It’s National Park Week! It’s the perfect opportunity to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and delve into the quiet splendor of the great outdoors. With Arbor Day and Historic Marker Day coming up, it’s even more of a reason to hit the road and appreciate somewhere new. Whether you’re heading out on an adventurous hiking trip this week or are getting excited about upcoming summer trips, you’ll want to make the journey to your destination as enjoyable as possible. If you’ll be spending a lot of time in the car, being as prepared as possible will help relieve any unwanted stress and keep the trip fun and safe. Fortunately, we’re here to help you out with some of our favorite essentials for your next road trip.
When is National Park Week 2024?
National Park Week is held annually. This year, National Park Week is observed from Saturday, April 20 through Sunday, April 28.
What is National Park Week?
National Park Week is an annual celebration of our beautiful National Parks. The week was created by the National Parks Service in 1991 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the National Parks system.
1. A trending travel cup that’s totally worth it
Stanley Quencher H2.0 FlowState Stainless Steel Vacuum Insulated Tumbler
Stay hydrated in style.
We know you’re visiting the National Parks to get away from it all, but the Stanley Cup is one TikTok trending item you should take with you.
Sometimes a company gets its design perfect. Made from recycled stainless steel and featuring double wall vacuum insulation, this travel cup keeps your hot stuff hot for seven hours or your cold stuff cold for 11 hours. The “FlowState” lid is spill-proof and allows for sipping either straight out of the lid or out of a plastic reusable straw in a perfect-fit straw opening.
Perfectly sized to fit your car’s cup holder, this cup is essential for keeping you hydrated, caffeinated—or whatever liquid needs may be.
2. A collapsible cooler for drinks and snacks
Arctic Zone Titan Deep Freeze 60
Eat your snacks on the road with our favorite soft-sided cooler.
A hard-sided cooler is just fine for the trunk, but when hunger pangs hit while driving, you’re going to want a lot more snacks handy than a bag of truck-stop Doritos. Keep healthy fresh fruits, filling yogurts and satisfying charcuterie on hand with our favorite soft-sided cooler, the Arctic Zone Titan Deep Freeze. We were impressed with this cooler because it retains cold, it’s easy to move, and has a large variety of storage compartments.
3. A portable battery pack that will juice up all your devices
Anker USB-C Portable Charger
Charge your devices quickly with our favorite power bank
Our favorite battery pack is the Mophie Powerstation PD. This powerful battery pack is compact enough to easily fit in pockets, bags, and purses. Plus, it charges devices quickly and has enough power to charge two devices at once. It doesn’t just charge phones, but laptops and tablets as well.
What we’re saying is: If you’re on the cusp of draining your battery because you’ve been desperately trying to track down a gas station, this little power pack will be a lifesaver.
4. Lots and lots of audiobooks
Audible
Listen to an audiobook to pass the time.
While the destination is definitely about natural beauty, chances are you are going to be on long stretches of interstates to get there. Load up those audiobooks! We tested out the popular Audible service and enjoyed the experience thanks to its convenience and huge selection of audiobooks to choose from.
5. A car vacuum to clean up crumbs
ThisWorx Car Vacuum Cleaner
Keep your car nice and clean during your road trip.
You’d be surprised at how dirty the car can get when you’re spending so much time in it. A small vacuum is just the thing to keep stashed under the seat or in the trunk for cleaning quick messes, whether they’re crumbs from little passengers or a quick deep clean on the carpets.
ThisWorx Handheld Portable Car Vacuum is one of the best-selling vacuums on Amazon with over 299,000 sold. A powerful little beast, it takes up almost no space and cleans up like vacuums three times its size.
6. Dramamine for when you get the winding road woozies
Dramamine Original, Motion Sickness Relief,
Keep motion sickness at bay.
Those long and winding National Park roads and your probable compulsion to look at your phone—either to follow maps or to page through your photos—are a recipe for disaster.
Even if you’re the type who “never gets motion sickness” (famous last words), trust us. Dramamine is an $11 lifesaver you won’t regret having stashed in your glove compartment.
7. An affordable dashcam to capture the views
Garmin 010-02505-05 Dash Cam
Capture beautiful scenes with a dash cam.
Those views are going to take your breath away. You’ll want nothing more than to take your eyes off the road to capture the stunning vistas. This handy Garmin mini dash cam will not only allow you to be in the moment, it’ll capture beautiful videos you’ll be able to relive again and again.
In some states, a dash cam is considered an obstruction and can be considered illegal if you get pulled over but with the Garmin mini dash can, you won’t have to worry, as this tiny cam is the size of a car key. It fits right behind your review mirror and passes code in all 50 states!
8. A customizable car mattress
SAYGOGO SUV Air Mattress Camping Bed Cushion Pillow
Nap in this comfortable air mattress.
Remember being a kid and trying desperately to make that back seat feel comfortable while seat belt buckles dug into your back? Those days are long behind you with this genius inflatable trunk mattress that can be inflated and folded to turn the trunk or the back seat into a sleep surface for one to four people.
9. A fast-charging car charger for two
Anker Car Charger Adapter, 24W Dual USB Car Phone Charger
Use a car charger with USB-A
Stop fighting with your co-pilot about who gets to charge their phone. The Anker PowerDrive III Duo is our favorite car charger and can accommodate two devices at once, charging both lightning-quick with a 40-watt output. If you need a car charger with two USB-A ports, we recommend the Anker 24W Dual USB Car Charger.
10. An instant camera for classic trip pics
Fujifilm Instax Mini 90 Neo Classic Instant Film Camera
Take beautiful, hassle-free pictures with our favorite instant camera.
Wherever you go, it’s always nice to have a camera on hand. As good as phone cameras have gotten, there’s still something magical about using a real handheld camera to catalogue your journey.
The Fujifilm Instax Mini 90 Neo Classic is our top favorite instant camera. It doesn’t need any batteries and develops great quality instant photos in seconds. Get instant photo gratification and analog memories to keep.
11. An essential organizer for every cord
Electronics Organizer,
Keep all your cords organized.
Has anyone seen that cord? Your camera takes a micro-B, your Kindle takes a mini-B your iPhone either takes lightning or USB-C depending on when you last upgraded, there’s the aux cord, and don’t get us started on the 30-pin. Don’t let your lap turn into a sea of mismatched charging cords and 2% phone batteries.
One of these beauties will keep all of your cords and ports neatly organized for a quick and uncluttered recharge. Organization never looked so sweet.
12. A fully stocked first aid kit
Protect Life First Aid Kit
Prepare for the unexpected with our favorite first aid kit.
Whether you’ve met with a scrape on the trail or you have a run-in with a thorn bush, you’re going to need a well-stocked first aid kit. The best first aid kit you can buy is the Protect Life 100-Piece First Aid Kit because it’s compact, lightweight, and holds all of the first aid basics.
13. A water filter to clean out funky water
LifeStraw Personal Water Filter
Stay hydrated no matter where you find yourself on your trip.
If you have a thirst for adventure, quench it safely with this compact, personal water filtration system by LifeStraw. Life on the road can make hydration unpredictable. Whether you’re looking at a clear (but questionable) stream or a suspect-looking park spigot, the LifeStraw will clear that water and make it potable in no time.
With claims to remove 99.9999% of waterborne bacteria, 99.9% of waterborne protozoan parasites and up to 0.2 microns, this little tool is super handy to have on hand when thirst hits and there is only funky water to be found!
14. The best headlamp for hands-free illumination
Black Diamond Storm 400 HEADLAMP
Brighten the night with this hands-free flashlight.
A good headlamp is a near necessity for road trips on unpredictable roads. This headlamp by GearLight S500 is the best one you can buy because it’s affordable and water-resistant.
15. A portable jumper kit
Jump Starter
You can jumpstart your car without the help of a buddy.
It can be tough to wait for a jump when you’re miles from civilization. Luckily, this pre-charged jumper kit allows you to jump your car even without a buddy around. It’s the fallback safety tool you need whenever you’re driving in unpredictable areas.
Reviewers like this jumper kit for being super compact, offering a rapid charge and for its accompanying floodlight.
16. A roadside safety kit
90-Piece Car Emergency Roadside & First Aid Kit
Keep this packed in your trunk in-case you have extensive car troubles.
Hopefully you’ll only need a quick jump, but if your car troubles require more, this fully stocked roadside emergency kit will have you covered. It has compressed air, a tire repair kit, a tow rope and anything else you might need in the case of an unexpected breakdown.
17. Travel pillow
Cabeau Evolution Classic Travel Neck Pillow
We love this neck pillow.
Ever get a sore neck after driving for a couple of hours? Pillows aren’t just for sleeping, they can help you stay comfortable when sitting upright for hours on end, too. Travel pillows specifically are great for staying comfortable on the road. The best travel pillow we’ve tested is the Cabeau Evolution Classic Travel Pillow because it’s durable, comfortable, and adjustable.
18. A weighted blanket to stay cozy and calm
Gravity Blanket
De-stress with our favorite weighted blanket.
For taking naps and de-stressing after a long drive, we recommend bringing along a weighted blanket. The 15-pound Gravity Blanket is the best weighted blanket we’ve tested in terms of quality and performance. It’s long-lasting, has equally distributed weight and is easy to clean, giving you the best bang for your buck.
19. A portable tire inflator in case of a roadside emergency
Avid Power Tire Inflator Air Compressor
Get this best-selling portable air compressor for peace of mind on the road.
The Avid Power is the best tire inflator air compressor we’ve ever tested. With a large battery pack at the base, this device is easy to use when you need to quickly refill your tires while on the road. In testing, the device was able to refill a tire from 25 PSI to 35 PSI in just over a minute with an error rate of about 1 PSI compared to our tester’s control tire gauge. You can also set an inflation target when using the compressor that’ll help you avoid over-inflating your tire.
20. Bluetooth headphones for long rides
AcousticSheep SleepPhones Wireless
Block out sound during your trip.
For a comfortable fit that blocks out sound and won’t fall out of your ears when you’re sleeping, SleepPhones are just the thing you need for comforting sounds on long drives.
They are comfortable, have a battery that lasts 24 hours, and are made of pillow-soft fleece. You might wonder how SleepPhones weren’t invented sooner.
When we tested SleepPhones, we found they were amazing for people who had trouble falling and staying asleep—especially if you’re sensitive to sounds. If you’re hoping to get some shut-eye on the long drive but happen to be taking the trip with some chatty Cathys, this is perfect for you.
21. A portable hotspot for long trips
Nighthawk M1 4G LTE Mobile Router
Stay connected with a mobile router.
If you’re taking work on the road—or just want to stay connected in spotty areas— and your phone’s hotspot isn’t up to snuff, consider taking a mobile hotspot router. With the Netgear Mobil Hotspot, you’ll be able to do your work on the go, whether you’re out in the desert or in the passenger seat.
Netgear’s Nighthawk provides internet for up to 20 devices, so you’ll be able to connect all the devices you’ll need.
22. Mad Libs for restless kiddos
Best of Mad Libs: World’s Greatest Word Game
Pass the time with a couple rounds of Madlibs.
If you’re looking for something fun to do during the long road trip—and a game that even the driver can join in to play—Mad Libs is a classic. Listed for ages eight and up, Mad Libs uses nouns, adjectives and verbs to create gut-busting funny stories.
Plus, it helps kids learn their grammar while having fun, which is just an added benefit to this boredom-busting game.
23. A water bottle to stay hydrated on the go
Owala 24oz Stainless Steel FreeSip
Stay hydrated with our favorite water bottle
The Owala FreeSip topped our list for the best water bottle for good reason. It offers multiple ways to drink the water — either sipping from the straw or letting the water pour from the spout — no matter your preference, you’ll be able to comfortably stay hydrated on the road. It’s also insulated well. So well, in fact, that I will often leave my Owala in the hot car and come back to water that’s still refreshingly cold.
The bottle comes with a Brita filter insert, so even if you fill it up in a rest-stop sink, it will still taste great. It comes in a variety of colors, so you can get a couple for the family before you set off on your trip.
24. A porta-potty for a moving car
AWOKEN Unisex Urinal
When you have to go, you have to go.
These are the things you don’t want to think about, but they are so necessary. When you’re off on the open road—or driving from the Grand Canyon’s North Rim to the South Rim—there aren’t a whole lot of clean opportunities for quick bladder relief.
Keep those urinary tract infections at bay. One of these smart and leak-proof receptacles are an absolute necessity for when nature calls.
25. A portable bidet
TUSHY Travel
Keep your tush clean.
Make sure to take care of the other end, too. Nothing says funky like days on the road without a shower. Tushy’s little portable bidet will make sure you’re nice and clean on the road. You’ll be feeling daisy-fresh following any fast food doozies. Just don’t forget to keep it clean.
What are the 2024 National Park Week themes?
Each day during National Park Week is associated with a different theme to help people learn more about specific aspects of our national parks.
April 20: Discovery
April 21: Volunteers
April 22: Earth Day
April 23: Innovation
April 24: Workforce Wednesday
April 25: Youth Engagement
April 26: Community Connections
April 27: Junior Ranger Day
April 28: Arts in Parks
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