How To Pack Your Road Trip Cooler

I love a good road trip. I take all my own food to save money and know exactly what to pack in my cooler to have a good variety of meals and snacks. A few years ago I road tripped by myself to Las Vegas and did it all in one go. I stopped in order to get out and stretch my legs, make food, or to use the restroom. Instead of spending money on food I already had, I would make a sandwich or have a snack when I stopped, and had plenty of drinks on-hand to keep from getting dehydrated. 

Here's my list of must-have foods for your cooler, especially now when things may or may not be open and we're all trying to stay safe by avoiding too many extra points of contact. I'm not above ordering take-out and enjoying at a park or in the car (not quite as appealing):

All the sandwich fixings:

• Bread (think about bagels, dinner rolls, or tortillas as a secondary carb to traditional bread)
• Mayo/Mustard
• Deli meat (or other meat you enjoy, including chicken or tuna salad)
• Lettuce
• Cheese/cream cheese
• Pickles/pickled veggies - add a big burst of flavor with pickle or pickled veggies like carrots and onions.
• Peanut butter and jelly - Sometimes you just want something easy and tasty. You can also do peanut butter & banana, peanut butter & apples, or peanut butter & brie. Get creative!

Sandwiches are great road trip food. They are easy to assemble, and you can make them as simple or more involved, depending on how you feel or how much time you have. 

Hearty meal options:

Not everything needs to be a sandwich. Bring other things you like that travel well:

• Baked or fried chicken
• Pasta salad
• Hard-boiled eggs
• Pizza (or ham and cheese) Bombs - I've made these before for the plane, but they can totally go with you in the car + they're easy to eat whether you're moving or not.
• Quinoa salad - You can customize this to your tastes to make it delicious for everyone. One of my vegan friends raved over it, and everyone else enjoyed it as well. 
• Sushi salad - Get some fresh, bright healthy food in your belly with this deconstructed sushi. 

Sides/snacks:

• Chips - I love a good variety of chips when I travel. One of my favorites are the fake Cheetos from Trader Joe's.
• For a healthier version, try these flavored make-at-home popcorns. 
• Or make your own chips with wonton wrappers. I adore these, and they travel well in a sealed container/bag.
• Fruit - pre-cut anything you can ahead of time.
• Veggies - see above.
• Dips or salsas
• Potato salad - I think potato salad goes with a ton of stuff, but at its best next to chicken.
• Antipasto skewers - I made these for a party, but this is a great way to get a bunch of yummy things in a bite-size, easy-to-eat way, and they're perfect cold. You can make a bunch, put them in a food container and eat one or a bunch in one go. They're better the longer you let them marinate, too.
• Granola bars - Buy a couple boxes or make your own. You know I always have some bars in my purse wherever I go, but I especially appreciate these on a road trip in between stops.
• Nuts - These are great for protein and fun to snack on whether you're the driver or a passenger. 
• Jerky - Also, an easy thing to eat and doesn't make a mess, plus protein! 
• Sweets - Bring along a few of your preferred candies, or make banana bread, brownies, or cookies, otherwise you'll end up making quite a few stops. Believe me. My choices are always Red Vines (easy to eat and drive), chocolate chip banana bread slices, chocolate-covered peanuts, Reeses cups. I like these blackberry brownies, too. 

Drinks:Don't forget that you're going to get thirsty! I love having a selection of drinks, just like with everything else.

• A good vacuum thermos to keep whatever you're drinking hot or cold.
• Water (if you drink a ton of water, consider bringing along a couple gallons of distilled water, which can also work as part of your dog travel kit and/or your coronavirus safety kit.  
• Soda/carbonated water - Cans are easy to pack and take up all the empty spots in a cooler, too. If you aren't a soda person, LaCroix and Bubly are good non-sugary options, and still give you the carbonation you crave.
• Other beverages you enjoy: ginger beer, juice boxes, wine (for when you get to your destination. Please don't drink and drive.)
• Hydration packets - We always have a selection of packets that you can add to water to make it less boring, like lemonade, peach tea, or fruit punch. These can really save you from water fatigue.

Everything else:

You're going to need to eat on things and have other items handy for when you make your travel foods.

• Plates - I usually bring enough reusable plates that can be used, washed, and reused to eliminate a bunch of waste. If this isn't for you, consider grabbing some compostable plates or recyclable plastic plates
• Reusable utensils - If you've been following me for any amount of time, you know how much I push for responsible and eco-travel as much as possible. Instead of buying countless (and flimsy) sets of plastic utensils, get some that you can use over and over. My faves are these from HumanGear (everyone can have their own color). The back of a spoon can work as a spreader, but if you need a knife, bring a good one from home for bread and cutting things up. 
• Reusable bags - You're always going to have some extra thing that you want to take with you and need to put in a container of some sort. As an alternative to regular one-use zip-top bags, I have started replacing things with Stasher bags. They're spendy, but well worth the money. There are a lot of alternatives though, if you're looking for something more affordable. They can be washed out and then used again, plus they are okay in the freezer, oven, and boiling water, so they are multipurpose.
• Cups - I don't usually bring cups with me, because everything is normally in a can, bottle, or my thermos. If you are going with kids though, cups might be a real necessity. Keep them from spilling with these silicone sippy lids. (Also great for wine at the park or the beach.)

Throw some reusable grocery bags in the car for store runs and download a good food app, like Uber Eats or Caviar, to keep contact at a minimum if you aren't camping or don't want to make all your own meals at your vacation. I can completely relate to that. 

You're going to have garbage. Don't just let it roll around on the floor. Bring some plastic bags to keep your trash in until you can properly dispose of it. It's also helpful in case anyone gets motion sickness, because you can't always pull over on the side of the highway. I like to prep for everything, especially in a time when it's not possible to just pop into a store/restaurant to use their restroom.

What are your go-to takealongs when you road trip?

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How Will Travel Change After Covid?

With Americans now leading the world in Covid cases, we've been banned from the EU and many other countries. As of today, 26 states have been told they should not travel at all, and there isn't one state in the US that meets the Harvard Global Health Institute's risk-assessment standards to be on track for containing Covid within their state. That said, leisure travel is being highly discouraged for the moment, so let's talk about what will happen after we get this virus under control and travel is safe again:

photo credit

It should come as no shock that people are going to travel differently when they can, as well as how they change the way they live. For me, I will probably travel the same amount as before, but will take more precautions. 

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No worries about germs while traveling this week, because I had my @airplanepockets with me. Now it's going into the washer to get ready for my next trip 🖤😷 . . . . #jetsetter #jetset #ilovetravel #tourist #tourism #tblogger #tbloggers #travelblog #travel #travelblogger #travelgirl #travelgram #instatravel #traveler #traveller #budgettravel #budgettraveler #ftblogger #ftb #vacationmode #travelgoals #womenwhotravel #traveladvice #traveltips #innovativetravelproducts #nogermsforme #notanadjustafan

A post shared by Shereen Travels Cheap (@srayle) on Mar 9, 2020 at 10:55pm PDT

Get your own AirplanePockets

I have been moving toward more germ-free for the last few years and I know that I won't be going around the world being as unaware of people and germs as I have been in the past. I do try to keep some amount of distance and I carry wipes and hand sanitizer, but I know I don't use them as much as I should. That'll change. 

The Barrier Method makes such pretty masks.

I think you're going to see more people wearing masks throughout and after this, not just those from Asian countries. I'd love to see this normalized. I also think more people will give you space when in public, especially when in lines and on public transportation when there's room available to do so. I'm hoping there will be stricter cleaning procedures, including seeing people clean items they're touching or going to touch. 

I hope we can also be kinder to people we meet and interact with, because if this has taught us anything, it's that we're all human and we are all on this crazy world together, going through the same things, and you only have this one life.

If you're still looking to travel, maybe think about a road trip that's close to home, and don't forget to put together a coronavirus safety kit.


Will you travel or approach life differently after we are able to do so safely again? Whether you'll do more or less, let me know in the comments.

Roadtripping With Your Dog

If I could, I'd take my dog everywhere. Unfortunately, she isn't welcome everywhere even though she's small and better behaved than most children. With more people hitting the road this summer than ever, because it's safer than air travel and being around a bunch of people, you have more options for bringing the dog with you on any trips.

When we travel, we usually leave her at home with my mom, but if we road trip it, chances are pretty good that she's going along for the ride. (See what I did there?) If your furry best friend likes to jump in the car and take a vacation (even a short one), here are some great tips to make it friendly and fun for them as well.

Keep cool

So, its pretty hot in the car and in the summer. Our car doesn't have that fancy dual a/c switch to control the front and the back separately (I have a Kia Rio, it's not THAT big), so to keep the dog cool while driving, we basically have on Max AC and point the vents all at the ceiling so the air gets to her and we freeze our faces off. Another great idea is a Kool Collar. It has a mesh side that goes against your dog's neck that simulates evaporation sweat - because dogs can't do that and wear fur coats all the time - by using ice or their fancy ice packs. We use it at home, we use it at the beach, we use it at the park. No panting. My dog loves it.

You can also invest in a cool mat, which can be put in their crate or bed. They are a bit slide-y, but they make a big difference in keeping your dog's body temperature down. We have a pressure-activated one, which means it doesn't need anything special, but I bet your dog might like it if you could pop it in the fridge or cooler for a bit before you start traveling (don't let it get too cold though). 

Hydrate! 

Just like you, dogs need to keep hydrated. If you don't have one of those non-spill bowls that are all the rage for travel times, stop for water breaks for everyone, but mostly for your pup, because they don't have thumbs for opening a water bottle. Rikka won't drink while we're moving, so I keep a collapsible silicone bowl in the car and a thermos of ice water. 

Yes, my dog has her own carrier bag, because she's old and gets tired easily.

Make pit stops 

Your dog also can't let you know they are dying for the potty. All that extra water has to go somewhere. Check out the rest areas along your way and plan to stop every few hours to let them do their business and stretch their legs. If you also have kids, you're probably doing this anyway. Then you won't be driving 19 hours straight and swear off road trips forever like that last time.

Comfy up the car

Make sure your dog feels comfy and safe in the car, especially if they get nervous like mine. We bring her bed so we can also bring it inside wherever we stay for the night. She also has her own car seat that allows her to see out the window, be contained and also take a nap.

       She likes the bed, but can't jump up or down, so we made her own little version on the floor when we left.

Make their crate awesome 

I'm not a crate person, but only because my dog spent much of her life in one her first three years and I was sad for her, so I gave her the choice. She spent less and less time in there, so we put it in the garage. If your dog loves their crate, or it's the best way to travel with them not climbing all over everyone and getting in the way, make sure it's comfortable enough to spend hours at a time in. Get them a cushion or blanket so it's soft and inviting.

Jerky's the best, no matter where you are 😁 

Bring home with you 

Just like I like to have a little bit of home with me, dogs feel comforted by something familiar. Bring along a fave blanket/pillow/bed and some toys and they'll be happier.

Stay on schedule

If you feed and walk your pup on a schedule, try to keep as close to that timetable as possible (even if you're giving extra walks and treats - because exercise makes you hungry). It'll keep them from getting confused and feel more normal even in a different place. 

Do some research 

Make sure you know where you can take your dog and where you can't. Find the number of a vet near where you'll be staying. Just in case. Look for dog parks and pet-friendly dining establishments. Many people bring their dogs to the Oregon beaches, so a lot of stores don't mind you shopping with a well-behaved pooch.

Plan ahead

Make sure you're prepared for all the things you're going to do or might happen while you're away from home. Here's a list of what to plan for:

• bring an extra collar/leash, because you never know when one will get broken or lost.
• their fave food is obvs to some. Don't take this as an opportunity to have them sample new cuisines. It'll just make them sick.
• Invest in Doggles. We have a pair of Doggles sunglasses for Rikka to enjoy sitting out in the sun. If your pup likes to stick their head out the window, a pair of dog goggles are good for protecting their eyes from flying debris and might save you a trip to an unknown vet.
• Going hiking or somewhere hot? Get your pup some shoes. Their paws are pretty sensitive, so you gotta protect them, just like your own feet. If you can't keep the back of your hand on the asphalt/sidewalk for 10 seconds comfortably, don't expect your dog to be able to walk without burning their feet.
• Bring a life jacket. If your dog likes to jump in the water, make sure they're safe. There are a lot of great ones, including ones that have both a handle and a ring for a leash clip. 
• Pack a carrier. My little one gets tired fairly easily, so when she starts to lag behind we scoop her up and carry her in a doggie sling (see above pic). She can rest and still be part of things. It's also good for when we head into some shops. 
• Download some phone apps to find dog parks, rest stops & dog-friendly restaurants. I like iexit and dogfriendly.
• Things happen. Look up your route along the way and find emergency vet addresses and numbers to have on hand just in case.
• Don't forget meds/supplements if your dog normally takes them. You can always keep them in the cooler with your snacks and beverages.
• Make sure your dog is up-to-date on their vaccinations and flea medication.
• Bring along a first aid kit with items that will work for your dog (gauze, self-sticking wrap, a soft muzzle, etc), because you never know what might happen on a trip or how your dog will react.

Don't forget to bring along your Coronavirus safety kit when you travel to stay safe and healthy! 

How do you like to travel with your dog?

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