If you are reading this, then the answer is most assuredly YES!!! We all want to make the most of our vacation time with our family. But the classic, week long, American family road trip is a thing of the past. It is being replaced with shorter weekend getaways. It is a fact that families are taking shorter vacations to destinations closer to home. Hence the rise of the staycation. Being ready for fun and adventure is essential for a summer road trip that makes the most of every minute. Cue the new and improved family road trip.
Road Trip Survival Kit
Note: This article may include affiliate links. We receive a small commission when you purchase through them.
Road Trip Must Haves
So how are summer road trips new and improved? They just have to be! A recent study of working Americans with paid vacation time showed that nearly half of those surveyed don’t take all their days each year. Families need the trips they DO take to be fun-filled and take advantage of every minute. A well-stocked summer road trip survival kit is key to doing that for our family. Its contents make the traveling just as fun as the destination and allow us to actually travel MORE. It contains games and activities for the road, snacks, beverages, and travel essentials that are ready when we hop in the car and hit the road.
Every Month Find a New Adventure. Try Something New. Go Someplace You’ve Never Been.
Many of our road trips are between 3-8 hours. But, this summer we are driving through Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, and New Mexico for a 3.5 week road trip. I can’t wait!! Regardless of the time we spend in the car, I’ve found the following items are essential for any family road trip. For spontaneous weekend trips, we just add clothes and go find a new adventure. For longer trips, you add a little more, but this you get the idea.
Road Trip Survival Kit
On any vacation, you want to do more than just survive the trip. You want to enjoy it! Having a well supplied travel bag is essential for that. It helps prevent the “I’m Bored…” “I’m Hungry…” “I’m …(fill in the blank)”. It’s a little like a camping box with all your essential gear that you throw in the car when you are ready to go, add a few clothes, and you are off for the weekend. It’s less stress and more fun!
Road Trip Games
The first thing to add to your survival/enjoyment kit is the fun stuff. Pack a variety of family car games, activities and toys. Have a mix of quiet games and activities like LEGOS or drawing pens and paper, interactive games like I Spy or a deck of cards, and outdoor toys.
Yes, pack outdoor toys like a frisbee, kite, or a ball. When you stop for gas or bathroom breaks, you can stretch your legs and play together before continuing on your way. Stopping every few hours helps break up the travel time and actually makes it more enjoyable too!
Travel First Aid Kit & Toiletries
When you travel with kids, a first aid kit is a must! Let’s face it. Anything that can happen with kids usually does and it’s best to be prepared. Your kit should contain your basic first aid items for cuts, scrapes, allergies and anything else you use regularly.
Do you know the most common toiletries forgotten while packing for a trip? A toothbrush. Since this is our getaway travel bag, throw in a new toothbrush for everyone, a travel size tube of toothpaste or powder, a hairbrush and a package of wet wipes. That way it’s packed and ready to go when you are.
Related: Here are a few tips on how to keep kids healthy on road trips.
Tech on The Go
If you are like most families, the kids, or the adults, don’t go anywhere without their electronics. On a road trip, you’ll want a way to charge multiple devices at once. Pack a multi USB port, portable power source, or extra USB charging sticks. Also pack extra charging cords and an extra pair or two of headphones.
Stay Hydrated
It’s important to stay hydrated when you travel. If you don’t already carry a refillable water bottle with you daily, pack a few extra in the road trip travel kit. That way you can stay hydrated while traveling and save money by not having to buy bottled water. You can also add water flavor powder. Many companies sell individual tablets or powder sleeves you can add to a water bottle to mix things up.
Road Trip Snacks
We have added the fun, hygiene items, and tech extras to our kit. Now it’s time to talk about my favorite thing, food. Prepacking snacks can help you to eat healthier on the go, but with summer heat you have to select your items carefully.
Pack snacks that travel well, don’t melt, and are free of added sugar. Some of the things we like to pack for everyday snacks include mixed nuts, dried fruit, and beef jerky or sticks. When we travel, we also add oatmeal pouches or granola for a quick breakfast.
I’d love to try the Garlic Summer Sausage. I like that “they are shelf stable without the use of chemicals or questionable ingredients.”
I think these would be awesome on a road trip or even as a snack to keep on hand in my purse.
I love that it has Naturally Occurring Probiotics. That is important to me and my health.
I would love the superfood bars as they are GRASS FED COLLAGEN, ANTIOXIDANT-RICH and VERY LOW IN NATURAL SUGARS
Paleovalley Organic Supergreens contains 19 nutrient-dense superfoods and absolutely no cereal grasses!
I found out on their website that they use Organic Spices and I really like that idea. Everything seems to be so clean for eating!!
The Superfood bars sound like a great way to get a lot of nutrition in an easy, quick meal!
I learned about the Superfood Bar with nutrient-rich, organic superfoods and grass fed collagen. I like both flavor choices (dark chocolate and apple cinnamon) and that they’re very low in natural sugars.
I would like to try the original bars. I like that they use organic spices in their products.
the dark choc chip super food bar looks good! love that it only has 3 g sugar
I learned grassfed beef has higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids and a higher B vitamin content
I learned and like that the beef sticks do not need refrigeration. My family would love these!
They’re naturally preserved using fermentation and they contain naturally occurring probiotics.
The Grass Fed Organ Complex contains not one but four organs from healthy, grass fed, pasture-raised cows so you are getting a more diverse array of nutrients.
I learned Organic Supergreens is the best tasting superfood product you will ever try.
Contain digestive enzymes … that would be great for the gut when eating such nutrient dense healthy foods.
The superfood bars look like great road trip items too!
I’m doing Whole 30 and this would be the perfect snack! I love that it’s 100% grass fed and has 0 grams of sugar. I can’t wait to try this!
I learned about the all natural superfood bars
I learned the Superfood Bars are gluten, soy, and dairy free!
Superfood Bars are organic, come in a variety of flavors, and are nutritious.
The Paleovalley Superfood Bars look very delicious & I like that are VERY LOW IN NATURAL SUGARS.
I love that it has Naturally Occurring Probiotics. That is important to me and my health.
I learned that they don’t need to be refrigerated..
Paleo Holiday Recipes (Book).
I like the beefsticks..Their 100% grass fed beef is raised in the U.S.A by family farmers focused on using rotational grazing practices and creating lush, green pastures free of chemicals and pesticides.
I love that each beef stick contains 1 billion probiotic CFUs
Thank You
I would love to try the dark chocolate chip superfood bar.
I love to try their superfood bars!
I really want to try their Beef Sticks! I love that they offer different packs and you choose the flavors.
I would like to try out the Superfood Bars the first and foremost.