With the #Holidays right around the corner families will be packing for trips so I thought I would share tips for family road trip packing that will make the trip less stressful. One thing I learned when Charli and Suzzane was little was to the them hold their favorite book, entertainment items, and a few comfort items, and a few snacks. Because letting children help pack their own bags also gives them a little responsibility and gets them involved in preparing for the trip.
Parents can keep another bag for the things adults need to manage, including identification, travel documents, wallets, keys, chargers, and important information. Of course, medications and other essential items should be kept with the responsible adult and stored safely. The idea is to know who is responsible for what. When everybody’s belongings have a home, there’s less confusion and hopefully fewer last-minute searches.
Here’s an idea that can save time before every trip: stop packing the same little necessities over and over again. Create a permanent car kit with things your family frequently needs. A small storage container or organizer can hold wipes, trash bags, paper towels, a few shelf-stable snacks, basic first-aid supplies, and charging cables.
You can also include a few other necessities that make sense for your family and vehicle. Check it occasionally, replace anything you’ve used, and make sure everything is stored securely. That way, when it’s time for another adventure, you aren’t running around the house looking for the same supplies you needed on your last trip. Sometimes the best packing trick is having certain things already taken care of.
Now, I have a question for you. Have you ever been riding down the road when somebody suddenly announces they’re hungry, thirsty, bored, or desperately needs something that is packed somewhere underneath everything else? That’s when you realize not everything belongs in the trunk.
Think about what your family might need during the drive. Snacks, drinks, books, games, headphones, and favorite comfort items should be easy to access. A small travel organizer or designated bag can keep these things together. Just remember to keep the driver’s area clear and make sure loose items are secured. The goal is to avoid stopping to unpack the vehicle every time somebody needs something. A little planning can turn those little interruptions into much smaller inconveniences.
Packing a first night bag is one of my favorite ideas because arriving somewhere after a long drive should feel exciting, not exhausting. Imagine finally reaching your destination. Everybody is ready to get out of the car, stretch, and settle in. Then somebody needs pajamas. You start opening suitcases. One bag has shoes, another has everybody’s clothes, and somehow the toothbrushes are in the bag you packed last.
Before long, you’re unpacking half the vehicle just to get ready for bed. A first-night bag can prevent that entire situation. Pack one small bag with pajamas, one clean outfit for each person, toothbrushes, toothpaste, basic washing supplies, and any bedtime necessities. When you arrive, grab that one bag and head inside. You can worry about unpacking everything else the next morning. Sometimes making the first evening easier is worth a little extra planning before you leave home.
I think one of the things we sometimes forget when planning a family trip is that the adventure doesn’t begin when we reach our destination. It begins when we close the front door, load the car, and head out together. There will probably still be somebody asking where something is.
Somebody will want a snack five minutes after leaving home, and somebody might decide they need the very thing they left sitting on the kitchen counter. That’s part of traveling with family. You can’t plan for every little thing, and sometimes those unexpected moments become the stories you laugh about later. But you can make things a little easier.
Having a place for everything means less searching, less frustration, and more time enjoying the people riding along with you. So before your next family adventure, take a few minutes to organize those bags, prepare your car kit, and put together that first-night bag. And remember, the best souvenirs aren’t perfectly packed suitcases or a spotless vehicle.
They’re the memories you make along the way, the conversations you have, the unexpected stops, and the laughter that follows you home. That’s what makes a family trip special. And its what keeps us Grateful, Thankful, and Blessed and lets us create new memories.
Grateful. Thankful. Blessed.
GreatfulMoments.com
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
