Episode #33: How to Survive a Road Trip with Kids: Games, Snacks & Organization Hacks That Work
🚗 Ultimate Road Trip Tips for Families
1,200+ Miles, 5 Kids & Everything That Actually Worked
If you’re planning a road trip with kids and feeling a little… overwhelmed…
You’re not alone.
We just completed a 9 states in 9 days road trip, driving over 1,200 miles with five kids—and not only did we survive…
👉 We actually had FUN.
In this post (and podcast episode), I’m sharing all of our best road trip tips, hacks, and activities that kept our kids entertained, organized, and happy along the way.
🎧 Be sure to also check out:
Episode 28: Full 9 States in 9 Days Itinerary
Episode 29: Washington, D.C. with Kids
Episode 30: Virginia’s Historic Triangle
Episode 31: Myrtle Beach with Kids
🎧 Listen to the Episode
(Insert podcast player here)
🎯 Our #1 Rule: No Screens for the First Hour
One of the BEST decisions we made:
👉 No tablets, no iPads, no screens for the first hour of every drive
Why it works:
Encourages family interaction
Sets the tone for the day
Makes screen time feel like a treat later
💡 Some families go fully screen-free—do what works for you!
🎲 Best Road Trip Games for Kids (Screen-Free!)
These were our go-to games that worked for all ages:
👀 I Spy
Simple, classic, and works for everyone.
🤔 Would You Rather
Each person asks a question and everyone answers.
Example:
“Would you rather have hands made of scissors or hair made of snakes?”
👉 The “why” is the funniest part!
🕵️ 20 Questions
Pick a category (animals, movies, places) and take turns guessing.
🚗 License Plate Game
We tracked every state we saw—and ended up spotting 25+ states!
💡 Tip: Keep track in your phone notes for easy tracking.
🎨 Best Activity EVER: Aluminum Foil Challenge
This was a surprise hit.
👉 Give each kid a roll of aluminum foil
👉 Let them create anything they want
We saw:
Hats
Jewelry
Swords
Glasses
A purse
Even a rocket 🚀
Then do a show-and-tell at the end.
⏱️ This lasted over an hour—completely screen-free!
🎒 Organization Hacks That Will Save You
Organization = sanity on a road trip.
Here’s what worked for us:
Behind-the-seat organizers (no clutter on the floor)
Ceiling storage net for pillows + blankets
Baby wipes + paper towels for quick cleanups
Individual trash bags for each row
💡 At every stop: do a quick trash clean-out!
🧃 Snack Hacks (Keep It Simple + Fun)
Snacks can make or break a road trip.
What we did:
Brought bulk snacks from home
Used cups to portion snacks (less mess!)
Created “mix & match snack cups” (like trail mix)
👉 Let kids help pick snacks—it keeps them excited and engaged.
🤢 Be Prepared for the Unexpected
Real talk: things happen.
We had a kid get sick in the car (not typical—but it happens).
Here’s what to keep on hand:
Large cups (like gas station cups—just in case)
Kids chewable Dramamine
Motion sickness patches
Extra clothes
Wipes (always wipes!)
🎧 Audiobooks = Road Trip GOLD
Audiobooks are one of the easiest ways to keep everyone entertained.
10 Family-Friendly Audiobook Ideas:
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
The Chronicles of Narnia
Charlotte’s Web
The Wild Robot
Matilda
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Percy Jackson & the Olympians
Magic Tree House series
Because of Winn-Dixie
The Boxcar Children
🎶 Fun Audio + Music Games
We also loved:
🎤 Guess the Song
Play the beginning of a song and guess:
Movie = 1 point
Song title = 1 point
🧠 Trivia Games
We used:
Disney trivia
YouTube trivia videos
Super engaging and easy!
🎁 Genius Idea for Younger Kids
Wrap small toys (Dollar Store works great!) and hand them out every 20–30 minutes.
👉 Use LOTS of tape to make opening them take longer 😂
Keeps things exciting and extends playtime.
🗺️ Visual Road Trip Tracker
For younger kids:
Create a simple chart showing:
Stops
Time milestones
Move a sticker along as you go.
👉 Helps answer “Are we there yet?” without saying a word.
📞 Break It Up with Connection
Call:
Grandparents
Cousins
Family
It’s a simple way to change the energy in the car.
🎒 Must-Have Travel Item
👉 Happy Little Traveler Activity Kits
These are our go-to for every trip:
Hang on the seat for easy access
Keep everything organized
Pre-packed with toys + activities
💡 You can DIY with a toiletry bag—but this saves time and money!
🚀 10 More Creative Road Trip Ideas
Try these to mix things up:
Create-a-story (each person adds a line)
Road trip bingo
Alphabet game (find letters outside)
Draw-and-pass drawing game
Car karaoke
Photo scavenger hunt
“If I owned this town…” imagination game
Guess the smell (snack game!)
Map tracking challenge
Silly voice/character conversations
❤️ Final Thoughts
Road trips with kids don’t have to be stressful.
With a little planning and creativity…
They can actually be some of the most memorable parts of your trip.
Because sometimes…
The best moments aren’t the destination.
They’re the ones happening right there in the car.
🎁 Want More Family Travel Tips?
Grab my FREE guide:
101 Sanity-Saving Tips for Traveling with Kids
👉 Link in show notes
👉 Or comment TIPS on Instagram and I’ll send it your way!
🎧 More Episodes You’ll Love
Episode 28: 9 States in 9 Days
Episode 29: Washington, D.C. with Kids
Episode 30: Virginia’s Historic Triangle
Episode 31: Myrtle Beach with Kids
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