Pre-Travel Road Trip Tips (especially with little kiddos)

Driving along the coast of Lake Michigan (taken August 2026).

In the last 2.5 years we've road-tripped 8,000+ miles with our young kids. In 2026 we traveled from our home in Minnesota to Ohio taking the alternate route through the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. In 2025 we traveled to Louisiana and Texas with our 3 kids, all under 5 years of age. And just 2 months earlier we completed another 1,600+ mile family road-trip to Ohio. The year before that we had another 2,300+ mile road-trip to Pennsylvania. With family spread across the country, we're no stranger to being in the car with young kiddos. We do what we can to make our trips go as smooth as possible, and want to share what we've learned. :)

First, let's talk about car health--you're not going far without giving your car some TLC. But let's be real--maintenance can get crazy expensive--and sometimes you have to prioritize the critical items if it's an unattainable cost at the moment. We've been there. And sometimes, a major repair hits and you're only option is to sell your car and buy another one. We've also been here. Consult your trusted mechanic for what your car needs. But if you're already keeping up with your car's maintenance, such as routine oil changes or new brakes when the old ones wear out, you should be good to go on this front! 

But there's other less expensive things you can do to get your car more road-worthy, like check your spare tire in/under our car (that we all forget about until we need it most) to see if it's still holding air.

Getting your car road-worthy:

• Check ALL your tires (besides the spare)
• Make sure your car has the jack, crank bar, and lug-nut wrench onboard--and that they still work!
• Refill your front and rear window washer fluid reservoir
• Make sure your exterior light bulbs are working

Ok, so your car is good to go, but are YOU? I'm talking being stocked up on those miscellaneous supplies that you need in a pinch, or commonly use while driving (No, not phones--PLEASE!).

Personal items:

If you regularly travel with others, you may want to multiply some of these items by that amount of people. Also, if you already have these items stored in your car, make sure they haven't expired or that they still work.

• Sunglasses
• Phone charging cables (so you have a phone with juice, especially in an emergency situation)
• Hand sanitizer (for when you accidentally touched something you can't identify.. eww)
• Medication (for that random headache that pops up)
• Eating utensils (for when the drive-thru forgets to give you some)
• Napkins (for when you stop for a sticky treat)
• Hair clips/ties 
• Fresh emergency water bottles
• Fresh emergency snacks
• Extra baby pacifier (you'll thank yourself)
• If you have kids, make sure their in-car activities/toys are packed and in a spot easy for you or them to reach.
• Get your music and/or podcast playlists ready
• Don't forget to grab fresh snacks and drinks for everyone!

What comes in handy:

Links show what we personally have used (not a sponsor/affiliate, just our own personal experiences):

• Regularly unloading the entire car's trash at every stop
• Spill-proof kids' water bottles (so they cannot be dumped on themselves)
• Packing a small blanket for each kid when napping or when they're cold
• Packing and placing a spare pair of sunglasses for each kid by their seat
• Aftermarket window shades over both 2nd row windows (for kids' nap-times and when sunny)
• Leaving an available seat in the 2nd row when the kids need help with something (if your car is equipped with a bench seat)
• Having plenty of snack bags for passing snacks back to kids (to limit amount and keep it contained in their lap). If you plan ahead, you can pre-portion out snacks at home so you can just hand them a bag without having to get your hands dirty in the car.
• Small, extendable fishing net to pass back snacks or collect trash from kids in the back. We have not tested this yet, but saw it online as a hack, and can only imagine it being SO helpful vs. crawling back to the 3rd row to hand out snacks.
• Finding rest stops with playgrounds or parks not far off the interstate (for the kids to get their wiggles out)
• Tumbler bowl attachment (for keeping snacks contained). What we originally used is no longer available, but this one looks to be identical.
• Having convex mirrors so I never had to look over my shoulder to merge and can keep my peripheral vision on the road ahead
• Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto adapter (one less cable to tangle or make a mess of the console)
• Portable battery jumper/tire compressor machine
• Jumper cables (in case the machine isn't working)
• Lumbar pillow
• Having an organized console bin
• Using cubical-shaped cooler to sit on a low, flat console (if your car has this) for easy access to food AND an armrest.
  
• Placing cooler/food bag on 2nd row floor within easy reach around passenger seat.
• Giving the kids a small container to keep their toys and activities from falling out of reach when the car takes a turn or sharply slows down. We have not tested this yet, but imagine it more effective than stuff the door pockets/cupholders or laying on the seat next to each kid.
• Getting your kids these LCD drawing tablets for an in car activity. We found it to be the MVP toy of the whole trip. Though technically a "screen", this is how we also did not let the kids have actual screens on the entire trip. Our then 5 year old son mostly used it, but our then 3 year old daughter also enjoyed scribbling on it. We did use a different brand from Walmart that didn't have a string attached to the pencil, and multiple times it would get lost or fall out their lap. A string to the pencil is a MUST. 
• Having a single, dedicated trash can up front vs. multiple cup holders throughout the car is helpful, but not critical.
• For potty training kiddos, putting something beneath them on their car-seat cushion may prove helpful in case of any potential bodily accidents. It's technically not recommended for car-seat safety, so do this at your own risk.
• Having multiple, large umbrellas to cover your family when running from car to rest stop/gas station in pouring rain
• Packing certain hotel overnight-essentials in their own bags to eliminate unnecessary car unloading and leaving more space in the hotel room

Car features that should make road-tripping easier:

• Apple CarPlay/Android Auto (for using Google Maps Navigation and kids music/podcasts + adult music/podcasts)
• Adaptive cruise control (a relief in heavy traffic and reduces fatigue)
• Lane centering (keeps your car centered in your lane and reduces fatigue)
• Automatic-emergency braking (gives you peace of mind should you be looking away from the road at the wrong time)
• Blind-spot monitoring (giving you an added peace of mind when you change lanes)
• Rain-sensing wipers (so you don't have to constantly adjust to quickly changing rain intensity)
• Roof rack (for cargo carrier holding non-essentials leaving more space in the car)
• Easier access to the 3rd row (for 3rd row passengers to climb in and out + more access for adults to help kids buckle)
• Running boards (for kids to climb up into the car more quickly on their own)
• Sliding 2nd-row doors, especially power-sliding (makes loading kids much easier when parked next to anything, and can have them climb in via remotely opened doors before you get there)
• Front and rear separate audio (for adults to listen to one thing up front while kids listen to something different in the back)
• Ceiling-mounted HVAC vents (to keep kids in bulky, rear-facing car-seats cool)
• Extra cargo space (so you can spread out cargo vs. piling high and blocking rear view, and have easier access to it)
• Slide-able 2nd-row seats to ensure any items (such as cooler/food bag) fit on 2nd row floor.
• Integrated window shades (to block sun for kids' naps, but quickly retract for them to site-see)
• Heated side mirrors (for evaporating light rain while driving)
• Heated seats (besides getting you comfortable, it can help with back pain)
• Car seat tilt (allows you to climb into/access 3rd row much easier from the 2nd row, depending on child/installed car seat restrictions)
• 2nd row 40/20/40 bench seat (allows alternative to climb into/access 3rd row, or buried trunk items)
• Rear glass hatch (the trunk door's ability to open/slide down just the glass for easy access to items and prevent other items from falling out once trunk is opened)

Now, before you go get yourself a different car before your upcoming trip that has some of these handy-dandy features, put on the brakes. You'll want to take your time and make sure it fits every other aspect of your life besides road-tripping first. What do I mean? Besides, traveling with your family, what else will this new car need to do? I mean, you'll want to make sure it can handle all your hobbies, activities, hauling or towing duty, etc. AND haul you and your family on a road-trip. But we've got just the thing to help you with that--The Car Search Companion. Get 10% off now by using the code "CSC10". Check it out!

Where we we? Oh yes.

Peace of mind:

 

At the end of the day, being able to get to your destination, and safely, is what counts. What has given us peace of mind when we travel has been:

• Having a portable air-compressor and battery jump starter in our trunk
• Having an AWD (All-Wheel-Drive) equipped vehicle
• Having good tread depth on our tires in torrential rains

If this all feels like a lot, we get it. We did not remember or do everything on our last trip, but made this list from what we've learned on all of our road-trips combined. So do what you can, and don't stress it. :)

Regardless, checking off all these items will make your trip more enjoyable--from having the stuff you need/want within reach to not having mechanical issues and being stranded on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere. 

Want this as a FREE printable to check off each To-Do item? Get The Road Trip Checklist sent to your inbox!

What else is our list missing? What tips do you have or car features you recommend that make your road-trips easier? Comment below!

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