12 Must-Have Family Road Trip Essentials

Travelling nowadays is getting safer with more people's higher immunity against COVID-19. However, although the airline industry has taken impressive steps to combat COVID-19 transmission, a road trip is still the safest option for family trips.

There are usually four categories you need to keep in mind on a family road trip. These include essentials for driving and car maintenance, personal care and documents, sleeping and camping, and food and drinks.

This article will walk you through things you’ll need when travelling with kids. Note that this is not a one-size-fits-all checklist. Your kids’ personal needs and preferences are your top priority. Nevertheless, consider these road trip essentials that can come in handy for your next trip with your kiddos.

Comfy Car Seats

If you’re road tripping with young kids, nothing is as important as keeping them both comfortable and safe on the road. Hence, pick the most comfortable convertible car seat you can find for their sake and yours. So, don’t let a mere car seat hurt or frustrate your kid and spoil your trip!

Snuggle Stuffs

A good snuggle can comfort your kids on the road. But if you’re too occupied to be doing that, your kids’ favourite stuffed toys, blankets, and pillows can do so on your behalf. And let’s be honest, we adults need them too. Hence, make sure to bring extra layers, especially if you’re driving through places with variable temperatures.

Backpack of Their Stuff

You’re probably aware of your kids’ possessiveness and grabby meltdown. You know how an “I had it first!” or “these are mine” notions carry serious legal weight in a kid-led court of law. So it’s best to give them a backpack of their own toys, colouring books, and gadgets.

Wet Wipes

There’ll never be enough wipes when you’re with kids. Whether for cleaning up snotty noses or eating space, keeping an extra stash or two in your car is always handy. To reduce waste and costs, opt for washable wipes.

Trunk Carryall

From corralling all last-minute add-ons and making everything accessible on the road, a trunk organiser will surely make your trip easier on your end. In addition, this tote can help you keep things organised, especially if you’re juggling toting kids outdoors and running daily errands.

Rubbish System

You don’t want to resemble your car to a wheelie bin. Take this chance to teach your kids about responsibility. Give each kid their own rubbish container. When you stop along the way, it'll be easy for them to empty it. They’ll take ownership this way and feel responsible for their stuff.

Reusable Water Bottles

Dehydration, heat stroke, and other illnesses may step in and ruin your trip. Prevent these by drinking plenty of water. Always bring a water bottle with you, preferably one for each family member and a reusable one. You’re not only saving money but also the environment.

Car Cooler

Stow a fully stocked cooler between your kids’ seats to fend off your kids’ “hangry” episodes. Throw in healthy and tasty treats, such as squeezable yoghurt, cheese sticks, and dry snacks like dried fruits, nuts, pretzels, and crackers.

Silicone Food Bags

Kids have a natural radar for fullness, so there are times when they only have a couple of bites. For this, reusable storage bags are a must-have to keep those unfinished foods and other snacks. It’s undoubtedly a smart addition to your cooler.

Gadgets

When books, toys, and car rides get boring, bring out some gadgets to let your kids kill time. A tablet loaded with tons of games can surely help you keep your sanity. If kids want to watch the same show or listen to the same music together, a headphone splitter is a solution. Make sure not to leave out the chargers too!

In-car WiFi

Streaming on a tablet in the backseat is a good pastime for kids. Apart from entertainment, having Internet access can make some things work done on the go a lot easier. If an in-car Internet subscription is a bit costly for you, you can count on portable WiFis instead.

Loose Change

As we move towards a more cashless society, loose change is an essential that is easy to miss out on. Nothing beats the convenience that paying with a card provides. But don’t! Cash is still king in other areas. You’ll eventually need them for road tolls, paying tips, parking metres, and, more importantly, for kids’ gimme-gimmes. So always keep them at the ready.

Final Thoughts

Make a list ahead of time and leave nothing to chance. But if, by any chance, you’ll forget something (because you’re an imperfectly perfect human!), take it easy. There’ll likely be Walgreens, Target, or even local stores that sell what you lack. Still, it’s best to have everything you need already packed before hitting the road.

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