I've Road-Tripped with Kids for 15 Years—Here's the Gear That Keeps Us Sane

Yahoo

23-07-2025

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Whether it's a few hours to Grandma's house or a multi-day summer vacation, taking the kids on road trips is a rite of passage for parents. Doing it right, however, requires practice and preparation. As a father of two and an avid gearhead, I've learned some important lessons over the years about both.
Like most parental activities, successfully roadtripping with kids means being ready for anything. From hangry tantrums to bathroom accidents, parents have to plan for the worst while hoping for the best. It's the only way to stay sane.
Load up the car with some of the gear below before your next family road trip, and you and the kids will arrive at your destination on time, happy, and rested.Road Trip Essentials for Babies and Toddlers
Traveling with babies and toddlers in the car demands planning and patience. Short attention spans require constant stimuli, and necessities such as diapers, baby food, and bottles present a whole host of challenges. Here's what you need to keep your youngest passengers happy and content for hours in the back seat.Car Window Shades
Sleep and comfort in the car are simpler when the sun's not beating down, so pick up this four-pack of window shades and keep your child content.
$11.99 at amazon.comTravel Blanket and Pillow Set
A happy kid is a quiet, contented kid—the key to a successful road trip. Children need to be comfortable on long drives, and this blanket and travel set comes as a pink unicorn, a blue dinosaur, or an orange and white fox. It's made of soft, plush flannel, and the blanket can be folded up inside the pillowcase for easy travel.
$29.99 at amazon.comBack-Seat Organizers
When your child has what they need within easy reach, road trips are easier for everyone else in the car. This two-pack of back-seat organizers offers plenty of pockets and cubbies, including a large clear sleeve for tablets. It comes in eight colors.
$25.99 at amazon.comMotion Sickness Patches
There's few road-trip scenarios worse than when a child loses their lunch in the back seat. Stave off nausea with this 24-pack. It will last the whole trip and is safe for adults and children, meaning it can work for everyone in the car. Parents rave about its effectiveness.
$14.99 at amazon.comCar-Seat Travel Trays
Perfect for back-seat meals on the go, these handy trays fit perfectly in most car-seat cupholders and come in pairs, with nine colors. Or you can get this blue and pink set.
$29.99 at amazon.comAntibacterial Hand Wipes
You might think you have enough wipes to last the whole trip, but you don't. There's never enough. Pick up this five-pack and keep batches of 20 wipes all over the car. Hypoallergenic and made with aloe vera, they're unscented and free of parabens and other nasty stuff, so they're ideal for little hands and faces.
$12.49 at amazon.comHeadrest Tablet Holder
Keep their favorite videos in view but far from curious fingers that can unintentionally stop play, mess up settings, and other miscues that force parents to fix them. Featuring four-axis, 360-degree adjustability, they're ideal for cars, SUVs, and minivans.
$15.19 at amazon.comRotating Convertible Car Seat
Rotating child car seats are a game-changer, making it easier to lift your kids out of the car. The Graco Turn2Me lets parents use it as a backward-facing baby seat, spin it around when your toddler gets big enough to face forward, then convert it into a high-back booster seat for kids up to 100 pounds. It might be the only car seat you'll ever need.
$369.99 at amazon.comSnack Spinner
Snacks are a critical component of a happy road trip with kids. This clever device has five compartments, and its 6.5-inch size makes it ideal for little laps. The interactive spinner button adds fun. Best of all (for parents!), the lid is airtight and leakproof.
$31.95 at amazon.comPortable White-Noise Machine
This battery-powered device allows parents in the front to enjoy their own music or (shocker!) have a quiet conversation without waking the little ones in the back. Choose among Heartbeat, White Noise, Ocean, or Lullaby sounds to create a peaceful sleep environment. It also features a handy auto-off timer with 15-, 30-, or 45-minute intervals.
$13.97 at amazon.comPortable Bottle Warmer
Feeding time often results in lengthy pit stops to find (or pay) for a cup of hot water to heat the baby's bottle. Instead, fill this insulated flask with hot water before you hit the road, and it will keep that water hot all day, allowing you to keep driving and stay on time. Just pour some water into the included container and warm the bottle on the go. Reviewers confirm that it fits most popular bottle and sippy-cup brands.
$12.80 at amazon.comTravel First Aid Kit for Kids
Hopefully, you won't need one, but every road-trip vehicle should have a first aid kit, just in case. This kid-friendly kit is perfect for the car or diaper bag.
$31.99 at amazon.comRoad Trip Essentials for Older Kids and Preteens
Kids grow up so fast. By the time you think you've got a handle on the things they like (or don't), they've already moved on to something else. At this age, it's time to let them start to control their own comfort and entertainment. Introduce road-trip gear like headphones, tablets, and electronic gadgets they can control—stuff they don't have to bother parents to use.Wireless Bluetooth Headphones
Ditch the baby headphones and pick up a pair of decent (but not pricey!) over-ear cans, like these from Sony. They come in a variety of colors, boast a 50-hour battery life, and only cost around 70 bucks, all while giving your kids the independence and privacy they crave.
$69.99 at amazon.comMotion Sickness Chewables
Nothing puts a stop to road-trip momentum faster than motion sickness. Nip it in the bud and stay on the road with tasty Dramamine chewables. The tasty grape flavor will be like candy to young travelers.
$4.57 at amazon.comWater Bottle
Owala bottles are so popular with kids that your child likely already has one for school. New adventures call for new stuff, though, so get your kid another Owala for the road trip. A whopping 21 colors and 32- and 40-ounce sizes are available. Leakproof and BPA-free, the lid is dishwasher-safe, too. It's the perfect back-seat water bottle.
$29.99 at amazon.comCar Travel Tray
Made of 600D oxford cloth and kid-safe plastic, this travel tray is ideal for kids of all ages because it features a dry-erase lap desk plus plenty of mesh pockets. Better still, it comes in numerous colors and patterns. While it's called a "toddler travel tray," it doesn't look like it's made for babies at all. Your bigger kid will love being in control of all their stuff.
$27.95 at amazon.com6-Port USB Charger
Make sure your child has access to all the chargers they need with this multiport fast charger. It slips into your car's 12-volt power port and provides USB-A and USB-C charging ports there, while a five-foot extension cord allows four more power to reach all over the car. It's perfect for minivans and SUVs with 12-volt power ports in the rear cargo hold.
$19.99 at amazon.comSnackle Box
Older kids deserve more grown-up stuff, and this utilitarian and convenient snack box is perfect. The airtight, see-through lid lets them see and select their own snacks.
$15.99 at amazon.comKids' Tablet
Once the kids are old enough to select and control what they watch and play on their screens, the Fire tablet is the perfect choice to hook them up without breaking the bank. It features a 13-hour battery to last all day, a 10.1-inch HD display that's perfect for movies, built-in safeguards to protect your children's privacy and prevent malware and spyware, and a two-year warranty. Best of all, it comes with a case.
$189.99 at amazon.comAudiobooks and Podcasts
For just 99 cents a month (for the first three months), you'll get access to the full library of Audible audiobooks and podcasts. Kids stay entertained and, most important, off their screens. You can always cancel the subscription when your trip is over.
at amazonMulti-Headphone Splitter
Now here's a handy device for a carload on a road trip. It lets all the kids in the back watch the same movie or show at the same time (or listen to the same audiobook or podcast) on one device while parents listen to what they want up front. It comes in black and green, too.
$24.24 at amazon.comLeakproof Soft Double-Deck Mini Cooler
"Mom, I'm hungry!" "Mom, I'm thirsty!" You know the drill. If you're a solo parent on a road trip with kids in the back seat, rummaging for snacks while you're driving is more than just annoying—it can be dangerous. Allow kids access to their own refreshments by placing a small, leakproof cooler in the back seat. As long as you curate the selection of snacks and drinks available, it's a safe and easy way to avoid distracted driving.
$29.99 at amazon.comTravel Games Activity Books
Putting on a movie or a series is a great way to maintain peace and quiet on road trips, but you've still gotta monitor screen time. When the show is over, give the kids a break from the screen with an activity or game book. Tons are available, but this one is geared toward 8- to 12-year-olds.
$12.90 at amazon.comAuto Bingo
Enjoy a stress-free trip and get the kids off their screens for a while. The traditional hassle of chasing runaway bingo chips and squinting at tiny dabbers is in the past! Easy-move slider windows are effortless to use, especially for kids.
$12.99 at amazon.comHealthy Snacks
Fight "hanger" with more than 2.5 pounds of fresh bars, fruit snacks, and veggie snacks. With a variety of healthy options to satisfy any kid's craving, this lifesaving snack pack will keep them content between pit stops. A 52-piece snack package is also available.
$27.89 at amazon.comRoad Trip Essentials for Teenagers
As much as we might be tempted (and even threaten!) to leave teenagers behind, we all know that's not really gonna happen. Avoid the grousing, headaches, arguments, and unnecessary stops; instead, stock up on the essentials that teens need to entertain, feed, and take care of themselves.Portable Charger with Built-in Cables
Safe to say, the phone charger is surely the number one thing that most teens forget to bring into the car. Eliminate the need to pull over so they can dig their charger out of their suitcase by giving them this rechargeable battery pack instead. It features four cords to suit most any device, plus USB ports so they can plug in other gadgets. It's about the size of a cellphone and comes in six colors.
$29.99 at amazon.comLeakproof Back Seat Trash Bin
Older kids don't just take up more space (and eat more), but they also seem to generate more trash. Give them what they need to keep their space tidy by giving them their own back-seat trash can. It's leakproof, so discarded liquids won't seep through it, and it comes in six colors and styles with wraparound mesh stash pockets. Good luck getting them to empty it, though.
$7.88 at amazon.comAir Sanitizer and Odor Eliminator
Stinky feet and pubescent apocrine glands are no match for Ozium. This isn't some overly fragrant air freshener that covers up the smell; one quick spray eliminates odors. This two-pack lets you also keep one within reach of the driver's seat, so you can sneak a spritz to the back while they're asleep.
$12.96 at amazon.comNeck Pillows
This memory-foam headrest pillow was designed for portability and comfort. It comes in 15 colors, so buy one for everyone in the car. It comes with a portable travel bag.
$13.86 at amazon.comSugar-Free Mints
Dole out these tins as needed. Because the mints are sugar-free, you don't need to worry about your kids going on a sugar rush in the back seat.
$14.77 at amazon.comNoise-Canceling Headphones
Any teenager in the back of a car for a long time will want over-ear, noise-canceling headphones to feel completely isolated from the rest of the family. But for your road trip, there's no need to spend hundreds of dollars on a high-end set. These Soundcore cans from Anker are excellent and come in a variety of colors. The price is also family-friendly.
$49.99 at amazon.comCable and Accessories Organizer Case
Your teen can keep their headphones, chargers, cords, and everything else in this handy travel case. It comes in multiple colors and is slim enough to slip into a rear seat pocket.
$8.95 at amazon.comCell Phone Holder and Tablet Stand
These things are great. This flexible but sturdy phone holder and tablet stand lets your kids go hands-free while watching their favorite movies or shows. Simple and affordable, it's the ultimate road-trip hack.
$14.99 at amazon.comCar Safety Hammer
On a serious note, stuff happens. Provide your teen with one of these life-saving devices to stash in the back seat. It's a window breaker and seat-belt cutter. Show them how to use it, express how important it could be in the event of an accident, and give them a sense of responsibility.
$14.99 at amazon.comOMG I'm So Bored! The Activity Book for Teens
The chances of teenagers putting down their phones for even a minute during your entire road trip are slim at best. But if they should, don't question it! Just hand them this book and a pen. It contains hundreds of games, puzzles, and other activities designed for teenagers. You never know; it just might work.
$9.99 at amazon.comDC 12V to 110V AC Car Inverter
Even better than the portable battery above is this DC-to-AC inverter that will let your teens plug in their laptops, tablets, phones, and other larger electronics. Best of all, there's no need to recharge it every night in the hotel room.
$19.43 at amazon.comWrinkle Releaser+ Travel Size
If your teenage daughter is as obsessed with her appearance as most, you'll need this. It's great for the whole family, especially if you're road-tripping to a holiday or wedding and don't want to arrive looking like you just piled out of a car. Not only does it smooth out wrinkles, but it also eliminates odors, leaving a light, fresh scent.
$9.99 at amazon.comStain Remover Travel Pens
Perhaps more important than wrinkle releaser is this five-pack of stain-remover pens. They're perfect for road trips with kids of all ages.
$12.99 at amazon.comHandheld Fan
Teens love gadgets like these, especially on road trips. It'll keep them cool, especially if they're camped out way in the back of the minivan or SUV.
$28.99 at amazon.comCeiling Cargo Net
A must for any family road trip, this ceiling cargo net hangs just behind the driver's cockpit, allowing your kids access to the stuff they need without bothering the parents up front.
$19.99 at amazon.comRoad-Trip Essentials for Parents and Drivers
Now that you've got the gear and essentials required to keep the kids in the back happy, don't forget to stock up on the stuff that drivers need on a family road trip. Even if you're driving solo with kids in the back, being prepared for emergencies and the unexpected is essential. After all, that's some precious cargo you've got back there.Jump Starter + Tire Inflator Combo
You could pack both a jump starter and a tire inflator, in case your battery dies or you get a flat. But why? We recently reviewed the Boost Air AX65 and called it "a lithium-powered Swiss army knife" because it combines both of those devices into one unit, eliminating clutter and preserving your cargo space for other essentials. It's a space saver as well as a lifesaver.
$242.96 at amazon.comFront Seat Organizer
Traveling solo with kids in the back? You don't need to be fumbling around looking for the stuff they need. Keep it all within reach with a front-seat organizer and prevent distracted driving.
$44.99 at amazon.comCupFone with Hand Sanitizer
Most modern cars have Apple CarPlay or Android Auto by now—if yours doesn't, you need a wireless adapter—so we drivers don't really need to see our phones while we're behind the wheel anymore. Still, it's nice to have it at arm's reach and know where it is, just in case—and this trusty phone holder from WeatherTech also has a handy hand-sanitizer holder, because kids get messy.
$50.00 at amazonHand Sanitizer
Stock up that hand sanitizer holder with a bottle of Germ-X. The alcohol-based sanitizer kills 99.9 percent of germs, and this six-pack means everyone in the car could have their own, maybe with some to spare.
$12.48 at amazon.comRoadside Emergency Kit
In the spirit of being prepared for anything, it's never smart to take a road trip without one of these roadside emergency kits. There are dozens on the market; grab the one that's right for you and stash it in the back. We like this one because it's complete and comprehensive.
$69.95 at amazon.comDash Cam + Radar Detector Combo
Every car needs a dash cam these days, and there are dozens of more affordable ones on the market than this Escort. However, none of those offer the dual functionality of the MAXcam 360c, which also incorporates a radar detector to ensure you don't get caught unawares. If you've ever been pulled over for speeding while the family is sleeping, you know how awful that experience is (don't ask). Once again, you could buy both devices, but why?
$849.95 at amazon.comDisposable Vomit Bags
If the motion sickness patches and pills don't work, don't let an accident ruin the trip for the rest of the vehicle (and the rest of the trip). This 15-pack of dispoable barf bags should be plenty for the whole car and for the whole ride.
$7.99 at amazon.comRooftop Cargo Box
Road tripping with kids means you need a ton of stuff. And that means you'll also need a ton of space in the cabin. Give the kids some legroom with a rooftop cargo carrier, and get your luggage out of the cabin and onto the roof. Once again, there are dozens on the market, but we like the affordability and quality of this SportRack Vista.
$450.19 at amazon.comPortable Electric Car Fridge/Freezer
We've used this car refrigerator on road trips, too, and it's the ultimate solution to prevent melted ice, warm sodas, and spoiled food. Better still, it eliminates the need for frequent snack stops, keeping you on the road and headed toward your destination. It plugs into your 12-volt power port and keeps working even after the car is shut off, thanks to an internal li-ion battery.
$159.99 at amazon.com
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