Road Trip Essentials

There’s nothing quite like hitting the open road with your family – music playing, snacks packed, and a sense of adventure ahead. But if you’ve ever road-tripped with kids, you know that being prepared is key. A little planning goes a long way toward keeping everyone comfortable, entertained, and stress-free.

Here are some of my favorite road trip essentials that make all the difference when traveling with kids. Each of these items helps keep the car cleaner, more organized, and a whole lot more fun!

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1. Car Trash Can

Let’s be honest – kids + snacks + hours in the car = crumbs and wrappers everywhere. A car trash can is a game-changer. Whether it’s goldfish cracker bags, napkins, or juice box straws, having a designated spot for trash keeps your car from turning into a disaster zone.

We recently added the one below to our car, and it’s just the right size for family chaos. It easily swallows up empty juice boxes, snack wrappers, and all the random “mystery trash” the kids seem to create. You can pop in a plastic bag if you want, but honestly the inside is waterproof and wipes clean in seconds. We keep one in the middle row and one in the back row—because let’s be real, that’s the only way to win the battle against car-floor clutter. 😉

👉 Shop this car trash can here

2. Car Seat Covers

Do you have leather seats that turn into a slip-n-slide on hot days? Yep, us too! 🙋‍♀️ We finally grabbed these car seat covers (just for the bottom part), and they’ve been a total comfort upgrade. No more sweaty legs on summer road trips, and now that mornings are getting chilly, they’re actually keeping me cozy, too. Summer to fall—problem solved. 🍂🚗 Check them out below!

👉 Find car seat covers here

3. Travel Tray for Kids

If your kids love to color, snack, or play with little toys on the road, a travel tray is a must. These trays sit right on their lap and give them a flat surface with side pockets for crayons, snacks, and even a cup holder. It keeps everything within reach and reduces the “Mom, I dropped it!” moments.

My 4-year-old loves this travel tray—she packs it with all her “treasures” and uses it for everything from coloring to stickers to games. 🎨✨ I was a little worried it might be a hassle to get on and off the car seat, but it’s actually super easy. Bonus: it folds up nice and neat when she’s done. Road trip win! 🚗🙌

👉 Check out this travel tray here

👉 And a lap desk for the older kids here

4. Car Activities

Long drives can get boring fast for the kids. Having a stash of car-friendly activities makes the miles fly by. Think sticker books, magnetic games, mess-free coloring kits, or even audiobooks. Keep a small tote filled with rotating activities to keep things fresh.

A few of our favorites are below!

👉 Sticker books, Cats Cradle, and Lacing Cards

Final Tip

Pack these essentials before your trip, and you’ll thank yourself somewhere around hour three when the kids are still happy and the car is still (mostly) clean. Road trips are about making memories, not stressing over messes.

🚗✨ Happy travels, and may your next adventure be as smooth as the highway ahead!