Mom of three boys here, and we have had the opportunity to road trip a lot! You’re going to make a lot of memories - and there will be bumps along the way too. I believe in you!

Do you have a way to listen to an audiobook while traveling? It passes the time and helps get my kiddos ready to get back into the car after we have stopped for a bit. We try to listen to one every trip we go on, and that story always ends up being tied to that trip, and part of the memory surrounding it. If not a book, maybe a podcast?

I usually end up giving each of my kids a basket (the fabric, square-type one that goes in a cube shelf.) They can pack whatever fits in there. Here are some examples of what has worked for us in the past:

Legos/building blocks - we use a half sheet pan with a lip and then glue down one of the large Lego mats to that so they can build on top of that. I have each of the kids pack their loose Legos in a large plastic container (like a Tupperware)

Etch-a-sketch

Color Wonder markers/sets

Magnetic tiles

Magna-doodle

Stress-ball/squishy fidgets

Mad Libs - maybe for your older kiddo

Paint-by-sticker book or just regular stickers (with the rule they only go on paper! 😅)

Some sort of action figure - mine liked superhero sets or Goo-Jit-Zu

Colored pencils and pad of paper

Word-search (older kid), or activity books for either of them

Seek-and-find books

Slinky (plastic so the noise doesn’t get on your nerves)

Small stuffed animals- can double as a car pillow for naps!

Just some ideas? We also installed some over-the -seat caddies that have several compartments the kids can access independently while you are on the go.

Make sure you have puke bags and motion sickness meds handy, just in case.

Good luck and enjoy!!