For our 12-day family road trip through Germany, Austria, and Italy, we packed with purpose — aiming to stay light, organized, and kid-ready. Below is our full list of what we packed and the DIY tricks and clever hacks we used to keep the trip smooth and stress-free.
✅ What We Packed for the Kids:
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6–7 outfits each (rolled to save space in cubes)
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Lightweight jackets, raincoats, and sun hats
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Swimwear and water shoes for hotel pools
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A portable toddler travel bed (DIY tip below!)
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Travel blanket and white noise app
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Activity bag with:
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Coloring books
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Sticker sheets
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Magnetic puzzles
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Tablet loaded with games, cartoons, and offline YouTube playlists
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DIY road trip reward kit (details below!)
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Reusable spill-proof water bottles + snack bento box
DIY Road Trip Hacks & Unique Ideas
DIY Portable Bed Hack
We used a foldable travel mattress + fitted cot sheet, paired with rolled towels as bed bumpers. It worked perfectly in hotels and Airbnb stays where extra beds weren’t available.
DIY Road Trip Reward Kit
Before the trip, we packed a small gift bag with:
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Dollar-store toys
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Surprise stickers
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Lollipops
Every 2–3 hours or after long stretches of good behavior, they got to “unwrap a surprise”. It kept them excited and gave them something to look forward to.
Activity Box Hack
Each kid had a plastic art supply box with:
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Twistable crayons
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Mini puzzle cards
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Post-it notes to decorate the windows
Travel Wipes Station
We placed a small plastic container with a lid between the car seats filled with:
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Baby wipes
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Napkins
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Plastic bags for trash
What We Packed for Health & Safety:
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Compact first-aid kit:
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Kids’ fever and allergy meds
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Motion sickness drops
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Band-aids, antiseptic cream
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Sunscreen, bug spray
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Thermometer
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Hand sanitizer and wipes
Road Trip Gear We Brought:
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Car seat + booster seat
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Foldable stroller
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Small cooler for snacks
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Trash bin + paper towels
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Power banks and cables
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Printable maps (in case GPS failed)
Adult Packing List:
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4–5 casual outfits
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Dressier clothing for dinners
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Sneakers + sandals
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Toiletries + laundry pods
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Sunglasses, hats, ponchos
Unique Lessons from the Road:
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The reward bag worked wonders for long drives.
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DIY bed setup saved us at least 3 nights in hotels that didn’t provide extras.
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Offline maps were a lifesaver in mountainous areas.
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Keeping one empty duffel bag helped with laundry and souvenirs.