A little planning can go a long way when it comes to enjoying the freedom of the open road.

Whether you're hitting the highway with your family, friends or a significant other, a road trip is the ultimate summer getaway. The best part? You can pack whatever you want without worrying about an airline's limited baggage policy. Okay, so maybe that's not the best part about a road trip, but travelling by car means that you'll have the space to pack those extra little luxuries that will make your trip even more enjoyable. Here are 8 things that will make your next road trip even more awesome.  

Ultimate Ears speaker

1. Portable, waterproof speakers:

Yes, you'll have easy access to tunes in your car, but why should the music stop once you hit those scenic pit stops? Lounge at a beach or go for a quick hike and bring along a portable bluetooth speaker for blood-pumping music all day long.

Ultimate Ears Boom 2 bluetooth wireless speaker, $250, bestbuy.ca.

HBC blanket, harness and pillow

2. A tarp, picnic blanket and throw pillows:

A tarp will keep your derriere dry if you encounter damp grass or wet sand. Bring a pretty blanket and a couple throw pillows to ensure you have Insta-worthy moments, whether you've pulled over for a picnic lunch or are lying out to watch the sunrise.

Hudson's Bay Company cotton knit throw, $149, thebay.com. Hudson's Bay Company x Freedmans Harness and Saddlery handmade leather blanket strap, $120, thebay.com. Chunky stripe throw pillow, $35, thebay.com.

Barebones lantern

3. A lantern:

Add a little ambience to your roadside picnics and ensure that you can see your way to the washroom at night if any of your overnight stops include campgrounds. We love this cute LED rechargeable lantern from Barebones.

Barebones forest LED rechargeable lantern, $60, mec.ca.

The Honest Company Wipes

4. Wet wipes:

Perfect for sticky hands, dirty feet and sweaty underarms, a set of soft cleansing wipes will work wonders when you don't have easy access to running water.

The Honest Company Wipes, $8, chapters.indigo.ca. 

Sephora Collection blotting papers

5. Blotting papers:

Tuck a pack of blotting papers into your purse. These will be especially handy if your vehicle lacks air conditioning—they sop up excess oil on the face and will prevent shine whenever you take a selfie.

Sephora Collection Mattifying Blotting Films, $12, sephora.ca.

Igloo cooler

6. A cooler:

Save money by purchasing drinks and food in bulk at the grocery store instead of pulling into a gas station or fast food joint every time you need a nosh.

Igloo Contour 30-quart cooler, $40, bedbathandbeyond.ca.

Éminence sunscreen

7. Sunscreen:

Think your skin is safe because you'll be in a car for most of the trip? Think again! Damaging sun rays go straight through the glass—and you might even end up with a one-sided tan on the arm that's closest to the window if you don't re-apply regularly. We're huge fans of Éminence's mineral sunscreen, which physically blocks the sun's rays instead of absorbing them the way a chemical sunscreen does. (Bonus: it smells amazing!)

Éminence Tropical Vanilla Body SPF 32, $52, beautysense.ca.

Credits: Getty Images

8. The right car:

A vehicle with the right amenities can make all the difference to your comfort level—even if it's just a rental. If you want a car that boasts the latest technology, we recommend the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze, which has OnStar 4G LTE connectivity with a wi-fi hotspot (so you're always connected!) and phone integration—meaning you can make calls, send messages, read maps and listen to music, all on the MyLink screen on your dashboard. (These gadgets are especially useful if you're prone to getting lost!) If you're looking for a car that will sit pretty in your photo ops, consider the new VW Beetle, which can offer a panoramic sun roof, ambient lighting and an eight-speaker sound system. Or maybe you're looking for a car that epitomizes the wind-in-your-hair freedom of being on the road? If so, we're partial to the 2016 BMW Z4 Roadster, because it's super sporty and its built-in concierge service helps you find great restaurants, shops and hotels and sends their addresses directly to your navigation system.

Read more:

The ultimate packing list for camping in Canada

Niagara-on-the-Lake: 10 things to do on a weekend