4 Tips to Organizing Your Car for a Roadtrip with Kids
Driving cross-country with kids might sound like a nightmare, but if you start the trip organized and with a plan, you’ll feel ready to tackle the drive. We just got back from another 24+ hour trip to California, and let me tell you - getting organized before leaving SAVED OUR SANITY! Here are some easy tips to follow to get ready for your roadtrip, no matter where you and your kiddos are headed!
1) TAKE ADVANTAGE OF UNUSED SPACE
The space behind the seats can be utilized with seat organizers, empty chairs can easily be used for organizing bins, and if you have the ability to use your roof or hitch area as a storage option, keeping your luggage out of the way makes things easier inside the car. We installed a Thule on the roof and a Yakima on the hitch for the luggage we wouldn’t need along the way, keeping the trunk available for necessities and limiting the clutter near the kids’ seats.
2) MAKE SURE EACH KID HAS THEIR OWN SPACE AND SYSTEM
It’s important for each of your kids to have their own stuff dedicated to a specific space or else EVERYTHING will end up EVERYWHERE- trust me. We tried out these behind-the-chair tabletop organizers for this trip and LOVED that there was storage for toys, a fold-down table for their iPads, and even pockets for their water bottles. Keeping their things contained made all the difference.
3) PACK SNACKS & DESIGNATE A SNACK SPOT
This SAVED US for so many reasons: portion control, healthier snack options, avoiding the $40 gas station snack stop every hour or so, keeping things fair between siblings, even maintaining the clutter. We pre-packed tons of snacks in snack-sized Ziploc bags and dedicated two seat-storage bins to keeping them organized. The best thing about this was that our leftover snacks were ready to transition to the pantry for school snacks after the trip.
4) KEEP THINGS CONTAINED
This is essential. Even if you don’t want to spend a lot of money on seat organizers, even a simple bag can keep the clutter contained and off the floor. We dedicated a bag for gas station stop - shoes, diapers, and wipes. We also dedicated a bin for trash to keep things clean. Keep things easily accessible and dedicate a spot for everything before you leave!
ROADTRIP STORAGE SOLUTIONS:
Keep an eye out for more tips and tricks on organized packing, road trip essentials, and ALL THINGS TRAVEL comin’ at you soon.