Traveling with five kids is loud, messy, beautiful chaos. We wouldn’t trade it for anything, but let’s be honest, family road trips are not for the faint of heart.
Over the years, we’ve learned that preparation is everything. Not the Pinterest-perfect kind. The practical, “someone has to pee right now” kind.
Here are the things that have truly saved us on the road.
1. Our Portable Bathroom (Total Game Changer)
I’ll start with the one thing I will never travel without again: our portable bathroom.
When you have five kids, “I have to go” never comes one at a time. It’s always three at once. And usually when you’re 25 minutes from the next exit.
This little portable toilet has saved us so many emergency stops. No scrambling for a gas station. No panicked searches for a questionable roadside bathroom. No meltdowns because someone “can’t hold it.”
We keep it in the back of the car, tucked neatly with supplies. It has honestly saved us time, stress, and probably a few accidents. With a big family, that’s not just convenient. It’s survival.
If you’re traveling with multiple kids, especially younger ones, I can’t recommend this enough. It’s one of those things you don’t think you need until you really need it.
(You can find the one we use here on Amazon.)
And here are the refill bags
2. A Car Seat Organizer for Each Kid
Clutter multiplies fast in a car full of kids.
We started using backseat car organizers, and they’ve made a big difference. Each child gets their own space for snacks, water bottles, coloring books, small toys, and headphones.
It cuts down on:
- “Mom, where’s my book?”
- Snacks crushed under seats
- Constant passing of items from front to back
Everything has a place. And when you’re in a car for 6 to 10 hours, small systems matter.
Look for one with sturdy pockets and a tablet sleeve if your kids use devices. It keeps screens secure and off the floor.
(Here’s the style we like on Amazon.)
3. A Heavy-Duty Cooler That Actually Keeps Ice
With seven people, stopping for food every time someone gets hungry would drain our budget fast.
We pack a large cooler with:
- Pre-made sandwiches
- Yogurt pouches
- Cut fruit
- String cheese
- Water bottles
A quality cooler that holds ice for a full day or more is worth the investment. Ours sits in the trunk, and we refill it each morning if we’re on a multi-day trip.
It saves money and gives us flexibility. If we find a beautiful rest stop or park, we can pull over and have lunch without hunting for a restaurant.
(You can check out the cooler we use here.)
4. A Car Trash System That Actually Works
I underestimated how important this was.
Wrappers. Juice boxes. Snack crumbs. Receipts. It adds up fast.
We keep a leak-proof car trash can hanging behind the center console so everyone can reach it. At every gas stop, we empty it. It keeps the car from turning into a rolling landfill.
It’s such a small thing, but it makes the drive feel calmer and more manageable.
(This is the trash bin we’ve been using.)
The Real Secret to Traveling with 5 Kids
It’s not about perfection. It’s about reducing friction.
The portable bathroom keeps us moving.
The organizers reduce arguments.
The cooler saves money.
The trash system keeps us sane.
Road trips with five kids will never be quiet or spotless. But they can be smoother, more flexible, and even fun when you have the right tools.
And when we’re not scrambling to solve problems every hour, we actually get to enjoy the adventure together.
If you’re planning a family road trip, especially with a big crew like ours, start with the basics that make life easier. You’ll thank yourself somewhere between mile 87 and the next “Mom, I have to go.”
Just a quick note: some of the links above are Amazon affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through them, at no extra cost to you. We only share products we actually use and love.
Budget Family Journeys 
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