Maps
If you know absolutely anything about me it should be that I am a great driver - just usually not in the right direction. I have successfully driven to New Jersey by accident (not even realizing I had passed through Delaware) and drove to New York City from D.C. while attempting to make it to Rochester, N.Y. (please note these cities are in completely opposite directions).
Having maps makes me feel as though I am at least TRYING to accomplish the mission, regardless of how useless they may be in telling me I'm not even remotely close to being on course.
Time to invest in a GPS I suppose (but why when the adventure is in the journey, not the destination!).

Tunes
Every good road trip (when I hear the word travel I automatically assume it means by chitty chitty bang bang as opposed to plane or train - eh, call me poor if you must!) HAS to start with a good soundtrack. Much forethought is placed into the selections that go on my highway reel. Just like a great mixed tape can make or break a relationship ... wait ... what? Sorry, I totally went junior high 80s for a sec. Anyway, I think great tunes are the best friend to any journeyer.

Guitar
When the white lines start to double and my eyes begin to cross, there's nothing better to wake a weary wanderer than pulling over at a rest stop and banging out a few chords. Well, that and punching an elephant-loving Swedish midget until he begs for forgiveness.

... just sayin'