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Road Trip Essentials When Traveling With Kids

3/26/2024

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Road Trip Essentials When Traveling With Kids by exquisitEXPLORATIONS Travel Blog; Road Trip Must-Haves; Amazon Must-Haves
Road Trip Essentials When Traveling With Kids
The family road trip is a timeless adventure that promises moments of bonding, discovery, and excitement. As the tires roll over asphalt, each mile becomes a chapter in the story of shared experiences, where the journey itself holds as much significance as the destination. A long road trip can also be tiring and even irritating if the kids (and you) are restless and bored. These road trip must-haves will help beat the boredom and keep you organized.

CHECK OUT OUR LIST OF ROAD TRIP ESSENTIALS!

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Packing

Packing cubes are such a huge help in organization and space-saving inside your main luggage. Get a different color for each family member to keep everyone's clothes separate and tidy.

I love these Disney totes, available in Disney dogs, Disney cats, Alice in Wonderland, and more. Give each kid a tote filled with their snack box, games, books, an eye mask, a favorite stuffy or lovey, a travel blanket, etc. to put at their feet or between the seats.

​And if you're a family who appreciates a little humor, grab some "Are We There Yet?" t-shirts!

Eating and Drinking

One of the most important things you need for your road trip is snacks, snacks, and more snacks. Bento boxes are great for on-the-go snacks. We love our Bentgo bento boxes, as they are the perfect size for dried fruit, pretzels, cheese, crackers, and fresh veggies.

You'll also want water bottles for each family member. We love Thermos Funtainer Stainless Steel Cups. Even if your kids don't generally need lidded cups anymore, these are perfect for roads trips as they prevent spills and stay cold for a long time!

Bring a cooler to keep your food and extra drinks cold. You can even bring sandwiches to have a picnic lunch along the way! We love our Yeti cooler, but for a more economical option, you can go with the RTIC brand, which works great too! If you plan to have a picnic, don't forget to pack a picnic blanket, napkins and/or wet wipes, and utensils.

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Kids Asleep in the Car

Sleeping

Of course you want the kids to sleep at least part of the time on the road trip, whether you drive through the night or expect them to take an afternoon siesta. Help them get comfortable by having eye masks and travel blankets on hand. Vera Bradley makes some super-soft travel blankets in pretty colors, or for more neutral, basic colors, go with the Pavilia travel blanket/travel pillow.

Having Fun

Keep the boredom at bay with fun games for the whole family! From portable, no-materials-needed games like this one to card game versions of your favorite games like What Do You Meme? SHOTGUN! and Monopoly Deal to your favorite standard card games like UNO, Phase 10, and Skip-Bo, family play opportunities abound!

Speaking of games, does anyone else remember playing the License Plate Game or the game in which various animals are worth different points and the first person to 100 points wins? Just me? Loved those games!

For younger kids who might not be ready for the games above, bring along some Melissa and Doug ColorBlast or Water Wow books (perfect for toddlers) or a fun Paint by Stickers book or activity book (great for elementary kids).

Let the kids practice their writing and drawing with a travel journal or a writing / drawing tablet.
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I am a big fan of reading, so my idea of a proper road trip includes settling in with a good book. Here's one that perfect for the adults and one that's great for kids!

Word searches and crossword puzzles are classic road trip activities. Here is one for kids, but bring one for the adults as well!

To keep everything organized and accessible and to have a surface to write on or play games on, grab these back seat organizer trays.

Expecting the Unexpected

Other must-haves include hanging trash bags for all the snack wrappers and window shades to block some of the sun and heat. Don't forget to include Dramamine for those who experience motion sickness / car sickness, antibacterial wipes, tissues, sunglasses, and toiletries.

No road trip would be complete without spills. Be prepared with waterproof bags for wet and soiled clothes and an instant stain remover.

And of course, make sure you have a first aid kit, spare tire, and jumper cables. Bring your car chargers / USB cables and make sure you download your route to Google maps before you leave, just in case you run through dead zones.

Most importantly of all, pack your patience. Remember that kids packed into a confined space for a long drive may get antsy and frustrated with one another. Plan frequent rest stops for everyone to stretch their legs and use the restroom. Sing songs, listen to audiobooks, and if all else fails, pull out the tablet or cell phone games.


Packed into the car like pieces of a puzzle, laughter fills the air, accompanied by the hum of the engine and the promise of the unknown that lies ahead. Whether tracing scenic routes through rugged landscapes or cruising along highways dotted with quaint towns, the road trip is a canvas upon which memories are painted, creating a tapestry of tales to be cherished for years to come.

I hope this list of family road trip essentials has given you some ideas and helped you plan. Where will your next family road trip take you?

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Scenic Road Trip Routes


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    The daughter of an English teacher, Carolyn has been an avid reader and writer from an early age.  She decided to chronicle the exquisitEXPLORATIONS journey through a travel and RV lifestyle blog, full of RV-related tips and stories of their travel adventures. As a mom and dog mom, her focus has shifted slightly to include both pet-friendly and kid-friendly places to go and things to do.


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