Family road-trip activity packing checklist

A small activity kit is easier to keep together. Start with five items, then add only what your family actually uses.

Published September 18, 2026 · Original activity guidance

The five-item kit

Pencil: one familiar writing tool. Paper: a few chosen activities or plain sheets. Firm surface: something comfortable to write on while safely seated. Folder: a place for finished and unused pages. Spare sheet: useful for the memory game or covering an answer.

Choose the first page before leaving

Let your child choose one activity while the supplies are easy to reach. Put that page at the front. Keep extra options in the folder rather than handing over the whole stack. A younger reader may enjoy hearing the first instruction before departure.

Include an option with no supplies

Remember one spoken game: give three clues about a familiar object, allow one guess and swap roles. It works when the pencil is resting or the paper is out of reach. The driver stays focused on driving and does not need to participate.

Print the right file

The Mission Pack includes Letter and A4 versions. Match the file to your paper and use 100% / actual size. Pages 2–9 are activities; page 10 is the helper page. Black-and-white printing is enough. Check one page before printing multiple copies.

A checklist to copy

□ Pencil. □ Chosen pages. □ Firm writing surface. □ Folder. □ Spare sheet. □ One spoken game remembered. □ A plan to use drawing pages while parked if that is more comfortable. That is the kit; special toys and elaborate storage are optional.

A bigger choice for the journey

Mile Marker Missions offers 88 activities for ages 6–10, with help for younger readers and optional harder challenges. The free pack is useful on its own.

Try the mission picker, or return to all travel ideas.