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We love road trips! With a family of 7, it’s hard and expensive to travel any other way. Flying has become pretty much impossible for us because of the cost, so instead, we bought a BIG BLUE van and became road trippers! (You can see a pic of BIG BLUE here. A few years ago we took a road trip from Houston all the way to Niagara Falls, with several awesome stops along the way! That was definitely something!
I have found that planning and packing the right things makes for a much better road trip. So I came up with a list of essentials for every road trip. These are things we always take along, no matter what the destination.
Road Trip Cleaning and Safety
You’ll want to make sure and be prepared for any yucky accidents during your road trip, especially when you’re traveling with kids! Here’s some things that will help keep your trip “clean and safe”.
KleenexWet Wipes
keep things clean on the road
So this is an essential item for any car ride, not just road trips! I always keep a pack of wipes in my car. I recently discovered these bags with individually wrapped wipes and love them. Keeps the unused wipes fresh!
HeftyTrash Bags
keep your trash contained
Road trips always include stopping at gas stations for snacks and goodies. That produces trash. You’ll need trash bags for that! You can even use grocery bags. My Tip: fill up a bag and throw it out at your next rest stop to keep your car clean.
EveryoneHand Sanitizer Spray
keep those hands nice and clean and ready for snacks
This is a MUST. A couple of bottles of hand sanitizer in the car to make sure everyone’s hands are clean before digging into all those snacks! I love the spray because it’s less messy! Trader Joe’s has one I love as well.
Johnson & JohnsonFirst Aid Kit
safety first
A First Aid Kit is an essential item you don’t want to go without. You can buy one that comes already packed with everything like the one in the picture or you can get a case like this cutie and make it yourself.
Always PreparedRoadside Emergency Kit
always be prepared on the road
When we bought Big Blue, we bought a car emergency kit like this one. It can take you out of a bind, and it takes up no space in your car. It easily fits in your trunk.
KleenexTissues
a must-have on any car ride
We always need tissues or napkins when we travel. You know, because kids! I love that these are compact and fit in your car. You can also pack some napkins in a ziplock if you don’t want to buy tissues.
Road Trip Tech and Entertainment
In this day and age, we all have some electronics we always carry with us. These items can help us get from place to place and keep us entertained on road trips. Here’s what you shouldn’t forget!
TIKALONGPhone Charger
keep all your electronics charged on the way
Since we have a large van, I bought several charging cords and they always remain in the car so everyone can keep their things charged. Make sure the cords are long enough to reach the back seat if you don’t have connectors in the back.
DBPOWERPortable DVD Player
keep them entertained
If you have a van, then it may be equipped with a DVD player. In that case, don’t forget the movies! If you don’t have one, there are many inexpensive options that are so worth the hours of entertainment that can provide peace and quiet!
GamieCar Games
electronic free entertainment
Entertainment is key when you have kids on board. These car edition games are must-haves to keep everyone happy and occupied. If you allow your kids to play on electronics though, then the Nintendo Switch is a perfect travel companion as it doesn’t need wifi.
AmazonMusic
good music the entire way there
If you’re on a road trip, there will definitely be times when radio stations don’t work anymore. Make sure you have a great playlist you can play from your phone. Amazon Prime members get access to over 2 million songs! And you can try the service for free.
andobilPhone Mount
go hands free
We got a phone holder on our last long trip and love it! It’s perfect for keeping the GPS on the phone visible and out of your hands.
kirababyEarbuds
keep the peace
Headphones or earbuds are key to keep fighting to a minimum! Can you imagine 5 different kids trying to listen to their own music at the same time? Just no! So when we have downtime everyone puts on their headphones and rests with their own choice of music!
Road Trip Comfort
Long road trips can be tough on your body. You want to make sure and be as comfortable as possible. Having these things will make it more comfortable and easier on you!
MLVOCTravel Neck Pillow
get some good rest on the way
Taking naps on a road trip is a must! As long as you’re not the one driving! A good neck pillow is great to have to make those naps enjoyable. You don’t want to wake up with a stiff neck.
BlueHillsTravel Blanket
keep warm and cozy in a cool car
My kids love having their own blankets on road trips. To avoid big bulky items, we have these travel blankets that fold nicely into a pouch. Everyone stays nice and cozy while the car is cool.
eBagsCompact Travel Backpack
an amazing carry all bag
When we go on a road trip, I make everyone in the family pack one small bag with one change of clothes, pjs, and bathroom toiletries. If we’re going somewhere warm we also add a bathing suit, or a light jacket if it will be chilly. Having a small bag means not having to take out your entire suitcase when you stop for a night in a hotel before reaching your final destination. This bag in the picture is amazing! I love mine.
eBags.comPacking Cubes
these cubes will take your packing to a whole new level
I can’t say enough about these packing cubes. We use them when we go on road trips and any other time we travel. They’re awesome for cruises too! Each member of my family has a different color set. They make unpacking so easy when we get to our destination. You simply remove the cubes from your suitcase and that’s it. It keeps our hotel rooms cleaner and in order. The cubes are perfect for organizing your clothing by either like items or outfits.
Arctic ZoneHardbody Cooler
keep your snacks and drinks cool
A cooler is a must to hold all your drinks and snacks! Road trips are usually long and everyone is always hungry! We have a soft-sided cooler like this one that we love and we always take it with us on road trips! Can’t beat the price either!
eBags.comPack It Flat Toiletry Bag
the most compact toiletry bag around
These toiletry bags are amazing. They come in the same colors as the cubes so we all have our own color. So much fits in them and they pack nice and flat taking up little space in your day bag. Make sure to get travel size toiletries to make packing lighter!
That’s it for my favorite must-haves for road trips. I hope you found this list helpful and are able to get some great gear for your next road trip.
Do you have an essential road trip item that I didn’t mention? Tell me about it in the comments.
Happy Road Tripping!