Road Trip Must Haves When Traveling with Kids

Looking forward to a road trip with your family this summer?

Traveling with children can be an adventure in and of itself.

Get some tips now to prepare for the journey.

Are We There Yet?

For many families, packing up and hitting the open road is the ticket to freedom and excitement.

I’ve heard some great insight from parents on how they prepare for a family road trip and make the most of sometimes challenging situations that I’m eager to share with you.

Before we get into their tips, let’s consider the following quote:

“An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered.” – G.K. Chesterton

My goal is to help you have an adventure! The experiences and tips below will fortify and buttress that aim.

Greg Heinemann, founder of Heritage Gear, a luxury leather bag company offering premium collegiate, NFL, MLB, and NHL merchandise, takes frequent road trips with his family.

Greg usually gets away on a road trip two to five times a year, sharing, “There is just nothing like throwing spatters on the road, visiting places, and making memories in between. Whether a weekend getaway or a cross-country trip, that freedom is what I love most while road-tripping.”

The Heinemanns have two children in elementary school.

Greg remarks, “This is such a fun but very tiring stage. With the long drives, entertainment is the name of the game.”

Kristine Eksteine-Nizka, co-founder of Love Your Italy, is an avid traveler and expert on Italy.

Kristine travels frequently with her husband and business partner, Michal, and their almost six-year-old daughter, who has been exploring the beauty of Italy and The Dolomites since she was just six months old.

Chris Oberman, founder and CEO of Moving Jack, belongs to a family of world travelers. He writes, “Together with my wife and our 16-month-old son, we move to a different country every two years. We’ve lived in The Netherlands, China, Iraq and currently live in South Korea. So, we like to travel!”

Point of fact, Chris’ son has already flown more than 6 times and went on several road trips. 

The Obermans go on road trips about once every two or three months in South Korea, with Chris saying, “There are a lot of lakes, hiking, and camping spots to explore. We also went on a road trip a few months ago to the south of Belgium/north of France, a popular region named the Ardennes.”

Don’t Leave Home Without It!

When setting out on longer excursions like a road trip, there’s always that one thing you need to bring with you for your kiddos, no matter what.

The presence or absence of that ‘thing’ can set the stage for a relatively serene voyage or a tempest of temper tantrums.

Greg sees the connection between blood sugar with behavior, stating, “The one item I absolutely consider a must-have for my traveling kids is a snack bag filled to the brim. I know it sounds easy, but attention-grabbing kids can turn smooth sailing into chaos in no time. Choosing the right snacks maintains their happiness, minimizes unnecessary stops, and avoids any roadside meltdowns.”

For Kristine, the choice is simple. She brings her daughter’s favorite soft toy that she sleeps with at night, cautioning, “If you forget that one, the naps/nighttime sleep will be a nightmare.”

With a toddler in tow, Chris and his wife need some reinforcements!

He shares, “We have a stroller of Joolz, the Aer Plus. The stroller can be folded with the push of a button. When we’re on a road trip, we make stops regularly so it’s convenient to be able to get the stroller and fold it open with the push of a button. Nowadays, he is starting to walk, but it is still very convenient to have it when he wants to take a nap.”

Another item the Obermans always bring with them is the carrier from Artipoppe. Chris remarks, “When he is too tired and a bit restless, having him in the carrier puts him at ease right away.”

Traveling with Pets

Many families travel with furry friends when going to the cabin, out for a hike, or day-tripping at the beach.

Why leave your beloved pet with a sitter or at a kennel when some simple preparation can ensure your entire family gets to go on vacation?

Pets are family, too! That said, dogs tend to do best with car travel.

Greg confirms, “We travel with our dog, Moose, the Labrador Retriever. He’s part of the family, and road trips suit him just as well as they do us. We make sure he is comfortable during breaks, with water and his favorite blanket.”

Chris finds it easier to travel without his pets unless the family is up for a big move.

He volunteers, “We have two American Ragdoll cats. While we don’t take them with us on road trips, we do travel with them when we move to another country. Their names are Didi and Diandian, both male. They have flown from China to The Netherlands, to Iraq to South Korea as well.”

Road Trip Packing Regrets

Overpacking can prepare you for anything, but it also has its downsides, whether it be a backpack you’re taking on a hike like the Camino de Santiago or road-tripping with limited space beyond precious cargo.

There’s only so much space for stuff you don’t need!

Our panel of experts regretted bringing certain items with them, including:

“Tons of electronic gadgets and other toys. They take up space, and half the time, the kids never even use them. I’ve come to realize that a few carefully chosen items – tablets preloaded with movies, coloring books, and a couple of small toys – are more than enough.” – Greg

“Way too many toys. In the end, only things such as balls, coloring books, or card games are used. During road trips, you’re mostly out and about (or in the car), so toys are unnecessary.” – Kristine

“We bought quite an expensive baby camping bed, one that folds up easily and isn’t too heavy to carry. But the mattress turned out to be thin and not sturdy enough. I don’t think he ever slept a whole night in it. He always ends up sleeping between us.” – Chris

Games to Keep Kids Entertained

To help pass the time, there are many games you can play with or without the aid of technology to engage your children before you reach your destination.

Greg concurs, “Oh yes, we play games to entertain ourselves. The good old ‘I Spy’ works wonderfully for younger kids, and we also love the license plate game-it keeps everybody involved and gives the drive a true adventure feeling. Sometimes, we make up crazy stories, and everyone adds a sentence to keep the story going. Oh, the laughter in the car!”

For Kristine’s family, it’s either ‘I Spy’ or watching shows on the phone.

Chris acknowledges, “Our son is still a bit too young to really understand games, but we bring lots of toys. He likes the ‘spinners’ that we can attach to the window. He also likes music a lot, so we made a playlist of songs that we know he likes to listen to in the car.”

Van Manufacturer Tips for Road Trips

Paul Domish, founder of Drifter Vans, a maker of custom-crafted campervans, may not be a family guy himself, but he builds vans for families and people on the road and has seen what works (and what doesn’t).

When families work with Paul and his team, they journey forward in comfort, luxury, and style, as you can observe in the photo above from the Drifter Vans website.

Paul finds himself on the road all the time, both for work when he is testing vans and for fun. His goal is to make sure Drifter Vans keeps the families he serves safe.

What’s one item Paul absolutely can’t leave behind?

Without hesitation, he asserts, “A solid storage setup—snacks, entertainment, and comfort items need to be easily accessible, especially with kids.”

What’s something people regret bringing on road trips?

Paul gestures, “Too much stuff. Overpacking makes everything harder—smart storage is key.”

Although pets don’t ride along with Paul, many of his customers bring pets on the road with them. To ensure a pleasant trip both for man and man’s best friend, he says, “We build in spill-proof bowls, pet beds, and dedicated storage for food and gear.”

Something that never goes out of style is good old-fashioned, family fun, especially when you’re in a custom-crafted campervan tailored to your family’s needs. Paul notes of his customers, “Families swear by classic road trip games, audiobooks, and tablet mounts to keep kids entertained.”

Hitting the Road

Whether you’re going on a road trip across the country, to a US National Park, or to visit grandma and grandpa out of state, we hope these tips help you pursue family-friendly journeys and create more quality time with your children.

If you’re looking for a place to stay, check out the amazing properties available on Lake.com and begin your adventure now.