Whether it's a family trip with the kids, a road trip with your best friends, or a romantic weekend getaway with your SO, car rides can be stressful. With the struggle of remembering what to pack, the stress that is suitcase Tetris, and bringing enough snacks for a small army (because car rides make everyone twice as hungry), it's definitely a process.
But it can also be fun, exhilarating, and stress-free. How, do you ask? Hacks.
Traveling by car is an age-old transportation method and now that it's 2020, we finally have some decent ways to save time, energy, and space. There's no need for the last-minute rush of throwing things in the car, only to forget something.
Don't even think of renting a bigger car just to fit more things. Instead, check out these hacks and find out how fun road trips can actually be when you're well-prepared.
15 Napping In Your Car Is Cheap, And Here's How To Do It Comfortably
For the days when driving is a 12-hour commitment, there's nothing like being able to pull off for a bit and get some shut-eye. While it's not recommended to randomly pull off anywhere (be smart about it), a pool float can be life-changing for car naps. When you're done, simply deflate and store under the seat.
14 Use Suction-Cup Shower Caddies for Extra (Uncluttered) Storage
Shower caddies can be found at nearly any dollar store and while they'll only stick to shower walls for about two minutes, they'll stick to your window indefinitely. They're perfect for traveling with kids, but can also be used to hold chargers, small maps, utensils, napkins, and any other small items.
13 If The Backseat Is Free, Add Some Plastic Storage Drawers!
For those with SUVs or large trunks, this can be a brilliant hack. These plastic drawers can be found for pretty cheap (less than $20 in most places), and can store dirty laundry, food, drinks, electronic devices, shoes, blankets, pillows... you name it.
12 Empty Coffee Creamer Bottles Make Brilliant Snack Holders
All it takes is a bit of imagination (and a decent amount of coffee-drinking, which shouldn't be a problem for most of us) to up-cycle these. They can hold Goldfish, tiny crackers, and even small candies for a midway reward for patient little passengers.
11 Put Together A Portable Medicine Cabinet
You're almost at your final destination when you roll back your shoulders and realize a headache is on its way. You search the glove compartment only to find... Nothing. This could have been solved with a plastic jewelry case, easily converted into a portable medicine cabinet!
10 Dollar Store Baskets Are Perfect Meal-Holders
We see them all the time and occasionally find them leftover from the '80s in our parents' home offices: Plastic baskets. There was really no good use for them until now; you know you can store sammies, fruits, and even fries in one of these retro bad boys.
9 A Last Minute Phone Holder Can Be Created By McGuyver'ing Two Common Items
Phone holders can be pretty pricey, especially when you're paying for one that won't drop a phone on the first small 'bump'. A binder clip and a rubber band are really all you need to make sure your phone is secure, and hey - it's way cheaper than the alternative!
8 An iPad Is All You Need For An In-Car Theater System
These plastic bags might be a bit hard to find, but here's a hackier hack: You can also use a plastic cover sheet from a binder. Anything with a clear pouch and holes in the side can be flipped to create a makeshift theater system... Perfect for a full backseat and a longgg drive!
7 Strap A Mini Shoe Holder To The Back Of A Seat - Easy Storage When You Kick Your Shoes Off!
This can be done one of two ways: Use bungee cords to tie the shoe rack up between two seats, or simply hang it on the back of one. These can be super handy to store everyone's shoes (they always come off an hour into the drive) or anything else that will fit in a pouch, including snacks!
6 Packing A Fold-Up Mesh Laundry Basket Keep Suitcases Free Of Dirty Laundry
If you don't want to feel like this when you get home and start unpacking bags, then always remember to bring along a mesh laundry basket. They fold up easily and can be slid in between seats, and they're perfect to set up in a hotel room to toss dirty laundry as needed. Bonus: Throw a dryer sheet at the bottom of one.
5 Cereal Containers Make For Great Makeshift Garbage And Recycle Bins
Whether it's a plastic cereal container or a cloth bag, either one of these is a great option for tossing trash. Wrappers and food items should go in the cereal container, while recyclables can easily be stored in a cloth bag until you make it home or to a recycling center.
4 Desk Fans Can Be Clipped In The Backseat For Some Extra Air Circulation
Summer road trips are the best, but they're also the steamiest. And by steamy, we mean sweaty, and by sweaty, we mean uncomfortable. A desk fan is a simple solution to cooling down a sweltering backseat, especially if there are kids or pets back there. Crack the window for even more breezy circulation!
3 A Bit Of A Simple Sewing Project Makes For A Comfy Seatbelt Pillow
It goes like this: Step one, sew a foot-long square, leaving one side open (like a pillow). Step two: Sew directly down the middle, leaving a three-inch space and creating two compartments. Step three: Stuff with fluff. Step four: Sew the open side closed. Step five: wrap around the seat belt. Step six: Sleep.
2 Invest In A Multi-Port Charging System
Everyone wants to charge their phones, someone always needs to charge their iPad, and another person always has a Kindle. So how to solve a problem like this? A multi-port charger, for starters! They're worth the investment and keep everyone happy, especially when we all rely on GPS systems and social media.
1 Last But Not Least, Dryer Sheets Aren't Just For Laundry Day
You learn very quickly how stuffy one car can get on a road trip, especially when the car is packed out. Dryer sheets aren't the cure-all to this, but they can offer air-freshening relief, especially when most of us have them readily available. Wrap them around air vents for a built-in breath of fresh air.