Are you wondering what to pack for your cross-country road trip? Are you planning your first van life journey and wondering what to bring? Read on for my 12 essential non-essentials!

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Our first road trip in the van resulted in me primal rage screaming in a 100-degree Myrtle Beach parking lot next to (literal) hot garbage after hitting my head and elbow for the last damn time so help me God. 

And that’s the thing they leave out of all the beautiful van life Instagram photos and YouTube videos: tripping over one’s spouse and dog in a Polly Pocket-sized vehicle with ocean-front dumpster views. The spaces are small, organization and tidiness are essential, and something is absolutely going to go wrong. Van life is fun, but it’s not easy, and it can be quite an adjustment. 

We’ve come a long way since last summer, and we’ve gotten the hang of the van thing. We’re currently coming off a 20-day cross-country road trip with our wild Australian shepherd, and no one primal rage screamed once, even when the water heater broke during a 30-degree stay at a showerless-campsite!

Before we hit the gas on this epic road trip, a veteran traveler gave me the sagest advice, “Find what gives you comfort and prioritize it on your trip. Van life is fun, but it’s also uncomfortable in a million tiny ways. Those little things that give you a moment of zen will make all the difference.”

He knew what he was talking about! So, while the items on this list aren’t essential to the operation of our van, they’re absolutely essential to my mental health.

12 Essential Non-essentials for a Better Road Trip

Lavender Room Spray or Linen Mist

Every van, camper, and RV has a smell to it. I don’t know if it comes from the materials used, the air getting stale in small spaces, or lingering chemical smells from the toilet, but there is an unmistakable musk about every camper I’ve set foot in.

At the end of a long day on the road, open the doors and windows for a few minutes to fill your space with fresh air. Then spritz your sleeping area with some lavender room spray and breathe deep. Let that fresh, sweet feeling of “ahhhh!” wash over you, and climb into bed. 

The sensory experience will help you hit “reset” and cultivate mindfulness, and lavender is proven to help reduce stress and improve sleep quality. It’s also a part of our daily routine at home, which was all the more reason to incorporate this little luxury into our van life. 

Super Comfy Pajamas

I’m not going to lie: I never get my best night’s sleep in the van. Maybe it’s the smaller bed, maybe it’s the new sounds, or maybe it’s the 38-pound dog kicking me in the kidneys. I can’t say for sure.

It does help, however, to indulge in as many relaxing and soothing sensory experiences as possible before bed, and I’m obsessed with the new ultra-soft pajamas I got for Christmas. They’re cozy, silky, and highly breathable. Whatever you pack to sleep in, make sure it’s something you’re dying to put on at the end of the day.

A (Real) Book

Sometimes it’s just nice to go analog, especially when you’ve spent the day fighting with your charging cables, GPS, van gadgets, and spotty Starlink internet. I highly recommend bringing a book or two on your trip. You can always swap it out at the next Little Free Library on your route once you’ve finished! I almost never have time to read, but I read The Reign of Wolf 21: The Saga of Yellowstone's Legendary Druid Pack, Skinny Dip, and Cabin Porn on our trip. I also bought Spare, but I haven’t gotten into it yet!

Selfish Zombie Edition Board Game

If you’re traveling with a companion, bring at least one board game. During your time on the road, there will inevitably be a rainy night at the campground or a stay in a small town with not much to do at night. We bought Selfish Zombie Board Game on the road and played it repeatedly during our trip.

CBD Mocktails

Blame it on sleeping in a van with a bed-hog of an Australian shepherd or blame it on my 36-year-old lower back, but good sleep is a precious commodity. I threw some canned Flyers CBD mocktails in the fridge on a whim. The first night I cracked one open next to a campfire after a long drive, I slept through a thunderstorm, my dog yipping because of the thunderstorm, and my husband crawling on and off the bed multiple times. It was glorious.

Extra Socks

You know those socks you got for Christmas? It’s their time to shine. My husband sagely urged me to pack twice as many socks as I’d laid out for our trip, and I’m so glad I did. Why did I go through so many socks? I have no idea. I also have no idea what happened to all of them, but only about half made it back home with me. Your van is in league with your dryer, friends. They trade off eating socks.

Luxury Bath Products

Hot showers are about to be your biggest comfort and joy, so go ahead and get a little extra about it, friend. I splurged on a travel set from Los Poblanos somewhere in Texas, and it turned every subsequent KOA bathhouse into my own private aromatherapy spa (in shower shoes, of course). It doesn’t have to be outrageously priced, but pick a soap, shampoo, or body was that’s a new, relaxing scent, fun color, or exfoliating. That little bit of pampering will go a long way after several days in the van.

Furminator-style Tool

If you’re traveling with your floofer, this one is a must - and this is from someone who is not really into grooming their animal. The joke about Aussies is that they’re in a heavy shed twice a year for 6 months, and we actually found wisps of dog hair hanging from the ceiling in our van. While it didn’t stop the shedding, a daily furminating helped to keep our space livable.

Small Jewelry Organizer

There’s nothing like living out of a van to hone your organizational skills! I usually take my rings and earrings off as I move about my day, leaving a tiny trail of jewelry in my wake when we’re at home. This compact jewelry organizer tucked perfectly in the compartment over the bed, and it allowed me to take several of my favorite date-night pieces with me for special occasions. 

A Killer Road Trip Playlist

What’s a road trip without a killer playlist?! We both have free Spotify accounts, and I made an awesome road trip playlist, a Texas playlist, and a Southeastern road trip playlist. Those people next to you at the red light howling along to “All My Exes Live in Texas” with the windows down? We are those people. 

Mad Libs Books

When you’re killing time with a friend or loved one on your road trip - and trust me, there will be plenty of it - Mad Libs will help you giggle the drive away. We actually found a funny multiple-choice poem book at a used bookstore, but it was very similar to the Mad Libs booklets of my childhood. (It’s best if you read the answers in your most melodramatic slam poetry voice.)

Something Sentimental

There’s no place like home, no matter how much fun you’re having on the road. I was surprised to feel pangs of homesickness on our grand adventure, but I brought two bracelets my nieces had gotten me and a photo of our beloved dog (may she rest in peace), and these little things were lovely touchstones on long drives. 

Have you done an epic road trip? What were your essential non-essentials that you’re glad you packed? Leave ‘em in the comments below!