Ultimate Road Trip Essentials for toddlers (or the entire family)

Planning a road trip with toddlers (or the entire family) can be an absolute blast! But hey, let’s make sure we’re all set and have everything we need for an epic adventure. Here are some road trip essentials that I absolutely love and swear by to make our journey—and yours—an unforgettable experience:

First things first, we can’t forget about the road trip playlist! Music is like the secret ingredient that adds an extra dash of magic to our travels. So, let’s create a killer playlist together, filled with our favorite road trip tunes, sing-along classics, and those toe-tapping beats that’ll have everyone dancing in their seats!

Now, let’s talk about the must-haves for a smooth journey. Snacks, snacks, and more snacks! We all know hunger strikes at the most unexpected times, right? So, let’s pack a variety of delicious treats, from healthy nibbles to the occasional indulgence, to keep our energy levels high and those tummies happy throughout the trip.

Of course, we want to make sure we’re prepared for anything that comes our way. That means packing some important road trip items. A trusty first aid kit, extra clothing for those spontaneous splash fights or surprise spills, cozy blankets and pillows for added comfort, and any necessary medications for our peace of mind. It’s like having our own little safety net on the road.

Ultimate Road Trip Essentials

Snacks:

Pack a variety of snacks for your kids, such as apples, bananas, yogurt, granola bars, and other healthy treats. We love to pack Jax’s Monster Snack Mix. The packaging is super fun for the kids but their treats are the boom.

Jax’s Monster Mix has debuted two delightful new gluten-free snack mixes in 2023! Jax’s Monster Pop Mix is a unique blend of gluten-free mini sea salt pretzel twists, toasted vegan cheesy corn nuggets and sweetened banana chips. We have heart eyes for Jax’s Monster Sweet Mix, a sweet combination of unsulphured dried diced mango, papaya, pineapple and naturally colored milk chocolate sunflower seeds. A real fruit snack that’s sure to please!

This is not a sponsored post. I acquired complimentary products to facilitate my overview. This post contains affiliate links. 

A fun and tasty snack line, Jax’s Monster Mix offers all-natural, gluten-free, peanut-free snack mixes for kids of all ages. Unlike most snacks on the shelves, Jax’s offers better-for-you blends of delicious ingredients and are free from added sugars and artificial colors. Each snack mix comes in perfectly portioned packs, ideal for tucking in lunch boxes, on-the-go, handing out in classrooms, traveling and more! Learn more at www.getjaxs.com. 

Toys:

Make sure to bring some toys and activities to keep your kids occupied while on the road. Books, coloring books, and portable gaming systems are perfect for long drives.

One of the books that my daughter loves to take on the road is 5,000 Awesome Facts (About Animals) she gets lots of reading done and learns so much about her favorite animals.

Ever wonder how smart a chicken is? Why a tiny island is home to thousands of venomous snakes? What sounds a rhino makes when it’s happy? 5,000 Awesome Facts (About Animals)  — a big, beautiful, and gift-worthy book for animal lovers and the fact-obsessed — leaves no habitat unexplored or unusual animal ability unmentioned

First-Aid Kit & Wipes:

Have a first-aid kit on hand in case of any minor injuries or illnesses.

Super excited to share these Individually packaged and perfect for any situation, Handzies Soap + Water Wipes here. We have been using this brand for some time and love the convenience and soft fragrance.

Handzies Soap + Water Wipes give you fresh, clean hands using only natural castile soap, water and essential oils. We have changed harsh hand sanitizers for the little one. Handzies do not contain alcohol, BZK, triclosan, artificial perfumes or dyes. Ideal for keeping in your purse, backpack or carry-on as well as your child’s desk or lunch box, too.  http://handzies.com/

Portable Charger:

A portable charger can help ensure that your devices stay charged while on the road. Yes, we use tablets and cell phones to keep the little ones entertained. Because why not?

We use a great All-In-One portable charging station from Core Gaming.

With four outputs, including a built-in AC outlet, this 65W powerhouse can recharge practically anything, anytime. That includes charging up to four devices simultaneously. Plus, its standard AC outlet means gamers don’t need to use special adapters to connect their laptops. They can simply use their regular chargers.

At 24,000mAh (88WH), that’s more than enough power to double a laptop’s battery life. It’s also more than enough juice to keep a phone at 100% for a week on the go. Made for travel, this power pack’s flat-and-wide design makes it an easy fit for carry-on bags and backpacks. It also comes with a 20W USB-C PD wall adapter and USB-C to USB-C charging cable

Comfortable Clothes:

Pack comfortable clothes for your kids to wear, as well as extra sets in case of spills or accidents. Oh, and if traveling with 2 or more kids and are planning extra stops on the road be sure to have every piece of clothing labeled to avoid fights on the road.

Our go-to brand is Mabel’s Labels they offer an awesome variety of all the durable, waterproof labels needed to keep your child’s things out of the lost and found.

With new, on-trend designs for children of all ages, such as their NEW Sports Label Packs, Mabel’s Labels make it simple to identify belongings… from backpacks and lunchboxes to clothing, school supplies and more! 

Plus, their Water Bottle Bands are the perfect reusable accessory to personalize your kiddo’s water bottle. Available in 6 fun colors! https://mabelslabels.com/

Sunscreen:

Don’t forget to pack a bottle of sunscreen to protect your kids from the sun’s rays. Because protecting your and the little one’s skin is a year-round event.

Since I have a very lively daughter I’ll share the sunscreen that she really, really loves. And you will see why.

It’s from a company call Sunshine & Glitter. Their sunscreen is infused with joy and crafted using eco-friendly materials. The glitter used is made primarily from wood cellulose, making it biodegradable, reef safe and it actually becomes food for microorganisms when it breaks down. 

Visit https://www.sunshineglitter.com to see their entire line of products and fall in all with all their colorful line.

Extra blankets & Pillows:

Having extra blankets and pillows on hand can help keep your kids warm and cozy in case the temperature drops.

My Little Dreamy Pillow from KeaBabies! Ergonomically designed, durable and shaped for toddlers ages 2-5 years old, My Little Dreamy Pillow is sized at 13″x 18″ which makes it perfect for travel, pre-school naps, bedtime and lovey. Little ones (pets & even adults, too!) will adore having their own smaller sized pillow to use for rest & sleep!

Each pillow is made with soft, natural cotton, and comes with an organic cotton pillowcase in over 30 cute prints and patterns to match any room & décor, including Off to Space, Nautical, The Wild, Mermaid, Up & Away, and Donuts. Gender neutral options are availabe, too! There is even a label to write your child’s name onto so it doesn’t get lost! Choose from the Toddler Pillow and Mini Pillow. Machine washable and dryer safe.

Learn more at https://keababies.com/collections/toddler-pillows 

Alright, now that we’ve got our essential road trip items, our hand-picked playlist, and our favorite destinations in mind, it’s time to hit the road and create some incredible memories together. Get ready for an adventure-filled journey that will have us smiling, laughing, and singing our hearts out. Let’s make this road trip one for the books!

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Have a safe and enjoyable trip!