My Washington State Winter Car Checklist
What you’ll find in this post:
Travel resources for Washington State
The ultimate list to prepare your vehicle for winter in Washington State
It’s December 1st and we a ton of snow on the ground.
We currently have close to 7 inches of snow, which is not typical for this time of year for the outskirts of Seattle. Let me tell you I was so grateful to have our car ready for winter.
I’m normally not this organized, but writing this post has forced me to get fully organized. Since we tend to venture off the beaten path often, it’s nice to have everything we may need packed and ready to go. I didn’t run out and buy all of these things at once, rather I’ve accumulated them over the years. Many of them were holiday or birthdays gifts from our family members.
This is what I am stocking my car with this winter, and you certainly don’t need it all, but maybe it will help you plan or give you ideas when you are prepping your vehicle(s) for the winter season.
A bit of information about Washington State, as of November 1st, you must carry chains when traveling over any mountain pass. And before any adventure, I check the WSDOT (Washington State Department of Transportation) website. It’s also been very useful to follow Washington State Transportation accounts on Twitter for current information. Don’t forget to check the comments section as people often leave updates and trip reports.
NOTES:
Check the button below to download my printable checklist.
Linked items in this post are underlined.
Tools:
I like the battery powered flares. I don’t know about you, but flares kinds scare me and I always worry they’ll start a forest fire. These are easy to operate, you don’t have to light them, and they keep nicely in the car.
Great for snow, sand or mud.
I’ve actually had to use this one, we got caught in a storm and we were able to clear a downed tree in the Olympic National Park
I prefer head lamp because it’s nice to be able to use both hands if you need to put chains on. I found ours during summertime at Costco for a great deal. We got ours at Costco, but it appears Amazon has lots of options.
Resqu Me is a 2 in 1 seatbelt cutter and window breaker. I keep this in an easily accesiable small compartment to the left of my steering wheel.
You can buy one like this, or you can make your own. I prefer to buy one already, it’s compact and fits nicely in the car. It includes jumper cables, first aid kit, gloves, flashlight, tow rope, triangle and safety vest, hammer, screwdriver, pressure gauge, and emergency blanket.
Included in my emergency roadside assistance emergency car kit.
Portable Power Bank
I got a random one from my parents years ago, and it has a glove attached to it.
Thankfully we’ve never had to use this, but I am so glad my in-laws got it for us a few years ago for Christmas. Both of our parents get worried about our “adventures” so for all holidays it’s common to get an item to add to our car safety kit. I believe we pay about $14.99/month for our plan. We tend to pause it on months we know we won’t be traveling deep into the woods.
I’m not sure where ours is from, but the link to this Amazon is what I would buy if we didn't have ours. It has pliers, a mini axe, hammer, adjustable wrench, screwdrivers, and bottle opener. ;)
Has been useful on camping trips and worked to plug a hole on an air mattress.
Included in my emergency roadside assistance emergency car kit.
This hand crank one also works by solar power. You can charge your phone on it as well.
Emergency Whistle
Bungee Cords
Tire Care:
Lug
Chains
Flat Tire Inflation Canister
Tire Pressure Gauge
Papers:
Insurance Card
Roadside Assistance Info
Owners Manual
Washington Forest Passes
Clothing:
Hand Warmers
Poncho or Rain Jacket
Warm Blanket
A warm outfit for each family member (including hat, jacket, gloves, socks, underwear, pants, and a shirt)
Towel
N95 masks
Not just for COVID, but after watching a documentary about wildfires, I learned they can be useful to have an N95 mask if you ever have to drive through or be stuck in an area with bad air quality.
First Aid:
First Aid Kit with Basics
Extra Prescription Medicine
Food/Water:
Non-Perishable Food
Some of my favorites to include are granola bars, beef jerky, a little sweet treat.
Water
Other:
Cash $
Pen and Paper
In case you need to leave a note on where you are going.
Waterproof Picnic Blanket
I like to keep this in the car incase we need it for an impromptu picnic, but I feel like it could be useful if you have to put chains on or switch out a tire.
Umbrella
You never know if you’ll have to walk somewhere and it might be nice to have an umbrella.
Hand sanitizer
Sunscreen
One of the worst sun burns I’ve seen was actually from hiking in a snowy location. The atmosphere is much thinner and the reflection of sun can add.
Sunglasses/Snow Goggles
Also can be very useful in winter while exploring in the mountains on a sunny day. The reflection of the sun on the snow can be quite bright.
Bug Spray
Trash bag
Bear Spray
I like to purchased mine at Costco in a two pack during the summer. I tend to forget this when going on hikes, so it’s nice when I remember at the trailhead and have it in the car.
Backpack
In case you need to take supplies with you and walk. I store a lot of tools in the backpack and keep in the car.
Personal Toiletry Kit
In this kit, I keep shampoo, hair ties, kid body wash, toothbrush, and toothpaste in this kit. I also keep the prescription meds, deodorant, wet wipes, female hygiene products, and contacts in this case. It’s been extremely to have on trips incase we forget or run out of something.
Well there you have it! We do keep a lot in our car, thankfully we have run flat tires so we don’t need to bring an extra tire with us. This frees up all the space in the trunk and that’s where most of this is kept.
What did I miss?
