I am preparing for a big road trip with my kids. Of course, I made myself a list of things to pack to be fully prepared for our road trip so that we all stay happy in the car. I will share this complete essentials road trip with kids checklist with you here as well as a printable version. From healthy snacks to road trip games and motion sickness suggestions, this Road Trip With Kids Checklist will help you be prepared.
Road Trip Checklist For Family: Don’t Forget These Essentials
We usually take a few road trips a year. Short road trips to grandmas are pretty regular, mid-range road trips (over 4 hours) to the Smoky Mountains are annual, and long road tips (13+ hours) to Texas happen every couple of years. We love road trips because you can see the sights together as you drive and stop at any exciting places along the way. It also reminds me of when I was little and our summer driving trips where my sister and I spent countless hours in the back seat on our way to certain adventure!
We are pretty experience road trippers at this point but our next road trip will be our longest yet! I like to be prepared so that everyone has what they need and what they want to enjoy the long trip together in the car. I have shared my best road trip hacks before but I hope this road trip packing checklist helps you know exactly what to pack in order to be prepared. Many of these items are available at your local CVS store. Without further ado, here is my road trip essentials list.
Family Road Trip Checklist
Car Prep
- Check your car fluids and fill up before you go
- Spare tire and tire changing tools
- Jumper cables
- GPS or maps
- Sunglasses
- Road side assistance information if you have it
- Insurance and registration information
- First aid kit
- Flashlight (and batteries)
- Small trash bag
- Umbrella
Music
- Your favorite CDs or music provider service
- 1/8″ Auxiliary Cable (connects from your phone’s headphone jack to the car stereo’s aux input to play music from your phone- not necessary if you have a new car that has bluetooth built into the stereo)
- Audiobooks (optional- we often pick up a few at the library or a Cracker Barrel)
Electronics
- Cell phone Charger
- Cell phone
- iPad or laptop (optional- we often stop at a Redbox and pick up a movie to play on the laptop for the kids if it is a super long trip)
- Camera (to capture all the good times and scenic stops along the way)
Healthy Snacks
- Cooler filled with a selection of items to satisfy protein, sweet-tooth, and drink desires. My #CVSFoodandSnack suggestions:
- Epic All Natural Meat Bar, 100% Grass Fed, Bison, Bacon and Cranberry
- CVS Gold Emblem Abound Trail Mixes or Nuts
- BarkThins Dark Chocolate Pretzel
- Gold Emblem Abound Organic Kids Orange Mango Juice
- STOK Cold Brew Coffee
- Fresh fruit
- Water
- Gum
Health & Medicine
- Any prescriptions
- Allergy & Asthma (if applicable)
- Motion Sickness (if applicable- lavender essential oil, peppermint gum, ginger chews, or medication)
- Digestive health
- Vitamins
- Aspirin, Ibuprofen, or other headache medicine
- Sunblock (for when you get out or even for when you have the sunny side of the car for a few hours and you don’t want one are to turn red while the other is still white!)
- Feminine hygiene products (if applicable)
- Chapstick (it is nice to have the creature comforts)
- Tissues
- Contact Solution (If you wear contacts, it is good to be prepared in case something gets in your eye)
Kids Essentials
- Car seat or booster seat
- An extra change of comfortable kids clothes for young kids (in case of throw up or accidents)
- Pillows & Blanket (so they can take a nap)
- Books (unless they get car sick when they read!)
- Walkman/ ipod with headphones
- Road Trip Bingo
- Favorite stuffed animal
- Playing cards
- Travel versions of board games like chess, checkers, etc
- A tupperware container with a lid and wipes (for throw up, trash, or spills)
- Coloring book and crayons or journal and colored pencils
- Road trip game ideas (such as 20 questions)
- Mad Libs books or Invisible Ink books
Baby Essentials
- Car seat
- Diaper Bag with diapers, wipes, and changing pad
- Extra clothing
- Sippy cup (if old enough)
- Teething medicine (if applicable)
- Baby bottles (if applicable)
- Baby food or baby formula (if applicable)
- Bibs
- Baby blankets
- Pacifier
- Stroller
Here is the printable checklist pdf version of this road trip with kids checklist:
Conclusion
I hope you find this road trip packing checklist helpful. Remember, patience is key. Road trips with kids might have unpredictable moments, but they also create wonderful memories. Enjoy the journey and embrace the adventure! Have you gone on a road trip with kids before? What would you add to your road trip essentials list?
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