A road trip, if done properly, will be something that you will remember for a very long time, by everyone involved. Parents will remember the times they drove the whole family across the country to see all the cool sites that their home has to offer, and the kids will always remember how, even though they wanted to stay home and spend time with their friends during the summer, their parents dragged them across the country in a car. As much fun as everyone will be having, the longer the trip is, there are bound to be a few downtimes as well. Here are 40 tricks and hacks to help make any road trip a little less messy, a little less boring, a little less smelly, and a lot more fun.
1. "Make A List, And Check It Twice"
The expected length of a road trip is one of the determining factors that contribute to what a road tripper packs, and how much of everything they decided to bring along. Clearly, the longer the trip, the more things someone will need to bring along.
Making a checklist, in the days leading up to any road trip, helps to make sure that none of the essentials are forgotten. If Santa can have two lists, surely we can make one.
2. "Wired"
Unless all of one's gadgets use the same type of charging cable, which not many people do these days, it's a good idea to find a way to keep all the cables untangled and ready to be put to work when needed.
Keeping charging cables and headphones in a glasses case is an oldie but a goodie. It keeps them from getting (too) tangled and prevents unnecessary rummaging through one's bag when their phone gives the dreaded, "10% battery remaining", message.
3. "Who Brought The Popcorn?"
It seems as though the attention span of the average child has been gradually diminishing over the years. For this reason, among others, it's important to find ways of keeping the kids occupied during long car rides.
With a couple of carabiners and a lot of craftiness, anyone can make a DIY iPad suspension unit. With a couple of sets of headphones for the little ones, parents might even forget the kids are back there.
4. "Are You Not Entertained?"
Believe it or not, one of the secrets to a nice quiet road trip with the kids is actually a door-back shoe rack (toiletry bags work as well).
They're great for storing coloring supplies, toys, and snacks. Once a child is old enough to entertain themselves, this hack should help parents navigate the longer stretches of a road trip.
5. "Making A Stand"
Finding a suitable place to put one's toothbrush while away from home isn't always the easiest thing to do. It's important to make sure that it's able to stay as clean as possible, after all, we do put these things in our mouths.
Something as simple as a laundry clip is enough to keep one's toothbrush away from the dirt and grime of the counters and tabletops at the local motel.
6. "Sticky Situation"
Whether a road tripper is an adult or a child, one thing remains the same, on a hot road tripping day, there are few things more satisfying than getting a cold treat at one of the pitstops along the highway. The problem is, we would then be gambling with the chance that we'd be able to keep ourselves free of sticky melted popsicles.
Gamble no more. Just be sure to always have cupcake holders handy. They're cheap, easy to store, and rather useful, especially if traveling with a small child, or an adult who eats like one.
7. "How Did It Get On Your Elbow?"
Go-Gurts are designed to be a portable, easy-to-eat, relatively mess-free, healthy snack. But that's not always the case, is it? Little kids usually end up with the Go-Gurt yogurt all over their faces.
Bringing a pack of straws or asking for a few extra at the first pit stop's diner, should help keep most of the Go-Gurt yogurt in the child's mouth.
8. "It Smells Like Feet!"
After driving long distances with a car full of people and the windows up, the car can get a little... "aromatic".
By placing dryer sheets in the vents, road trip odor shouldn't be a problem. Instead of the aromas of fellow passengers, the car should smell like lavender for the next 100-125 miles.
9. "Lesson #1: Left Is Left"
As the navigator, one of the responsibilities of the front seat passenger is to help the driver figure out which exits they need to take and which side of the road they need to be on in order to get off at the aforementioned exit.
The majority of highway signs have a "cheat code" of sorts. If the exit number is towards the left side on the top of the sign, the exit is on the left, and if it's on the right, the exit is on the right. This is a hack every navigator should learn.
10. "Shake It Like A Polaroid Picture"
Apparently, kids enjoy drawing on walls, windows, and pretty much anything else that they could reach with a marker. When planning a road trip, buying some erasable window markers for the kids is one of the ways to help cut down on cleaning bills later on.
Window markers are responsible for countless hours of fun, and when the window starts to get too filled up with magnificent art, just add water, scrub, and voila...a fresh canvas.
11. "Buttoned Up"
For some reason, a pair of earrings are difficult to keep together. They are like the pair of socks that go into the dryer together, but only one sock comes out. We know we put them both in there, but somehow, one is gone.
Using a button as an earring holder is a great way to keep the pair together. This way, there is no losing one of the earrings. If one is lost, they both are.
12. "Just Bright Enough"
On a long road trip, everyone usually runs on their own sleeping schedule, and usually around the 3rd or 4th day of being on the road, it becomes difficult for some people to sleep through the night. Sometimes, it helps to read or play on one's phone in order to fall asleep. Unfortunately, without turning on the car light and waking the others up, that's very difficult to do.
Solar-powered headlights are a must for any road trip. During the day, let the solar panel charge, and then at night, passengers have a way of reading or using their phones without hurting their eyes or being a distraction to the others in the vehicle.
13. "That's Rubbish"
Tired of finding a mess all over the floor after every time the kids eat? Wish that there was some way to keep the trash in the trashbin? Well, there is...
A plastic cereal holder is a great solution to most of one's backseat garbage collecting needs. One of the added benefits to using a container that seals shut as a garbage bin will become clear after someone gets a little car sick.
14. "Dude! Where's My Car?"
After hours of driving, when it's finally time to make a pit stop, it's a good chance for everyone to get out and stretch their legs. Each person, with a different way in which they'd like to spend these 10-15 minutes out of the car. And that's just fine, as long as everyone remembers where to meet up...
Dropping a pin at the location where one's car is, or where everyone has decided to meet up at an allotted time, is a great way to make sure there are no miscommunications, and no one gets lost.
15. "We'll Be There After 7 Krispy Kreme Stores"
Driving a couple of hundred miles over to grandma's place with the family is a great way to spend quality time with loved ones...until the kids start to ask, "how much longer?" or the fan-favorite, "are we there yet?" This easy DIY hack simplifies things for younger children who don't know how to read a map yet.
By placing route indicators in full view of the kids, they are given an easy-to-understand visual aid. Each time an indicator is removed, it's time for a pit stop. Breaking the trip up into different segments is something that everyone on the road trip should benefit from.
16. "Also Great For Road Trip Curly Fries"
Tired of waiting for the curling iron to cool down after making sure that every curl is just perfect for the next 100 miles of the journey? Those 10-15 minutes could feel like an eternity sometimes, am I right? Well, have we got the solution for the person who just can't go without their curls.
Oven mitts aren't just great to have around so that we don't burn ourselves while cooking, they are also an excellent case for a curling iron while on the road. When finished using it, just unplug it, wrap it up, and pack it away.
17. "Caddyshack"
Eating meals in the car, in order to cut back on the number of stops during a road trip, is a great idea if it could be done without turning the backseat of the car into a high school cafeteria by the next pit stop.
If utilized to its full potential, a shower caddy can be a huge help in keeping things organized during meal times. All one needs to do is substitute the soaps, shampoos, and loofah for a drink, sandwich, and snack, and presto! A nicely organized lunch caddy.
18. "When Did You Eat Pizza?"
It's important to keep tissues and wet wipes handy, just in case there is a spill or someone drops some food or drinks on the ground. If traveling with people who haven't experienced a long road trip before, or small children, it's probably wise to plan for a little bit more than a little bit of food or drink spilling in the car.
Motion sickness can strike at any time with little to no warning, but if the proper pre-trip measures were taken, that shouldn't be a problem. Prepare a car sick pack just in case. Hopefully, it won't be needed, but better safe than sorry.
19. "Flight Of The Navigator"
When going on a road trip, there is a good chance that there will be, at least, one spot along the way where it will be difficult to get an internet signal. That's why it's always good to prepare the route ahead of time.
Before leaving on the trip, it's a good idea to take screenshots of each section of the route. That way, although the kids might be lost without an internet connection, the navigator will always know where they're going.
20. "TV Saves The Day Again!"
Forgetting the power adapter for one's phone charger can be a major inconvenience...if we let it be. As long as everyone can make it, without music or video games for a little while, and arrive in one piece to the evening's hotel pit stop, all of one's power problems should be remedied.
Try checking the back of the television in the hotel room where the family is staying for the night. They usually all have USB ports these days.
21. "Anyone Up For Some Backgammon?"
Dice have been at the root of many road trip games for decades. It wasn't until recently, however, that road trippers discovered a foolproof way to prevent the loss of one of the dice.
By placing the dice into a plastic container, dice rollers no longer have to worry about the possibility of losing a die under one of the seats.
22. "It Could Happen..."
With how reliant many of us are on our mobile phones, it's a good idea to make sure that if it does get misplaced, and found by a good samaritan, it could be returned.
If traveling to a distant place, it's not a bad idea to change the lock screen on one's phone to their basic personal information like their name, address, and the contact number for someone they know.
23. "First Contact"
Need somewhere to keep face creams? No worries at all. A spare contact lens holder makes for a fantastic portable cosmetics case.
Just remember which case is for the cosmetics and which one is for the lenses. Getting those mixed up could lead to a hilariously unfortunate series of events.
24. "Rafiki?"
One never can tell when nature might call, and considering there can be a hundred miles between pit stops, it's a good idea to bring a couple of rolls of toilet paper along for the journey.
Becoming "one with the wild" is great for some people, but it's not worth having the red tush of a baboon because of some accidental use of poison ivy. Be prepared and bring some tp or babywipes.
25. "That Wasn't What You Thought It Was"
One of the misconceptions that many people have about Mini M&M's is that, once the tube is empty of chocolate treats, its purpose has run its course.
Conveniently enough, the tubes that Mini M&M's come in, are perfect for holding quarters. With this hack, road trippers could say goodbye to searching under the seats for spare change. They're also great for anyone who plans to stop for some pinball along the way.
26. "The Duct Tape Of Road Trips"
As we learned earlier, cupcake holders are useful in helping to prevent popsicles from melting on us while driving, but that's not all they're good for...
Tired of searching the cupholders for spare change in order to buy a coffee at the drive-thru? Cupcake holders to the rescue yet again. They are great for keeping cupholders nice and tidy, as well as keeping them dry when used under a cup.
27. "Lesson 2: Left Is Still Left"
This next hack will make life much easier for those who tend to rent a lot of cars. No need to wonder which side of the car the fuel tank is on any longer, just take a look at the fuel gauge on the dashboard. The little picture with the arrow indicates which side of the car the tank is on.
I don't know about anyone else, but knowing this hack would have helped to save me a bit of frustration, a bit of time, and a bit of embarrassment.
28. "What If It's A Cloudy Day?"
Making sure that electronics are fully functional for as long as possible, while on a road trip, isn't quite as easy as it used to be. In the past, a road tripper's electronics usage was dependant on how many batteries they had brought with them. That all changed with smartphones and tablets.
The majority of vehicles have one, maybe two, charging ports. Some don't have any. It's a good thing we are lucky enough to live in a time that has solar-powered chargers. Stick one of these chargers to the window during the day, and have hours of battery life at night.
29. "Looking Fresh"
Altoids have been refreshing people's breaths for decades, however, it's not only mints that these tins are good for. For almost as long as they have been around, these mint tins have been used in order to keep the important things safe while on road trips.
For the traveler who needs to look their best at all times, with just a few adjustments, an Altoids tin can be transformed into a pocket-sized emergency travel-makeup kit.
30. "Gotta Keep 'Em Separated"
When driving a long way in order to go to a celebration of some kind, it's important to ensure that all of one's jewelry is safely stored, and easily accessible.
A pillbox or an old sewing kit is excellent to make use of in order to keep earrings, cufflinks, and rings organized, and ready for use at a moment's notice.
31. "These Boot Were Made For Walking"
If a traveler plans on taking more than one pair of shoes with them on a road trip, it would be a good idea to find a way of keeping the shoes separated from the rest of the clothes in their bags. Believe it or not, the solution is actually in the shower.
The solution is a shower cap. They keep the shoes nice and snug and help to prevent any unwanted footprints on the other clothing.
32. "If We Were There, Would We Still Be Driving?"
Family road trips are a wonderful way to create memories with loved ones. The longer the trip is, however, the more often one is likely to hear the kids asking "are we there yet?"
Creating a route map for the kids to follow along with, keeps the kids involved in the trip and also gives them no reason to ask any questions about how far away the destination is. As we all know, however, all because there is no need for a child to do something, that doesn't mean they won't still do it...but it's a start.
33. "Sticking Around"
Finding late-night road trip activities that will help to pass the long dark hours on the highway can be difficult. Sometimes, an overnight car-rave is exactly what the doctor ordered.
Giving the kids glow sticks in the evenings and turning on some party music kills two birds with one stone. It keeps the driver awake while, at the same time, entertaining the children until they fall asleep.
34. "Da Da Da (Da Da Da)"
Setting the tone of a road trip is usually the responsibility of whoever is riding shotgun. They are not only responsible for navigating the driver to the proper location, but also for deciding on which music everyone will be listening to.
Picking the perfect playlist can make all the difference between a fun and exciting road trip, and one where time feels as though it's standing still. The random favorites idea is usually a winner - Let everyone pick the same number of songs, then set the playlist to shuffle.
35. "Lured In"
Deciding what snacks to bring on a road trip is very important to the success of the trip. Forgetting one of the favorite snacks can be enough to cause a riot amongst the kids in the backseat.
A great way to pack as many snacks as possible, when only given limited space, is by transforming a tackle box into a snack tray. The only fish that will be seeing this tray, will be those goldfish crackers.
36. "Electric Avenue"
For years, in order to keep food fresh on the road, we'd have to stop to get ice whenever possible. And we would stop, because as everyone knows, one of the key elements to any good road trip is good road trip food.
...And then came electric coolers. No more ice, just make sure it's charged. Imagine being able to have fresh sandwiches, cold drinks, and maybe even some ice cream, without stopping the car.
37. "Even A Car Needs An Annual Physical"
Before any road trip, it is highly recommended to take the car in for a check-up. Just to make sure everything is fine-tuned and ready to go.
The last thing anyone wants is for the car to overheat and burn through the head gasket, because "someone" forgot to check the engine coolant before leaving. Better to pay for a check-up now, then a new car later.
38. "Keep On Rollin' "
Packing for a road trip can be a very difficult task for an inexperienced road tripper. Most people lay their clothes flat out in a suitcase and try to keep everything as uncreased as possible. By doing this, one limits the number of clothing items that they are able to pack...
Rolling clothes up, either individually or in color-coordinated sets, however, creates much-needed space and keeps clothes from getting creased.
39. "Getting Out Of A Bind"
Having one's phone visible while driving is important if the phone contains essential road trip directional information. Instead of going out and purchasing an overpriced phone holder for the car, a couple of school supplies just might be the answer.
Using just a binder clip and an elastic band, it is possible to make a phone holder that attaches to one of the vents.
40. "Can You Hear Me Now?"
When driving across the country with a couple of kids in the car, a few days could feel like months. Ensuring that the little devils are occupied is essential, in order for some parents to retain their sanity throughout the duration of the trip,
Investing in a few extra pairs of headphones for the road trip is a decision that one definitely will not be regretting any time soon. A good pair of headphones have the ability to keep a hyperactive child enveloped in their film with no interruptions.