Road Trip Sanity Savers For Parents Traveling With Kids + Free Printable

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #RoadTripOil #CollectiveBias I get excited for family road trips. It’s the chance to get away, see new places, and explore together. Slowly but surely, we’re checking states off of our map. We’ve visited beaches, deserts, theme parks, farms, and so many other fun places, Some of our road trips are just local ones, but a getaway is a getaway, right?

Getting the Car Ready
Before hitting the road, there are some things I always need to do to prepare. I made a stop at Walmart a couple of weeks ago to shop for some road trip necessities and noticed a Rollback sign at the Automotive Care Center. Did you know many Walmart locations had these? They’re open 7 days a week, too. How convenient! Right now, through September 28, you can get an oil change with Pennzoil® High Mileage Vehicle® motor oil for $35.88. (It’s on Rollback from $39.88) Since my car has over 75,000 miles on it, most likely from all of the road trippin’, that’s what kind I need to get. If you’re not sure which one you need, the Automotive Care Center Manager can help you when you’re there. Pennzoil® High Mileage Vehicle® motor oil helps clean out the sludge lesser oils leave behind, while helping to reduce leaks and oil consumption in worn or higher mileage engines. It’s a motor oil specifically designed for new or late model vehicles with over 75,000 miles, with the mission of keeping engines running clean and going strong. If your vehicle has less than 75,000 miles on it, you’ll want to Stocking up the Car
Once my car was all set and had the oil changed, I could start packing and gathering things to keep everyone in the car happy. My husband sometimes says I pack a little too much into the car, but I just call it being prepared.

Here are some of the things I never go on a road trip without:

• snacks – both dry snacks and some fresh fruit
• water/other drink options
• a cooler with ice, to keep in the back
• plastic sandwich bags or plastic cups – for serving snacks to the kids
• baby wipes – I use these for everything. Trust me, you need these on your trip!
• a roll (or two) of toilet paper
• tissue
• a first aid kit
• Ibuprofin –  for adults and kids
• allergy medicine – you just never know if you’ll need this
• extra towels
• blankets

I know some of these things seem like you’d never forget to bring them, but I’ve seen so many people trying to buy some of these items at rest stops or gas stations in the middle of nowhere and either they don’t carry them or they’re really expensive. Hopefully this list will help you before your next road trip. Kid-Friendly Road Trip Activities 
I was trying to find things to occupy the kids, that would help save my sanity. I was also attempting to find things that don’t involve technology, although I know it’s inevitably going to come out at some point on the trip. The thought of a road trip can sometimes be so ideal in your head, before you actually get on the road, but hearing things like, “How many more minutes?” or “Are we almost there?” from the little people in the backseat, can drive you nuts! I sometimes think kids must teach each other these phrases because they all seem to say it. In “the olden days”, when I was a kid, our options included: staring out the window or playing the license plate game. I wanted to be a little more creative than that. I suppose this version of “Road Trip BINGO” is just a modernized version of the license plate game, except I’ve upped the game…I added a prize! They have one card to share, which is supposed to promote “working together” and when they get “BINGO”, they get to choose where we stop for our next treat. Seems like a win-win for me, don’t you think? I printed two different cards, so they could play again on the way home! I figure it’ll buy me at least a little bit of time without having to hear those annoying questions. Check out my two favorite parts on the BINGO game. I circled them for you! 

You can print out your own copy of these free printable here. I suggest printing it on white cardstock.

Do you have any special road trip tips that you like to use when traveling with kids? Share with me in the comments! Happy Road Trippin’!

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