Top 10 Family Road Trip Checklist — Don’t Forget Back Seat Kick Mats

Hitting the road for a family trip? Road trips make for amazing memories with the family, but they can leave behind a big mess. Here is a checklist to help you make the most of your family road trip while minimizing the mess.
1. Start off clean
It may feel fruitless to give your car’s interior a good cleaning before a long road trip, but it will set the tone for the trip. Wipe down the interior, shake off the floor mats, and get everything feeling fresh and clean. It will add to the overall organization.
2. Get organized
Nothing is worse than fumbling around for the things you need while you drive. Make sure everything you will need is easy to reach. And for the kids, invest in car seat organizers that can hold all their toys, books, and activities.
3. Give them something to do
Speaking of things for the kids, make sure they have plenty of options to keep them entertained. From iPads to books and toys to games, organize it within their reach so they can choose something they want to interact with.
4. Pack minimal-mess snacks
Kids always get hungry on the road and you can’t stop every time they do. Choose snacks that, if spilled, are easy to clean up. That way you won’t have a coronary every time you hear an “Oops!”
5. Cover the seats
Seat covers are an essential interior car accessory and an outstanding way to further prevent problematic messes from taking hold on the seats underneath your children, whether they sit in car seats, boosters, or are big enough to sit in the seat themselves. They can be easily removed for washing after the trip and your upholstery stays clean and damage-free.
6. Use Kick Mats
Protect your seatbacks from kicking feet, whether they’re kicking out of joy as they sing along to their favorite songs or they’re taking out their rage that you didn’t stop at McDonald’s. Car Kick Mats, like the ones Smiinky makes, are durable, washable and provide protection from the wear and tear kids put on your seatbacks. Don’t let dirty, muddy shoes ruin you interior again, or even smudgy chocolate-covered fingers. Kick Mats prevent costly and unsightly damage.
7. Bring plenty of wipes
Wipes aren’t just good for cleaning up untidy bottoms and sticky hands. They’re also good for cleaning the car and keeping it fresh inside.
8. Get a trash can or bag
One of the things that leads to the biggest messes is having nowhere to dispose of trash. When there’s nowhere to put it, it often winds up on the floor. Use a mini-trash can, a trash bag, or using your Kick Mats with an organizer, stow a small plastic cup with a plastic bag inside to serve as a backseat trash can.
9. Always bring first aid
You hope you never need it but taking along a first aid kit filled with bandages, OTC relievers for headaches and tummies, and ointments is a smart plan. It also saves you the need to overspend on those items at gas stations where they’re marked up the most.
10. Jump ropes, balls and other active gear
On long road trips, taking a break to stretch your legs is important, but it’s even more important for the kids. Being cooped up in the car is difficult for them. Bring these kinds of active items so they can burn off energy at your next rest stop. As an added bonus, it may tucker them out enough to make them sleep through the rest of the ride.