The Ultimate Guide to Family Road Trip Essentials

May 20

Written By L.

Channel your inner Clark & Ellen Griswold for some extra family fun!

There's a certain magic to a family road trip that you just can’t get from flying. Seeing the landscape change, discovering quirky roadside attractions, and sharing "remember when" moments that become treasured family stories make road trips truly special.

Growing up, our family had an annual tradition of driving from New York to Disney World. Those were the days before car TVs, cell phones, portable DVD players, E-ZPass, or navigation systems. Each year, we'd stop by AAA to pick up our Triptiks – I have no idea how much the roads changed every year, but our Dad always insisted on getting new maps. He even built a custom console to sit between the driver and passenger seats, big enough to hold a small kitchen-sized TV with a VCR underneath. We had trays of VHS tapes with everything from Disney Classics to hours of episodes of I Love Lucy.

Before Mapquest, in-car navigation, cellphones and Google Maps, our Dad tracked our trips in old-school printed spreadsheets.

Our Dad was also famously (and comically) known for his meticulous road-trip spreadsheets, designed to map and track every detail of our progress. He timed bathroom breaks, noted the best rest-stops and detailed every unexpected detours, delay or road-side find. As adults we’ve had some great laughs looking back through the years of documented journeys: Tornados, notes on how long one kid chewed gum, timed rest-stop to “hose-downs” the car-sick kid, and the celebratory marking of our record-time from NY to Florida in 16 hours and 43 minutes.

Fast forward to the present, and we’re thrilled at how much easier, more comfortable, and entertaining family road trips have become. As parents ourselves, we've had the chance to recreate those magical memories with our own little ones. We’ve taken multiple long-haul drives from New York to Hilton Head Island, SC as well as Vermont, upstate New York and Maine. We’re excited to share our top essentials for making your next family road trip an unforgettable adventure.

Ignore the awkward faces in the front and zoom in on the happy faces in the back.

1. Comfort

Ensuring everyone is comfortable and can easily rest or have access to entertainment is crucial for a successful road trip. Our family has a 7-seater SUV with captain seats in the middle. With only 2 kids, our car affords us a ton of extra space. We’ve gotten so good at packing, we don’t need much trunk space and are actually able to set our car up for EXTRA extra space — we fold down the middle seats and set the kids up all the way in the back. Extra leg room for them + quieter for Mom & Dad upfront = everybody wins.

Regardless of the size car you’re traveling in, there are easy ways to make your ride more comfortable.

Road trips feel faster and easier when the kids can sleep. Head rests, eye masks, and blankets keep them comfy and quiet while you put as many miles as possible behind you.

Upgrade your seat comfort: Make sure everyone’s seat is comfortable and they’re set up for easy-sleeping without discomfort. For the grownups and big-kids, car-seat cushions and neck pillows are a great way to add a little extra luxury to your ride. For the kids, we invested in comfy, light-weight, easy-to-stow lap-trays that make it easier to eat and play. Our kids LOVE these - they’ve been a staple on every ride longer than a couple of hours.
Rest Easy: Sleeping can actually be surprisingly uncomfortable for little kids in car-seats. Their legs can dangle without a comfortable place to rest. It’s also hard for them to use an extra pillow and their little heads can flop forward making it hard (and painful) to get a good rest. Make sure you have a way for taller kids to rest their legs. We discovered these amazing little straps that attach easily around the top of car-seats and gently keep little ones’ heads propped while they sleep.
Noise-Canceling Headphones and Eye Masks: For the second driver, noise-canceling headphones and eye masks can ensure they get quality rest. Our daughter discovered this level of comfort and now requests her own set for the back seat, making napping during the drive more enjoyable.
Blankets and Pillows: Bring along blankets and small pillows for naps and comfort during night drives. We recommend fleece blankets which are super warm & comfy without being overly bulky. They’re easier to stow when not in use and throw in the wash after a long drive.
Trash Bags and Wet Wipes: Keeping the car clean is crucial. Have a few trash bags handy for wrappers and other garbage. Wet wipes are perfect for quick clean-ups of sticky hands and faces. Consider eco-friendly options for an environmentally conscious trip.

2. Organization

Staying organized is key to reducing stress and ensuring you can easily find what you need — or what the kids need! Think through every stage of the trip and what you might need — resting, entertainment, eating, rest-stops. Then keep grouped, organized, accessible and (try to) remember where you put them. You don’t want to have to pull over and start searching for something when a request comes in from the back seat!

Our kids loved this setup with a “library” in between their seats, holding books, snacks, toys tablets and easy to find charging cables.

Command Center: Designate a “command center” in the front seat area. This can include a document holder for important papers, a small cooler for easy access to drinks and snacks, and a basket or bin for frequently used items.

Car Organizers & Seat back Protectors: Invest in car organizers that hang on the back of seats or fit between seats. These can hold toys, books, snacks, and electronic devices and keeping everything within reach. Look for organizers with multiple pockets and compartments.

Rooftop Cargo Carriers: If your car is short on space, consider using a rooftop cargo carrier. This can free up space inside the car for more essential items and ensure a more comfortable ride for everyone. There are tons of options available in all styles and price ranges.

Under-Seat or Hidden Trunk Storage: Make use of under-seat storage compartments to keep items like shoes, small bags, and emergency supplies out of the way but easily accessible. Our SUV has a hidden space in the back where the trunk floor lifts up to reveal a spot perfect for hiding everyones extra shoes.

3. Entertainment

Keeping everyone entertained is essential for a peaceful and enjoyable road trip. Our family has found the key to success is having lots of options. As soon as a kid gets bored, antsy, sick of their seat-mate or car-sick, there’s something else to switch to.

Tablets and Devices: As far as we’re concerned, road-trips are a no-judgement zone for screen time. Both of our kids travel with loaded ipads. Because the kids don’t use ipads on a regular basis, having access to a fully loaded, personalized library of favorite shows & movies is a huge novelty for a road-trip. We’ve also traveled with the Nintendo switch which is great to have for family-fun in a rental home or hotel room even after you get to your destination. For the car-sick prone, be sure to invest in mounts to hold the screens. Also remember to bring chargers and portable power banks to keep devices running.

A hack we sear by: Mounted ipads can be painfully loud for the driver or riders in the front. We connect a wireless, bluetooth speaker and put it in the backseat with the kids so the sound is at perfect levels for the back and front seats.
Wireless Data Packages: Some wireless carriers offer reasonable deals on data, making it worth considering an update to your data package to include a personal hotspot. This can make it easier for kids to stream and game from the back seat without interruption.

A roadtrip dream setup for kids and parents. Extra room for them, extra quiet for the driver & navigator. Everyone wins!

Audiobooks & Podcasts: Audiobooks are great way to pass the time and keep everyone entertained, especially for those traveling with car-sick prone passengers. We were surprised to learn one of our kids struggled with car-sickness early into a long-haul drive to northern Maine. We quickly dowloaded a bunch of books for her and she spent the rest of the 10 hour drive staring out the window and enjoying a library of stories. Now we travel with a selection of books and podcasts pre-loaded to devices before we set out. There are endless options available on Audible, Libby, Spotify and Apple Music. Harry Potter is always a great choice! For the Disney fans, the grown-ups in our car loved listening to Bob Iger’s audiobook, The Ride of a Lifetime.

Games, Puzzles and Fidget Activities: Bring along travel-friendly games and puzzles. Classic games like “I Spy,” “20 Questions,” and magnetic board games can keep kids entertained for hours. Other fun options include:
- Travel bingo
- Card games like Uno or Go Fish
- Sticker or Puzzle books
- Color forms for the car windows
- Lego-sets (only do this if you have a tray table with a lip around the edge to prevent losing pieces!)

Color forms, stickers and little figure to play with are always a hit.

A variety of activities and entertainment options make it easy to keep kids from getting bored. Lap trays make it easy to pay without losing toys.

5. The Things Most People Forget

It’s easy to overlook some small yet important items that can be crucial for a smooth trip. There are also a bunch of unexpected things you may have never thought to bring but are great to have! We’ve both been proactive and learned the hard way that it’s worth having all of these things with us on a long-haul trip.

First Aid Kit: Always have a first aid kit in the car, stocked with bandages, antiseptic wipes, pain relievers, and any necessary prescription medications. Hopefully there’s never a real emergency, but it’s great to have a kit even for the littlest things like splinters, a headache or even bug bites.
Car Emergency Kit: We once had our car battery die half-way to our destination on a 7-hour trip. Thankfully, we were traveling with another family who had jumper cables. But now we travel with a kit to be able to jump the car on our own. If you’re traveling in the winter or to remote places, the list of must-haves is much longer and worth a separate post. For summer travel we also make sure we have a flashlight, a multi-tool/swiss-army knife, and (of course) a spare tire and a jack.
Map and GPS: While smartphones are amazing, having a physical map as a backup is always a good idea in case you lose signal. This is particularly important if you’re traveling to remote areas or in known coverage-void areas like the national parks. Make sure to update your GPS or map apps before hitting the road.
Change: You never know when you might need change for a toll booth, vending machine, or small purchase. Keep a small amount of change in the car for these unexpected moments.
Cleaning Essentials: You never know when there’s going to be a spill (or worse) in the car or you’ll pull over for a bathroom break and be horrified by the site. We’ve had a number of incidences over the years where I’ve thanked myself for throwing a bottle of cleaning spray, a can of lysol wipes and an extra roll of toilet paper in the car.
Handheld vacuum: If you have space in the car it’s great to travel with a small handheld vacuum. We throw our dyson in the car with the shortest attachment on. A long car ride means lots of dropped snacks, crumbs and wrappers. It’s nice to be able to give the car a quick clean-up after we reach our destination so we’re not sitting in a dirty car on the way home.

Tips for a Successful Road Trip

Preparation and timing is as essential as having all the right things packed. Set yourself up for success from the minute you set off!

If you live near or will be driving through major cities, leaving early can help you avoid rush hour traffic and get you to your destination faster.

Plan Your Route: Use apps and online tools to plan your route, identify points of interest, and find the best places to stop. Websites like Roadtrippers can help you discover hidden gems along the way.
Involve the Kids: Let your kids have a say in the trip planning. This can include choosing snacks, picking out books, or even selecting a destination or stop along the route. Letting them help plan can make the trip more exciting for them.
Stay Flexible: While planning is important, staying flexible is key to a successful road trip. Be prepared for unexpected detours or changes in plans. Embrace spontaneity and allow for impromptu adventures.
Travel During Off-Peak Times: If possible, travel during off-peak times to avoid traffic and crowded rest stops. Early mornings or late evenings can be quieter times on the road.
Stay Connected: Keep friends and family updated on your travel plans and location. This can be done through regular check-ins or using location-sharing apps.
Gas up and load the car the night before! It’s shocking to us how many people don’t do this. As far as we’re concerned, there’s nothing worse than having to make a stop before you even really get going. Keep valuables in the house until you’re ready to leave but get a much as you can ready and set in the car the night before you set off.

Ready for the road!

A family road trip can be a magical experience, filled with spontaneous adventures and cherished memories. Remember, the journey is just as important as the destination. So, pack up the car, hit the road, and create unforgettable memories with your loved ones. Happy travels!

Need some inspiration for great road-trips? Check out our recent post highlighting 5 easy and amazing road trips from the New York / New Jersey / Connecticut Area.