December 09, 2025

Driving Home for the Holidays? Don’t forget this:

You've decided to drive home for the holidays instead of flying. Smart move. No TSA lines, no flight delays, and no lost luggage. Just you, your car, maybe family, and however many miles of winter highway stand between you and your destination. But before you load up the presents and snacks, there's one more thing not to forget: a winter emergency kit that works whether you're stuck on the interstate or sliding into a ditch two miles from home.

The thing about winter driving emergencies is they don't announce themselves. One minute you're fine, the next you're sideways in a ditch watching your phone signal disappear. Holiday travel adds extra pressure. You're on unfamiliar routes, pushing to arrive on time, maybe driving through weather you're not used to or planned on. But here's what changes everything: having the right supplies with you.

Get Your Car Ready Before Winter Hits

Your car needs attention before the first snowfall regardless of travel. Get your battery tested, check your antifreeze, and make sure your tires have good tread. If you live where heavy snow is common, keep chains or cables in your trunk and practice putting them on in your driveway, not during a storm on the side of the road for the first time.

Download maps to your phone that work without cell service. Take photos of your insurance card and registration, then save them somewhere you can access even without internet. Write down emergency numbers on actual paper and keep it in your glove box. If your phone dies and you need to borrow a phone, you will need these.

Every Trip Starts the Same Way

Before you leave, check the weather for your entire route, not just where you're starting. Tell someone where you're going and when you expect to arrive. Turn on location sharing if you have it.

Start any trip with a full tank of gas. It’s a good rule of thumb during winter not to let your tank drop below half. This gives you a buffer if you get stuck or need to take a long detour. Always keep your phone plugged in while driving so you have full battery if something goes wrong.

What to Put in Your Winter Car Kit

· A working spare tire, jack, jumper cables, and tow strap.

· A portable battery pack that can jump start your car.

· A phone charger that works in your car, plus a backup power bank.

· A real flashlight with extra batteries. Don't rely on your phone for light.

· Road flares or LED flashers and reflective triangles so people can see you.

· A multi-tool and some basic tools, wrenches, screw drivers, scissors etc.

· At least two heavy blankets, extra winter clothes, including boots and gloves.

· A small shovel and ice scraper.

· A bag of cat litter or sand to help your tires get traction.

· Several hand warmers.

· Waterproof matches.

· Bottled Water.

· Energy bars, nuts, or other snacks that won't freeze.

· A notepad and pencil.

· A basic first aid kit with bandages, pain relievers, and basic supplies. If you take prescription medications, keep a small travel case with a few days' supply with your daily grab. Store it with your wallet and purse so you don't forget it whenever you leave.

· Pack activities/books in case you're stuck for hours (keeps kids calm, busy)

Don't Forget Your Pets

If your dog or cat is coming along, pack extras for them too. Bring a leash, enough food and water for a few extra days beyond your planned trip, any medications they take, and a blanket or familiar item that smells like home. Keep a current photo of your pet on your phone. If they bolt in an unfamiliar area, that photo helps.

Keep all supplies in a waterproof container and check this kit twice a year. Food expires, batteries die, and you need to know everything still works in case you need it.

If you Get Stranded

If you end up stuck, call 911 immediately if you have any cell signal at all. Change your voicemail to let people know where you are. This is active whether your phone has power or not. Then stay with your car. It's warmer than being outside, it's shelter, and it's easier for rescuers to spot than someone walking in a storm.

If actively snowing, check your exhaust pipe every 20 minutes and clear any snow blocking your exhaust. Deadly fumes can back up into your car and be dangerous. Run your engine for 10 minutes each hour to stay warm but crack a window while the engine runs. This balance keeps you warm without using all your gas, and the fresh air keeps carbon monoxide from building up.

Turn on your hazard lights, set up flares or reflective triangles if you can do it safely. Put phones in low power mode to make the batteries last longer.

Eat your snacks. Bodies need the fuel to generate heat. Put on any extra clothes you have. Keep moving your arms and legs. If you're with family or other people, huddle together.

Use your floor mats, newspaper, or anything else as extra insulation between you and the cold seats. Only leave your car if you can clearly see a building nearby, if you need to clear your exhaust pipe, or if you need to be more visible to oncoming passing traffic.

The Real Cost of Being Unprepared

Most people already own half of what they need. The time investment is about an hour to gather everything and make your kit.

Compare that to the cost of being stranded without supplies: potential hypothermia, using up your phone battery calling for help repeatedly, the mental stress of not knowing if you'll make it through the night. People who survive these situations best are the ones who planned and have some extra supplies with them.

Winter doesn't care about your schedule, arrival time or how experienced you think you are as a driver. Ice doesn't check your driving record before making you lose control. But being prepared means that when something does go wrong, you have ready solutions instead of just winging it.

Check your car kit this weekend. Make sure everything's there and everything works. Then when you load up for your holiday road trip or just running errands around town, you'll know you're ready for whatever happens.

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