Summer is here and many of you will be heading out on road trips with your kids. I’ve rounded up 10 road trip activities for kids that you can grab before you leave. Road trips with kids can be a fun adventure packed with memorable moments and family bonding opportunities. They can also be frustrating and include tears and carsickness. Some careful planning and packing essential items can make all the difference in ensuring a smooth and enjoyable journey for everyone involved.

From keeping little ones comfortable and entertained to ensuring you have the right travel essentials can turn a potentially challenging trip into a fun-filled trip. Here’s a guide to some of my favorite must-have items that will help make your road trip with kids a success from start to finish.

Road Trip Activities for Kids

1. Bento Box

Let’s start with the most important: SNACKS. If you keep them fed, chances are you’ll keep them happier. I like these little boxes because you can keep things fun, not too much food and they’re easy to re-fill at a rest stop. A fun idea is to fill it with breakfast type foods – a few different dry cereals for example. Later on when you are at a rest stop, re-fill with some snacks. If you have a few kids, buy 1 bag of pretzels, one m&ms, etc and divide up between these boxes.

2. Car Seat Snack Tray

These are a huge hit for kids in a carseat. Makes it easier and more fun to have their drink and snack handy. I also use it to put a spare pacifier or two on.

3. Would Your Rather 

This book is a great one for restaurants when you are on the vacation too. Same for the next few items…

4. Mad Libs

These are always a favorite. If the kids are too little, you may have to fill them in and then make them all laugh by reading them.

5. LCD Tablets

6. Guess in 10

7. Travel Desk Activity Center

If your kids like art and that will keep them entertained, this is the best way I have found to contain that in the car.

8. Friendship Bracelet Kit Embroidery Floss (or wiki stix for little kids)

Make sure to have some child safe scissors and scotch tape if they’re making bracelets. The clip board below is perfect for taping the floss to in the car for bracelet making.

9. Our Favorite Clip Board 

I love these clip boards. They’re great because you can print out some pictures to color, add blank pages etc inside.

10. Fire Tablet 

I’m not a big tablet in the car person. Mainly because: car sickness, no wifi and frustration. If you do want one for a roadtrip though, these are the easiest for little kids to use in my opinion.

Carsickness Tips for Kids:

Do your kids get carsick? We rarely have a roadtrip where no one gets carsick. As someone that gets carsick themselves, I totally feel for the kids when they feel sick in the car and try to help them avoid it. Here are a few tips:

• Do not drive on an empty stomach. This can be tricky because often road trips kick off first thing in the morning. If that’s the case make sure to have something like cereal, bagel, juice, etc.
• Do not let them watch a screen looking down. This can be really tricky. The only way I think a screen works for kids that get carsick are tvs built in the car that come down from the ceiling or if you attach the iPad to the seat in front of them. They should be looking straight ahead the whole time, never down
• No books or coloring
• Have these on hand: Disposable Bags 
• Always have a carsick bag on hand: change of clothes and a bag to put dirty clothes
• Try to have them no wear their shoes or hold their lovey…. because you know how “un-cool” it is if either of those become victim to carsickness!

Looking for more ideas on entertaining kids while traveling? Check out this post: How to Entertain Kids While Traveling 

A successful road trip with kids involves careful planning and packing of essential items. From snacks and entertainment to comfort items like their favorite snuggly gear. Here’s to hoping you have a stress free trip, not too many “are we there yet’s” and  a really fun time at your destination. Safe travels!