15 Hacks for Top Notch Summer Road Trips

June 20, 2019 by Aubrey Meister

It's summertime, which means you may be heading out on a road trip soon. Traveling is exciting, but it can be stressful without a little bit of preparation and some helpful tips. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to make your next road trip a success. 

Here are 15 hacks for a top-notch summer road trip! Before heading out on your big adventure, be sure to check out our collection of new travel deals to help you save along the way.

15 Summer Road Trip Hacks

• Make sure your car is in good shape. Do a simple check on your tires, brakes, and oil. Don't forget to check the spare tire too. Of course, fill up your tank before you hit the road.

• Use baking sheets as tray tables. If you have kids, pack a baking sheet for each of them. Eating on these will prevent spills on the seats. Baking sheets are also great for coloring because the edges will keep the crayons from rolling away.

• Buy a charger with plenty of USB ports. Often, cars don't have enough places for everyone to charge their devices. Luckily, you can find car chargers that charge four or more devices at once. This is handy so you can keep using your phone's GPS and your kids can continue playing games or watching shows.

• Consider renting a car. If your car is older or has some issues you can't fix before you leave, think about renting a car. You can rent a car that is more reliable so you have one less thing to worry about. Check out these new Hertz coupon codes to help you save on your rental:

• Have a place to store your shoes. Everyone wants to be comfortable in the car so they take off their shoes. Have your kids stash their shoes in a bag or under the seat so they are easy to find when it's time to make a stop.

• Give your kids a map. To quiet some of the repeated questions, give your child a laminated map with your route highlighted. You can use dry erase markers too.

• Pack snacks in a craft or tackle box. This will give your kids plenty of snacks to choose from. Include a few healthy snacks, like banana chips, crackers, and raisins. For a fun treat, add a couple of cookies or some candy from Old Time Candy too! Try these Old Time Candy coupons when you order:

• Tie a string to your child's sippy cup or favorite toy. You have probably been on a road trip where you can't reach or find your child's belongings on the floor. Simply tie a string around the belonging so that your child can reach it when it inevitably drops.

• Create a car tote. In the tote, keep anything you may need during the road trip. This can include snacks, water bottles, books, and more. Keep it somewhere that is easy to reach.

• Use a plastic cereal container as a mini trash can. Simply place a liner in a cereal container. Now you have a trash can perfect for any road trip.

• Download helpful travel apps. If you're looking for a kid-friendly stop, download Playground Buddy. To find the nearest gas station, use Gasbuddy. For food suggestions, use Yelp.

• Pack a bag of plastic cutlery, napkins, and baby wipes. This will make it easier to eat in the car. You will be ready to prevent some of the messes too.

• Pick out a few new toys to surprise your child with. Your child may get bored with their current toys. Every few hours, hand them a new coloring book or a new toy. Noble Carriage promo codes will help you save on this particular tip:

• Keep your coins organized for tolls. Put all of your coins in an empty plastic gum container or another small box. You don't want to be digging through your cup holders and console as you're approaching the toll booth.

• Hang shoe organizers on the backs of each front seat. Then, your kids can store their books, toys, devices, snacks, water bottles, and more. They can easily reach everything they need and nothing should end up on the floor.