Road Trip Packing List

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Ready to hit the highway? Be sure that you’ve packed the basics for kid comfort with this road trip packing list.

kids packed in car road trip

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While school may be back in session, you don’t need to kiss travel goodbye. Plan for weekend road trips! By strategically planning a few fun getaways during the school year, you can get some precious R&R, time together as a family, and an excuse not to go to another PTA function or soccer team birthday party!

When our older kids were little we did a few airplane trips and, of course, we flew to London, but the most of our traveling over the years has been done on the road. We load up the kids, their clothes, and the kitchen sink, and head out on the highway.

It’s a great way to disconnect from the every day and reconnect as a family.

Our car rides have ranged from 2 to 10 hours in a car. We have a nine seater SUV, so we’ve got space.

I basically pack to have some basic comforts of home with us on the road. When there were babies, this meant strollers, booster seats, and pack and play. Today we can travel a bit lighter, but I still like to be prepared.

Activity Bags for Families (2)

Pack a car sick kit.

After a few too many times of delaying or canceling an excursion due to carsickness, I’ve learned to keep an emergency kit in the back of the car. Readers had some great suggestions (that you should read), so I’m adding ziploc bags to my kit. Being prepared for upset tummies doesn’t take much, but it’s totally worth it!

Bring a family playlist.

The other day our regular CD was missing so I popped in an old one that was in the car. Turns out it was a walk down memory lane! This CD was one that I had burned eight years ago when FishBoy14 was really into Davy Crockett and Roy Rogers. The CD reflected those interests of his. It was so fun to listen to — and made our car ride so much more enjoyable.

Pack snacks (and a picnic kit).

Since we bought our new-to-us vehicle early last year, we made it a family rule not to eat or drink anything messy in the car. We’ve only broken it once — on our way back from Mammoth in our efforts to get home before the Storm of the Century hit — FishPapa conceded to eating burgers and fries in the car. Since it poured rain for four days straight after we got home, we had no opportunity to go clean out the vehicle. And did we rue the day we allowed burgers and fries in the car!

Keep a picnic bag ready to go in the back of the car so you can have an impromptu picnic when the mood strikes.

Be prepared for emergencies.

We have been stuck on the side of the road a handful of times. Thankfully, nothing has ever been serious, but the time we blew out our car’s engine in 118 degree heat taught us a very expensive lesson: to always check the fluids before you go and make sure that we have some kind of road side assistance plan — just in case.

Road Trip Packing List

This is a general road trip list that I’ve drawn on since my kids were babies. I keep a copy of it on my phone so that I always have access and don’t have to reinvent the wheel.

I recommend packing these things in the car even if you’re just taking a day trip. It will help you so much, in case you get stuck. It never hurts to be prepared.

  • bottled water, formula, juice boxes, plastic cups, and sippy cups or bottles
  • non-perishable snacks, such as raisins, crackers, pretzels, and fruit cups
  • extra clothes for each young child, aged birth to preschool
  • basic picnic supplies
  • first aid kit, emergency ice packs, and flashlight
  • automobile emergency supplies
  • diaper bag ready to go, feminine hygiene, travel toilet seat
  • local map, prepaid phone card and list of important phone numbers — you never know when your cell phone will die when you most need it.
  • entertainment for the kids’ duration in the car
  • camera, sunglasses, and hats
  • a cooler packed with lunch — we like to do this since it saves time and money.
  • stroller or baby carrier
  • portable booster seat with tray
  • music, audio books, or other on-road entertainment
  • AAA or other roadside assistance information
  • jumper cables, flares, and other emergency roadside equipment

I created a free printable checklist with these items so that you can be ready for your next adventure!

If you can swing it, keep these activity bags stocked and ready in your garage or basement so you don’t have to recreate the wheel each time you hit the road.

What’s on YOUR road trip packing list?

road trip packing list
What to Pack for Road Trips - Ready to hit the highway? Be sure that you've packed the basics for kid comfort with this road trip packing list.

Travel with Kids

This is part of the Travel with Kids series which includes tips, tricks, and tutorials for making all your travels fun, frugal, and family-friendly.

Originally published October 20, 2014. Updated September 5, 2016.

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4 Comments

  1. When the kids will be in the car after dark we always bring along a small blanket and travel pillow for each child. On longer road trips we always bring wet wipes. They are useful for so many things — cleaning up spills, dirty hands, and messy faces. Depending on the time of year, I insist we have a couple of umbrellas, jackets and gloves/mittens. I don’t know how many times the trip started with sunny skies and warm temps only to end the day with rain and cold. Even in summer I bring along a few sweaters. It may be in the 90s outside, but the air conditioning in the movie theater, museum, restaurant, etc. is “freezing.”

  2. When we’re doing lots of driving, we keep a snack box in the front. It has little plastic containers filled with various snacks, plus snack size ziplock bags of snacks. And you’re right, you never know when you’ll get “stuck.”