We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
1. A travel urinal for when you can't get to a bathroom in time during a roadtrip and your toddler is squirming in their car seat.
Promising review: "I purchased this for my son and our long car trips. How many times can we pull over to potty on a three-and-a-half-hour car trip? Ask my 4-year-old. When I saw this, I couldn't resist. We brought it along and when he had to pee, no problem. It's only a little gross when you dump it later. Well designed, definitely recommend." —Evan
Get it from Amazon for $9.79+ (available in two styles and various colors).
2. A kids' travel table so your child will have an all-in-one entertainment table to keep everything they'll want in arms reach on your next long drive. This has a tablet viewing stand, a cup holder, a dry-erase board, and storage pockets for art supplies or small toys. It also can double as an eating tray.
Promising review: "Literal must-have for traveling with kids. We use this on long car trips or vacations. It’s a great place to color and keep markers and pencils close and it's also great for eating in the car. Many vacations we grab fast food to eat while we are driving and it’s so much easier for the kids to eat with this tray that keeps all their snacks and food close to them. I honestly don’t know how we traveled without this!" —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $28.95+ (available in 10 colors/styles).
3. And a backseat car organizer that'll provide extra storage and space to pack activities, snacks, and anything your kiddo could need during your next family trip. It has pockets for days and even one large enough to hold a tablet.
Promising review: "This was so useful for vacation! The straps will fit a variety of seats, material is very sturdy (the kids really put it to the test!), and it holds so much! My only complaint is that the pockets were too narrow for a water bottle, but they were perfect for holding markers, crayons, small snacks, and coloring books. We were able to remove it from the seat with all materials still in it and hang it on a chair in the hotel room for kids to have their supplies there, too." —LeaM
Get it from Amazon for $11.99 (also available in a two-pack).
4. Scented bags with a dispenser so you won't have to panic when you have to pull over to change your baby's diaper and there isn't a bathroom or trash can nearby. These are infused with baking soda and a lavender scent to cover up odor until you can toss it, and the dispenser attaches conveniently to your diaper bag.
Promising review: "Just got back from vacation and these little bags were a lifesaver. They are big enough to hold a couple of diapers and garbage if needed. Suggest it to any one with an infant of toddler. The dispenser fits perfectly in the diaper bag." —Turtle
Get a dispenser with 24 bags from Amazon for $4.39 (also available with larger amounts of refill packs).
5. A portable power bank charger — now you won't have to freak out when your battery is low and your toddler needs their mid-afternoon Cocomelon fix, but there's no outlet in sight.
Promising review: "I purchased two of these for my family prior to a vacation so that all five of us at anytime had access to charging a phone, tablet or camera. I fully charged both of them prior to the trip. While on vacation, we used them a few times and charge indicator lights never once changed below four (maximum charge). Fast-forward six months later, and both still had what seemed to be a full charge, i.e.: four lights. My wife and son took one with them to a baseball game. When they returned they told me they had recharged an Apple iPhone 6S three times; the charge indicator lights on the unit are at three out of four. Now I feel the need to buy several more." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $25.98+ (available in two colors).
6. An amigurumi crochet kit so your child will be too occupied learning how to create an adorable dino to even notice how long the drive is. This set comes with step-by-step instructions and everything they'll need to learn a new hobby and create their own crochet masterpiece.
The Woobles is an Asian-owned small business whose mission is to make crocheting easy and accessible.
This kit might be best for older kids. New to crocheting? Don't worry, kits can be chosen by difficulty level and there are a lot of kits for beginners. And you can get help virtually or over email if you get stuck.
Promising review: "I am a true beginner and found this pattern very easy to follow. I really love the video explanations. Can’t wait to make more!" —K.S.
Get it from The Woobles for $25+ (available with or without a hook and in more animals here).
7. An Animal Island "Sit & Play" preschool learning system that'll come in handy because not only will it entertain your toddler, but it's also educational. It comes preloaded with 60 stories, 25 sing-alongs, and 20 lullabies at no additional cost!
Recommend for ages 1 and up.
Promising review: "This was a Christmas gift for my 13 month old. I bought this blindly and I’m so glad I did. We have used the tablet a dozen times for 30-60 minutes a day and it may just be chance, but I feel my son is comprehending the material. Also, my son has never been a fan of long car rides until we started traveling with the learning tablet. It’s a game changer." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $219+ (available with or without a book).
8. A splurge-worthy felt activity book with so many things for your little one to do, they'll never ask, "How much further?" multiple times within 10 minutes. This book has activities to encourage pretend play and teach your little one how to dress themselves.
Kinder Krama is a small business that sells handmade quiet books for children.
Promising review: "This book is incredible. The quality is amazing and it shipped quickly. Everything came exactly as I requested and the detail work on the pages is pure perfection. I can’t wait to give it to my niece, I know she is going to love it!" —toomey125
Get it from Kinder Krama on Etsy for $73.60+ (originally $92+; available various colors/styles and book lengths).
9. A pack of spill-proof Munchkin snack catchers to make it easier for your toddler to snack as much as they want while traveling without getting crumbs all over the place. These genius cups make it easy for your child to get their snacks out without making a mess.
Promising review: "The perfect companion for traveling with a toddler who loves to snack and prefers being independent. I can fit about 12 average-size grapes in it, about 5–6 regular sized cookies, about 8–10 mini cookies, a big handful or small cereal such as Cheerios, and about 10–12 standard Ritz crackers. These estimations are all things that I regularly place in there for him to snack on. Nothing spills out and whatever does come out is whatever he grabs with his hands to get which is amazing. The only thing I would suggest is placing foil or plastic wrap around the mouth of the cup to prevent any of the snack from getting stale from it being exposed. The lid doesn’t fully cover the snack from air exposure. It simply protects the snack from spilling over and promotes child independence." —Antoinette
Get a pack of two from Amazon for $5.99 (available in two color combos, four-packs, and bundles with cups).
10. A set of dry-erase travel games so you and your kiddo will be able to play classic games like Hangman, Tic Tac Toe, Dots and Boxes, and I Spy to keep you both entertained. These game boards are tiny enough to pack, yet huge on fun. They also come with a little bag and marker.
August Fire Designs is a small biz based in Bloomington, Illinois that sells handmade home decor, jewelry, games, and more.
Promising review: "Very cute and aesthetically pleasing kids activity/toy! I bought these for my step-children to have something to do when we travel or go out to eat — that is NOT an electronic!" —Tarah Ferguson
Get a four-pack from August Fire Designs on Etsy for $45 (games also available individually for $10).
11. Or a set of magnetic board games because your fam will be able to play classic board games without the pieces sliding off during a bumpy ride.
This set includes 12 games: Checkers, Chess, Chinese Checkers, Tic Tac Toe, Backgammon, Snakes and Ladders, Solitaire, Nine Men’s Morris, Auto Racing, Ludo, Space Venure and Racing.
Promising reviews: "I loved this product while traveling on the road. With three kids, we needed something to keep them occupied and this did the job well!" —Animal lover
"Got these for the grandsons for a 12-hour drive. They're 14 and 7, and both enjoyed them." —hazel h
Get it from Amazon for $24.99.
12. A kids selfie camera that'll keep your tyke busy as they snap shots of everything they can see out of their window. You can even play an epic game of I-Spy. The best part? You won't have to surrender your phone to your little photographer, only to end up with hundreds of random blurry photos.
Recommend for ages 3 and up.
Promising review: "Hours of fun! This was a hit! There are games to play with the camera... so it makes a great gift for the kids traveling." —Linda Martinez
Get it from Amazon for $33.99+ (available in four colors).
13. A portable white-noise machine because nothing is worse than a fussy and tired toddler who is wayyy overdue for a nap during a long roadtrip. This will help drown out loud noise or unfamiliar sounds so your child will be able to easily drift to sleep and stay asleep pretty much anywhere.
This has four sound options: heartbeat, white noise, ocean, and lullaby.
Promising review: "The battery life alone is amazing. I love the size, perfect for my purse or belt bag. The clip is surprisingly sturdy. The buttons are easy to use and the timer settings are really helpful to save on battery life. Baby girl falls asleep so much faster with white noise. Saved our road trips a few times! I’ve had this for years! Love it." —Keagan
Get it from Amazon for $19.99.
14. An I-Spy bag to help you avoid having to answer about a dozen "Are we there yet?" questions during your next roadtrip. This sealed bag will keep them entertained because it's filled with rice and hidden treasures for your kid to find.
Stitched 4 U By Trippy 2 is a small biz that sells hand stitched items like cards, bags, and coasters.
This bag includes a laminated list of 24 items for you kiddo to search for.
Promising review: "My daughter loves playing with her I Spy bag! She gets so excited finding the items in the bag and comparing it to the card. Keeps her busy on car rides so that is a plus!" —Jecceka
Get it from Stitched 4 U By Trippy 2 on Etsy for $16.95 (available in various patterns and styles).
15. A pack of Melissa & Doug Reusable Water-Reveal Activity Pads that'll come in handy when there's no Wi-Fi and your little one is bored of all the videos you downloaded on their iPad. These pads come with a water "marker" that reveals colorful pictures without messy paint, markers, or crayons.
Recommend for ages 3 and up.
Promising review: "My family and I went on a 27-hour road trip for the Christmas holiday. Needless to say I was a bit anxious over the idea of traveling with a 4-, 2-, and 1-year-old. These things were a lifesaver! I had bought quite a few other activities for them to do but they kept returning to these. I love that there is no cleanup and they are reusable. I also thought the pen storage was a really nifty idea. The pages are a thick chipboard-like material so that there is no water leakage between pages. We still use these. Sometimes I pull them out while I'm getting dinner ready and it keeps them occupied. All in all, a great buy, and Amazon had the best deal on them." —Dina
Get a pack of three from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in four themes).
16. Or an LCD writing tablet so your child will be able to draw a ton of pictures without you having to pack a bunch of art supplies. And, you don't have to worry about charging this because the battery lasts three to six months!
Recommend for ages 3 and up.
Promising review: "We bought this pad to take on a long car trip with our 4-year- old granddaughter. She is usually traveling with her nose stuck to an iPad, I was looking for something to get her out of watching iPad all trip. This did the trick! She drew all kinds of things, practiced her numbers and letters, and played games with me. It was great to have something that didn’t need to be charged." —Trudie Paschetag
Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in four colors).
17. A car trash can because there are sadly no flight attendants coming around to scoop up your garbage during a road trip. This will give everyone a subtle reminder where to put all their wrappers and empty water bottles instead of tossing them on the floor, keeping your car nice and tidy.
Promising review: "I’m glad I found this auto trash container on amazon I’ve looked everywhere most are just a bag with straps. This one is sturdy well made design pockets for storage too. I highly recommend this product." —stevie bleu
Get it from Amazon for $14.99.
18. Search and find activity mats — they're reusable and entertaining. They'll come in handy when your little one could use a distraction. This set comes with six double-sided mats filled with hidden items your child will be busy trying to find. Use included dry-erase markers to track found items and simply wipe away to start again.
Includes six double-sided activity mats, one duster cloth, two dry-erase markers, and an achievement certificate.
Promising review: "My daughter loves this product. She just turned four and she is able to do the activities. She feels so proud of herself once she’s done. The only part she doesn’t like is when she has to erase it but then realizes she gets to do it again after it’s erased. The cleanup is easy. We just use a paper towel to wipe it down. We use this product daily now that we’re under a stay-at-home order." —Kathryn Arnold
Get it from Amazon for $24.97+ (available in 12 activities).
19. A travel tray that fits in your child's carseat cup holder so they'll always have access to nuggets and fruit snacks because, let's face it, they're always hungry! It's not only perfect for road trips, but also while they are waiting in a long line at a theme park, or being pushed around in their stroller.
Promising reviews: "Love this handy tray. Had a 15-hour drive to Arizona with our 16-month-old and this made the drive so much easier! Was easy to turn around place his snacks on the tray while he watched his movie, PLUS our food stops. I highly recommend this!!" —David reyes
"Best tray for travel. We used in the stroller and in car seat. Worked great for both!" —JC
Get it from Amazon for $18.99 (available in six colors).
20. A Rubik's Cube Edge to keep your puzzle-loving kiddo (who isn't quite ready for a full-sized Rubik's cube) entertained when you still have miles and miles to go before reaching your destination. This is similar to the original we all know and love, but it's slimmer and made for beginners.
Promising reviews: "This is great for younger kids compared to the regular Rubik's cube." —christy
"Great for a beginner cuber! My kids have been getting into these and it’s a great way to start. I like it just to fidget with. Nice quality, would recommend." —Rose
Get it from Amazon for $5.99 (also available in other sizes/levels).
21. A car baby monitor so whenever you pull over or stop, you can take a quick peak at your little bundle of joy to ease your mind, without having to crane your neck.
FYI: This is not meant to be used while the car is in motion.
Promising review: "Absolutely LOVE my monitor! The typical mirror is terrible, this shows you everything! Wonderful for road trips or long trips with baby. I would suggest you purchase a book light you can attach to the carseat at night so he's always in view, but besides that this is worth the money!" —Brittany Fortney
Get it from Amazon for $29.97.
22. A wooden maze for a great backup when their iPad dies during a road trip. And the ball is enclosed so you'll never have to worry about them losing it.
Drapela Woodworks is small business based in Houston, Texas that sells handmade wooden toys, decor, gifts and more.
Promising review: "This maze toy was worth every penny. It was very well made, shipped quickly, and was a big hit with the kids and adults! Highly recommend." —Catrina
Get it from Drapela Woodworks on Etsy for $37.45+ (originally $49.94+; this maze can be personalized with text at an additional cost).
23. A 55-count treat CraveBox because kids always want something to eat, and rest stop prices are ridiculous. This box is filled with popular brands and snacks most of us know and love, so you can satisfy you kiddo's hunger without spending an outrageous amount of money.
Promising review: "I bought this as a mystery snack box for my birthday road trip and was very happy with the freshness and quality of everything in it. The freshest Twizzlers I have ever had! Nothing was stale or old tasting. The box is very, very sturdy and survived the four-day road trip! I did not have a problem with anything melting or being destroyed from the 90 degree days because all of the food inside was meant to travel well." —Cynthia Boyd
Get a box of 50 snacks from Amazon for $28.95
24. A Polly Pocket play set — it's like having a doll house you can actually take anywhere! This set includes two dolls, a cool water area to float in, a hot tub, a tropical waterfall area, and a diving board. And, somehow it all just folds away in a tiny compact flamingo so your child can play with it in the car, on a plane, or even while waiting for their food at a restaurant.
This contains tiny pieces and is recommended for kids ages 4–8 years old.
Promising review: "Perfect for travel. I bought this for my granddaughter to take in the car so she wouldn't get bored. It's so cute, and small, and the pieces all just close up inside. It's perfect to have handy for her." —MamaC
Get it from Amazon for $13.76.
You and your kiddo totally ready for a roadtrip:
