Cross country road trip checklist: complete essentials

Our travel experts have created this cross country road trip checklist to help you prepare for your upcoming Australian adventure.

This list includes absolutely everything that you need for long-term travel on the road. And to make things even easier for you, we’ve broken our cross country road trip checklist into subcategories, including:

• Road Trip Essentials

• Clothing and Linen

• Technology

• Health and Hygiene

• Cooking and Camping

• Fun and Entertainment

But don’t forget the most important part of preparation! A cross country road trip is a long journey and you need to take a vehicle that is safe, easy to drive, durable and comfortable. If you want a vehicle that you can both drive and camp in, consider an all-inclusive long-term campervan or motorhome hire from Camplify. Alternatively, if you’d prefer to drive your own tow vehicle, you should consider a long-term caravan or camper trailer hire.

Essentials - Cross Country Road Trip Checklist:

• License and Vehicle Registration

Required for police checks and entering adult venues such as pubs and clubs.

• Vehicle Insurance Information

Essential in case you are involved in an accident during your cross country road trip. All Camplify vans are covered with comprehensive hirer insurance.

• ID (For all passengers)

Just in case the police want to check the age and identity of your passengers.

• Spare Money (including Back-Up Debit Card)

To be kept in your bag or vehicle in case you lose your wallet.

• Backpack

Essential for day trips during your cross country road trip.

• Notebook, Pen and Pencil

For jotting down information, journaling and sketching.

• Guidebook

Research the top sightseeing spots during your cross country road trip.

• Car/Van Manual

A life-saver in the unlikely event that your vehicle breaks down.

Clothing and Linen - Cross Country Road Trip Checklist:

• Underwear (7+ Pairs)

• Swimwear (1x Pair)

• Jeans or Trousers (1x Pair)

• Comfortable Shorts, Pants or Skirts (2x Pairs)

• Nice Shirt (x1)

• Casual Tee Shirts or Shirts (x5)

• Athletic Shoes (1x Pair)

• Flip-Flops or Slides (1x Pair)

• Boots (1x Pair)

• Socks (7x Pairs)

• Rainproof Jacket or Poncho (x1)

• Jumper, Jacket or Sweater (x1)

• Wallet or Handbag

• Sunglasses and Reading Glasses

• Hat or Cap

• Lip Balm

• Pillows

• Blankets

• Bath Towel

• Beach Towel

• Thermal Underwear (Optional for Winter)

• Gloves (Optional for Winter)

• Beanie or Balaclava (Optional for Winter)

• Warm Socks (Optional for Winter)

Technology - Cross Country Road Trip Checklist:

• Chargers

Check that you’ve packed all the charging cables and adapters that you’ll need.

• Charging Bank

Perfect if you need to charge during day trips or if your vehicle doesn’t have charging ports.

• Torch (including Batteries or USB Charger)

For moving around camp at night.

• Headphones or Earphones (including Charger)

Listen to anything, anywhere, anytime.

• Camera (including Charger)

Capture all the amazing moments on your cross country road trip.

• GPS or Smartphone Navigation App

Whichever is more convenient for navigating your cross country road trip.

• Spare Batteries

Come in handy for torches and other appliances.

• AUX Cable

Listen to your favourite music, podcasts and audiobooks in the car.

• Portable Speaker

For listening to music at your campsite.

• Smartphone Mount

So that you can make calls and navigate hands-free whilst driving.

Health and Hygiene - Cross Country Road Trip Checklist:

• First Aid Kit

Everything you need to deal with scratches, bites and more. A First Aid Kit will be provided in all Camplify rental vans.

• Sunblock

Protect yourself from the harsh Australian sun.

• Mosquito Repellent

Prevent annoying itchy bites.

• Toothbrush and Toothpaste

Keep up your oral hygiene.

• Pocket Knife

Handy for lots of little odd jobs.

• Toilet Roll and Wet Wipes

Some campgrounds don’t provide loo roll. Perfect for cleaning spills as well.

• Sanitiser

Clean your hands on the go.

• Zip-Lock Bags

Keep small items together and your toilet rolls dry.

• Prescription Medication and Vitamins

For those who have health conditions and want to take care of their well-being.

Cooking and Camping - Cross Country Road Trip Checklist:

• Large Water Bottle

Avoid dehydration on the road.

• Firelighters

Make it easier to start campfires (make sure you do not light these within your van).

• Waterproof Matches or Lighter

For lighting campfires and BBQs (again, do not light these inside your van).

• Newspaper

Get the fire roaring and cover your cooking area for easy cleaning.

• Camping Lantern (including Batteries or Charger)

Light the camping area at night.

• Camping Stove or Portable BBQ (Optional)

Perfect if your camper doesn’t include a stovetop. This may be included in your Camplify rental van.

• Spare Gas Bottle

For heating your motorhome or lighting BBQs. This may be included in your Camplify rental van.

• Pots and Pans

For cooking meals on your cross country road trip. These may be included in your Camplify rental van.

• Utensils and Cutlery

Don’t forget a bottle opener, can opener, scissors, tongs, spatula, etc. These may be included in your Camplify rental van.

• Plates and Bowls

Recyclable is easy to dispose of. These may be included in your Camplify rental van.

• Mugs

For morning coffee and evening drinks. These may be included in your Camplify rental van.

• Travel Mug/Thermos

Take your coffee on the go.

• Food and Snacks

Something to eat whilst on the road.

• Dish Cloth or Tea Towel

Wash and dry your dining gear.

• Esky or Portable Cooler (Optional)

If your motorhome doesn’t have a fridge.

• Camping Chairs

Somewhere to sit whilst camping. These may be included in your Camplify rental van.

• Reusable Shopping Bags

For bringing groceries back to the vehicle.

• Garbage Bags

For disposing of your waste.

Fun and Entertainment - Cross Country Road Trip Checklist:

• Pack of Playing Cards

Entertain yourselves around the campfire.

• A Ball

Rugby or soccer on the beach or at camp.

• Gaming Console (including Charger)

Keep the kids quiet and entertained.

• eReader or iPad (including Charger)

For watching movies, reading or web browsing.

• A Few Books

Finish the books you’ve been meaning to.

• Board Games

Bonding time for the whole family.

Hire A Van For Your Cross Country Road Trip

The above checklist should include almost everything that you need for your cross country road trip.

However, if you want to make sure that you haven’t missed anything, you can always check it against our Ultimate Road Trip Packing List. And if you’re heading out into the outback, we highly suggest that you check out our article about Outback Camping Essentials. Plus, it might help to download some of the best camping apps for Australia!

Need to stock up before you hit the road? Check out the best camping stores in Australia!

You can also subscribe to the Camplify newsletter below. We’ll send you detailed itineraries and inspiration for your future road trips. Plus, we provide you with tonnes of van tips to make road tripping even easier and more enjoyable.

Why Camplify?

We are proud to be Australia’s largest private caravan, campervan and motorhome sharing community. When you hire a van through our platform, it comes with lots of advantages:

• Comprehensive hire insurance

• Nationwide NRMA roadside assistance

• 24/7 customer support

• All members are verified

By hiring with Camplify, you are also helping local families who share their van on our platform and supporting many local companies across Australia in addition to ours. So we are very grateful to you.

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