Every once in a while, someone will ask me why I thrift so much. There are many reasons, honestly – I love the thrill of the hunt, saving products from the landfill, and of course saving money on things I need so I can spend it on the things I want, like travel. I LOVE traveling, whether it be a quick trip “Up North” or an adventure across the world – I want to see it all! But now that I have three kiddos, traveling looks a little bit different these days. Within the past few years, we’ve started to do a big road trip every year, and let me tell you, they are not for the faint of heart! But we’ve seen and experienced so much already that I wouldn’t have it any other way. In fact, I’m packing for a two-week trip to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons as we speak! Along the way, I’ve picked up 5 road trip tips to make our adventures smoother and more enjoyable.

Even though we’re still fairly new to road tripping, I’ve learned quite a bit about preparing for a driving adventure. Planning is super important, and finding the balance between packing enough and packing too much is crucial. But even with months or weeks of planning, sometimes it feels like those last-minute details can REALLY add up. Shopping at Goodwill NCW is a great way to keep costs down and get everything you need in one stop!

Here are 5 tips and tricks for things to grab and ways to keep sane on your next road trip adventure!

Entertainment

Entertainment is KEY. If you are traveling with kiddos, there is nothing worse than hearing “Are we there yet? I’m BORED!” over and over again. In our car, boredom breeds complaining and fighting so we try to avoid it at ALL costs. Thankfully, Goodwill NCW has a ton of things to keep our little dudes occupied for those long stretches of driving. If you are lucky enough to have a DVD or Blu-Ray player in your car, there is a HUGE variety of movies to pick from at Goodwill. There were literally hundreds to pick from for only $1.99, so for this trip I grabbed a bunch! No way to play movies in your car or trying to limit screen time? Stock up on new books for the family, and/or grab some activity or coloring books for your littlest people! I also highly recommend checking out the game section for car friendly games – I couldn’t believe it when I found this one!

Organization

When you’re stuck in a small space for a long period of time, being at least somewhat organized can make a world of difference. Knowing where something is and being able to grab it with minimal effort makes for much smoother sailing! Goodwill NCW has a wide variety of both new and secondhand containers, totes, and caddies for whatever your situation may be.

 Throw a tote bag over the back of the seat to store all your kiddo’s books and activities. Grab a basket to put all your non-perishable snacks in. You can even organize your cooler if you’re bringing one by using a “snackle box” – a tackle box filled with all your child’s favorite snacks! Instead of trying to dig though all your food and opening a bunch of snack packages while you’re moving, just pre-fill them and hand the whole box to your child when they’re hungry. You can also use a tackle box as a place to store emergency items like band-aids, gauze, tweezers (which you can also get new at Goodwill!), etc., and then slide it right under a seat!

The Basics

You can save a TON of money shopping at Goodwill for the “must haves” you might not already have. Luggage can be a HUGE expense if you need to buy it for the whole family or maybe even just your kids. But Goodwill NCW has a huge selection of luggage at super affordable prices and in a variety of sizes to fit your needs! The same goes for backpacks, coolers, or cooler bags. Save your money on these essentials so you can spend it on more fun for your family!

Comforts and Extras

While not necessary, there are a few things that can make your trip a little more enjoyable. Most people remember to bring blankets for car naps, but it can be nice to have an extra one for picnics! Even with plenty of road snacks, it can feel really good to be able to pull over for a little bit, stretch your legs, and have your snacks in the fresh air. And speaking of picnics, what says great American road-trip better than the nostalgia of a picnic basket? I see one almost every time I’m at Goodwill, and while shopping for this trip I saw no less than three of them! Something else that can help with the comfort factor on a longer trip is extra swimsuits or swim trunks if you’ll be doing a lot of swimming. What’s worse than putting on a suit that’s still wet from the day before? Being able to swap out a few different suits isn’t necessary but it sure can be nice!