best road trip hacks

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24 Genius Road Trip Hacks Seen on Pinterest

 Didier Marti / Getty Images

​If you're planning a family road trip with kids, Pinterest is a fantastic place to find clever tips on how to reduce car-trip mess and stress. From repurposing a plastic cereal container as a trash can to creating more hotel beds, these road trip hacks below will help make traveling with the family a whole lot smoother. The best part? These tips are very easy on the wallet.

Use Shower Caddies for On-the-Go Meals

From a BuzzFeed roundup of simple road trip hacks, inexpensive dime-store shower caddies can come in handy when you hit the fast-food drive-through. With multiple compartments, these caddies make it really easy to store your drinks, meals, and snacks without having to worry about spillage or crumbs getting everywhere.

Use Cupcake Liners to Keep Car Cup Holders Clean

So smart! From  Kids Activities Blog comes an easy and oh-so-simple way to keep your car's cup holders clean and gunk-free. Place cupcake liners in the cup holders, and when they start getting overly filled with crumbs and grime, you can replace them in just a few seconds—it'll save you so much time not having to wipe your car down.

Make a DIY Car Sickness Kit

If your kid is prone to getting car sick, you need to be prepared for the occasional mess.  Cul-de-sac Cool shows you how to create a DIY ready-to-go car sickness kit containing everything you'll need when the "uh-oh"s strike. In each kit, you'll store disinfecting wipes, napkins, a drink containing electrolytes (like Gatorade), bottled water, hand sanitizer, a light snack, a motion sickness wristband, and motion sickness medication such as Dramamine. Of course, you'll also need a gallon Ziploc bag for throwing up in, plus a second plastic bag just in case, and a trash bag to store anything that's covered in vomit.

Recharge Your Phone From the Hotel Room TV

Forgot your charger? The Krazy Coupon Lady  says that some hotel room TVs have a USB port on the back; check to see if your TV has that capability before you make a last-minute trip to the store.

Use a Shoe Organizer to Corral Baby Essentials

 Just one of several good hacks on PopSugar Mom: Use a shoe organizer to keep baby care essentials handy. You could steal this idea for toddler toys, sanitizing wipes, snacks, and just about any kind of backseat flotsam and jetsam. 

Turn a Cereal Container Into a No-Spill Trash Can

Who knew? Those plastic cereal containers make for surprisingly good trash cans. They're narrow enough to squeeze into the backseat, plus the lids snap tightly into place—even if you or one of the kids accidentally knocks it over, there will be minimal-to-no spillage. Thanks again,  BuzzFeed .

Look at Your Rental Car's Fuel Gauge to Find the Gas Tank

Renting a car? Country Living  says to look at the fuel gauge to quickly determine which side of the car the gas tank is on. So, if the arrow next to the gas pump icon is pointing to the left, your gas tank will be on the left side. No more getting out of your car at the gas station and realizing you parked in the wrong spot.

Make a Travel Game From an Altoids Tin

Inventive folks find all sorts of clever uses for empty Altoids tins. Here,  Melissa's Bargains  shares a tutorial for how to make a travel-sized tic-tac-toe game that would be perfect for family car rides. All you need to make it is an Altoids tin (or other small, metallic box), glue, scissors, a ruler, button magnets, scrapbook paper, and acrylic paint. Because you'll be playing with magnetic buttons, you won't lose your game pieces, and it's small enough to fit into your purse.

Use Suction Shower Organizers to Hold Kids' Art Supplies

Do your kids love to draw and color in the car?  Moser Moments  recommends using inexpensive suction shower organizers on car windows to hold their crayons, markers, and other gear. They'll help keep the floor clear of clutter, as well as store everything in one easy-to-find spot.

Hang Bags With Carabiners

Want to keep your handbag within easy reach?  HGTV  has an inexpensive DIY solution. Use carabiners as hooks for tote bags, umbrellas, and other hangable items to keep your essentials accessible.

Catch Popsicle Drips With a Cupcake Liner

Yet another ingenious use for cupcake liners! Keep little kids stain-free and your car cleaner by using liners to catch popsicle drips on summer vacations, recommends  Mommy Shorts .

Let Your Map App Lead You Back to Your Parked Car

One of the best travel hacks we've ever heard is this one from PureWow , which solves the problem of how to find your car in an unfamiliar city. When parking, just drop a pin on your map app before you head out to dinner or for a day of sightseeing. If you need a little assistance on your way back, your GPS will lead you right back to it like a homing pigeon.

Pack Solar Lights for Evening Picnics

As noted on the  Starling Travel  blog, cheap and cheerful solar lights are a handy take-along item on a family road trip. Even when you're not camping, you can use them for dinnertime picnics and all sorts of evening outings.

Use Cookie Trays as Backseat Desks

Cookie sheets make awesome backseat desks for kids. The raised edges keep crayons from rolling off and the metallic surface is super for playing magnetic games and puzzles of all kinds. In this pin,  Cultivated Lives  shares how cookie-tray desks are great for coloring and sticker play.

Build a Makeshift Toddler Bed in Your Hotel Room

Sick of cramped hotel rooms when you're on the road?  Walking on Travels  suggests 10 different ways to create more beds in a hotel room. Among the different options, you can push chairs together to create a toddler bed, or book a room that has a sofa bed.

Keep Behavior in Check With a Visual Reminder

How did one family manage to drive 16 hours with four kids on their best behavior?  Less-than-Perfect Life of Bliss  swears by "kids clips" made with scraps of paper and some stickers. Each kid gets their own clip on Mom's visor as a reminder to be kind and nice.

"The rule was simple: as long as they were doing well, the clip stayed up. But, if anyone made a bad choice [and] decided to be ugly or whiny, their clip came down. And if the clip came down, they would miss out on the next fun thing, whether it be a pack of gum at the next gas stop, an ice cream cone, getting to choose the next movie, or having extra time on the iPad."

Create a Road Trip Countdown for Kids

This fun hack from  Suitcases & Sippy Cups  is guaranteed to stop the "are we there yets" in their tracks. Create a road trip countdown using a string and some cards listing cities or towns you'll pass on your route. Every time you hit a milestone, a card comes down, giving your kids a visual cue that shows how close you are to your final destination.

Tether a Sippy Cup to the Car Seat

Little kids just love tossing their sippy cups on the ground, and if you've repeatedly scrounged around the car floor in search of one (and what parent hasn't?), you'll appreciate the genius in this tip from MomLovesBest . A short tether tied around the cup keeps just-tossed drinks within reach. For safety, make the sippy lasso just long enough for your child to comfortably get a drink.

Roll Dice in a Transparent Container

Leave it to an elementary school teacher to come up with this smart tip. If your family likes to play board games on the road, keep the dice in a small transparent Tupperware-like container to keep them from getting lost, as recommended on  Cardigans and Curriculum .

Get a Heads-Up on Your Exit Lane

Driving in unfamiliar territory? Don't stress about whether your exit will be to the left or right. Simply look at the top of the highway signs for an early heads-up. If the exit number is pushed flush left, your off-ramp will be to the left. And vice versa.

Store a Stash of Quarters in an M&Ms Minis Tube

Turns out that an empty M&Ms Minis tube is the perfect size for a roll of quarters. And as Southern Living  points out, those coins can come in mighty handy at toll booths and rest area vending machines. 

Change Your Phone's Lock Screen

If you lose your phone while you're on the road, how could a Good Samaritan return it to you quickly?  SmarterTravel  recommends changing your phone's lock screen to an image that displays your emergency contact information, including your email address and an alternate phone number.

Let Young Artists Use the Car Window As a Canvas

If your kids love to draw, give them a set of washable window markers for drawing right on the car window (fun stencils are optional), suggests  Frugal Family Times . For clean-up, bring a package of window wipes.

Silence the 'Are We There Yet?' Chorus

If your kids keep asking how much longer until you get to your destination, it's time for this nifty trick from  Down Home Inspiration . Simply laminate a map (or pop it into a transparent binder sleeve) and trace your route using dry-erase markers. Even young school-age kids can see how far you've come and how far you've still got left.

Related Articles

More related articles.

37 Must-Know Road Trip Hacks I Learned from Driving Through 48 States

Ahh, nothing quite a long road trip. One lasting several days, weeks, or possibly even months! These 37 best road trip tips  cover -

• The Planning Stage

Sightseeing along the way

• Tips for an extended stay on the road
• How to keep socially sane
• Safety issues

These tips are based on our experience road-tripping across 47 US states and 4 Canadian provinces! Our road trips were all long! They included -

• Three weeks in California and Arizona
• Five and a half months across the Western US and Canada
• Four and a half months - coast to coast and back!
• Two and a half months in Washington, Oregon, California, and Utah
• Two and a half months driving from Los Angeles to Alaska and back !
• A month of touring the Rockies

We road-tripped as a family, starting when the boys were aged 5 and 7. On our last trip to Alaska, they were 14 and 16! Time flies! And now, without further ado, our tips!

Planning Stage

1. don't be afraid of the long road trip.

It's doable. Promise. Even with kids.

I know many people who fantasize about a long road trip and never fulfill their dreams. Don't let that be you. Go out there and do it. You'll have fun and create memories that will last your entire life.

And if at all possible - make it long.

In our experience, it takes time to get into the "road trip ambiance," to shed off the stress and worry of everyday life, and get into the right state of mind.

That's why I think a decent road trip should last at least weeks, preferably months. And don't worry, at least in North America, I guarantee you'll never run out of things to do and see or roads to travel.

2. Research your route

The essence of road-tripping is about freedom. The freedom to move where you want, when you want. As one of the ultimate road trip songs says,

"We can pack tomorrow, tonight let's flip a coin. Heads Carolina, tails California."

I am so all for that! I love that song !

However - spontaneity does not negate research and planning. 

There's such a wealth of information available online; it would be a shame to drive past this incredible attraction and miss out on it, wouldn't it? I always thoroughly research the area we plan to be going through.

I use sites like Roadside America and Trip Advisor to provide me with unusual ideas for small stops along the road, too. I try to document everything in my notes - or at least keep it somewhere in my head.

3. Have a plan in place

Based on my research, I do create a plan. I have a spreadsheet outlining our route, including all those places - big and small - that I found while researching.

I jot down the mileage we'll need to cover every day and the time it could take to make sure it's even feasible. That way, I don't have to flip coins to decide our route. At least, not daily 😉

Sometimes, it's easier to know where you're going next.

4. Be spontaneous

Yes, I know. I just said how vital planning was. I'm not changing my mind here. On the contrary, I firmly believe good planning allows you to be flexible and spontaneous.

Dwight D. Eisenhower said -

A plan is nothing but planning is everything

The more time you invest in the planning stage, the more familiar you'll be with your route, including the various attractions and alternatives to them.

Then, once you hit the road, you can decide and be more spontaneous with your choices.

After all, if you choose to do X, you're giving up on doing Y. Which could be a great decision! It's easier to make that decision when you know what X and Y mean.

5. Don't book motels in advance (usually)

In other words, stay flexible. That goes hand in hand with the spontaneity we just mentioned.

Now, there's a reason for me to qualify this with "usually."

There are times and places where booking in advance makes sense. It makes a lot of sense. The list includes -

• Popular national parks
• Other super popular destinations
• Any combination of the above

Book in advance if your road trip takes you to Yellowstone National Park and you want to spend a night or two inside the park. Do that even if you think you'll stay in West Yellowstone, Gardiner, or Jackson. If you don't, you could end up without a place to stay - or have to pay exorbitant prices for accommodation.

6. Allocate time for mundane everyday tasks

If your trip is going to last for a week or more, you'll need time for the following -

• Washing clothes
• Shopping in a supermarket
• Going to the ATM or possibly the bank
• Just generally unwinding

The longer the road trip, the more free time you'll need. Avoid creating a tight schedule of sightseeing for every day. You won't be able to accomplish that and will end up exhausted from trying.

Some of our road trips were so long we had to stop for haircuts!

7. Take weekends and holidays into account

I mentioned these briefly when talking about booking accommodation in advance. There's more to holidays than that, of course.

Holidays mean attractions will be busy, and roads will be congested.

If you're going through Monterey on Memorial Day, expect the aquarium to be very crowded. And if you're driving out of Denver at the beginning of Labour Day weekend, know that you'll get stuck in traffic on the i-70—two authentic examples from our road trips.

Now, these things happen on long road trips. You're on the road, and the nation goes on holiday. The trick is to know that in advance and plan around it. Try to spend the busy days resting, away from busy roads and crowded museums.

Even better, stay put in one town and enjoy local celebrations. Like we did on this 4th of July, in Jackson, WY -

8. Don't be fooled by Google Maps time estimates

I've helped many people plan their road trips, so I often see this happening.

You want to get from Los Angeles to Page, AZ, on the same day so you can rent a boat on Lake Powell the next morning.

Great. That's doable.

Just don't think it will take you 8 hours and 23 minutes - which is what Google Maps says it is. Don't assume you can spend 2 hours sightseeing in the Grand Canyon on the way and maybe stopping in Seligman along Route 66 for ice cream because you only have eight and a half hours of driving time.

Realistically, you'll be lucky if it will take only nine and a half hours to cover the distance.

Why? Because you can't drive for eight hours straight. You need to stop for gas, bathroom breaks, food, etc. That adds at least another hour.

And then there are those notorious LA traffic jams. That estimate that Google Maps gives you does not consider your starting location in LA or traffic issues leaving the city.

In real life? The last time we were in LA and headed east towards Arizona, it took us three hours to get out of the LA afternoon rush hour gridlock.

So, while Google Maps is a great tool, remember to adjust its time estimates to your real-life circumstances. As a rule of thumb, add 10% to its estimate. 15-20% if you're traveling with young children.

9. Prepare for toll roads

You can avoid toll roads if you like - but sometimes they're just the easier route to take in a not-very scenic area.

Find out in advance how you're supposed to pay and gear up. Alternatively, avoid those roads when planning your route.

10. Get your travel papers in order

No, you don't need a passport to cross US states. However, when we go on a long road trip, I make sure to keep the following where I can find them -

• Driver license (of all available drivers)
• Car registration papers (rental agreement in our case)
• Passports - in case we'd like to cross the border

What's more, I take photos of all of the above and make sure I have them stored online for safekeeping. You never know when a bag - or the entire car - might get stolen. It's best to have copies.

If you're renting a car like us, here's another time-saving tip: Take a photo of the vehicle's license plate. You'll be asked for that plate number every time you stop for the night in a motel. It's easier to browse through your phone than to go outside and look. I made that photo my home screen image when we were on a long road trip.

11. Get your meds and prescriptions in order

Depending on whether you're traveling in your own country or not, you may need to get medications for the entire trip in advance.

Even if you're an American taking a road trip to the US, some types of medication may have limitations on where you buy them.

Talk to your doctor and/or pharmacist in advance to ensure you have all the medications you need and the documentation required to get more of them.

12. Look for scenic byways

Whenever I plan a long road trip, I go to the official Scenic Byways website  and check the states that we're about to go through. If possible, I will work at least one or two on our route.

Give yourself time to explore these byways. They are often dotted with interesting points where you can stop for scenery or attractions.

13. Try to work national parks into your plans

National Parks are always worth a stop. Always.

In the planning stage, I search Google Maps for national parks along the route. I look for national monuments, national historic sites, etc. Anything that the National Parks Service runs.

Now, here's the thing.

Some of these park units are worth dedicating several days to. If you're going through Yellowstone National Park and this is your first visit, you should allocate a minimum of three days for that detour. Check out my post about Yellowstone to see why.

Other places may only require 1-2 hours to see in full. Or maybe half a day. My point is to take a few minutes to check beforehand so you can plan accordingly.

Oh, and do yourself a favor and buy the National Parks Pass . You can get it in the first park unit you'll visit or order it online in advance. It costs around $80 per vehicle and will cover your future visits to any NPS units for a year. It's a bargain for any long road trip in the US.

14. Some state parks are worth visiting too

State parks are trickier.

Many state parks are not worth going out of the way for. They're recreation areas designated by various states. This is great if you're a local who wants to spend the weekend fishing and ambling by a lake, but it's not worth a stop during a road trip.

Some state parks are worth a detour during a road trip. To mention just a few of our favorites  -

• Custer State Park, South Dakota
• Franconia Notch State Park, New Hampshire
• Point Lobos State Park, California
• Ecola State Park, Oregon
• Watkins Glen State Park, New York
• Goblin Valley State Park, Utah

And there were many, many more. So do your research and allocate time to the better state parks, too.

15. Follow the seasons

Some places are perfect during some seasons but not so much in others. Traveling, you have at least some ability to go to the right place at the right time.

For example, it was during a July heatwave when we first visited New England. Not so much fun. We celebrated the 4th of July in Maine and headed out west to cooler areas.

When we returned in early October, New England was entirely magical. Fall colors and crisp, clear air. This is the view we had from Mount Washington -

16. Look for festivals and special events

Don't let the crowds deter you. Festivals can be the secret ingredient that would make your road trip perfect. It can be a local Pumpkin Festival or 4th of July parade, a State/County Fair, or something as big as the Balloon Fiesta, which we attended in Albuquerque -

Whenever I plan a road trip, I actively look for festivals and fairs along our route and in nearby states. Some events are well worth going out of the way for. We have great memories of many such occasions.

17. Look for wildlife sighting opportunities

Wildlife is always a huge attraction on a road trip. We've seen over 100 bears in the wild during our travels. Our animal sightings included bison, elk, moose, pronghorn antelopes, beavers, snakes, bald eagles, seals, sea lions, and whales.

While many sightings are spontaneous, there are ways to increase the odds of seeing animals.

• Hike in national parks.
• Find out where animals are usually sighted and go there.
• Go out at dusk and dawn.
• Take tours such as whale-watching cruises.

18. Check opening hours ahead of time

Imagine going out of your way to visit a special museum only to find out they're closed on Mondays. And yes, you arrived on a Monday.

You're not likely to stick around while on a long road trip, so you'll miss out on that museum. Checking their hours ahead of time could have given you some flexibility. You could have rushed things a little to make it a day earlier or spent an extra day along the way to make it a day later.

19. Have time for unplanned detours and adventures

You never know - and that's part of the fun on a road trip!

During one of our road trips, we stopped for the night in a small motel in a tiny town in Wyoming. The owner was fascinated by our adventure and the fact that we had been traveling with two young boys.

The following morning, she introduced us to her husband, who turned out to be a drag racing instructor. We spend the next couple of hours with racing cars and trucks - quite an adventure and an unexpected one! Fortunately, we had the time for it.

So, don't rush things, and enjoy the unexpected opportunities during your journey.

While on the road

20. download maps in advance.

You won't always have access to online data as you're crossing vast empty spaces with few inhabitants. This means an online navigation app like Waze could run out of map resources.

Now, usually, this isn't much of an issue. If an area is so remote that it has no cell reception, that usually also means there won't be too many turns to take along the way. It would be best if you had no trouble finding your way relying on signposts. That's how we crossed the Alaska Highway .

To be on the safe side, here's what we always do.

Start your navigation app when you still use the motel's WiFi or some other internet connection. Let it download the map for your day's journey, and only then head out. This shouldn't take more than a minute or two.

21. Watch the weather forecast

Weather and the elements are always part of a long road trip.

During our road trips, we've encountered tornado warnings, snow, hailstorms, massive forest fires, and more. It's part of the adventure!

Just keep an eye on the forecast for the area you're going through. Watch the fire situation if you're traveling in the West during summer or fall. We've had to change our plans more than once due to severe smoke conditions - to the point of roads being closed.

22. Get a cooler

A spacious cooler is a must-have in your vehicle. Ice is easy to get at any motel you overnight at - or in gas stations. It's such an easy way to keep fresh food with you on the road. Which brings me to my next tip -

23. Have snacks and drinks in the vehicle

A cold drink is a godsend when you're driving for 3-4 hours straight without a break. Fresh fruit, string cheese, or other healthy snacks can revive both driver and passengers.

We always carry both fresh and dry snacks with us. We stock up every few days and ensure we never run out of snacks and drinks for the kids or the grownups.

24. Eat right while on the road

It's too easy to fall into the junk food trap when road-tripping. Don't do that.

Here's how we keep eating healthy on long road trips -

• Eating out? Always order a salad first - even McDonald's has them.
• Buy plenty of healthy food and prepare your meals. A healthy sandwich from wheat bread, low-fat cheese, and lots of veggies makes a great - and cheap - lunch or dinner.
• Keep your snacks healthy, too. You can buy pre-washed and pre-cut fruit and vegetables and keep them in your cooler. Delicious and very beneficial!

25. Don't carry too much stuff

This is something we've learned over several trips. It's easy to pack too much - and it's not necessary. You can do your laundry on the road, which is not a problem. We do that once or even twice a week. This means there's no need to carry too many sets of clothes.

26. Use a plastic drawer set to organize things

On the first day of any long road trip, we buy a Sterilite plastic organizer with several spacious see-through drawers. It's great for storing all those little things we always need while on the road.

Utensils, plastic bags, socks, first aid - whatever we might need while on the way are kept in that storage device.

27. Keep things inside baskets

Cheap plastic baskets cost only a few dollars and are great for storing shoes and other large items in the back of an SUV/minivan. We try to get the collapsible ones. That way, we can store them flat and pop them out when we need additional compartments in the back of the vehicle.

28. Document the trip

Consider getting a road camera for the trip. It's fun to document the drive, and it can also come in handy should you get involved in an accident.

29. Backup your photos

We take lots of photos pretty much every day of a long trip. Mainly just using our phones. A week into the trip, the phone usually gets filled up.

We used to manually back up everything on our laptop at the end of every day. Fortunately, it's much easier now, as our phones back up everything directly to Google Photos when we connect to the WiFi at the end of every day.

People Issues

30. plan activities for the whole family.

If you're traveling with kids, plan to make sure they don't get too bored. Our kids loved taking the Junior Ranger programs in every park we visited.

They each have a collection of over 60 Jr Ranger badges and patches! I can highly recommend that for kids aged 4-12.

Generally, ensure the mix of activities is balanced so people of all ages feel they're doing something fun every day. Sitting in the car without anything to do, day after day, isn't enough.

31. Don't overcrowd the vehicle

When spending 5-12 hours a day in the exact vehicle, everyone must have enough personal space.

In our experience, a 7-seater was excellent for a family of four. I wouldn't have liked to take a long road trip in a smaller vehicle.

32. Arrange to meet people on the way

Whether you meet friends and family or other traveling families via a Facebook group or forum, don't miss out on a chance to meet people.

When on a long road trip, it's good to get some variety and get the chance to talk to people other than your trip mates.

33. Consider Couchsurfing

We found Couchsurfing a great way to meet new people, get to know locals and gain fantastic, memorable experiences. Read my guide about Couchsurfing as a family to learn more about our experiences.

Here are a few more safety tips

34. know your driving limitations.

Long road trips often cover a considerable distance. That's part of their appeal.

Don't be rushed to cover more distance than you can do safely. Just how much depends on your driving abilities and experience.

Be mindful of your limitations and how they change. If the weather turns bad or you feel tired - don't push it. Safety comes first, and a road accident is the most significant risk on a long road trip.

35. Check your car regularly

Modern vehicles are very good at letting you know how they're doing. Keep an eye on the car and ensure it's current on oil changes, etc. If you don't have an air pressure monitor, check your tire pressure manually regularly.

You're putting a lot of strain on your vehicle when road-tripping. This usually isn't a problem with newer cars, but with older ones, it can be.

36. Mountain driving and other special conditions

Road-tripping is likely to take you through some fantastic scenery. It could also mean going through types of terrain that you may not be used to driving through in your daily life. I'm talking specifically about mountain passes.

If you're from a flat area and don't have mountain driving experience, refresh yourself on the basics of mountain driving. Know how to use the lower gears of your vehicle. Don't go too fast; use pullovers to let faster drivers take over safely.

37. Watch for wildlife on the road

This is a good rule, pretty much anywhere where there's wildlife. However, when road-tripping, you're more likely to drive through areas where wildlife could be an issue.

Take special care when driving early in the morning and late in the afternoon. Look for signs warning you against the presence of animals. They're there for a reason.

38. Don't leave valuables in the car

In the end, the real danger is from humans - not animals. Other than traffic accidents, as a traveler, you're also more at risk for burglary and theft. Follow these basic rules -

• Lock your car when you leave it.
• Take the most essential valuables (wallet and phone) with you.
• Avoid leaving cameras, laptops, and other valuables in the car - and cover them if you are forced to leave them in the vehicle.

You can also look into insurance, but we never take one. We accept the risk of theft as part of the traveling experience and "cover ourselves." So far, I'm happy to say we have never had anything stolen from us during more a year and a half of road-tripping in the US and Canada.

39. Carry first aid with you

Having a small first aid kit in the car is always a good idea. You never know when someone will get a small cut or minor injury. It's easier to have that with you rather than start looking for a pharmacy in the middle of nowhere.

Please don't go overboard with it, though. Unless you're a paramedic, you're not likely to need much more than some antiseptic and band-aids.

Hey, that is actually sort of a tip, too! Try to get into the road trip mood. For us, that usually takes a day or two, but once we're "in the zone," there's nothing quite like it—just rolling from one beautiful place to another, leaving your worries behind you!

How about your road trip tips?

I'd love to hear from fellow road-trippers! Do you have your special tips for a successful road trip experience? Please don't be shy and leave them here in a comment!

Thank you in advance for sharing this post on social media. Here are a couple more images for Pinterest.

Like the rest of the photos in this post, they were all taken during our road trips -

I really appreciate your advice that on really long drives it is better to have more space! About a week ago, I was talking to my sister, and she mentioned that she wants to plan a big road trip for both of our families. I think it would be great if we could all drive together so that we can bond. We should look into busses or minibusses that could hold all of us comfortably.

Hi Greta, That’s definitely an interesting idea!

Thank you for sharing! I am currently planning a month long road trip through Washington, Oregon, and California for next summer! This will be the second trip my four travel mates and I will make!

Enjoy your trip! Our next one comes up in March and I’m already super excited about it!

Thank you so much for sharing your memory of your adventures. I learned so much from you. Nature is one God’s beautiful creations. Through nature, God is able to teach us, speak to us, and provide for us. God bless you for encouraging us to follow your footstep.

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Your ultimate checklist for an epic road trip

Travel Travel Inspiration Road Trips Epic Road Trip Tips

Road trips are one of the most fun ways to travel and explore a place. Think about it - wouldn’t you rather breathe in some fresh air and get lost in serene landscapes instead of waiting in long lines at the airport? Of course! Now, although road trips can be exciting, they can also get to you if you haven’t planned a few things out. We’ve put together a list of hacks and tips to make sure you have an epic road trip with fewer unpleasant surprises and many memorable ones!

27 Expert Tips For An Epic Road Trip

Below are the tips and hacks you're here for. Read on and thank us later!

#1 Budget the road trip (and stick to it)

Plan your budget beforehand so you can figure out how much you’ll need for the entire trip. Don’t underestimate your total budget because you don’t want to fall short of money. You’ll also want to account for unforeseen expenses, emergencies, and toll gates. Always carry enough cash just in case you can’t use your cards. If you’re traveling with other adults, decide on a budget together. Talk about how much you plan to spend each day and how much you need to set aside for different activities. It’s always good to plan these things out together and set expectations during the planning process.

#2 Alternate coffee with water to stay alert

Although coffee is widely accepted as the beverage that keeps you awake and alert, it’s not the best choice if you’re driving for long hours. the caffeine can make you very dehydrated and lethargic after a while, making things extremely uncomfortable, especially if you’re driving. caffeine acts as a stimulant but often works for a short duration. taking a few sips of plain water or snacking on water-infused fruits every now can really help you stay hydrated and alert for the whole journey., #3 get a thorough car health check-up before you hit the road.

The last thing you want on your road trip is to have your car break down. Head over to the closest garage or mechanic and have them check your car thoroughly. Check the tire pressure for any signs of a possible flat. Fill up the car with a full tank to skip the hassle of finding a station in the first few hours of your road trip. Always keep a spare tire or two in the car just in case you need it on the way, and of course, learn how to change a tire before you hit the road. You just might need it for those areas where road assistance is miles away.

#4 Let your bank know where you’re going

It’s a good idea to inform your bank about where you’re headed in case of any money-related emergency that can crop up on your holiday. Because you’ll be traveling to unfamiliar places, there’s always the chance of running into frauds, even if you’re extremely careful. Keeping your bank informed can ensure that all transactions made on your holiday are looked into and any action needed can be done almost immediately. Put yourself at ease and let your bank know your travel plans before you head out.

#5 Chart a rough itinerary

You don’t want to rely solely on spontaneity, and at the same time, you don’t want to plan every tiny aspect of the trip. What you can do is chart out a rough itinerary, including pit stops, places to visit once you reach, restaurants, and the like. Basically, a rough idea of all the things you want to cover on the trip. This gives you a lot to look forward to but also room for some flexibility. For instance, let’s say you had a long night and woke up too late for breakfast and sightseeing, that’s okay! If your plan is flexible, you can still make the most of the day and see what else you can do.

#6 Carry cash and stash them carefully

Carrying a sufficient amount of cash on your road trip is absolutely essential. You just might need cash for places that don’t accept card payments, especially if you’re traveling through a small town or village. Maybe you want to grab a quick bite at a little food stall or food truck, maybe you get a flat and have to call for road assistance. Either way, keep some cash with you just in case. But don’t keep all of it in one spot. Carefully distribute it across a few spots and make sure it’s safe and hidden.

#7 Fill up gas using a Credit Card that gives cashback

Many banks have exciting cashback offers when it comes to expenses like fuel. You’ll probably need a full tank or three for your whole trip so why not save some money and earn some points/cashback while you fuel up. Call or visit your bank before you fuel up to see if your credit card is eligible for a cashback. If not, check with your road trip buddies to see if any of them have cashback offers. This is super helpful, especially if your journey is going to be a long one and you need to fill fuel more than a couple of times.

#8 Fill up gas every chance you get

Even if you have more than a half tank of gas, it’s always better to fuel up every chance you get. You never know when you might find the next gas station and sometimes it could be several hours before you do. Sometimes it might even be shut. So, even if you do your homework and figure out where all the gas stations are on your way and back, it’s always better to be safe and fill gas whenever you find a station, especially if you’ve used up half or more of your tank.

#9 Opt for truck stops over rest areas

Because you’re traveling to unknown areas, your safest bet is to opt for truck stops instead of secluded pitstops. This is an especially useful tip if you’re traveling with women and children and want to be cautious. Truck stops aren’t just for truckers anymore. With adequate lighting, food, facilities, and a small crowd, it is definitely much safer than stopping at a remote area with no one around. Either way, be cautious about where you pull up and quickly scan the area to make sure it’s safe.

#10 Schedule exercise breaks every 2 to 4 hours

We all know how painful it is to sit in the same position for hours on end. You definitely want to avoid this especially while driving and stop for a quick stretch every 2-4 hours. Doing this will help keep the inevitable back pain and leg cramps at bay. Stop every few hours and stretch it out, especially if you feel your body starting to get stiff. Breathe in some fresh air, pop a few healthy snacks, and stay hydrated so your body is in good shape to get back on the road.

#11 Learn how to change a tire

No one really tells you the importance of knowing how to change a tire, but it is an extremely valuable skill to have. It’s easy to call someone to change your tire when you run a flat in a city, but what happens when you’re in the middle of nowhere? You may not find road assistance close by or they might be miles away and take hours to reach you. You’d rather take the time to learn how to change a tire yourself and save yourself time and money.. If you learn how to do it right, the whole ordeal takes just 10-15 minutes.

#12 Bring a portable charger for your devices

We’re all pretty reliant on GPS, especially when we’re traveling. Your phone is precious in more than one way and you can’t have it drain out before you reach your destination. When you’re on a road trip, you usually rely on your vehicle’s power to charge your device. On the off chance that your car breaks down and you can’t charge your phone for assistance, it's good to have a backup charger. So carry one or two portable chargers for emergencies!

#13 Carry an offline/physical map for when GPS ditches you

Let’s be honest, we’d be pretty lost without GPS, and you can’t have your GPS giving up on you on a road trip! Backups are essential. Although the age of physical maps might be long gone, you never know when it’ll come in handy. You should also download offline maps before you set out in case you lose network and can’t access your GPS. Having all of this sorted ahead of time will save you from being stranded.

#14 Preload your phone with playlists and podcasts

Road trips are always more fun when you have some fun tunes to hum along to. Remember that you’re probably going to be out of range for the radio to function, so put a few playlists together before you hit the road. You might also lose signal sometimes, so maybe download all the songs and podcasts just in case. That way you always have music and entertainment to keep you engaged through the long stretches. Although road trip games are fun, sometimes it’s nice to just sit back, relax, and listen to good music. Don’t forget to keep everyone’s taste in mind when you’re making these playlists.

#15 Get off the highway and take the road less traveled (sometimes)

Driving on the highway can get monotonous and boring. If you have a car that can handle a little bit of off-roading, why not take an alternate route or a short detour and go on a mini-adventure? You never know what you might find in the nooks of new towns, but we’re sure it’ll be worth finding out. That said, don’t take too much of a detour and lose your way completely! Make sure to check the maps before you hit the detour to see which roads will lead you back to the highway.

Ultimate Bucketlist Road Trips In The World

#16 book flexible attraction tickets in advance.

It’s important to have a loose itinerary in mind when you plan a road trip. Although planning and booking things in advance is helpful, you might change your mind once you’re actually there. Booking flexible attraction tickets gives you the option of canceling your tickets or rescheduling them without losing money. This is a great option if you and your buddies are more on the spontaneous side. Have some fun and be flexible with your plans.

Book last minute experiences on Headout , your one-stop digital marketplace for tours, activties and experiences across 100+ cities around the globe.

#17 Snap pictures of informative signs when you enter a city/town and keep them handy

Just like how you might take pictures of where your car is parked in a massive parking lot, you probably want to take pictures of important signs on your road trip. Keep these pictures in handy in case you get lost and need to retrace your path. It’s also a good idea to keep these pictures in case of any other emergency that pops up when you’re on the road in unfamiliar areas.

#18 Download a handy chunk of road trip friendly apps

Nowadays there are apps for pretty much everything. To find a toilet, to find the closest gas station, to chart your road trip itinerary and even to find the nearest parking. Before setting off on a road trip, make sure to download the few recommended road trip apps to help make your trip hassle-free!

#19 Stock up on emergency essentials (more than one of each)

Include emergency essentials on your road trip packing list. You always need to be prepared in case of accidents and emergencies, especially if you’re in for a long drive and help is far off. Some important things that need to be packed include a first-aid kit, road safety kit, car tools, spare tires and other car parts, a flashlight, blankets, and water.

#20 Travel insurance + Car insurance are an absolute must

There’s a reason why accidents are called that - because you never know when they can happen. Make sure you have car insurance and travel insurance and keep a copy or two of them in the car. You want to be prepared for anything when you’re on a road trip, especially when there are other people in the car with you. Insurance is a must when you’re heading out on a road trip..

#21 Know the road rules of the country

Get yourself familiar with the road rules of the place you’re going to visit. Sometimes each state has its own travel rules for the road. Do a bit of research and find tips for travelers from official travel and tourism websites. Whether it’s Europe, the United States, Australia, or Asia, you can find important information about road rules on their government or tourism sites. This little extra step can help reduce any tension when you’re driving and prepare you for the unexpected.

#22 Carry a foldable chair and portable picnic set

One of the most exciting parts of a road trip is finding beautiful spots along the way where you can enjoy the view, take some cool pictures, or better - have a picnic! Carry a few foldable chairs and a portable picnic set with you so you can have an impromptu picnic anywhere, anytime. Light food and beverages are perfect for a picnic, like sandwiches, juice boxes, chips, and whatever else you fancy. Having a small picnic in the middle of your road trip also gives you a chance to unwind and enjoy nature before getting back on the road.

#23 Sunscreens for the windows are a blessing during afternoons

When you crank the air conditioner up, it can slow down your car or burn up fuel much faster. but when you roll the windows down, it can get loud with harsh winds. plus, the car usually gets quite heated up during noon, making it uncomfortable for passengers inside. a bunch of hot, sweaty, irritable people stuck next to each other for a long time inside a car can make things very uncomfortable. invest in sunscreens for the car windows so that even if you’re driving when the sun is at its peak, you can still have a pleasant drive., #24 cover distances during daylight, the best time to start your road trip is at 4 or 5 am in the morning, just before the sun rises. this way you get to beat the morning traffic and be out of the city in time to catch some sensational views of the sunrise. plus, without regular commuters on the road, your journey becomes less hectic and more enjoyable without being stuck in those annoying traffic jams. after all, you don’t want to start off your road trip in a bad mood. leaving early also helps you cover the majority of your distance during daylight when it's the safest to drive., #25 don’t use cruise control at night, as relaxing as it is to put the car on cruise control, kick back, and enjoy the ride, you don’t want to do this after the sunsets. using cruise control at night can be dangerous because it’s harder to see things at night and your reflexes need to be on high alert. the nighttime is usually when truck drivers tend to become more drowsy and little animals tend to set out on adventures, often ending up on roads. so stay off cruise control at night and be ready for anything unexpected..

#26 Keep a close watch on the weather forecast and change plans accordingly

Weather can be so unpredictable sometimes. you most certainly should check the weather forecast while planning the trip to see what clothes to carry, what activities to plan, and so on. but, as accurate as weather forecasts are, there are times when the weather changes unpredictably. keep a close watch on the forecast every day of your trip, especially when you’re planning to cover long distances. have a rough backup plan in mind, in case mother nature decides to throw some weather hazards your way., #27 kit your car out and carry spare parts, even though vehicles are made of a gazillion different parts, sometimes even if one of those parts stops working, you’re going to have trouble. there are some essential parts to a car where it helps to have a spare, so you don’t end up having to ditch your car in the middle of nowhere. spare tires, car battery, water pump, jumper cables, and a timing belt. if you want to keep even more items handy, that’s perfectly alright, but you should at least have these few essentials just in case there’s a breakdown on your road trip..

Lakshmi Menon

Born to parents bit by the wander bug, Lakshmi calls her love for travel "hereditary and habitual". Perpetually ensconced with a book in her hand and a mug of coffee in the other, she has been to over 15 countries in her 23 years of existence and is currently saving miles and money for her solo trip to Iceland. Always hustling towards the least trodden path, she has encountered some wonderful people during her escapades and if you ever meet her, she won't stop gushing about them.

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20 Road Trip Hacks for a Stress-free Trip

This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I (The Winding Road Tripper) earn from qualifying purchases.  Read more . 

Featured Image by  averie woodard  on  Unsplash

Road trips are supposed to be fun, but they can also be stressful. 

A lot of planning goes into road trips and there are even more things to worry about once you’re on the road. 

Luckily, we have a few road trip hacks to make your life easier while you’re traveling down the open highway (or up into the mountains). These hacks will help ensure that your trip runs smoothly and you have the time of your life. 

Create Your Own Customized Road Trip Map

A road trip map for the journey ahead will ensure that you don’t forget any essential stops along your way. You could simply print out a normal map you plotted out on Google Maps. But that doesn’t even come close to the awesomeness of a customized map.  

A custom map is much easier to make than it sounds, and there are many different tools out there that help guide you through the process. Our favorite is Google My Maps but many other road trippers use Roadtrippers to plan their road trips.

To learn how you can use Google My Maps to plan your next road trip check out: How to Plan a Road Trip Using Google Maps

Get Free Paper Road Maps and Attraction Guides

There is no need to buy a road atlas or paper road maps.

As you enter each state along the interstate, you will likely find a Welcome Center. These centers offer free paper road maps of the state.

Therefore, make Welcome Centers a stop on your route. They are great for the free road map as well as a bathroom or lunch break.

Also, if you are a AAA member , you can order free road maps through them for your upcoming travels.

The Welcome Centers or Tourism Bureaus will also likely have visitor’s guides. If you look through, you may find some interesting stops along the way.

Make Time For the Small Towns

When planning road trips, many of us focus on the big cities or tourist attractions for our things to see and do. As a result, we end up driving right past those small towns along the route.

Over the years, we’ve learned that those small towns have a lot to offer, but the allure of a big city can easily overshadow them.

Small towns offer a chance to get to know the people and learn about the culture and history of an area. Stopping in small-town restaurants, shops, and museums, will also help support some great businesses.

Our favorite small-town stops have been breweries, wineries, and distilleries. They offer a chance to sit down and chat all while learning about the area.

Stay at Hotels With Free Breakfast

If your road trip requires you to stay in hotels along your route, find hotels with complimentary breakfast. Getting a meal in before you hit the road is a great money and time saver.

Complimentary breakfast means one less meal you have to plan for and spend money on. It’s also a great way to get your morning coffee and a few snacks for the day ahead.

Pack a Picnic Kit

Whether you are packing your meals or stopping for food along your way, you never know when you will need those napkins, cutlery, or plates. 

A Picnic Kit can include the following items:

• Plastic table cloth (you’ll be happy to have this)
• Steak Knife

Pack each of these items into an accessible small bag that you can set in a convenient place, such as under the passenger seat.  This way, the picnic supplies are easy to access when needed.

If you want to have everything you’ll need and keep it organized, you can always purchase a picnic kit .

Create Small Bags of Snacks for Each Day

Breaking up snacks into individual servings will not only help keep you organized but will also prevent you from eating an entire bag of chips in one sitting. 

No one has ever felt good after eating an entire 1lb of gummy bears.

You can also place individual bags of snacks in separate larger bags labeled with each day. Having small bags of snacks for each day makes it easy to grab what you need for the day and to divvy them out to each passenger.

Bring an Electric Cooler

Having a cooler to store snacks and meals will save you money. And having food on hand will prevent those hunger melt-downs that will easily ruin the mood of a road trip.

But draining a traditional cooler and restocking the ice can be a real pain.

Thankfully, there are electric coolers that you can purchase that plug into the 12 Volt outlet in your car. They come in a variety of sizes depending on the amount of space you have available.

These electric coolers are a must-have for any road trip. We like the affordability of this Igloo Cooler .

Bring Some Cash and Change

You never know when you are going to need change or cash on your road trip.

We like to keep an envelope with a little bit of cash in our glove box. That way, we always have cash if needed.

You also never know when you are going to need change. Tolls and laundry can require change, and scrambling to find some can put a damper on any trip.

Don’t Keep Your Credit Cards and Cash In the Same Place

Keep your credit card and cash in at least two different places so that if you misplace or lose one, you have a backup stash.

If traveling in a pair, this is easy to do as you can split up the cash and cards between the two of you. If you plan to use one card, maybe keep an extra card in a third place in case of an emergency.

If you are solo, keep a stash of money on you and inside a suitcase or glove box.

Raid the Dollar Store For Cheap Kid Distractions

Want to keep those kids entertained throughout your road trip?

Then hit up your local dollar store and find a bunch of little surprises to give to the kids every few hours.

These little surprises will help keep them occupied throughout the trip and help build anticipation. 

If you plan it right, you could even have themes for each gift related to where you’ll be. Some examples are bubbles when stopping at a park for a picnic or a pail and shovel for a stop at the beach.

Download Audiobooks

Keep everyone in the car entertained and mentally occupied with audiobooks. They keep your attention better than music does and helps the time fly by.

Books like the Harry Potter series or biographies read by the author are great options for road trips.

More Road Trip Entertainment Ideas: 15 Ridiculously Fun Road Trip Games Road Trip Activities: Fun Ideas for a Long Car Ride

Download the GyPSy Guide App

Before heading out on your road trip, check to see if the GyPSy Guide App has any audio tours available for your destinations. Audio tours are available for many of the National Parks and popular road trip destinations.

We absolutely love using the GyPSy Guide App, to help us learn about the area we are driving through. It’s like having your own personal tour guide in your car.

The app plays snippets of information based on your GPS location. It also has great suggestions for the best ways to see an area.

Use Suction Cup Caddies to Hold Kids Art Supplies

Kids love to be creative on road trips.

But the backseat can get messy real fast when their crayons, markers, paint, and paper start flying everywhere.

Luckily, you can buy suction cup shower caddies that attach right to the window and hold all those art supplies in place for easy access.

Not only does this save the car from disaster, but it also helps prevent stress when the kids can’t find their favorite markers.

Use a Cookie Baking Sheet For a Lap Desk

This hack is great for both kids and adults.

Instead of buying a car tray to eat, draw, or write on, use something you already have, like a cookie baking sheet.

Create a Bucket  Pulley System to Pass Items to the Back Seat

When the kid in the third row wants a snack, but the kids in the middle seats are sleeping, you’ll be happy you installed a bucket pulley system.

All you need to create your pulley system is a small bucket, some twine or string, and two suction cups.

Just attach the suction cups to the windows on either side of your car.  Then thread the string through both of them and tie a knot.

This bucket pulley system that you can use to pass things back and forth in the car.

This hack allows you to easily pass snacks, water bottles, extra toys, maps, etc., from one row of seats to another.

Use Cheap Portable Shower Caddies as In-Car Organization

Shower caddies are great for keeping all your road trip essentials organized.

So when you go to the dollar store and buy a couple of cheap ones, it will save you many headaches.

You can use them to hold everything from trash bags to paper towels, wet wipes, and tissues. They are great for keeping trash off the floor of your car and help prevent spills.

Use a Shoe Organizer for Back Seat Storage

Shoe organizers are great for keeping anything you need in the back seat organized.

They fit on most seat-backs and hold a bunch of stuff, from toys to extra clothes or food.  

Hang them from the front seats’ headrests, and you’ll have a back seat that stays organized.

Roll Your Clothes Instead of Folding Them

Rolling your clothes helps in two ways.

One, it helps keep your clothes wrinkle-free. And, two, it saves space in your suitcase or packing cube.

To make things even better, you can also roll your outfits for the day together. Roll together pants, shirts, socks, and underwear for each day. This prevents you from having to dig around your suitcase to find each piece of clothing.

Bring Overnight Bags

If you plan to stay in multiple hotels over your trip, it is a great idea to pack a small overnight bag for each person. This cuts down on the amount of luggage you have to lug into the hotel each night.

All you need is one set of clothes and essential toiletries in a small bag.

To make things even easier, label each bag with the person’s name, or get different colors, so everyone knows where their bag is.

Bring a Foldable Wagon

A foldable wagon will make it easy to take coolers, groceries, and supplies from the car to the campsite, picnic area, or hotel during your road trip.

Schedule a Car Detailing for After Your Road Trip

Getting your car detailed after you get back from your road trip will be the best decision you can make. When you get home, you can just unpack and not worry about cleaning up.

When planning your road trip budget, make sure to include the cost of detailing your car once you return.

Doing so will turn those stressful messes into “we’ll deal with that later.”

You’ll thank me later for this one.

More Road Trip Planning Tips: Tips to Help You Save Money on Your Next Road Trip When is the Best Time to Leave for a Long Road Trip? How to Budget for a Road Trip

You Got This

With these road trip hacks, you will have a stress-free road trip.

Many of these hacks will also save you money and allow you to stay organized throughout your entire trip.

Now get out there and have the best road trip that you can!

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7 Road Trip Hacks Every Traveler Should Know

A bumper-to-bumper guide to your next summer adventure.

There's nothing worse than setting off for a road trip and then realizing you've left something at home or discovering that your key fob battery has died while halfway to your destination. To avoid unnecessary pit stops and headaches, check this list of road trip hacks before getting behind the wheel.

Prepare your vehicle for long-distance travel.

According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), most breakdowns can be prevented by having your car serviced before your journey. Head to a mechanic at least a week in advance of your road trip to have the oil and tire pressure checked and ensure that the battery, brakes, and engine are working properly.

While a growing number of new cars come with inflation kits, most still don't have spare tires, including rental cars . If you have a run-flat or doughnut tire, remember that those are intended for short-term use until the flat tire can be fully repaired or replaced. Consider investing in a spare-tire kit, which includes a tire, jack, and lug wrench, for $150 to $300.

You should also consider bringing an extra battery for your key fob. "You'd be surprised at how many car keys die when people are on the road, leaving them locked out of their cars," says an AAA spokesperson.

Before hitting the road, pack an emergency kit that has distilled water, a battery charger, a first-aid kit, jumper cables, and flares or reflectors. Learn how to use the jumper cables (there are YouTube tutorials ) before getting on the road.

Pack strategically.

Packing and repacking your car can be time-consuming. Road trip expert Tamela Rich , the author of three books, advises loading nonessential items first, such as anything you won't need until you reach your final destination, and then putting in the items that you'll rely on throughout the drive, such as a camera or a purse — a trunk organizer can help keep your car tidy. Finally, you can secure rooftop cargo with a storage box. Packasport makes a variety of sizes and can also customize a hard-shell case for your vehicle.

For multi-city road trips , pack a weekender bag that's separate from your luggage and fill it with daily essentials, such as pajamas and toiletries. "This saves you from dragging bulky luggage in and out of the car every time you check in to a hotel," says Rich.

Use apps to plan your stops.

If you're traveling on a major interstate highway, use the iExit app to get the lowdown on amenities at upcoming exits, including gas stations, grocery stores, hotels, and hospitals, as well as local attractions.

Clean bathrooms definitely make your pit stops more pleasant. For restrooms on your route that you can use without fear, check out diaroogle.com , or the Where is Public Toilet app.

Sort out your devices.

Don't have any place in your car to put your cell phone to view your maps app? Use a binder clip and a rubber band to make your own phone holder that clips onto air vents. Not enough outlets to charge devices for all passengers? Get a multi-outlet adapter, such as the Anker USB C Car Charger .

Bring cash.

Be prepared for unexpected tolls by bringing extra $1 and $5 bills for booths that don't have electronic toll collection, or in case E-ZPass or FasTrak doesn't work on your route. Also, fill old pill bottles with quarters for easy counting at tollbooths or for parking meters. The Parkmobile app , which helps make parking fee payments simpler, is available in over 400 U.S. cities.

Have essentials on hand.

Since dehydration can lead to headaches and crankiness, make sure to have a reusable glass or stainless-steel water bottle for each person in the car that can be refilled along the way. It's also a good idea to pack a bag with wet wipes, paper towels, hand sanitizer, and trash bags to deal with accidents or messes.

Even if you plan to stop for meals, pack a portable cooler with non-messy, healthy snacks such as baby carrots, apples, grapes, boiled eggs, and nuts. The protein and fiber in foods like these help stabilize blood-sugar levels and digestion, which can be thrown off during travel, Rich says.

Take frequent breaks.

Kendra Thornton, president of Royal Travel & Tours travel agency, advises breaking up long car drives by stopping every two to three hours, whether for a meal, to check out an attraction, or at a rest stop to stretch your legs. "When you take frequent breaks, the trip feels like a series of manageable drives instead of one interminable one," she says.

Don't miss out on popular culinary hot spots along your route. TVFoodMaps.com has curated a list of more than 4,000 restaurants that have been featured on popular television shows such as Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives . Roadfood.com lists hundreds of authentic, locally owned restaurants, which are usually a better option than fast-food chains. Farmers' markets are also gold mines for picking up prepared regional specialties, Rich says, such as Native American fry bread in New Mexico or barbecued pork in the Carolinas .

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23 road trip tips and hacks for the best road trip of your life.

As a frequent traveler, I have learned to get creative to make the most of my time when going on road trips. Also, I learned to avoid cities at 5 pm, take the car to a mechanic before I go and find the best healthy snacks for the road! Use these road trip tips and hacks for your next epic adventure!

Getting Ready Before Going on a Road Trip 

To make sure you have a great road trip, you should do a little preparation beforehand! Make a packing list of everything you need to take with you, have your documents and map your trip out. 

1. Check Your Vehicle Before Heading Out

At least a week before you leave for a long road trip, take your car to the mechanic to check the fluid levels, brakes, tires. Be sure your spare tire is fully inflated and that you have jumper cables!

2. Make Sure to Have Your Documents

If you are traveling without current license, registration, and insurance, you could be in trouble if you get pulled over. Also, clear up any tickets before you go.

3. Clean Your Car Before Leaving on a Road Trip

There is not much worse than being stuck in a dirty car for several days. Before you go, clean it. You’ll thank me later. 

4. Map the Trip with Google Maps

5. compare toll and no toll routes.

Toll roads can save you some time, but they can add up quickly! Compare the time driving with and without toll roads in google maps and choose for your budget and time!

6. Anticipate Traffic and Plan Ahead (As Much As You Can)

On a road trip, it’s not hard to find yourself in a city at rush hour. Plan out your trip beforehand to avoid it.

7. Snacks to Bring On Your Next Road Trip

The options at gas stations, convenience stores, and fast food chains along the way can leave you bloated while on the road. Your body already is running on low energy since you’ve been sitting in the car for hours.That’s why I recommend packing a good bag of snacks for a road trip! That way, you will spend less time and money than stopping at restaurants and gas stations on the way.

Take These Healthy and Delicious Road Trip Snacks

8. Use My Ultimate Packing List for Your Trip

You have to keep in mind so much when you’re getting ready. To make it a little easier, I made a packing list for a trip you are going on! I use it every time I travel and you should too!

A few Packing Tips Just for A Road Trip:

• Put a few dryer sheets in your bag to keep your clean clothes smelling fresh, while preventing the odor of the dirty ones.
• Pack paper towels, hand wipes, sanitizer and tissues at the front seat to always have available.
• For longer distance car trips, pack an overnight bag that’s separate from your luggage and fill it with daily essentials, such as pajamas and toiletries. You can leave your bulky luggage in the car if you’re stopping at a hotel for a night.
• Pack a spare car key. Things happen and you will be glad you were prepared!
• Bonus tip: If you’re going hiking or camping on your road trip, see Hiking Packing List for everything you’d need on your hike!

On the Road: Long-Distance Road Trip Tips

9. Split the Time Driving

It will get tiring for one driving to take the lead the whole trip. Talk with your road trip friends about splitting some of the time driving so that everyone can rest. This is especially important for long distance road trips. 

10. Divide the Responsibilities

Some people are good at navigating, others are good at planning meals. Figure out your travel companions talents to plan your trip. That way you will get things done efficiently! And don’t forget to figure out who has the best road trip music on their phone. 

11. Take a Cooler With You

Pack a cooler to store drinks and snacks in case you get hungry!

12. Take a Water Bottle and A Coffee Mug

Instead of buying water and wasting all of the plastic, refill your reusable water bottle at gas stations. You can also do the same with a travel coffee mug , and bring some coffee from your house to get you started so that you don’t have to make a coffee stop before leaving your block. 

13. Check the Driving Laws for the Countries/States You’re Visiting

If you’re traveling across states or countries, make sure you’re aware of the rules of the road for the US states (each state has its own rules), see them at USA.gov .

14. Use a Parking App

If you’re going to a bigger city, you will probably have trouble finding free parking. To score cheaper parking in the city, I use ParkWhiz , which helps make payments simpler and easier to compare the best prices. Look up a coupon code to use on the app. 

15. Use a Gas Card

You will spend a lot of money on gas, might as well get cashback. Do some research on travel credit cards that give you extra points for travel and have a good sign up offer . Sometimes the categories rotate, but you could get a lot of perks.

16. Ask a Local Where to Eat

Someone local to the area will have an insight to a tastier and cheaper meal ideas than a guidebook could ever suggest. Find a local to ask for the best restaurants in town. If there is no one to ask, use Like a Local Guide for some ideas on places to eat and things to do. 

17. How to Spend Your Time on a Road Trip?

Use my list of things to do on your long distance road trip to make the trip go by faster!

USA Road Trip Tips

18. Tips for Long Drive in Car – See What Fun Things You Can See On Your Route

There is so much to see around the country when you are driving! It might be a scenic overlook, a natural bridge or a quick stop at a National Park. If you have the time, look for other fun things to do on your road trip. US has so much to offer, see this US bucket list for inspiration. Roadtrippers can also help you find scenic drives on your route.

19. Check the Gas Prices

Gus prices vary across states, leave a little extra in the budget because you might be paying a lot more for gas than you’re used to! It’s especially true for small towns. More often than not, prices in the middle of nowhere are higher than in bigger cities. 

20. On a Longer Road Trip, Bring Cash With You

Some state and national parks require cash payments for parking and using the facilities. Small town gas stations may only accept cash! Some parking meters and toll machines can only accept cash. Take some out at your local bank to avoid charges. 

21. Stop at a Farmer’s Market for Local Produce

Farmers’ markets are great for trying out regional foods from local businesses and farmers. Find the farmer’s market schedule at ams.usda.gov .

22. Don’t Underestimate How Big the US Is  

The United States is really big, so you should do the research about the states you’re going through. Everything from the weather and to weird laws and hurricane/tornado seasons!

23. Get Inspiration from My US Ultimate Bucket List

Are you going on a road trip soon? Tell me where you’re going next in the comments below!

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17 Comments

That’s a great list of tips! I will be going on a road trip to Montana soon and will have to check out Like a Local and Road-trippers to make the most of it! So many things to see, so little vacation time!

So many great tips! I love your suggestions about finding a local farmers market, and asking local people where to eat. I will keep these in mind the next time we travel.

For me, traveling is also about finding the best places to eat! Where are you going next?

These are very important and useful tips that we always followed and remember to go through the checklist. I love traveling with my family and exploring new places. Heena.

Me too! Travel is my favorite thing to do in my free time! You can learn so much from it – good for the body and the soul!

Great list! I’m leaving on a road trip tomorrow and can’t wait to get back on the road!. Your tips are very useful, thanks

Road trips are my favorite! Where are you going?

Spare key! – my favorite tip. I also like to use an overnight bag so that is another favorite tip! Great and easy to follow list!

Some really great tips here! We’re crossing everything that our Colorado/Wyoming/South Dakota roadtrip can still go ahead later this year, it’s our favourite way to travel!

I am the same as you. I love to travel, but I also love my roadtrips. During the warmer months, I will go on one every weekend that I’m not travelling. There is so much to see. I love the tips of having your car checked over before you go. So many people forget this critical step.

Excellent tips! I love that you mentioned how gas prices can be higher in rural areas. Before my first big solo road trip (Boston to Phoenix), I budgeted my gas costs based on my local prices. With that much driving through the middle of the country, I ended up going waaaaay over my estimate 🙁 Lesson learned!

I love road trips, and these are some fantastic ideas and suggestions! I especially love your list of things to do on a road trip and your list of snacks! Road trips are just a blast, and since we still can’t fly to most places yet, I feel inspired to hit the road and have an adventure! Thanks for the inspiration!

This is such a great list! We’re planning on doing a few road trips this summer/fall since coronavirus messed up our traveling this year so definitely saving this!

Great tips, I’ll have to bookmark this as I’m planning a long road trip for our summer holiday this year. I love your advice not to underestimate how huge America is. I love when European friends tell me they’d like to fly into NYC and drive to LA in 10 days – I tell them not to stop or sleep and maybe they can do it in 12 haha 🙂

Great article with lots of helpful tips! And very timely since, like most people, I’ll be doing a road trip this summer. Thanks for sharing 🙂

The best road trips are when you’ve done a bit of planning and preparation first. But all too often we’ve started driving somewhere, and then decided to turn it into a longer road trip, and then had to scramble for directions, food, water, and fuel. I’d much rather be prepared than be unorganized.

Useful tips for road trips. Thank you for sharing these tips and ideas to manage road trips.

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Road trip hacks that’ll improve your journey

We love a good travel hack – and this time we’re setting our sights on road trips. Besides the fact that they’re a great way to relax and go on an adventure, road trips also let you discover hidden gems you may have missed otherwise (and certainly would have missed from the air).

The best road trip hacks to enjoy your journey

The point of a road trip is to enjoy the journey as much as the destination. To help, here are some of the things you should do.

1. Plan ahead

If you’d like to have a flawless road trip, you should plan ahead of your journey. First, decide the route you’d like to follow and how fast you’d like to cover the whole route with your travel companions. You should also decide whether you’ll stay in motels, hotels or even campsites. Planning ahead of your journey will allow you to have a rough idea of what to expect on your trip. Find more tips in this article on how to find the best accommodation along your route.

2. Choose a destination

While planning your road trip, you should settle on sites you’d like to see while on the road. The duration of your road trip should influence the number of sites you visit. If you plan on having a short road trip, it’s in your best interest to visit a couple of places for a relatively longer period rather than stop briefly at numerous destinations. Visiting these few places will be more fun as you’ll have more time to enjoy them.

3. Have your documentation intact

Before hitting the road running, it’s essential to ensure that you have some form of identification. If you are a domestic traveler, you should carry a copy of your driver’s license and/or state-issued identity card. If you’re a foreigner, you’ll need your passport and foreign driving license.

4. Budget adequately for your road trip

Before hitting the road, consider how much you want to spend on the trip. With a budget, you’ll be able to manage yourself accordingly throughout the trip, as you’ll easily determine the type of places you’ll affordably eat at, sleep in, and visit while on your road trip.

5. Rent a car

Once you’ve determined your budget, you should find a rental car. The car you rent should be large enough to accommodate you, all those you intend to travel with, and your luggage. It should also be capable of easily maneuvering the type of terrain you intend to drive. You should rent a car with low fuel consumption to save on gas.

Before heading out on a long road trip, it’s logical to assume that you’ll have to take your personal car to a mechanic for full maintenance services, which are ordinarily costly. By renting a car, you’ll avoid having to incur this cost. Hence, renting a car for your road trip can be economically wise.

When you search cars on KAYAK, you’re comparing options from a wide range of travel providers and car rental agencies so you can find exactly what you’re looking for. We also offer car-sharing options so you can compare prices across all car types and find the perfect wheels for your trip.

6. Learn how to change a tire

You can never really know when or where you’ll have a flat tire. Therefore, it’s better for you to learn how to change a tire ahead of time.

7. Be prepared for the weather

Upon selecting the destinations you’d like to visit and the route you’d like to follow, it’s advisable that you research the weather you’ll encounter while on your road trip.

8. Find nearby affordable stays on KAYAK

If you’d like to have a memorable road trip, factor in where you’ll sleep while on the road. Sleep and exercise are vital for the success of a road trip, as, without them, you will be mostly tired all through your journey.

When you search on KAYAK, you can see all our accommodation options in one place. From hotels to cabins to homes to RVs to campsites, you can search it all at once.

Search Stays

9. Have some backup directions

Getting lost while on the road can be exhausting. To avoid such a scenario, when renting a car from your preferred car rental company, make sure it includes a working GPS. Most car rental companies usually install GPS systems in their cars upon request by their clients. More often than not, GPS systems are reliable. However, in remote areas with minimal network coverage, they sometimes are not as reliable. Therefore, you should be prepared for such a situation by having backup directions, such as an atlas or a paper map.

10. Put together a playlist

Being on the road can, at times, get boring. Without music, an audiobook, or even a podcast playing, you may doze off. To do away with boredom, load your favorite songs, audiobooks, and podcasts on your phone. You’ll probably find yourself singing along to your favorite tunes throughout your journey.

11. Adopt lightfoot driving

Lightfoot driving is a skill not many drivers have mastered. It involves applying light pressure on the gas pedal with the aim of accelerating smoothly and gradually. If you adopt lightfoot driving, you’ll enjoy better fuel efficiency, a smoother ride experience, and less wear and tear on various parts of your rental car.

12. Get a first aid kit

Accidents occur all the time. If you get involved in a major one, you should make a point of contacting the relevant authorities. However, in case you get involved in a minor accident but sustain minimal to no injuries, you can use the products in a first aid kit to relieve the discomfort. A fully fitted first aid kit is just as important as a GPS. Most car rentals usually offer first aid kits upon request. Although it might cost you a bit extra, it’s extremely crucial that you have it.

13. Have a co-driver

Driving is normally mentally and physically exhausting if done for a long period. In fact, The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that each year, about 100 drowsy-driving crashes are reported. Annually, these crashes result in roughly 800 casualties as well as 50,000 injuries. To avoid suffering this fate, before heading out on your road trip, you should agree on who your co-driver will be. Having a co-driver will help you have a smooth journey, as when you’re tired, they can simply take over the wheel and continue your journey. Once you settle on your co-driver, you should inform your car rental of their details. If the co-driver is your partner, you’ll pay no additional charge, as, at most car rentals, a renter’s spouse or domestic partner who is of age and has the necessary documents can act as co-driver without paying extra. If, however, you choose your friend or outsource a co-driver, you’ll incur an additional charge. Alternatively, if no one in your road trip group is comfortable driving, adopt frequent short rests on your route and don’t drive for more than a few hours at a time. Short rests will keep you rejuvenated throughout your journey.

14. Don’t hesitate to ask locals for directions

Even with GPS, you can still find it difficult to determine where you are. If you find yourself in such a position while on your road trip, don’t hesitate to ask for help from locals.

KAYAK has information on some of the best sites to visit while on different routes in the USA. Given that the information on our platform will help you choose destinations across the country, you may find places that inspire your route, or a detour, on your road trip.

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25 Practical Tips for Long Road Trips

By Jason Barnette | Travel writer and photographer with 15+ years of road tripping experience

• Last Updated on May 25, 2024
• Published on July 7, 2021

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my Affiliate Disclosure here .

You’re finally ready to embark on that epic road trip that will take you across the country from sea to shining sea. The gas tank is full, you’ve checked off every item on the packing list, and you’re ready to hit the road. But are you actually ready for a long road trip?

The longer a road trip, the more complicated it can get. I didn’t say would get, but it certainly can get complicated. Have you packed enough clothing for the entire trip, or will you need to do laundry along the way? Are you ready for chilly nights, rain, and unexpected adventures? Unfortunately, these are the kinds of questions many people don’t consider until the road trip is underway – and it’s too late to make many changes.

These 25 practical tips for long road trips will help you get prepared long before you leave home, save money along the way, and help you spend more time enjoying the road trip and less time dealing with those pesky complications.

Buy food at grocery stores instead of gas stations

Road trip snacks are almost as necessary as gasoline for the car – they even perform similar functions. But one of the worst things a person can do on a road trip is to buy the snacks spontaneously at random gas stations along the way.

Save money and time with those snacks at grocery stores or bulk purchase stores. Stock up on all the snacks, drinks, and coffee at a fraction of the price of buying it along the way. The more you save, the longer you can drive.

Get your car inspected

Before leaving home, get your car inspected. Most national chain auto repair shops offer free inspections because they want your business when they find something wrong with the car.

But it’s an excellent way to get all the fluids topped off, tires rotated and balanced, and the hundreds of moving parts of a car inspected before you leave. Spur of the moment auto repairs during a road trip can be prohibitively expensive – not to mention you might have to shack up at a roadside motel for a few days while the work is done.

Keep your car maintained

Did you know properly inflated tires can lead to better gas mileage? Under-inflated tires cause a drop of 0.2% miles per gallon for every 1 PSI of all tires. That may not seem like much, but it can add up on long road trips.

Consider a 5,000-mile road trip in a vehicle that gets 30 miles per gallon. This would require 167 gallons of gas to complete the trip. However, if all four tires are underinflated by an average of 4 PSI, that means the vehicle is only achieving 27.6 miles per gallon. This would require 182 gallons to complete the trip – an increase of 15 gallons.

Beyond tire pressure, be sure to maintain fluids for the radiator, brakes, and engine oil to prevent damage to the engine. Replaced burned out headlights and taillights immediately. Keep up with oil changes and tire rotations for trips longer than 5,000 miles.

20 Essential Travel Apps for Awesome Road Trips

Set a reasonable daily mileage goal

The point of a road trip is to enjoy the journey as much as the destination. Driving 500 miles per day on the interstate highways doesn’t make for a very enjoyable road trip adventure. Driving that far on two-lane roads is incredibly tedious and exhausting.

By the time you stop at a couple roadside attractions, go for a hike in a state park, sit down for lunch, and take a short detour, the number of miles you’ll be able to cover in a single day will be limited at best. But that’s the point of the road trip! Set a limited number of miles to drive each day, giving yourself plenty of time to enjoy everything you’ll discover along the way.

Avoid rush hour traffic and peak dinner times

Sitting in congested traffic and waiting for food are two of the biggest examples of losing time on a long road trip. In fact, those are the biggest time wasters for just about any kind of travel. But there is a simple way to avoid losing time: avoid rush hour and peak dinner times.

Eat breakfast after 9 a.m., get lunch around 2 p.m., and consider dinner either early at 4 p.m. or wait until 7 p.m. During those time frames, you’ll get seated faster, and food served quicker. Also, when driving around town or between destinations, avoid the rush hours of 7-9 a.m. and 4-6 p.m.

As an added bonus, use a navigation app or dedicated GPS device in your car that includes traffic information – this information will help you spot potential traffic jams from congestion, construction, or accidents and usually includes optional detours. Using an app like OpenTable ( iOs | Android ) will allow you to make reservations at many restaurants – cutting down the time spent waiting for a table to open.

Road Trip to the 8 Presidential Sites Throughout Northern Ohio

A void Small Town Travel on Sundays and Mondays

Roll into almost any small town with a population of less than 20,000 on a Sunday or Monday, and you’re likely to find every restaurant, museum, and attraction closed. It’s not from the owners’ lack of business sense but rather because the owners often work in their businesses, and they want a couple of days off each week.

Sundays and Mondays tend to be the most common days these local businesses are closed. However, it may also include mid-weekdays like Tuesday and Wednesday. Instead of visiting the small towns, consider spending the night in state or national parks, driving scenic routes, or just taking a couple of days to relax.

Pack everything – including the kitchen sink

I own six rain jackets, four sets of trekking poles, and two pairs of Crocs Swiftwater shoes . It’s not because I want a particular color combination for each day of the week, but instead because I kept leaving the items behind, thinking I wouldn’t need them.

Pack everything you can possibly fit into your vehicle for a long road trip. Go beyond your tentative itinerary and think about things you enjoy doing that you might want to do along the way. Take those golf clubs or stunt kites, pack the fleece hoodie, and bring more than two pairs of shoes. Although it’s impossible to prepare for every eventuality, every little bit helps save money in the budget.

Fill the gas tank on Monday

GasBuddy ( iOS | Android ) conducted a survey a few years ago to determine the best and worst times for gas prices. Interestingly, Mondays were the cheapest day of the week to get gas on average, with the best time coming around 10 a.m.

Also, interesting – though not surprising – was that the worst day to get gas was Friday or the day before a major holiday. During those days, gas prices tended to spike first thing in the morning.

18 Essential Items That Belong on Every Road Trip Packing List

Don’t rely on cellular service

One universal constant of any long road trip is the eventuality of running into a cellular dead zone. Rural areas in the Midwest, rugged terrain in the Rockies, and sporadically throughout the Southeastern United States are areas in between cellular towers that will leave your cellphone or tablet as useful as screen doors for submarines.

Be prepared to eventually lose cellular service during your long road trip. Download Google Maps ( iOS | Android ) for offline use, make sure all your apps are up to date, and download movies for entertainment. Doing as much of this as possible while connected to WIFI will prevent you from breaching a monthly data limit.

Plan to do laundry on the road

Depending on the length of the road trip, the activities you plan to enjoy along the way, and your fashion style, it just might not be possible to pack a new outfit for every single day. So rather than pack five suitcases stuffed with every stitch of clothing you own, consider doing laundry somewhere along the way.

As a rule of thumb, pack at least five of each type of clothing. Shorts, pants, tees, polos or blouses, underwear, and socks. On top of that, pack something for chilly nights and rain. This will give you about a week of clothing – but you’ll need to get used to wearing those shorts and that shirt more than once in between washing.

Buy a laundry bag and take it with you on the road trip. However, do not buy laundry detergent ahead of time. The heat and humidity will ruin most detergents and leave your car with an overwhelming smell. When you finally decide to do laundry, be sure to take enough quarters to complete your load, never leave your laundry unattended, and always use a laundromat during daylight hours.

Get organized

Organizing all your clothing, gear, food, and accessories is a crucial and often overlooked aspect of any long road trip. But, after two, three, or four weeks of restacking bags, hunting for that small item, and shifting cargo around every curve of the road, you’ll be on the edge of losing it.

Buy stuff sacks or use gallon-sized Ziplock bags to organize smaller items. Buy midsized duffel bags or plastic totes for organizing smaller bags. Stackable totes that can lock together are best for keeping the totes from sliding around in the vehicle. Label everything and always leave the most frequently used items on top.

Get plenty of sleep

The first few days of a long road trip, you’ll likely feel energized by the excitement and tempted to stay up 18 hours a day. I can typically keep that level of stamina going for about the first three weeks of constant travel – but eventually, everyone slows down.

Getting plenty of sleep is important to maintaining your mental and physical health, not to mention keeping morale high. Spending too much time traveling and not enough sleeping will eventually lead to exhaustion, depression, and moodiness.

On a long road trip, plan to take one or two days a week off from travel. Find a nice roadside motel, splurge on a super nice hotel with a free hot breakfast, or settle into a campground for two nights. Avoid the temptation to go out and explore the area – just focus on rest and relaxation.

Road Trip Along the Scenic Route from Gatlinburg to Asheville

Keep the car clean (inside and out)

The day before any road trip begins, I always find one of those really nice car washes with the conveyor belt that pulls the vehicle through a wash cycle. Then, after getting the exterior cleaned – included RainX and a tire shine – I visit the vacuum cleaners. There is no greater feeling than starting a long road trip with a squeaky-clean vehicle.

On long road trips, it will probably be necessary to do a little cleaning along the way. Car washes are easy enough. Instead of relying on their vacuum cleaners – or paying for them – consider buying the THISWORX Car Vacuum Cleaner . It uses 12v power with a removable collection bin and comes with a nice travel bag.

For an added touch, the Little Trees Vent Wrap Car Air Freshner’s “new car smell” will make your vehicle smell brand new after getting it clean.

Join a roadside rescue plan

Most auto insurance companies and cellular providers offer some sort of roadside assistance rescue plan. If you don’t have the option for either of those, consider buying a AAA membership to access their roadside rescue plan.

At the very least, roadside rescue plans will unlock a vehicle, tow your vehicle to safety, and provide gas in case you run out. Better plans will include longer towing distances and more gas. It’s the one thing you never think about until you need it – so this time, plan ahead.

Road Trip on the Scenic North Carolina Waterfall Byway

Keep up with monthly bills

Only about 40% of Americans use auto pay for monthly bills like utilities and credit card payments – I’m not one of them. One of the biggest mistakes with long road trips that last more than a month is forgetting to take care of those bills before you hit the road or somewhere during the trip.

It’s easy to pay those bills with the home computer with your login information saved, but could you pay those bills on the road with a cellphone or tablet? Be sure to take your login information with you and keep it in a safe location like a locked glovebox or portable security case. Add the due date for any bills to your travel itinerary – and remember that cellular service is not a guarantee everywhere.

Life Pro Trip: Many credit card companies and certain utilities allow you to choose a due date for your monthly bill. Aligning all these bills for the same due date makes it easier to keep up with – especially while you’re traveling.  

Leave room for souvenirs

I know I said “pack everything – including the kitchen sink” earlier, but don’t go overboard and fill the entire vehicle before you hit the road. More than likely, you will want to buy some souvenirs along the way.

Smaller souvenirs like clothing, décor, and Christmas ornaments – my favorite type of souvenir to buy – are easy enough to pack into a bag or tote in the vehicle. But if you buy more oversized items like artwork, glassware, or large gift items, ask the retailer if they can ship them to your home or a relative’s home for safekeeping. Often, the shipping is included, especially in areas of high tourism where they expect the buyers to be non-locals.

Insider Tip: An easy way to keep up with souvenirs on a long road trip is to mail them to a friend or relative. The Flat Rate boxes at the United States Postal Service come in several sizes and are indeed a single flat rate – ranging from about $5-$15 per box – no matter where you ship it in the continental U.S.

Bring your favorite ___________

Do you have a favorite coffee mug? Slippers? Or what about a television series you love to watch? Just because you’re going on a road trip doesn’t mean you can’t bring some of those with you.

Bringing your favorite items with you on a long road trip can help you feel more at home and relaxed. Instead of missing that perfect coffee mug or comfortable slippers, you’ll feel much better having them with you.

Have an itinerary but leave room for spontaneity

It’s always good to have a travel itinerary. It’s essential to know the business hours of museums, restaurants, and attractions, so you don’t arrive too late or on a day when they are typically closed. Building an itinerary can help you avoid those frustrations.

However, leave room for spontaneous detours that will inevitably come along during a long road trip. Be prepared for entire destinations to change as your route progresses. Take advice from locals and be willing to give something new a try!

Road Trip on the Blue Ridge Parkway

Fill all prescriptions and bring extra

For three years, I worked as a certified pharmacy technician at CVS/Pharmacy in Emerald Isle, North Carolina. During the hectic – sometimes chaotic – summer months, we would sometimes fill thousands of prescriptions in a single day. The most common type of prescription was for someone who had left the medication at home.

If you have any kind of regular medication, be sure to pack that for your trip. But for long road trips that last more than 30 days, you might run out while on the road. Make sure your prescription has refills on file with your pharmacy or take a new prescription with you – as long as it is not a controlled substance. If your insurance allows, consider getting two or three months’ worth filled at one time for your long road trip.

Watch out for 140-degree heat in the car

On sunny days during the summer months, vehicles’ internal temperatures can rise 30-40 degrees higher than the outside temperature. When I was a kid, I remember going for a walk to the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse during a family vacation. When we returned, my mom opened the back of the car to make snacks – only to discover the Cheese Whiz had exploded all over the car!

The high internal temperatures of vehicles can ruin more than just pressurized cans of food. Contact lenses, prescriptions, electronics, and coolers are all susceptible to damage from temperatures over 100 degrees.

You can reduce those internal temperatures by using a windshield sunshade. Close the sunshade on the moonroof. You may even consider buying curtains for the side windows – it’s not as silly as you might think.

Set a daily and final budget

My first road trip adventure of 2021 was a spontaneous, itinerary-free adventure along the Gulf Coast from Gulf Shores, Alabama, across Florida to Vero Beach. After a week exploring that area of Florida, I was considering heading south to Key West for what would have been my first visit. But when I looked at my bank account, my heart hit the floor when I realized my travel budget was at an end.

I’ve never been good at creating or keeping to a travel budget, and that resulted in a road trip cut short. So the better method is to create a daily budget and stick to it. But also give yourself leeway for those rare opportunities to do something awesome and set a final budget for the entire trip.

The advantage of a long road trip is that if you’re on the road long enough, you might just get an extra paycheck while you’re traveling. So how many vacation days do you have saved up for your long road trip?

Only travel by day

Some people only travel at night to avoid any traffic congestion at all – and that’s a good idea. But driving on unfamiliar roads at night poses some safety issues – not to mention what would happen if your vehicle broke down at 3 a.m.

The safest and surest way is to only travel by day. It will be much easier to keep aware of the unfamiliar road ahead, and you’re certain to get roadside assistance faster during normal business hours.

The Ultimate Road Trip on the Skyline Drive Through Shenandoah National Park

Choose the best road trip route

My #1 Rule for Road Trips is no interstate highways. There is just no reason to take a road trip route onto the interstate – you’ll miss everything along the way.

But what is the best road trip route? National scenic byways are a good start – there are dozens across the country. But sometimes, the most scenic or exciting road trip route is just a simple country road connecting interesting destinations. The best way to find those is to ask the locals – they always know the best route.

Document the trip

After returning home from an epic long road trip, it might be difficult to remember precisely where you found that amazing cheeseburger or savory salted caramel ice cream cone or watched that stunning sunset. It can be downright frustrating when you realize you don’t have a single photo to share or any clue where to find the name of that restaurant.

But what exactly does it mean to document the trip? I am not advocating for ten thousand photos plus an additional five thousand selfies from your long road trip. Don’t become one of those people who jump out of the car on the Blue Ridge Parkway just long enough for a selfie and then leave just as quickly.

It starts with the photos. Capture an exterior photo of every restaurant, museum, and attraction you visit – and be sure to include the name of the business. Capture an interior photo and then one or two photos of every meal or activity.

Take a journal. Jot down notes of the places you visit. Feelings. Smells. Sights. Take note of the business name, details of the food you eat, and reaction to museums. Draw pictures and maps, create word maps, put any word to paper that comes to mind. It will all be wonderful to see all the photos and notes again when your long road trip is finished.

Keep in touch with regular updates

One of the most important safety measures you can take during a long road trip is to let someone know where you are and where you are going by the end of the day. Particularly in places where cellular reception could be spotty, it’s good to tell someone that by nightfall, you should be at a particular destination and able to call them again.

That way, if your vehicle breaks down while in a cellular dead zone with little traffic, at least someone knows the route you were driving to send rescue your direction.

5 Responses

Great tips. Do you have a good app that we can use to track how our car is doing. So like we put in the mileage and it does the calculations for us of how many miles to gallon and stuff like that?

The best app I know about is called Mile IQ. It’s meant for contractors who have to keep up with their mileage for bookkeeping, but it works for road trippers as well. Give that a look and let me know if it works~!

Wrote down some of the tips that I want to remember before the trip. Changed the idea of minimizing clothing to being sure to cover (see what I did there) all bases. Like having a warm hoodie even though I am planning a trip, late June, to the South. Having something & not needing it is so much more logical that getting something I already have but not bringing it. Thank you for your tips.

Thank you very much for taking the time to put these tips together! Very helpful!

Great tips, thank you! My son is traveling the month of May on a solo road trip for the first time so wanted to pass these tips on to him!

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Road Trip Hacks For Road Trippers

You’ve booked your weekend cabin, the vehicle has fresh oil, and you ran it through the carwash. But have you thought about how to get the inside of your vehicle and everything else road trip ready? That’s okay if you haven’t because I have. I’ve got the best road trip hacks for road trippers from me and some of my best friends! Read on.

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Prepare your vehicle now for easy, organized, and clean driving. A well-prepared car for a road trip will help your trip flow more smoothly and stress-free. Isn’t’ that what we all want?

Have you ever stepped foot inside a filthy car, whether it’s yours or someone else’s? Do you remember how you felt? Back in the day, when I stepped foot in my friend’s car, I remember feeling somewhat uneasy. Her vehicle was disgusting – I couldn’t even think straight. Is that weird of me?

An organized car is a clutter-free, stress-free road trip.

Below are road trip hacks from me and several of my friends.

Road Safety

Alice says a car emergency kit is essential with everyday things like jump leads, but don’t forget the smaller items like a blanket, non-perishable snacks, an atlas, solar phone charger. These will make any potential breakdown or pauses much more comfortable. See her full article Safety Tips for Staying on the Road .

This road trip hack is a good one and one I had never thought about doing. James says to keep a jerrycan (yep, I had to look that word up too) of fuel in the trunk because you may be on unfamiliar roads, and the next gas station can be further away from what you expect cell will not always have coverage.

Related: 8 Hacks to Make Your Favorite Food Healthy

Road trip snack hacks.

Liberty says a neck pillow is a must for road trippers. She also made a nifty “snack string” that’s a must if you’re traveling with kids. It’s reachable for the kids, so it will not bother her while she’s resting on her neck pillow. It’s a must-see Simple Snack Idea While Traveling .

Make-ahead meals for your road trip is such a great idea, says Gavin, from Gav’s Kitchen. Here, he gives plenty of ideas on meals to make for your road trip so you won’t be tempted to stop at a fast-food chain. What a great idea >>>> Make-Ahead Meals for Road Trips

Organize and Cleaning Hacks

Using car organizers and accessories are timesavers to the road tripper, not to mention, you won’t have to pull over on the side of the road to find something – that’s time wasted – wouldn’t you agree? When you have everything in one place, you’ll know where to reach or tell the kids where something is stored.

Lynne suggests putting cupcake holders inside your car’s cup holders to keep them clean. All you have to do is take out the cupcake holder and throw it away—a very inexpensive way to keep your car clean for sure. See more of her road trip hacks, such as how to clean bug guts (ick), what to use as a trash can, and more ideas. Read all her road trip hacks every road tripper needs to know before heading out – Car Cleaning Hacks .

I can’t say enough about my organized car. My son and I are ready for our Labor Day Road Trip to another Getaway Tiny Cabin with my High Road car organizers – this time near Houston, TX. If you ever want to check out these cabins, enter the promo code GREENMOM to save $25.

Car Organizers For Road Trips:

Trunk and Cargo Bin – great to hold groceries in, or pack food for road trips, extra stuff, and really anything that you don’t want to roll around.

SwingAway Car Seat Organizer – I hang mine on the passenger seat to get to things easily. When on road trips, I’ll flip it around so my son can easily get to things in here and without my help.

Ultra DriverPocket Phone Organizer – this organizer can hook into the air vent with its hook and can store your phone as well as sunglasses, Kleenex, and whatever else you need close by you.

CarHop Seat Caddy and Cooler – this caddy is cool – I put it in the backseat and will hold our waters, cup, food, etc.

Being well-organized and clean is key to a stress-free lifestyle, and that goes for your car too. I keep a small head of a broom in my car at all times, so I can sweep it out when it needs it. And, it needs it all the time, so I stash it in one of my car organizers.

Navigation Hacks for Road Trips

Use the “Explore” function on your Google Maps app to drop pins at restaurants and worthwhile stops along your route. This function is ideal for those who prefer to plan out their road trips ahead of time. Perfect.

If you’re driving where cell service is iffy, and your car doesn’t have navigation, download a mobile map app that requires no WiFi or cell service before the trip, so you’ll never get lost!, says Jennifer with her Travel Organization Tips .

Just thinking about preparing for road trips can be stressful, so why not take some load off your shoulders and let the family in on the prepping part? Here are a few ways to do that: Travel  Hacks for Packing.

Do you have any hacks for road trippers?

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Travel Tips

9 road trip hacks for ultimate comfort, how do you take the stress out of traveling here are my favorite road trip hacks for ultimate comfort..

The idea of traveling is exciting! The overall adventure is awesome! It’s the journey that can often feels long, exhausting or even stressful.

Whether you’re in a cramped car with not much leg room, or stuck in the vehicle with no opportunity to stop for snacks or a bathroom break, there’s a whole ream of reasons why road trips can be tiring and uncomfortable. That’s why 57 percent of travelers hit the road feeling “stressed” about where they are going to stop along the way.

I’ve been on more road trips and traveled more miles than I can count, so I’ve tried virtually every trick under the sun in an effort to make the journeys a little more manageable. Some, while effective, are boring and uninspiring (I’m looking at you, Mr. bottled water), while others work well every time. Here’s a quick run-down of my favorite road trip hacks to make every road trip comfortable and–dare I say…enjoyable.

ROAD TRIP HACKS TOPIC #1 – PACK WISELY

Nothing is worse than stopping halfway into a road trip and realizing that your sunglasses are in the bag in the deepest, darkest corner of your trunk, packed beneath a tower of other bags, bedding, food and travel accessories.

Before you leave, take some care to pack your car wisely. First, pack anything that isn’t essential or that you’re unlikely to need on the journey. Leave the essentials like first-aid kit and the snacks at the top of your bags and near the doors where they’re easily accessible in times of need. And of course, make sure those sunglasses are in the glove box or other nearby area to the driver’s seat.

ROAD TRIP HACKS TOPIC #2 – PREPARE YOUR CAR

You should always give your car an all-round check before any journey, but even more so before a long road trip. Check that your fuel tank is full, your tires are pumped, test your brakes and check the oil and other fluids. Don’t forget to check the spare tire for proper inflation, this often goes overlooked. Lastly, don’t forget some wet wipes, you’ll thank me later for this last suggestion.

ROAD TRIP HACKS TOPIC #3 – GET COMFORTABLE

If you’re not the driver, you can afford to use your time on long road trips to sit back, relax and catch up on some sleep. However, getting comfortable is easier said than done. You may have tried travel blankets or those soft U-shaped pillows which are designed to support your neck, but my long search for the ultimate travel pillow led me to cooling pillows . These use a combination of cooling gel and airflow to keep you cool and comfortable for hours at a time. Now, the days of getting hot and sticky in a stuffy vehicle are a thing of the past.

ROAD TRIP HACKS TOPIC #4 – PREPARE AND EMERGENCY KIT

Keep a kit somewhere in the main cabin of your car to help you out in a variety of emergencies. This should be more than just a first aid kit: this is an emergency kit for all aspects of life. You can include everything from painkillers and a bottle of water to a portable phone charger and a flashlight. Don’t forget to include a card with some important phone numbers (including your insurance) and some spare cash to save your skin if you run out of gas. Also consider; some basic tool (screwdrivers, adjustable wrench, pliers, etc), duct tape, flairs, fire starter, jumper cables, straps and maybe some rope.

ROAD TRIP HACKS TOPIC #5 – SAVE DATA

You’d be surprised at how much data can be used up on a long road trip, especially if you use GPS and stream music while you drive. If you can, plan ahead by downloading music to keep you entertained, take screenshots of any important information, familiarize yourself with the route, and even consider taking along a traditional map to help you find your way. One trick while using your GPS is to get the route loaded, but then close the navigation when you have a long stretch to drive. In other words, don’t leave Google Maps running for hours on end if you don’t need it. You can also wait until you stop and use a local WiFi hot spot, many rest stops, stores and hotels now have it available. Not only will this save you from high data fees, but it will also reduce your battery usage. Note: Roaming and 3G (or less) takes a stronger signal strength, so your battery usage will go up. 4G/LTE uses the least amount of battery.

ROAD TRIP HACKS TOPIC #6 – EAT SMART

Long road trips can mean regular eating out, and whether you’re traveling alone or in a group the cost of this adds up very quickly. Being a smart road tripper is all about finding good deals – including on your food. Loads of towns have community kitchen concepts, where you either pay what you can afford or do some cleaning up afterward. You’ll get good meals while keeping costs down, and you’re guaranteed to share a unique experience with some inspirational locals.

ROAD TRIP HACKS TOPIC #7 – SAVE ON LODGING

Traveling on a budget isn’t easy, but did you know that there’s a legitimate way for you to sleep for free? As long as you make them aware of what you’re doing, you can park and sleep in any Walmart parking lot. Sure, sleeping in your car isn’t as comfortable as a luxurious bed, but it’s safe, it’s well-lit, it’s free, and it’s legal ! Airbnb is also another great option for inexpensive lodging. If you’re dubious about using the app, don’t be. Millions of people are using this service around the world. Be sure the check out the ratings and all the details for the lodging type to make sure it suites your needs.

ROAD TRIP HACKS TOPIC #8 – TAKE REGULAR BREAKS

This is one of my more sensible road trip hacks, but it can be fun as well as serving a purpose. It’s recommended that you stop for at least fifteen minutes for every two hours of driving, but you should include some longer stops if you’re feeling tired. However, you can turn a normal break into an awesome feature of your road trip by using it as an opportunity to explore the area. See the sights; visit a local restaurant; go for a walk; whatever you choose to do, get out of the car, stretch your legs and have an adventure.

ROAD TRIP HACKS TOPIC #9 – ASK THE LOCALS

In any journey, the best way to find your way around is by talking to the locals or see if your trip is on my featured road trips list. The locals will know where to find the cheapest gas, the places that make the best food, and all-round the best ways to see the area. Take their advice, because in my experience you’re likely to find some hidden gems this way. The businesses and establishments which are geared up for the locals rely on repeat custom to secure their reputation and to survive, so you can be pretty sure that you’ll find great quality and an unforgettable experience!

I hope you have found these road trip hacks helpful. If you have any questions or some useful road trip tips yourself, please leave a comment below.

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Seriously Brilliant Road Trip Hacks for Your Next Family Vacation

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Before you load up the family truckster for your next family vacation, you absolutely MUST take a look at these brilliant road trip hacks.  From activities to organization to snack time, these road trip hacks will make your life on the road oh-so-much easier!  Whether your travels take you nearby or far far from home, a little pre-planning and prep will go a long way.

Best Family Road Trip Hacks

Great food road trip hacks.

1. Throw a cooler in the back of the car and fill it with juice boxes, water bottles, soda, whatever your family prefers to drink.  Use the ice machine at your hotel to fill the cooler with fresh ice every morning before you hit the road.  Stay hydrated and save money and time by not having to stop for drinks! We usually pick up a case or two of bottled water before we leave home. I always feel physically better when I keep up with water consumption when we are traveling.

2. Family favorite: packing cold cuts and fixins for sandwiches!  When we stop for lunch, we make up hoagies and sandwiches. I usually pick up a Walmart grocery order the day before we head out of town and load up on cold cuts, cheese, condiments, etc. When we travel in our camper, these items go in the fridge and/or cabinets. When we are driving without the camper, we use a big cooler with plenty of ice to carry the food.

3. Use old coffee creamer bottles to hold snacks like this example from Stockpiling Moms !  The flip-top lid makes the snacks easy to dispense and helps prevent some mess from spills.

4. Self-serve snacks: We have also had a lot of luck using these small plastic organizers to create snack boxes for the kids on road trips. You can fill them with any snacks you’d like and the kids get a variety of food in small portion sizes.

Kid Activity Road Trip Hacks!

1. Bring a hula hoop , jump rope or bubbles to give kids a quick and easy way to let off some steam!   When you give kids a chance to burn off some of that pent up energy that comes from hours in a car, everyone is much happier when it’s time to get back on the road. Utilize bathroom and gas station stops to give the kids a few minutes to move around. My kids love challenges so something like “How many jumps can you do in a row with the jump rope?” always get them moving!

2. Make a travel coloring kit like this example from Living Well Mom. Toss some crayons and a few small coloring pages into a container and you’re set.

3.   A bag of pipe cleaners will result in long periods of happy kids!   (Got a toddler?  Toss them an empty water bottle to put the pipe cleaners in over and over and over again!) See how we put together a few toddler friendly road trip activities for Landon when he was younger.  They kept him occupied for hours!

4. Collect old thank you cards and envelopes in a ziploc bag with a pen for an instant “post office” letter writing station.

5. My kids would LOVE a portable lego kit like the one that Mama Papa Bubba made!

6. Hand toddlers a deck of cards .   You won’t believe how long they can play with this one!

7.  Magnets on a metal cookie sheet or cake pan are also wonderful boredom busters!

8. Make up some Road Trip Goodie Bags .   These are great ways to reward good behavior! Check out our post for tips on what to fill them with and grab our free printable bag tags!

9. Make a printable road trip journal .  Put that printable in a binder with other free road trip printables and you will have a great activity book for the kids to work their way through as you drive.

10. Stock a dollar store treasure box full of prizes.  Let the kids earn Adventure Bucks for good behavior that they can redeem for prizes!

Best Car Organization Road Trip Hacks

1. Use silicone cupcake liners in your cup holders to keep them clean.   There’s nothing ickier than trying to clean out sticky dirty cup holders in a car.  Avoid the situation entirely simply by placing a silicone cupcake holder in each cup holder.

2.  I really love this car trunk organization idea using regular old shower caddies .   This example is from The Castro Family Happynings.

3. Turn a cereal container into a car trash can.   This example is from Better Homes and Gardens.

4.  Use suction cup shower caddies to hold snacks and art supplies like this example from Grey House Harbor .   (Just make sure to lock the windows or else you might have a big mess on your hands!)

5. These multi-device USB car chargers are absolute SANITY SAVERS in our car!   Whether we’re road tripping near or far, we always have umpteen devices that need to be charged.

6. Not an IN-car hack, but when you park, drop a pin on your phone map.   This will help you to remember in what garage or parking lot you left your car!  That’s a handy tip when you’re in an unfamiliar city.

7.  Use cheap plastic glasses cases from the dollar store to store various chargers and other cords. This is example is from our camping site, Glamper Life .

8.  Keep a claw grabber in the car.   Oh how I wish I had discovered this idea sooner!  If I only had a nickel for every time the kids dropped a blankie or pacifier or snack on the floor and no matter how I contorted my body, I could not reach it!

9. Another parking lot tip – take a picture of where you parked so you can locate your car!

10.  Keep a first aid kit in your car for any bumps and bruises that may occur.   Other great items to toss in this kit include bug spray, sunscreen, ponchos and wipes.

We made up dollar store first aid kits and mini first aid kits on the super cheap.  It’s so nice knowing that we have these supplies in the car wherever we road trip to!

What are YOUR best road trip hacks for families?  I would love to hear them!

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4 thoughts on “Seriously Brilliant Road Trip Hacks for Your Next Family Vacation”

What a brilliant ideaCan’t wait for another trip❤️ Thank you for sharing

Glad they were helpful!

My kids are all grown but when we would travel would wrap their happy meal little toys from before the trip in old wrapping paper. I would give them a new “gift” everytime they were bored with the toys they were playing with.

When we are traveling for our summer vacation, we make each of our kids(pre-teens 10,11 &12) take their lunch boxes from school. We pack light snacks, drinks and junk food of course that are all right out of dollar tree). The front pocket holds their devices and side pouch holds their headphones and chargers or visa versa. its like an all in one deal. No ones asking who took who’s charger and they can eat when they’re ready while on the road. So no random stops outside of gas stops or stretching.

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17 Hacks for Long Road Trips with Kids

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Traveling with kids can be such a rewarding experience. Getting to share your favorite spots with them, seeing the look of wonderment on their faces, and making unique memories that will last a lifetime make it all worthwhile. But it can be easy to forget about all of those joys when you’re six hours into what probably feels like the longest drive of your life. We’ve all been there. To help you keep your sanity, here’s a list of 17 Road Trip Hacks that will make your drive a lot more enjoyable.

Road Trip Hacks Every Parent Needs to Know

Plan Outfits in Advance. Save time by picking out your child’s outfits before the trip. Keep the outfits together by putting them in separate Ziplock bags.

Make Phone Number Bracelets for Your Child.  Use numbered beads and decorative beads to create a pretty and practical bracelet for your child to wear while you’re out and about. Should you get separated, someone will be able to contact you.

Bring Dryer Sheets. Dryer sheets will help keep your car smelling fresh no matter what happens on your drive. Plus, they’re easier to pack than other deodorizing options.

Make Your Own Audiobook. Instead of spending money on audiobooks, use a voice recording app on your smartphone to record yourself reading your child’s favorite books and play them during your drive.

Cover Your Seats with Sheets. Put old sheets over the seats of your car to catch crumbs and prevent spills from ruining your car.

Bring an Activity Book. We’ve put together a dry erase travel activity book with several printables you can use for FREE. Just laminate the pages or put them in sheet protectors, and give the kids dry erase markers to use.

Put Cling Wrap over Your Cups. If your kids are too old for sippy cups, but too young to avoid spills, cling wrap can be used as a makeshift lid. Just pull it tightly over the top, and stick a straw through it to prevent messes.

Put a Cup over Seatbelts. Trim down a disposable plastic cup, put it over the buckle, and cut a slit at the base just big enough for the latch. That way, your kids can’t unbuckle themselves throughout the drive.

Line Your Cup Holders. Put cupcake liners in your cup holders to keep them from getting sticky.

Make Your Own First Aid Kit. Don’t rely on other people having a first kit available. Build your own before you leave, in case of emergency. Include bandages, antibiotic ointment, and Tylenol.

Make a Travel Itinerary. Print out pictures of fun things that you’ll be doing on your trip as well as things you’ll be seeing on your drive. Turn them into a little book for your kids to look through to keep them excited during your road trip.

Tie Important Items Down. If your kids have a tendency to drop their favorite things onto the floor of the car, try using a string to tie sippy cups and toys to a non-essential part of the car seat. That way, your child can just pull their items right back up. No tears necessary.

Bring a Travel Tray.   Travel trays will help if your kids need a snack or want to color while you’re on the road.

Freeze Juice Boxes. Instead of using ice to keep the food and drinks in your cooler at the right temperature, try freezing juice boxes instead. It will keep everything cool, and your kids can drink them after they thaw.

Prepare Goodie Bags. Before you leave, put some inexpensive toys, snacks, and other fun items into separate paper lunch bags. Pull one out if your kids get a little restless during the trip.

Use a Tackle Box to Organize Snacks. Make sure your kids are getting healthy snacks, even when you’re on the road, by using a clean tackle box to hold a variety of snacks . Try adding things like cereal, nuts, and pretzels.

Play Road Trip Bingo. Print out a blank Bingo sheet, and fill the boxes in with things you might find along the way. A great way to keep kids entertained and engaged in the trip. Or we’ve included one in our dry erase activity book above that’ll be great for a long trip.

Organize Your Trip with a Shoe Organizer. Put an over-the-door shoe organizer over your passenger seat to keep toys, diapers, books, wipes, and whatever else you need within reach.

Hopefully, these hacks will help you to enjoy your next road trip. And who knows? You just might find that the journey can be as fun and rewarding as the destination.

If you enjoyed these 17 Road Trip Hacks , you may also like:

5 Healthy, No-Mess Travel Snacks for Kids

19 Camping Hacks Every Outdoorsy Family Needs to Know

7 Tips for Camping with a Toddler

Madeline Franzen is an auntie of five, lover of literature, and coffee addict. She spends her free time writing, binge watching Netflix shows, and curling up in a blanket with a great book and a glass of wine.

Sunday 18th of March 2018

As my kids are getting older (ages 2-9), I often have to work out a safe and neat way to pass them snacks and other small items from the front seat. We take along a lidded Tupperware or two to make tossing things back and forth less messy. It's also less likely to get lost when it misses its mark. Aim is getting better front bound, ?

Donella Crigger

Tuesday 20th of March 2018

That's a great idea!

Stephanie Brewer

Wednesday 31st of May 2017

Our local library has a large selection of audiobooks that are great for road trips. You can even download audiobooks to your phone with your library card!

Saturday 3rd of June 2017

That's a great tip! Thank you!

Tuesday 30th of May 2017

I loved the idea about making bracelets with your phone number for kids in case they get separated. I will be doing this for our trip to Canada this summer!

That's my favorite idea from the list, too!

23 Hacks For The Perfect American Road Trip

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These tips can help you make the most of your journey and navigate roads with ease. They range from creative ways to keep your vehicle organized to methods for staying attentive and comfortable while driving. These tips are intended to improve your driving efficiency and enjoyment on the open road, regardless of your level of experience.

Table of Contents

17 Essential Road Trip Hacks for a Smooth Journey

1. start your journey stress-free.

Whether you are leaving town for a weekend getaway , or heading off to a foreign location for weeks on end, traveling brings a certain amount of worry and trepidation. Hopefully, our ideas for you here will help put your mind at ease and lead to a happier, safer trip.

2. Try Local Activities Without Guides

Plan at least two activities not included in tourist guidebooks or blogs to maximize your vacation. Get local information from newspapers, blogs, or Twitter users. Traveling outside the tourist bubble is more enjoyable and exciting.

3. Pack Smart Toiletry Items

Make sure your family remembers to have a toiletry bag on your road vacation. All things related to personal hygiene and toiletries must be carried in a toiletry bag. These toiletry bags are perfect for keeping and carrying your personal care items.

4. Travel and Car insurance are essential.

It is very important to make sure you get your travel and car insurance policies updated before you go traveling to keep your peace of mind. Even if you have misfortunes such as minor traffic or big accidents, having decent coverage will allow you to overcome the financial pressure and make the resolution of the matter easier.

Moreover, you should get to know every detail of your policy like the deductible and the coverage limits so you will know what is covered and what is not in case something happens. Thanks to this preventative measure, you will no longer have to fret over what hurdles might arise; instead, you can focus on your trip.

5. Road Trip Refreshment

It’s easy to bring ice-cold water on a road trip without a cooler! Before leaving, fill several water bottles (not to the top) and freeze overnight. Bring them on the journey the following day and they’ll melt into icy water.

6. Carry an offline/physical map for when GPS ditches you

Getting lost on a lengthy car journey is not enjoyable. Buy an affordable road map from your local store before your journey. While a GPS device is great, a map will always be accurate and is much safer on the road. It will ensure you arrive at your destination in good spirits.

7. Hotel Reservations: Confirmation Matters

When you book a hotel online ,(especially when you don’t book directly through the hotel’s website), it is important to call the hotel directly to confirm your reservation. Calling ahead will prevent you from arriving at the hotel, exhausted and ready to sleep, and finding out that they have no record of your reservation.

8. Hygiene Hacks: T-Shirts as Pillowcases

Hotel linens can sometimes be dirty. Rather than risk it, use your t-shirt as a pillowcase. After a long day of business meetings or sightseeing, turn your shirt inside out and use it over the hotel pillowcase. You can wash your shirt later, and it’s infinitely more appealing than putting your face on suspicious linens.

9. Insider Insights: User Reviews for Vacation Planning

Reading online user reviews can be a great way to find out about your vacation destination. There are various sites available, with multiple reviews from both travel professionals and everyday people. Reviews can help you find the greatest hotels, restaurants, and hidden gems.

10. Kid-Friendly Travel

Kids need something to do during downtime at the hotel. Kids will always have more energy than you and time in the hotel can create cabin fever very quickly. Bring a bag that has toys, books, or any other activities that can keep your children occupied and having fun while you relax.

11. Stress Reduction Strategies: A Roadmap for Relaxation

By following the advice we provide in this article, you can alleviate some of the stress that comes with travelling. Every trip comes with its ups and downs and elements you can’t control, but armed with good advice and shrewd tips, you can minimize your worrying, and maximize your relaxation and fun.

12. Keep your vehicle well-maintained

Regular car maintenance is essential for smoother driving. Check your car’s oil, tyre pressure, brakes, and batteries before leaving to avoid issues. Maintenance gives you peace of mind and makes your car run more effectively, saving you time and money.

13. Preload your phone with playlists and podcasts

It is recommended to plan to take breaks before you set out on your trip. This is a great opportunity to refuel your car while also getting some food, relaxing your legs, and taking a break from driving. Avoiding less popular regions and making sure you’re stopping at places that have sufficient amenities will help you schedule your breaks strategically, making your travel enjoyable and stress-free.

14. Utilize Technology for Real-Time Updates

In the digital era, mobile connectivity is simpler than ever. Install traffic and navigation applications like Waze or Google Maps before driving to get real-time traffic information, alternative routes, and alerts for road closures or accidents. These applications may help you avoid traffic and arrive on time, particularly during peak travel periods. Technology lets you quickly react to changing road conditions for a smoother, more predictable ride.

15. Download a handy chunk of road trip-friendly apps

Having the correct tools makes highway driving less stressful. Make sure you have applications to identify the cheapest gas stations and the greatest rest spots before you go. GasBuddy for gasoline pricing, Roadtrippers for route planning, and iExit for highway driving may make a boring journey fun and more efficient.

16. Plan your stops using apps

Stops with clean washrooms are more enjoyable. For safe washrooms on your way, visit diaroogle.com or the Where is Public Toilet app.

17. Keep some cash on you.

If you plan to use E-ZPass or FasTrak, or if the booth does not have automated toll collection, bring an extra $1 and $5 cash. Use quarters to quickly count parking meters at tollbooths by filling old pill bottles. Parking fee payments are made easier using the Parkmobile app, which is available in over 400 US locations.

Conclusion: 

Apply these Road Tips to assist you with planning your next traveling expedition. These tips are useful for a quick jaunt across the state or a long journey abroad. Regardless, if you plan, your trip is sure to be fulfilling, interesting, and something that you will never forget.

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Road Trip Packing Hacks

• Post author: The Family Road Trippers
• Post published: August 5, 2020
• Post category: Planning
• Post comments: 0 Comments

Road Trip Packing Hacks #1: Overnight Bag

On our road trips,  we use one overnight bag. This bag contains a day’s worth of clothes for each of us and any necessary toiletries for the night. It also has any required items for the evening, like pajamas. When we were traveling in 2018 this included formula and bottles as we were traveling with a one-year-old. We also like to throw a deck of cards or a board game in (if it fits)! This has been one of the best road trip hacks!

When we reach our stop for the night, we add the clothes for the next day into the overnight bag before bringing it into the hotel. This allows us to pack for the weather that we will be in. This can also be done in the morning (for the next day) as you are loading the car up.

To help with logistics, we use the laundry bag from the hotel room to bring our dirty clothes back out. This way the bag is ready to go!

Road Trip Packing Hacks #2: Clothes Bins/Bags

Using ONE overnight bag means that we needed a system/set-up for storing the rest of our clothes. To manage this, we use tote bins to organize the clothes. These bins get stored in the back of the van. We recommend ones that can stack easily. 

On our 2020 Road Trip we used four 34 Qt Hefty Bins (23.98 x 16.81 x 6.6) bins: one for adult shirts, one for adult shorts/pants, one for the boys (shirts, shorts), and one for undergarments (all of us). We also had one 66 Qt Hefty Bin (23.98 x 16.81 x 13.05) bin that was dedicated to our outdoor gear (rain gear/boots, pants, sweatshirts). 

In the early road trip days, we used duffle bags. This worked as well. We switched to bins because we found that clothes were getting lost in the bags and shuffled around. The bags also made it challenging for stacking items. Things would topple over or spill as we drove. With the bins, we can stack them easily and space them in a balanced way to prevent accidents. 

When packing clothes, we try to pack seven days’ worth. This is easier for some in our house… not so much for others!! For the kiddos, we typically pack 10-12 days worth, especially for our youngest. We also throw in a couple of sets of pajamas to have has backups!

We have also found it helpful to label the bins so that we can easily find what we need. We used painter tape and placed one on the top, one on the short edge, and one on the long edge of the actual bin. This way we knew what it was no matter how it was placed.

Road Trip Packing Hacks #3: Stackable Drawers

This is a hack that we discovered on our most recent trip (2020). On past trips, we have ended up with a black hole of EVERYTHING between the seats where the boys sit. Things (toys, snacks, you name it) got set/dumped in the middle, only to be lost for the rest of the trip. We knew that we needed something different! 

Enter the drawer cart ! We purchased two of them so that we had six drawers of storage. It wasn’t perfect by any means, but it definitely helped keep toys and snacks organized as we traveled. 

Each kiddo had a drawer for toys. This also helped with the number of things they could bring! It had to fit in the drawer! There was one drawer for headphones, tablets, and books that R & D were reading. Three of the drawers contained snacks… yes. THREE! 

Not only did these drawers help us with organizing toys and snacks, but they also provided a make-shift table that the boys could use to play on, set frequently used items, eat on, etc. This became a little bit of a dumping zone, but nothing like it was! We also used a toy bin that we could set on the top of the drawers to try and keep some order. 

The only issue that we really ran into with these is the ability to open the drawers all the way due to the placement of armrests. This was minor for us, and we adjusted and shimmied when we needed to! 😛

Road Trip Packing Hacks #4: Toiletry Bag

With only one overnight bag we knew that we would need an additional place to store the non-essential items like extra toothpaste, more bandaids, triple antibiotic cream, Tylenol etc. These weren’t things that we needed every night; more things that we might need and wanted to prepared with. When something came up we could easily grab the item. This helped save space in the main hotel bag and still have items that we might need. 

Most days, this bag ended up buried as we grabbed new clothes and the bins shifted. We stored it in one of the side openings closest to the opening (cup holder area for the third row in the van). 

Road Trip Packing Hacks #5: Electronics Organizer

One thing that we struggled with on our first road trip was the management of device chargers. This includes having enough outlets to charge the devices that we had (cell phones, tablets, computer, sound machine). 

Prior to our second road trip, we purchased an  Electonic Organizer to help with cord and device storage. It has two sections to it. In one section we can store the cords for charing. In the second section, we can store our tablets and charging blocks. 

We store the organizer in the front set of the car while traveling and then bring it into the hotel at night. This allows us to have access to the charging cords while driving as well. This is especially important with kiddo tablets on long travel days!

We also purchased a  multi-port charger that we could use when hotels didn’t have enough outlets for charging. It allows us to charge everything at night without having to worry about unplugging everything in the room. 

Road Trip Packing Hacks #6: The Picnic Bin

One way that we save money on our road trips is by having picnic lunches each day. We store our supplies in a 29 Qt Hefty Bins (16.7 x 12 x 13) bin for easy access. In the bin, we keep paper plates, disposable silverware, paper towels, peanut butter, bread/buns, a large cutting knife, and a table cloth/ground mat. 

When we stop to eat we can grab the bin and the cooler and we are set. The bin top can also serve as a little table for the kids. 

We have used a reusable bag to store materials. While it keeps everything together, the bag gets a lot of wear and tear, and we were finding that things (especially the paper towels) were falling out and then getting buried! The bin lid prevents this from happening and reduces hangry frustrations!

Road Trip Packing Travel Hacks #7: Laundry Bag

With one overnight bag and bins full of clean clothes, we needed a way to store dirty clothes. While packing for our first trip we found a laundry bag from college! We threw this in and off we went! When we are packing up from the hotel, we throw our clothes in the plastic laundry bag in the hotel room. 

Then, we can dump the clothes into the laundry bag in the van. This keeps everything together. When the bag gets full… or we run out of clean clothes… we do laundry on one of our more open days. Typically, we do laundry twice on our trips. On our 2020 road trip we did laundry five or six times due to a potty training toddler! 

Road Trip Packing Travel Hacks #8: Travel Tray

One of our newest hacks includes this awesome  Travel Tray ! We were looking for something that they kiddos could use for playing/coloring and something that they could potentially have food on. In our search, we came across this tray. 

Not only does it have a hard surface, but it also comes with zippered pouches (great for storing mini animals and markers), velcro dividers for creating a space to store a cup and a space to store markers while coloring, AND a tablet holder (or propper)! The kiddos loved being able to set their markers down without having them roll around. They also loved being able to stand their tablets up while they watched a show.

These trays also assisted with keeping the top of drawers (referenced earlier) somewhat clean. They were able to store their most-used toys/items on them. 

Be sure to check out our Road Trip Plan: Getting Started Post

Do you have a packing hack that you use every time you travel?! We would love to hear it! Drop it in the comments below! 

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ROAD TRIP , TRAVEL HACKS · March 7, 2018 Last Updated on July 24, 2024

6 ROAD TRIP HACKS FROM THE PROS

This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. We may receive a small commission when you make a purchase using our link.

When it comes to planning a road trip, finding the balance between making an agenda and being spontaneous is hard. You want to live in the moment, but also still have a plan to fall back on. Master these tricks and you’ll find yourself walking out the door without much effort put into planning your road trip at all.

1) FILL UP AT THE CHEAPEST STATIONS

Use Google Maps or Gas Buddy to find the cheapest gas along your route. If bathroom cleanliness is a big concern, check out SitOrSquat to find well-kept restrooms. Try stopping at truck stations too. They tend to have clean bathrooms, offer more services and are open later than average gas stations. If you’re a frequent road tripper, look into a gas card. Do research first to determine which company will give you the greatest return.

2) RESERVE DATA USAGE AND BATTERY POWER

Being away from home doesn’t mean you have to use a ton of data. Learn to utilize the offline tool in Google Maps. You can also find free wifi in many public places. Download music, for free, before you go. With ListenToYouTube you can legally drop in a YouTube URL, it will convert the file to an audio-only format and copy directly into your iTunes library. Pandora, Spotify and Apple Music are all alternatives. Or, better yet, try shifting away from electronics altogether.

3) BRING CAMPING GEAR

The easiest way to leave room for spontaneous decision-making is to prepare for camping along the way. If you don’t have a tent, sleeping bag or ground pad just sleep in the car. Make an idea and modify it with a pool float to save 40 bucks. You can camp for free all over the place. Although it’s legal to set up anywhere in a National Forest. Hunt for a sweet spot, or pull over and set up on the side of the road. Either way, nobody will bother you.

If you decide to stay in a hotel, remember to check the room for damage or missing items after checking in. Locate the dryer, iron, ironing board, towels, bathrobe, and check that the fridge is fully stocked (if applicable). Report damage to the front office and then the fun can begin!

4) DROP A PIN

Finding your way back to the car in an unfamiliar place can be a nightmare. Whether it’s a parking spot, hotel or a friend’s house…drop a pin and wander around carelessly without worrying if you’ll be able to find your way back.

5) KEEP THINGS SMELLING FRESH

It’s almost impossible to stay organized when living out of your suitcase or car. The least you can do is keep things smelling fresh. Stash a few dryer sheets in your suitcase to preserve the clean laundry smell as dirty clothes start piling in. Then keep the clothes in your hotel room dry cleaner bag or a bag brought from home. This will keep your other clothes from smelling dirty and can help differentiate between what has already been worn and what is still clean.

Try to keep the car somewhat clean for as long as possible. Usually on the way home this concept goes out the window, figuratively speaking of course. There are several steps you can take that help maintain the cleanliness of your vehicle during a long road trip. Line a plastic cereal container with a trash bag and use it as a smell-proof, spill-proof waste bin. This hack has become an everyday extension for my car, but it’s extra necessary on road trips. These two DIY ideas help contain the mess too.

Use a tackle box as a lunchbox to reduce trash and increase variety of stacks. Plus opening and closing the little containers can help keep the younger ones entertained. A seatbelt pillow: Most of us are familiar with bunching and re-bunching a pillow to find that sweet spot against the car window. As much fun as that is, maybe a seatbelt pillow would work better. You’ll need some fleece material, a few Velcro strips, stuffing, and a needle/thread to sew it all up.

6) ALWAYS MAKE A LIST AND CHECK IT TWICE

Before planning too many details, write a couple lists. First, a packing list with all the items you will need. Then, a things to do before leaving list. This will prevent you from forgetting anything important and is a great way to keep account of everything that has already been done. Sometimes when organizing the car it’s easy to forget if something has already been packed or not.

Once you’re on the way, pull out a notebook and jot down another list. This one should be called the check-out list . Include a small list of your most important items (phone, keys, wallet, chargers, etc.) so you can run through the checklist as you pack up to leave. You should also include check-out procedure steps. Here are few items on my check-out list:

• Look under and behind beds/bedside table
• Inspect shower for toiletries/razor
• Check outlets for chargers
• Take hotel notepad, pen, and toiletries if they are high quality

Road tripping can be a huge success or an unforgettable failure. Plan wisely with these tips to save cash, relieve stress, and keep entertained. After you’ve put in some planning, try to sit back, unplug and enjoy the open road — maybe even play a few fun road trip games.

Have you ever been on a road trip? We’d love to hear your stories, tips or questions in the comment section below! To receive our articles and reviews straight to your inbox  Subscribe Here . 

Read More About Road Trips

• The Ultimate Summer Road Trip Guide
• Road Trip Through Western Australia To Swim With Whale Sharks
• A Guide To Road Tripping Around The North Island, New Zealand
• Best Road Trip Destinations For Solo Female Travelers

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10 Genius Hacks To Keep Your Whole Family Entertained On Long Road Trips—You Won’t Believe #7!

Are you ready to turn those endless miles of highway into a playground of family fun and bonding? According to a recent survey, the average American family spends a whopping 18 hours per year stuck in a car together during road trips. That’s a lot of time to either make unforgettable memories or endure mind-numbing boredom. Here, you can get some genius hacks that will keep every member of your family entertained on long road trips – from restless toddlers to moody teenagers and even easily distracted parents. Say goodbye to the dreaded “Are we there yet?” and hello to a road trip experience that might just become the highlight of your family vacation.

Know Before You Go – Planning the Road Trip

It’s agreed that being well prepped for an adventure away from home sets the whole scene for the rest of your travel. Start by mapping out your route. Use apps like Google Maps or Waze to find the best path, considering traffic patterns and road conditions. Identify key stops along the way, including rest areas, scenic viewpoints, and interesting attractions. Having a clear plan helps avoid last-minute stress and detours.

Long drives can be tiring, so plan regular breaks to stretch and recharge. Research rest stops, parks, or quirky roadside attractions where you can take a breather. Use these moments to explore new places and create lasting memories. Finally, remember that flexibility is key. Things might not always go as planned, and that’s okay. Allow the unexpected and enjoy the journey. Set realistic expectations for travel time and activities, allowing room for spontaneity and fun.

Create a Customized Playlist

Music is a universal language that can set the tone for your trip. Before hitting the road, create a customized playlist that includes everyone’s favorite songs. Consider adding a mix of genres to cater to different moods. This not only keeps the atmosphere lively but keeps the whole family entertained on long road trips. Don’t forget to include a few fun games like “Name That Tune” to keep the energy up!

To switch up this fun idea, try out the family DJ game and turn the car into a music studio. Everyone takes a turn picking a song. The next person must choose a song that includes a word from the previous song’s title. This interactive game keeps everyone engaged and can lead to lots of laughter.

Pack a Travel Game Kit

A travel game kit is a lifesaver when keeping the whole family entertained on long road trips. Include classic games like I Spy, 20 Questions, and the License Plate Game. You can also add travel-sized board games and card games to keep everyone engaged. These games are easy to play, require no additional materials, and can be enjoyed by all ages. They also encourage interaction and laughter, making the miles fly by.

Going along with the family DJ game idea, try out a “Name That Tune: Humming Edition”. Someone hums a tune and others have to guess the song.

Snack Attack Station

Prepare a “snackle box” filled with a variety of snacks that kids can access independently. This eliminates the constant requests for snacks and allows them to make choices about what to eat, cultivating a sense of responsibility during the trip. Pack a variety of snacks to keep hunger at bay. Go for healthy options like fruits, nuts, and granola bars. Avoid sugary treats that can lead to energy crashes. Packing a cooler with drinks and perishable snacks can also be a lifesaver.

Don’t miss the chance to try local treats along the way. Whether it’s a famous pie shop or a quirky roadside diner, indulging in regional specialties can be a delicious part of your adventure. For a little added fun, try a car snack taste test challenge . Have everyone guess the flavors or brands.

Engaging Audiobooks and Podcasts

Audiobooks and podcasts are a fantastic way to keep the whole family entertained on long road trips. Choose family-friendly audiobooks or podcasts that cater to various interests. This can spark discussions and encourage everyone to share their thoughts on the story or topic, enhancing the overall experience.

Interactive Map Adventures

Entertain the whole family on long road trips by turning it into an educational adventure. Before setting off, print a large, basic map of your route and surrounding areas. As you travel, encourage family members to mark interesting landmarks, attractions, or geographic features on the map. Add a competitive edge by awarding points for different discoveries, like spotting rivers, identifying state capitals, or finding unusual place names.

Bring the experience up a level with mini-challenges, such as finding towns that start with each letter of the alphabet or spotting license plates from different states. This activity not only keeps everyone engaged but also develops map-reading skills and geographic knowledge. At journey’s end, you’ll have a personalized visual record of your adventure, perfect for sparking discussions about favorite moments and surprising discoveries.

Storytelling Relay

Start a storytelling relay where one family member begins a story with a sentence, and each person adds a sentence in turn. This can lead to hilarious and unexpected twists, making it a fun and imaginative way to pass the time. You might even end up with a family classic to share! Go a little further and create “fictional families” by making up backstories for people in passing cars.

The Mystery Box Challenge

Here’s the surprise hack you won’t believe! Before the trip, prepare a “Mystery Box” filled with small, inexpensive items (toys, puzzles, craft supplies) that are not revealed until the trip begins. Every few hours, allow one family member to pick an item from the box, and everyone must use it creatively. This could mean building something with LEGO pieces, drawing with colored pencils, or solving a mini puzzle. Using unpredictability and creativity will keep the whole family entertained on long road trips!

Scenic Stops and Stretch Breaks

Long stretches on the road call for creative breaks. Why not turn your rest stops into photo scavenger hunts ? Make a list of items to capture, like a red barn or a funny road sign. This stretches the legs and adds a fun challenge to the trip.

Speaking of stretching, plan your route with parks or scenic rest areas in mind. A quick game of tag or a picnic can work wonders for breaking the monotony of the drive. Have a fun trivia showdown filled with questions about your destination, the rest area itself, and all your experiences so far.

Portable Entertainment Setup

If you have tablets, consider setting up a portable entertainment system. Load them with favorite movies and shows , and use a travel router to share content without relying on internet access. Aside from watching entertainment, try selecting a conversational game. Have a digital document (or saved web pages) filled with “Would You Rather”, “Fortunately/Unfortunately” or “Twenty Questions”. This will start lots of conversations and help you learn more about everyone in the car. This setup can keep the whole family entertained on long road trips.

Create the Ultimate Travel Journal

Starting from the moment the vehicle leaves the driveway. Encourage your kids to document the journey by providing them with a travel journal. They can jot down their thoughts, sketch the scenery, or even collect mementos like ticket stubs and postcards. Encourage everyone to take photos or videos throughout the trip. You can create a family vlog or a scrapbook after the journey, capturing all the fun moments. This not only keeps everyone engaged but also allows you to relive the trip long after it’s over.

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THE ULTIMATE ROAD TRIP FOOD LIST: 50 Scrumptious Travel Snacks

Post Summary: The definitive road trip food list with 50 snack ideas and meals to keep you happy the entire car ride. Plus, tips for what else to bring and recommendations for the best road trip coolers.

Road trips are the classic adventure that everyone needs to do at least once in their life, whether you’re traveling solo, with your best buds, or packing in the whole family. What’s the secret to a great road trip? Besides having your maps already downloaded to your phone (travel must #1), it’s to have a collection of the best road trip food at your disposal. Being prepared with good travel food will ensure you don’t:

• Kill your travel mates because you’re hangry.
• Get killed by your travel mates because they’re hangry.
• Get lured in by every gasoline stop and somehow end up with bright orange Cheetos and Slim Jims.
• Waste your travel budget dining on Subway and Wendys road trip meals.

After road tripping with a toddler for half a year around the US, we’ve figured out the ultimate road trip food list so we can enjoy the journey together feeling nourished and happy. Our list includes road trip food ideas for adults and kids as well as healthy car snacks.

After the road trip food list, we’ve included non-food items you’ll want to bring and some tips on choosing the best road trip cooler.

Need More Road Trip Tips? Check out our other articles below:

The Ultimate Road Trip Packing List: 41 Essentials For The Road 160 Fun, Deep, and Sometimes Silly Road Trip Questions 41 Fun and Challenging Road Trip Trivia Questions 17+ Fun Things To Do On A Road Trip How To Survive A Road Trip With A Toddler 40 Must Have Items To Have In Your Camper

*This road trip food list post may contain affiliate links, which means we might earn a small commission if you purchase from them. This is at no extra cost to you! We only recommend products and services we genuinely think are helpful.

The Ultimate Road Trip Food List

Healthy snacks for a road trip

We’ll start with healthy snacks for the road. I don’t know about you, but when we go on road trips, we tend to fall back on fast food and junk food. In an effort to have a quasi healthy road trip we make sure to include some healthy options so we can at least feel like we’ve balanced out all our snickers bars and Wendy’s frosties. Here’s our list of the best road trip foods that won’t leave you feeling sluggish at the end of the day. We also added in a few recommendations of some of our favorite brands.

Healthy Snacks For Car Rides 1. Fruit: Bananas, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, grapes, apples, oranges 2. Sliced veggies: carrots, cucumbers, celery, bell peppers, pickles, radishes 3. Cherry tomatoes 4. Olives (buy the pitted kinds) 5. Salsa 6. Deli sandwiches or wraps (already made from home or pre-purchased) 7. A simple charcuterie spread (summer sausage, pepperoni, sliced cheese, dried apricots, olives, crackers, etc.) 8. Popcorn 9. Yellow corn chips, blue corn chips, kale chips 10. Granola Bars and Energy Bars ( Munk Bars are our favorite! ) 11. Dried Fruit 12. Crackers (cheese crackers, saltines, whole wheat crackers, these almond crackers are my favorite!) 13. Pretzels 14. Nuts (almonds, peanuts, cashews, macadamia, walnuts, pecans) 15. Trail mix 16. Tuna (Get the kind that doesn’t need to be refrigerated! It can become a snack on crackers, a sandwich, or added to a salad) 17. Coconut chips ( Dang chips are our favorite. ) 18. Dark chocolate 19. Wasabi peas 20. Fruit leather 21. Whole-grain muffins 22. Bread (pretzel rolls, pita bread) 23. Water (Preferably in a water bottle like a Hydro Flask that will keep your water cold for hours.) *The following are all still healthy snacks for a road trip but will require a cooler. Skip them if you are going sans cooler. Further down, we’ll talk about the best road trip coolers. 23. Hard-boiled eggs 24. Small yogurt containers or drinkable yogurts 25. Humus 26. Guacamole 27. Pasta salad 28. Lentil salad 29. Grocery store salad kits (Can be eaten out of the bag! Just cut the top, pour in the salad dressing, and shake it away. You can also opt to do salads in a jar) 30. Cheese

Essential Road Trip Snacks

These road trip snacks might not be the healthiest, but look…you can’t always be perfect!

Road Trip Snack List 32. Beef Jerky 33. Chips 34. Fun candy (Any kind of candy that brings you joy for your road trip. Gummy bears, reeses pieces, airheads) 35. Ranch dip to go with your healthy veggies 36. Fun drinks (Just make sure the drink is able to be resealed or small enough that you’ll drink it all quickly. My favorite road trip drink is coconut water!) 37. Cookies

Road Trip Snacks For Kids And Toddlers

While we don’t put a distinction between road trip food for the adults and road trip food for kids, here are some fun ideas you can add in addition to the travel food listed above. We found that allowing for leniency with what we let our kid snack on will mean a more fun time for everyone in the car.

Road Trip Snacks For Toddlers and Kids 38. String Cheese or Babybels 39. Peanut butter pretzels 40. Clementines 41. Squeezable applesauce 42. Squeezable nut butters (peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter) 43. Graham crackers 44. Goldfish 45. Fruit snacks 46. Fruit roll ups 47. Peanut butter and jelly sandwich 48. Dry cereal 49. Nutella 50. Snap pea crisps ( I love the wasabi ones from Harvest Snaps . I can only get them online because my grocery store never has them!)

Essential Non Food Items

Now that you’ve got your travel food and made your road trip food list, let’s talk about non food items to have on your road trip packing list. We are both advocates for minimal waste living so we do advise using reusable items like real utensils, glass containers, and reusable straws rather than single-use items. I know it can feel like a nuisance, but once you get used to doing it, it’s easy to integrate it into your habits. We’ve provided links to different products, so you can check out some good options.

-Trash bags (old shopping bags work well) – Stackable glass or plastic containers (While glass may feel like a hazard, I find that most of them are built for endurance and would require some extreme throwing around to actually break. Either way, bringing containers rather than an entire bag of snacks is a great space saver.) -Reusable straws (we like this multipack option here ) -Bento boxes (another option is to make individual bento boxes with everyone’s preferred snacks put in. It’s essentially a healthier version of a Lunchable. Great option if you’re traveling with kids.) Check out these cute bento boxes here . -Utensils -Plates -Paper towels -Hand sanitizer -Ziplock bags -Wipes -Cups if you want to share drinks -Ice packs for the cooler (We prefer to use reusable ice packs like these , but frozen water bottles or ice cubes in a ziplock back will do the job as well.) -Reusable grocery bag to carry your non-perishable stuff -Plastic tub (If you’re going on a long road trip and will have lots of snacks, a good option is to pack all your non-perishable items in a tub like this .) -Cooler

Related : A Comprehensive Guide To the Best Toddler Carriers For Traveling

Best Road Trip Coolers

If you’re going on a long road trip, you’ll definitely want to bring a cooler so you can have more options for the journey. Things to consider when deciding what kind of road trip cooler to bring.

• How much space will you have in your car?
• How many days will you be driving and subsequently how much food will you need?
• Cost of the cooler
• If you road trip or camp a lot and will use a cooler several times a year.

Yeti Roadi 24 Cooler

Our choice for the best road trip cooler is the Yeti Roadi 24 Cooler . It’s a mid-sized cooler that can fit a bottle of wine standing upright. We like its lightweight design and that its compact size can fit on the ground behind the passenger seat.

It has a mid-range price point, so if you are wanting something more economical, you’ll probably want our next pick.

Igloo MaxCold Cooler

If all you need is a no-frills cooler to keep your food cold, the Igloo Maxcold Cooler is a great option. The thin design also makes it a great choice for someone wanting to save room in the car.

Arctic Zone Titan Deep Freeze

If you like a soft cooler, the Arctic Zone Titan Deep Freeze consistently offers the best bang for your buck.

Yeti Tundra 45

Lastly, if you are wanting a high-end cooler that will be great for camping and can take the wear and tear of consistent use, the Yeti Tundra 45 is your best bet. Yeti is the reigning champion of coolers and you can’t go wrong with anything you purchase from them.

Before you head out on your epic road trip, we suggest packing the night before. Alleviating as much stress as possible on the day you leave, especially when you’re doing a road trip with a toddler , is key to enjoying the road trip journey. We find that the night before, it’s best to:

• Wash, cut, and peel all vegetables and fruit.
• Pack up all non perishable food and supplies.
• Prepare any road trip sandwiches you plan to eat.

Lastly, don’t forget to make sure all your tasty road trip snacks are within reaching distance in the car.

We hope you enjoyed our complete road trip food list. Happy road tripping!

** For more road trip inspiration follow us on Instagram . We travel… a lot.

NEED SOME TRAVEL INSPIRATION? A Complete Guide To A Utah National Parks Road Trip How To Plan A Cross Country Road Trip + Fun Routes To Take 10 National Parks To Visit In The East 50 Family Bucket List Experiences In The US

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Hi, we’re Christina and Brad, Idaho based writers and photographers who live to explore. We did a short stint of traveling full time with our two year old and discovered we're much happier as part time nomads. What does that mean? We travel a lot! And then we go home. We love helping fellow parents and everyday adventurers discover new places and experiences.

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37 Packing Hacks: The Best Travel Hacks For Packing

Welcome to JetSetting Fools, here you will find our best travel tips for destinations worldwide. Some of the links on this site are Affiliate Links and if you use them to make a purchase, we may earn a commission. For more information, read our Disclosure Policy .

Packing hacks are the best way to take your travel game to the next level. We have rounded up the top travel packing hacks designed to save you space, time and money – so you can focus your energy on enjoying your trip. Clever and inventive, packing hacks for traveling will enhance your packing skills and overall travel savviness.

37 Best Travel Packing Hacks

I used to be terrible at packing for trips; first I was an over-packer, then an under-packer. Now, as a full-time world traveler, I rely on packing hacks for travel to keep me organized and efficient on travel days. Some hacks for packing have become so ingrained in our travel routine that packing without them is unimaginable.

Our Travel Hacks For Packing

Our list of packing hacks ranges from absolute game changers to creative tricks. Some are tried-and-true traveling hacks for packing, while others are insider tips we gleaned from expert travelers. These packing hacks will work for all travelers – so whether you are seeking backpack hacks or cruise packing hacks, you will surely find a few gems on our list.

We have categorized our list into three sections: Hacks for Packing Clothes, Toiletry Hacks, Carry On Hacks and a few miscellaneous tips, too. This is a mega list of the best packing life hacks – so grab your coffee and settle in.

Get started now with your FREE Packing Checklist !

Clothing Packing Hacks

Because clothing is the main component to packing, we are kicking off our list with hacks for packing clothes.

#1 Packing Cubes Hacks

Of all luggage packing hacks, packing with Packing Cubes ranks most supreme. Providing organization and structure to your suitcase or backpack, Packing Cubes are space-saving superstars. The cubes come in a variety of sizes, styles and materials – all of which need to be considered in order to attain your ultimate packing goal.

Pro Tip : We discuss the different kinds of cubes – and the best packing cube hacks – in detail in our post: Ways Packing Cubes make Travel Easier . 

#2 Cheap Packing Travel Hacks

While Packing Cubes are – hands down – one of the best packing hacks that we use, Packing Cubes are pricey! Personally, we think they are worth every single cent. However, if you are not ready to take the plunge and buy some, rather than packing using Packing Cubes, try Ziplock Bags. This is one of the top travel organization hacks that will save space in your suitcase. 

Gallon-size bags are ideal for organization and compression; however, unlike the quality Packing Cubes we use, Ziplocks have an incredibly short lifespan.

Pro Tip : I used to pack using Ziplocks (before I learned how incredible actual Packing Cubes are!). I would pack one complete outfit in each gallon bag and label it so I could easily find the outfit I was looking for. On the way home from vacation, I used the zip-top bags for my dirty laundry, too!

#3 Clothes-Rolling, Space-Saving Packing Hacks

Rolling clothes – rather than folding them – has long been one of the best suitcase packing hacks for saving space. Travelers can either roll each item individually – or, take it up a notch, and roll an entire outfit (pants, shirt, socks and underwear) together. By rolling a complete outfit, your suitcase becomes a grab-and-go destination when getting ready for the day’s adventure.

Pro Tip : For a tighter roll that stays together, use a ‘military roll’ or hair ties to secure the rolled clothing. If you use hair ties, you will also have backups if you lose or break one on your trip. (Plain rubber bands can be used, too, if you don’t use hair elastics.)

Roll vs Fold Debate

While many travelers rave about the benefits of rolling, it is not one of the packing luggage hacks that we use for our shirts and pants. We find that rolling is time consuming – and although many travelers claim that it can save even more space to pack rolled clothes in Packing Cubes, we have not found that to be true.

That said, the one item of clothing I do roll is my bikini underwear . I start by folding the underwear into thirds – folding each side in to the width of my small Packing Cube. Then, starting at the bottom, I roll up to the waistline. This is actually one of my airport hacks, as much as it is a packing hack, because this way, if my undergarment Packing Cube gets tagged for inspection, the agent rifling through my clothes will be less likely to touch the part of the panties that goes against my skin.

Pro Tip : Another clothes packing hack for underwear is to pack quick drying underwear that will be easy to wash in the sink and dry fast – if need be. A brand that fellow travelers love is Ex-Officio , but I prefer inexpensive and functional Fruit of the Loom . We talk more about clothing materials in a minute!

#4 Folding Hacks for Packing

If you are like us and decide to fold your clothes (instead of roll), then it is key to fold all of your clothing to the exact same size. After spending 10 years working in retail, I am fairly skilled at folding random sized clothing into neat stacks. However, for travelers who find it challenging, one of the packing folding hacks is to use a Folding Board , which will ensure you get a perfect fold on every piece of clothing.

Pro Tip: One of the great business travel packing hacks is to fold your delicate work clothes in dry cleaning bags as it will help eliminate wrinkles on arrival!

#5 Packing Hacks: Travel Clothing

One of the top packing clothes hacks for traveling is to only pack clothing that travels well. There are numerous clothing lines that are designed specifically for traveling, but most travelers don’t need to get that technical – and many items you already own might fit the bill.

The features of clothing that are most important when it comes to packing are moisture-wicking, quick-drying, odor-eliminating, wrinkle-resistant and washable clothing items.

That said, if you do pack clothing that wrinkles, bring travel-size Wrinkle Release Spray  to avoid having to iron on vacation.

Pro Tip : While the right clothing material is essential for travelers, it is equally important to pack clothing that you like and are comfortable wearing…because if it is not comfortable, it will likely stay folded in your suitcase. I share more tips about my packing experience for full-time travel in My Long-Term Travel Packing List: What I Pack To Travel the World .

#6 Pack Multi-Functional Clothing

There are no better packing hacks for traveling light than packing versatile and multi-functional clothing. One of the most useful items I have in my backpack is my wrap – and it has about a million uses.

I have used it as a scarf, a beach cover up, a bath towel, a picnic blanket, a pillow cover, a bedsheet, a head cover, an ear cover, an eye cover, a curtain and a bus seat cover…just to name a few. As long as the wrap is lightweight, dark and washable, the possibilities are endless.

Convertible clothing – like this dress/skirt combo – are awesome packing hacks to save space. Other clothing that can be multi-function are yoga pants (which can double as sleepwear), leggings (which can be layered in cool weather), a casual dress (which can be a beach cover up) and bikini tops (which can be worn as a bra).

Pro Tip : A pillowcase is another good item to pack that is multi-functional. Use it to cover the pillow you sleep on in your accommodations, then fill it with dirty clothes for the trip home.

#7 Capsule Clothing Packing Travel Hacks

Packing a capsule wardrobe is one of the smart packing hacks used by travelers. 

To assemble a capsule wardrobe, first, choose a color scheme of similar shades – like black, dark blue and shades of purple – and only pack clothing that falls into the color palette. Each item – tops and bottoms – need to be able to be mixed, matched and layered with all other items. Outfits can be accessorized with colorful scarves and jewelry.

By using this trip hack, you can pack minimal pieces of clothing that can be combined to make numerous different outfits. Done right, it is one of the space saving packing hacks that allows travelers to pack carry-on luggage only. 

In addition to coordinating my entire wardrobe, one item that I always like to pack is a black skirt . It is something that is comfortable and casual for sightseeing, but can be dressed up with a nicer shirt and a scarf for going out in the evening.

Pro Tip : A life hack for packing clothes for a vacation is to use the Countdown Rule. For example, if you are taking a 5-day trip, pack 5 shirts, 4 pants (or shorts/skirts), 3 dresses, 2 pairs of shoes and 1 colorful scarf (or bold piece of jewelry). Additionally, pack one pair of underwear for every day of the trip, but only one set of pajamas.

#8 Clothes Packing Hacks for Vacation

One of the simple traveling packing hacks that is often overlooked is Destination Research. What I mean by this is that, before you start packing and choosing clothes for your trip, first check the weather forecast for your destination. Also, gain some insight to the destination’s clothing culture and have a basic understanding of what apparel is acceptable at tourist destinations, religious sites, restaurants and clubs.

Pro Tip : Use your itinerary to help decide what clothes to bring. How the Packing Hacks Travel Itinerary works is that, based on your planned activities that you select in advance of your trip, you determine which outfit to wear for each day of your trip. (To book your activities in advance, we use Viator !)

#9 Clever Packing Hacks for Clothing

One of the life hacks for packing that we have long used – and is commonly used by fellow travelers – is to pack clothing items for a trip that you no longer want to keep. After you wear them on your trip, you can donate the clothing at your destination (or, if there is really no life left in the item, just toss it!). This is an especially good tip for families traveling with growing kids.

Pro Tip : One of the truly Travel Light hacks is to reverse this idea slightly. When you leave for vacation, only pack personal items – like undergarments and toiletries. On arrival at your destination, make your first stop a thrift shop and buy new-to-me clothes for the entire trip. On the last day of the vacation, return to the thrift shop and donate all of the clothing back to the store. We have never personally used this hack – but heard about it from a fellow traveler and love the concept!

#10 Travel Hacks for Packing Shoes

To save suitcase space, on any trip, for any length of time, only ever pack three pairs of shoes – I even follow this rule as a full-time traveler! All shoes should be comfortable to wear for long days of sightseeing and, more importantly, they need to go with all the outfits that you are packing. (This idea goes back to the capsule wardrobe method!)

For more travel shoe tips, read our blog post, The Best Shoes for Traveling .

Pro Tip : A good way to keep grimy shoes from dirtying up the inside of your luggage and one of the little genius packing hacks is to fit disposable shower caps (the kind that are free at many hotels) over the sole of the shoe before you put them in your bag. The empty space inside your shoes can also be used to store items – like deodorant and shaving cream, just put it in a resealable bag first.

Resealable bags are one of our essentials for packing. They come in handy for everything from an open bag of snacks to your wet bathing suit on a travel day. Find out more tips in our blog post, Everyday Items for Traveling . 

#11 Clothing Airport Hacks

One of the ingenious suitcase packing hacks to save space is to actually wear your bulkiest items, especially on long travel days . In fact, this is one of the top Carry On Only travel hacks. Rather than using valuable luggage space to pack your coat and boots, wear them on the plane! Tie a sweatshirt around your waist or wear layers that can easily be removed once seated on the plane.

Pro Tip : Another one of the travel packing hacks that can save space inside your luggage is tying your shoes or flip flops to the outside of your carry on bag. This also applies if you carry a water bottle…simply clip it to the exterior of your bag if possible…or better yet, travel with a collapsible water bottle .

#12 Hacks for Packing a Suitcase…Without Over-Packing

Over-packing is a downfall for many travelers – it certainly was for me when I was a novice traveler. But I have learned what an absolute drag over-packing can be. It can weigh you down (literally) when lugging your suitcase through an airport, down a cobblestone street and up the stairs of a boutique hotel.

One of the best life hacks for traveling and packing – or rather not over-packing – is to simply commit to packing in a carry on size suitcase. By limiting the amount of room you have, you will be less tempted to over pack, which is much more sensible! We discuss more specific carry on packing hacks later in the post!

Pro Tip: If you are checking luggage, invest in an affordable luggage scale to ensure you don’t go over the weight limit. You don’t want to be surprised at the beginning of your trip with an extra charge!

Everything we pack for world travel fits in a Carry On size backpack! Find out what we pack: The Ultimate Packing List .

#13 Packing Suitcase Hacks

We pack in backpacks, but one of the best suitcase hacks I ever heard was to shift your perspective of your suitcase. Rather than packing stacks of clothing horizontally into the suitcase, pack vertically, from the wheels up.

Another one of the best Packing a Suitcase hacks is to take this idea one step further. Pack vertically, but pack complete outfits and stack them in the order that you plan to wear them (according to your itinerary!). This way, when you get ready each day, all you need to do is grab the outfit from the top!

Pro Tip : Don’t let any space go unused! One of the long time travel hacks packing tips is to take advantage of small crevices in your suitcase to slip in things like a comb or other small miscellaneous items.

#14 Luggage Hacks

Day packs and purses can take up a lot of room in luggage. Minimize how many items you carry by selecting one purse that will work for all occasions. It is even better if you pack a purse or bag that can double as a day pack.

One of our favorite packing for travel hacks is to pack a lightweight  foldable shopping bag , which unfolds to a bigger bag for going to the beach or shopping during your trip.

Pro Tip : Read more about day bags in our blog post, The Best Day Packs for Traveling .

#15 Packing a Suitcase: Hacks for Fresh Clothing

One way to keep your clothes smelling fresh during your trip is to layer each clothing item with a dryer sheet. This is one of the double-dip packing travel hacks because later, if you need to do laundry while on your trip, you will have dryer sheets to use!

Pro Tip : Another way to keep clothes fresh is with Fabreeze. Pack a travel-size Fabreeze with your toiletries! And, don’t worry, we are getting to our toiletry packing hacks in a minute!

#16 Holiday Packing Hacks for Souvenirs

If you anticipate collecting breakable souvenirs during your trip, a good suitcase hack is to use bubble wrap in between your clothes or outfits. Then, use the bubble wrap to protect souvenirs that you are bringing home.

Other travel hacks for packing souvenirs (and some of the creative ways to better ensure breakables make the trip home undamaged) is to pack them inside Pringles cans or even use the free hotel slippers as cushioning. On the other hand, if you are  buying wine, actual wine protectors are the best.

Pro Tip : In many cases, the best and safest way to transport fragile souvenirs is to ship them home…rather than trying to jam them into your suitcase. 

#17 Packing hacks for Traveling: Laundry

One of the best space-saving travel hacks is simply to plan on doing laundry during your trip. By planning to do laundry while you travel, you will only need to pack one week’s worth of clothing – or less! – even if you are on a 2-week – or longer! – trip.

We recommend booking accommodations with a washer and (maybe) a dryer ( Airbnb is our go-to resource for finding the best places to stay). It is a good idea to pack a few individual packages of liquid laundry detergent , just in case they do not provide any. 

Pro Tip : If your accommodation does not have a washer, there is likely a nearby laundromat – or even laundry service. Just remember to bring a packable laundry bag so that you have something to carry your dirty clothes in.

#18 Sink Laundry: Packing Tips and Hacks

Learning how to efficiently do sink laundry is one of the packing hacks for long trips, when you will inevitably need to wash at least a few undergarments. Sink laundry is as simple as it sounds: It’s when you hand wash your clothes in the sink, bathtub or shower.

The most important thing to keep in mind when washing items in the sink is allowing enough time for clothes to dry (and, again, why it is so important to pack quick-dry clothing).

Many travelers wash clothes at night, before going to bed, to ensure they will dry. We like to take advantage of the sunshine (if possible) and wash them in the morning (but never the morning of a travel day!).

Sometimes we just use a bar of soap to clean our clothes, but Sink Laundry detergent is probably better. A sink stopper will help for scrubbing and rinsing in the sink – and a travel clothesline is ideal to hang up wet clothes. That said, draping socks over a heater or in front of a fan can help speed drying times…and a hair dryer works, too.

Pro Tip : A Scrubba Wash Bag is often touted by fellow travelers as one of the top packing hacks for backpacking, but we have yet to use one personally!

Packing Hacks For Toiletries

Our list of packing toiletries hacks is full of ideas that will help you pack better for your next trip! These travel hacks for packing toiletries will hopefully help you avoid spills in your luggage…and save you some space in your bag, too.

#19 Travel Toiletry Hacks for Shampoo and Conditioner

One way to avoid any liquid shampoo and conditioner luggage incidents is to simply not pack it! Many hotels and Airbnb apartments provide shampoo and conditioner. And, if they don’t, you can always buy some at a local store when you get there.

That said, did you know that shampoo and condition come in bars just like soap? Well, you are now in on the secret! Using shampoo and conditioner bars – rather than packing bottled liquids – is an excellent travel packing hack that will ensure you don’t have spilled shampoo in your bag on arrival at your destination.

Pro Tip : Shampoo and conditioner are just one of the solid toiletries you can use on your trip. Other packings hacks for traveling without liquids are using toothpaste tabs and solid perfumes !

#20 All-in-One Toiletry Travel and Packing Hacks

What better way to save space than to use products with multiple uses? The all-in-one Dr. Bronner’s soaps are organic and certified Fair Trade products that are designed for multiple purposes. The soap can be used on body, face, hair and teeth…and also to clean dishes, clothes, floors, windows – and even the toilet – making it one of the best travel packing hacks of all!

Pro Tip : The Castille soap collection comes in a variety of scents and is available in liquid or bars .

#21 Liquids: The Best Packing Hacks for Travel

While eliminating liquids from your luggage is one of the top packing hacks for travel, if you are bringing liquids in your bag, we have a few travel hacks and tips on how to keep liquids from spilling inside your bag.

The best travel hacks for liquids is a 3-part process that includes plastic wrap, tape and a resealable bag. First, unscrew the top off the bottle and place a piece of plastic wrap over the top, then screw the top back on (over the top of the plastic wrap). Next, take a piece of tape and tape the flip lid shut. Finally, secure the bottles in resealable bags. By using the three-step method, suitcase spillage is highly unlikely!

Pro Tip : The bottles you pack in can make all of the difference! Liquid travel containers is not where you want to skimp on quality. Therefore, one of the best travel hacks for toiletries is to use refillable GoToob bottles that are specifically engineered for travel – and promise a spill-proof journey!

#22 Save Space in your Toiletry Bag when A Little Dab Will Do

One of the phenomenal travel hacks to save space in your toiletries case is to only bring as much product as you will actually use on your trip. Rather than packing larger bottles of face creams and foundation, pour a small amount into a contact lens case. Use more than one case if you need to…but just remember to use a contact case with screw top lids.

Pro Tip : Small 10ml bottles also work great for liquids that you will only need a little dab of during your vacation. They are inexpensive and reusable, too, making them one of the best travel hacks!

#23 Travel Size Items

When it comes to transporting liquids, one of the travel packing life hacks is to use refillable travel-size bottles. In fact, we think travel-size toiletries are the way to go in general when it comes to packing and carry-on hacks.

It is amazing how many products are made in a smaller, space-saving size. Some favorites are a travel-size hairbrush , travel-size toothpaste , travel-size deodorant and travel-size shaving cream . Products we don’t use – but that other travelers do – are mini-magnifying mirrors , travel-size hair straighteners and travel towels .

Pro Tip : Want one of our top travel hacks that saves money in the long run? When your travel-size toothpaste runs out, don’t throw it away! The tube can actually be refilled from a regular-size toothpaste tube. Just securely hold the openings together and squeeze from the larger tube into the travel sized tube!

#24 Travel Tips for Shaving Cream Alternatives

Using a travel-size shaving cream is not the only way to save space in your suitcase. One of the best travel packing tips and hacks is to not bring shaving cream at all! Instead, just lather up soap or use hair conditioner in place of shaving cream.

Pro Tip : The Schick Intuition razor is another travel gem – in that the shaving cream is right on the razor!

#25 Minimal Hair Products

While we love the innovative travel-size products that are available to travelers, the fewer you bring, the lighter your luggage. It can be tempting to pack a hair dryer, curling iron and straightener, but we don’t recommend it…even if they are all travel size!

First, check to see if your accommodations provide a hair dryer. Second, choose one low-maintenance hairstyle. This way, you can limit the number of hair tools and products you bring on your trip!

Pro Tip : In the case that your accommodations don’t have a blow dryer, rather than succumbing to packing a hairdryer, one of the travel life hacks is to pack a microfiber towel that can be used to help dry your hair more quickly. 

#26 Makeup: Packing for Vacation Hacks

Many minimalist travelers recommend leaving all makeup at home when taking a trip. While I have never been a heavy makeup wearer, I still travel with makeup – but I limit it to essentials only.

I pack one powder, two small brushes, a travel eyelash curler and mascara…and that is it. At the very least, limit your makeup bag to only one eyeliner, one eyeshadow, one mascara and one lipstick (and make sure they go with your capsule wardrobe color scheme!).

Pro Tip : Using makeup samples is one of the great traveling life hacks for trips! If you have collected any sample-size makeup in the months prior to your trip, select a few to use on your vacation!

#27 The Almighty Pill Box as a First Aid Kit

While a Weekly Pill Box is excellent for its intended purpose, it is also a great space-saving travel organizer! Instead of packing bottles of Just-in-Case medications, store each of the assorted meds in a different day of the week. For example, store pain reliever in Sunday, vitamins in Monday, cold meds in Tuesday and belly meds in Wednesday. Pill boxes are also one of the fantastic travel pack hacks for storing and organizing jewelry for your trip!

Pro Tip : For something a little more flexible than a pill box, use individual travel jars  and small 2×3-inch plastic resealable baggies to pack medications…and jewelry, too! Read more about what we pack in our first aid travel kit in our post, Ways to Stay Healthy While Traveling .

#28 Toiletry Life Hacks for Packing a Suitcase

One way to make packing toiletries so much easier is to invest in a Travel Toiletry Case that stays packed all the time! With a pre-packed toiletry case, all you need to do when it comes time to pack is grab the bag and go! Just starting out with traveling? This packaged toiletry case is great for beginners!

Pro Tip : Just remember to refill any used items when you return from each trip!

Carry On Hacks

On travel days, we seldom check bags – we each have carry-on-size travel backpacks and a day pack. To stay organized and efficient in airports, carry on luggage hacks are essential!

#29 Carry On Travel Hacks: Airport Security

No one likes a traveler who holds up the line at security, but there are a few packing hacks for carry on luggage that will get you through checkpoints in a flash.

First, if you are carrying liquids onto the plane, make sure they are in 3.4-ounce bottles (100ml) or smaller…and that they all fit into one quart-size resealable plastic bag. Next – and a key to being quick at security – when you pack your bag, place the bag of liquids in an easy to reach spot.

Electronics – especially laptops, but sometimes larger cameras and phones, which sometimes have to be removed when going through security – should also be placed in an easy-to-access part of your carry on luggage.

Pro Tip : Shoes often need to be removed, which is why I like to wear Slip On shoes or flip flops on travel days. However, if you are bringing boots on your trip, you will need to decide whether it is better to wear them to save space in your suitcase or pack them for a swifter pass through security.

#30 Packing Hacks: Carry On Entertainment

The best way to pass time on an airplane is with on-board entertainment, which is why planning your entertainment in advance is one of the best packing hacks for flying. Headphones and portable chargers are a must! 

Once I get settled in my seat, the first thing I do is create a list of movies to watch in-flight. Headphones , however, are essential to enjoying the flicks…so I always bring two pairs (just in case one fails me or gets lost).

On flights where there is no seat-back entertainment, be sure to bring your own entertainment. Make sure your phone is fully charged…and make a few song playlists or download apps in advance. Bring your charging cord (most seats now have USB ports) and a Portable Charger . 

If you like to read on planes (or trains or buses) a Kindle can be a real space-saver and one of the top vacation packing hacks. However, if you are like me and prefer the feel of paper books, then pick up one or two at a used bookstore or free community library…and then pass them along when you’re finished.

Pro Tip : Find out more of the specifics of what should be in your carry on luggage and our other in-flight tips in our blog post, Long Haul Flight Essentials .

#31 Only Hand Luggage Hacks

If you are trying to squeeze all of your items for your entire trip into a carry on, then one way to make a bit more room is to wear a fanny pack onto the plane. What makes it one of the best carry on packing hacks is that your fanny pack shouldn’t count as an extra bag – plus it keeps you hands-free! Besides that, it is a great place to store valuable items (like your passport and wallet), as well as items you want easy access to during the flight (like an lip balm , sleep mask and earplugs).

Pro Tip : Using a backpack instead of a suitcase will also keep you hands-free on travel days! Read more of the pros and cons of each style of luggage in our blog post, Backpack vs Suitcase . 

#32 Organizational Hand Luggage Packing Hacks

There is nothing more frustrating than when the plane is ready for take off…and you realize that your headphones and kindle are stowed in the overhead compartment (which now cannot be accessed until the captain has turned off the seatbelt sign).

To avoid the inconvenience, prepare ahead and pack a small on-board tote that contains your flight essentials, which can fit under the seat in front of you. Items I make sure to have close at hand are sanitizer , wet wipes , water, snacks, phone, headphones, sleep mask, earplugs and compression socks .

Pro Tip : One of the top carry on luggage packing hacks to use if you are checking luggage is to travel on board with a complete change of clothes…just in case your luggage (and clothing) gets lost en route to your destination . I also like to pack a fresh pair of underwear (that I can change into in the airport bathroom to start my trip off feeling fresh!) – as well as a toothbrush and toothpaste to use to freshen up after a long flight.

Miscellaneous Packing Hacks

Our final travel packing tips and hacks are some tricks that we have picked up over the years that make packing so much easier!

#33 Electronic Device Cable Organization

One of our suitcase life hacks is keeping our cables organized. Some of the essential electronics that we travel with are a mini extension cord (because the outlets are not always in convenient places!), a multi-port adapter (because there are multiple things to be charged!) and a portable charger that we carry with us while we are out exploring.

A good way to keep all these cords and electronics organized is with a Grid It board that keeps everything in place and easy to find! 

Pro Tip : For travelers who make frequent trips, an even easier way to stay organized is to purchase duplicate chargers and cables for all of your devices. Secure them on the Grid It – and always keep them packed so they are ready to go when you are ready to go!

#34 Cooking on Vacation

One of the reasons we love staying in Airbnb apartments is that we have access to our own kitchen where we can cook simple meals. That said, not all kitchens come fully equipped. If you plan on cooking during your trip, consider investing in a collapsible colander , a flexible cutting board and an multi-functional knife (but only if you are checking luggage). 

Pro Tip : In our travels, we have found that it is best to pack the spices that we love! To easily pack our spices, we use small resealable bags (the 2×3-inch baggies are the best!) rather than carrying bottles.

#35 Packing Hacks for Traveling as a Couple or with Friends

One thing that we have learned as a traveling couple is to communicate about our packing list. All of the items that can be shared – from lotion to a travel umbrella to a portable Wifi device – are divvied up evenly between us so that we are not carrying duplicates. Whether traveling as couples, friends or families, find out what items might be unnecessary and determine who will carry what.

Pro Tip : Packing Lists are gold! Keep a list of all the items you pack for a trip. When you return, take a few minutes to jot down notes on what you used and what you didn’t and adjust accordingly to make packing easier for future trips!

#36 Packing Hacks for International Travel

As we spend most of our time overseas, we have quite a few international travel hacks for packing. These tips aren’t necessarily travel hacks for packing light, but rather what to pack to make international travel a little bit easier. 

First, make sure you pack your passport and other travel documents in a safe place. We use a Passport Organizer that fits inside a zippered pocket inside our under-the-seat carry on luggage. 

We also think it is important to invest in a Mobile WiFi Hotspot so that you will have an internet connection from the moment you land. We use the GlocalMe device – which can be fitted with a SIM card or you can purchase data online ahead of your trip (the better way to go in our opinion!). 

Next, make sure that you have the right travel apps. Google Translate, Uber (or whatever ride hailing app is popular in the country you are visiting), Booking.com and Google Maps are the basic essentials. 

Bring (and use) a credit card that does not charge international transaction fees (we prefer the Chase Sapphire credit card). 

Pro Tip: We share heaps of tips for traveling from the United States to Europe in this article, How To Plan a Trip To Europe . 

#37 Best Packing Hack for Travel – Make a List! 

We have already touched on making a list as one of the top packing hacks for travel – but it is truly one of the easiest and most often overlooked hacks for organizing your suitcase. 

Start by making a list of what to pack for your next trip. Then, after the trip, reanalyze the list, eliminating the things you didn’t use – and then make a Master Packing List. For future travels, use your Master Packing List as a base for all of your trips. 

However, as each trip is unique with different climates and activities, it is best to take your list one step further and make an Itinerary of Outfits. On this list, note what outfit (or outfits) you will wear on each day of your trip based on your outlined trip itinerary. This way, you can be certain that you only pack clothes you intend to actually wear – saving you from over packing! 

Pro Tip : Our T rip Planning Printables Kit includes itinerary templates and everything you need to organize your trip! 

More Travel Tips and Hacks

Above, we featured our top travel tips for creative and easy packing hacks – but we have so many more travel hacks to save money! 

Cheap Flights

We use a combination of tricks to find the best fares on flights – and we share them all in our article How To Find Cheap Flights .

Best Hotels

Want to find the best hotels at the best prices? Don’t we all! Get there by using our travel hacks for Booking Cheap Hotels . 

Free Packing Checklist 

With our packing hacks for travel, you will be a packing pro in no time! Get started right away with your  FREE Packing Checklist!

Start planning your next trip ! Search for the lowest airfares , the best accommodations and fun things to do …then start packing !   Want more travel advice? Head over to our Travel Planning Page for more tips on traveling – and for country-specific information, take a look at our Travel Guides Page !

We Want To Know: What are your best travel packing hacks? Give us your tips and advice in the comments below!

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RV Hacks: 400+ Ways to Make Life on the Road Easier, Safer, and More Fun! (Life Hacks Series) Paperback – July 13, 2021

Purchase options and add-ons

• Part of series Hacks
• Print length 240 pages
• Language English
• Publisher Adams Media
• Publication date July 13, 2021
• Dimensions 7 x 0.6 x 9.13 inches
• ISBN-10 1507216572
• ISBN-13 978-1507216576
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About the author, product details.

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Adams Media (July 13, 2021)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 240 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1507216572
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1507216576
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7 x 0.6 x 9.13 inches
• #23 in Road Travel Reference
• #29 in General Travel Reference
• #37 in Parks & Campgrounds Travel Reference (Books)

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Customer Review: Chock full of useful tips you never knew you needed

CJ Turkovick

About the authors

Marc bennett.

Marc Bennett is a native Coloradan who lives, works and travels full-time from a motorhome with his Australian wife Julie. In 2014, they sold their Colorado home and bought an RV to live, work and travel full-time from the road. Since then, they have visited all 50 USA states (48 in their RV), plus Canada, Mexico and Australia sharing their adventures as RVLove on their blog, YouTube channel and social media. In 2017, they launched RVSuccessSchool.com and in 2018, co-authored the book “Living the RV Life - Your Ultimate Guide to Life on the Road”. You can discover more about Marc and Julie at their website www.RVLove.com

Julie Bennett

Julie Bennett was born in Australia, moved to the USA in 2008, then met and married her American husband Marc in Boulder, CO. In 2014, they sold their Colorado home and bought an RV to live, work and travel full-time from the road. Since then, they have visited all 50 USA states (48 in their RV), Canada, Mexico, and Australia, sharing their adventures as "RVLove" on their blog, YouTube channel and social media. In 2018, they co-authored the bestselling book “Living the RV Life: Your Ultimate Guide to Life on the Road”. Their 2nd book "RV HACKS: 400+ Ways to Make Life on the Road Easier, Safer and More Fun" was published in July 2021. Both Living the RV Life and RV Hacks are now Amazon #1 bestsellers with rave reviews! Marc and Julie love teaching people how to RV, sharing invaluable knowledge and courses in their online RV Success School. They are also co-creators and hosts of the annual "Hit the Road RV Summit" virtual event. You can discover more about Julie and Marc, and stay in touch, via their website www.RVLove.com

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Customers say

Customers find the book has helpful hints and advice for novice and seasoned campers. They also say the tips are easy to read and follow. Readers describe the book as a nice collection of hacks, tips, and ideas.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Customers find the book has helpful hints and advice for novice and seasoned campers. They also appreciate the practical information from real RV veterans and the great tips for managing internet and phone usage methods and hacks.

" So many helpful ideas and lessons learned from others experience . As first time RV owners we were overwhelmed by the numerous details...." Read more

"Great read and MUCH INFO ." Read more

" Has some helpful ideas . Some new, some old.J" Read more

"...Their latest book is packed with tips (or "hacks" as they put it)...." Read more

Customers find the book easy to read and follow, with excellent tips and tricks. They also say the ideas are simple and easy to understand. Readers also mention that the book is perfect for newbies and well written.

"...This book was great and an easy read , highly recommend!" Read more

"...The tips are concise and often shed light on something I never would have thought of...." Read more

"...Great ideas and tips that are easy to do ." Read more

"...I should have bought it first. 😁 Concise writing over a wide range of topics ...." Read more

Customers find the book to be a nice collection of hacks, tips, and ideas.

" Great hacks ! I learned alot of new stuff and refreshed some things I tend to forget...." Read more

"We liked the format. There are a lot of good tricks and suggestions described throughout the book...." Read more

"This book will definitely be kept in my RV! Easy to read and awesome hacks for newbies and pro's alike...." Read more

"It’s a nice collection of hacks , tips and ideas...." Read more

Customers find the book well organized and insightful. They also appreciate the categories, making finding the information they're researching a breeze.

"...The book itself is very attractive and well organized so I would recommend buying the paperback rather than just the Kindle...." Read more

"...excellent tips and tricks from this book and have found it to be well-organized and insightful!" Read more

"... It's broken into categories so finding what stead you're researching is a breeze!" Read more

"...Two thumbs up. Nicely organized and a fast read." Read more

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