13 Road Trip Essentials You’d Never See Today

A nostalgic ride through the quirky, forgotten items that once ruled the open road.

  • Chris Graciano
  • 3 min read
13 Road Trip Essentials You’d Never See Today
ROMAN ODINTSOV on Pexels

Before smartphones and GPS, road trips were a whole different adventure—one packed with oddball gear and outdated must-haves. From clunky gadgets to questionable snacks, these items were once staples in every car’s back seat or glove box. Buckle up as we revisit 13 essentials from yesterday’s road trips that would never make the cut today.

1. Fold-Out Paper Maps

Mihis Alex on Pexels Mihis Alex on Pexels

Before navigation apps, road warriors unfolded giant maps that took up half the dashboard. They ripped at the creases, blew out the window, and always required a co-pilot with origami skills.

2. Disposable Cameras

Hakeem James Hausley on Pexels Hakeem James Hausley on Pexels

Snapping pics meant waiting days to see if you even got the shot. There were no previews, no do-overs—just hope and finger-crossing.

3. Cigarette Lighter Phone Chargers (for Flip Phones)

Markus Bärlocher on Wikimedia Commons Markus Bärlocher on Wikimedia Commons

These chunky adapters only fit into the car’s ashtray lighter port. Designed for early cell phones, they were finicky, slow, and barely held a charge.

4. Gas Station Atlas Books

josiah farrow on Pexels josiah farrow on Pexels

Thicker than a Bible and just as revered, these spiral-bound atlases were the road trip navigator’s holy grail. They were bought at gas stations and had every state’s roads meticulously drawn out.

5. Handheld Travel Games (No Screens)

Roman Kaiuk🇺🇦 on Pexels Roman Kaiuk🇺🇦 on Pexels

Kids passed the miles through magnetic checkers, water ring toss, and plastic maze puzzles. They were silent, screen-free, and endlessly frustrating. If you lost a piece? Game over.

6. Bench Seats with No Seat Belts

CZmarlin on Wikimedia Commons CZmarlin on Wikimedia Commons

Yep, safety took a backseat—literally. Families piled into long bench seats, arms touching, windows down, and not a buckle in sight. 

7. Roadside Emergency Flares

Dvortygirl on Wikimedia Commons Dvortygirl on Wikimedia Commons

Forget LED hazard lights—people lit literal fire sticks and tossed them on the pavement. These burning red flares looked like mini road bonfires and came with every car emergency kit.

8. Car Ashtrays Full of Pennies

The DK Photography on Unsplash The DK Photography on Unsplash

Ashtrays doubled as change holders for vending machines and toll booths. Nobody used them for smoking by the ’90s, but they overflowed with sticky coins and lint.

9. CB Radios for Car-to-Car Chatting

Gophi on Pexels Gophi on Pexels

Before cell phones, convoys stayed in touch with CB radios and cool call signs. “Breaker breaker one-nine” wasn’t just trucker talk—it was family fun.

10. Windshield Sun Visor Screens with Cartoon Characters

Mikhail Seleznev on Unsplash Mikhail Seleznev on Unsplash

These bright, goofy shades protected your dash and amused passing cars. Whether it was Looney Tunes or smiley faces with sunglasses, they added flair and sun protection.

11. Cassette Tape Organizers

Esra Korkmaz on Unsplash Esra Korkmaz on Unsplash

Backseat pockets held boxes of carefully chosen mixtapes. Each one hand-labeled with scribbled track lists and mood-specific vibes—“Rainy Day,” “Sing-Along,” “Mom’s Picks.”

12. Car Window Shades with Suction Cups

Shukhrat Umarov on Pexels Shukhrat Umarov on Pexels

These flimsy plastic shields stuck on with tiny suction cups that never stayed put. Meant to block sun for the kids, they mostly flopped over or fell off mid-drive.

13. Snack Stashes in Tupperware

Vanessa Loring on Pexels Vanessa Loring on Pexels

No gas station junk—just home-packed goodies in big plastic containers. Think PB&J, baby carrots, and maybe some questionable deviled eggs. 

Written by: Chris Graciano

Chris has always had a vivid imagination, turning childhood daydreams into short stories and later, scripts for films. His passion for storytelling eventually led him to content writing, where he’s spent over four years blending creativity with a practical approach. Outside of work, Chris enjoys rewatching favorites like How I Met Your Mother and The Office, and you’ll often find him in the kitchen cooking or perfecting his coffee brew.

Recommended for You

11 Gas Station Giveaways That Were Actually Worth Collecting

11 Gas Station Giveaways That Were Actually Worth Collecting

Back when road trips were king, gas stations gave away freebies that were surprisingly collectible—and sometimes even cool.

12 Road Trip Essentials from the ’90s That No One Uses Anymore

12 Road Trip Essentials from the ’90s That No One Uses Anymore

These forgotten road trip must-haves once ruled the highways but have since been left in the rearview mirror.