17 Summer Travel Hacks To Make Family Vacations Less Stressful

I am a big fan of letting my children choose their own clothes to wear, most days of the year. When we travel, though? The last thing I want is to be rooting through our luggage to find a pair of leggings for my daughter. Instead, I put together full outfits, complete with socks and underwear and put each outfit in a small plastic bag (think Ziploc or produce bags), so that I can just grab a bag without thinking, when we get to our destination.

This doesn't need to be anything bigger than a coloring book from the dollar store, or an inexpensive toy car. The point is the novelty of it, which will generally keep your kids interested for longer than their old standbys.

Every kid I know loves a tasty yogurt drink, but have you ever tried to clean that stuff up, when it spills? Instead, aim for cucumbers, carrots, grapes, and apples (all sliced to bite-size, for safety), which won't get too juicy or messy if they get a bit squished during travel. Homemade or prepackaged granola bars also make a great choice, as the protein, fiber and touch of sweetness combine to make a filling snack.

Giving them the choice (and perhaps padding things out with a few extra things you think they might want), gives them a bit more control, and will hopefully lead to fewer meltdowns on the road.

If your kids are old enough, packing games that involve spotting things as you drive can keep them entertained for hours. Think "I Spy With My Little Eye" or travel Bingo that you can download and print.

I am all for limiting screen time and filling my kids' days with the activities that I grew up with, but if there's ever a time to load up on games, apps, and shows or movies for your kid, road trips are it.

I'm pretty sure this doesn't need any explanation. Because silence.

Pack a bag full of things like a favorite stuffed animal, a book or two, coloring book, crayons, and a few other small activities, and they can have fun rummaging through the bag, as well as having one place to return everything to, when they finished with each activity.

Spills happen. Don't leave yourself with the task of trying to unpack the trunk to root around in one of your bags for a clean shirt or pair of underwear. Keep a set of everything within arm's reach.

Kids love variety, right? So grab an inexpensive craft organizer and fill it with snacks like raisins, cashews, sliced grapes, cheerios and crackers.

Even if your kid stopped wearing diapers ages ago, always bring baby wipes. They are the Swiss Army knife of the parenting world.

Clearly, you don't want to have to deal with a soaking wet car seat, should an accident happen (which, let's be honest here, is entirely possible), but you don't want to stop every 20 minutes either, or take a step backwards and have your kid back in a diaper. The solution? Put the pull-up on over their underwear, so that they can still feel if they've wet themselves, but the car seat is saved.

Kids get frustrated with trying to color on their laps, plus crayons and markers end up falling onto the floor. Bring along a cookie tray so that they have their own little desk to set things on. Plus, you can pack a magnetic alphabet for added fun.

At some point, your kid is going to be bored with everything they brought in the car. The blog Frugal Living NW notes that you have a few bonus bags ready to surprise your kids with, and avoid another potential meltdown.

You can find stories aimed at younger children on sites like Audible (you can even get your first month free!), and you can also look for podcasts such as Storynory and Brains On! for older kids.

Cultivated Living offered a tip to count down to your arrival that I may have to use on my next trip. Not only does it entertain kids, but it keeps them from asking "are we there yet?" a million times.