The Best $20 You Can Spend on a Road Trip
Written by
Martin Dasko
Edited by
Jasmine Browley
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According to a December 2024 report from AAA, 107 million Americans were expected to travel by car over the holiday season last year. If you went on a road trip then or have one planned for the latter half of 2025, there are minor expenses that could help you out on your journey while still being budget-friendly. We’re many months away from summer travel, but it’s never too early to start thinking about the essentials.
Here’s are the best $20 purchases you can make for an upcoming road trip that will be super useful, based on insights from experts who love a budget-smart road trip.
Purchase An Audiobook
Melanie Musson, a finance expert with InsuranceProviders.com, suggested you spend the money on a few audiobooks for your next trip. If you know that you’re going to be spending a decent amount of time in your vehicle, you’ll want to have something to entertain yourself.
You can purchase an audiobook for yourself and the others on the ride to pass the time.
Why Is This the Best $20 You Can Spend?
According to Musson, the time you spend driving can feel so much faster if you have a good book to listen to. If you have young children, you can also entertain them with an audiobook so they have something to look forward to on the ride.
Pack of Cards
Investing a few dollars in a pack of cards is one of the most worthwhile purchases you can make for a road trip per Mamta Parkhill, founder of Inspiredtravelhacks.com. “A great entertainment option for long drives, rest stops and evenings,” she added. You can’t go wrong with a pack of cards for simplicity. This can also be an opportunity to teach your younger children some fun family games to play.
Why Is This the Best $20 You Can Spend?
Parkhill pointed out how a pack of cards is portable and doesn’t take up any space at all. This small investment can make road trips more fun, especially if you’re looking for an activity to do as a family. It also helps if you’re trying to reduce screen time on a trip into nature.
Bluetooth Speaker
“For $20, you can get a budget Bluetooth speaker to connect to your phone for music,” noted Gary Gray, co-founder at CouponChief.com. You’re going to want to have some entertainment options for the drive and the time you spend in your room.
Why Is This the Best $20 You Can Spend?
Gray shared that you won’t always be in your car with music since you’ll stop, camp or walk around. This is where the speaker comes in handy. You can also use it when you’re staying at your accommodation and want to listen to something. You can then take the speaker home with you after the trip.
Invest In Some Snacks Upfront
According to Eric Rosenberg, a finance expert and founder of Freelancer Dashboard, healthy car snacks are the best $20 you can spend on a road trip. If you stop at a grocery store before hopping on the road, you can purchase a decent amount of healthy snacks for your drive for $20.
Why Is This the Best $20 You Can Spend?
Rosenberg pointed out that junk food is more convenient to buy, but it may not be the most cost effective.
“While it’s easy to buy candy, sugary drinks and other junk food at a gas station or truck stop along the way, spending a few dollars more for healthy alternatives will leave you feeling much better while driving and when you reach your destination,” noted Rosenberg. You can also save time on your road trip since you won’t have to stop for snacks and deal with long lines at tourist spots.
UV Sanitizer Wand
“For just $20, one of the best purchases you can make is a portable UV sanitizer wand,” shared Reilly James Renwick, chief marketing officer at Pragmatic Mortgage. This practical gadget can help you keep your hands clean when you’re stopping at gas stations, snacking in your car or settling into your place for the night.
Why Is This the Best $20 You Can Spend?
Renwick pointed out that this simple device can make a noticeable difference on the road. He added, “It’s an easy way to stay clean and germ-free without lugging around bottles of sanitizer. As more people focus on health-conscious travel, having something lightweight and effective to disinfect surfaces makes the whole journey more comfortable.”
These $20 purchases can improve the quality of your next road trip and help you feel better prepared to arrive at your destination safely.
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