I work as a freelance photographer and journalist for a living in addition to being a PhD student who travels a lot for his research, so I know a thing or two about long car rides.

Eating up the highway or interstate miles can be a bit boring, especially if you’re like me and don’t drive a particularly exciting vehicle. However, these five gadgets have taken my driving experience to a whole new level in terms of cleanliness and accessibility.

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My Rove R2-4K Pro dash cam captures brilliant footage for a super low price

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Anti-slip dash mats

Nobody wants their favorite hat, wallet, or phone sliding across the car

The actual mat photographed here is more than well-used. I know this because it’s mine. Luckily enough for me, in my 2022 Volkswagen Taos, someone out there in the ether 3D printed a mat to lay perfectly in the dash storage compartment that was at one point, like many other vehicles, clad in the same slick plastic as what covers the rest of my dash.

However, the lines blurred between where my dash started, and my storage began, until this little tray with pre-cut rubber adhesive strips came along and made the area above my infotainment system exactly what I needed it to be — a place to put things. If you drive a different vehicle, though, not all hope is lost, as there are a plethora of model-specific and generic anti-slip dash mats out there to ensure that your favorite hats, notebook, sunglasses, phone, or wallet are sliding about the cabin on those long road trips.

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You can now play Candy Crush on your car’s Android Auto infotainment system

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Wireless Carplay/Android Auto adapter

Connectivity has never been easier than right now.

This is a problem that still baffles me to this day. One of my best friends owns a 2023 Toyota RAV4, and you would think that in a vehicle from this decade, wireless infotainment connectivity would be standard across the board. Unfortunately, that’s not the reality, and far too many people have to take the extra few seconds to plug their phone into a cord that may or may not work that day, depending on what way the wind is blowing, to have access to the infotainment system of their choice.

Type

CarPlay Adapter

Power Source

USB

What’s Included

USB adapter, USB-C adapter

Brand

Vevavi

The Vevavi Wireless CarPlay Adapter turns CarPlay into a plug-and-play experience after a simple and short setup.

Luckily, there are now quite a few companies producing high-quality USB devices that can essentially give any car with a screened, touch-sensitive infotainment display Carplay or Android Auto capabilities.

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Radar Shield Ghost PRO radar detector

Nothing can ruin a day quite like a speeding ticket or unscheduled stop.

Radarshield

My fiancé will be the first to tell you that I don’t always live life in the fast lane. In fact, she wishes I would be in a bit more of a hurry more times than not. However, we don’t have speeding ticket money set aside, so I try to always showcase to officers how well I obey the speed limit by using Radarshield’s line of radar detectors, particularly the Ghost PRO.

Nobody is saying you drive above the speed limit, but it certainly helps to know what to expect coming around the next curve in the interstate. I’ve seen one too many cars hiding in the bushes in wait.

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I added MagSafe to this old tablet to create the ultimate car smart screen

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Small trash cans keep my car clean year-round

If you’re as uptight about your floor mats and seats as I am, this is a must-buy

Nothing grinds my gears like trash on the floor of my car. Dirt from shoes or general dust I can stand — that happens no matter how much you try and keep it out — but if someone just haphazardly throws their trash on my floor, I will officially be down one friend before the day ends.

Thankfully, this little trash can from Accmor via Amazon keeps that from happening, and we can all remain friends after the road trip has ended. Some families may require a larger can, though, and luckily, there are numerous Amazon options available for just that as well.

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NOCO Boost Jumper pack

Speaking of unplanned stops, a dead battery is the end all be all of “Oh, come on!” moments

NOCO

There may not be a handier thing on the road than a fresh jump pack, especially from a high-quality brand like NOCO. Gone are the days of having to wait for an empathetic passerby to stop off with some jumper cables. Now, if you’re running into electrical issues on the road, these NOCO battery packs are life-savers with up to 3,000 amps of lithium battery-powered juice.

This pack isn’t just for your car, though. It has enough power to charge your phone, boat, tablet, or pickup truck. It’s a must-have safety gadget for anyone that spends a lot of time on the road, especially if your car, truck, or vessel is of the older variety.

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