24 Road Trip Essentials for Toddlers [2024 Edition]
A family car ride is always much more fun for us if we have packed all of our road trip essentials for toddlers. Because, let’s face it: if the toddlers are happy everyone is happy.
So, what should you bring? The best travel items for toddlers are those that work for your family or are already a part of your day to day routine.
Think snack containers, water bottles, toys, etc. While “new” can sometimes be more exciting, we have found it is less stressful to bring things our toddlers already know how to use independently.
[Frustration with a new electronic or snack container is sometimes more stressful than not having one at all.]
We broke our list into categories to help you find what you’re looking for. These toddler road trip survival categories are as follows: best gear for car travel with toddlers, snack essentials, entertainment, and some “honorable mention” items.
Best Travel Items for Toddlers in the Car
The items in this category make riding in the car with a toddler more convenient. After all, the best travel items for toddlers are those that help them be independent and enjoy their ride (so that you can enjoy yours)!
Car Seat Travel Tray
A car seat travel tray is one of the best travel items for toddlers and young kids. These trays fit on top of the car seat and helps organize a variety of things.
Lusso is our favorite brand of car accessories! We personally own seat protectors and seat organizers made by Lusso, in addition to the travel tray.
The travel tray includes a dry erase surface, multiple storage compartments, a tablet holder, and a secure strap to attach the tray to the carseat.
Car Sunshade
We have tried a few different types of sun shades over the past few years. The retractable shades did not work well for our family because they kept losing suction.
We also did not care for the black out shades because they make it hard to see out of the window.
The enovoe sun shades, however, use static cling to attach to windows! They are 21×14 and fit most car windows while blocking 97% of UV rays.
Toddler Neck Pillow
A toddler neck pillow is a great investment for any car trip that involves some form of sleeping (and for us, that’s all of them).
The Bcozzy neck pillow is specifically designed for toddlers and young kids by providing more support under the chin, which supports the neck.
This is our #1 pick for a toddler neck pillow!
Looking for more options? Check out our post on the best travel pillows for kids!
Insulated Cooler Bag
This is not one of the most obvious road trip essentials for toddlers, but hear me out. A soft cooler bag is a must!
Refrigerated snacks and drinks, especially for beach trips, fit conveniently in these insulated cooler bags. It also allows you to pack a road trip lunch.
Plus, a soft outer shell allows it to be positioned anywhere: between seats, in the floor board, or in between luggage bags.
The Lifewit collapsible cooler bag comes in three sizes (we like the jumbo) and two colors.
Portable Diaper Changing Pad
A portable diaper changing pad is definitely something we take with us on every toddler car ride, whether long or short.
The Keababies changing pad is designed for up to age 3 but could definitely be used for older ages as well.
It is waterproof and folds very neatly. We prefer this type of changing pad instead of the kind that include diapers and wipes. We always have those things on hand anyways and do not need them wrapped up in the pad also.
It is very affordable and packs in any bag or purse!
Car Seat Organizer
We have already mentioned Lusso gear once, but let me reiterate. This brand is made to last!
We love these kick mats! They perfectly organize all of the essentials needed for a toddler road trip to keep them out of the floorboard.
Please note: Toddlers cannot reach these organizers from their car seats. However, parents can attach them to the back of their seats and easily access all of the items.
They are waterproof, machine washable, include 4 large mesh pockets, and come in 5 colors.
Travel Potty
I think we can all agree that this is a great thing to have for car travel with toddlers, no matter the length of the ride.
This OXO Tot 2-in-1 Go Potty converts from a toilet seat to an actual travel potty. Just attach a disposable bag to the seat!
It is perfect for urgent bathroom breaks that pop up in between gas station stops.
It is easy to clean, easy to pack, and works well for boys and girls!
Looking for more options? Check out our post on the best travel potty and toilet seat for kids!
First Aid Kit
A first-aid kit is a must-have for travel in general, but especially for travel with kids.
We like the Swiss Safe kit because the items are high quality and the Swiss Safe name is a trusted brand. There are cheaper kits with more pieces but the quality is questionable.
Snacking Road Trip Essentials for Toddlers
This category includes all things eating and drinking. We travel with older toddlers and younger toddlers so we have included all of the snacking road trip essentials for toddlers of any age!
Insulated No-Spill Sippy Cup
A no-spill sippy cup is truly one of the best travel items for toddlers under the age of three.
The Munchkin Miracle 360 Insulated cup is perfect for warm or cold drinks and it is truly no-spill.
We own the plastic and stainless steel varieties and LOVE them! Perfect for little hands learning to use a cup.
It comes in three colors: blue, pink, and green.
Water Bottle
We recommend transitioning from a sippy cup to a water bottle between ages 2 and 3. Our kids at three years old have done really well with these!
The Yeti Rambler Jr. it leak-proof, sweat-proof, and shatter-proof. We really love the handle on this water bottle! It is perfectly positioned for little hands.
This 12oz water bottle comes in 8 fun colors! It has has an easy to open mouthpiece and is the perfect size for little hands.
Snacks
SNACKS! This is really how we survive any trip in the car. We bring mostly dry snacks in the car (because smushed grapes in between the seats are gross) and water (no explanation needed).
We usually hand out small amounts of snacks about once per hour unless we are getting close to eating an actual meal.
Have you tried Crunchables? They are delicious and are a perfect road trip snack for kids! They are made up of dried apple and banana pieces. Clean eating and easy clean up.
My Travel Tray
Guys. The My Travel Tray is perfect for kiddos. The base of the tray fits into car seat cup holders to provide a tray that holds a drink and snacks.
My Travel Tray is perfect if your toddler needs something small to hold their snacks while they play with a toy or “read” a book.
The tray itself is about 6 inches wide. It could theoretically hold a small lunch but is definitely designed for snacks.
My Travel Tray comes in 6 fun colors and is BPA free. It also comes with 2 adapter pieces to ensure it fits in your child’s car seat cup holder.
Snack Catcher
If you road trip with a 2 year old then you know that a snack catcher is a must have. Bonus points-these have lids, which keep crumbs in and keep the snacks fresh!
The WeeSprout snack catchers are made of food-grade silicone and are sturdy yet soft. Perfect for little hands!
They are about 3.5 inches wide and come in 6 color combinations.
Reusable snack bags
We buy most of our snacks in full-sized containers because they are cheaper/last longer. So, we divide them up in these awesome reusable snack bags that we, well, re-use throughout the trip!
Stasher makes an awesome silicone reusable food bag that is easy to clean and open/close.
It comes in a variety of sizes and colors, and they even offer a starter kit!
Snack container/Snack tackle box
Have you tried a snackle box?! This idea is definitely for older toddlers or kids who can follow directions and portion control.
A snackle box has a variety of snacks packed in different compartments and allows the kids to choose. You can actually fit a whole days worth of snacks in there!
We bought this set so that our older kids would each have their own color. Note: the grids are removable so wet/leaky food is not recommended.
Toddler Road Trip Entertainment
Toddler road trip entertainment is anything that helps mom and dad keep their sanity. Car travel with toddlers means lots of potty breaks, lots of snacks, and lots of entertainment. Below are some of our favorites!
Travel Toys
We have some tried and true activities we take with us on any toddler car ride. The first thing on that list is books! Regular, turn-the-page, read upside down, books. We actually keep a basket of books in the car at all times and just refresh/update about once per week.
We also have a basket of toys that genuinely travel well, so we keep them put away to make them more enticing during a road trip.
To see a list of awesome toys for any toddler car ride, check out our post!
Kids’ Kindle Fire
Our family is still pretty young so my toddlers are not independent tablet users yet. But, I know some families do not travel without a kid-proof tablet!
Option 1: Fire 7 Kids – 16 GB
This is the cheapest option out there for a kids tablet! The Amazon Fire 7 Kids comes with a 2-year guarantee, kid-proof case with built-in stand, 1-year access to Amazon+ kids content, a 7″ display, 10 hours of battery life, and easy parental controls.
This is the most affordable option for a kids’ tablet and is designed for ages 3-7.
Option 2: Fire HD 8 Kids – 32 or 64 GB
The Fire HD 8 is the middle option, price-wise. This is a great tablet for toddlers! It features an 8″ screen, 13 hours of battery life, and the same Amazon+ access, kid-proof case, 2-year guarantee and parental controls that are featured in the Fire 7 (the older model).
It also comes with two solid color choices and two theme choices for the case. The storage options on this Fire include 32 or 64 GB of digital storage, 2 GB of RAM and up to 1TB of expandable storage.
Option 3: Fire HD 10 -32 GB
The Fire HD 10 Kids offers the largest screen and the most advanced graphics in a tablet for younger kids. The Fire HD 10 features a 10.1″ screen, 1080p full HD, 3GB RAM, dual cameras, and a screen made with aluminosilicate glass.
This tablet is the most comparable Fire Kids tablet to an iPad, but is designed specifically with kids in mind unlike the iPad.
There are three purchase options: the tablet, the tablet + backpack, and the tablet + bluetooth keyboard.
Tablet Holder
For those of us traveling in vehicles that do not have built-in screens, a tablet holder is a must for long road trips. There are three different kinds of tablet holders and we have highlighted our favorite in each category below!
Macally Car Headrest Mount
For families with a shared device, this tablet holder is for you! The headrest mount securely attaches to one headrest and extends the tablet to the center of the viewers.
This is perfect two (or three) kids to watch the same movie/show. It works very similarly to a drop down, ceiling DVD player but it is mounted to the headrest instead, making it eye level.
This tablet holder does not work for multiple rows of children! It can only be seen by the viewers sitting directly in front of it because of the level it is mounted at. I.e. kids in the third row cannot see a tablet mounted in the second row.
This tablet mount is adjustable and works for all tablets, phones, and devices.
FANGOR Car Headrest Mount with Anti-Slip Strap
This tablet holder is truly designed for tablets ranging in size from 7-12.9 inches. Note: It will not work for a phone!
The unique design includes anti-slip straps that are flexible yet secure. They stretch around the four corners of the tablet to hold it in place. This allows the tablet to be mounted to the headrest (rather than the headrest supports) which puts the tablet at eye level for taller kids, or above eye level for younger children.
The headrest mounting strap uses velcro to quickly and securely attach to any headrest! It is also thin and foldable so it can be stored in a seat pocket when not in use.
Lamicall Tablet Headrest Holder
The Lamicall Headrest Holder works for any device between 4 and 10.7 inches wide, making it a great choice for phones or tablets. It supports all major phones and tablets!
The connectors are retractable so they can adjust to varying widths of headrest posts. Simply push them towards each other, position the holder in between the headrest posts, and release the connectors. They will expand to fit the width of your headrest.
Please note: in order for this holder to work, the distance between your car headrest posts should be 5.1-5.9 inches. It will NOT work in these cars: Honda Odyssey/Pilot, Subaru Forester/Cross trek/Outback, Mazda CX5, Chevy Traverse, 2007 Toyota Prius, 011 Infiniti QX56v, Audi Q7 (2018).
Headphones / Headphone Splitter
Just in case you do not want to hear The Jungle Book on repeat, a pair of headphones is a great investment to go along with the tablet mounted to the back of your seat!
Snug Play+ Kids Headphones
There are a TON of headphones out there for kids. We love these Snug headphones for a few reasons.
First, they are volume-limited! Even turned all the way up, they can never reach a damaging noise level.
Second, they are designed with toddlers in mind! They are specifically made to fit kids ages 3-8 (made possible by the adjustable head band) and the padding is super comfy.
They also offer audio sharing, meaning one pair of headphones can connect to another pair of headphones that is already connected to a device. Both listeners can hear the same audio without a headphone splitter.
The Snug Play+ headphones come in 24 different colors/designs to choose from and have over 18,000 5-star reviews!
Syncwire Headphone Splitter
A headphone splitter is perfect for kiddos who share a tablet. If you have one device mounted in your car, the headphone splitter will allow the audio to travel through two different pairs of headphones.
Honorable Mention Road Trip Essentials for Toddlers
Essential is a loose word these days. We think essentials are things that make your trip as smooth as possible with toddlers. For us, that makes them necessary because we need to have a smooth trip.
There are also some “added bonus” road trip essentials for toddlers that are not necessary for a smooth ride, but they can definitely come in handy! See our list of honorable mentions below.
Toddler Suitcase
Does a toddler need his/her own luggage? Nope. Is it more fun? Absolutely! It has also helped teach our children how to be more independent with packing, which I am all for.
There are a ton of options for toddler luggage including ride-on suitcases, duffel bags, backpacks, and rolling luggage.
See our complete list of toddler suitcases here to choose the best option for your kid(s)!
Plastic Bags / Diaper Disposal Bags
We always keep plastic bags of some kind in our car. More often than not, we reuse plastic grocery bags that we keep in the back pocket of our seats. However, it does sometimes come in handy to have an actual diaper disposal bag when changing a stinky diaper.
Ubbi On The Go Bag Dispenser + Refills
The Ubbi on the Go diaper disposal kit is perfect for changing diapers on the go. It conveniently secures to any bag and dispenses durable, lavender scented bags.
We use these quite often to hold diapers or even smelly food in the car until we can get to the nearest trash can. They also help mask the smell!
This kit includes one dispenser and 5 rolls of refill bags (60 count total).
Toddler Travel Bed
Though a travel bed does not help your car ride, it can definitely make your road trip home more successful by promoting some good sleep at your destination!
Toddler travel beds range from collapsible cots to inflatable mattresses to bed rails.
See our complete toddler travel bed list here to choose the best one for your toddler(s)!
Laundry Bag (for dirty clothes)
A laundry bag is not one of the most important travel must haves for toddlers, but it is a great accessory for their dirty clothes!
Toddlers are generally pretty messy so it helps to have a designated place to put all of their dirty laundry.
Is a laundry bag necessary? No, it really is not. But does it make re-packing the car easier? Yes, it absolutely does.
These bags are HUGE (3.5 feet tall), come in a variety of colors, and comes as a 2-pack.
What are your best travel items for toddlers?
Let us know! We love to update our list and help parents survive these trips. Happy traveling!
