Are you looking for what to bring on a road trip with family?
I’ve been road-tripping since the day I was born and am pretty much a professional road-trip travel writer and road-trip mom! As a family of four, we’ve traveled across Canada in car and RV, exploring what this beautiful country has to offer.
I’ve put together the road trip essentials for kids so that you, as the family planner, can have the best road trip possible. I take a bit of a different approach to packing for a family road trip, and break it down into four different boxes, making packing easier and accessing what you need on the road quick and fun!
So whether you’re planning a road trip across Canada or just a long weekend getaway, I’m here to share all the things to bring on a family road trip.
Road Trip Essentials for Kids
When we head out on a road trip there are four baskets that I pull down from my closet shelf. They are the Activity Box, Prize Box, Eats & Treats Box, and Comfort Box. I keep them stored in my closet and when it’s time for a road trip, I simply restock them and put them in the car (or Ziplock versions for the airplane). This allows me to keep them stocked up throughout the year (I’ll expand on that in a bit) and we can be ready for a road trip within a few hours, which is especially perfect if you’re like me and love to head out on last-minute road trips when an opportunity comes up!
What to Bring on a Road Trip with Family
Here are the four essential boxes I don’t leave home without:
Road Trip Box #1 – The Activity Box
An activity box is made up for each child, customized to their interests, attention span, and abilities. These activities are self-supported (meaning they can do them on their own) and are things they can do while sitting in the back of a car or waiting at the airport. Some of my favourite car activities include:
- Road Trip Books – Did you know there was such a thing? Road trip books are awesome as they include games and activities designed for road trips (6 different versions of Eye Spy, puzzles & brainteasers, family collaborative games, search and find, and stickers). Some of our favourite memories from our trip to Jasper were playing games from this book, like when you saw an animal you had to make the sound of the animal instead of saying its name… all of a sudden my kids were laughing their heads off as Mom and Dad “Moo” and “Neigh” from the front seat. Have you ever tried to guess what sound an elk makes???
- Plasticine – My kids LOVE it when I bring out a small cookie sheet/hard flat surface and some plasticine… they can be creative and build all sorts of creations in the back seat (bring a ziplock bag for when they are done). I found an awesome kid’s lap desk that can be used for these creations and it doubles as a place for them to set their lunch or do other activities in the car that require a hard flat surface.
- Cereal Necklaces – Fruit Loops or Cheerios and some string make an activity you can eat. Get the big plastic needles for stringing the necklace. This is an excellent activity for little ones working on their gross motor development.
- Beading / Friendship Bracelets – The back of a car seat is a great place to hook the starting of a bracelet and get started. My daughter loves bracelet books and testing out new patterns. This is a great activity as it can progress in difficulty as the kids age and I find that tweens and teens of all genders like this!
- Window Markers – Why not let the kids go crazy on the back windows with window markers? They will clean up with a simple wipe down and the kids will love being able to express their creativity in your car!
- Disposable Cameras – One of our kid’s favourite road trip items was a disposable camera, their first experience using film. Not only did it encourage them to get off of their devices but they had to strategize when and what photos to capture, making each image even more special.
Road Trip Box #2 – The Eats & Treats Box
No one likes a hangry passenger, so having children properly fueled is an important piece for any successful adventure. Here are easy ways to fill the car with eats and treats, and a little bit of fun for the whole family:
- Fishing Box Transformed into Snack Box – One of the new trends I’ve spotted on social media is taking a tackle box and filling each of the smaller compartments with snacks, turning it into a Snackle Box, which I think is brilliant! Not only are they thin and compact, maximizing valuable road trip space, but they will encourage you to go through your pantry at home and fill in the different spots with different foods, of which variety is always a good thing!
- Snack Packs – I love to bring small plastic reusable lunch containers with multiple spots for food, not only do they provide a variety of options for the children to eat but they are small enough that they fit in a daypack in case you want to stop along your way and go on a hike. Have your children help pack these snacks and tell them that each box has to have a fruit, a veggie, a protein, and a carb… and that they can add a few treats as well!
- Individually Wrapped Items – I’m not a huge individually wrapped item but things like cheese strings, yogurt tubes, and granola bars, are perfect for a road trip. They allow for easier consumption for little hands and even easier cleanup.
- Local Produce / Fruit Stands – One of the things we love to do is stop at local fruit stands or farmers markets and stock up on local goods, many of which make for a perfect snack. Keep an eye out for things like pepperoni sticks, fresh berries and fruits, and kettle corn. It can be a neat experience visiting farmer’s markets in different communities as they are a great insight into the culture of that town, so we highly recommend stopping whenever you see one!
- H2O & Water Bottles – We always have our personal water bottles as hydration is important – even if it means more trips to the bathroom! Buying water when traveling can be expensive, so we bring our own and fill them up when we stop or have a big water jug in the back and refill as needed.
- Backup Stash – The back of our car is always full of backup food, allowing us to cut down on costs and we can quickly restock as needed.
Road Trip Box #3 – The Prize Box
This is perhaps the most FUN thing to bring on a road trip with kids and by far the game changer in parenting on a road trip (and one of my most popular pieces of advice).
The prize box is stocked full of items that the kids are dying to get their hands on, like a treasure chest of small and large play items. When we see them being super helpful (without prompting), showing extra kindness to their sibling, being patient during a longer wait or when they need a little motivation to get us through to the next stop, the prize box comes into effect.
Recently my kids saw the prize box coming down from the closet shelf and they immediately started running around shouting “We’re going on an adventure!” and went and cleaned their rooms (no joke!). The prize box has become a staple on every adventure we go on!
Suggestions for building a great road trip prize box:
- In-car Activities – Additional travel-friendly activities that the kids would enjoy… can be mini craft kits, loom bracelets, card games, books, etc.
- Goodie Bags – Here’s a little secret, I hate birthday party goodie bags! The kids get a bag full of toys and play with them for 20 minutes and then the tiny items are scattered all over my house. When they aren’t looking I put them all in a stash for my road trip prize box! The kids love seeing the toys again and I don’t mind if they only play with them for 30 minutes… that’s 30 more minutes of free entertainment for me! (this works for Christmas stocking items too).
- Outdoor Play Items – One of the road trip essentials is large gross motor items. I stock the prize box with activities they can do when we have a quick stop or at our destination. Skipping ropes, frisbees, beach balls… anything that will help burn off some energy during a pit stop!
- Small Games for Restaurants – One of the worst things about stopping for food is having to go from sitting in a car to sitting in a restaurant, so we have games and activities that the kids (and us too) will be excited about!
- Toys They Have to Have – Does your child collect Rubix cubes? Hockey cards? Pokémon cards? These items can be called upon when extra patience is needed (such as when you’re stuck in traffic), or when your child goes above and beyond to help the family (my kids now are an integral part of unloading and reloading the car!).
- Funny Toys – We like to sneak a few funny and gag gifts in the prize box… like silly string and water guns for the kids… and always keep enough for us parents too!
Road Trip Box #4 – The Comfort Box
Road trip essential – the comfort box! The comfort box is as important as the prize box, but not quite as fun! It includes essentials you may (or may not) need, but will be glad you have, including chargers, maps, cleaning items, and first aid kits. I stock mine up at the beginning of road trip season and then leave it in the car so it’s accessible for day trips and road trips. Essential comfort items include:
- Chargers for your Phone – I like to have a pocket accordion folder to keep everyone’s cords organized.
- Map(s) – You can’t always rely on your phone to have service so old-school paper maps are an important element if you’re on the road.
- First Aid Kit – I always restock this at the beginning of the year with things like band-aids, antiseptic wipes, and the other things we tend to consume. I also like to stock my kit with over-the-counter medicines that we may use. I love this little first aid kit to keep everything condensed but easily accessible.
- Wipes, Kleenex, Toilet Paper – I’m sure you know what these are for if you have children!
- Flashlight and Emergency Kit – While we hope all road trips go successfully, there’s comfort in being prepared for the unexpected and having a car emergency kit that includes a flashlight is a responsible addition to your road trip packing list.
- Sunblock – If you’re like me there’s always something you forget on a road trip, and for me it’s sunblock! I’m always having to stop and buy it at a gas station which means it’s more expensive, so don’t make this same mistake and be sure to pack it!
- Bug Spray – Another essential (especially if mosquitos love you like they love me) is bug spray. It can really ruin a night if the bugs are bad and you’re left defenseless.
- Chapstick – A comfort item like no other, I don’t go anywhere without chapstick! (make sure you get one that SPF in it).
- Nail File – This may seem silly to add, but trust me once you need it on your road trip you’ll be glad you have one!
- Hair Ties – We keep them on the center console of our truck so that we always know where to find them, and you can never have enough as I swear these things walk off at night!
What Not To Pack For A Road Trip
While this list seems long and extensive, these road trip essentials will make for a more enjoyable experience once you hit the road. However, there are a few things I recommend that you leave at home, that while they may be tempting to bring, you won’t end up using (or using for long) so its better to have less clutter and more space in your car for the things you need.
Umbrella – While nice in theory, this often takes up a lot of space. I’d swap this out for a rain jacket if you are going to a destination that may experience some liquid sunshine. That way the jacket can be used in the evening or as a wind break as well.
Hair Dryer/Straightener – If you can go without, I’d leave these bulky items at home. Opt for road trip hair, which either consists of ponytails, pigtails, or hat hair… all good choices in my opinion!
Extra Shoes – Less is MORE! Shoes are heavy and take up so much space. I normally travel with three pairs: hiking boots/trail runners, sandals, and a nice pair of flats that can be dressed up or down. If everyone in the family of four brings 3 pairs of shoes that’s 12 pairs of shoes (we also opt for a shoe bag so all the shoes go in one place).
Road Trip Prep
As I write this I am just about to head out on an 8-day Alberta road trip, so I can give you a candid breakdown of the exact steps I take to prepare for a family road trip:
- Logistics – Over the past couple of months I have been brainstorming and researching the places I want to go, adventures I want to explore, and sorting out my “must see” experiences as well as my “nice to see” adventures. I’ve made reservations for:
- Camping Stays
- Must Do Adventures
- Shuttles
- Itinerary – After this, I put together an itinerary (mostly so I can tell my husband what’s going on). This includes all of the essentials like booking reservations, check-in and check-out times, etc.
- Packing – I share a basic itinerary with the family so they know how many days and what clothing to bring. “Don’t forget to bring a warmer jacket, you never know when the weather is going to change and you’ll need it” (that’s me on repeat during the packing process!).
- Gathering – We start to gather everything we need and put it in our spare room, that way we can lay it all out and then pack it up once it’s ready. This includes all of our road trip boxes!
- Go! – Don’t forget to include the kids in the packing/loading up process. This is an important life lesson and skill which also helps them feel part of the team.
What to Pack to Get Great Photos
One of the things I used to hate about our family photos is that they never felt reflective of the energy that we had when we were visiting these iconic road trip destination, but as a photographer friend pointed out, it was the colours of our clothes that were bringing my photography down.
Now we pack bright colours (NO BLACK) and the energy from the colours combined with the amazing scenery makes for incredible photos! Steal this tip and send me photos of your big and bright adventures!
Now that we’ve armed you with all the supplies to pack to have a successful road trip, where are you heading with your family? We are always looking for new adventures, so leave a comment on where you are going!
