16 Things Every Family Packed for Road Trips in the ’70s

Free-spirited road trips from the 1970s seemed like a ritual, full of practicality packed into family vehicles before the engine roared to life. The family relied upon practical tools and supplies for the long road trip as well as convenient and comfortable stops along the way. Paper road atlases guided the family through unfamiliar turns, while coolers, picnic baskets, and lunch bags ensured meals were readily accessible during the trip. Cameras captured memories along the roadside, while board games kept everyone entertained after a long day of driving. Blankets provided warmth for everyone during the trip, lawn chairs offered a place to sit and relax, and flashlights guided families through dark rest areas.

1. Paper Road Atlases

For road trips undertaken by families during the 1970s, a thick paper road atlas was de rigueur. The most famous road atlases were those published by companies such as Rand McNally, which specialized in detailed maps showing every state highway, every back road, and every large town and city across the United States. These atlases were typically purchased from service stations before setting out on a journey, brightly colored and filled with symbols for parks, rivers, rest stops, and scenic routes. These atlases were typically stowed away in the glove compartment or seat pocket behind the driver. As the car stopped to refuel or take a break to eat a snack, out came the atlas to check our route.

2. Coleman Steel Belted Cooler

The essential item in a 1970s road trip was the rugged Coleman steel-belted cooler. These metal monsters were designed to hold drinks and food cool for hours on end, brightly colored in red, blue, or green, with chrome handles on either side of the box. These coolers would be filled with ice at dawn, even before the day’s journey began. Inside the coolers were sandwiches wrapped in wax paper, soda bottles, juice cans, and sometimes homemade potato salad or fried chicken in a separate container. These coolers would be stowed in the trunk or hidden behind the front seats of the car. When the car stopped at a picnic area or rest stop, the coolers would come out and serve as the centerpiece of the meal.

3. CB Radio Units

For instance, in the 1970s, most families owned a citizen band radio, the CB radio everyone talked about, especially during those long highway drives. These small communication devices became a huge hit after truckers used them to give everyone a heads-up about the road. A CB radio enabled people to talk with others through short transmissions. By mid-decade, people installed these small CB radios under their car dashboards and connected an antenna to the back bumper or the roof. During those long stretches of open highway, families would turn on the CB radio so they would be able to hear truckers talk about the road.

4. Thermos Brand Vacuum Bottles

Families on long road trips in the 1970s would often pack a Thermos vacuum bottle in the trunk, filled with hot coffee, soup, and sometimes even milk for the kids. These insulated workhorses date back to the early 1900s, but in the 1970s, they were a trusted companion for families on long road trips. The traditional model has a metal or plastic shell with bright, bold colors such as crimson, tangerine, and plaid. A screw-on lid also serves as a small cup. Typically, parents would fill the Thermos before dawn, while getting the car ready for departure. The Thermos would be in a small bag next to the cooler, waiting for those inevitable stops.

5. Kodak Instamatic Camera

A Kodak Instamatic was the trusty sidekick that went on many road trips throughout the 1970s. Born in the 1960s and popular in the following decade, it was one of the easiest ways for the average family to capture memories of their road trips. The Instamatic camera had a simple-to-load cartridge film that did not require any confusing dials and settings. The camera was slipped into a small bag or the glove compartment of the car and was always ready for that perfect photo opportunity. As the car stopped at various roadside attractions or National Park signs, someone was always ready to grab the Instamatic and take their picture.

6. Foldable Aluminum Lawn Chairs

On long road trips in the 1970s, families would often stock up on these types of foldable aluminum lawn chairs. These chairs were as light as a feather and had a metal frame with a seat and back made of colorful plastic straps. Brands came in colors as bright as the designs—such as green and white or orange and yellow. These would fold up easily in the trunk of the car with the luggage and picnic baskets. Parents would bring a few of these chairs so everyone would have a seat during these impromptu stops. These were simple, functional, and totally in line with the relaxed attitude of the time. At any stop along the way, near a lookout or a rest stop, these chairs would unfold from their folded position beside the car.

7. Vinyl Record Carrying Cases

Families who loved music sometimes packed a vinyl record carrying case for long road trips during the 1970s. These cases were small square boxes designed to protect phonograph records during travel. They were usually made of sturdy cardboard or plastic covered with vinyl material and fitted with a simple metal latch and handle. Many carried bright patterns, imitation leather textures, or bold colors that matched the lively design trends of the decade. Parents often filled the case with their favorite albums before leaving home. The selections usually included artists who dominated the radio at the time, such as The Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, or Elton John.

8. Board Games and Travel Games

During family road trips in the 1970s, board games were likely stowed in the back seat of the car, tucked away in luggage. Parents were likely to bring along small versions of family favorites such as Monopoly, Scrabble, or Yahtzee in hopes that these would keep their children happy during long evenings spent in motels or camping sites. These were small enough to be stowed away in a suitcase or a bag. The pieces were likely to be locked away on the board or in tiny plastic trays to ensure that no pieces were left behind on the road. They were a small piece of familiarity and happiness after a long day spent driving on the road.

9. Brown Paper Lunch Bags

Brown paper lunch bags were a common item for family car travel in the 1970s. These bags were inexpensive and easy to use. They were used to carry lunches of sandwiches, fruit, cookies, and other homemade treats made at home before leaving on a family car trip. Parents would prepare a few of these bags in advance of the trip so everyone would have a quick and easy meal available at a moment’s notice during the car trip. These bags can be easily stowed in a cooler or picnic basket and disposed of after a meal because they are disposable. This was a very practical way of thinking about a family car trip because it saved money and allowed the family to eat anywhere along the highway.

10. Gas Station Travel Guides

Traveling families in the 1970s would often pick up quick, colorful travel guides at the local gas station. Big brand names such as Shell, Texaco, and Standard Oil would put out colorful travel guides that would highlight scenic byways, national parks, historic sites, and other quirky roadside attractions across the United States. These travel guides were either available for free or for a nominal fee when the family stopped to fill up the gas tank. These travel guides would fit neatly into the glove compartment next to the road atlas. Parents would pick up the travel guide at the gas station checkout counter out of curiosity about what interesting travel sites might appear along the next stretch of the road.

11. Blanket from Home

A familiar blanket from home is along on family road trips through the funky decade of the 1970s. Hours spent driving had worn everyone down, especially the kids in the back seat who watched the world whizzing by. Parents packed that well-worn blanket into the luggage, a small sanctuary for younger passengers as the sun rose high for early morning drives or lingered late into the night for nocturnal drives. The well-worn blanket had a soft scent and warmth to keep passengers cozy as the car hissed through cooler mountain air or as night air cooled the blacktop. On those long stretches of road, the well-worn blanket was a small sanctuary within the moving car.

12. Picnic Basket

The picnic basket was a common component of family road trips during the 1970s. It is typically made of wicker material. It may have a hinged lid and a solid handle. Inside the picnic basket are sandwiches, fruits, utensils, and a few plates and napkins. It is often placed next to the cooler. The picnic basket is strong and secure during a family road trip. It protects the food from being damaged as the car bounces along the road. When the family stops at a roadside park or a shaded area, the picnic basket is opened to reveal a simple meal. The family places the picnic basket on a wooden table. Then they start to unpack the sandwiches and fruits.

13. Plastic Tackle Boxes for Snacks and Supplies

As families set off on long road trips in the 1970s, a small plastic tackle box was sometimes taken along to hold snacks and other travel essentials. These small plastic tackle boxes were intended for fishing gear, but the separate sections of the box were ideal for keeping a family’s travel necessities in order. Crackers, candies, gum, and small bags of peanuts were common items parents put in the sections of the box. These were all snacks that a person could grab without looking away from the road. Other travel necessities might be stashed in the remaining sections of the box. These might include bandages, matches, or money.

14. Flashlights

Flashlights were a must-have item for families on the road in the 1970s. Road trips could extend well into the night, and country roads were not well-lit. The small flashlight provided a feeling of security during those dark moments on the road. Most families carried metal flashlights with large batteries, known as D cells. These were placed in glove compartments or small travel bags to ensure quick access to them. In instances where a roadside rest stop or a dark campground was involved during a family road trip, the flashlight provided much-needed light to ensure safe passage on gravel paths and parking lots. Parents used flashlights to check the trunk for luggage or to help children find their way back to the car after using a restroom.

15. Suitcases with Hard Shells

A road trip in the 1970s always started out with a pile of sturdy hard-shell suitcases stacked away in the trunk of the car. The material of the case was molded plastic or reinforced vinyl. The earth tones of the suitcases were brown, tan, or dark green. The chrome latches closed with a snap that provided reassurance that everything was secure. Several days’ worth of clothing and any necessary accessories were packed away in the suitcase before it ever rolled out into the trunk of the car. Finally, at night, after the long day of travel was over and the motel was in sight, the suitcases appeared as the trunk of the car emptied. The kids might carry the smaller suitcases while the adults carry the larger ones.

16. Roadside Attraction Postcard Collection

As families set out on the road in the 1970s, collecting postcards quietly became a family tradition on long car rides. Along the way, there were these happy little stands at roadside attractions that gave out these colorful postcards with pictures of famous landmarks, or landscapes, or interesting roadside statues. Parents would collect a few of these at each stop because they were inexpensive and easy to carry. These would eventually find their way into a small envelope or folder safely stowed in the glove compartment. As each new destination was reached, the stack would grow a bit thicker. It was a tactile record of the trip.

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• 1970s