Road Trip Prep You Need To Do Before Every Trip

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Planning a road trip across the county or maybe just traveling across the state? There are a few road trip essentials you need to do before you head out the door (and essential things to pack). Whether you’re traveling with adults or with kids, these road trip prep ideas and hacks will help you make the most of your vacation.

Road Trip Preparation Guide – THINGS TO PREP

These are the things you need to do BEFORE you are ready to pack up. Take some time a couple of weeks before your trip to go through these items to make sure you are well-prepared to hop in the car and get moving:

CAR

• Clean out the car…the WHOLE car. No one wants to start loading the car before you head out, only to realize that you forgot you had a bunch of donation stuff loaded in the back (I am the WORST about loading bags of clothes to donate into my car and then riding around with them back there for weeks…or more). Clean out every part of the car, every nook & cranny so it is totally clutter free when it’s go time!
• Fill up with gas. If you are headed out for a long road trip, you don’t want to have to stop for gas just as you are getting started. Save yourself some time & frustration and do it the day before.
• Check the tires (including the spare). Make sure the tread is good and that you don’t need new tires. Check the air pressure. Check to make sure you have the spare tire & the tools to change it (if needed) and don’t forget to check the air pressure in the spare too. Buy some Fix-A Flat to have in a pinch.

• Fill up your windshield washer fluid. You do not want to run out this stuff in the exact moment when you need it most!
• Make sure you’re up to date on oil changes. This one is pretty self-explanatory. If you need an oil change, get one.
• Check your insurance & registration. I don’t know about you, but SOMETIMES, I’m a little disorganized and I don’t always take care of things when I should. So, I have OCCASIONALLY forgotten to put my new insurance card in my wallet or car when I get one in the mail. This is the perfect time to make sure you have one that is up-to-date. Also, no one wants to get pulled over for an out-of-date registration while on vacation, so make sure that is current as well.

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• Make sure your windshield wipers are in good condition. Windshield wipers are one of those things we tend to forget about until we need them. You do not want to be mid-trip in the middle of nowhere when it begins to rain and realize your wipers are useless.

FOOD

No road trip prep article would be complete without food – right? Pre-planning and prepping snacks & meals can really help if you have picky eaters or people in your party with food allergies.

• Plan out snacks & any meals you plan to have while in the car. Check out Road Trip Snacks Everyone Will LOVE. It is packed full of great ideas for snacks and small meals you can have in the car with you and how to pack them. Let your kids pick out something special that they can have too (maybe something you normally say “no” to).
• Look ahead for restaurants. If you need a break & want to get out of the car & stretch your legs, going into a sit-down restaurant can be the perfect rest stop. I highly recommend doing a little research and picking a few options along your route in advance. You can check Google or Pinterest (I LOVE Pinterest) for places to eat in whichever towns you will be going through. Once you have a few ideas, check them out on Yelp to see the location, reviews, hours & the menu to see if it’s a good fit for your crew.

Do you LOVE Pinterest as much as I do? Click HERE to follow My Travel Obsession on Pinterest!

SANITY SAVERS

• Have some stops planned. It’s a good idea to have a few stops mapped out on your route. Again, Pinterest can be a great tool here. Look for fun things to see in the towns you’ll be going through. Then you can research the specific places that look interesting to you. This can make the car ride really feel like part of the vacation rather than just the means to get you to the destination.
• Don’t over do it. You know your people. You probably know how long they can handle being in the car and when nap times & bed times may interfere. Plan accordingly. Don’t try to drive 20 hours non-stop. Everyone will arrive exhausted & grumpy. Don’t be afraid to break it up and stop for the night along the way.
• Have some road trip activities planned. I created a free list of Road Trip Trivia…grab that here:

• Check out Road Trip Games Everyone Will LOVE for a bunch of other fun ideas for games & other activities that are perfect for kids AND adults. These can REALLY help pass the time and keep everyone from staring at a screen for the entire drive.

HAVING TROUBLE FINDING THE PERFECT LODGING FOR YOUR FAMILY?

If you are looking for lodging options, I HIGHLY recommend (and use) Airbnb (always read reviews, the fine print and all charges before you book)! I love all of the options and it’s the ONLY way to travel with a large family – no more kids on the hotel floor or splitting up in separate rooms! Check out your options HERE!

MISCELLANEOUS

• Download any travel apps you need. Here are 15 Must Have Travel Apps that are really great for any trip! I searched far and wide and did tons of research on a bunch of apps. These are the best of the bets!
  

Road Trip Packing List – THINGS TO PACK (INSIDE THE CAR)

In addition a to the food & entertainment items listed above, make sure you pack these:

TECH ITEMS:

• Devices: Nintendo switch, iPads, laptops, phones, etc. Don’t forget chargers & headphones!

CLEAN UP ITEMS:

• Paper goods: Depending on the food you pack, you may need paper plates (or bowls), plastic ware, etc. I always throw in a roll of paper towels and a few Ziploc bags.
• Have a “trash can.” You can always just use a plastic grocery bag for this, but whatever you use, make sure you have a place to put trash. I really like the look of this one and it has a matching tissue holder (I used a regular tissue box for years, but it always got kicked around and would fall apart).

• Wet Wipes
• Change of clothes for each kid: Kids can be super messy (I bet you didn’t know that :). So, take a large Ziploc bag and put one full outfit (including socks & underwear) in it – each kids get their own bag. Write their name on it the bag with a Sharpie. Now, when little Timmy spills juice all over himself, you can just pull over, do a quick clean up and change clothes without having to unload the whole car.

COMFORT ITEMS:

• Pillow/travel pillow
• Blanket – I am always cold when we travel. My husband likes it just above freezing in the car, so I have this travel blanket that I love!
• Eye mask – If you are traveling during the day, it can be hard for riders to sleep with the sun shining in their eyes. A sleep mask is the perfect solution!
• Socks – I don’t know about you, but my feet get cold. If I’m wearing shoes without socks, I throw in a pair to put on mid-trip if needed.

EMERGENCY ITEMS:

• Jumper cables (& know how to use them).
• First aid kit
• Prescriptions & other medications. Do your kids get car sick (or do you)? Is so, you will want those medicines close at hand! THIS LIST of 20 different motions sickness remedies can really come in handy! They can be used in the car, on a plane, on a cruise, etc. The natural Non-drowsy Dramamine has been a favorite of mine. It works great and doesn’t knock me out like the regular Dramamine does.
• Flash light/headlamp. If you have to pull over on the side of the road to clean up a spill or change a tire, you will definitely want to see what you are doing.

Now, you know what to do before a road trip and what to pack for a road trip. If you prepare accordingly, you’ll feel much more at-ease when you head out the door. So, what are you waiting for? Go plan your next family road trip!

Until next time…

Until next time…

About The Author

My mission is to inspire and empower families to prioritize travel now, creating unforgettable memories and deeper connections with their loved ones.

I provide guidance and practical solutions to help busy parents integrate travel into their lives, fostering joy, fulfillment, and stress-free adventures. Don’t wait until it’s too late; the time to travel is now.
Learn more about me & My Travel Obsession here.

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