Packing for a long road trip can be an enormous task and you never want to forget something important.
It can be really overwhelming when you start planning a vacation with a family and road trips mean you are packing a lot in with you.
I like to separate things into three main categories:
- Clothes
- Toiletries
- Entertainment
- Food
When you break it down it is easy to plan and pack in a way that will make your trip run very smoothly.
Pack clothes, entertainment and snacks for kids in a small day bag that is easy to access. Keep kids bags small so they can carry them for themselves and you can quickly find a spare set of clothes or special toys.
Pack family toiletries all together to make stops easier.
Use my packing timeline advice to help you decide what to pack ahead of time and what to grab as you run out the door.
You can read down to the bottom to find the list of things I always forget, so you don’t make the same mistake1
Road Trip Packing for Kids Planner
I love packing for my family’s trips and I have a few helpful printable worksheets that I like to use for planning.
You can find the printable packing list worksheet versions linked here and the online editable packing list versions linked here, just make a copy and fill it in.
I hope these are helpful.
If you are planning well in advance I totally recommend you check out my packing timeline to get you and the fam ready with time to spare!
Road Trip Entertainment for Kids
Every kid is different, but I think they will all reach a boredom limit on a long drive. Plan ahead with some toys tucked into your kid’s bags.
Keep a few toys set aside for the return trip so you have some new surprises for the ride.
Some of the best road trip entertainment are:
- Books
- Magnet Tiles
- Lacing Shapes
- Coloring Pages
- Stickers
- Cloth Books
- Water Activity Books
- Tablet
- Handheld Games
- Velcro Blocks
- Yarn Crafts
Depending on the ages of your children, a few of these things can keep them engaged all the way to the beach.
Road Trip Clothing for Kids
How many outfits do kids need for a road trip?
Pack one outfit per day, plus one for kids over 3 and plus 2 for kids under 3.
Now, if you are like me and you have a mud magnet, grab a few extras or plan a laundry stop.
Be sure to remember:
- Light jacket
- Hat
- Sunglasses (even in the winter)
- Extra Shoes
- Shorts
- Extra Underwear
- Socks
These things are often forgotten in my family, so this list can be helpful to keep everyone happy and comfortable on the trip.
Plan Pajamas
Don’t forget to pack appropriate pajamas for your kids.
Hotel rooms can be colder than you home and your littles may sleep better in warm PJs.
If your kids generally do not wear pajamas, you may need them for the trip for modesty. This is something I often forget for myself!
Road Trip Toiletries for Kids
When you are packing the toiletries, I recommend that the whole family has the toiletries in one brightly colored bag or packing cube.
This makes it easy to stop and grab just the one bag so that you can all brush teeth and fall into bed.
In this bag:
- Toothbrushes
- Toothpaste
- Lotion
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Body Wash or Soap
- Flossers
- Extra Hair Elastics or Barrettes
- Mouthwash/Fluoride Rinse
Pack these all together and keep extras in the car. I keep an extra set of toothbrushes, toothpaste and bar of soap in a storage container in my car. This has really saved us a few times.
We like to be spontaneous, so having this stuff at all times allows us to stay with friends or visit a new city on a whim (yes, even with 4 little kids).
Road Trip Snacks for Kids
I love to plan the snacks, I obsess about snacks. You can find my Ultimate Road Trip Snack list printable in the linked post. It is the result of a very large survey of seasoned road trippers and it will give you all the inspiration you need.
Pro Tip: When you are planning snacks for your trip, pack two bags and stow one away for the trip home.
Mess Free Snack Ideas
Choosing snacks that will keep your car clean is a great idea for a road trip.
Help your kids keep the car clean by putting a small trashcan (affiliate link) or trash bag in the back seat, and try not to pass back any trash.
While no snack is perfect, these are the best ones I have found:
- Fruit Roll-Ups
- Graham Crackers
- Lunchables
- Sandwiches
- Berries
- Lunchmeat Rolls
- Cheese and Crackers
- Marshmallows and Chocolate
- Cookies
- Pretzels and Dip
- Apple Slices
- Water Bottle
- Cold Pizza
- Applesauce Pouch
- Cucumbers and Hummus
- Cheese Sticks
Snacks to Avoid with Kids on a Road Trip
Some snacks just do not work well in the car for kids. They are too messy, too sticky or too dangerous.
Road trips are not a great time to try a lot of new foods in case of an allergic reaction or choking hazard.
These foods should be avoided in the car.
- Jello
- Pudding
- Soup
- Goldfish
- Small Hard Candies
- Grapes
- Nuts
- Lollipops
- Gum
- Open Drinks
I also really warn against styrofoam containers as they are so fun to pull into a million pieces and make an enormous mess.
I like to carry Benydril in my diy first aid kit in the car. We have family members with serious allergies and we know how scary it can be to have an allergic reaction.
Road Trip Snacks for Babies
When you are traveling with a very young baby, they should not be fed while in their carseat. Plan to stop every two hours and take your baby out of the carseat to feed and change them.
Stop the car to feed your baby formula or breastmilk. You can find great rest stops or plan to do the feeding in the front seat, but be sure to stop for baby’s meals.
I find it really helpful to use a manual breast pump when on a road trip, so I can pump breast milk while we are driving down the road. This is my favorite manual pump (affiliate link) and I have tried several brands and this one is the easiest to clean and most comfortable to use.
If your baby has started solid foods there are several good options for road trip food:
- Pouch baby food
- Puff Snacks
- Rice Rusks
- Avocado
- Apple sauce
- Yogurt
- Apples
- Banana
- Peaches
- Cucumber Slices
Do not try new foods while you are on the road and be sure to observe your baby while they are eating to be sure they are safe and comfortable.
A small portable high chair can really help you keep the car seat clean and keep baby more comfortable.
Things You Might Forget On a Road Trip with Kids
There are a few things that can ruin a trip with kids! Sunburn, hurting feet or special blankets can all ruin a family trip.
- Sunglasses
- Sunblock
- Blankets from their bed
- Extra shoes and shops
- Food in the fridge
- Sippy Cups
- Phone Chargers
- Special Toys or Lovies
- Snacks for the trip home
- Important Phone Numbers (for pet sitter or house sitter)
- Charging Cables for ALL devices
This list will be specific to each family, but every family has it.
I suggest keeping a notepad on the counter the week of the trip and each time you think of something that you want to be sure to remember, write it down.
As you pack things in the car, cross them off and check the list ONE LAST TIME before you pull out of the driveway.
