Road trip essentials (that you actually need)

By Stacie Gaetz

When it comes time to pack for a road trip with my family, we each decide that we absolutely cannot live without all of our worldly possessions for the two to seven nights that we are gone. Our SUV becomes packed to the roof with clothes, toys, books, food, pillows, blankets, beach things etc.

There is barely enough room for our poor old dog to squeeze into the back seat and give us “Really, guys?” eyes for the hours it takes to get there.

This year, as we planned to go to Radium, BC for the longest trip we have taken all together as a family, I decided we have to find a better way to prioritize what we pack.

We were only going to take what we absolutely needed, and it turns out that it is a lot less than you think.

NEW travel activities

Vacations are expensive enough – even road trips with these gas prices! We don’t want to add a ton of expense to your trip, but it is a really good idea to get a few new travel games or activities for the trip. The novelty will keep them entertained for longer even if it is as simple as a new card game they have never played before or a travel version of their favorite board game. These don’t have to be big or take up much room. Everything new that you bring on the trip should fit in the back pocket of the driver or passenger seat.

Snacks

This is no secret – every road trip needs snacks. Depending on how long you will be in the car, you can keep kiddos satisfied with just their favorite “junk food” like chips and candy for a short trip (one to two hours at most) but if the trip is a bit longer, try to pack at least a few healthy options like grapes, carrot sticks and granola bars. Don’t forget the water bottles.

One suitcase/bag per person

For the longest time, I tried to pack all of my two kids’ clothes with mine in the same suitcase and when they were both five and younger, it worked. Now that they are older, it is important that everyone has their own bag. This makes it easier for them to go and find something themselves if you are going to be living out of the suitcase for a while. It also makes it much simpler to separate the dirty clothes from the clean (just bring a small garbage bag like you would use in your bathroom garbage at home for the laundry).

Limit the amount of other toys

If your household is anything like mine, your kids will decide that they need to bring every toy, game and book that they have ever owned. You will probably need to limit how many they can bring. This can look different for each family and depends on the length of time you are gone and what your accommodations look like. (Are you all in a tent? Small camper? Hotel room or large rented house?). I limit my kids to two small stuffies, three books, two portable games and one other toy of their choice each. These can always be cut down by one if you are going to a body of water and planning to bring things like sand toys and floaties.

Emergency car kit

Making sure you are prepared in the case of an emergency is a must with kids. You do not want the memory of sitting stranded on the side of the road to overtake any fond memories you might make on your trip.  The kit should include the standard jumper cables, pylons, a flashlight, first aid kit and blankets. Don’t forget to also have an emergency supply of non-perishable food, additional water, extra clothes and resealable bags.

Keeping clean

It can be helpful to have a large resealable bag that includes anything you will need to keep your kiddos clean during the trip. Ours includes hand sanitizer, wet wipes, Lysol wipes, Kleenex, and toilet paper. After using a public roadside bathroom or stopping off for some melty ice cream (especially if you do these things in that order), it is very important that you have a way to clean and disinfect your kiddos.

Remember that a road trip is just as much about the journey as the destination.

You aren’t going to stop every time your children say they are bored or want to get out of the car (or you would never get there) but it is worth it to plan a few stops along the way to take in a view or even just stretch your legs. Some of the best stories from vacations growing up come from funny and unexpected (positive) things that happened along the way.

Safe travels!