Road trips can be incredible experiences when done right, but they can also turn into stressful disappointments without the right gear and proper preparation. I’ve made the 2,400-mile drive from Arizona to New Jersey four times now, and on one occasion, I drove coast-to-coast from the Pacific Ocean in Santa Cruz, CA to the Atlantic Ocean in Long Beach Island, NJ — all in my Tesla Model Y without stopping in hotels. In other words, I know what gadgets and tools you need to make your road trip successful.
The best car gadgets for long road trips keep me prepared and safe for any situation, and there are a few that only leave my car when it’s time to charge them. I can’t live without a sturdy car mount and wireless charger, portable air compressor, and battery-powered vacuum on extreme trips. These are my go-to picks for those categories and a few essential others, and there’s one that absolutely everyone should buy.
Peak Design Qi2 Wireless Charger
This accessory is great for charging while glancing at information
A great phone mount is essential for long road trips. You need a stand that can keep your phone in reach and in view while traveling, and a way to keep it charged. Although my Model Y has a giant infotainment screen and built-in wireless chargers, neither are reliable enough for long road trips. When crossing through a dead zone, my car loses the ability to stream music or navigate. That’s why I rely on my phone (mounted and hands-free, of course) to play downloaded music and navigate using offline maps. Additionally, my car’s wireless charging pads cause my phone to overheat, so I need a more trusted solution.
The Peak Design Qi2 mobile car charging mount fits the bill perfectly. It attaches to your dashboard, or another flat surface, using included mounting tape. Compared to a clamp or vent mount, this solution is much more compatible, fitting models like my Tesla without traditional A/C vents. It’s also high-tech and fast — it supports the latest Qi2 standard with 15W of power delivery. The magnets are incredibly strong and keep my phone right where it needs to be while driving.
This is a complete kit that includes the charging mount, a USB-C charging cable, adhesive clips to hide your cable run, and a replacement adhesive pad — this is for if you want to move and re-attach the Peak Design charger later.
Qi-Certified
Qi2 15W
Weight
95.4g
Materials
Machined/anodized aluminum mounting head & stem Grippy silicone mounting pad with Tinuvin 770 UV-stabilizer High-temp neodymium mounting magnets
Peak Design’s Qi2 wireless charger uses a ballhead mount for flexibility and an adhesive pad to attach securely to your car’s dashboard. It works with Qi2-enabled magnetic phones or cases, delivering up to 15W speeds. The adhesive attachment method means it’s compatible with just about any car
Fanttik X8 Tire Inflator
I never worry about losing air on the road with this gadget
Credit: Brady Snyder / MakeUseOf
If you only buy one car gadget on this list, it should be the Fanttik X8 Apex tire inflator. Calling it just a tire inflator is quite the understatement, though. It’s also an air compressor with the included hoses and adapters to fill up car tires, bike tires, sports balls, and more equipment. At the top of the tire inflator, there’s a bright LED flashlight with two modes. This ensures that you can safely fill or change tires, even when it’s dark out. Since I bought the Fanttik tire inflator about a year ago, it’s saved me countless times when my tires were low on air.
The tire inflator runs on battery power and charges over USB-C. There’s also a USB-A port for charging other devices, turning this car accessory into a portable charger in a pinch. Most importantly, it’s a reliable air compressor and tire inflator. I’ve used it to add 10+ PSI to each of my tires when I needed it most, and it did so all on a single charge.
Fanttik’s X8 Apex isn’t just a gadget, it’s a safety tool. If you have this one car accessory, you have a tire inflator, flashlight, and portable charger with you at all times. That could prove to be invaluable in an emergency.
Type
Battery-powered, USB-C charging
Power Source
11.1 Volts (DC)
What’s Included
Tire inflator, air tube(with schrader valve adapter), presta valve adapter, ball needle, charging cable
The Fanttik X8 Apex tire inflator uses USB-C to deliver up to 150 PSI to fill up vehicle tires up to 26.3 inches in size. It can top up all four tires on a single charge, includes adapters for inflating balls, and doubles as a flashlight and emergency power bank.
Fanttik Slim V8 Car Vacuum
Keep things clean with this tiny USB-C vacuum
Credit: Brady Snyder / MakeUseOf
I completed my first few cross-country road trips without a portable car vacuum, and it was a major mistake. Stopping at rest areas and parks throughout the drive while also eating in your car is a surefire way to make it filthy by the end. In the middle of a road trip, I decided enough was enough — I was so pleased with Fanttik’s tire inflator that I also bought the company’s Slim V8 Apex car vacuum.
The vacuum is seriously tiny, runs on battery power, and charges over USB-C. That means you can keep it in your car for storage and always have it when you need it. The vacuum has two suction modes: a max power mode that can last for 13 minutes on a single charge or a normal mode that extends battery life up to 40 minutes. In my experience, the suction power won’t blow you away and the battery life leaves a bit to be desired. It won’t replace stops at the car wash for deep cleans, but it is essential for unexpected messes.
The small form factor, easy-to-clean filter, and 10 included attachments for hard-to-reach areas make the Fanttik Slim V8 Apex a must for road trips.
Type
Vacuuming, blowing, inflating, pumping accessory
Power Source
Battery power, USB-C
What’s Included
Fanttik Slim V8 Apex vacuum, USB-A to USB-C charge cable, crevice nozzle, flexible hose, push-in brush, multi-surface brush, and pet brush
The Fanttik Slim V8 Apex car vacuum is a tiny gadget that can keep your car tidy with two suction modes and tons of included attachments. It can last up to 40 minutes on a single charge and recharges over USB-C. The included filter captures dust and other particles, and it’s removable for cleaning.
Everything else I bring on long road trips
These are the essential gadgets that everyone needs for a long road trip. If I had to pick a singular honorable mention, it’d be an inflatable air mattress. Road trips can get expensive fast if you’re staying in hotels for stops, and you can do better than reclining the driver’s seat. I’ve used the VINBYEE Car Sleeping Mattress that’s $56 on Amazon for two years — it includes a USB-C powered pump, storage bag, and patch kit. It serves me well, and allows me to car camp across the country.
For safe road trips, non-tech supplies are arguably more important than gadgets. I highly recommend the Fanttik tire inflator as a safety tool, but make sure you bring a first aid kit, flashlight, extra clothes, multi-tool, and a cooler with great insulation for snacks and drinks. Don’t make the mistake of forgetting basic supplies like trash bags, wipes, paper towels, and cutlery. With these gadgets and a few essential supplies, you’ll have everything you need to crush your next road trip.
