How to Pack Smart for a Long Drive With Kids

Long drives with the kids bring to mind thoughts of screaming, whining siblings, a van full of granola wrappers lining the floor and lots of hair-pulling (yours). New and veteran parents alike have struggled to entertain -- or at least pacify -- their kids during a long car ride. This simply does not have to be so. With careful planning and a well-stocked bag of tricks, you can transform a long drive into a memorable part of any trip.

Things You'll Need

  • Small toy bag per child
  • Emergency gear
  • Portable DVD or other electronic gear
  • Portable toilet
  • Healthy snacks
  • Small cooler
  • Travel games
  • Laundry supplies

Instructions

  1. Babies and Young Children

    • 1

      Help your young child pack a small bag of his favorite small toys to bring on the trip. This purse-sized bag will help him maintain some normalcy without making a mess and will keep him busy packing his "luggage" so you can do the real packing.

    • 2

      Plot some amusing and quirky places, such as the roadside statues of dinosaurs in Dickinson, North Dakota, as bathroom stops on your travel itinerary. Use a resource like a state chamber of commerce or a website like Roadside America to find these locations.

    • 3

      Gather emergency gear, especially if you are travelling in a harsh climate or with a baby. Pack blankets for cold weather and extra water bottles for hot.

    • 4

      Mount a set of portable DVD players on your headrests regardless of how old the kids are. While it is nice to unplug from technology on a long drive, the peace that comes from an hour of cartoons can be invaluable as you navigate. Do not forget the headphones unless you want kids' show theme songs stuck in your head.

    • 5

      Grab a portable toilet if you have a potty-training toddler, since you cannot always know where the next bathroom will be. Bring wet wipes and lots of small trash bags to deal with messes and dirty diapers until you can find a rest stop.

    • 6

      Load a cooler with healthy snacks such as fresh fruits and veggies. Avoid the temptation to fill it with candy, but have a few sweets available.

    School-Aged Children

    • 7

      Load a bag with road trip games, such as the license plate game or an I Spy list to keep your kids engaged and looking around for items to check off of a list.

    • 8

      Start the children their own trip notebook to serve as a journal chronicling the adventure. Have them color pictures of what they do or write a diary about what they experienced. Add pictures to their book when you get home for a keepsake they can have to remember the trip.

    • 9

      Snag a few travel-sized board games or activities for the ride. These travel versions usually do not have many pieces that will get lost and are a good way to kill an hour. Mad Libs or word puzzles can provide some easy entertainment.

    • 10

      Bring only one outfit per day of driving plus sleeping clothing. Pack some detergent and a couple rolls of quarters to make use of a laundromat since packing more clothing than this will be hard to hold as the dirty clothes begin to accumulate. A car full of dirty, stinky clothing is no fun.

    • 11

      Check out an audiobook at your library. This option will likely stimulate your older children's minds and generate some conversation.

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