Road Trip Packing Tips

Welcome to this month’s Blogorail Peach Loop. Today we are exploring fun you and your family can have on a road trip and a few tips.

Packing for a road trip can seem very overwhelming.  If you’re like me, you’ll want to pack for every stop on your trip, all the “what ifs”,  snacks so you don’t have to stop as often, and things to keep everyone busy during the drive.  While all of those things are super important during your travels, I’ve got a few tips to help you leave some room in the car for your travel buddies.

Clothes

Try to pack neutral things as much as you can.  Making multiple outfits out of a handful of pieces will save lots of room in your suitcase.  Somewhere along the way you’ll run into a laundromat to do a quick load of wash if needed.

If you’re traveling somewhere with temperatures different than what you’re used to (live in Michigan and planning to visit Walt Disney World for Spring Break where it will be sunny and hot but still cold and snowy at home)?  You don’t need a different coat or outwear for every day.  Pack a couple of things and rotate as needed.

Snacks

Purchase some prepackaged items or take a little time before your trip and pre-bag some things.  When someone’s hungry while you’re on the road you’ll just have to grab a serving instead of the entire package of something to someone and it spilling everywhere or fighting over who gets to hold the box or who got more or who looked at it first…

Refill cups or water bottles from water fountains when you stop for a bathroom break to keep from having to purchase a bunch of them ahead of time.  This will not only save you money but will create less trash for you to have to find a home for.  One of our favorites is CamelBak because it’s durable and also has a straw.  Open tops lead to spills you don’t want to have to clean up, especially in the car.

Speaking of trash…make sure you pack a couple of plastic grocery bags to put trash into.  You don’t want a bunch of wrappers and used tissues blowing out of your car when you stop for gas.  Do take a second while you’re pumping gas to empty your plastic garbage bag into the trash cans provided (or if you brought enough bags, just throw out the whole bag).

Entertainment

To stay organized, put those pencil cases to use!  Each activity can have it’s own case or each person traveling with you can have a container (or a couple to keep things new and exciting).

Electronics are super popular.  Keep charging cords on hand along with portable chargers while you’re driving.  Having a power strip in your suitcase to use in the hotels will help recharge at night while you’re sleeping.

Download some new apps, music, or videos to enjoy during the trip.  Having some of the same familiar things can be comforting but a few new things can be exciting as well.  Just be sure the kiddos can’t make any in app purchases during your adventure or you’ll come home to a big bill on your iTunes account.

Lots of schools have summer reading programs or assignments to do over breaks.  Make sure you know the requirements and let the kids get some of the reading done while you’re in the car if they’re able to read while riding along.  Little kiddos can work on dry erase books to practice shapes or letters if they want to work on “homework” like their older siblings.  (Tip: super glue a pom pom to the end of the dry erase marker to have a build in eraser so you don’t have to keep track of a tissue or something else to wipe the pages clean.)

Medicine

Motion sickness isn’t any fun.  Be sure to have something on hand even if you’ve never had a problem with motion sickness in the past.  You never know when it will hit and it will make your trip miserable until you get some relief.

A small first aid kit with some bandages and alcohol wipes will come in handy for scrapes or blisters too.  Keeping some pain relief medication and allergy medication is helpful to have easily accessible during your trip too.

Pets

When you’re traveling with your favorite furry friend, don’t forget to have things for them as well.  A small bowl for food and water when you stop for a potty break are handy.

If space permits, consider taking their kennel along.  They may be more comfortable riding in the car in it as well as having their “safe place” while you’re staying somewhere else.

 

Most importantly just have fun!!  You’ll need a little bit of a plan to make the most of your available space but be flexible to other options as you begin your travels.  Being comfortable and content is much more important than sticking to the packing plan.

Have you got any trips you can share for packing for a road trip?  Leave a comment to share.

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For more family road trip ideas,
check out the other great posts from the Blogorail!

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Here is the map of our Blogorail Peach | Family Adventure | Road Tripsl

• 1st Stop – Always Moving Mommy | Road Trip Packing Tips
• 2nd Stop – Running on Disney | Family Adventures on Route 66
• 3rd Stop – Adventures in Familyhood | Kids Road Trip Playlist (that won’t drive parents nuts)
• 4th Stop – Love Our Crazy Life | The Essential Kid’s Road Trip Kit
• 5th Stop – The Delightful Life | 13 Road Trip Games the Whole Family Can Enjoy