We’re prepping for our September road trip around Arizona to see the main sights – we are staying in Hotels each night.
We land into PHX, collect our rental (F150 or SUV) and would like to visit 1 store to collect all essential food, drink and essentials for the trip.
Walmart seems like the obvious store to visit as a clueless Irishman?
If you were doing this trip yourself, what essentials are you packing for a 5 day roadtrip?
20 comments
You’ve been to warm weather places before? Like 35-40C? Plan appropriately.
Might depend where all you’re going. Weather in Flagstaff probably going to be different than Phoenix.
Just in case I would pack a collapsible water bag. Probably cheap enough, but since it packs flat you might bring one from home.
Same if you have a soft sided cooler that you can use as luggage.
Other than that:
Hats, sunglasses, sunscreen, snacks for the car, lunches and other food as needed.
Walmart is a good stop, but you can probably use any grocery store.
Walmart would work and will have everything you need, however the quality will not be on par with other store offering many of the same things. Others will just be more specialized.
I’d go to an actual grocery store and probably a sporting goods store.
Emergency water. Even on main highways or smaller state roads if you break down you may be waiting a while in extreme heat. An extra gallon per person in reserve is probably a good idea.
Also unless you are super environmentally conscious a flat of water bottles for daily use. If you are more environmentally conscious get some more gallon jugs and have refillable 1.5L bottles.
Then just make sure you have some road snacks and since you are Irish (but this goes pretty much for anyone) plenty of sunscreen. Make sure to reapply after a couple hours if you are sweating.
Wide brimmed hats are a good idea. Also light weight long pants are much better than shorts if you are going to be out in the desert sun. A decent backpack for hiking is a good idea to carry water and snacks. It is a bad idea to go on any hike in the desert without at least 1.5L of water per person and maybe more like 3L if it is an all day hike.
Walmart is a fine place to get all you need in one stop.
Grab a case of water. The low areas of Arizona can still be in the high 90s in September. And the elevations and basically the entire state will have humidity in the teens.
Sunblock. Depending on how Irish you are (are you a super Caucasian like the rest of us) you will get a sunburn in freezing temperatures. I myself am of German and Irish decent. So I’m basically so white I’m almost transparent.
Snacks. If you’ve never been to a Walmart, the snacks isle is basically 1/3 of the store. If have allergies read the ingredients carefully. We put nut oils in almost everything. Don’t get the chocolate, it sucks.
Maybe a saline nasal spray and lip balm (ie chapstick) the lack of humidity though refreshing for the body, plays hell on the sinuses.
Sunblock shirts or large brimmed hats. You’ll see clothing with an spf rating. If you don’t have them and plan on hiking, they come in handy to keep you out of the sun.
A Rand McNally map of the US with a listing of all of the Walmarts. As unpleasant as Walmart is as a company, they are everywhere. Chances are wherever you go in Arizona, there will be a Walmart along your route.
What is your planned route after leaving Phoenix? I’m assuming straight up 17 to Page.
Quality phone charger, phone mount, 12V battery jump starter (which often can double as a portable charger), and a tire patch kit. Everything else you need like snacks and water you can pick up anywhere but those you might need to get ahead of time, although Walmart probably would have most of them.
Buy at least twice as much water as you think you’ll need. And sunblock. Lots of sunblock. Living in Arizona and Florida I can tell the European tourists because they look like lobsters.
if you can truly only do one store: Walmart or Target. if you can add one or two more, add Dicks Sporting Goods and a better grocery store.
Water….lots of it. You might never need it all but if you break down on the side of the highway 100 miles from the next town, you’re going to be glad to have it.
Sunscreen.
Propper clothes. light in color, cotton would be best. The average temp of Phoneix in September is 38c, Average temp of Flagstaff in September is 23c
A wide-brim hat.
Electrolytes, take a bit every day and if you start to feel weird, take them more often. Look up the symptoms of heat stroke and dehydration.
Walmart is fine. You can also look for a Dick’s Sporting Goods, Bass Pro Shop, or Cabela’s near Phoenix. Those are all stores that focus more on outdoor activities specifically, so they’d have more options but the prices probably won’t be as cheap as at Walmart
Sun protection is super important and that includes sunscreen (get a high SPF and reapply often), sunglasses (protect your eyes), and a hat (I like to wear a (fishing hat)[https://www.walmart.com/ip/EINSKEY-Sun-Hat-for-Men-Women-Boonie-Hat-Fishing-Hiking-Safari-Beach-Waterproof-Wide-Brim-Bucket-Hat/1310109663?athbdg=L1600] that has a brim wide enough to keep the sun off your face and neck, and a chin strap so it doesn’t blow off in the wind.
Target usually makes a better first impression than Walmart, but you’ll be ok with either.
I’m not sure of your exact itinerary, but I’d go with at least two cases of water for two people for 5 days. I’d also see about getting a cheap cooler and filling it halfway with ice and then putting some bottles into it, but we Americans are fond of ice cold beverages.
I was almost going to recommend a case of soda (Coca-cola, Pepsi, etc.), but then I remembered that cars can overheat inside in the AZ sun, so that may not be the best idea. Consider other sources of caffeine. Maybe bottles or cans of iced tea.
Consider sun hats. [Here are some ideas](https://www.rei.com/search?q=hats+for+sun), but you’ll probably be able to find them at Target or Walmart. You might also prefer a long sleeved sun shirt, which is light weight but comes with an SPF rating. I see someone else recommended some sporting good shops, where you might find such a thing.
Make sure you have good sunglasses.
Bring or buy USB-A charging wires for your devices. I believe they’re still more common in cars than USB-C outlets.
For snacks, check nutrition labels. I like to get some nuts because it’s better to have some protein, but they can be more calorie dense than potato chips. Personally, I also like the various Chex mixes, though their nutrition isn’t great.
Keep in mind that most gas stations will have convenience stores attached. They’ll be more expensive than quantity purchases at Walmart or Target, but they’re convenient if you want something ice cold or a type of snack you didn’t think to buy. Some will have sandwiches, cheese sticks, hard boiled eggs, and many will have hit dogs. Many will also have slush drinks (Slurpees, etc.)
Lots of water. Sunscreen. Foam cooler. Snacks that won’t melt (ie. avoid chocolate).
Remember that September is still summer is America, especially in the low desert. But I’d still bring jackets, especially if you’re going to the mountains or high desert, the mornings can still be chilly.
I definitely recommend Tombstone and Bisbee btw
Everyone’s rightly saying water, and more of it then you think you’ll need so I’m going to remind you that it can get damn cold at night in the desert, with temps of <50℉ 10℃ especially at higher altitudes and it can be extremely important to be prepared for that too.
Generally mid temps clothing like long pants, full coverage footwear, hats and light jackets will suffice but for the worst scenario I would definitely have **[one of these](https://www.surviveoutdoorslonger.com/products/emergency-blanket)** for each person. They’re tiny small when packed and at 2.9oz/82gms they’re a non issue as far as packing weight.
Worst case, you get lost, vehicle breakdown, etc. It does you no good to have 3 days of water if you don’t survive the first night because of hypothermia.
Plus, IMHO all of Walmart’s food is kind of OK but their ~~-other products-~~ outdoor gear is barely a step above trash. It’s worth **[a second stop](https://stores.dickssportinggoods.com/az/phoenix/)** or even **[a third](https://hellohiker.com/top-5-phoenix-outdoor-and-camping-stores/)** to do better. ¯\_( ͡❛ ͜ʖ ͡❛)_/¯
I’d grab a wide brimmed straw hat. They give a lot of protection from the sun for your face and neck while not trapping in a bunch of heat and sweat from you head. Something like this one from Quicksilver is going to be something that shouldn’t be too out of place:
https://www.amazon.com/Quiksilver-Mens-Pierside-Natural-XX-Large/dp/B07S5VH3HZ
You can find similar hats at places like Walmart and Target, most sporting goods stores or clothing stores that sell “surfer” brands. Even some gas stations will have them. There are more expensive versions that have fabric on the underside that provide a little more UV protection but the straw only version have been good enough for me.
After years of spending my weekends outside at my kids sporting events under the Southwestern sun, those hats have kept me from coming home with a burnt neck and nose.
Make sure you have something like a light hoodie that you keep handy. Once the sun goes down the temperatures plummet. It’s not unusual for the temperature to drop more than 15 degrees Celsius after sundown.
Do you realize how hot it is there that time of year? If you must go then bring plenty of water like everyone is saying but also remember to replace your electrolytes. Eat salty foods, drink plenty of water, and avoid the hottest times of the day. Your body will not be able to acclimate to the extreme high temps in such a short amount of time, I would reconsider and go in early spring or late fall. The odds of you being miserable while not in AC are guaranteed.
https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/phoenix/85003/september-weather/346935
One thing nobody has mentioned is a black light flashlight. You might want to check for scorpions and they glow under black light. Shake out your shoes before you put them on.
Irishman in AZ? buy all the sunscreen.
A good map. In Northern Arizona GPS can be spotty. Also, really **look** at distances on the map. It’s roughly 5 hours from Phoenix to the Grand Canyon.
Advice: never get below about half a tank. Don’t drive at night in Northern Arizona; it can be **dark** and you don’t want to collide with an elk, a deer or cattle. Yes, cattle are a possibility.
Water. I always bring a 2.5-liter jug with me when I road trip. Mostly for car emergencies but also for drinking. When I went to the Grand Canyon my sunscreen sweated into my eyes and I had to flush them out before I could drive anywhere.
Sunblock, sunglasses, wide brim hat, chapstick. I don’t recommend the spray type of SPF because you just end up missing spots. On that same day at the Grand Canyon, I burned the crap out of half my neck. And my lips were a mess until I got to a Target three days later. When they say it’s a dry heat, they really mean DRY.
Snacks. I don’t recommend anything with powder on it. It just sticks to your fingers and gets everywhere. I make my own trail mix with pretzels, almonds, and dried fruit. Anything chocolate or gummy will melt. Soda will be a lot cheaper than where you live, but don’t overdo it and mess yourself up. Try the iced tea.
Paper maps. I got lost in the woods of Vermont when my phone lost signal. Spent about an hour driving around until I figured out where I was. You do not want this to happen in the desert.