Whether you’re taking a roadtrip with kids that’s 500 miles or 3000 miles, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all that comes with a long drive with kids. Knowing how to pack your car with all you need without feeling cramped is a skill that will serve you well in keeping the car organized and spacious.

When we decided to take a 6000 mile round trip in 10 days time in our family car, we knew we would have to pack light. Our family car is a Honda Odyssey but we don’t have a trailer hitch or roof racks, so everything we pack has to fit inside of the car. Since there are 7 of us, we’re pretty confined to using only trunk space, so packing minimally is a necessity. 

While we technically could fit some extra gear under the feet of our smaller kids, we didn’t want the car to feel cramped on the journey, which we knew would ultimately lead to grumpy children (and grumpy mom). In the past to gain some extra space we’ve used a rooftop travel bag like this that buckles to itself inside of the car, but this isn’t the most sturdy. We really liked it for shorter drives like local camping trips, but we didn’t find it to be ideal for a longer voyage.

Another consideration is food and how to eat on multi-day drives. While the easiest solution is to pack some snacks and swing through the drive through for meals, this isn’t actually something I’d recommend. Sticking to some healthier meals will help everyone feel physically and mentally happier. So before you cave to sluggish foods, be sure to read through the second section of this post about meals and packing food for your trip.

So how does a family pack all they need for a long roadtrip in just the trunk space of the car?

Packing Light

Enter: minimalism.

Obviously these tips can widely vary depending on the purpose and destination of your trip. Packing for a ski week away requires a lot more gear and heavier layers than does a summer trip to the beach. But you can use each tip as a guideline to help you decide what you truly do need to bring, and what is perhaps just a luxury item, even if it’s really hard to part with (like that extra pair of cute sandals you really want to bring). And obviously different families will have different needs, especially those traveling with infants and toddlers. But I will still encourage you to ask yourself, “do I truly need this or will it just make my life easier? And if it’s purpose is to make my life easier, how much easier is it really going to make it, and is that item worth having to give up packing something else?”

Packing light can feel like a real challenge in our bigger-is-better culture. We may say things like “less is more” but the reality is that most people have more clothing than they could wear in a month and drawers overflowing with “options”. While variety may be the spice of life, there are some simple ways to pack like a bare minimalist, and still have some fun in what you bring. Here are some tips that can help you pack tiny even for a big trip.

Tips for Thinking Like a Minimalist

  • Plan to do laundry and only pack what you need between laundry days. For laundry detergent, consider using laundry strips like these TruEarth strips that are compact and come in compostable packaging.
  • Plan to wear items a couple times before washing. Jeans can usually be worn several times, and perhaps you can get two wears out of a dress.
  • Think capsule wardrobe: bring items that are easy to mix and match or layer. 
  • Don’t overplan for weather and “what ifs”. If you know that it’s going to rain a lot on your trip, you might want to bring a rain jacket. But because these are bulky, if there is just a chance of rain, or minimal rain, consider skipping the rain jacket and be prepared to avoid getting too wet. You don’t need to pack for all possible weather conditions.
  • Only bring 2 pairs of shoes per person. One to wear, one as a backup, which can also be a utility shoe. If you’re going to the beach, perhaps this is a pair of sandals. If you’re going to the mountains, maybe it’s a hiking shoe or snow boot. For general travel, we pack one pair of hiking/running sandals and one pair of every-day shoes. We use EarthRunners sandals. You can purchase here and use code SaraRaisingWild for 10% off your next order.
  • Know how much space you have to work with, and portion each person accordingly. Consider using one or two suitcases or 30Gal bins like these, and pack each person’s clothing into a bag to go inside the bin or suitcase.
  • As for the above bag, give each person their bag, and only allow them to pack what fits inside of it. We usually use a grocery bag or slightly larger shopping bag. This puts a physical limit on what they can bring. If they really want to bring a larger toy, they’re going to have to let go of something else. If they insist on bringing three pairs of jeans, they’ll have to pack lighter in another area to be sure they fit. Pro Tip: Roll your clothes rather than fold for tighter packing.
  • Once all your must-haves are packed (like food and clothes) you can decide what else you might want to bring that can fit. 

Packing Roadtrip Food

While traveling without a kitchen presents its own challenges, it isn’t impossible to eat moderately healthy. And you can strategically plan to bring enough food to cover 1 or 2 meals per day, including cold foods, if you pack wisely. Yes, you will likely have to eat out a few times, but here are a few tips for avoiding fast food for every meal.

  • Pack a cooler with a few favourite foods, or high protein snacks. Keep in mind that you won’t want to do dishes, so pack a few disposable utensils, napkins and water bottles. (Tip: refresh ice each morning with a bag or two from the hotel ice machine if you utilize hotels for the journey.)
  • Pack a regular box or bag with easy to grab foods that aren’t too messy. Trying to stick to less sugar and higher protein will help keep kids happy and full, without sugar spikes and crashes.
  • Plan to eat your biggest meal out. If dinner is usually your biggest meal, consider purchasing dinner from a restaurant or fast food stop. This is a great time for a hot meal and a bathroom break.
  • If you’re staying at hotels, look for hotels that offer breakfast. No, they don’t usually have the best options, but you can usually at least find some protein and fresh fruit. Some hotels do offer surprisingly great breakfast bars and our kids love when there’s a waffle maker.
  • If lunch isn’t your big meal out, consider foods that are easy to throw together. Maybe everyone gets a granola bar, fruit, PB&J, and beef stick.
  • Avoid foods that are overly salty as this will make kids thirsty. You want to avoid having to make frequent bathroom stops.
  • On that note, limit or do not allow sugary drinks that will get chugged quickly. We also generally limit water intake.

Some food to pack in the cooler:

  • Salami
  • String cheese
  • Cheese (for crackers)
  • Apples
  • Milk/chocolate milk
  • Pre-cooked chicken or steak slices
  • Chicken salad (just make sure this stays cold!)
  • Hard boiled eggs
  • Jar of jelly
  • Yogurt cups

Food for the dry bag:

  • Box of various granola bars
  • Beef sticks like these
  • Crackers
  • Raisins
  • Oranges/apples
  • Bananas
  • Nuts
  • Heavenly Hunks
  • Peanut butter or other nut butter
  • Jerky (just watch salt intake so no one gets too thirsty)
  • Peanut butter crackers
  • Peanut butter filled pretzels

The Coffee

Okay, okay, the food is well and good but I know I’ve skipped the most important thing: the coffee! If you’re a coffee snob like my husband and I, you don’t travel well without good coffee. Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. (If you’re not a coffee snob, Starbucks and McDonald’s are aplenty!)

Here are a few products you can easily travel with that don’t take up too, too much space and require zero electricity. Just don’t forget to pack the coffee beans. And if you’re bougie like me and like tea drinks, too, grab a bag of this matcha powder for iced matcha lattes. I pack a small jar of sugar and keep a large bottle of water on hand for all coffee making. I also keep milk and ice in the cooler.

Lastly, if you do have the space to pack some extra food and the ability to deal with some dishes, you could consider packing a camping stove to do some light cooking. We love our Coleman camping stove and it packs up fairly small. Just don’t forget to bring the propane and whatever cookware you’ll need.

But packing is only half the battle – the rest is the journey itself. There are tons of ways to strive for roadtrip success, and to keep it light and fun. For a list of mom-approved hacks for a successful roadtrip with kids, and the best roadtrip advice I’ve ever heard, don’t miss this post.

Happy Roadtripping!

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