What to pack for a family road trip.

01

What lives in the car

Within the driver's reach

• Phone mount and charger
• Sunglasses
• Your own water bottle
• Gum or mints
• Cash for tolls and parking

Within the kids' reach

• Wipes and hand sanitizer
• Paper towels or napkins
• A trash bag hung on a seat back
• A change of clothes per kid
• Pull-ups or extra underwear if someone is potty training
• A small cooler with water and easy snacks (granola bars, fruit, crackers)
• A back-seat organizer with books, coloring books, activities, games and toys
• Our little portable toilet, for when we can't stop or there's no gas station nearby
• For the boys, a pee bottle. Our little girl still uses diapers but is moving to a portable potty that stays in the car. It helps on trips and also in the school pickup line when someone has to go
• A basic first-aid kit (bandages and basics)

In the trunk

• One extra outfit per kid
• A blanket or pillow per kid
• Slip-on shoes for rest stops
• Sunscreen and bug spray
• A tarp or old blanket for wet or dirty things

That way you're never digging through suitcases at a rest stop.

02

Packing by age

Baby (0–12 months)

Keep the diaper bag within reach and plan stops to feed, change and take the baby out of the car seat. The AAP suggests a break every 2 to 3 hours on day trips, and says not to breastfeed while the car is moving. A car seat is for riding, not for sleeping once you stop, so if you can't count on a safe sleep space at your destination, bring a bassinet or portable play yard. Pack two outfits in the car and one in the trunk.

Toddler (1–3)

This is where road trips are won or lost. Pack new small toys, sticker books, magnetic games, crayons with a lap desk, and a tablet with downloaded shows and headphones. Bring favorite snacks and the one comfort item they love, and pull-ups for the drive if you are potty training.

Little kids (4–7)

Give each one their own backpack with an activity kit. Let them pick a small treat at a stop. A folding travel toilet seat helps kids who are nervous about big rest-stop toilets. Add a hoodie.

Big kids (12+)

Our oldest is in charge of finding cool places to eat and fun facts about where we're going, and we give him some say in the activities. Everyone packs their own small bag: headphones, charger, a book, snacks, a sweatshirt.

03

What to leave home (you can buy it there)

• Snacks: stop at a grocery store along the way.
• Toiletries: hotel ones are fine unless your child needs a specific brand.
• Extra outfits: on a road trip, one outfit can serve two days.
• Medicines you only might need: pharmacies are everywhere. Prescriptions always come with you.

04

Our packing system

1. One bag per kid. They pack their own entertainment and comfort items.
2. A master checklist for the car. Ours lives in the notes app on my phone.
3. Pack the night before, not the morning of.
4. Fill the cooler the morning of, and load it last so it stays cold.
5. Do a car sweep before leaving: chargers, wipes, snacks, kids' activities, paper towels.

05

Medicines and motion sickness

Bring any daily medicines your kids take. If someone gets carsick, ask your pediatrician what's right for your child and when to give it; we don't recommend brands. The AAP also suggests frequent short stops, a small light snack if it's been about three hours since the last meal, and having your child look out the window instead of reading or playing games.

Our favorite stop

Getting out of Central Florida takes a long time, so we stop in Savannah, Georgia. We walk around the waterfront, eat in the area, and there's a great candy shop the kids love, so we refill snacks there. — Anahely

FAQs