a camera to capture those stellar American landscapes.

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