I've spent more than 400 hours on road trips across the US. Here are 8 things I always pack for a long-haul drive.

Business Insider's reporter has been on more than a dozen road trips. Here are her essentials for a smooth ride. Joey Hadden/Business Insider I've seen 31 US states from the passenger seat. I've viewed countless towns and city skylines from highways and overpasses across the country. I've figured out exactly how to pack for a successful road trip. I'm 30 years old, and I still don't know how to drive, but that hasn't stopped me from spending hundreds of hours in the passenger seat on road trips across the country. I've road-tripped more than 26,000 miles across 31 states in every region of the continental US. When it comes to packing up the car, I've certainly made some mistakes. I've forgotten important items and wished I'd packed essentials I hadn't even considered bringing. But 400 hours and more than a dozen trips later, I think I've mastered the art of packing for a road trip. Here are the things I'll always bring with me, no matter the destination. I often forget to pack motion sickness medicine for road trips and end up stopping for some on the way. Dramamine. Joey Hadden/Business Insider I've always been prone to motion sickness, but even if you're not, driving on winding, hilly roads may make you feel woozy if you're not used to them. I always pack my own source of caffeine. Joey Hadden/Business Insider I hate that I need caffeine to stay alert, but that's where I'm at. I love a coffee stop on a road trip. But I don't like to rely on them for caffeine because costs rack up quickly — especially on long journeys. I prefer to bring Mio Energy to squirt into my water bottle. It adds a flavorful boost similar to Gatorade and keeps me hydrated. I download playlists and podcasts to keep the car entertained. The author's favorite playlist to fall asleep to in transit. Joey Hadden/Business Insider When you're driving on open roads, you never know when you'll lose service. I pack headphones to take breaks from socializing in a full car. The author's wired headphones with a standard 3.5 jack. Joey Hadden/Business Insider I've always road-tripped with other people. And as someone who values alone time, I find that packing headphones is the only way to get it in a cramped car. Especially when road-tripping with others, comfy shoes feel essential to sustaining my good mood. The author wears her comfiest shoes for a 30-hour train journey in 2021. Joey Hadden/Business Insider I always pick a cozy pair that slips on and off easily, like Wally shoes or Crocs. Another mood booster for me is a clean car. This car probably doesn't have a trash can inside. victorass88/Getty Images From empty food containers to candy wrappers, a road trip can quickly make a car messy. So don't forget to bring a small trash can or bag to keep things tidy. Don't forget wipes — especially when eating in the car. The author's toiletries for her 5-day trip. Joey Hadden/Business Insider When something spills, or your hands are sticky, you'll be glad you packed them. And lastly, don't forget a camera to capture those stellar American landscapes. A silhouette of the author holding a camera with a sunset and cable towers in the background. Joey Hadden/Business Insider Of course, there are other essentials for road trips, like emergency gear, sunglasses, and a reusable water bottle. But the items on this list have helped me make a long, bumpy ride go smoothly. Read the original article on Business Insider