Mom-Approved Road Trip Essentials List

Planning a family road trip? These mom-approved car essentials make travel easier and smoother. See the list of must-haves for a stress-free ride!

What is it about a family road trip that brings all the nostalgia with it. We love a good roadtrip with our own families, and with nine kids between the two of us, we’ve definitely learned a lot about what not to forget. We’ve got all the ideas from snacks to sanity-savers for you today and you’ll be so happy you stumbled onto this post. With a little planning and our collection of must-haves, you’ll be ready to go for any trip longer than 30 minutes. Let’s jump in!

Simplify Travel with These Family Road Trip Essentials

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. For more information, see my disclosures here. As an Amazon associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Keep the Backseat Organized

One of the best things you can do for a family road trip is to find a way to keep the backseat as organized as possible. We love using a back of the seat organizer to have snacks, toys, and extra clothes on the ready. These work great with the older kids too because they can use the compartments for their own items to avoid them being lost rolling around the floor of the car. It helps all the kids, and us, from having to dig through bags to find the things they want to have on hand for the ride.

Make Road Trip Entertainment Easier

When you have a long car ride ahead, the last things you want to hear are the “Are we there yet?” and the “I’m bored” comments. We like having a tablet holder on the headrest aside from the backseat organization so that it’s easier for the kids to swivel it, change the show, and keep the peace on the long drive. It also avoids the fights over who gets to hold the iPad and eliminates dropped screen risks. We use our phone hot spot or some of our cars are wifi-enabled too. It’s great for streaming their favorite shows or movies for a quieter travel.

Create a Kid-Friendly Command Center

One of our favorite purchases has been the little kids travel tray that gives the kids the ability to color, play with small toys, and eat their snacks without anything rolling away. It’s great because it works on car seats and booster seats, so it can grow with them too.

When it comes to making snacking easier in the car, we love using the snack spinners. It keeps them occupied, gives a ton of variety and gives them some independence on what they want for a snack. We also love that it reduces the mess and us having to turn around a bunch to hand over more snacks.

We also love using a car cup holder expander for when we stop for fast food. It helps the kids keep everything secured without dropping it all over the floor or their lap… especially the older kids. We love them for us too.

Rotate Activities to Prevent Meltdowns

Having activities at the ready that can burn off the time are key to making a road trip fun. Screens work, but after awhile they can become boring too. We like to bring a few screen-free options too, like a road trip mystery game or trivia. They’re super fun for older kids and even us adults, especially when we are on the last leg of the drive. Another fun must have is an LCD writing tablet. My kids love doodling on these, doing spelling games, or even completing drawing challenges. Plus, you won’t have any paper scraps or crayons to clean up later.

Plan for Bathroom Emergencies

Oh the bathroom breaks… they can really derail a long trip. The amount of time to get off the road, use the bathroom, get situated again, and get back on the road can cost you a half hour at least. There are so many great options out there, but the one we love the most for girls and women is the reusable silicone urine cup. It can really be a lifesaver when there’s literally no rest stop in sight. Plus, it’s discreet, hygienic, and fits easily in a glove compartment.

Road Trip Essentials for the Car

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. For more information, see my disclosures here. As an Amazon associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

From all our tips above, here are the items we personally recommend to make your next road trip hassle-free.

1. Heavy Duty Back Seat Car Organizer – This organizer has all the compartments you need for kids’ essentials like books, wipes, snacks, and even tablets. It keeps your backseat from turning into a clutter disaster and makes it easier to reach everything when you need it fast.
2. Tablet iPad Holder for Car Headrest – No more juggling screens or reaching back to reset shows. This holder keeps tablets securely in place so your kids can watch comfortably while you focus on driving.
3. Kids Travel Tray for Car – This soft, lightweight tray gives kids a flat surface for coloring, eating, or building with blocks. Zippered pockets help keep everything organized and close by.
4. Car Cup Holder Expander – Perfect for moms who juggle coffee, smoothies, and oversized water bottles. This expander creates extra space in a cramped console and keeps your drinks stable on bumpy roads.
5. Large Snack Spinner Slide – Keep five different snacks in one spinning container. It’s fun for kids to use, helps with portion control, and makes car snacks way less messy.
6. Kids Car Seat Tray – A must for younger kids in car seats. This tray includes cup holders and a deep surface that prevents toys and food from falling mid-ride.
7. Road Trip Mysteries – Car Game for Adults & Teens – A clever storytelling game perfect for older kids and teens. It sparks conversation, adds excitement to the ride, and can keep everyone engaged without a screen.
8. Road Trip Trivia for Kids – Add learning and laughs to the mix with trivia designed just for kids. It’s educational, interactive, and helps break up the trip into fun segments.
9. LCD Writing Tablet Doodle Board – A reusable and lightweight option for drawing, writing, and games. It’s quiet, mess-free, and endlessly entertaining.
10. Reusable Silicone Urine Cup for Women – Let’s be real, when a bathroom break isn’t an option, this can make all the difference. Compact and easy to clean, it’s a travel must-have for moms.

We know a little bit about what actually makes a difference on the road with 9 kids between the two of us, so these essentials will not only help you keep the car organized and the kids entertained, but you’ll actually be able to keep yourself just a little more sane. If you’re planning a summer road trip or even a quick weekend getaway, having the right gear makes a huge difference. What would you add to the list? Let us know in the comments!

If you enjoyed these ideas, make sure to pin the image below to reference later!