1. Paper Road Maps
There was a time when every glovebox had at least one of these giants stuffed inside, folded in a way that made no sense and never quite went back together right. Someone in the passenger seat would unfold the whole thing, blocking half the windshield, while trying to find the nearest highway. If you took a wrong turn, you didn’t just get rerouted—you got lost, sometimes for hours. It was a mix of stress and adventure, often leading to arguments about where exactly that turn was supposed to be. Gas stations always had a spinning rack full of these things by the door, and you felt more prepared just having one says PEOPLE.
Nowadays, your phone tells you when there’s traffic, where the police are hiding, and what’s for lunch at the next exit. Paper maps feel almost romantic now, but no one’s actually using them unless they’re on a nostalgia trip. Most of us couldn’t even read one quickly under pressure if we tried. It’s wild to think how many road trips relied on someone’s ability to trace a red line with their finger across three states adds Travel Noire.
2. Disposable Cameras
These were the gold standard for capturing road trip memories—before anyone had a phone that could do the job better. You had 24 or maybe 36 photos, and that was it. So you chose your moments carefully, snapped the shot, and hoped for the best. You wouldn’t know if your finger was in the frame or if your cousin blinked until you paid to get them developed. But that little bit of mystery was part of the fun shares Business Insider.
Now we take a hundred photos before we even get out of the car, delete half, and edit the rest. Disposable cameras are still around, mostly as a retro gimmick, but they’re not exactly practical. No one wants to wait a week to see how their selfie turned out. They were charming in their way, but today’s instant gratification has officially pushed them off the passenger seat says Vogue.
3. Portable DVD Players
There was a time when you’d wedge one of these between the front seats and pray the battery held out until the kids finished their movie. You had to pack a case of DVDs—scratched, mismatched, and probably missing the one film your kid actually wanted to watch. The screen was small, the sound was tinny, and bumps in the road made the disc skip at the worst times. Still, it beat listening to “Are we there yet?” on repeat.
Today, phones and tablets have taken over completely. Movies are downloaded ahead of time, and wireless headphones mean no one else has to hear Ice Age for the 20th time. It’s easier, cleaner, and doesn’t involve cords dangling all over the car. Those DVD players had their moment, but let’s be honest—they were more work than they were worth.
4. Atlas Books
Holding one of these felt like holding the keys to the entire country. They were thick, a little intimidating, and made you feel like a real adult when you figured out how to use one. Each state had its own section, and you had to flip back and forth to follow your route. If you took a wrong turn, you had to backtrack through pages to figure out where you messed up.
These days, the only people who still carry atlases are either collectors or those with a serious fondness for analog travel. GPS apps are faster, easier, and offer real-time traffic updates. There’s just no reason to keep a big, heavy book in your car anymore. It’s one of those tools that served its purpose beautifully—until something better came along.
5. AAA TripTiks
Getting a TripTik felt like planning a real expedition. You’d go to your local AAA office, talk to someone behind the counter, and watch them flip through maps and highlight your route. You’d walk out with a spiral-bound booklet customized just for your journey, complete with notes on where to stop, eat, and sleep. It was half road map, half travel guide.
But technology moved fast, and TripTiks couldn’t keep up. Navigation apps now adjust your route on the fly and tell you when there’s a wreck ahead. While AAA still offers digital versions, the printed ones are practically extinct. They were a product of their time—hands-on and full of charm—but they’ve officially been replaced by your phone.
6. CB Radios
These things made you feel like you were part of a secret club. Truckers, travelers, and even kids used them to call out traffic issues or just say hello. The lingo—”10-4,” “what’s your 20?”—was part of the fun. It was the original version of crowdsourcing road info, long before apps existed.
Now, all of that is done silently through Waze, Google Maps, or just text messages. CB radios are still around for hobbyists and long-haul truckers, but the average road-tripper isn’t tuning in anymore. With more efficient tools at our fingertips, they’ve become more novelty than necessity. Still, part of you probably misses that crackle of static and the mystery of who was on the other end.
7. Roadside Bingo Cards
Backseat boredom met its match with these little cardboard cards. You’d keep an eye out for cows, railroad crossings, and water towers while your sibling tried to beat you to “Free Space.” They were fun, low-tech, and surprisingly competitive. Even if the prizes were just bragging rights, it made the miles pass faster.
Today, it’s all iPads and endless entertainment apps. Kids are watching shows, playing games, and even learning languages before you hit the next town. Those old bingo cards now feel more like souvenirs than actual tools. They were sweet and simple, but they’ve been outpaced by tech that never runs out of things to do.
8. Walkmans and Discmans
If you had a Walkman, you brought a stack of tapes and batteries. If you had a Discman, you prayed you didn’t hit a bump and skip your favorite song. These were prized possessions on road trips, especially if you got to pick your own music while the rest of the car suffered through adult radio. You might even share headphones with a sibling—if they were cool.
Streaming changed everything. Now you’ve got every song ever recorded in your pocket, no cords or skips involved. Walkmans and Discmans are fun to look back on, but most people wouldn’t trade today’s convenience for the nostalgia. They’re museum pieces now—cool in theory, frustrating in practice.
9. Car Window Shades with Cartoons
If you had little kids in the car, these suction-cup shades were a staple. They featured Disney characters, superheroes, or cheerful suns wearing sunglasses. You’d slap them onto the window to block the blinding rays and hope they stayed up. More often than not, they’d fall halfway through the trip, leaving someone grumpy and squinting.
Modern cars have built-in sun protection or sleeker, more secure shades. Parents today have more effective, less flimsy options. While the cartoon ones had charm, they just weren’t built to last. You don’t see them around much anymore—and if you do, it’s probably in a box of baby stuff from 2002.
10. Giant Road Trip Snack Tins
These things were iconic—popcorn, trail mix, maybe even a mystery layer of chocolate if someone got fancy. They lived on the floor of the backseat and made the rounds every half hour. You never knew exactly what you’d grab, which was part of the fun. Crumbs everywhere, sticky fingers, and someone always hogging the caramel corn.
Now, we’re all about portion control and convenience. Individually wrapped snacks are cleaner, easier, and allergy-friendly. The big tins are cute for holidays, but they’re not practical for travel anymore. They had their moment, but now they belong to a different kind of road trip—one from the scrapbook.
11. Travel Board Games
There was a whole industry built around mini versions of your favorite games. Magnetic Checkers, tiny Battleship, and plastic Connect Four sets designed to sit perfectly on a lap in the backseat. They were a genius solution—until a piece went missing down the side of the seat. Still, they passed the time in a way screens never quite can.
But no one’s bringing these along now. Kids have games with animated graphics, soundtracks, and online multiplayer all in one app. There’s no cleanup, no missing parts, and no need to balance a tiny board on your knees. The travel games still exist, but they’re more novelty than necessity.
12. Car Phone Holders with Suction Cups
These were a game-changer when they first came out. Stick it to the windshield, slap your phone in, and boom—instant GPS. Until, of course, the suction failed and your phone went flying into the footwell mid-turn. They were more hassle than they were worth, but at the time, it felt like futuristic tech.
Nowadays, cars either come with built-in GPS screens or mounts that are wireless, magnetic, and actually stay put. Suction cup holders still pop up here and there, but most people have moved on to cleaner setups. They’re one of those inventions that paved the way for something better. Helpful in their time, but now mostly forgotten.
13. Handheld Fans with Water Misters
If you’ve ever been trapped in a hot car without good AC, you probably used one of these. You’d fill the bottle, pump the handle, and blast yourself with a mix of mist and breeze. It felt amazing—for about three seconds. Then someone would accidentally spray their sibling, and a fight would break out in the backseat.
These days, modern vehicles handle climate control like pros. Between cooled seats and efficient AC, there’s just no need for DIY cooling tools anymore. You might still see them at theme parks or outdoor concerts, but on road trips? Not really. They were quirky and useful in a pinch, but their time has passed.