The Complete Essentials Road Trip With Kids Checklist

I am preparing for a big road trip with my kids. 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. You can get most of the items on this checklist at your local CVS Pharmacy and you can save money while you shop using the ExtraCare program.

Disclosure: I’m proud to be working with CVS Pharmacy to help spread the word about #BetterHealthMadeEasy and how to #FindYourHealthy. All opinions expressed are my own, and all product claims or program details shared should be verified at CVS.com or with the appropriate manufacturers.

Road Trip With Kids Checklist: 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 family trips where my sister and spent countless hours in the back seat on our 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 tips 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.

Road Trip With Kids 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
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
A change of clothes is a good idea if your kids are young (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
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 version of this road trip with kids checklist:

If you stop to stock up for your road trip at CVS, don’t forget to use your ExtraCare Card so you can earn 2% back in ExtraBucks Rewards. Learn more about ExtraCare Rewards at cvs.com/extracare/

I hope you find this road trip packing checklist helpful. Have you gone on a road trip with kids before? What would you add to your road trip essentials list?