Holiday Road Trip Must-Haves for December Adventures

Now that visiting with friends and family during the holidays is once again an option, the holiday road trip is back! Whether your travels will take a few hours or several days, a little planning can mean the difference between an enjoyable adventure and a holiday nightmare. Successfully heading out on the highway starts with a bit of preparation. Review these helpful road trip must-haves as you make your list and check it twice for an enjoyable journey!

Holiday Road Trip Must-Haves

Busy Kids=Happy Passengers

Keeping the kids happy on a long drive goes a long way to making the trip smooth. Pack a few treats for the kids, whether it’s a new book, art supplies and a drawing pad, a travel version of a game or a new app on their device. A pillow, blanket, and personal snack bag and water bottle for each kid will make them feel cozy and happy. Find a simple road trip game you can all play together. Make sure charging cords are packed. Pro tip: get each kid slide-on shoes they can easily slip into for restroom stops, then remove while riding in the car.

Pets are Family Too

If you are traveling with your pets, pack all of their food and accessories so your furry friend is comfortable on the journey. That may be a bed or crate with a comfy blanket inside, food and water, dishes, leashes and collars, toys and treats. Plan for where your pet will ride in the vehicle and where they will stay when you arrive. If you are not taking your pets with you, arrange for a pet sitter or boarding as soon as possible – these services book quickly during the holidays.

Vehicle Upkeep

Take care of any necessary maintenance in the weeks leading up to your trip. Top off your fluids and make sure your tires are in good condition and properly inflated, especially if you may be driving through snowy or icy areas. Pack the essential safety items, such as jumper cables and flares (and if you don’t have a roadside assistance plan, this is a great time to get one). A wash and interior detailing will make the trip more pleasant.

Don’t Leave Home Without Snacks

Pack food that will give you the energy you need for the long drive. Avoid junky or sugary snacks that will provide you with a temporary boost, then send you crashing into sluggishness (especially if you’re driving). Protein bars, cheese sticks, beef sticks, nuts, fruit or sandwiches are all good choices. Also, keep plenty of water available, within close reach to you or your passenger, so you can easily stay hydrated.

Gifts on Board

In addition to preparing for a road trip, you are also prepping for the holidays, which means bringing gifts and food with you. If you are exchanging gifts with people you’re visiting, get your shopping done early to give yourself time to wrap presents and pack them for traveling. Clear plastic tubs with lids are a great choice for storing items, keeping them intact and easily identifying what’s inside.

Entertainment Options

When asked about road trip must-haves for making the miles tick by faster, a great story wins every time. Select your entertainment in advance. Pick an audiobook that’s appropriate for all the passengers in the car and invite them to listen in (they will most likely all have earbuds if they would rather listen to something else). Create a playlist of upbeat music to help you stay peppy. Or pick a podcast to binge-listen on the drive.

An Extra Overnight Bag

If you are staying at hotels along the way to your destination, pack a small overnight bag and keep it easily accessible. This way, you can take what you need with you into your room instead of unpacking your whole car or wrestling a giant suitcase into your room when all you really need is a toothbrush, toiletries, nightclothes and something to wear the next day.

A Survival Kit

Pack a “road trip survival kit” with the items that will make your journey go as smooth, comfortable and tidy as possible. This is an assortment of easily-overlooked items that will make your trip smoother, more enjoyable and cleaner, including paper towels, tissues, wet wipes, hand sanitizer, face masks, a small kitchen knife (choose one in a sheath) to slice apples or cheese on the go, clips to close snack bags, plastic cups to serve snacks on the go, such as popcorn or snack mixes, and small plastic bags to use for trash. Remember your COVID-19 vaccination cards, too – some places may require them for entry.

The Right Attitude

You are not alone in your holiday travels. You are likely to encounter traffic, delays, unexpected situations and moments of exhaustion or frustration. It’s quite possible you will experience short staffing at hotels and restaurants as you stop along the way, so build a little more margin in your schedule and bring some extra patience and goodwill on your travels. Your mood, good or bad, will be contagious to everyone around you, especially the others traveling in your car. Be kind, patient and remember to enjoy the holidays.

Be sure to check out The Protocol School of Texas. For more road trip must-haves, you may also like The Perfect Holiday Road Trip. Read Diane’s posts on Inc., subscribe to her articles on The Huffington Post, “like” The Protocol School of Texas on Facebook, and follow her on Pinterest, Instagram and Twitter.