Are we there yet? A list of road trip essentials.

America has long been fascinated with the idea of combining hundreds of miles of driving with a vacation; From Jack Kerouac’s On the Road to National Lampoon’s Vacation, road trips run the gamut from profound to hilarious. Here at NileGuide, we think that road trips are a great way to see the country, discover new places and annoy the snot out of your friends and family members. Read on for this Gear Junkie’s list of road trip must-haves.

1. Would You Rather…? (Best. Travel. Game. Ever.)

Would you rather…spend the drive staring at your little sister while she listens to her ipod, or deciding between x-ray vision and telepathy? Would you rather…be bored out of your mind listening to your friend talk about his recurring late-to-the-office dream, or be laughing until you cry as you hear his argument for burping the sound of a gong over sneezing the sound of a train whistle? Would You Rather…? comes in game and book form. Choose wisely.

2. McDonald’s sausage and egg McMuffin.

This is THE requisite road trip breakfast. I don’t care how healthy you normally eat, or how sick it makes you feel. A McMuffin in one hand, a steering wheel in the other and a rising sun on the horizon is about as close to nirvana as many of us get.

Also, get two hash browns.

3. A GPS Unit. Seriously consider the TomTom ONE.
It’s among the highest rated GPS navigators, and it’s easy to see why. It’s compact enough to carry in a purse. It mounts directly onto the windshield. You get turn-by-turn directions and automatic routing. A color touch-screen display. Real-time traffic information. Maps of the US and Canada. Instructions in over 30 languages.

And, perhaps best of all, you can now change the accent of the voice reading you directions. Want a saucy Australian murmuring your rights and lefts? What about Snoop Dogg? It’s your call. (If your GPS doesn’t carry the voice you want, look here for some alternative ones to download.)

4. The best road trip songs. Whether you’re into burning mix CDs for the trip or loading up your ipod, good music is key to a positive road trip experience. Don’t believe me? Try driving for a few hours down I-5 with just a handful of Mexican radio stations and the smell of nearby beef farms to keep you company.

5. A cooler. Because if you’re on a road trip, you have to have snacks. And sometimes people, those snacks have to stay cold.

Why a cloth one? I drive a jetta, and it’s much easier to squeeze the cooler bag behind a seat or between backseat passengers, and also easier to carry to the hotel room/beach/outdoor concert venue/etc.

Also, check out this post by Bootsnall for some excellent road-trip-planning advice.