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We are a full-time RVing and roadschooling family. And, we’ve been on the road for most of the last three years. In that time, I’ve come up with a list of essential items to have with us on any road trip with kids.
So, I’m putting my mental checklist down in this post and sharing it with those of you who may be headed out on the road with your kiddos this summer. Taking care of the practical stuff beforehand will make the trip much more enjoyable for everyone in the car.
8 Must-Haves for Every Road Trip with Kids
1.Snacks, Snacks, and more Snacks…
As any parent will tell you, there are two things that will make your life easier whether you’re on a road trip with kids or not. And that is keeping them fed and rested. A lack of either one will ruin your day and your trip fast.
I try to organize it so that no matter what the kids or I am reaching for, everything is accessible. I do this by standing granola bars, fig newtons, or applesauce packets, on end. This way you can see everything at a glance and hopefully nobody has to dig through a bin or cooler to find anything.
Also, water bottles are a must for us. I know it’s not the most ec0-friendly option. But, It’s just not convenient to fill water bottles on the road. And, buying water from drive-thrus or gas stations is not a frugal option. So, we bring a pack of water bottles with us and always keep a cooler stocked with them next to the snacks.
2. Baby wipes
After all that munching, you’ll need something to clean those sticky snacking hands. And, baby wipes are just so easy to use. They are a major necessity for us when we’re on the road.
I have been so thankful for these more times than I can count. Because, when you don’t have them you’re stuck trying to pour just a little water from a bottle onto a napkin in a moving car… And, we all know how that’s going to turn out.
3. Pillows, blankets, and stuffies
We always bring a pillow, blanket, and stuffed animal in the car for each child. It’s a little piece of home and provides comfort when they’re cranky, tired, or feeling anxious. It also encourages napping. So, enough said.
I use my kid’s pillowcases as a bag and have them put a blanket and their stuffy inside so it’s all together in one place. It’s easier to carry to the car, helps them remember where it is when they want it during the drive, and prevents them from dumping out their backpacks when they go looking for them.
4. A backpack for each kid
I let each of the kids fill a backpack with anything they want before we head out on a road trip. I do suggest a mix of toys and books, but I let them choose. Along with their choices, I put in a few specific things.
First, an extra set of clothes for each kid. I HATE having to dig in a suitcase or duffel bag because somebody spilled their drink down the front of them.
Second, I fill a pencil box with crayons, colored pencils, & pens for each of my kids. That way I don’t have to contort my body from the front seat to reach the ones they drop on the floor. They have enough that they can just use a different one until the next rest area.
By limiting their art supplies to this one case, it keeps the mess in the back seat to a minimum. I also put a coloring book, spiral notebook, and reading materials, like a book or magazine, in the pocket in the back of the front seats. That way they can color, doodle, read or write.
5. Hand sanitizer, Chapstick, Travel Lotion
If your kids are like mine, you never know what they’re going to touch when you’re on the road. Think gas station bathrooms that have run out of hand soap (shudder with me here).
Unfortunately, when my kids gotta go, they got to go. Which means, we can’t always stop at the nicest places to do our business. So, we improvise with obscene amounts of hand sanitizer.
Also, we always seem to get chapped lips and hands when we’re traveling. Washing hands a lot and using those intense hand dryers can really take its toll on our skin. And, so can using hand sanitizer.
6. Road Trip Surprises
I always like to have a few tricks up my sleeve for when the littles in the back seat start getting cranky. It distracts them just long enough to get them focusing on something besides poking their brother in the eye.
I generally use things like gum or tic-tacs as small treats to subdue the cranky car seat. But, there’s no shame in lollipops and other sordid sugary treats. But, I do try to keep those to a minimum because it generally defeats the purpose of the treat by causing sugar induced mayhem.
Treats don’t have to be food though. I usually have a few cheap dollar store toys in my purse to hand back at different points in our trip. The excitement over getting something new subdues any frustration their feeling… at least for a little while. But, sometimes that’s all you need to get to the next stop.
7. Puzzles, Coloring Pages, & Activity Books
Sudoku, crosswords, word searches, Where’s Waldo, and I Spy, are great ways to pass the time on a road trip. We also love Rubik’s cubes, maze balls, and other sensory puzzles.
Try these free Summer I Spy Coloring Pages on your next road trip!
We always have at least one Rubik’s cube in the car for our kids to puzzle over. My son is addicted. And, it can keep him busy for long stretches. But, your child doesn’t have to know how to solve a Rubik’s cube to enjoy fiddling with and turning the pieces. This 2×2 Rubik’s cube is a good size for small hands.
Your kids are occupied, happy, and stretching those brain muscles at the same time.
8. Legos
Open-ended toys are great anytime, but especially on a road trip when your child has to keep themselves occupied for long periods of time. And, one of the best tools for that is their own imaginations!
Legos are great for getting kids thinking and creating. We have tried various ways to DIY our LEGOS into a travel-friendly form over the years.
Like Altoid tins which work well and are fun to fit in pockets, but they don’t really provide space for enough bricks to really get creative on long road trips. We also have these awesome homemade LEGO boxes my dad made that have a slide in LEGO top that is fantastic at home, but a little cumbersome to hold in the car.
So, we’ve found the best car friendly option is a cheap plastic pencil box. My kiddos can get enough bricks in there to really have enough to build and then rebuild, but the case is small enough that it’s not hard to hold onto or set down safely somewhere.
Road Trip Inspiration
So, that’s my must-haves for road tripping with littles. If you’re looking for inspiration for your next road trip head over to one of these posts:
11 Free or Frugal Things to do in Georgia’s Golden Isles
Golden Gate National Recreation Area
Padre Island National Seashore
Mammoth Cave National Park
5 Free Things to do in Las Vegas with Kids
Rainy Day in Monterey Bay
https://www.pinterest.com/poolnoodlespixiedust/travel-with-kids/
