Kid's Car Trip Packing List

Personal Clothing Items

• Packing the right type of clothes for your kids depends on where you are going, what type of activities or events you'll be attending and what time of the year it is. However, a general rule is don't over-pack. It isn't necessary to pack eight pairs of jeans for each child, even if you are going somewhere for a week. Unless the jeans are visibly dirty, your kids can re-wear them. If you will be staying with family, take advantage of their washer and dryer, if necessary. However, pack enough underwear and socks for each day of your trip. Keep shoes to a minimum, packing one additional comfortable pair of shoes for the kids and one pair of dress shoes each, if necessary. Base other clothing decisions, including outerwear and swimsuits, on your destination.

Snacks and Drinks

• Having enough snacks and beverages to keep your little ones satiated is crucial on a road trip, especially if you are trying to avoid paying for food at rest stops. Pack a small cooler than can sit somewhere within easy reach in the car. Fill it with healthy snacks such as grapes, baby carrots, blueberries, strawberries, turkey slices and mozzarella string cheese. Other car-friendly snacks are granola bars, assorted nuts and trail mix. For more substantial eating, you can pack peanut butter and jelly tortilla wraps, making the conventional sandwich less messy to eat. Have plenty of water in the cooler. You might want to monitor and limit water to avoid the kids needing a bathroom break at every rest stop along the way. Remember that fruit such as grapes can help quench thirst as well.

Kids Entertainment

• Keeping your kids entertained in the car can save you hours of headaches. Pack activity book packs for each kid that all have the same type of items in it to prevent fighting over items. Depending on the ages of your kids, activity packs could have coloring books, comic books, chapter books and puzzle books. If your vehicle has built-in screens in the backs of the seats, your kids can be entertained with a movie or TV program. If your kids have electronic tablets, you could also load them with their favorite kids entertainment, but you might want to limit screen time to allow for family conversation and games. As a family, you can play games such as I Spy or the license plate search game. You could also play a game where everyone takes turns calling out something they see or related to the road trip that starts with a certain letter of the alphabet.

Emergency and Comfort Needs

• Be prepared for minor or major mishaps with your kids while on the road. You should have a first-aid kit for bumps and bruises. Don't forget to pack any required medications for the kids, and basic items for upset stomachs, allergies and congestion. You should always have items such as jumper cables and tools to change tires to avoid hours stuck on the side of the road with cranky kids. You should also let the kids bring their pillows and small blankets, especially on long road trips, for comfortable dozing off. Young kids might want to bring along their favorite stuffed animals. Limit them to just one and ensure they stay in the car to avoid a meltdown over a lost teddy bear.