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You are here: Home / Entertainment / Giveaways / Road Trip Packing Tips

Road Trip Packing Tips

Thursday, August 18, 2016 by Lolli 57 Comments

I am excited to work with Kelley Blue Book to bring you these great packing tips. Kelley Blue Book is sponsoring the giveaway kit as a part of the promotion, and I also received a kit as part of the promotion.

We are a road tripping family. You kind of have to be good at road trips when you’ve got 5 kids. Vacation time means road trips and we LOVE it.

What every family road trip needs #LifeConnected

Packing for a family of seven (or a family of six now, since my oldest daughter is married and living all the way across the country) is a game of Tetris. We travel with a lot of stuff. Granted, now that the kids are older, we don’t have to travel with the pack ‘n play or the stroller, but packing with and for teens presents other challenges.

The last two summers have consisted of road trips of epic proportion. Two years ago, we loaded up our minivan with all of the things our oldest daughter needed for school and drove her across the country to move in to her first college dorm. Oh, and did I mention that we ALSO had to pack along camping equipment and clothes for the other 6 of us? Sometimes I felt like our van was a clown car, fitting way more inside than humanly possible.

Last year, we repeated the road trip, minus the college supplies, and I realized one thing: we are good at packing a car for long road trips.

We used to call my oldest daughter the Tetris queen. She has a way with arranging things and finding the best way to fit as much stuff in a small space as possible. She used to do that with the fridge. I’d come home with a full van-load of groceries and have to fit everything in our already-stuffed-full refrigerator. She’d work her magic and we’d be able to fit everything in and more.

My husband is the King of car Tetris, though. We’ve had others in the family try, but he’s the one that can take on the challenge every time. We’ve got our routine…everyone packs their stuff for the trip, takes them outside and sets them next to the car, and he arranges and rearranges until everything fits.

Road trip packing tips for families

Kelley Blue Book challenged us to take on the great task of getting our car ready for a summer road trip, and though our oldest could have given Dad a run for his money on this game of road trip Tetris, the rest of us are doomed to be at his mercy.

Kelley Blue Book knows the struggle families like mine go through when packing up a car for a road trip, and actually vets hundreds of vehicles to create its official “Best Family Cars for 2016” list. They include everything from testing child safety seats to checking the availability of Apple CarPlay and even conducting a real-world test with real-world families.

Road trip packing tips for families

Road Trip Car-Packing Tips

Here are 3 car-packing tips from the experts at Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com

Safety First

Put heavier items on the bottom of the cargo area and toward the front, and avoid loading SUVs beyond the height of the rear seat backs. Keeping heavier items up closer to the center of the vehicle can help preserve handling integrity in emergency avoidance situations, while imposing a height limit on your stack of stuff will help maintain rearward vision and prevent objects from becoming projectiles in a collision. If you wouldn’t want somebody throwing it at your head, don’t keep it unsecured and at head level in your car.

Bag It

Consider large trash bags for smaller loose items and soft items like blankets and pillows. It’ll be easier to transport these items to and from the car, and their flexibility makes them more space efficient than a large box, for instance.

Think Short-Term

There’s often plenty of action in the time between packing the car and fully unpacking it at your destination, and planning ahead can save plenty of headache. Obviously you’ll want to keep plenty of food and drink within reach, along with napkins, a trash bag and medicine, perhaps. And any modern family road trip is sure to benefit from a full complement of electronics and related accessories, like power cords and headphones. But if your journey will include a side trip that will take you away from the car, remember to pack any valuables within easy reach so that you can take them with you on your detour. Alternately, pack those valuables deep within your stack. If you plan to arrive at noon and check-in isn’t until 4pm, keep the swimsuits and sunscreen easily accessible so you don’t have to unpack and re-pack the whole car in the middle of the hotel parking lot.

Road trip packing tips for families

Here are a few tips we would add…(thanks to my husband’s brilliance at getting the car ready for a road trip)

In-Car “Survival” Pack

Long hours in the car can be tough when kids (and parents) get bored. We each – even mom and dad – pack an in-car entertainment and snack bag (usually a small backpack) with books, paper and pencil, favorite snacks, and a blanket and pillow.

Pack Bags Ahead of Time

We find it very helpful to pack suitcases and duffel bags and other supplies the day before so that we can pack the car well ahead of time. I love starting our trip with an already-packed car.

Keep the Seating Area as Clear as Possible

I would rather have a packed-to-the-brim cargo area and leave the space around our feet clear. It makes the car atmosphere much more relaxed for us. Each person has their in-car bag and a pillow and/or blanket. Kids seem to be much more patient and willing to endure the long car ride when they have a little space to move their elbows and their feet.

Keep Bags Small

Small duffel bags and backpacks are much easier to fit in the car versus large suitcases. It’s a whole lot easier to play car Tetris with small, soft bags instead of big, stiff bags. It’s also easier for us to let each family member pack his or her own bag instead of packing large bags for the whole family together.

Connect with Kelley Blue Book:

  • Twitter @KelleyBlueBook
  • Facebook – KBB
  • YouTube – KBB
  • Google Plus – KBB

Enter to Win a Kelley Blue Book Giveaway Prize ($120 Value)

One winner will win the following prize pack, worth $120!

KBB prize pack

1. One Carry-On Luggage Set
2. Kelley Blue Book Swag (sticky note book, tumbler and Bluetooth speaker)
3. $25 Visa Gift Card

This giveaway will end on August 31 at 11:59 pm ET and a winner will be chosen at random and notified via email. Please note that a new winner will need to be chosen should the first winner not respond after 48 hours.

Good luck!

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About Lolli

Lolli has written 3740 post in this blog.

I became a mom in 1996, and in 2005 I had my fifth. Yes, 5 kids. In 2007, this blog was born (my 6th baby that will never grow up) and I've been sharing recipes, photography tricks, parenting tips, and everything in between. (Formerly Better in Bulk)

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Filed Under: Giveaways, Travels Tagged With: family traditions, family travel, giveaways, road trip, tips for moms, travel

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Comments

  1. Lisa Brown says

    Tuesday, October 10, 2017 at 3:17 pm

    I believe in always having a good roadside emergency bag. Better safe than sorry!

  2. Darlene W says

    Wednesday, August 31, 2016 at 4:09 pm

    I commented on https://foodfunfamily.com/delicious-dishes-recipes-with-fruit/

  3. Nannypanpan says

    Wednesday, August 31, 2016 at 11:48 am

    When my sister moved down to Miami and all her important stuff fit in her station wagon

  4. TQ says

    Tuesday, August 30, 2016 at 11:59 am

    This is a great blog post, I’m actually very interested in travelling as soon as I finish university before embarking on doing my Masters and getting a job. Thanks for all of the tips :D

  5. Darlene W says

    Tuesday, August 30, 2016 at 10:28 am

    I commented on https://foodfunfamily.com/goat-cheese-beet-spring-salad/#comments

  6. Susan Christy says

    Monday, August 29, 2016 at 4:46 pm

    I’m a terrible packer, I always take way too much stuff and the things I really need are always on the bottom. No one would want packing tips from me but I guess my tip would be to be more organized than I am.

  7. Darlene W says

    Monday, August 29, 2016 at 2:34 pm

    I commented on https://foodfunfamily.com/diy-miniature-fairy-garden/#comments

  8. GB says

    Sunday, August 28, 2016 at 3:10 pm

    Only pack what you need and be realistic.

  9. Darlene W says

    Sunday, August 28, 2016 at 10:34 am

    I commented on https://foodfunfamily.com/sweet-n-southern-burgers/

  10. Lauren says

    Sunday, August 28, 2016 at 9:06 am

    Pack all the soft items last to save space.

  11. Michelle C says

    Saturday, August 27, 2016 at 10:47 pm

    I like to pack a small bag of items I might need quick access to and keep in the front with me, almost like a carry-on type bag. It keeps us from having to stop and dig out things from the back!

  12. Darlene W says

    Saturday, August 27, 2016 at 10:39 am

    I commented on https://foodfunfamily.com/pumpkin-roll/

  13. Patricia Crowley says

    Saturday, August 27, 2016 at 9:47 am

    We pack a small bag with the things we’ll need while driving for each person. Then the main bags will not be touched on the trip.

  14. Darlene W says

    Friday, August 26, 2016 at 12:42 am

    I commented on https://foodfunfamily.com/camera-mode-dial-bloggograph/

  15. Natalie says

    Thursday, August 25, 2016 at 6:21 pm

    Pack items and clothes that you plan on using right away at the top of your suitcase.

  16. Darlene W says

    Thursday, August 25, 2016 at 1:11 pm

    I commented on https://foodfunfamily.com/chicken-parmesan-meatballs/

  17. Jennifer Rote says

    Wednesday, August 24, 2016 at 1:14 pm

    Always keep snacks and drinks easy to access.

  18. amy pugmire says

    Wednesday, August 24, 2016 at 12:19 pm

    Make sure the things you need are easily accessible and don’t over pack!

  19. Darlene W says

    Wednesday, August 24, 2016 at 11:36 am

    I commented on https://foodfunfamily.com/storks-see-it-free-at-tysons-corner/#comments

  20. Mary Cloud says

    Tuesday, August 23, 2016 at 6:56 pm

    We keep extra plastic bins to stash small items and bags so they don’t fly all over the van.

  21. courtney b says

    Tuesday, August 23, 2016 at 6:42 pm

    probably when we went to California to visit my sister- it was a total mess! but fun

  22. Jackie says

    Tuesday, August 23, 2016 at 5:30 pm

    Pack snacks and drinks where you are able to easily reach them

  23. JoeyfromSC says

    Tuesday, August 23, 2016 at 2:34 pm

    Don’t overpack haha..I am not great at packing tips!

    Thanks for the chance to win!

    Joey J.

  24. Tamra H says

    Tuesday, August 23, 2016 at 12:46 pm

    My tip is to make sure you leave room for any additional goodies you pick up along the way. You don’t want to be forced not to buy anything new just because you can’t fit it in the car!

  25. Darlene W says

    Tuesday, August 23, 2016 at 11:27 am

    I commented on https://foodfunfamily.com/pressure-cooker-canned-carrots/#comments

  26. Jennifer Marie says

    Monday, August 22, 2016 at 9:33 pm

    My tip is to have a not over-pack. Sometimes with too much in the car it can be hard to see.

  27. Jessica Beard says

    Monday, August 22, 2016 at 4:13 pm

    My tip is not to overpack. I always take too much, but I need to stick to my list.

  28. Janet W. says

    Monday, August 22, 2016 at 2:01 pm

    My best car packing tip is to put the heaviest items on the bottom first and the lighter weight things on top. Also, pack the things you might need to get to like snacks/drinks where you can reach them easily.

  29. kelly tupick says

    Monday, August 22, 2016 at 1:35 pm

    My best tip is to use every available space in luggage and in car. Don’t over pack, keep a list of what you really need.

  30. Darlene W says

    Monday, August 22, 2016 at 11:47 am

    I commented on https://foodfunfamily.com/lime-coconut-sugar-scrub-bars/#comments august 22/16

  31. janetfaye says

    Monday, August 22, 2016 at 8:25 am

    My best car packing tip is packing a roadside emergency kit.

  32. Tabathia B says

    Sunday, August 21, 2016 at 9:31 pm

    We try to pack using bags versus suitcases to have more room and mobility

  33. Sara Floyd says

    Sunday, August 21, 2016 at 8:50 pm

    Use every available space in the car

  34. Elle says

    Sunday, August 21, 2016 at 6:21 pm

    My best tip is to make a list and mark things off when you pack and then when put in the car.

  35. Cheryl B says

    Sunday, August 21, 2016 at 4:45 pm

    I have a bag,always loaded with supplies from bandaids to Tylenol. We pack light and don’t take a lot with us.

  36. Darlene W says

    Sunday, August 21, 2016 at 11:36 am

    I commented on https://foodfunfamily.com/car-ready-for-summer/#comment-1336774

  37. Darlene W says

    Sunday, August 21, 2016 at 11:32 am

    Make use of every inch of packing space, stuff things into travel mugs, use those little gaps in the car and fill them with towel etc

  38. carol clark says

    Sunday, August 21, 2016 at 4:24 am

    put all the heavy stuff on bottom always keep banaids and ointment up in the glove box that way there is no looking in each bag thats how i pack

  39. aaron reck says

    Sunday, August 21, 2016 at 3:13 am

    I keep a blanket, water, and more emergency supplies in my trunk. I feel better safe than sorry. I would like to get flares.

  40. Tina W says

    Sunday, August 21, 2016 at 3:04 am

    I pack small backpacks and duffels. Easy to arrange them in the trunk, and you can just grab the bags you need instead of unpacking everything.

  41. natasha lamoreux says

    Saturday, August 20, 2016 at 6:06 pm

    Pack light and be realistic on what youre actually going to wear.

  42. Kelly D says

    Saturday, August 20, 2016 at 11:21 am

    My tip is to pack suitcases on the bottom and the cooler with drinks on the top, along with any items that you might need quickly such as umbrellas.

  43. Birdiebee says

    Saturday, August 20, 2016 at 2:36 am

    I use a trunk organizer to keep emergency items in as well as it has an insulated area for drinks along with a garbage and other items that keeps the car organized.

  44. Thomas Murphy says

    Saturday, August 20, 2016 at 1:31 am

    Pack light and stay organized.

  45. Ellie Wright says

    Saturday, August 20, 2016 at 12:29 am

    Place the bags you need first at the back so you take them out first.

  46. shelly peterson says

    Friday, August 19, 2016 at 9:22 pm

    Pack as light as possible. Make a check off list so you don’t forget anything or at least the least amount as possible, no matter what something is always forgotten.

  47. Jeffrey says

    Friday, August 19, 2016 at 8:25 pm

    My best car packing tip is to label baggage so that you don’t have to dig thru everything when you need certain items.

  48. Rust says

    Friday, August 19, 2016 at 8:07 pm

    My best car packing tip is to use my roof rack to carry the bulk of stuff.

  49. Dawn Monroe says

    Friday, August 19, 2016 at 7:26 pm

    My tip is to have everyone help and if possible wash clothes there so you can unpack clean clothes at home.

  50. heather s says

    Friday, August 19, 2016 at 6:51 pm

    Pack the stuff you will need immediately last so it is the first thing you take out of the car. That makes it more convenient.

  51. Jessica To says

    Friday, August 19, 2016 at 3:58 pm

    My tip is to keep lists from previous trips of what to take. If you didn’t use it last year at the beach, don’t pack it this year.

  52. Elena says

    Friday, August 19, 2016 at 11:35 am

    my tip is don’t pack too much stuff, write a list and stick to it

  53. HS says

    Friday, August 19, 2016 at 11:24 am

    My best car-packing trip is our recent camping trip in Yosemite. I use car packing checklist and pack light to stay organized.

  54. Julie Wood says

    Friday, August 19, 2016 at 11:11 am

    My best road packing tip is to bring one big suitcase per person and make them take care of it. Find out what you need to take for your road trip before you go.

  55. mami2jcn says

    Friday, August 19, 2016 at 11:00 am

    We pack the heavy items into the car first.

  56. Cheryl says

    Friday, August 19, 2016 at 8:01 am

    Go up! Roof racks and cargo carriers can hold an additional 75 to 250 pounds of baggage.

  57. susan says

    Thursday, August 18, 2016 at 2:50 pm

    To help with road trips, I like to pack as light as I can, it is tough buy we can do it.

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