road trip diy hacks

24 Genius Road Trip Hacks Seen on Pinterest

 Didier Marti / Getty Images

​If you're planning a family road trip with kids, Pinterest is a fantastic place to find clever tips on how to reduce car-trip mess and stress. From repurposing a plastic cereal container as a trash can to creating more hotel beds, these road trip hacks below will help make traveling with the family a whole lot smoother. The best part? These tips are very easy on the wallet.

Use Shower Caddies for On-the-Go Meals

From a BuzzFeed roundup of simple road trip hacks, inexpensive dime-store shower caddies can come in handy when you hit the fast-food drive-through. With multiple compartments, these caddies make it really easy to store your drinks, meals, and snacks without having to worry about spillage or crumbs getting everywhere.

Use Cupcake Liners to Keep Car Cup Holders Clean

So smart! From  Kids Activities Blog comes an easy and oh-so-simple way to keep your car's cup holders clean and gunk-free. Place cupcake liners in the cup holders, and when they start getting overly filled with crumbs and grime, you can replace them in just a few seconds—it'll save you so much time not having to wipe your car down.

Make a DIY Car Sickness Kit

If your kid is prone to getting car sick, you need to be prepared for the occasional mess.  Cul-de-sac Cool shows you how to create a DIY ready-to-go car sickness kit containing everything you'll need when the "uh-oh"s strike. In each kit, you'll store disinfecting wipes, napkins, a drink containing electrolytes (like Gatorade), bottled water, hand sanitizer, a light snack, a motion sickness wristband, and motion sickness medication such as Dramamine. Of course, you'll also need a gallon Ziploc bag for throwing up in, plus a second plastic bag just in case, and a trash bag to store anything that's covered in vomit.

Recharge Your Phone From the Hotel Room TV

Forgot your charger? The Krazy Coupon Lady  says that some hotel room TVs have a USB port on the back; check to see if your TV has that capability before you make a last-minute trip to the store.

Use a Shoe Organizer to Corral Baby Essentials

 Just one of several good hacks on PopSugar Mom: Use a shoe organizer to keep baby care essentials handy. You could steal this idea for toddler toys, sanitizing wipes, snacks, and just about any kind of backseat flotsam and jetsam. 

Turn a Cereal Container Into a No-Spill Trash Can

Who knew? Those plastic cereal containers make for surprisingly good trash cans. They're narrow enough to squeeze into the backseat, plus the lids snap tightly into place—even if you or one of the kids accidentally knocks it over, there will be minimal-to-no spillage. Thanks again,  BuzzFeed .

Look at Your Rental Car's Fuel Gauge to Find the Gas Tank

Renting a car? Country Living  says to look at the fuel gauge to quickly determine which side of the car the gas tank is on. So, if the arrow next to the gas pump icon is pointing to the left, your gas tank will be on the left side. No more getting out of your car at the gas station and realizing you parked in the wrong spot.

Make a Travel Game From an Altoids Tin

Inventive folks find all sorts of clever uses for empty Altoids tins. Here,  Melissa's Bargains  shares a tutorial for how to make a travel-sized tic-tac-toe game that would be perfect for family car rides. All you need to make it is an Altoids tin (or other small, metallic box), glue, scissors, a ruler, button magnets, scrapbook paper, and acrylic paint. Because you'll be playing with magnetic buttons, you won't lose your game pieces, and it's small enough to fit into your purse.

Use Suction Shower Organizers to Hold Kids' Art Supplies

Do your kids love to draw and color in the car?  Moser Moments  recommends using inexpensive suction shower organizers on car windows to hold their crayons, markers, and other gear. They'll help keep the floor clear of clutter, as well as store everything in one easy-to-find spot.

Hang Bags With Carabiners

Want to keep your handbag within easy reach?  HGTV  has an inexpensive DIY solution. Use carabiners as hooks for tote bags, umbrellas, and other hangable items to keep your essentials accessible.

Catch Popsicle Drips With a Cupcake Liner

Yet another ingenious use for cupcake liners! Keep little kids stain-free and your car cleaner by using liners to catch popsicle drips on summer vacations, recommends  Mommy Shorts .

Let Your Map App Lead You Back to Your Parked Car

One of the best travel hacks we've ever heard is this one from PureWow , which solves the problem of how to find your car in an unfamiliar city. When parking, just drop a pin on your map app before you head out to dinner or for a day of sightseeing. If you need a little assistance on your way back, your GPS will lead you right back to it like a homing pigeon.

Pack Solar Lights for Evening Picnics

As noted on the  Starling Travel  blog, cheap and cheerful solar lights are a handy take-along item on a family road trip. Even when you're not camping, you can use them for dinnertime picnics and all sorts of evening outings.

Use Cookie Trays as Backseat Desks

Cookie sheets make awesome backseat desks for kids. The raised edges keep crayons from rolling off and the metallic surface is super for playing magnetic games and puzzles of all kinds. In this pin,  Cultivated Lives  shares how cookie-tray desks are great for coloring and sticker play.

Build a Makeshift Toddler Bed in Your Hotel Room

Sick of cramped hotel rooms when you're on the road?  Walking on Travels  suggests 10 different ways to create more beds in a hotel room. Among the different options, you can push chairs together to create a toddler bed, or book a room that has a sofa bed.

Keep Behavior in Check With a Visual Reminder

How did one family manage to drive 16 hours with four kids on their best behavior?  Less-than-Perfect Life of Bliss  swears by "kids clips" made with scraps of paper and some stickers. Each kid gets their own clip on Mom's visor as a reminder to be kind and nice.

"The rule was simple: as long as they were doing well, the clip stayed up. But, if anyone made a bad choice [and] decided to be ugly or whiny, their clip came down. And if the clip came down, they would miss out on the next fun thing, whether it be a pack of gum at the next gas stop, an ice cream cone, getting to choose the next movie, or having extra time on the iPad."

Create a Road Trip Countdown for Kids

This fun hack from  Suitcases & Sippy Cups  is guaranteed to stop the "are we there yets" in their tracks. Create a road trip countdown using a string and some cards listing cities or towns you'll pass on your route. Every time you hit a milestone, a card comes down, giving your kids a visual cue that shows how close you are to your final destination.

Tether a Sippy Cup to the Car Seat

Little kids just love tossing their sippy cups on the ground, and if you've repeatedly scrounged around the car floor in search of one (and what parent hasn't?), you'll appreciate the genius in this tip from MomLovesBest . A short tether tied around the cup keeps just-tossed drinks within reach. For safety, make the sippy lasso just long enough for your child to comfortably get a drink.

Roll Dice in a Transparent Container

Leave it to an elementary school teacher to come up with this smart tip. If your family likes to play board games on the road, keep the dice in a small transparent Tupperware-like container to keep them from getting lost, as recommended on  Cardigans and Curriculum .

Get a Heads-Up on Your Exit Lane

Driving in unfamiliar territory? Don't stress about whether your exit will be to the left or right. Simply look at the top of the highway signs for an early heads-up. If the exit number is pushed flush left, your off-ramp will be to the left. And vice versa.

Store a Stash of Quarters in an M&Ms Minis Tube

Turns out that an empty M&Ms Minis tube is the perfect size for a roll of quarters. And as Southern Living  points out, those coins can come in mighty handy at toll booths and rest area vending machines. 

Change Your Phone's Lock Screen

If you lose your phone while you're on the road, how could a Good Samaritan return it to you quickly?  SmarterTravel  recommends changing your phone's lock screen to an image that displays your emergency contact information, including your email address and an alternate phone number.

Let Young Artists Use the Car Window As a Canvas

If your kids love to draw, give them a set of washable window markers for drawing right on the car window (fun stencils are optional), suggests  Frugal Family Times . For clean-up, bring a package of window wipes.

Silence the 'Are We There Yet?' Chorus

If your kids keep asking how much longer until you get to your destination, it's time for this nifty trick from  Down Home Inspiration . Simply laminate a map (or pop it into a transparent binder sleeve) and trace your route using dry-erase markers. Even young school-age kids can see how far you've come and how far you've still got left.

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20 Road Trip Hacks for a Stress-free Trip

This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I (The Winding Road Tripper) earn from qualifying purchases.  Read more . 

Featured Image by  averie woodard  on  Unsplash

Road trips are supposed to be fun, but they can also be stressful. 

A lot of planning goes into road trips and there are even more things to worry about once you’re on the road. 

Luckily, we have a few road trip hacks to make your life easier while you’re traveling down the open highway (or up into the mountains). These hacks will help ensure that your trip runs smoothly and you have the time of your life. 

Create Your Own Customized Road Trip Map

A road trip map for the journey ahead will ensure that you don’t forget any essential stops along your way. You could simply print out a normal map you plotted out on Google Maps. But that doesn’t even come close to the awesomeness of a customized map.  

A custom map is much easier to make than it sounds, and there are many different tools out there that help guide you through the process. Our favorite is Google My Maps but many other road trippers use Roadtrippers to plan their road trips.

To learn how you can use Google My Maps to plan your next road trip check out: How to Plan a Road Trip Using Google Maps

Get Free Paper Road Maps and Attraction Guides

There is no need to buy a road atlas or paper road maps.

As you enter each state along the interstate, you will likely find a Welcome Center. These centers offer free paper road maps of the state.

Therefore, make Welcome Centers a stop on your route. They are great for the free road map as well as a bathroom or lunch break.

Also, if you are a AAA member , you can order free road maps through them for your upcoming travels.

The Welcome Centers or Tourism Bureaus will also likely have visitor’s guides. If you look through, you may find some interesting stops along the way.

Make Time For the Small Towns

When planning road trips, many of us focus on the big cities or tourist attractions for our things to see and do. As a result, we end up driving right past those small towns along the route.

Over the years, we’ve learned that those small towns have a lot to offer, but the allure of a big city can easily overshadow them.

Small towns offer a chance to get to know the people and learn about the culture and history of an area. Stopping in small-town restaurants, shops, and museums, will also help support some great businesses.

Our favorite small-town stops have been breweries, wineries, and distilleries. They offer a chance to sit down and chat all while learning about the area.

Stay at Hotels With Free Breakfast

If your road trip requires you to stay in hotels along your route, find hotels with complimentary breakfast. Getting a meal in before you hit the road is a great money and time saver.

Complimentary breakfast means one less meal you have to plan for and spend money on. It’s also a great way to get your morning coffee and a few snacks for the day ahead.

Pack a Picnic Kit

Whether you are packing your meals or stopping for food along your way, you never know when you will need those napkins, cutlery, or plates. 

A Picnic Kit can include the following items:

• Plastic table cloth (you’ll be happy to have this)
• Steak Knife

Pack each of these items into an accessible small bag that you can set in a convenient place, such as under the passenger seat.  This way, the picnic supplies are easy to access when needed.

If you want to have everything you’ll need and keep it organized, you can always purchase a picnic kit .

Create Small Bags of Snacks for Each Day

Breaking up snacks into individual servings will not only help keep you organized but will also prevent you from eating an entire bag of chips in one sitting. 

No one has ever felt good after eating an entire 1lb of gummy bears.

You can also place individual bags of snacks in separate larger bags labeled with each day. Having small bags of snacks for each day makes it easy to grab what you need for the day and to divvy them out to each passenger.

Bring an Electric Cooler

Having a cooler to store snacks and meals will save you money. And having food on hand will prevent those hunger melt-downs that will easily ruin the mood of a road trip.

But draining a traditional cooler and restocking the ice can be a real pain.

Thankfully, there are electric coolers that you can purchase that plug into the 12 Volt outlet in your car. They come in a variety of sizes depending on the amount of space you have available.

These electric coolers are a must-have for any road trip. We like the affordability of this Igloo Cooler .

Bring Some Cash and Change

You never know when you are going to need change or cash on your road trip.

We like to keep an envelope with a little bit of cash in our glove box. That way, we always have cash if needed.

You also never know when you are going to need change. Tolls and laundry can require change, and scrambling to find some can put a damper on any trip.

Don’t Keep Your Credit Cards and Cash In the Same Place

Keep your credit card and cash in at least two different places so that if you misplace or lose one, you have a backup stash.

If traveling in a pair, this is easy to do as you can split up the cash and cards between the two of you. If you plan to use one card, maybe keep an extra card in a third place in case of an emergency.

If you are solo, keep a stash of money on you and inside a suitcase or glove box.

Raid the Dollar Store For Cheap Kid Distractions

Want to keep those kids entertained throughout your road trip?

Then hit up your local dollar store and find a bunch of little surprises to give to the kids every few hours.

These little surprises will help keep them occupied throughout the trip and help build anticipation. 

If you plan it right, you could even have themes for each gift related to where you’ll be. Some examples are bubbles when stopping at a park for a picnic or a pail and shovel for a stop at the beach.

Download Audiobooks

Keep everyone in the car entertained and mentally occupied with audiobooks. They keep your attention better than music does and helps the time fly by.

Books like the Harry Potter series or biographies read by the author are great options for road trips.

More Road Trip Entertainment Ideas: 15 Ridiculously Fun Road Trip Games Road Trip Activities: Fun Ideas for a Long Car Ride

Download the GyPSy Guide App

Before heading out on your road trip, check to see if the GyPSy Guide App has any audio tours available for your destinations. Audio tours are available for many of the National Parks and popular road trip destinations.

We absolutely love using the GyPSy Guide App, to help us learn about the area we are driving through. It’s like having your own personal tour guide in your car.

The app plays snippets of information based on your GPS location. It also has great suggestions for the best ways to see an area.

Use Suction Cup Caddies to Hold Kids Art Supplies

Kids love to be creative on road trips.

But the backseat can get messy real fast when their crayons, markers, paint, and paper start flying everywhere.

Luckily, you can buy suction cup shower caddies that attach right to the window and hold all those art supplies in place for easy access.

Not only does this save the car from disaster, but it also helps prevent stress when the kids can’t find their favorite markers.

Use a Cookie Baking Sheet For a Lap Desk

This hack is great for both kids and adults.

Instead of buying a car tray to eat, draw, or write on, use something you already have, like a cookie baking sheet.

Create a Bucket  Pulley System to Pass Items to the Back Seat

When the kid in the third row wants a snack, but the kids in the middle seats are sleeping, you’ll be happy you installed a bucket pulley system.

All you need to create your pulley system is a small bucket, some twine or string, and two suction cups.

Just attach the suction cups to the windows on either side of your car.  Then thread the string through both of them and tie a knot.

This bucket pulley system that you can use to pass things back and forth in the car.

This hack allows you to easily pass snacks, water bottles, extra toys, maps, etc., from one row of seats to another.

Use Cheap Portable Shower Caddies as In-Car Organization

Shower caddies are great for keeping all your road trip essentials organized.

So when you go to the dollar store and buy a couple of cheap ones, it will save you many headaches.

You can use them to hold everything from trash bags to paper towels, wet wipes, and tissues. They are great for keeping trash off the floor of your car and help prevent spills.

Use a Shoe Organizer for Back Seat Storage

Shoe organizers are great for keeping anything you need in the back seat organized.

They fit on most seat-backs and hold a bunch of stuff, from toys to extra clothes or food.  

Hang them from the front seats’ headrests, and you’ll have a back seat that stays organized.

Roll Your Clothes Instead of Folding Them

Rolling your clothes helps in two ways.

One, it helps keep your clothes wrinkle-free. And, two, it saves space in your suitcase or packing cube.

To make things even better, you can also roll your outfits for the day together. Roll together pants, shirts, socks, and underwear for each day. This prevents you from having to dig around your suitcase to find each piece of clothing.

Bring Overnight Bags

If you plan to stay in multiple hotels over your trip, it is a great idea to pack a small overnight bag for each person. This cuts down on the amount of luggage you have to lug into the hotel each night.

All you need is one set of clothes and essential toiletries in a small bag.

To make things even easier, label each bag with the person’s name, or get different colors, so everyone knows where their bag is.

Bring a Foldable Wagon

A foldable wagon will make it easy to take coolers, groceries, and supplies from the car to the campsite, picnic area, or hotel during your road trip.

Schedule a Car Detailing for After Your Road Trip

Getting your car detailed after you get back from your road trip will be the best decision you can make. When you get home, you can just unpack and not worry about cleaning up.

When planning your road trip budget, make sure to include the cost of detailing your car once you return.

Doing so will turn those stressful messes into “we’ll deal with that later.”

You’ll thank me later for this one.

More Road Trip Planning Tips: Tips to Help You Save Money on Your Next Road Trip When is the Best Time to Leave for a Long Road Trip? How to Budget for a Road Trip

You Got This

With these road trip hacks, you will have a stress-free road trip.

Many of these hacks will also save you money and allow you to stay organized throughout your entire trip.

Now get out there and have the best road trip that you can!

Home › Blog › 17 Crazy Smart Must-Have Road Trip Tips and Hacks

17 Crazy Smart Must-Have Road Trip Tips and Hacks

By Christine Jerry

Published Apr 04, 2024

Traveling for the holidays or enjoying family vacation? Road trips with kids can get crazy. Use these must-have sanity-saving road trip tips!  We have found the must-have genius road trip tips to make car travel around town and long road trips with kids so much easier – and even fun!

If you’ve been a regular here at One Crazy House, I’m sure you’ve become accustomed to our lists of hacks.  Our goal with providing hacks and helpful tips is to help make it just a little easier for you.

Road Trip Tips To Make Traveling With Kids Fun

With the busiest travel days ahead of us, we figured it’s time to get prepared with a few road trip tips. As any parent who has ever ventured on a long road trip can tell you, road trips with kids can be a challenge – unless you use these tips!

1. Stay Organized with Front Doormats

Getting mud in the floor, or crumbs or all. the. things. is one of the things that both decreases the cleanliness of the vehicle, but also decreases the value! But, typical car floor mats don’t always fit or offer the coverage AND STYLE that we know you want!

Outdoor-front doormats to the rescue! They are easy to cut with a utility knife and you have custom and stylish car mats, that truly work to contain the mess.

2. Make Sections with Shower Curtain Rods

Another genius tip we have to help you make the most of your trunk space is to use bins, totes, and a tension shower curtain rod to help make “sections” in your trunk. 

This part of your car becomes usable when it’s not a pile of items bouncing around.  Put the items you need occasionally towards the back of your trunk, and keep the easy-to-access space up front for things you need to grab quickly.

3. Plan Your Road Trip Like a Prep Pro

No matter where your road trip is taking you, preparation can make it stress-free and adventurous.  I love using a planning guide and this camping planner can help guide you through the process even if you never spend one night in a tent! The $7 spent on the Camping planner  is well worth it!!  Your sanity is worth it!!

3. Get Your Car Inspected

This is SO important. Nothing can derail your road trip plan faster than an unexpected mishap. Although we don’t have control over everything, we have to do our best to take preventative measures.

Before you hit the road and pack the car, make sure to get your tires checked and your vehicle inspected. You don’t need any surprises along the way if you can avoid them. There are many tire shops that are willing to do an inspection for free, so there’s no excuse not to take this preventative measure.

If the worst happens and you DO need some car repairs, you may be able to take care of them yourself! Here are 11 easy car repairs that you can do on your own .

4. Plan for Seasonal Conditions

This is particularly true if you’re traveling in the winter! You’ll want these winter car hack tips if you have to deal with snow. If you are like me and don’t deal with winter often, these hacks are essentials!

5. Pass the Time with Post-it Notes

Write down specific times on Post-it Notes stick them on the dash just below the clock. When the clock displays each time written down, give the kids a surprise. It will give them something to look forward to at regular intervals.

6. Get Crafty to Keep Toddlers Busy

This next idea from Kids Activities Blog would be PERFECT for toddlers since they are completely obsessed with clips and zippers. Check out their tutorial for this DIY Clipping Toy. Your kids will stay busy with clip after clip…

7. Save Tons on Eating Out

Eating out along the way can be very expensive, especially if you have the whole family in tow. Thankfully, meal prep for the road doesn’t need to be hard!

A good cooler will get you a long way on your meal planning goals. Fill it with bottles of water, and healthy snack foods such as:

• hardboiled eggs
• cheese sticks
• baby carrots and/or cucumbers
• pre-packaged containers of hummus
• deli meat or shredded chicken
• juice boxes
• water bottles

Then, in a separate bin, keep food items that do not need to be chilled. I like to pre-package everything into small ziplock bags so all I need to do during the trap is pass them out to everyone. I put:

• homemade trail mix
• tortillas (these are great for a quick meal – just fill them with hummus and shredded chicken and cheese from your cooler!)
• protein bars

I try to keep our food within the car fairly healthy and lower in sugar. It only takes a few hours with hyped-up children trapped in the car to clean up my diet! 

Pssst…don’t forget the napkins and eating utensils and an extra supply of wet wipes.

8. Buy a Car Trash Can – or Two!

I seriously did not realize how life-changing a simple car trash can would be for us! This is one of my favorite road trip tips! I recommend getting 1-2 smaller trash cans that can fit plastic grocery bags as the liner or use a cereal container. Whenever you stop for gas or to eat, simply grab the bag and toss it in the trash.

9. Turn Any Mug into a Spill-Proof One

We’re somehow always running out of travel mugs – thankfully, this simple hack will let you turn any cup into a spill-proof one!

10. Stretch Your Dollar

Get better gas mileage by using your cruise control feature and making sure your tires are inflated at the optimal PSI. I know it’s tempting to get to your destination faster, but keeping a steady pace will save you from filling up more frequently.

11. Use Cupcake Liners to Keep the Cupholders Clean

This is one of my favorite car hacks of all time for cup holders. If you always end a road trip with sticky cupholders (bleh!), this is one of the road trip tips just for you! Line your cupholders with silicone cupcake liners . Once they get gross, simply take them out and wash them before putting them right back!

12. Make a DIY Car Sick Bag

Got a child (or adult!) who gets car sick? Make a car sick kit by gathering up plastic bags, Dramamine, an electrolyte drink, some saltines, and disinfectant. Keep them at the ready…just in case!

5 More Car Trip Tips to Try

• Love this idea to stock up on shower caddies for the car from Grey House Harbor . An inexpensive shower caddy with a suction cup can be placed on the car window and act as an extra holding spot for toys and snacks. Genius!
• Anyone who has road tripped with kids knows that the backseat is guaranteed to be filled with crumbs by the time you get home.  With this fun road trip hack from Lemon Lime Adventures , this problem in solved! Wrap duct tape sticky side out around your kids’ feet and let them play footsies to see who can pick up the most crumbs!
• Keep your kids unplugged and entertained in the car with a printed sheet of license plates from each state from Living Well Mom . Once they have found it on the road, they can check it off and keep searching for the rest!
• I love this idea from A Girl and a Glue Gun ! Use a tackle box to put together a portable emergency kit that can join you on all your road trip adventures.
• I love this smart solution from HGTV that uses a shower caddy to hold food and snacks.

I hope you found a few helpful ideas for your next family road trip. No matter what chaos may occur, remember you’re making memories and that’s the most important thing.

For more travel tips, make sure to check out our Traveling Tips to Make Your Next Trip a Breeze , it’s full of incredible tips and tricks you’ll definitely want.

They might not always seem fun at the time, but they will always be memorable. Happy travels!

EASY MEALS, HAPPY FAMILIES

Tired of the daily dinner dilemma? Grab our FREE Meals Made Easy Planner and say hello to quick, satisfying family meals. Plus, get our BONUS Low-Stress Lunchbox Planner FREE for a limited time!

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Seriously Brilliant Road Trip Hacks for Your Next Family Vacation

This post may contain affiliate links and ads. Read our disclosure policy here .

Before you load up the family truckster for your next family vacation, you absolutely MUST take a look at these brilliant road trip hacks.  From activities to organization to snack time, these road trip hacks will make your life on the road oh-so-much easier!  Whether your travels take you nearby or far far from home, a little pre-planning and prep will go a long way.

Best Family Road Trip Hacks

Great food road trip hacks.

1. Throw a cooler in the back of the car and fill it with juice boxes, water bottles, soda, whatever your family prefers to drink.  Use the ice machine at your hotel to fill the cooler with fresh ice every morning before you hit the road.  Stay hydrated and save money and time by not having to stop for drinks! We usually pick up a case or two of bottled water before we leave home. I always feel physically better when I keep up with water consumption when we are traveling.

2. Family favorite: packing cold cuts and fixins for sandwiches!  When we stop for lunch, we make up hoagies and sandwiches. I usually pick up a Walmart grocery order the day before we head out of town and load up on cold cuts, cheese, condiments, etc. When we travel in our camper, these items go in the fridge and/or cabinets. When we are driving without the camper, we use a big cooler with plenty of ice to carry the food.

3. Use old coffee creamer bottles to hold snacks like this example from Stockpiling Moms !  The flip-top lid makes the snacks easy to dispense and helps prevent some mess from spills.

4. Self-serve snacks: We have also had a lot of luck using these small plastic organizers to create snack boxes for the kids on road trips. You can fill them with any snacks you’d like and the kids get a variety of food in small portion sizes.

Kid Activity Road Trip Hacks!

1. Bring a hula hoop , jump rope or bubbles to give kids a quick and easy way to let off some steam!   When you give kids a chance to burn off some of that pent up energy that comes from hours in a car, everyone is much happier when it’s time to get back on the road. Utilize bathroom and gas station stops to give the kids a few minutes to move around. My kids love challenges so something like “How many jumps can you do in a row with the jump rope?” always get them moving!

2. Make a travel coloring kit like this example from Living Well Mom. Toss some crayons and a few small coloring pages into a container and you’re set.

3.   A bag of pipe cleaners will result in long periods of happy kids!   (Got a toddler?  Toss them an empty water bottle to put the pipe cleaners in over and over and over again!) See how we put together a few toddler friendly road trip activities for Landon when he was younger.  They kept him occupied for hours!

4. Collect old thank you cards and envelopes in a ziploc bag with a pen for an instant “post office” letter writing station.

5. My kids would LOVE a portable lego kit like the one that Mama Papa Bubba made!

6. Hand toddlers a deck of cards .   You won’t believe how long they can play with this one!

7.  Magnets on a metal cookie sheet or cake pan are also wonderful boredom busters!

8. Make up some Road Trip Goodie Bags .   These are great ways to reward good behavior! Check out our post for tips on what to fill them with and grab our free printable bag tags!

9. Make a printable road trip journal .  Put that printable in a binder with other free road trip printables and you will have a great activity book for the kids to work their way through as you drive.

10. Stock a dollar store treasure box full of prizes.  Let the kids earn Adventure Bucks for good behavior that they can redeem for prizes!

Best Car Organization Road Trip Hacks

1. Use silicone cupcake liners in your cup holders to keep them clean.   There’s nothing ickier than trying to clean out sticky dirty cup holders in a car.  Avoid the situation entirely simply by placing a silicone cupcake holder in each cup holder.

2.  I really love this car trunk organization idea using regular old shower caddies .   This example is from The Castro Family Happynings.

3. Turn a cereal container into a car trash can.   This example is from Better Homes and Gardens.

4.  Use suction cup shower caddies to hold snacks and art supplies like this example from Grey House Harbor .   (Just make sure to lock the windows or else you might have a big mess on your hands!)

5. These multi-device USB car chargers are absolute SANITY SAVERS in our car!   Whether we’re road tripping near or far, we always have umpteen devices that need to be charged.

6. Not an IN-car hack, but when you park, drop a pin on your phone map.   This will help you to remember in what garage or parking lot you left your car!  That’s a handy tip when you’re in an unfamiliar city.

7.  Use cheap plastic glasses cases from the dollar store to store various chargers and other cords. This is example is from our camping site, Glamper Life .

8.  Keep a claw grabber in the car.   Oh how I wish I had discovered this idea sooner!  If I only had a nickel for every time the kids dropped a blankie or pacifier or snack on the floor and no matter how I contorted my body, I could not reach it!

9. Another parking lot tip – take a picture of where you parked so you can locate your car!

10.  Keep a first aid kit in your car for any bumps and bruises that may occur.   Other great items to toss in this kit include bug spray, sunscreen, ponchos and wipes.

We made up dollar store first aid kits and mini first aid kits on the super cheap.  It’s so nice knowing that we have these supplies in the car wherever we road trip to!

What are YOUR best road trip hacks for families?  I would love to hear them!

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4 thoughts on “Seriously Brilliant Road Trip Hacks for Your Next Family Vacation”

What a brilliant ideaCan’t wait for another trip❤️ Thank you for sharing

Glad they were helpful!

My kids are all grown but when we would travel would wrap their happy meal little toys from before the trip in old wrapping paper. I would give them a new “gift” everytime they were bored with the toys they were playing with.

When we are traveling for our summer vacation, we make each of our kids(pre-teens 10,11 &12) take their lunch boxes from school. We pack light snacks, drinks and junk food of course that are all right out of dollar tree). The front pocket holds their devices and side pouch holds their headphones and chargers or visa versa. its like an all in one deal. No ones asking who took who’s charger and they can eat when they’re ready while on the road. So no random stops outside of gas stops or stretching.

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Outdoor Fact

45 Road Trip Hacks That Will Make Travelling More Fun

Road trips are a great way to make memories with the ones you love. However, they can be daunting. Trying to pile everyone in a vehicle to drive around the country is no easy task. You are going to hit detours, speed bumps, and traffic jams but in the end you will still do it again because of the gorgeous views, delicious food, and memories of a lifetime. These are a few simple ideas to make your road trip unforgettable!

1. Use a binder clip to make a car stand for your phone

You need your GPS where you can see it. This hack is perfect to keep your phone at eye level!  Here  is how you can make it!

Via:  Romanceonadime

2. Or purchase a sticky pad to keep your electronics in place

These are great to stick anything to a surface without residue, magnets, or stains. Get yours  here !

Via:  Firebox

3. A cereal container is the perfect no-spill trash can

Don’t stop every time you need to throw something away or let the trash pile up in your car. This is a great way to keep your car clean!

Via:  Freedomhonda

4. Start an adventure fund to help pay for expenses

Every little bit helps! You never know what extra expenses might pop up!

Via:  Garrettgee

     You may also like: 

• 37 Mind-Blowing RV Hacks That Will Make You A Happy Camper
• 47 Camping Hacks That Are Borderline Genius

5. Keep your furry friend happy too with some pet essentials

Your pooch will shower you in kisses if you just bring these quick and easy goods.

What you will need:

• Water dispenser
• Vaccination papers
• Treat Bag with Treats
• Bully Stick
• Versatile Toy
• Dehydrated or Canned Pumpkin (for upset tummies)
• Dog food in a Travel Bag
• Portable Food and Water Container
• Dog Shampoo and Accident Cleaner
• Dog Medical Bag

Via:  Milesandemma

6. Never panic about which side the exit is on again

Look at the placement of the top exit sign to know where to get off.

Via:  Gawkerasset

7. Turn a half-filled Nalgene bottle on its side in the freezer for ice water

Fill it up before you hit the road; you’ll have cold water all day! Get yours  here !

Via:  Amazon

8. For when you have too many beverages

You always need a back up cupholder, and you can’t go anywhere without a roll of duct tape. Make it pull double duty on your trip! A shoe would work too, if you’re desperate.

Via:  Nedhardy

9. Make a head wrap for a cute and easy road trip look

Don’t feel like doing your hair everyday on your trip? This is the perfect way to be lazy and still have cute pictures. Just throw your hair up and tie it back with the wrap! Get directions  here !

Via:  Keikolynn

10. Nap comfortable while your co-pilot takes a driving shift

This neck pillow is perfect to keep the sun out of your eyes in case you had to take the night shift driving. Buy yours  here !

Via:  Shopify.com

11. Easily split the cost among your road trip friends with Venmo

Venmo lets you easily split the cost of the trip by transferring money for free instantly!

12. Find the lowest gas prices along the way

There are many apps to help you find the lowest price of fuel including fuel finder, gas buddy, and gas guru. Use these to be as cost conscious as you can on your road trip!

13. This car cooler is perfect to house snacks and drinks

It is powered by your car and keeps plenty of snacks cool and at arms reach for your trip!

14. Bring shower caddies for easy eating

Great for kids and adults alike. You can find these for $1 at many stores.

Via:  Postris

15.  Also use caddies to organize food necessities

You can also take one to add any condiments, small snacks, even napkins and utensils you will need to eat on the road.

Via:  Theharrissisters

16. Snack are an important part of a road trip

Using a tackle box, raid the kitchen and assemble this snack kit before your next road trip.  It will turn a simple snack into entertaining fun!

Via:  Tipjunkie

17. Keep an open box of dryer sheets in your car

Even if your car started out smelling nice, by day eight you will be happy these are there.

Via:  Buzzfeed

18. If you’re parking your car when exploring a new city, drop a pin

Nothing worse than not being able to remember where you parked your car. Drop a pin in “Maps” app in your phone to locate your car easier later!

19. Take a screenshot of directions while you have a Wi-Fi connection

It will save battery life, data, and frustration if you lose service.

>> Read more:  7 Best WiFi Booster For RV Reviews <<

20. Bring a two-port USB car charger

That way you and your road trip buddy will never have to argue about who gets to charge their phone. Get yours  here !

21. Or a multi-way charger if you really like electronics

Let’s be honest you have more than two devices in the car. Be sure nothing dies on the road with this charger! Get it  here !

22. Pack an emergency kit along with your AAA card

Don’t be caught on the side of the road without a few supplies. Pack some extra (comfortable) shoes, water, flashlight, flares, and a blanket. Just in case!

Via: Blogger

23. Use the back of a TV when you run out of chargers

After a long trip everyone needs to recharge! Don’t let your phone miss out just because you forgot the adapter!

Via: Blogspot.com

>> Read more: 11 Best RV TVs For The Money <<

24. Don’t pack a million suitcases

Make it easy to grab what you need for the night. Unloading and reloading the car will get very tiring.

Via:  Travelpod

25. And if your car doesn’t already have one, invest in a trunk cover

Just because you don’t want to unpack doesn’t mean you should leave all your stuff out in the open.

Via:  Blogger

26. Bring an address book and stamps

27. Print this out and keep it in your glove box

Everyone needs to know how to change a tire. Don’t get stranded and have to call AAA when you can do it yourself. Print  this  page.

Via:  Dailyinfographic

28. Keep an emergency car kit in your trunk

Jumper cables, gloves, a tire pump, and first aid kit are great to have in case something goes wrong. Get yours  here !

29. Make some delicious snacks to make the trip a special occasion

Make these healthy and delicious Spicy Smoked Salmon Onigiri Rice Balls or Lemon Poppy Seed Larabars perfect for the road. Get those recipes and more  here !

Via:  Huffingtonpost

30. If your car doesn’t have audio hook up you can get an adapter that goes through the radio

31. Bring CDs as backup

This may seem old school, but after 10 hours in a car, you will want to  save your phone battery for directions and games of Candy Crush.

Via:  WordPress

32. Make at least one a serious sing-along throwback mixed tape

You have to hit the road with your favorite classic songs to sing along to in the car! Don’t let your kids favorite Disney sing-along songs take over the radio!

Via: Pinterest

33. Make a DIY Road Trip Journal

You absolutely need some time to write about favorite scenic spot, or your favorite wild animal spotting…or your favorite place you ran out of gas. The sky is the limit in your journal!

My favorite and most used supplies were:

• My mini stapler
• Mini scissors
• Self inking stamp
• Baggie of baby wipes (for cleaning my stamp pads)
• Polaroid camera
• Double sided tombo sticky tape (for my polaroids)
• Pens in various point sizes for interest
• Corner rounder

Via:  Vol.25

34. Remember your trips by embroidering a map with your routes

Via:  Freepeople

35. Hang a shoe organizer on the back of a seat

Keep all your must-need items in it for easy access. Books, music, maps, and snacks should all be at arms length!

36. Or Make or buy an iPad holder for the back of your seat

If books aren’t your thing, this is another option to keep the back seat entertained. This iPad holder is perfect for the back seat, put a movie on and enjoy the peaceful car trip.

Via:  Babygirlscreations

37. Make the perfect road trip bag

Who doesn’t want a bag that will hold any and everything you could need. Make one out of simple things around the house to keep all of your must have items in one place!

Get directions  here !

Via:  Whilehewasnapping

38. Keep extra small bills on hand to pay tolls

Depending on where your road trip takes you, an E-ZPass might not work in all areas. Having a lot of small bills will make it easier!

39. Find local food by bringing Roadfood, or using its website

This will save you from having to eat at any chains. Unless you are really craving a Big Mac.

Via:  Roadfood

40. Put map inside of a plastic protector and use a dry-erase market to map your route

Trying to decide where to make your stops? Mark it all out with dry erase marker on a map so you can reuse it later!

via:  Creativefamilymoments

41. Turn your cup holder into a multi-level container

You need your cup holders for more than just your drink! Keep all of your necessities at your fingertips with this! Get yours  here !

42. Be prepared to sleep in your car with this blow up bed

These are great for camping road trips or if you just need a nap in the car. Get yours  here !

Via: Amazon

>> Read more:   Best RV Mattress Short Queen – Reviews and Buying Guide  <<

43. Bring an Atlas!

Because your phone or GPS will die or not work at least once on the trip! You can get them at your local bookstore or on  Amazon .

via:  Itstactical

44. Be sure to make a road trip basket to be prepared for any situation

• Paper Towels  – spills can happen
• Toilet Paper  – just in case you need to make an emergency stop on the way
• Facial Tissue  – sniff sniff, snot snot
• Moist Wipes  – sticky hands are probable
• Odor Eliminator  – spilled ice cream, dirty shoes, stinky car – no thank you
• Facial Towelettes  – your face can get greasy and blah feeling after a long drive
• Lip Balm  – dry lips are no fun
• Dental Floss  – driving with something stuck between your teeth – ack!
• Lotion  – dry skin is no fun for anyone
• Hand Sanitizer  – great for a quick clean before digging into a yummy snack
• Lens Cloth  – if you wear glasses, make sure to pack one

Via:  Stuffedsuitcase

45. Pack your car like a pro to keep everyone comfortable

1 – Passenger Seat : this is where the main passenger keeps their stuff. Pack magazines, an ipad, and your purse in a narrow tote to keep here.

2 – Main Console : Keep electronic chargers, wet wipes, kleenex, napkins, and a first aid kit here.

3 – Garbage : Have a special fabric car trash can that loops around my seat belt latch, but you can also use a plain plastic bag in the same way.

4 – DVD Players or tablets : Have a way to amuse the kids in the back

5 – Kid Bags : This is where the kids store their personally selected items for the road trip. It could include a book or journal, or a special activity/toy.

6 – Food! : This is where you keep all the snack goodies. Easy reach for each person.

7 – Kids Fun : This is normally another bag and carries more kids activities and games. Have a blanket for each kid in this space too. If the roadtrip isn’t too long, this could be the only space you store kids activities.

8 – Luggage : Pack bags and stuff you don’t need to access while driving here. If you have hotel stops on the main road trip drive, pack one overnight bag with all of our stuff for that hotel night. Another tip is to keep some extra snacks/treats or special drinks and such back here so you can dole them out when you stop.

via:  Stuffedsuitcase

Last Updated on July 24, 2019

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Dennis Taylor

Dennis Taylor - Owner of Outdoor Fact - is a graduate of National Camping School and REI Outdoor School. He knows everything about what gear to take with you, how to plan your trip to stay safe and what to do if you get lost in the mountains. We are lucky to have Dennis with us as he is a ‘walking encyclopedia’ when it comes to the wilderness.

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7 Road Trip Hacks Every Traveler Should Know

A bumper-to-bumper guide to your next summer adventure.

There's nothing worse than setting off for a road trip and then realizing you've left something at home or discovering that your key fob battery has died while halfway to your destination. To avoid unnecessary pit stops and headaches, check this list of road trip hacks before getting behind the wheel.

Prepare your vehicle for long-distance travel.

According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), most breakdowns can be prevented by having your car serviced before your journey. Head to a mechanic at least a week in advance of your road trip to have the oil and tire pressure checked and ensure that the battery, brakes, and engine are working properly.

While a growing number of new cars come with inflation kits, most still don't have spare tires, including rental cars . If you have a run-flat or doughnut tire, remember that those are intended for short-term use until the flat tire can be fully repaired or replaced. Consider investing in a spare-tire kit, which includes a tire, jack, and lug wrench, for $150 to $300.

You should also consider bringing an extra battery for your key fob. "You'd be surprised at how many car keys die when people are on the road, leaving them locked out of their cars," says an AAA spokesperson.

Before hitting the road, pack an emergency kit that has distilled water, a battery charger, a first-aid kit, jumper cables, and flares or reflectors. Learn how to use the jumper cables (there are YouTube tutorials ) before getting on the road.

Pack strategically.

Packing and repacking your car can be time-consuming. Road trip expert Tamela Rich, the author of three books , advises loading nonessential items first, such as anything you won't need until your reach your final destination, and then putting in the items that you'll rely on throughout the drive, such as a camera or a purse. Finally, you can secure rooftop cargo with a storage box. Packasport makes a variety of sizes and can also customize a hard-shell case for your vehicle.

For multi-city road trips , pack a weekender bag that's separate from your luggage and fill it with daily essentials, such as pajamas and toiletries. "This saves you from dragging bulky luggage in and out of the car every time you check in to a hotel," says Rich.

Use apps to plan your stops.

If you're traveling on a major interstate highway, use the iExit app to get the lowdown on amenities at upcoming exits, including gas stations, grocery stores, hotels, and hospitals, as well as local attractions.

Clean bathrooms definitely make your pit stops more pleasant. For restrooms on your route that you can use without fear, check out diaroogle.com , or the Where is Public Toilet app.

Sort out your devices.

Don't have any place in your car to put your cell phone to view your maps app? Use a binder clip and a rubber band to make your own phone holder that clips onto air vents. Not enough outlets to charge devices for all passengers? Get a multi-outlet adapter, such as the Anker USB C Car Charger .

Bring cash.

Be prepared for unexpected tolls by bringing extra $1 and $5 bills for booths that don't have electronic toll collection, or in case E-ZPass or FasTrak doesn't work on your route. Also, fill old pill bottles with quarters for easy counting at tollbooths or for parking meters. The Parkmobile app , which helps make parking fee payments simpler, is available in over 400 U.S. cities.

Have essentials on hand.

Since dehydration can lead to headaches and crankiness, make sure to have a reusable glass or stainless-steel water bottle for each person in the car that can be refilled along the way. It's also a good idea to pack a bag with wet wipes, paper towels, hand sanitizer, and trash bags to deal with accidents or messes.

Even if you plan to stop for meals, pack a portable cooler with non-messy, healthy snacks such as baby carrots, apples, grapes, boiled eggs, and nuts. The protein and fiber in foods like these help stabilize blood-sugar levels and digestion, which can be thrown off during travel, Rich says.

Take frequent breaks.

Kendra Thornton, president of Royal Travel & Tours travel agency, advises breaking up long car drives by stopping every two to three hours, whether for a meal, to check out an attraction, or at a rest stop to stretch your legs. "When you take frequent breaks, the trip feels like a series of manageable drives instead of one interminable one," she says.

Don't miss out on popular culinary hot spots along your route. TVFoodMaps.com has curated a list of more than 4,000 restaurants that have been featured on popular television shows such as Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives . Roadfood.com lists hundreds of authentic, locally owned restaurants, which are usually a better option than fast-food chains. Farmers' markets are also gold mines for picking up prepared regional specialties, Rich says, such as Native American fry bread in New Mexico or barbecued pork in the Carolinas .

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Road trip hacks that’ll improve your journey

We love a good travel hack – and this time we’re setting our sights on road trips. Besides the fact that they’re a great way to relax and go on an adventure, road trips also let you discover hidden gems you may have missed otherwise (and certainly would have missed from the air).

The best road trip hacks to enjoy your journey

The point of a road trip is to enjoy the journey as much as the destination. To help, here are some of the things you should do.

1. Plan ahead

If you’d like to have a flawless road trip, you should plan ahead of your journey. First, decide the route you’d like to follow and how fast you’d like to cover the whole route with your travel companions. You should also decide whether you’ll stay in motels, hotels or even campsites. Planning ahead of your journey will allow you to have a rough idea of what to expect on your trip. Find more tips in this article on how to find the best accommodation along your route.

2. Choose a destination

While planning your road trip, you should settle on sites you’d like to see while on the road. The duration of your road trip should influence the number of sites you visit. If you plan on having a short road trip, it’s in your best interest to visit a couple of places for a relatively longer period rather than stop briefly at numerous destinations. Visiting these few places will be more fun as you’ll have more time to enjoy them.

3. Have your documentation intact

Before hitting the road running, it’s essential to ensure that you have some form of identification. If you are a domestic traveler, you should carry a copy of your driver’s license and/or state-issued identity card. If you’re a foreigner, you’ll need your passport and foreign driving license.

4. Budget adequately for your road trip

Before hitting the road, consider how much you want to spend on the trip. With a budget, you’ll be able to manage yourself accordingly throughout the trip, as you’ll easily determine the type of places you’ll affordably eat at, sleep in, and visit while on your road trip.

5. Rent a car

Once you’ve determined your budget, you should find a rental car. The car you rent should be large enough to accommodate you, all those you intend to travel with, and your luggage. It should also be capable of easily maneuvering the type of terrain you intend to drive. You should rent a car with low fuel consumption to save on gas.

Before heading out on a long road trip, it’s logical to assume that you’ll have to take your personal car to a mechanic for full maintenance services, which are ordinarily costly. By renting a car, you’ll avoid having to incur this cost. Hence, renting a car for your road trip can be economically wise.

When you search cars on KAYAK, you’re comparing options from a wide range of travel providers and car rental agencies so you can find exactly what you’re looking for. We also offer car-sharing options so you can compare prices across all car types and find the perfect wheels for your trip.

6. Learn how to change a tire

You can never really know when or where you’ll have a flat tire. Therefore, it’s better for you to learn how to change a tire ahead of time.

7. Be prepared for the weather

Upon selecting the destinations you’d like to visit and the route you’d like to follow, it’s advisable that you research the weather you’ll encounter while on your road trip.

8. Find nearby affordable stays on KAYAK

If you’d like to have a memorable road trip, factor in where you’ll sleep while on the road. Sleep and exercise are vital for the success of a road trip, as, without them, you will be mostly tired all through your journey.

When you search on KAYAK, you can see all our accommodation options in one place. From hotels to cabins to homes to RVs to campsites, you can search it all at once.

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9. Have some backup directions

Getting lost while on the road can be exhausting. To avoid such a scenario, when renting a car from your preferred car rental company, make sure it includes a working GPS. Most car rental companies usually install GPS systems in their cars upon request by their clients. More often than not, GPS systems are reliable. However, in remote areas with minimal network coverage, they sometimes are not as reliable. Therefore, you should be prepared for such a situation by having backup directions, such as an atlas or a paper map.

10. Put together a playlist

Being on the road can, at times, get boring. Without music, an audiobook, or even a podcast playing, you may doze off. To do away with boredom, load your favorite songs, audiobooks, and podcasts on your phone. You’ll probably find yourself singing along to your favorite tunes throughout your journey.

11. Adopt lightfoot driving

Lightfoot driving is a skill not many drivers have mastered. It involves applying light pressure on the gas pedal with the aim of accelerating smoothly and gradually. If you adopt lightfoot driving, you’ll enjoy better fuel efficiency, a smoother ride experience, and less wear and tear on various parts of your rental car.

12. Get a first aid kit

Accidents occur all the time. If you get involved in a major one, you should make a point of contacting the relevant authorities. However, in case you get involved in a minor accident but sustain minimal to no injuries, you can use the products in a first aid kit to relieve the discomfort. A fully fitted first aid kit is just as important as a GPS. Most car rentals usually offer first aid kits upon request. Although it might cost you a bit extra, it’s extremely crucial that you have it.

13. Have a co-driver

Driving is normally mentally and physically exhausting if done for a long period. In fact, The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that each year, about 100 drowsy-driving crashes are reported. Annually, these crashes result in roughly 800 casualties as well as 50,000 injuries. To avoid suffering this fate, before heading out on your road trip, you should agree on who your co-driver will be. Having a co-driver will help you have a smooth journey, as when you’re tired, they can simply take over the wheel and continue your journey. Once you settle on your co-driver, you should inform your car rental of their details. If the co-driver is your partner, you’ll pay no additional charge, as, at most car rentals, a renter’s spouse or domestic partner who is of age and has the necessary documents can act as co-driver without paying extra. If, however, you choose your friend or outsource a co-driver, you’ll incur an additional charge. Alternatively, if no one in your road trip group is comfortable driving, adopt frequent short rests on your route and don’t drive for more than a few hours at a time. Short rests will keep you rejuvenated throughout your journey.

14. Don’t hesitate to ask locals for directions

Even with GPS, you can still find it difficult to determine where you are. If you find yourself in such a position while on your road trip, don’t hesitate to ask for help from locals.

KAYAK has information on some of the best sites to visit while on different routes in the USA. Given that the information on our platform will help you choose destinations across the country, you may find places that inspire your route, or a detour, on your road trip.

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17 Smart Road Trip Hacks You Need to Know

Posted by Danielle Dougall | Dec 19, 2018 | Ground Transportation , Intel | 0 |

Stay sane during your travels with these easy road trip hacks. 

So you’re planning a trip along the coast . Where do you start? You can begin by making a list of places you’d like to see, finding information for campsite reservations, and a detailed list of what you want to pack. But when it comes down to making the most of your travels, there’s always room to pick the brain of frequent road trippers. We’ve done the work for you so all you have to do is kick up your feet and read up on these helpful road trip hacks.

There’s nothing worse than packing up the car and hitting the road then realizing you forgot something crucial. Avoid unnecessary pit stops. We’re here to help you prepare for the bumps in the road, detours, and fun pit stops that you just have to take. These tips and tricks will help you get through the not so fun parts of the trip – like when you run out of snacks and the kids won’t stop kicking the back of your seat.

Helpful Road Trip Hacks You Need to Know

1. get a car stand for your phone.

Okay, this sounds like one of the most simple road trip hacks but it really makes a world of difference. Hook your phone up to your car mount so your GPS is in plain sight. Not only is this convenient but it’s safer too. You won’t have to look down at your directions while you’re driving. This is the perfect way to keep your phone at eye level. It's one of the essentials .

2. Print Out Directions Just in Case Siri Goes Rogue

If you’re anything like me, you rely on your GPS to take you just about anywhere. But sometimes, Siri decides to go rogue. When you’re on the road, it’s helpful to have an extra set of directions printed out and a map of your route.

3. Double Check You Have All Your Necessary Papers and Identification

Credit: Wikimedia Commons

So this is part of the boring stuff but it still needs to be said. It is critical to make sure you have your driver’s license, insurance paperwork, and car registration with you at all times. Make an extra copy of each and keep it somewhere safe like the glove compartment in your car. In the event that you are renting a car and driving internationally, some countries require you to have an international driver’s license before operating a vehicle there. Double check whether or not the destination you have in mind requires an international driver’s license. These can take a while to apply for and get approved.

4. Have Your Car Checked Out Before Your Journey

Nothing puts a damper on a road trip like a car breakdown. According to AAA, most breakdowns can be prevented by having your car checked out before you leave for your trip. Doing simple things like changing the oil, rotating tires, and checking fluid levels can make or break your trip. It is good practice to stay up to date on your car’s maintenance checks. You should go in routinely after driving every additional 5,000 miles or so. Keep a spare tire and spare tire kit on hand and make sure you know how to change it. Having a AAA membership will help ease stress if you do need to get roadside assistance. It’s affordable too.

5. Pack an Emergency Kit

Credit: Flickr

You know the old maxim. It’s better to be overprepared than underprepared. One of the best road trip hacks is to pack an emergency kit. In it, you should store items like extra distilled water, flashlights, batteries, jumper cables, a small first aid kit, healthy snacks, and flares. You should learn how to use jumper cables before you go on the road. There are plenty of helpful tutorials on YouTube.

6. Bring Plenty of Water and Reusable Water Bottles

Pack plenty of water with you for the drive as well as some reusable glass and stainless steel water. It’s important to stay hydrated when you’re on the go. Not only will you avoid headaches but cranky passengers too.

7. Pack a Separate Overnight Bag from Your Main Bag

Do you plan on making stops in multiple cities? One of the best road trip hacks that we have learned is to pack an overnight bag that’s separate from the rest of your things. This way, when you get to your hotel, you won’t have to dig through everything you packed to find your pajamas and toiletries. This will also save you time from dragging bulky luggage in and out of the hotel every time you check in and out.

8. Keep a Bag for Messes on Hand

We all have those moments where we spill our McDonalds coffee in our car. Come prepared for a sticky situation. Road trips can be messy but these hacks will help you out. Trust us and keep some wet wipes, paper towels, and hand sanitizer on hand. When you have a spill or come across a restroom without soap, you can thank us later.

9. Bring a Good Travel Camera

Is it even a road trip if you don’t document the memories you go on? Bringing a travel camera is necessary to capture your adventures. Take pictures of your breakfast in the morning, sleepy-eyed friends, your route, and all the little things along the way. If you can’t afford a DSLR camera, there are plenty of smartphones with good cameras. Another fun idea is to use an instant camera like a Fujifilm polaroid or a disposable film camera. Having an instant camera is a great way to add to your scrapbook as you go along. Its portable size makes it handy to take along on road trips.

10. Come Prepared for Tolls

You’d be surprised at how many states have toll roads that seem to pop out of nowhere. And there’s plenty of them. Come prepared. You can register for a FasTrak online by license plate and get a transponder sent to your house. In case the toll road doesn’t have an electronic connection, keep extra quarters, $1 bills, and $5 bills on hand. Another helpful tip is to download the ParkMobile app; fee payment has never been simpler. You can now use the app to pay for parking in 36+ major U.S. cities.

11. Stock up on Healthy Snacks and Drinks in Your Cooler

Sure, it’s tempting to eat a lot of junk food on the road. But the more prepared you are before you embark on your trip, the easier it will be to eat healthily. Baby carrots, fresh fruit, hard-boiled eggs, nuts, and granola bars will all help to satiate your hunger until you can sit down for a full meal. In addition, the protein and fiber found in these foods are found to aid in energy levels, stabilizing blood sugar, and promoting healthy digestion.

12. Scope out the Best Spots to Eat Beforehand

Just because you’re packing food doesn’t mean you can’t eat out too. What’s the fun of a road trip unless you do a little taste testing along the way? Luckily, we’ve found a wealth of information on the best places for some grub. TVFoodMaps.com lists out more than 4,000 restaurants in the country that you can stop at along your route. In addition, Roadfood.com maps out some of the best locally-owned joints which are way better than fast food. We all want to find the authentic places when we travel, right?

13. Invest in USB Chargers for Your Passengers

Skip the hassle of only being able to charge one phone at a time. A multi-outlet power adaptor will allow you to charge up to four phones at one time. The Anker 48W 4-Port USB Car Charger is a great option. Now you don’t have to worry about everyone else’s phones running out of juice. You can all charge up and enjoy being the DJ and taking snaps on the road.

14. Take Turns Driving and Bring Plenty of Neck Pillows

Passengers should switch off driving. This keeps everyone’s energy high and you won’t have to stress about the person at the wheel dozing off. For those who can take a nap, neck pillows and travel throw blankets go a long way. If you have an extra hard time sleeping on the road and are in it for a long haul drive, consider bringing sleep masks, noise canceling headphones and melatonin to take too.

15. Keep an Open Box of Dryer Sheets in Your Car

Air freshener can be way too overpowering. But by the time you’ve been on the road for a few days, odd smells can start to linger in your car. Instead of breathing in synthetic vanilla or Tuesday’s burger smell, keep an open box of dryer sheets in your car. The subtle scent of the dryer sheets will keep the air in your car smelling fresh and help to eliminate any funky odors you’ve picked up along the way.

16. Bring Things to Keep the Kids Entertained

We all know how squirmy kids can get on the road. So, we have a few suggestions to keep them occupied. First, make sure everyone’s basics needs are met before you go. Take a bathroom pit stop, pack healthy snacks, drinks, and things they’ll need to get comfortable for a nap. In addition, you’re going to need some toys and trinkets to keep them entertained. Coloring books, a portable gaming system, Etch-A-Sketch, and a portable DVD player go a long way.

17. Drop a Pin When You Park Your Car

Exploring a new city? Make sure to drop a pin on your iPhone and save where you parked your car. Nothing is worse than getting lost in a new place and wandering forever in search of your car. Save yourself some stress with the most simple of the road trip hacks.

That’s All Folks. Now, It’s Time to Make the Most of These Smart Road Trip Hacks

We hope that we could help make your time on the road a little easier. Not all of us are good at knowing what to pack and having tips to stay sane along the way. These simple road trip hacks go a long way in making you and everyone on board feel happy, comfortable, and refreshed. Do you have any tips for extra comfort on the road? Let us know in the comment section below.

Related Article:  Travel Necessities: Road Trip Packing Guide

About The Author

Danielle Dougall

Danielle Dougall is a photographer, avid writer, and traveler. Hailing from the rainy city of Seattle, WA she now lives in southern California where she enjoys longboarding, hiking, coffee shop hopping, and dreaming up destinations for her next international trip.

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The Wayward Home

15 Essential Road Trip Hacks from Experienced Travelers

Posted: March 31, 2024 | Last updated: March 31, 2024

Eager to make your next road trip the best one yet? While hitting the road can be the epitome of freedom and fun, a few missteps like skimping on sleep, packing the wrong snacks, facing grimy restrooms, or losing signal can dampen the spirit of your adventure. The secret to a flawless road trip? It’s all in the planning and prep.

To help you out, we’ve gathered 15 top-notch road trip hacks from the experts – those who’ve traversed the highways and know a thing or two about awesome road trips.

You’ll want these on your next road trip:

1. Freeze Water Bottles for a DIY Cooler

Instead of using ice packs in your cooler, freeze water bottles. Before starting your journey, freeze several water bottles and use them as makeshift ice packs in your cooler. This method is excellent because it not only saves space consumed by ice packs, but once the bottled ice starts melting, you also get cool water to keep you hydrated.

Pro Tip: Do not fill your bottles to the brim. Leave some space as water expands when it freezes.

2. Have Dual Cellular Carriers for Uninterrupted Connectivity

Ensure constant access to navigation and communication by having two different cellular carriers in your car. If one network has poor coverage, the other can fill the gap. This way, essential apps like CarPlay and Waze remain functional throughout your journey. For example, if both you and your travel partner use T-Mobile, get an additional AT&T connection for your drives. This simple strategy maximizes connectivity, keeping you on the right track and in touch, no matter where your road trip takes you.

3. Use Hotel Lobbies for Clean Bathroom Breaks

When in need of a restroom, don’t use the ones at gas stations. Instead, walk into the lobbies of mid-range or higher-end hotels. The bathrooms at these hotels are generally much cleaner than public restrooms. Walk in confidently and head straight to the restroom. Most likely, the hotel staff won’t question you at all. Sometimes, the staff may even point you in the direction of the restroom, especially if you are with young kids. 

• Read More: 17 Ways to Find Public Showers on the Road

4. Use the restroom even if you don’t feel an immediate need

Whenever you stop for a break, use the restroom even if you don’t feel the need to. So whether you’re stopping for gas, for snacks, or because somebody else wants to use the restroom, make sure you and everyone else traveling with you visit the restroom. This simple hack helps increase the time until your next break. It also helps everyone in the car get fresh air and stretch. Allowing some fresh air in the car during your break time also reduces CO2 build-up in the car and prevents it from causing drowsiness. 

5. Convert your shoe organizer into a car organizer

Before heading out on long drives, install a shoe organizer behind the front seat. Remove the headrest, attach the shoe organizer to the back of the front seat, and then reattach the headrest to secure the organizer. A shoe organizer lets you store road-trip essentials in a quick, accessible manner. It’s the best way to store tissues, snacks, chargers, hand sanitizers and other road-trip knick-knacks. 

6. Sleep at a 24-hour restaurant

For a safe and convenient place to rest during your road trip, park at 24-hour restaurants. Establishments like Denny’s offer a secure environment for overnight stays in your vehicle. These locations are well-lit and also provide immediate access to food and beverages when you wake up. Additionally, having restroom facilities available is a significant convenience. 

7. Secure Your Car While Sleeping with the Seat Belt Trick

Enhance your safety when sleeping in your car by using a seat belt for added security. Loop the seat belt through the car door handle and then fasten it. This simple yet effective method acts as a deterrent, as it makes it more difficult for the door to be opened from the outside. That means, you can sleep with absolute peace of mind! 

8. Use Google My Maps or Furkot to create itineraries

Google has a tool called My Maps which can be used to create personalized itineraries. You should use it before you head out on your road trip and, ideally, operate it from a computer for better user-friendliness. Plot your route in advance, plan your stops, and then use it on the go. If downloaded, it can even in no network areas. You can even use the nearby attractions feature to make impromptu sightseeing stops close to your route. Yet another app that does an excellent job with itinerary planning for long-distance road trips is Furkot. 

9. Use Podcasts and Audiobooks to make time fly

Listening to individual songs makes it easy to track the passing time. However, immersing yourself in podcasts or audiobooks can captivate you for hours, making time seem to fly by. This approach is particularly useful for long stretches of interstate driving where the journey can become monotonous, with little else to anticipate but reaching your destination

10. Create a Fun Road Trip Scavenger Hunt

Before embarking on your road trip, prepare a list of unique items to spot and share it with your kids or co-passengers. Your list could include quirky sightings like a purple car, a yellow truck, a bald driver, a flatbed truck, or a sports bike. As you travel, everyone can participate in spotting these items. Keep track of who finds the most and reward the winner with a small cash prize or a treat. This engaging game is a great way to stay entertained on long, monotonous stretches of road. It’s also an effective strategy to keep kids engaged and away from screens during the trip.

11. Carry enough chargers with long cables

Using navigation or streaming apps throughout the trip can drain your cell phone battery fairly quickly. To make sure passengers can keep their phones charged at all times, carry sufficient phone chargers with long cables to ensure they can easily reach the back of your vehicle. Simple way to stay connected at all times! 

12. Use trash bags creatively

Always equip your vehicle with enough trash bags. Stash them in all the door pockets. They work well in case someone suddenly feels car sick and needs to throw up. But they can also be used to store wet clothes, dirty shoes, or laundry, and even as blackout curtains when someone in the back needs deep sleep.

13. Use iOverlander for convenient car camping

For car campers, the iOverlander app is an invaluable tool to locate safe and suitable places to stay overnight, beyond the usual rest areas and parking lots. This app provides a comprehensive database of camping spots, often with reviews and tips from other travelers. It helps you find locations that are welcoming to car campers, avoiding potentially unsafe spots. It can also guide you to scenic, off-the-beaten-path locations or convenient urban spots. 

14. Save on Fuel with ‘Gas Buddy’

To ensure you’re getting the best deal on fuel during your road trip, make use of the ‘Gas Buddy’ app. This handy tool provides real-time information on gas prices at various stations along your route. ‘Gas Buddy’ also offers features like predicting when it’s worth stopping for gas, even if you’re not running low. 

15. Cook Canned Food in Your Car’s Engine Bay

Utilize your car’s engine bay as an unconventional but effective way to heat canned food. After driving for a while, your engine will be hot enough to warm up a can of food. Simply place the unopened can in a secure spot within the engine bay. Avoid placing it close to any moving parts. After a short period, depending on the engine’s heat, you’ll have a warm meal ready to enjoy. This trick is helpful if you don’t want to stop at restaurants or set up a portable stove.

12 Scintillating Road Trip Ideas For The Ultimate Nerd

While we can all appreciate the simple joys of a picturesque road trip across the United States, adding an element of intrigue, mystery, or even nerdiness often leads to more memorable experiences. Reddit users recently discussed the best road trip ideas for the ultimate nerd. Here are 12 of the top responses:

• Read More: 12 Scintillating Road Trips for the Ultimate Nerd

Road-Tripping America’s Most Haunted Routes

Who isn’t intrigued by haunted tales? They’re a magnet for curiosity, especially when they’re woven into the fabric of America’s most chilling roads. These stories aren’t just spine-tingling entertainment; they also touch on concerns for safety and the unknown. Ready for a thrill? Let’s dive into the most haunted routes across America that will surely give you goosebumps.

• Read More: Road Tripping America’s 12 Most Haunted Routes

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Your ultimate checklist for an epic road trip

Travel Travel Inspiration Road Trips Epic Road Trip Tips

Road trips are one of the most fun ways to travel and explore a place. Think about it - wouldn’t you rather breathe in some fresh air and get lost in serene landscapes instead of waiting in long lines at the airport? Of course! Now, although road trips can be exciting, they can also get to you if you haven’t planned a few things out. We’ve put together a list of hacks and tips to make sure you have an epic road trip with fewer unpleasant surprises and many memorable ones!

27 Expert Tips For An Epic Road Trip

Below are the tips and hacks you're here for. Read on and thank us later!

#1 Budget the road trip (and stick to it)

Plan your budget beforehand so you can figure out how much you’ll need for the entire trip. Don’t underestimate your total budget because you don’t want to fall short of money. You’ll also want to account for unforeseen expenses, emergencies, and toll gates. Always carry enough cash just in case you can’t use your cards. If you’re traveling with other adults, decide on a budget together. Talk about how much you plan to spend each day and how much you need to set aside for different activities. It’s always good to plan these things out together and set expectations during the planning process.

#2 Alternate coffee with water to stay alert

Although coffee is widely accepted as the beverage that keeps you awake and alert, it’s not the best choice if you’re driving for long hours. the caffeine can make you very dehydrated and lethargic after a while, making things extremely uncomfortable, especially if you’re driving. caffeine acts as a stimulant but often works for a short duration. taking a few sips of plain water or snacking on water-infused fruits every now can really help you stay hydrated and alert for the whole journey., #3 get a thorough car health check-up before you hit the road.

The last thing you want on your road trip is to have your car break down. Head over to the closest garage or mechanic and have them check your car thoroughly. Check the tire pressure for any signs of a possible flat. Fill up the car with a full tank to skip the hassle of finding a station in the first few hours of your road trip. Always keep a spare tire or two in the car just in case you need it on the way, and of course, learn how to change a tire before you hit the road. You just might need it for those areas where road assistance is miles away.

#4 Let your bank know where you’re going

It’s a good idea to inform your bank about where you’re headed in case of any money-related emergency that can crop up on your holiday. Because you’ll be traveling to unfamiliar places, there’s always the chance of running into frauds, even if you’re extremely careful. Keeping your bank informed can ensure that all transactions made on your holiday are looked into and any action needed can be done almost immediately. Put yourself at ease and let your bank know your travel plans before you head out.

#5 Chart a rough itinerary

You don’t want to rely solely on spontaneity, and at the same time, you don’t want to plan every tiny aspect of the trip. What you can do is chart out a rough itinerary, including pit stops, places to visit once you reach, restaurants, and the like. Basically, a rough idea of all the things you want to cover on the trip. This gives you a lot to look forward to but also room for some flexibility. For instance, let’s say you had a long night and woke up too late for breakfast and sightseeing, that’s okay! If your plan is flexible, you can still make the most of the day and see what else you can do.

#6 Carry cash and stash them carefully

Carrying a sufficient amount of cash on your road trip is absolutely essential. You just might need cash for places that don’t accept card payments, especially if you’re traveling through a small town or village. Maybe you want to grab a quick bite at a little food stall or food truck, maybe you get a flat and have to call for road assistance. Either way, keep some cash with you just in case. But don’t keep all of it in one spot. Carefully distribute it across a few spots and make sure it’s safe and hidden.

#7 Fill up gas using a Credit Card that gives cashback

Many banks have exciting cashback offers when it comes to expenses like fuel. You’ll probably need a full tank or three for your whole trip so why not save some money and earn some points/cashback while you fuel up. Call or visit your bank before you fuel up to see if your credit card is eligible for a cashback. If not, check with your road trip buddies to see if any of them have cashback offers. This is super helpful, especially if your journey is going to be a long one and you need to fill fuel more than a couple of times.

#8 Fill up gas every chance you get

Even if you have more than a half tank of gas, it’s always better to fuel up every chance you get. You never know when you might find the next gas station and sometimes it could be several hours before you do. Sometimes it might even be shut. So, even if you do your homework and figure out where all the gas stations are on your way and back, it’s always better to be safe and fill gas whenever you find a station, especially if you’ve used up half or more of your tank.

#9 Opt for truck stops over rest areas

Because you’re traveling to unknown areas, your safest bet is to opt for truck stops instead of secluded pitstops. This is an especially useful tip if you’re traveling with women and children and want to be cautious. Truck stops aren’t just for truckers anymore. With adequate lighting, food, facilities, and a small crowd, it is definitely much safer than stopping at a remote area with no one around. Either way, be cautious about where you pull up and quickly scan the area to make sure it’s safe.

#10 Schedule exercise breaks every 2 to 4 hours

We all know how painful it is to sit in the same position for hours on end. You definitely want to avoid this especially while driving and stop for a quick stretch every 2-4 hours. Doing this will help keep the inevitable back pain and leg cramps at bay. Stop every few hours and stretch it out, especially if you feel your body starting to get stiff. Breathe in some fresh air, pop a few healthy snacks, and stay hydrated so your body is in good shape to get back on the road.

#11 Learn how to change a tire

No one really tells you the importance of knowing how to change a tire, but it is an extremely valuable skill to have. It’s easy to call someone to change your tire when you run a flat in a city, but what happens when you’re in the middle of nowhere? You may not find road assistance close by or they might be miles away and take hours to reach you. You’d rather take the time to learn how to change a tire yourself and save yourself time and money.. If you learn how to do it right, the whole ordeal takes just 10-15 minutes.

#12 Bring a portable charger for your devices

We’re all pretty reliant on GPS, especially when we’re traveling. Your phone is precious in more than one way and you can’t have it drain out before you reach your destination. When you’re on a road trip, you usually rely on your vehicle’s power to charge your device. On the off chance that your car breaks down and you can’t charge your phone for assistance, it's good to have a backup charger. So carry one or two portable chargers for emergencies!

#13 Carry an offline/physical map for when GPS ditches you

Let’s be honest, we’d be pretty lost without GPS, and you can’t have your GPS giving up on you on a road trip! Backups are essential. Although the age of physical maps might be long gone, you never know when it’ll come in handy. You should also download offline maps before you set out in case you lose network and can’t access your GPS. Having all of this sorted ahead of time will save you from being stranded.

#14 Preload your phone with playlists and podcasts

Road trips are always more fun when you have some fun tunes to hum along to. Remember that you’re probably going to be out of range for the radio to function, so put a few playlists together before you hit the road. You might also lose signal sometimes, so maybe download all the songs and podcasts just in case. That way you always have music and entertainment to keep you engaged through the long stretches. Although road trip games are fun, sometimes it’s nice to just sit back, relax, and listen to good music. Don’t forget to keep everyone’s taste in mind when you’re making these playlists.

#15 Get off the highway and take the road less traveled (sometimes)

Driving on the highway can get monotonous and boring. If you have a car that can handle a little bit of off-roading, why not take an alternate route or a short detour and go on a mini-adventure? You never know what you might find in the nooks of new towns, but we’re sure it’ll be worth finding out. That said, don’t take too much of a detour and lose your way completely! Make sure to check the maps before you hit the detour to see which roads will lead you back to the highway.

Ultimate Bucketlist Road Trips In The World

#16 book flexible attraction tickets in advance.

It’s important to have a loose itinerary in mind when you plan a road trip. Although planning and booking things in advance is helpful, you might change your mind once you’re actually there. Booking flexible attraction tickets gives you the option of canceling your tickets or rescheduling them without losing money. This is a great option if you and your buddies are more on the spontaneous side. Have some fun and be flexible with your plans.

Book last minute experiences on Headout , your one-stop digital marketplace for tours, activties and experiences across 100+ cities around the globe.

#17 Snap pictures of informative signs when you enter a city/town and keep them handy

Just like how you might take pictures of where your car is parked in a massive parking lot, you probably want to take pictures of important signs on your road trip. Keep these pictures in handy in case you get lost and need to retrace your path. It’s also a good idea to keep these pictures in case of any other emergency that pops up when you’re on the road in unfamiliar areas.

#18 Download a handy chunk of road trip friendly apps

Nowadays there are apps for pretty much everything. To find a toilet, to find the closest gas station, to chart your road trip itinerary and even to find the nearest parking. Before setting off on a road trip, make sure to download the few recommended road trip apps to help make your trip hassle-free!

#19 Stock up on emergency essentials (more than one of each)

Include emergency essentials on your road trip packing list. You always need to be prepared in case of accidents and emergencies, especially if you’re in for a long drive and help is far off. Some important things that need to be packed include a first-aid kit, road safety kit, car tools, spare tires and other car parts, a flashlight, blankets, and water.

#20 Travel insurance + Car insurance are an absolute must

There’s a reason why accidents are called that - because you never know when they can happen. Make sure you have car insurance and travel insurance and keep a copy or two of them in the car. You want to be prepared for anything when you’re on a road trip, especially when there are other people in the car with you. Insurance is a must when you’re heading out on a road trip..

#21 Know the road rules of the country

Get yourself familiar with the road rules of the place you’re going to visit. Sometimes each state has its own travel rules for the road. Do a bit of research and find tips for travelers from official travel and tourism websites. Whether it’s Europe, the United States, Australia, or Asia, you can find important information about road rules on their government or tourism sites. This little extra step can help reduce any tension when you’re driving and prepare you for the unexpected.

#22 Carry a foldable chair and portable picnic set

One of the most exciting parts of a road trip is finding beautiful spots along the way where you can enjoy the view, take some cool pictures, or better - have a picnic! Carry a few foldable chairs and a portable picnic set with you so you can have an impromptu picnic anywhere, anytime. Light food and beverages are perfect for a picnic, like sandwiches, juice boxes, chips, and whatever else you fancy. Having a small picnic in the middle of your road trip also gives you a chance to unwind and enjoy nature before getting back on the road.

#23 Sunscreens for the windows are a blessing during afternoons

When you crank the air conditioner up, it can slow down your car or burn up fuel much faster. but when you roll the windows down, it can get loud with harsh winds. plus, the car usually gets quite heated up during noon, making it uncomfortable for passengers inside. a bunch of hot, sweaty, irritable people stuck next to each other for a long time inside a car can make things very uncomfortable. invest in sunscreens for the car windows so that even if you’re driving when the sun is at its peak, you can still have a pleasant drive., #24 cover distances during daylight, the best time to start your road trip is at 4 or 5 am in the morning, just before the sun rises. this way you get to beat the morning traffic and be out of the city in time to catch some sensational views of the sunrise. plus, without regular commuters on the road, your journey becomes less hectic and more enjoyable without being stuck in those annoying traffic jams. after all, you don’t want to start off your road trip in a bad mood. leaving early also helps you cover the majority of your distance during daylight when it's the safest to drive., #25 don’t use cruise control at night, as relaxing as it is to put the car on cruise control, kick back, and enjoy the ride, you don’t want to do this after the sunsets. using cruise control at night can be dangerous because it’s harder to see things at night and your reflexes need to be on high alert. the nighttime is usually when truck drivers tend to become more drowsy and little animals tend to set out on adventures, often ending up on roads. so stay off cruise control at night and be ready for anything unexpected..

#26 Keep a close watch on the weather forecast and change plans accordingly

Weather can be so unpredictable sometimes. you most certainly should check the weather forecast while planning the trip to see what clothes to carry, what activities to plan, and so on. but, as accurate as weather forecasts are, there are times when the weather changes unpredictably. keep a close watch on the forecast every day of your trip, especially when you’re planning to cover long distances. have a rough backup plan in mind, in case mother nature decides to throw some weather hazards your way., #27 kit your car out and carry spare parts, even though vehicles are made of a gazillion different parts, sometimes even if one of those parts stops working, you’re going to have trouble. there are some essential parts to a car where it helps to have a spare, so you don’t end up having to ditch your car in the middle of nowhere. spare tires, car battery, water pump, jumper cables, and a timing belt. if you want to keep even more items handy, that’s perfectly alright, but you should at least have these few essentials just in case there’s a breakdown on your road trip..

Lakshmi Menon

Born to parents bit by the wander bug, Lakshmi calls her love for travel "hereditary and habitual". Perpetually ensconced with a book in her hand and a mug of coffee in the other, she has been to over 15 countries in her 23 years of existence and is currently saving miles and money for her solo trip to Iceland. Always hustling towards the least trodden path, she has encountered some wonderful people during her escapades and if you ever meet her, she won't stop gushing about them.

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23 Road Trip Hacks That’ll Save Your Sanity

California and Utah, Photos:Adam Clark/Brody Leven

These brilliant ideas will help you survive—and even enjoy—your next family adventure

When it comes to a road trip , it’s often about how you get there, not where you’re going. Make sure that journey is memorable for the right reasons with a few tips and road trip hacks we’ve road-tested ourselves. They might not prevent the inevitable “Are we there yet?” but we know they will ease some of the other trials of taking a long car ride with kids. And to mix it up, try our list of car games when they need a break from the screens!

1. Give the kids the map. Hand over your GPS during times of the trip when you actually know where you are going. Let the kids “navigate” and tell you which way to turn. Or hand them a road map and have them help figure out the route. Get tips on teaching kids how to read a REAL map here .

2. Bring enough headphones for each kid. It will ward off any complaining or whining. If your crew likes to listen to or watch the same thing, try BuddyPhones , kid headphones that come with an audio splitter for sharing.

3. Surprise observations. During the trip, have each person write down an observation or memory from the day. If you’re traveling more than one day, do it each day of the journey, there and back. Don’t share what you’ve written until you are home. Then have each family member read out loud their main “thought” for the day. It’s okay if it’s, “I wish we were there” or “I saw a giant clown on the side of the road.” You’ll get some laughs and relive the trip in a new way.

4. Use a shower caddy for mess-free eating. Tired of balancing lunch on your lap? Give each kid—and yourself—a caddy so that meals are contained in one neat place.

5. Stash plastic cutlery and napkins in the glove box . It’ll make eating in the car that much easier.

6. Make a killer playlist. It can make or break a road trip. Trust us. Find family friendly tunes, starting here .

7. Beat the sniffles. Use a rubber band to lash a full tissue box to an empty one. Use the empty one to dispose of used tissues right after using, so they don’t end up all over the car/on the floor/in your snacks.

8. Make up some car bingo. Purchase a stack of ready-made car bingo games, or go the simple route by making a “checklist” of cool things you see on the road. The first person to fill up a checklist gets to pick where you make a pit stop for dinner.

9. Hang a shoe organizer on the back of each front seat. Big kids will be able to reach for books, snacks, and games on their own (and ideally they’ll be able to put everything back, too).

Related:  The Ultimate Guide to the American Road Trip

10. Kick off your shoes. For long rides, many kids like to take their shoes off. Let them, but have a bag handy to stash the shoes or keep them by the door of your RV, so they’re easy to find for pit stops.

11. Download Sit or Squat . You’ll be able to scout clean bathrooms on your route. This is a road trip hack you can’t live without.

12. Chuck garbage into a plastic cereal container or old wipes box. They usually have lids so your vehicle won’t smell like Eau de trash. Put them throughout your RV or car!

13. Pack clothes in stackable laundry baskets (instead of suitcases). The idea is that each traveler has their own basket filled with clothes and other belongings (diapers, lovey, etc.). It’s much easier to see if you’re forgetting anything and it’s a cinch to load and unload.

14. For impatient travelers, use “Sticky Note Time Tabs.” How it works: Write increments of time (i.e. 1:15, 2:15, 3:15) on sticky notes and adhere them to the center console below the clock. Kids pay attention to when the clock time matches the sticky note time. When they notice it, you remove the sticky note (and give them a surprise, if you’re feeling generous).

15. Organize a glow stick dance party while driving at night. There’s nothing fun to see out the windows, so might as well bring the fun inside your vehicle. Hip hop hooray to kiddos’ fave tunes and score major brownie points for your efforts.

16. Cover seats with a fitted sheet. Be prepared for a mess by stretching a sheet over the seats. When you get to where you’re going all you have to do is shake the sheet out and BAM!… your ride is spotless once more. One of our more genius road trip hacks if we don’t say so ourselves.

17. Make edible necklaces for the journey. String flavorless floss with things like cereal, grapes, and pretzels. It will fill their bellies and keep them busy at the same time.

18. Get snap happy. Give the kids disposable cameras (or old smartphones) so that they can take pictures of what you’re driving by for a travel log.

19. Let the creative juices flow. Since playdough can get stuck in floorboards (and hair … and under fingernails), bring along a roll of aluminum foil and/or a box of pipe cleaners—both can be molded into shapes, animals, and skyscrapers.

20. Nip car sickness in the bud. If you or your kiddo gets nausea from reading on the road, simply tilt your head from side to side for it to go away. Just try it!

21. When you see a fun road stop… stop! This is how road trip memories are made. If you’re the planning type, visit roadtrippers.com to map out a few awesome layovers, and be sure to check out our favorite roadside attractions , too.

22. Pack a potty. This is an important road trip hack if you’ve got potty-trained littles: Open and lay a disposable diaper into the bottom of a toddler potty. If you’ve got miles to go before the next rest stop, pull over and let them use this—the diaper will soak up a #1 and contain a #2 until you find a proper spot for disposal.

23. Have plenty of other screen-free activities on hand. When your kids are bored of playing car bingo (it’s inevitable), have something else from our list ready to go .

Related:  16 Roadside Attractions You’ve Got to See to Believe

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Road Trip Hacks For You Made Easy

With the many long weekends lined up in the coming months, it’s the perfect time to start planning for a road trip . Whether it’s a short overnight trip or a longer vacation, these simple tips and road trip hacks will make your journey much easier.

12 road trip hacks that will make your road trip a lot of fun!

1. bring a multi-port usb car charger and usb cables..

There is nothing worse than discharged phones/tablets when you are on the road, especially when your maps and entertainment are on them. Having USB Cables helps you charge your electronics on Power Banks and then charge your Power banks while you are in the car.

2. Get a tablet!

Hang a tablet behind the driver’s seat or the car’s sun visor for a makeshift TV monitor. This is bound to stop all arguments on who gets screen time on the tablet. This is one of those road trip hacks which can save a lot of heart burn! 🙂

3. Use cling wrap

Use cling wrap to create a makeshift lid for your glasses to avoid spillage in the car. This is especially helpful when you are carrying homemade drinks or larger bottles of drinks, which need to be poured into individual glasses.

4. DIY Trash Can

Take a cereal container or any other large kitchen container and add a trash can liner/shopping bag. It makes for the best DIY Trash can and can be kept in a central part of the car to make sure everyone throws their trash into it. Isn’t this one of those lovely road trip hacks?

5. Start with a full tank

Start your trip with a full tank of fuel and make it a habit to fill up at the ½ level rather than letting it run down to reserve. You can make a note of the Petrol Pumps on your route on ScoutMyTrip . It is definitely better than getting stranded with an empty tank.

6. Keep the change!

Keep some loose change at hand to pay tolls and at smaller roadside stalls. Although more and more shops are now operating through cashless means, it helps to have cash for emergencies, especially when you may not be able withdraw cash from ATMs everywhere.

7. Make eating less messy!

Pack a bag with napkins, paper plates and plastic silverware to make eating on the go easy and less messy. This is especially helpful when you road trip with kids and when you are carrying snacks/food from home.

8. Packing light like a Ninja

Carry your creams, lotions and primers in Contact lens cases. That way you do not need to carry multiple small travel size packs. You could simply pour some from the larger bottles at home. The same hack can also be used to carry condiments in small quantities for children.

9. Learn basic skills

A lot of car companies now provide roadside assistance and there are always repair shops along the Indian highways. However, it never hurts to know how to change tires. This is one of those road trip hacks which need learning, but it goes a long way. Just spend 5 minutes with your mechanic and he would be excited to teach you!

10. Get a Shoe Organizer

Hang a shoe organizer on the back of a seat to store the things you may need during the trip at hand.

11. Shower caps inside a car?

Keep shower caps handy in the car, to cover shoes when you enter the car. This helps when you walk through different terrains during your journey and do not always want to carry those terrains to the mats in your car. This is one of those road trip hacks which will also keep your car smelling neat!

12. Cup Cake anyone?

Use Cupcake liners at the bottom on the cup holder to keep them free from crumbs and sticky stuff. Simply change the liners when they get grubby or soggy from cold drinks.

So there you go, a list of 12 road trip hacks we use ourselves and would recommend to anyone who wants to plan a road trip well and hit the road!

Need help using our road trip planner ?

Sunaina Aiyappa

Sunaina is an Army wife who enjoys motherhood apart from her love for writing, listening to music and traveling. "Work hard, Party harder" is what she follows. But what really gets her through life is good humor and sarcasm!

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17 Hacks for Long Road Trips with Kids

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Traveling with kids can be such a rewarding experience. Getting to share your favorite spots with them, seeing the look of wonderment on their faces, and making unique memories that will last a lifetime make it all worthwhile. But it can be easy to forget about all of those joys when you’re six hours into what probably feels like the longest drive of your life. We’ve all been there. To help you keep your sanity, here’s a list of 17 Road Trip Hacks that will make your drive a lot more enjoyable.

Road Trip Hacks Every Parent Needs to Know

Plan Outfits in Advance. Save time by picking out your child’s outfits before the trip. Keep the outfits together by putting them in separate Ziplock bags.

Make Phone Number Bracelets for Your Child.  Use numbered beads and decorative beads to create a pretty and practical bracelet for your child to wear while you’re out and about. Should you get separated, someone will be able to contact you.

Bring Dryer Sheets. Dryer sheets will help keep your car smelling fresh no matter what happens on your drive. Plus, they’re easier to pack than other deodorizing options.

Make Your Own Audiobook. Instead of spending money on audiobooks, use a voice recording app on your smartphone to record yourself reading your child’s favorite books and play them during your drive.

Cover Your Seats with Sheets. Put old sheets over the seats of your car to catch crumbs and prevent spills from ruining your car.

Bring an Activity Book. We’ve put together a dry erase travel activity book with several printables you can use for FREE. Just laminate the pages or put them in sheet protectors, and give the kids dry erase markers to use.

Put Cling Wrap over Your Cups. If your kids are too old for sippy cups, but too young to avoid spills, cling wrap can be used as a makeshift lid. Just pull it tightly over the top, and stick a straw through it to prevent messes.

Put a Cup over Seatbelts. Trim down a disposable plastic cup, put it over the buckle, and cut a slit at the base just big enough for the latch. That way, your kids can’t unbuckle themselves throughout the drive.

Line Your Cup Holders. Put cupcake liners in your cup holders to keep them from getting sticky.

Make Your Own First Aid Kit. Don’t rely on other people having a first kit available. Build your own before you leave, in case of emergency. Include bandages, antibiotic ointment, and Tylenol.

Make a Travel Itinerary. Print out pictures of fun things that you’ll be doing on your trip as well as things you’ll be seeing on your drive. Turn them into a little book for your kids to look through to keep them excited during your road trip.

Tie Important Items Down. If your kids have a tendency to drop their favorite things onto the floor of the car, try using a string to tie sippy cups and toys to a non-essential part of the car seat. That way, your child can just pull their items right back up. No tears necessary.

Bring a Travel Tray.   Travel trays will help if your kids need a snack or want to color while you’re on the road.

Freeze Juice Boxes. Instead of using ice to keep the food and drinks in your cooler at the right temperature, try freezing juice boxes instead. It will keep everything cool, and your kids can drink them after they thaw.

Prepare Goodie Bags. Before you leave, put some inexpensive toys, snacks, and other fun items into separate paper lunch bags. Pull one out if your kids get a little restless during the trip.

Use a Tackle Box to Organize Snacks. Make sure your kids are getting healthy snacks, even when you’re on the road, by using a clean tackle box to hold a variety of snacks . Try adding things like cereal, nuts, and pretzels.

Play Road Trip Bingo. Print out a blank Bingo sheet, and fill the boxes in with things you might find along the way. A great way to keep kids entertained and engaged in the trip. Or we’ve included one in our dry erase activity book above that’ll be great for a long trip.

Organize Your Trip with a Shoe Organizer. Put an over-the-door shoe organizer over your passenger seat to keep toys, diapers, books, wipes, and whatever else you need within reach.

Hopefully, these hacks will help you to enjoy your next road trip. And who knows? You just might find that the journey can be as fun and rewarding as the destination.

If you enjoyed these 17 Road Trip Hacks , you may also like:

5 Healthy, No-Mess Travel Snacks for Kids

19 Camping Hacks Every Outdoorsy Family Needs to Know

7 Tips for Camping with a Toddler

Madeline Franzen is an auntie of five, lover of literature, and coffee addict. She spends her free time writing, binge watching Netflix shows, and curling up in a blanket with a great book and a glass of wine.

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Sunday 18th of March 2018

As my kids are getting older (ages 2-9), I often have to work out a safe and neat way to pass them snacks and other small items from the front seat. We take along a lidded Tupperware or two to make tossing things back and forth less messy. It's also less likely to get lost when it misses its mark. Aim is getting better front bound, ?

Donella Crigger

Tuesday 20th of March 2018

That's a great idea!

Stephanie Brewer

Wednesday 31st of May 2017

Our local library has a large selection of audiobooks that are great for road trips. You can even download audiobooks to your phone with your library card!

Saturday 3rd of June 2017

That's a great tip! Thank you!

Tuesday 30th of May 2017

I loved the idea about making bracelets with your phone number for kids in case they get separated. I will be doing this for our trip to Canada this summer!

That's my favorite idea from the list, too!

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ROAD TRIP , TRAVEL HACKS · March 7, 2018 Last Updated on March 13, 2024

6 ROAD TRIP HACKS FROM THE PROS

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When it comes to planning a road trip, finding the balance between making an agenda and being spontaneous is hard. You want to live in the moment, but also still have a plan to fall back on. Master these tricks and you’ll find yourself walking out the door without much effort put into planning your road trip at all.

1) FILL UP AT THE CHEAPEST STATIONS

Use Google Maps or Gas Buddy to find the cheapest gas along your route. If bathroom cleanliness is a big concern, check out SitOrSquat to find well-kept restrooms. Try stopping at truck stations too. They tend to have clean bathrooms, offer more services and are open later than average gas stations. If you’re a frequent road tripper, look into a gas card. Do research first to determine which company will give you the greatest return.

2) RESERVE DATA USAGE AND BATTERY POWER

Being away from home doesn’t mean you have to use a ton of data. Learn to utilize the offline tool in Google Maps. You can also find free wifi in many public places. Download music, for free, before you go. With ListenToYouTube you can legally drop in a YouTube URL, it will convert the file to an audio-only format and copy directly into your iTunes library. Pandora, Spotify and Apple Music are all alternatives. Or, better yet, try shifting away from electronics altogether.

3) BRING CAMPING GEAR

The easiest way to leave room for spontaneous decision-making is to prepare for camping along the way. If you don’t have a tent, sleeping bag or ground pad just sleep in the car. Make an idea and modify it with a pool float to save 40 bucks. You can camp for free all over the place. Although it’s legal to set up anywhere in a National Forest. Hunt for a sweet spot, or pull over and set up on the side of the road. Either way, nobody will bother you.

If you decide to stay in a hotel, remember to check the room for damage or missing items after checking in. Locate the dryer, iron, ironing board, towels, bathrobe, and check that the fridge is fully stocked (if applicable). Report damage to the front office and then the fun can begin!

4) DROP A PIN

Finding your way back to the car in an unfamiliar place can be a nightmare. Whether it’s a parking spot, hotel or a friend’s house…drop a pin and wander around carelessly without worrying if you’ll be able to find your way back.

5) KEEP THINGS SMELLING FRESH

It’s almost impossible to stay organized when living out of your suitcase or car. The least you can do is keep things smelling fresh. Stash a few dryer sheets in your suitcase to preserve the clean laundry smell as dirty clothes start piling in. Then keep the clothes in your hotel room dry cleaner bag or a bag brought from home. This will keep your other clothes from smelling dirty and can help differentiate between what has already been worn and what is still clean.

Try to keep the car somewhat clean for as long as possible. Usually on the way home this concept goes out the window, figuratively speaking of course. There are several steps you can take that help maintain the cleanliness of your vehicle during a long road trip. Line a plastic cereal container with a trash bag and use it as a smell-proof, spill-proof waste bin. This hack has become an everyday extension for my car, but it’s extra necessary on road trips. These two DIY ideas help contain the mess too.

Use a tackle box as a lunchbox to reduce trash and increase variety of stacks. Plus opening and closing the little containers can help keep the younger ones entertained. A seatbelt pillow: Most of us are familiar with bunching and re-bunching a pillow to find that sweet spot against the car window. As much fun as that is, maybe a seatbelt pillow would work better. You’ll need some fleece material, a few Velcro strips, stuffing, and a needle/thread to sew it all up.

6) ALWAYS MAKE A LIST AND CHECK IT TWICE

Before planning too many details, write a couple lists. First, a packing list with all the items you will need. Then, a things to do before leaving list. This will prevent you from forgetting anything important and is a great way to keep account of everything that has already been done. Sometimes when organizing the car it’s easy to forget if something has already been packed or not.

Once you’re on the way, pull out a notebook and jot down another list. This one should be called the check-out list . Include a small list of your most important items (phone, keys, wallet, chargers, etc.) so you can run through the checklist as you pack up to leave. You should also include check-out procedure steps. Here are few items on my check-out list:

• Look under and behind beds/bedside table
• Inspect shower for toiletries/razor
• Check outlets for chargers
• Take hotel notepad, pen, and toiletries if they are high quality

Road tripping can be a huge success or an unforgettable failure. Plan wisely with these tips to save cash, relieve stress, and keep entertained. After you’ve put in some planning, try to sit back, unplug and enjoy the open road — maybe even play a few fun road trip games.

Have you ever been on a road trip? We’d love to hear your stories, tips or questions in the comment section below! To receive our articles and reviews straight to your inbox  Subscribe Here . 

Read More About Road Trips

• The Ultimate Summer Road Trip Guide
• Road Trip Through Western Australia To Swim With Whale Sharks
• A Guide To Road Tripping Around The North Island, New Zealand
• Best Road Trip Destinations For Solo Female Travelers

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Road trip hacks that’ll improve your journey

We love a good travel hack – and this time we’re setting our sights on road trips. Besides the fact that they’re a great way to relax and go on an adventure, road trips also let you discover hidden gems you may have missed otherwise (and certainly would have missed from the air). The point of a road trip is to enjoy the journey as much as the destination. To help, here are some of the things you should do.

The best road trip hacks to enjoy your journey

1. plan ahead.

If you’d like to have a flawless road trip, you should plan ahead of your journey. First, decide the route you’d like to follow and how fast you’d like to cover the whole route with your travel companions. You should also decide whether you’ll stay in guesthouses, hotels or even campsites. Planning ahead of your journey will allow you to have a rough idea of what to expect on your trip.

2. Choose a destination

While planning your road trip, you should settle on sites you’d like to see while on the road. The duration of your road trip should influence the number of sites you visit. If you plan on having a short road trip, it’s in your best interest to visit a couple of places for a relatively longer period rather than stop briefly at numerous destinations. Visiting these few places will be more fun as you’ll have more time to enjoy them.

3. Have your documentation ready

Before hitting the road, it’s essential to ensure that you have some form of identification. If you are a domestic traveller, you should carry a copy of your driver’s licence. If you’re not from the UK, you’ll need your passport and foreign driving licence.

4. Budget adequately for your road trip

Before setting out, consider how much you want to spend on the trip. With a budget, you’ll be able to manage yourself accordingly throughout the trip, as you’ll easily determine the types of places you’ll be able to affordably eat at, sleep in, and visit while on your road trip.

5. Hire a car

Once you’ve determined your budget, you should find a hire car. The car you hire should be large enough to accommodate you, all those you intend to travel with, and your luggage. It should also be capable of easily manoeuvring over the type of terrain you intend to drive on. You should hire a car with low fuel consumption to save on petrol.

Before heading out on a long road trip, it’s logical to assume that you’ll have to take your personal car to a mechanic for full maintenance services, which are ordinarily costly. By hiring a car, you’ll avoid having to incur this cost. Hence, hiring a car for your road trip can be economically savvy.

When you search cars on KAYAK, you’re comparing options from a wide range of travel providers and car hire agencies, so you can find exactly what you’re looking for. We also offer car-sharing options so you can compare prices across all car types and find the perfect wheels for your trip.

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6. Learn how to change a tyre

You can never really know when or where you’ll have a flat tyre. Therefore, it’s better for you to learn how to change one ahead of time.

7. Be prepared for the weather

Upon selecting the destinations you’d like to visit and the route you’d like to follow, it’s advisable that you research the weather you’ll encounter while on your road trip.

8. Find nearby affordable stays on KAYAK

If you’d like to have a memorable road trip, factor in where you’ll sleep while on the road. Sleep and exercise are vital for the success of a road trip, as, without them, you will be mostly tired all through your journey.

When you search on KAYAK, you can see all our accommodation options in one place. From hotels to cabins to homes to motorhomes to campsites, you can search it all at once.

Find stays with us

9. Have some backup directions

Getting lost while on the road can be exhausting. To avoid such a scenario, when hiring a car from your preferred car hire company, make sure it includes a working GPS. Most car hire companies usually install GPS systems in their cars upon request by their clients.

More often than not, GPS systems are reliable. However, in remote areas with minimal network coverage, they are sometimes not as reliable. Therefore, you should be prepared for such a situation by having backup directions, such as an atlas or a paper map.

10. Put together a playlist

Being on the road can, at times, get boring. Without music, an audiobook, or even a podcast playing, you may doze off. To do away with boredom, load your favourite songs, audiobooks, and podcasts on your phone. You’ll probably find yourself singing along to your favourite tunes throughout your journey.

11. Adopt lightfoot driving

Lightfoot driving is a skill not many drivers have mastered. It involves applying light pressure on the accelerator pedal with the aim of accelerating smoothly and gradually. If you adopt lightfoot driving, you’ll enjoy better fuel-efficiency, a smoother ride experience, and less wear and tear on various parts of your hire car.

12. Get a first aid kit

Accidents occur all the time. If you get involved in a major one, you should make a point of contacting the relevant authorities. However, in case you get involved in a minor accident but sustain minimal to no injuries, you can use the products in a first aid kit to relieve the discomfort. A fully fitted first aid kit is just as important as a GPS. Most hire cars usually offer first aid kits upon request. Although it might cost you a bit extra, it’s highly recommended that you have one.

13. Have a second driver

Driving is normally mentally and physically exhausting if done for a long period. In fact, UK road safety charity Brake estimates that 10-20% of all car crashes are caused by driver fatigue but that the figures are hugely under-reported because police can’t test for tiredness. To avoid suffering this fate, before heading out on your road trip, you should agree on who your co-driver will be. Having a second driver will help you have a smooth journey, as when you’re tired, they can simply take over the wheel and continue your journey.

Once you settle on your co-driver, you should inform your car hire company of their details. If the co-driver is your partner, you’ll pay no additional charge, as, at most car hire places, a renter’s spouse or domestic partner who is of age and has the necessary documents can act as a second driver without paying extra. If, however, you choose your friend or outsource a second driver, you’ll incur an additional charge.

Alternatively, if no one else in your road trip group is comfortable driving, adopt frequent short rests on your route and don’t drive for more than a few hours at a time. Short rests will keep you rejuvenated throughout your journey.

14. Don’t hesitate to ask locals for directions

Even with GPS, you can still find it difficult to determine where you are. If you find yourself in such a position while on your road trip, don’t hesitate to ask for help from locals.

KAYAK has information on some of the best sites to visit while on different routes in the UK. Given that the information on our platform will help you choose destinations across the country, you may find places that inspire your route, or a detour, on your road trip.

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15 Genius Ideas for How to Organize a Car for a Road Trip

Nothing beats the thrill of hitting the open road, exploring new places, and creating unforgettable memories along the way. However, having a well-organized car can really make or break your road trip experience. That’s why I’ve put together 15 amazing ideas to organize a car for a road trip, so you can focus on the journey and not worry about the mess.

After countless journeys across the country, I’ve perfected the art of road trip car organization. I used to just throw everything in the car (with no road trip packing list, meaning I often forgot tons of items) and hope I would be able to find it when I needed it later. You probably won’t be surprised to hear this doesn’t work – it took me way too long to find that one item I needed, and I’d have to open everything open to find it.

Fast forward to now, when I’ve gotten much smarter about organizing and can tell you exactly where any given item is with 99% accuracy, and now I’m here to share my advice with you. Whether you’re a road trip newbie or a seasoned pro, these organizing tips and hacks will be a game-changer. From simple storage solutions to handy gadgets, these ideas are all about making your life on the road much easier.

Table of Contents

Quick Road Trip Organization Hacks

Here are a few tips to keep in mind before heading out on your trip:

• Don’t overpack . I used to be a chronic over-packer and didn’t really think about if I’d actually use an item or pack way too much food that I never ate. Take a few minutes to write down a list of what exactly you’ll use and how much of each item you’ll need to save some space before you even pack.
• Repurpose household items. While I have suggestions on this list of organization items to buy, you can also save money and get creative. Use empty tissue boxes as a plastic bag dispenser or a makeshift trash bin, and use an empty cereal container with a lid as a portable trash can.
• Keep essentials within reach. I got big on this in the past year, and it’s made road trips so much easier. Store items that you’ll frequently need, like snacks, drinks, and toys, within easy reach to minimize the need to rummage through your bags while driving.
• Clean out your car daily. At the end of each day, go through and throw out all the trash, recycle bottles, and put anything you’ve taken out back in its proper bag. You’ll thank yourself the next day.

15 Brilliant Ideas to Organize a Car for a Road Trip

These easy ideas for how to organize your car for a long road trip (like a Vancouver to Banff drive ) will ensure you keep a clean and tidy car on your next exciting road trip.

Check out my family road trip checklist and get ready to organize like a pro.

1. Backseat Organizer

First things first, use every storage compartment provided in the car to stow the appropriate items away in the right places. These include cup holders, backseat jackets, and the doors’ side pockets. When you’ve exhausted all the car’s available storage compartments, backseat organizers are your next go-to.

These are useful for ensuring there is ample space for passengers in the backseat and that the car doesn’t feel cluttered and cramped. Most backseat organizers are attached to one or both of the front seats so that they hang facing the passengers at the back.

Backseat organizers come with separate pockets where you can store different items such as toys, stuffed animals, wet wipes, and fresh diapers. It’s also a good idea to store a few disposable bags (like car sickness bags).

Some organizers sit between the seats or on the floor and feature different compartments where you can place certain items. Using a backseat organizer leaves enough space for other items like pillows, small blankets, and neck rests. Remember, the aim is to create enough room for passengers to sit comfortably.

This comes in particularly handy when traveling with young ones, and I have more tips for a road trip with a baby .

2. Organizing Containers

If you’re like me and can’t stand the idea of bits and bobs lying all over the car, you’ll love this road trip organization hack. Use small, plastic organizing containers and bottles to store pens, medication, and hair ties in the center console. Here, they’ll be easy for the driver and the person sitting in the front passenger’s seat to reach when needed.

The center console is an important area in the car that needs to be well-organized and free from clutter. This is a prime spot for keeping coins and loose change (for toll gates on the road and parking fees when you make your stops) and light snacks (like mints, dried fruit, and sweets) for the passengers in front.

You can save some cash and look around your house for useful items to turn into organizing containers. Get creative with old plastic bottles (like those used for pills) or Q-tip containers. This is also a helpful idea on road trips with couples so you can keep your snacks separate (trust me, it helps).

Driving cross country with a dog ? Make sure they have a container as well full of snacks, water, and poop bags!

I’ve been using Roadtrippers for years to help me plan out my trips and find fun stops along the way. Use my code “BTR5QTP” for $5 off when you sign up!

3. Cord Organizer

Have you ever gotten frustrated looking for the right cable or cord for a specific device? Or felt completely overwhelmed when you opened your glove box to find a jumble of cords all mixed up together?

Say goodbye to that problem for good by using a cord organizer to keep your cords in one place. These usually come in small and medium-sized cases and pouches with different colors and designs. You even get convenient cable organizers with different compartments where you can store your gadgets’ cords and chargers neatly.

Get your free road trip packing list here!

4. Organize Your Glove Box

The glove box is the car’s command center and should always be as clean and organized as possible. Remove all items that aren’t needed for your trip (yes, that includes old receipts and dirty napkins from your favorite fast food joint). Only keep the essentials.

What are the essentials, you ask? Well, that’s easy. The items best kept in the glove box are your license and identity documents, cord case (see above), hand sanitizer, and tissues. It’s also handy to keep all-purpose wet wipes, a flashlight (with fresh batteries), a roll of toilet paper, and a direction map (as a backup if you encounter any problems with your GPS navigation system ).

Another great tip I can give you is to save space in your glove box by checking for an electronic (digital) copy of your car’s manual online. If you can find one, leave the chunky printed version at home and free up some much-needed space in your glove box.

5. Pre-Packed Snacks for Kids

Some people have strict no-food rules while traveling, but I firmly believe that snacks are essential for all passengers, especially road trip snacks for kids . Pre-packed zip-top bags with the kids’ favorite munchies should be placed conveniently in the car. It’s best to ensure they are easy and quick to access, like in one of the compartments of a backseat organizer (see above).

You can also use a stackable container to organize your snacks, neatly separating the food items into sections. A major advantage of pre-packed snack bags is that you can control the snack portions your kids consume on the trip. It also eliminates mess and clutter.

I find that it’s best to organize yummy pre-packed snack bags with a full lunch already prepared. 

The following make for a well-balanced pre-packed meal:

• A delicious sandwich
• Fruits and/or vegetables
• Nuts or trail mix
• One sweet treat (granola bars are always a winner)
• A juice box (or juice inside a spill-proof cup for the younger ones)

While you’re at it, use binder clips to seal unfinished snacks (like chips and sweets) and keep your receipts together. Bring a portable mini cooler bag to keep your drinks cold if there’s extra space.

Travel Tray for Snack Time

I like the idea of a set space where kids can enjoy their meals. Why not include a trav e l tray for kids to use for eating? Little ones can also place their gadgets on them while they watch their favorite cartoons on a cell phone or tablet.

Travel trays serve multiple purposes. Use them as a mini play station for the kids’ toys and games (also great for when the kids want to color in). If you prefer not to purchase a new tray, simply choose one from your home that’s a comfortable size to use and store.

Tip: Keep the remainder of the snacks in the car’s trunk with the rest of the groceries. Only have carefully prepared, packed snacks in the car’s main area so that no one overeats and risks getting sick during the trip. We did this during our Seattle to Crater Lake road trip , and I was glad.

Make sure to reserve your rental car ahead of time! I love using Discover Cars for my trips.

6. Use Carabiners to Hang Small Items

If you’ve ever gone hiking or camping, you’ve likely come across carabiners. Fish them out of that old “outdoors” box in your garage because they will prove helpful for your road trip.

When you don’t have bag hooks to use in the car, use carabiners as clever clips . You can attach as many carabiners as you need to the front headrests on either side so that they hang off facing the backseat. Use them to suspend small items like handbags, wallets, umbrellas, and kiddy backpacks.

You get locking carabiners that will sit securely once you’ve hooked them. This is useful when toddlers want to fiddle with them while sitting in the backseat.

You’ll find this especially helpful on an outdoor vacation like a Spokane to Glacier road trip .

7. Document Holder

Every road trip requires that your paperwork is in order, and I know just the item to help you stay organized. Use an accordion file or an e xpandable file folder to keep all your essential documents and papers in one place.

Keep the car registration, your insurance information, medical cards, and information related to your destination (such as accommodation details) neatly stored in the file folder. You should also keep a printed version of your itinerary with all your other paperwork.

Make sure to label each section of the folder clearly to know precisely where to find each document when needed. File folders come in many colors and styles, which is excellent if you want to get multiple uses out of them with your home admin. While you may not think you’ll use this, I promise you’ll be happy with this car organization hack for road trips if you do need to find a paper quickly.

Tip: Print a copy of my fantastic road trip trivia questions and keep them in your document holder with all the other travel papers. When things get boring on the road, whip out the questions and enjoy some fun trivia mania.

8. Organized Box with Entertainment Goodies

This is one of the best car storage hacks for your next road trip. Use clear containers and boxes to store essential items, such as coloring books, crayons, and stationery items for the kids. By using clear boxes, you can quickly identify what’s inside of them and get what you need quickly.

In fact, clear boxes are useful for more than just the kids’ entertainment goodies. You should do things a little differently on your next road trip and use clear boxes to store other items in the trunk. These include clothes, shoes, extra toys, and small trinkets you collect along the way – you’ll be glad you took the time to organize your car for a road trip.

Tip: If you have more than one child in the back of the car, a pack of travel games is a great way to eliminate fights and have everyone entertained and playing together.

9. Pop-up Trunk Shelf

The trunk of your vehicle can be a scary place, where different family members throw things in there for “safe-keeping” (only to be re-discovered months later). Bring an end to all of that with this road trip storage idea. Start by cleaning out your trunk and removing all the old junk that may have been sitting there for a long time.

Then, to prepare for your road trip adventure, use trunk shelves (and trunk organizers ) to keep items in the car’s back storage area neat and tidy. Sometimes you want to separate certain things, like keeping muddy, wet, or dirty shoes away from other items.

I suggest you organize the trunk’s items so that those you’ll need to use often are placed on the top (or in front), where they are easy to access. Set the trunk into distinct areas: luggage, groceries, a car emergency kit, dirty clothes, and shoes.

10. Hang Your Groceries Using a Bungee Cord

This idea seems like an odd one, but I promise you it works like a charm. When traveling with groceries, the last thing you want is for separate items to escape from their shopping bags and slide all over the trunk.

That’s why using a bungee or suspension cord is the perfect way to keep them neatly packed and standing upright for the duration of your trip. Fix your cord from one end of the trunk’s side to the other. Enjoy the benefits of not having your grocery items move and shift around in the car’s back storage area.

If you don’t have a bungee or suspension cord, make use of any suitable taut rope that you can fix securely across the length of your trunk.

Tip: Distribute your groceries evenly into all the shopping bags you’ve used. Make sure not to have some bags fuller or heavier than the rest. This way, you’ll avoid the bags tearing or splitting.

11. Pre-Packed First Aid or Sick Kit

As everyone knows, especially parents, minor medical emergencies do happen while on the road. From small cuts to minor bruises and other little mishaps, it’s always best to have a traveler’s first aid kit handy to handle any medical problems when they arise.

It’ll be frustrating if you don’t have the correct items or have to search for them in odd places around the car. So save yourself the stress and hassle by organizing a pre-packed first aid bag (also called a sick kit).

Your kit should have all the medical essentials, such as:

• Bandaids (of different shapes and sizes)
• Rolled bandages
• Alcohol or disinfecting wipes
• Topical cream for insect bites, antiseptic cream
• Disposable gloves
• Painkillers
• Anti-nausea medication for car sickness
• Mini scissors
• Thermometer

Quick tip – make sure all medicines are still good and not expired!

12. Line Your Cup Holders with Baking Cups or Muffin Holders

This is a tip for decreasing the chances of creating a sticky mess in your cup holders when there are spills (and trust me, there will be, even when kids use spill-proof cups ).

By lining your cup holders with baking or muffin cups (try using silicone baking cups if you can), you protect the cup holders and keep them clean. You can change them out whenever they get too dirty, which is why it’s one of my favorite tips to organize a car for a road trip.

Sometimes you’ll travel in a larger group and need more cup holders in the car for all the drinks. Use a muffin tray , which you can place in an appropriately sized basket, as a multi-cup holder.

It’s also a good idea to keep paper towels in a convenient place in the car for quick clean-ups and tidying up after passengers eat something. And, of course, you’ll have wet wipes in your backseat organizer, which is one of my favorite tips to organize for a road trip.

A great way to prevent a mess on your seats and the floor is by using seat and floor protectors (try rubber floor mats ). These will prevent stains in your car from the mess that dirty shoes, spilled drinks, and food cause. Seat and floor protectors also come in handy when traveling with animals.

13. Use Suction Shower Caddies

Another unique road trip organization idea to store items while traveling is to use small suction shower caddies . You attach them to the windows in the backseat so that passengers can store small items like sunscreen, sunglasses, hand sanitizer, and hand cream nearby. This is also a great place to keep snacks and drinks, especially for the little ones.

14. Store the Car Emergency Kit in the Trunk

Although a well-serviced and well-maintained car shouldn’t give you any trouble on the road, it’s best to be prepared for any emergencies (like when the car breaks down). Prepare and store your car emergency kit in the back trunk to be ready when needed.

The kit should contain the basics, including the following:

• Jumper cables
• A wheel wrench
• A tripod jack
• A reflective cloth

The great thing about car emergency kits is that they already have their own designated spot beneath the trunk’s floor covering where the spare tire is typically stored.

15. Use a Designated Garbage Collection Bag

There’s nothing worse than a car full of empty snack packets and bottles lying all over the place. This is why one of my top travel tips is to have a designated garbage collection bag where you can store all your trash.

It’s a surefire way to avoid a dirty, disorganized car during your trip. You can buy a portable car trash can if you’ve got the extra bucks or use an old shopping or plastic bag.

Hang the garbage collection bag from the backseat or keep it on the floor. When you stop at a gas station or take a break to stretch your legs, you can dispose of it once it’s full. Replace it with a fresh, empty one.

Leave enough comfortable leg room if you keep any storage items on the floor. You can do this by storing certain items underneath the car seats.

Have any tips to add on how to organize a car for a road trip? Leave it in the comments!

Marissa Pedersen

Marissa is a passionate road trip enthusiast who has traveled extensively throughout the United States and Canada via car and continues to go on new trips every year to explore more of the country. Her love of road tripping has given her a unique perspective on the best routes, hidden gems, and must-see attractions along the way.

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17 Road Trip Hacks That Will Save Your Summer

Editor, Newsroom Labs, HuffPost

It's road trip season! All across America, people are piling into their cars and taking to the open road. But as anyone who's driven for longer than two hours knows, road trips aren't all windblown hair and sunshine. Once you've eaten all the snacks and your kids won't stop kicking the back of your seat, road trips can get real old, real fast.

Never fear: we've found 17 tips and tricks to get you through the longest, most laborious drives. These road trip hacks will have you riding in style in no time.

1. Hang an iPad off of your car's sun visor for a makeshift TV monitor.

2. Use cling wrap for a makeshift lid to avoid mid-drive spillage.

3. Pack a bag with napkins and plastic utensils to make eating on-the-go that much easier.

Modern Parents Messy Kids

4. Invest in a personal fridge to keep food and drinks cold during long drives.

5. Take a cereal container, add a trash can liner and voilá! You've got a perfectly sized DIY trash bin.

Unsophisticook

6. Use a binder clip and rubber band to create a DIY smart phone/GPS holder.

Mama Say What

7. Download SitOrSquat , the app that can help you find clean public restrooms when you're on the road.

8. While you're at it, download GasBuddy to find the cheapest gas along your route.

9. If you're planning on sleeping in your car, bring along an inflatable pool raft for maximum comfort.

10. Turn empty coffee creamer bottles into spill-proof snack containers.

Stockpiling Moms

11. Buy a five-port car charger to keep everyone's devices powered up.

12. Traveling with a furry friend? Protect your pup with a safety seat.

In The Company Of Dogs

13. Fashion your own DIY seatbelt pillow for the comfiest naps ever.

So Sew Easy

14. Grab a half-empty jar of peanut butter. Add celery or pretzels for a portable snack.

Nike Peterson via Thrive

15. Make meals on-the-go so much easier with this mini car table.

16. If you're traveling with kids, avoid the inevitable "Are we there yet?" questions with a laminated travel map. Have your kids trace the route and cross off landmarks as you go!

Creekside Learning

17. And always keep this handout in your glove compartment in case of emergency.

Kids Activities Blog

Also on HuffPost:

America's 10 Best Summer Road Trips for 2015

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10 Hacks for Your Family Road Trip

Tips for traveling with kids on a road trip.

When we decided to go on our first big family road trip the first thought that came into my mind was “How will we survive this with 3 little kids?” With three kids under six years old, I knew that it would take some organization and planning to make sure all our ducks were in a row and to ensure everyone was taken care of during the long rides on the road. I’m sharing the 10 Hacks for Your Family Road Trip that we will forever us for all future family vacations!

We were so excited to head to Utah for our big family road trip. We had traveled before with the kids, but nothing like 12 hours in the car. Luckily I found some really great hacks that made traveling in the car with little ones fun and bearable. Here are my 10 hacks for family road trips and traveling with kids.

If you LOVE to travel, make sure you check out the adorable National Park Themed Birthday we threw for Duncan! It is the cutest EVER! TAG ME on Instagram @projectwhim if you try anything from the blog! I love to see and share!

Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Hack #1 Car Organization

With 5 people crammed into a car I had to stay organized to stay sane. I found some really great items on Amazon for keeping the car organized. My favorite were these backseat car organizers . They come as a set of 2 which was perfect for each girl. I used them to store their headphone s, tablets, color books, loveys, water bottles, sunglasses, face masks, etc. Anything that I thought the girls would want easy access to while riding in the car.

My other favorite find was a car trash can . Why it took me this long to get a trash can for my car, I have no idea? With all the trash, and there was a lot of trash passed around, this was one of the best buys for the trip. An added bonus is that it is insulated and waterproof so you could also use it for drinks if you wanted to. I will be keeping the trash can in my car forever.

Set of 2 Back Seat Car Organizers | Collapsible Waterproof Trash Can |

Hack #2 Distractions While Traveling

All our kids are little, so they can quickly become bored. I didn’t want to have to rely on the tablets the entire time we were in the car, even that can get boring after a while. So, I packed plenty of fun activities for the girls. I bought them Crayola Dry Erase Board Binders . The girls loved them, and Duncan surprisingly played with it for a long time. He found it fascinating that he could scribble on it and then wipe it away. But these Sticker Books were the WIN! There are so many different themes to choose from, beautiful stickers, coloring pages and the perfect size for in the car. The Best Part- NO MESS! These entertained the kids for hours and are my go-to for traveling. I also bought everyone a Road Trip Bingo game which was really fun for all of us to play. The kids got a kick out of searching for things outside the car. Color books and Twistable Crayons are great too.

Hack #3 DIY Road Trip Fun Bags

This was the hit of the trip. You will have to try this Hack for Family Road Trips. I bought all kinds of small, inexpensive toys for the kids. Included in the bags were cloud putty , lego DOTs bracelets , some surprise balls that they could open, fun activity packs from the Dollar Store, matchbox cars for Duncan, etc. I picked one toy and one treat (bag of mini Oreos, cookies, and fruit snacks) and separated them out into paper bags. When the kids would start to get restless, I would grab a Road Trip Fun Bag and toss them back to the kids. They had so much fun with these. They loved that they didn’t know what was inside and that they would get something new to play with for a while. This is my favorite hack for the trip.

Lego DOTS Bracelets | Cloud Putty | Paper Lunch Bags | Mini Toy Cars

Hack #4 Containers for Food

Another genius idea for your next road trip. These plastic storage trays were used SO much on our trip. You get 2 for $2!! When we stopped for fast food, I would put the little bag of French fries, the box of nuggets and their juice box all in one plastic container and hand it back to them. This way we didn’t have nuggets flying all over the car and the kids could easily eat with their food in their lap. I also used these containers when we stopped in Grand Junction to grab Palisade Peaches (cue mouthwatering). The girls could eat their juicy peaches without juice getting all over their clothes and then when they finished, they would throw the pit in the container and hand it back to me.

2pk Storage Trays

Hack #5 Car Sick Kit

Oh, the dreaded car sickness. Everly is one of the kids that gets extremely car sick. Even if we are driving around for 10 mins, she can start to get queasy. I put together a car sick kit for her so if she started feeling bad, I could quickly help her feel better or do some quick cleaning if she got sick. In the clear bag I included some small trash bags , extra pair of clothes, crackers, water bottle, peppermint essential oil, motion sickness medicine, cleaning wipes, ginger chews, and a microfiber cloth. This was up by me so I could easily get to it while we were driving. Fortunately, we only had to pull the kit out once for her. The Peppermint Oil saves us 90% of the time. To use, she takes the cap off and she smells it straight from the bottle. You can also snag a car diffuser and diffuse peppermint and lemon oil while you travel. Your car will smell divine, and the combo will help when kids start to feel queasy. Another great tip we got from a follower on Instagram was to suck on a lemon. That one helped too! So, add some lemons to your bag!

Large Clear Makeup Bags | Peppermint Essential Oil | Kids Motion Sickness Medicine | Ginger Tablets | Small Trash Bags

Hack #6 Pack with a Purpose

Staying organized while traveling is a necessity for me. One of my favorite ways to stay organized is to pack together like-minded items. I bought a bunch of clear makeup bags and zip up containers so I could separate items by use. For example, all the medicine went in one container and all the kid’s bathroom accessories (hair ties, toothbrush, etc.) went in another. I used these clear packing cubes for swimsuits and the smaller one for sunscreen. I loved how it zipped up and kept wet swimsuits from ruining our other clothes. The pouch of sunscreen was really helpful because I could take the pouch and toss it in the pool bag or in our hiking backpack. Made it really convenient and easy. For our Texas Road Trip, I got this adorable Road Trip Bag . The quality is amazing, and we used it to carry all the kids’ toys that they wanted to bring.

You then want to pack the back of the car first with items you don’t need to get to. We started with all our bags of clothes. Then as you pack closer to the trunk door we put things that we might need to reach while on the road. I used my favorite Collapsible Utility Tote for things we might need at arm’s reach.

PRO TIP : I learned this the hard way: Don’t bring your expensive purse on your road trip. I was lucky that I bought this adorable (and really inexpensive) leather backpack for our TX road trip. At the start of the trip, I accidentally spilled an ENTIRE bottle of bug spray inside my backpack. It completely ruined it. So glad it didn’t happen in my expensive handbag. (BTW: I was so sad this happened, and I loved the backpack so much I repurchased it)

There were some home essentials I am so glad I added at the last minute. If you are staying in a hotel or an Air B&B or trying to picnic on the road these items are a MUST for a road trip.

Trash Bags : For dirty clothing or trash

Paper Plates and Plastic Utensils : For meals on the go, or eating in a hotel when you don’t have a dishwasher.

Paper Towels : Quick clean ups or to use as napkins

Plastic Cups : I used plastic cups for giving the kids baths and for drinks other than water.

Clorox Wipes and Lysol : Because Corona and I wanted to spray everything down when we got to our hotels and Air B&B’s.

First Aid Kit : You never know when you will need a band aid.

Nail Clippers : We had to use nail clippers twice on the trip. So glad we brought these.

Toilet Paper : Incase you find yourself in the middle of nowhere and the urge to potty strikes.

Road Trip Tote | Set of Clear Makeup Bags | Clear Packing Cubes | Collapsible Utility Tote | Large Leather Travel Tote | Leather BackPack

Hack #7 Snacks and Treats

Don’t forget to load up on all kinds of snacks and treats for the ride. Not only do these come in handy when everyone start to get bored, it can lengthen your ride until the next stop if you choose things that take time to eat. I loaded up on lots of individual sized snack bags like goldfish, animal crackers, raisins, peanut butter crackers and pretzels. Healthy options were a must too. I premade bags of sliced cucumber and bell peppers and grabbed a bunch of whole apples and peaches. Surprisingly, the healthy options were the first to go. I made sure all the snacks were in the passenger seat with me so anytime one of the kids started to get a little feisty, I’d toss them back a snack. Worked like a charm!

Hack #8 Get out and Stretch

When the kids start to get restless and the distractions are no longer working it’s time to get out and stretch. It’s amazing what a 15 minute stop can do for everyone. Try to utilize those bathroom breaks or lunch pit stops as an opportunity to get the wiggles out. We made our own picnic lunch in a parking lot and then had the kids jump and run around some construction cones we found. Not only was it totally fun and something they will remember (Dad jumping over the cones), but it energized them enough to get through the rest of the drive. If you find yourself driving by a beautiful spot and you know the kids are starting to get antsy, use the opportunity to get out and check out the scenery. Take some pics and then get back on the road.

Hack #9 Bring Comfort Items

I am the type of person that can’t sleep without my pillow from home. So that was a must on my list. I also made sure to pack the kids’ loveys and blankets so they would have their comforts from home and easily fall asleep in the car. This was extremely helpful with Duncan. When he would start rubbing his eyes, I would lay his blanket on his lap and turn on our portable sound machine (one of my favorite baby items EVER) and rub his leg a little bit and he would quickly drift off to sleep. I also made sure to bring a heavy throw blanket from home. This was mainly for me. I have trouble sleeping without heavy blankets, so I brought this incase the places we were staying had the thin sheets on the bed. I ended up using it more than I thought. We sat on it for road trip picnics and for when someone got cold in the car. It was also nice to cuddle with at night after the kids went to bed while rex and I played cards or relaxed on the couch.

Hack #10 Get Digital

Don’t forget to pack your tablets for the ride. As much as I dislike too much screen time, sometimes throwing on a movie is the best way to knock out a few hours of the drive. We only had 1 tablet so we decided to buy a Kindle Fire so the girls would each have their own (in case they wanted to watch 2 separate things). They each got their tablets, and I preloaded their favorite movies (and some new ones too) on them. You can also download Audible and get books! When they wanted to watch a movie or listen to a story they could relax with the tablet and headphones. It was definitely a life saver when they were just wanting to zone out a little bit, and it helped keep the car nice and quiet!

We purchased the 10 inch Kindle Fire in the pretty teal color and I was really impressed with it! I actually preferred it over our other tablet.

We were so surprised by how well the kids did on the road. All the planning and organizing really helped us quickly meet everyone’s needs and keep them occupied. It ended up being such a memorable family vacation that we can’t wait to plan our next road trip adventure.

Interested in Exploring Utah for your next family road trip? Check out all the fun (family friendly) things we did and saw! Exploring Utah

Check out our latest road trip to Texas ! Click HERE to see all the fun and unique things we did in TX.

If you love these 10 Hacks for Family Road Trips make sure to check out my blog post on 7 Creative Ways to Gift Experiences for Kids | Laundry Room Makeover for Under $200 | Kids Sleep Roller Recipe for Natural Sleep Support | Our First Year of Homeschool | The Ultimate Barbie Doll Storage Solution | DIY Non-Toxic MAGIC Stain Stick |

Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram for more tips, DIY projects and fun activities for kids. Check out my saved “Road Trip” and “Utah” highlights to watch videos of our trip.

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9 thoughts on “ 10 hacks for your family road trip ”.

Your organization is so on point. The paper bags are so cute.

Nathalia | NathaliaFit – Fitness & Wellness Blog http://www.nathaliafit.com

Thank you! The kids really loves them!

Wow! This is amazing! We haven’t done a massive road trip with our 3 kids yet but I can’t wait to come out of lockdown and take advantage of our beautiful country (Australia)! All of these were amazing tips, I especially loved the trash can! Why I don’t have one of these now is beyond me haha x

Thank you!! Yes, I can’t believe I never thought to put a trash can in my car before this. Haha

That looks fun! I have yet to go on a road trip yet with my kids, but if we ever get the chance we will use some of these hacks for sure! Useful tips!! http://www.parentingpain.com

Thank you! It’s a great way to travel right now!

I love these tips! My kids are a little older, but there’s so much here that is valuable for any age. I love the garbage can you found, and the plastic trays are so awesome! Thanks for sharing.

Thank you! Yes, the plastic trays were great for us adults too!

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