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Part of How to avoid slow travel mistakes in 2027
What to pack to avoid the usual slow travel mistakes
The packing errors that cause trouble on remote roads, and the short list agencies themselves recommend: fuel, offline maps, tools, a spare and a told plan.
What to take away
- Fuel for the outbound leg and the return, not just the outbound.
- Offline maps are only useful on a charged phone, so carry a way to charge it.
- A spare tire you have not inspected is not a spare tire.
- Tell somebody exactly where you are going and when you expect to be back.
Packing mistakes on remote roads are boring and repeatable. The same five items are missing every time, and agencies that deal with the consequences have written the list down.
The list agencies actually publish
The BLM's page on byways in Nevada is direct about it. It warns that Nevada is very remote, that large portions of the state have no phone service and that gas stations are few and far between, then gives five specific instructions.
- Fuel up, with enough to get where you are going and back.
- Carry a good map such as an atlas and gazetteer, or download offline maps in town, and remember that a dead phone is no help.
- Let a friend or family member know exactly where you are going and when you plan to return.
- Carry basic tools, vehicle fluids and a shovel in case you get stuck in sand or snow.
- Check your spare, because roads there often have sharp rocks and flats are common.
The page also makes the point that signs will not tell you where to go, which is why a map you can read without a signal is the first item rather than a backup.
Safety equipment is often specified, not suggested
Where a site has particular hazards, the rules are usually explicit. The BLM's safety guidance for the Little Sahara Recreation Area in Utah states that Utah law requires helmets for riders under 18 and recommends them for adults, requires a red or orange whip flag on all off highway vehicles standing at least eight feet above level ground so others can see you in the dunes, prohibits discharging firearms within the recreation area, and tells visitors to scout the back side of a dune before cresting it because many injuries happen on unseen drop offs.
Even if you never ride a dune, the principle transfers. Read the site's own rules before packing, because some of what you need is required rather than optional.
The pack that answers the five failures
| Failure | What prevents it |
|---|---|
| Running out of fuel | Range planning, plus a quarter tank reserve |
| Losing the route | Paper map and downloaded offline maps |
| Nobody knowing where you are | A written plan left with someone |
| Getting stuck | Shovel, traction aid, gloves, tow point |
| Flat tire | Inspected spare, plug kit, compressor, gauge |
Two things people forget every time
The first is a way to charge a phone independently of the engine. The second is a printed copy of the route with the field office phone numbers on it, because the moment you need those numbers is usually the moment the phone is dead or out of range.
Where to go next
The wider set of errors these items guard against is described in how to avoid slow travel mistakes. For the general kit list for unhurried driving, see what to pack for slow road travel.
Common questions
Do I need recovery gear if I am staying on graded roads? A shovel and traction aid, yes. Graded roads go soft in sand and mud with no warning.
Is an atlas really better than a phone? It is better than a dead phone, and it shows context that a small screen does not. Carry both.
How often should I check the spare? Before every trip. Pressure drops slowly, and a soft spare is discovered at the worst possible moment.
What is the least glamorous item that matters most? The written plan left with someone at home. It costs nothing and it is what starts a search on the right road.
