Things to take on a Cross Country Road Trip?

Question

A 31 Hour Trip. From South Texas to North Indiana.. What should I take for the Trip? Things that are a must on a long road trip.

Answer 1

A triple A card would be a good idea. The Auto Club has the U.S. wired and with the card you can get great discounts and free maps etc. and if you have any break downs you are covered. They also provide check lists for trips like yours.

Check your car tires, spare tire and jack, lights, oil and general condition of the car
First aid kit.
You can get good music pretty much all the way now but a good personal music machine might be in order.
Extra water. Bring a lot just in case.
blanket for emergency's.
Flares, small tools
Toilet paper and paper towels, Trash receptacle.
good maps help, but the freeway system is easier to follow than it used to be.
Stopping for food along the way is half the fun. You find some great stuff out there. So... bring just a few snacks

It might be a good Idea to bring your lap top. There are generally WiFi stops along the way if you need a hotel etc.

Cell phone.
I am sure I am forgetting things but this should get you there. Take your time. Its a great country to cruise in.

Answer 2

The answer above was full of tons of practical information. My answer will now seem very superfluous. :)

Are you going to stay in a hotel? Sleep in the car? Camp? Drive straight through there? [I hope not the last one; it won't be as fun] If you're not sure, you might just want to make sure you have blankets, pillows, and/or a sleeping bag. Blankets and pillows are nice anyway.

Always bring your swimming suit and sandals/flip flops. You just never know when there will be a pool, lake, or waterfall.

Get lots of yummy snacks, TONS of CDs [it's amazing how many CDs you can go through], reading or an audiobook, and absolutely don't forget your camera! Get a piece of paper and pen so that you can write down the license plates you see, as long as any cool memories that you might want to keep.

Make sure you have a road map. If you're into stopping at crazy sites or national parks, mark them on your map. You're probably going to pass some fun areas, like the post office that straddles Texas and Arkansas or Metropolis, Illinois. Check out http://roadsideamerica.com for more.

Another little tip: the backseat of the car gets messy FAST. To be more organized on our last trip, me and my friend each had a file box in the backseat where we could throw our stuff and keep it from turning into a giant pile that matriculated under the seats.