Are you planning a family road trip over the holiday season? Maybe to see grandparents for the holidays? How lovely. Now, the bigger question is, how do you prepare? If you don’t make long-distance drives too often (and are unsure how well the kids will do — yikes!), don’t fret. Here are six holiday road trip essentials to consider before you hop in the car and turn up the holiday music. This list of holiday road trip essentials will keep kids calm and parents sane, and also lists some must-haves for roadside emergencies and more, to ensure you arrive at your destination jolly and safe.
Table of Contents
#1 Navigation Gear
One of the most important holiday road trip essentials is navigation gear or apps. If you don’t have one already because you know your hometown like the back of your hand, it’s time to invest in a car phone mount. A car phone mount ensures safe driving practices, keeping you hands-free and free of distractions. Mounted to a car windshield, you can see precisely where you’re headed without fumbling for your phone. But before you snap your phone into place, download some navigation apps like Google Maps or Waze, along with Gas Buddy to find cheap gas in unfamiliar areas you are passing through. With a car phone mount and these apps, you can track distance, estimated time of arrival (ETA) and find pit stops and restaurants to take breaks.
#2 A Car Emergency Kit and Safety Gear
Your car should already have a roadside emergency kit, but it’s safe to inspect it every so often and to charge your car jump starter. Of course, a First Aid Kit is essential, too. You can never be too careful, and it typically has basic medicine for common illnesses, cuts and headaches. A portable air purifier/deodorizer can help everyone enjoy the ride and arrive feeling fresh and healthy.
For roadside emergency kits, bring along a jump starter, power bank, gas container, tire jack, roadside flares, antifreeze, extra quarts of oil and anything else you might need. Take time to check your spare tire, making sure it’s correctly inflated and, if you can, get your car inspected and tuned up by a mechanic. Being stranded on the roadside is stressful enough, but if you’re traveling in snowy weather or looking forward to a White Christmas, it can be dangerous. Prepare for inclement weather with blankets, a snow shovel, ice scraper and salt or kitty litter to add traction to your tires in icy conditions.
#3 Healthy Snacks & Drinks
Sure, that tin of cookies meant for grandpa is tempting, but stick to some healthier options on your drive. This goes especially for parents who take shifts behind the wheel and need to stay alert. The last thing you need is a sugar crash from holiday cookies or hyper kids in the backseat distracting you.
So what kind of healthy snacks should you pack? Think easy-to-grab, non-messy snacks to keep the car clean and crumb-free. Energy bars and individual-size bags of nuts are good sources of protein. You could also pack string cheeses and, for a tiny bit of sugar, trail mix with craisins. Crackers can help settle a queasy stomach for kids who get car sick. Remember to hydrate and make sure everyone has a water bottle and there’s milk for younger ones. If the kids need juice, stick to low-sugar juice boxes for easier containment (both the juice and the kids). Adults may need coffee or caffeine in some form, but if you want to offer hot beverages all around, hot cocoa or hot apple cider is perfect for a holiday road trip. Pack extra water for emergencies, too.
#4 Movies, Games and Other Entertainment
Long stretches of highway can be boring. Little ones get antsy after sitting still for so long.
So make sure to bring some entertainment to occupy their time. For young children, keep them entertained with a Christmas-themed family movie or two, getting them excited about Santa coming. For other family members who need quiet time to sleep or concentrate on the drive, give your movie-watchers a pair of comfortable headphones so you don’t have to hear everything. Movies are great for adults and teens, too; however, they can choose whatever entertains them the most, whether that’s games or tablets. Just remember to pack all the charger cables to keep games and tablets charged throughout the trip.
#5 Blankets, Neck Pillows and Other Warm Creature Comforts
The hum of the road and a warm car can make you somewhat drowsy — not to mention especially long drives in general. If naps are in order, collect some blankets from home and other creature comforts to make the road trip more comfortable. Travel pillows like neck pillows offer extra support and prevent neck pain. UV window shades can reduce sun glare and make the car more nap-ready. If you want to make your car just as festive for the holidays, get a few warm blankets with holiday-inspired patterns like plaids and snowy scenes. Of course, make sure kids have their favorite stuffed animals and plush toys for comfort, too.
#6 Holiday Playlist
One holiday road trip essential is a holiday playlist to get everyone in the spirit. Before you set off on your road trip, create your own playlist filled with Christmas songs that are sure to please everyone in the car (hint: ask for song suggestions). Whether they’re timeless classics by Bing Crosby or Mariah Carey, or the latest holiday hits, add songs and albums until the playlist length roughly matches how long of a drive you’ll be taking. Spotify, Amazon Prime Music, Google Music and more song apps will allow you to offline your playlist, too — perfect for those patchy cell service areas.
We hope these six holiday road trip essentials have given you some ideas. Just remember to enjoy your road trip and keep in the holiday spirit, being patient and kind with one another as you ride your metal sleigh to grandma’s house.
