18 Brilliant Road Trip Hacks for Kids

Hitting the road with kids can be a wild ride, but it doesn’t have to be a stressful one! With four kiddos of my own, I’ve discovered some game-changing hacks to make road trips smoother and more fun for everyone.

Read on for 18 genius road trip hacks for kids that you can easily implement for your next getaway!

*Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission at no cost to you. All opinions remain my own.

1. Utilize Free Library Resources

I always do a big library stop before any road trip. I check out books, playaways (audiobooks), DVDs, books on CD and wonderbooks (books that read to you and *ding* when you turn the page).

Having these free resources is so helpful in supplying our kids with new books and DVDs for a road trip! It is especially fun to get books about the location where you are traveling.

2. Pack Snackle Boxes

Snackle boxes are such a fun way to snack on the road! Simply fill a food safe tackle box or craft box with a variety of snacks. I recommend picking mostly health snacks and including a couple protein options. This keeps those sugar crashes at bay!

Our kids’ go-to snacks include granola balls, beef sticks, fruit, popcorn, applesauce pouches and cheese sticks.

For my favorite snackle box container and a detailed list of snack ideas, check out my complete snackle box ideas guide!

3. Plan Your Rest Stops in Advance

There’s nothing worse than realizing there is not a rest stop for the next couple hours of your road trip with kids! Use Google Maps to plan your rest stops in advance to avoid bathroom emergencies. We typically plan to stop every 2-3 hours.

I also recommend checking the weather the day before your trip to make plans for inclement weather.

4. Plan Rest Stops at Playgrounds

If there are playgrounds along your route, you’ve hit the jackpot! Don’t underestimate the value of stopping to play at a playground for even 5-10 minutes. It helps get the wiggles out and encourages positive attitudes as well.

If there are not playgrounds along your route, make up a few fun exercises at each stop. For instance, have your kids do 20 jumping jacks, run down the sidewalk and back, and do a lap of lunges.

5. Provide a Visual Map or Timeline

One of my favorite road trip hacks for families is to provide a visual map to help kids understand where you are in your trip timeline. There are several ways to do this. You can simply have a GPS that everyone can see which shows the entirety of the trip.

In addition, you can create a timeline that hangs at the front of the car with a movable marker showing your current location.

6. Bring a Travel Potty and Toilet Paper

We all know there will be times where a kid has to go to the bathroom in the middle of nowhere. Having a small travel potty and toilet paper in the trunk can be a lifesaver! 

7. Glow Sticks for Nighttime Travel

If you need entertainment for your kids after the sun sets, bring glow sticks! This is also a great time to take turns playing family DJ and listen to some fun tunes.

8. Take a Yoto Player or Download Audiobooks

Our Yoto players get worn out on road trips! If you aren’t familiar with a Yoto player, it is an audiobook player for ages 3-12. Kids can change out the physical cards themselves and can choose between books, music, games and more. They are seriously a game changer!

For more details, check out our complete review of the Yoto Mini.

If you don’t have a Yoto player, simply download audiobooks to your phone or check out books on CD at the library! Magic Tree House and the Boxcar Children are some of our kids’ favorites.

9. Pack a Different Colored Suitcase for Each Family Member

This makes unloading a breeze when you get to your destination! Instead of opening the suitcase or searching for a name tag, easily identify whose suitcase is whose by the color! 

Bonus tip: If each family member has different colored packing cubes that match the color of the suitcase, even better!

10. Pack Activities for Road Trip Entertainment

I always recommend creating a “road trip box” where you keep a stash of road trip activities. The important part is to only use these items during travel so that they are fresh and interesting each time!

We typically add a couple new items to the box when we have a big trip coming up.

We also reserve a few items for the return trip only, so they aren’t already tired of the options by the time we start our journey home.

A few of our go-to road trip items include:

• Road trip coloring pages
• Where’s Waldo books
• Road trip bingo
• Hand held games such as Flipside
• Magnetic puzzles
• Brain teaser puzzles

11. Pack Mess-Free Art Supplies

Art supplies can be a great road trip activity for kids! We use pencil pouches for each kid to hold crayons or colored pencils, and we bring clip boards to keep paper in place. I find clipboards work better than the large lap trays, which take up so much room in the car when not in use.

Other art supplies we love for road trips include:

• Water Wow books
• Color Wonder paper and markers
• Stickers
• Pipe cleaners
• Wiki Stix

12. Play Family Car Games

Create memories by playing games with your kids! The classics never fail.

Ideas include:

• The license plate game
• I spy
• The alphabet game
• 20 questions

13. Hourly Surprise Bags

For another variation of road trip activities for kids, consider making small hourly surprise bags for each child! I have found this works best with younger kids that are easily amused with small, simple items.

Dollar Tree is a great place to purchase items for these bags! Remember, these don’t need to be extravagant! Keep it simple.

Ideas include:

• Hotwheels car
• Stickers
• Small plastic animals
• Fidget toys
• Action figures
• Art supplies
• Sticker by number books

14. Bring a Car Trash Can

This one may not be exciting, but it is one of the most practical road trip with kids tips! Eliminate the plethora of snack wrappers thrown around your vehicle by bringing a car trash can. Empty it out during rest stops to keep your space organized.

15. Painter’s Tape

I don’t know what it is, but young kids love playing with tape! Painters tape is perfect because it isn’t too sticky and won’t harm your car’s interior. Toddlers love when you stick little pieces all around (within their reach) and they peel off and then re-stick each piece.

16. Use a Fish Net or Grabber to Reach the Back Seat

If you have kids riding in the third row during your family road trip, consider bringing a telescoping fish net or grabber to deliver snacks or activities!

17. Create a Cozy Environment for Naps

Naps are pure gold on road trips! Bring any comfort items your child needs to rest peacefully. Cozy blankets, eye masks, a stuffed animal, window shades, and a portable sound machine are all good options depending on the ages of your children.

18. Save Screen Time for the Final Stretch

We always start our each leg of the trip with no screens, then pull them out the last 30-60 minutes of each leg of the journey. Then we take a rest stop, and start again on the road with hands-on activities in stead of screens. 

Of course, you will figure out what rhythm works best for your own family. We find there is actually more whining and complaining from our kids if they have too much screen time at once.

More Travel Hacks for Kids

For even more travel hacks and packing tips, check out our ultimate round-up of genius mom travel hacks and toddler travel tips!

Road Trip Success

And there you have it, friends– my top road trip hacks for kids to keep your little adventurers happy and entertained! With these tips in your back pocket, you’re all set for a smoother, more enjoyable journey.

Remember, the journey can be just as memorable as the destination!

If you are traveling with toddlers, check out our road trip ideas for toddlers!

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