Before we go on a trip, I like to tell my kids where we’re going and get them excited about what we’re going to experience. They get especially roused up when they hear about all of the experiences they’ll be able to have.
7 ESSENTIALS FOR YOUR FAMILY ROAD TRIP
1. entertainment
Long car rides and road trips can be tough on kids. It is fun and interesting for the first five minutes. Then, they start to get bored.
- iPad
- DVD player and DVDs
- hand-held gaming devices
- music
- headphones
- chargers and/or backup batteries
- new items purchased from the dollar store just for the trip, including: pinwheels, peg games, books, small action figures, mini puzzles, coloring pads. If you’ll be traveling at night, glow sticks or glow-in-the-dark toys.
2. clean up supplies
Someone is bound to spill a drink, drop some crumbs, or have some other liquid accident that will need to be cleaned up. Take these supplies with you and it will reduce your anxiety when the inevitable happens.
- trash basket
- wipes
- napkins
- tissues
3. comfort
Having some of the comforts of home makes traveling easier for your kids. Having something to snuggle and get comfortable while in the car. Also, if you turn on the air conditioning or have a cold-natured child, this will help keep the peace when everyone else is hot.
- lovey
- pillow
- neck pillow
- blanket
- sunshade
- jacket
- socks
4. first aid kit
Having first aid supplies on hand will prevent you having to go to a convenience store or schlep everyone inside a store for boo boos or minor pain.
- items to handle minor injuries, tackle common cold symptoms, and treat allergies
- bandages and antibacterial ointment; small plastic bags for trash; a roll of paper towels; medicine for anyone prone to motion sickness; and plenty of wipes for cleaning up spilled milkshakes or rogue ketchup splatters.
- Ready-to-go kits
5. activities
With kids being used to having technology at their fingertips to stay in touch with friends, play games, and watch videos, it’s a hard habit to break. Here are some items that are a mix of high tech and no tech:
- books
- audiobooks
- travel-friendly games like:
- magnetic checkers
- cards
- activity books
- coloring books & crayons
- printable road trip scavenger hunts or bingo
- license plate checklists
- I Spy templates
- maps
- mazes
- word searches
- crosswords
These holiday road trip printables include a scavenger hunt, the license plate game, and a bingo activity for older kids to enjoy. Keep plenty of options on hand to cut down on boredom and keep your kids occupied.
6. roadside assistance kit
- jumper cables or a jump starter, spare fluids for your car, a spare tire, road flares, and a flashlight with extra batteries, reflective triangles, a fleece blanket, bottled water, and a few protein bars.
- it would also be a good idea to have change for tolls or parking meters
- pack in a handheld two-way radio to call for emergencies. Read more about CB radios here.
7. quick and nutritious snacks
Purchase snack size packages or to save money buy in bulk and divide portions into snack size zip bags.
Pack an insulated tote bag that contains the following:
- pretzels
- Cheez-its
- Craisins
- dried fruit
- apple sauce
- fruit cups
- granola bars
- crackers
- carrots
- apples
- Cuties (clementines)
- grapes
- Lunchables (crackers, cheese, deli meat)
- yogurt tubes or drinkable yogurt
Danimals is a quick and nutritious snack my kids love during road trips. Before one of our trips, I like to stop by Walmart to pick up snacks and Dannon® Danimals® Yogurt Smoothies Strawberry Explosion®. I have to get a 12 pack or the kids will definitely be fighting over them!
Kids will love the great taste of Danimals and parents will love the on the go convenience of their products and great nutrition. Danimals dairy products provide kids with a good source of calcium and vitamin D to help kids build strong bones and regulate muscle function.
What’s on your list of road trip essentials?
Thanks for this lists of essentials whenever there will be a family road trip. This will be a really big help for every moms out there when it comes to packing especially for their kids necessary needs like emergency medicines and foods whenever they get hungry. Thanks again for sharing this post!
Hi,
Traveling with family is great for reconnecting, especially if the destination is nature. My dearest family memories are from our journeys when I was a kid.travel
I have a close family member who is an agent and she receives all of her commissions from the airlines – not from the traveller, just as the above poster mentioned. As with any time you work with someone in ‘sales’, as your friends and families for recommendations, but using an agent should not cost you more money than booking anything yourself via the web. However, they will probably save you considerable time with the knowledge that they already have.Bangkok Sightseeing
I don’t like renting cars while traveling. Some people find it handy but I don’t. You know, I like to stick to places where I stay. And by the way, I like resorts. there you can see a live view from Tenerife, Spain. Yeah, this is my next destination.bodrum kos feribot
Oh man… I think I may be the Travel Hulk from time to time. 🙂 These are such great tips and I hereby promise to put them to good use! Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing. albania capital
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Camping with your baby can be a lot of fun, and can be a special time between you and your baby. Babies adjust easily and seem to enjoy the new sights and sounds of camping. There are many items made for a baby and for use with a baby on a camping trip. Thanks for the amazing information.turkish airlines
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I have learn’t something today, I did not know you could take a dog on the actual plane, I thought they all had to go in the cargo area. It was a real eye opener, so thanks for putting the post together.Bangkok and Pattaya Tour Package
Such a neat way to display and remember some of your favorite trips! Thanks for linking up with Merry Monday – I’m featuring your travel cooler at our upcoming party. We’d love for you to stop by and link up again!real estate Belize
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Thanks for this great article! Having travelled with a friend for nine months straight, I cannot agree more with most of what you’ve said. There were moments when we wanted to kill each other and I think our biggest issue was that we never really talked about it. We had two big fights and afterwards, things went a lot better. Talking about what annoys you really helps a lot and I can only recommend it. Especially when it comes to people who you have never travelled with before, so you don’t go into the trip with completely different expectations.
But anyway. Despite some arguments, my friends and I had a great time. I think two of the main things we were good at was splitting tasks (like researching our next destinations etc) and being quiet around each other. We rarely spent time seperately, but we could sit in the same room for hours without speaking a word. It was always that comfortable silence that you get with someone you know very well. There was no need to constantly speak and entertain each other and we were very happy doing our own stuff.travel