Winter Road Trip Checklist: Car Prep, Emergency Kit and Driving in Snow
Short answer: before a winter road trip, get the car checked (battery, tires, wipers, antifreeze), pack an emergency kit (warm layers, blankets, water, snacks, flashlight, phone charger, ice scraper, shovel, sand or cat litter, jumper cables), check the forecast and road conditions on your state's 511 service, keep the tank at least half full, and tell someone your route. If you get stuck, stay with your car, keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow and run the engine only in short bursts to stay warm.
Winter is a great time for a road trip: quieter national parks, ski towns, Christmas markets and, if you drive far enough north, the northern lights. It also brings the hardest driving of the year. NHTSA counted 320 fatal crashes in snow or sleet in 2023. Most winter breakdowns and spin-outs are preventable with a little preparation, so this checklist covers the car, the kit, the route and what to do if things go wrong.
How do you prepare your car for a winter road trip?
Prepare your car by having the battery tested, checking tire pressure and tread, topping up winter washer fluid and antifreeze, and replacing worn wiper blades. Cold weather finds weak spots: a battery that starts fine in October can fail on the first freezing morning.
- Battery: most auto parts stores test batteries for free. Replace one that tests weak, especially if it is more than three to five years old.
- Tires: tire pressure drops as the temperature falls. Inflate to the pressure on the label inside the driver's door frame, not the maximum printed on the tire, and check the tread depth. For regular snow or mountain driving, winter tires grip far better than all-seasons.
- Wipers and fluid: fit fresh blades and fill the reservoir with a winter washer fluid that will not freeze.
- Coolant, oil and lights: check the antifreeze mix, get any overdue service done, and make sure every headlight, brake light and turn signal works.
NHTSA's winter driving tips cover the vehicle checks in more detail, including how to read your tire's age.
What should be in a winter car emergency kit?
A winter car emergency kit should keep you warm, fed, visible and able to get unstuck for at least a day. Ready.gov recommends jumper cables, sand, a flashlight, warm clothing, blankets, bottled water and non-perishable snacks. A fuller list for a long trip:
- Warmth: blankets or a sleeping bag, hats, gloves, spare socks, a warm layer for every passenger, hand warmers.
- Food and water: bottled water and high-energy snacks such as nuts, granola bars and dried fruit.
- Light and power: a flashlight with spare batteries, a phone power bank and a car charger.
- Getting unstuck: ice scraper and snow brush, a small shovel, sand or cat litter for traction, jumper cables, and tire chains or traction devices if your route needs them.
- Safety: a first aid kit, any medication you need, reflective triangles or flares, and a brightly colored cloth to tie to the antenna.
- Paper backup: a printed map of your route, in case you lose signal.
Keep the kit in the cabin, not only in the trunk, so you can reach it if snow seals the trunk shut. Traveling with children? Add diapers, extra clothes and a few games, and see our family trip ideas for when the weather warms up again.
Do you need snow chains for a winter road trip?
You need snow chains or another traction device only where the road or the conditions require them, but on mountain routes that can happen with little warning. Several western states post chain controls on passes during storms and can require vehicles to carry chains or have winter tires. Rules differ by state and by road, so check the department of transportation website for each state on your route before you leave.
If you carry chains, practice fitting them at home first. Doing it for the first time on a dark, icy shoulder is slow and risky. If you are driving a rental, read the agreement: many rental companies restrict the use of chains, so you may need to pick a different route or ask for a car with winter tires.
How do you check road conditions before driving in winter?
Check road conditions on your state's 511 traveler information service, by phone (dial 511) or online, and check the weather forecast for your whole route, not only your destination. The Federal Highway Administration keeps a list of road condition and closure sites for every state. For the weather, the National Weather Service winter safety pages explain the alerts it issues before snow and ice storms.
- Check the forecast the day before and again the morning you leave.
- Look for closures and chain controls on mountain passes, which can close for hours at a time.
- If a winter storm warning is issued for your route, the safest plan is usually to wait it out. Book a flexible room so delaying a day costs little.
- Share your route and expected arrival time with someone at home, and check in when you arrive.
How should you drive on snow and ice?
Drive on snow and ice slowly and smoothly: brake, accelerate and steer gently, and leave much more distance to the car in front than usual. It takes far longer to stop on a slick road, and sudden movements are what make tires lose their grip.
- Slow down below the posted limit when the road is wet, slushy or icy.
- Increase your following distance so you have time to stop.
- Watch for black ice on bridges, overpasses and shaded stretches, which freeze first.
- Don't use cruise control on slippery roads.
- Give snowplows room. NHTSA advises staying well behind them and not driving beside them: they make wide turns, stop often and overlap lanes.
- If you skid, ease off the accelerator and steer gently in the direction you want the car to go.
Keep the fuel tank at least half full. It adds weight over the wheels, keeps condensation out of the fuel line, and gives you heat if you get stuck.
What should you do if you get stranded in snow?
If you get stranded in snow, stay with your car, make it easy to see, and keep warm without risking carbon monoxide poisoning. Your car is shelter and a much easier target for rescuers to find than a person walking in a storm.
- Stay in the car and don't overexert yourself shoveling in the cold.
- Call for help (911 in the US and Canada) and give your location, road name and nearest mile marker.
- Make the car visible: tie a bright cloth to the antenna and turn on the dome light at night.
- Clear the exhaust pipe. NHTSA warns that a snow-blocked tailpipe can push carbon monoxide into the car. Run the engine only for short periods to warm up, with a window opened slightly.
- Stay warm and hydrated: use your blankets and layers, move your arms and legs, and sip water.
Carbon monoxide has no smell or color. Learn the symptoms on the CDC carbon monoxide page, and for any other kind of trouble on the road, our step-by-step guide to what to do in a travel emergency covers medical problems, theft and lost documents. Driving alone? Our solo travel safety checklist has more habits worth adopting.
Frequently asked questions
What should I keep in my car for a winter road trip?
Keep blankets and warm layers, water and snacks, a flashlight and phone charger, an ice scraper, a small shovel, sand or cat litter, jumper cables, a first aid kit and a printed map. Add tire chains if your route has mountain passes.
Should I stay in my car if I get stuck in the snow?
Yes. Stay with your car unless help is in sight, call 911, make the car visible and keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow. Run the engine only in short bursts to stay warm.
How full should my gas tank be in winter?
Keep it at least half full on a winter road trip. A fuller tank gives you heat if you get stranded and helps prevent the fuel line from freezing.
How do I check winter road conditions?
Dial 511 or visit your state's 511 website for closures, chain controls and road conditions, and check the National Weather Service forecast for your whole route before you leave.
