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This page contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission when you shop through our links at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. “We love it” means it lives in our van or our house. “On our wishlist” means it's a popular pick we haven't tried ourselves yet.

for the open road

Road Trip Essentials

real recommendations from a real family

We have driven more miles than I can count with a van full of kids. These are the things that make it work.

Year-round favorites

provenWe love it.

The things that have earned a spot in our van and our house. Tried, tested, and genuinely loved.

🔋

We love it

$250+

Jackery Explorer 2000 v2

The big one. It runs our fridge, charges every device in the van, blow dries my hair, and powers the Yoto at bedtime. If you're serious about van trips or family camping, it's this.

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📶

We love it

$100–250

weBoost Dash cell signal booster

This is how I run a business from a dirt road in Montana. Not kidding.

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🔦

We love it

Under $25

Headlamps, 4 pack, white and red light

They live in the door pocket for the walk to the bathrooms after dark. The kids each grab their own, so nobody fights over the flashlight.

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dreaming ofOn our wishlist.

Popular picks we haven't tried ourselves yet, and we can't wait to. Read the reviews before you buy.

🔌

On our wishlist

Under $25

Car charging cable for the Jackery

Charging the Jackery while we drive is how we pull into camp with a full battery. The cable we had isn't sold anymore, so this well-reviewed one is the replacement on my list. It has the DC8020 plug the Explorer 2000 v2 takes.

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Product photos come from Wikimedia Commons and are credited under each photo with their license (CC0 or CC BY-SA 4.0, creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0). Backgrounds were removed; edited CC BY-SA photos are shared under the same license.