Based on the Great Thanksgiving Drive of '24, which we barely survived. Everything here earned its place.
- For the humans
Snacks that aren't messy
No yogurt. No oranges. No pretzels that will become dust.
Two water bottles per person
Towel for any emergency
Change of clothes per kid in a SEPARATE bag
So you're not digging through the trunk at a rest stop.
Tablets charged + downloaded content
One analog thing per kid
Coloring book, sticker pad, anything screen-free for backup.
- For the dog
Leash + backup leash
Collapsible water bowl
Food for the trip + 1 extra day
Poop bags (so many)
Favorite toy
Towel in case of muddy rest stop
- For the car
Trash bag on the headrest
Phone mount for the driver
Aux cable (in case someone's Bluetooth fails)
Quarters in a cup
Tolls, vending machines, apparently still a thing.
Leave 30 minutes earlier than you think. I'm not going to explain why.