Build a winter car kit
Ready.gov, CDC and the National Weather Service each publish a winter car list, and they overlap heavily. Tell us who travels with you and get those items as one list, with blankets and warm clothing for each person.
1. Your household
2. How long to plan for
3. What you face where you live
Water: 1 gallon per person per day (CDC). Food: FDA uses 2,000 calories a day as a general guide for adults. Pets need water too: ask your vet how much.
The basic kit
Ready.gov's basic supplies list.
- Water6 gallons for 2 people over 3 daysFor the car, the Red Cross lists several bottles of water.
- Non-perishable food3 days for 2 people (about 12,000 calories for the adults)For the car, the Red Cross lists canned fruit, nuts and high energy snacks.Our pick: Datrex 3600 ↗Compare ration bars and mres →
- Battery-powered or hand-crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alertOur pick: Midland WR400 ↗Compare weather radios →
- First aid kitOur pick: SurviveX Large ↗Compare first aid kits →
- Extra batteriesOur pick: eneloop AA (8) ↗Compare rechargeable batteries →
Additional supplies for your household
From Ready.gov's additional items, and its pages for pets and people with disabilities.
- Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person2 neededOur pick: SOL Emergency Bivvy ↗Compare emergency blankets and sleeping bags →
For this kit
What this kit adds to the basic list.
- An emergency supplies kit kept in your carOur pick: Everlit car kit ↗Compare car emergency kits →Read the guide →
- A fully charged cell phone and a car charger
- Extra warm clothing, hats, mittens and socks, and rain gear2 needed
- Windshield scraper and brush, and a shovel
- Sand or cat litter for traction
- Jumper cables
- Flares or a reflective triangle
- A brightly colored cloth or flag to signal for help
- Tow rope or chains
- Road maps and a compass, so you do not depend on a phone battery
- Plastic bags for sanitation
- Good winter tires with enough tread, or any chains or studs required in your local areaOur pick: SCC Super Z6 ↗Compare tire chains and snow socks →
- A full gas tank, which also keeps the fuel line from freezing
Get what's left
Tick off what you already have. Our Amazon picks for the 7 gear items still on your list can go into one Amazon cart, where you see the prices and can remove anything.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. When two products are close, commission can decide which one we pick. A clearly better product always wins.
Download your plan
This list as a printable PDF, sized to your household: how much water and food to store, Ready.gov's checklist to tick off, and our pick for each line.
Sized to the household above.
Download your plan (PDF)Free, no sign-up. A QR code on it brings you back to this list.
Share this list
A reminder to check your kit
Seasonal checklists and a nudge to swap out stored water and expired food. No spam.
Want it as a plan?The 90-Day Home Plan: water, food, power and heat, stage by stage64 pages to print and tick off. Stop at whichever stage suits your home: most only need the first two.See the plan, $14.99 →Common questions
What should be in a winter car emergency kit?
Official lists include blankets, warm clothing, a flashlight, a phone charger, water, snacks, a first aid kit, a scraper, a shovel, jumper cables and sand or cat litter for traction. Check and restock it before you leave.
Should I stay in my car or walk for help in a snowstorm?
Stay in the car. The Red Cross says not to leave unless help is visible within 100 yards (91 meters), and NWS says you will become disoriented quickly in wind-driven snow and cold.
How long should I run my engine when stranded in snow?
NWS, CDC and the Red Cross all say about 10 minutes each hour. Use the heater while the engine runs, open a window slightly, and keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow.
How much water does the kit builder plan for?
One gallon per person per day, the figure CDC and Ready.gov use, for drinking and sanitation. Children, nursing mothers and people who are sick may need more, and so may anyone in a hot climate. Pets need water too: ask your vet how much.
How many days should my kit cover?
The American Red Cross suggests a 3-day supply for evacuation and a 2-week supply for home. Ready.gov's list says several days. Pick 3 days for a go-bag and 2 weeks for supplies at home. For a longer pantry, 1 or 3 months, the builder scales water and food the same way, and our food storage calculator lists the staples for up to a year.
How much food is that?
Ready.gov asks for at least a several-day supply of non-perishable food. FDA uses 2,000 calories a day as a general guide, so the builder shows that total for the adults in your home. Children's needs vary with age.