Memorial Day is the first big travel push of the season—and it never fails to expose weak spots in your road trip setup. Whether it’s the reliability of your vehicle, the amount of elbow room in the backseat, or the quality of your snack stash, the things you ignore before hitting the road can quickly make or break a long drive.
This guide explores the most overlooked factors that can upend your travels, and walks you through the simple steps to ensure your next trip goes off without a hitch.
Must-Do Mechanical Checks
While today’s vehicles are objectively more reliable, efficient, and safer than the road-trip rigs of yesteryear, they still require a systems check. This isn’t a full inspection—just a quick 10–15-minute review to avoid obvious issues.
- Check your tires. As the only thing connecting your vehicle to the road, tires play an integral role in both your comfort and safety. While the rubber is still cold, take a pressure reading using either your vehicle’s onboard TPMS or a tire pressure gauge and adjust air as needed to match the automaker’s recommended pressure. Inspect the tire’s tread as well, looking for signs of uneven wear, cracking, or low tread depth. These symptoms indicate the tires need attention, or that something else in the vehicle may require service.
- Top off fluids. If your vehicle just came off a long winter, now’s a good time to take a quick peek under the hood. Most vehicles have translucent reservoirs for major fluids, marked with easy-to-read minimum and maximum lines on the sides. Ensure coolant, brake, and windshield washer fluids are at the recommended levels and don’t appear dirty or discolored. Checking the oil will require a couple more steps, but is a simple way to gain peace of mind before a long drive.
- Replace wipers. Cold temps and seasonal stressors wreak havoc on the delicate rubber or silicone blades of your windshield wipers. This is a simple and affordable upgrade you can make in minutes—and should be a #1 priority if you expect to meet any kind of bad weather on your Memorial Day travels.
- Test the battery (if applicable). For most travelers, a battery check won’t be necessary. However, if winter was rough or your power supply is showing some concerning warning signs, better to address them now than on the side of the road.
Cargo Space Reality
The fastest way to ruin a road trip is starting it cramped. Ask yourself one simple question: “Do you actually have enough room for all of your passengers and their stuff?” If there’s even a moment of hesitation, it’s probably time to rethink your setup.
Cargo management solutions are not one-size-fits-all—they’re not even one-type-fits-all. In general, however:
- Rooftop carriers, which include boxes, baskets, and racks, are best-suited for lightweight cargo that you don’t need to frequently access.
- Hitch-mounted carriers, which include both open and closed platforms, are often used for bulky or messy items you’d rather not have inside the cabin, like coolers and camping gear.
- Truck bed racks, which come in a near-endless variety of configurations, are ideal for heavy equipment and gear—think sporting goods, tents, and other items you might need for an adventure-heavy Memorial Day Weekend.
- Soft-sided carriers and cargo bags, which fold up neatly and can be mounted to the roof or rear of the vehicle, are ideal for quick trips where temporary, weatherproof storage is needed.
Think about what you need to carry, how far you’re traveling, and how often you’ll actually use the carrier. This will help you narrow down options to something budget-friendly and realistic.
Comfort + Entertainment
Too often, holiday weekend road trips are measured in boredom and butt cramps. Prevent both by making sure a few key comforts are within reach:
- Seat cushioning: The benefits of quality lumbar support cannot be overstated. If your vehicle’s stock setup leaves a lot to be desired, consider upgrading to seat covers with memory foam and ventilation to support your back and alleviate the physical discomfort of long drives.
- Blankets & pillows: For passengers—especially children—having cozy, nap-inducing comforts within easy reach can help ensure a quieter, more restful ride.
- Sun-blockers: From windshield shades that help reduce cabin temperatures when parked, to side-window shades that block glare for passengers to a quality pair of sunglasses for driving fatigue, sun blockers are an underrated road trip upgrade.
- Portable power: Nothing instigates a chorus of “Are we there yet?” like a dead battery. Portable power banks and phone chargers keep electronics topped off, while a more robust power station can handle higher-draw items—particularly for multi-day or off-grid trips. For drivers—whose smartphones often double as navigation guides, podcast narrators, and DJs—consider upgrading to a phone mount with integrated wireless charging to ensure a hands- and hassle-free setup.
Committed to keeping it analog? Check out our collection of fun road trip games that require no power or digital screens.
Snack Stash Curation
A bigger friction point than many drivers realize, curating road trip snacks is a skill—nay, an art—that goes beyond Pringles and Twizzlers (though both earn their place on any drive over 150 miles). While snack selection is, admittedly, a custom-fit exercise, there are two universal factors to consider when prepping munchies for a long ride: organization and containment.
You don’t need to embrace labels and color-coding, but some general sense of order will help keep the cabin from devolving into a sticky and crumb-dusted nightmare. At a minimum, you should aim for one bag for snacks and another for trash (preferably one that ties). If you want to level up a bit, locking food storage containers help keep snacks corralled, while soft-sided coolers and lunch bags not only keep food and drinks cold, but also squeeze into awkward spaces between seats.
Mini trash cans give passengers a dedicated (and cute) place to put garbage, but if space is tight, consider a collapsible mesh bag that can be tossed in the wash when you return home.
Safety Concerns
Much like the mechanical checks above, these are basics that shouldn’t be ignored—not items you expect to use, but ones you’ll be glad you have if something goes wrong:
- Portable jump starter: Compact and affordable, with many options doubling as power banks or flashlights, portable jump starters eliminate the need to hook up cables or rely on a Good Samaritan for help.
- First aid kit: Whether you opt for a DIY setup or pre-assembled kit, having first aid essentials on hand ensures you’re prepared for any minor aches, pains, cuts, or bumps that occur during the trip.
- Meds: Add the basics into your first aid kit—namely, antihistamines, anti-inflammatories, and pain relievers—and remember to add backups of any specialty medications you or your passengers can’t go more than a few days without.
Pet-Friendly Conveniences
If your co-pilot has four legs and fur, a little prep goes a long way. In addition to setting up a safety restraint or pet barrier in the vehicle, remember to bring along toys, comfort items, and your pet’s food. Many brands offer convenient, travel-friendly food and water bowls that collapse, fold, or double as storage pouches. Door sill and seat covers are a nice addition, if you’re concerned about drool and paw prints and, of course—don’t forget the waste bags!
For more pet-friendly travel accessories, check out our gift guide for pet lovers.
Make the Most of Your Memorial Day Getaway
Whether you’re hitting the highway this Memorial Day Weekend or keeping things closer to home, Parts Via has the gear to make your trip more comfortable, organized, and stress-free. Shop our wide selection of road trip essentials—and don’t forget to take advantage of the fast, FREE ship-to-store option at checkout for added convenience.