Roadtrip Must-Haves: Traveling with kids and a dog

We do a lot of road trips. My parents live on the other side of the mitten, and we also head up north to our lake house. Both are about 2.5–3.5 hours in the car — which wouldn’t be bad if it were just me and my husband. Add two kids (8 and 6) who get car sick if they look at a screen for more than 30 seconds, and our 75-pound black lab, Raider, and suddenly it’s… a production.

Over time, we’ve figured out what actually makes these drives tolerable. Some of this is obvious, some is trial-and-error, and some comes from me refusing to pull over at gas stations just to buy overpriced snacks.

What We Pack for the Dog

Raider is a champ in the car. He usually just sleeps, but we still make sure he’s set:

• Snacks – He gets a rawhide. Watching kids crunch through food while you get nothing would be cruel.

• Platform + blanket – Our truck has a crew cab, so we use this platform between the seats. It gives him an actual space to stretch out instead of sliding into the footwell.

• Poop bags + treats – He gets a treat for "parking" (this is his command for pooping or peeing), and we make sure we leave no trace.

Collapsible water bowl – If we’re stopped for longer than a few minutes, we give him water.

What We Pack for the Kids

Screens aren’t an option, and they never nap, so we’ve had to get creative.

• Snack bags – Each kid fills a brown bag before we leave. I check them, because otherwise someone would pack nothing but gummies, but it saves arguments and gas station runs.

• Water bottles – Cold water in decent bottles.

• Coloring books + markers – I like the no-mess kind. We’ve had enough “oops, I drew on the seatbelt” moments.

• Magnetic bead art – Keeps them busy without pieces all over the floor.

• Car ride bingo – My kids made their own and somehow it stuck.

• Custom playlist – They each add songs, which saves me from referee duty over the radio.

• Car seat organizer – Not my favorite design, but with the dog in the middle it’s our best option.

• Magnetic blocks + tray – Small builds keep them busy.

• How-to drawing book – Easy win.

• Stuffy/pillow – Just in case the impossible happens and someone actually naps.

• Baby wipes – Will I ever stop carrying these? Probably not.

What I Pack for Me

Because let’s be honest, I’m the one who needs to keep it together.

• Mini trash bin – Snack wrappers multiply fast.

• Car sick bags – A must, unfortunately.

• My own snack + drink – If I don’t pack this, I end up cranky.

This is the stuff that actually earns its place in the car. Everyone’s fed, no one’s melting down (well, usually), and Raider has his spot. That’s about as close to “smooth” as a family road trip gets.