Family Car Trip Checklist

There are lots of reasons families opt for a car trip when heading out on a vacation. The drive itself might be the vacation, where regular stops are viewed as the main attraction. Some families, on the other hand, see the car as the most economical way to get to grandma’s house.   Whether your family car trip is a vacation in itself or simply a way to save money, packing all of the most important items is crucial. Having a checklist can be especially helpful.

Crucial Items
It’s amazing how often essential items are forgotten. We’re all in a rush to make sure the baby has her special snuggly, that we sometimes forget the most important items. Using this checklist, and perhaps taping it to your steering wheel, can help insure your family that nothing is forgotten.
1.    Purse, Wallet and/or Cash
2.    Driver’s License, Photo ID or Passport
3.    Car Keys
4.    Contact Lenses or Eyeglasses
5.    Sunglasses
6.    Directions, Maps
7.    Emergency Flares
8.    First Aid Kit
9.    Pocket Knife
10.    Flashlight and Batteries
11.    Food and Water
12.    Medical and Auto Insurance Identification
(Tip: Now that you’re thinking about it, when was the last time you compared cheap auto insurance quotes to see if you could save some money?)
13.    Toys, Books, Games to Keep Kids and Adults Occupied
14.    Umbrella

Little Extras
Packing light is great, especially when you’re crammed together in a car for an extended road trip, but there are a few things that are just nice to have. The following list will give you some ideas. Customize it to suit your family.
1.    Wet Wipes
2.    Screens to shield little ones from the sun.
3.    Books on tape, favorite music
4.    Soccer ball or Frisbee for quick entertainment at parks or other stops.
5.    iPods, MP3’s or CD players with individual headsets.
6.    Small, individually wrapped surprise gifts for the kids.

Traveling with Babies & Toddlers
When traveling with babies or toddlers it can be useful to have a separate bag stored in an easy to reach location stocked with diapers, wipes, binkies, bottles, finger foods and a favorite blanket or snuggly to encourage napping.

Other items you could pack include:
1.    Stroller
2.    Portable Crib
3.    Highchair

Of course, these items provide baby with a great deal of comfort at your destination location, however they take up a lot of the limited space in your car. Instead, consider barrowing or renting these items when you arrive, but be sure to make arrangements ahead of time.