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1. A reusable vinyl picnic table cover set to cover that rest stop picnic table so you don't end up with splinters, wet pants, or who-knows-what sticky thing on your rear. Since these fit most standard-size picnic tables, just put these babies on and picnic in peace.
2. A flexible mini-fan for cooling off a kid in a stroller when sightseeing or for helping a kiddo cool down in the back seat because why does air NEVER circulate enough back there??
3. An extra large waterproof picnic blanket because lack of seating should NEVER be a reason to skip enjoying lunch with a view.
4. A set of back-of-the-seat organizers to keep everything handy for a long road trip. This organizer fits a tablet, water bottle, snacks, and toys for easy access in between yet another "are we there yet nnnnooooowwww??"
5. A roadside emergency kit because there's nothing worse than being stranded on the side of the road with a group of hot and grumpy kids and a car that needs a jump. This kit will have you covered for lots of different roadside issues.
6. A small organizer that will easily fit between car seats and is great for storing toys and activities for older kids. Keeping some drawing pads, dolls, fidget toys, and other small toys handy can keep your kiddos occupied and perhaps distract them from another "when will we get there?!" — at least for a few minutes.
7. A removable and retractable window shade for any kid who hates the bright sunlight. These things are so helpful for blocking the sun and can move from car to car easily — making them a valuable addition to your road trip bag of tricks.
8. A reacher tool that gives your arm an extra 34 inches of reach. Does it seem like overkill? Absolutely — until the beloved stuffy has fallen between the seat and the door, and you can't pull over and grab it, and your toddler is full of unadulterated rage, and if I could just reach six inches further, maybe I could just...
9. A portable potty for those road trip moments where "rest stop" cannot come up fast enough on your maps app. For extra ease, you can line it with a bag and throw away the *deposit* quickly and easily.
10. A car seat buckle release tool to make unbuckling a car seat quick and easy — especially when your kiddo is howling "I CAN'T HOLD IT ANY LONGER" outside the gas station you're about to honor with your presence.
Promising reviews: "I love this tool. It has made my life much easier now that my 4-year-old can unbuckle himself when it’s time to get out of the car. (He knows he will lose the privilege if he tries to unbuckle without permission.) He appreciates any opportunities I can give him to be a little more independent." —R Hawk
"This device is the best purchase I’ve made in a long time! It works as advertised, doesn’t require a learning curve and makes life with a child (grandchild) easier. Better yet three adults with zero mechanical skills are already using it. Everybody wants one for their keychain so to avoid any family arguments I will order two more. I have large hands so the wide pressing area works well. The area is also made with a non-slip cushioned covering which is a big help! Before I purchased this device pushing the red car seat button was sometimes problematic but no longer. Do yourself a favor and destress a small part of your life — you will love it." —yogaski
Get it from Amazon for $14.99 (available in seven colors).
11. A small beach towel that takes up hardly any space, but allows you to stop and enjoy activities spur-of-the-moment without unpacking suitcases. Keeping beach towels handy also means unexpected rainstorms and river stops are no match for your preparation skills.
12. A cooler with the option to fit behind a seat or between two seats giving you instant access to a cold drink or for keeping refrigerated snacks an option.
13. And! A snack tray to keep snacks and drinks close at hand for your snack monster in the back seat. It works for car seats or standard cupholders for easy access.
14. A cup holder expander for keeping that carafe of coffee warm and CLOSE AT HAND AS IT SHOULD BE. Bonus points because it also allows you to keep hydrated with a big water bottle without having to give up your old-reliable brand.
15. A dip clip that attaches to an air vent because those miles aren't going to drive themselves when daylight is a-burnin'. Or — in case you're not a mileage warrior — because a kid happily sleeping with the car in motion is not worth a full stop at a restaurant, but you should never sacrifice your need to dip.
16. A pair of motion sickness bands to help alleviate motion sickness without medicine by using acupressure. Because cleaning up vomit on the side of a two-lane highway where the speed limit appears to be "follow your heart" is absolutely not on the agenda.
17. And — sorry y'all — a pack of easy-close vomit bags for when an emergency hits unexpectedly. It's gross, but not as gross as NOT having bags in a vomit situation, and these are much cheaper than getting your car detailed.
18. A travel activity tray that's great for car seats or any stop you might make. This tray has a dry erasable bottom, dry erase markers, a tablet stand, and pouches for snacks and toys. You serenely enjoying travel for a few minutes is included free-of-charge.
19. A small, portable trash can to save you the embarrassment of snack wrappers blowing out of the car when you open the door as you go chasing down the parking lot trying to save Mother Earth at the expense of your dignity. I choose not to comment on the specificity of this scenario.
20. A traveling scavenger hunt card game that'll make long car rides a bit more interesting for the whole family. If you want to make things extra interesting, team up and offer a prize to the winning team. They'll put that device down in no time.
Promising review: "I bought this for our road trip, desperate for something to keep our kids entertained. This was super fun! My husband, I, and our 5-year-old had fun playing it together. My 3-year-old was trying but is a little bit too young for it. The pictures are fun and engaging. I honestly had a great time and would recommend this to other parents looking for something to keep their kids busy!" —Heather
Get it from Amazon for $9.99.
21. And a set of games for car rides because variety is both the spice of life and what will keep your nerves in check on a road trip.
22. An LCD doodle pad to give your kid something to do without having to keep track of 47 crayons, 12 markers, and tons of wasted paper. This thing will make reaching for a crayon on a turn, only to see it roll into the depths of your car, a thing of the past.
23. A compact highchair and booster seat that can pack easily and give you a safe place to feed your baby wherever you are. This seat can be used on the floor or on a chair and comes with a carrying case — no more balancing a baby on your lap when you visit a place not equipped for babies and toddlers.
24. A travel cot for when you're short on beds during your pit stop or just don't feel like getting kicked in the chest all night by a tiny acrobat sharing your space. These are great for hotel stays and camping because they fold up easily and can be stored away, but are also up off of the ground.
25. An ingenious SlumberPod designed for your toddler that isn't in the big-kid-bed stage yet. Goodbye, grumpy toddler who hasn't slept nearly enough and will personally victimize all of you in swift retribution.
26. A "Magic Gel" back pain relief pack because you're going to need some relief after so many long days of sitting. This can be used hot or cold, but keep one in the fridge of any hotel you're staying in or in the cooler and give yourself some much needed relief.
Promising review: "This was perfect for my sore back. It comes with two inserts. That is nice because I was able to keep one in the fridge and the other to warm up in the microwave. The belt they go in works great for lower back pain. I could wear it at work when my back was bad." —Brandie Collins
Get it from Amazon for $26.95+ (available in three sizes).
27. A neck reading light for those hotel stops where the kids desperately need to sleep, but you're not quite ready. Just keep this subtle light around your neck and enjoy some reading time while your kids *hopefully* sleep peacefully all night. *WINK*
28. A box of individually wrapped hand sanitizing wipes because your seventh gas station emergency potty stop was just as disgusting at the first.
Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.