--- title: "Thanksgiving travel day with kids: car bag, stops and car games" published: "2026-10-18" updated: "2026-10-18" author: "Dad Field Manual editors (drafted with AI help)" time: "A travel day, 30 min prep" cost: "About $10" ages: "3 to 12" where: "Your family car on a long drive to the Thanksgiving visit, plus the rest stops along the way." topics: ["indoor"] print: "https://dadfieldmanual.com/print?p=thanksgiving-travel-day-with-kids" url: "https://dadfieldmanual.com/plans/thanksgiving-travel-day-with-kids/" --- # Thanksgiving travel day with kids: car bag, stops and car games > The long drive goes better with a packed bag, a stop plan and a few games ready to go. Here's the whole travel day on one page. ## What you need - A car bag or box for each kid: books, a small toy, a pencil and paper (have) - Water bottles and snacks ($10) - A list of planned stops, written on paper (free) - Wipes, a bag for trash and a change of clothes (have) ## Before you start - **Never leave a child alone in the car.** AAP says it is not safe for any length of time; a cracked window, shade or the air conditioner does little to cool the car. - **Check the back seat before you lock up.** AAP says to always look in the back seat before you walk away, and keep the car locked when it's parked. - **Stop about every two hours.** AAP says to plan to stop driving and give yourself and your child a break about every two hours. - **Right seat, back seat.** AAP says kids use a harnessed car seat until they outgrow it, then a booster until the belt fits (about 4 feet 9 inches). Under 13 rides in back. ## Steps 1. **Pack the car bag** (Together) Each kid packs their own bag: two books, one small toy, paper and crayons (a pencil for the older ones), and a snack. You add water, wipes, a trash bag and a change of clothes. Keep the bags on the floor at their feet, not loose on the seat, where kids can reach them. About 20 minutes the night before. 2. **Plan the stops** (Dad) Look at the route and write down a stop about every two hours, with a place to eat and a place to stretch. Read the list to the kids so they know the first stop. About 10 minutes. 3. **Buckle up and set the rules** (Together) Check that every seat belt and car seat is in use, then say the rules: "Buckled the whole way. Games are for voices, not for yelling. When we stop, everybody gets out." The driver's job is the road. 4. **Play the car games** (Together) Pick a game from the card and play until it fades, then pick another. The driver joins by voice only. If everyone goes quiet, let it be. A little boredom is fine. 5. **Stop and stretch** (Together) At each planned stop, everyone gets out. Look in the back seat to check every seat, then lock the car. Hold small kids' hands in the parking lot. Use the bathroom, drink water, and stretch or walk to a sign and back on the sidewalk, away from parked cars and traffic. 6. **Arrive and unpack** (Together) When you get there, check every seat before you lock up, and bring in the car bags and trash. Ask the kids to name their favorite game of the drive. ## Car games (pick any, play by voice) 1. I spy: pick something you can see, say its color, and everyone guesses. 2. License plate game: find plates from as many states as you can. 3. 20 questions: think of a thing; the others ask yes-or-no questions. 4. Alphabet hunt: find A to Z on signs, in order. 5. Would you rather: choose between two silly choices and say why. 6. Count the color: pick a color and count cars that match. 7. Story chain: each person adds one sentence to the story. 8. Quiet game: the first one to talk loses. Use sparingly. ## If it stalls - If the same game gets old, switch, or let the youngest pick the next one. - If a kid gets restless, point out sights outside, or sing along to music. - If a kid feels queasy, put the book down and switch to a look-outside game. - If it's been two hours and nobody wants to stop, stop anyway. The next stretch goes easier. - If a fight starts in the back seat, change the game to one that doesn't need winning, like the story chain. ## Variations - **Ages 3–5:** Use the simplest games: I spy colors, count the red cars, sing along. Pack a few soft toys and extra snacks, and expect a stop a little sooner. - **Ages 6–9:** Add the license plate game, the alphabet hunt and would-you-rather. They keep a tally on paper. - **Ages 10–12:** They run the games and keep score, and help read the stop list. Try twenty questions and the story chain. ## Sources - **AAP, Tips for Safe & Stress-Free Family Travel: breaks, car seats, never leave a child alone.** AAP's family travel page says to plan to stop driving and give yourself and your child a break about every two hours, never to leave your child alone in a car, even for a minute, to point out interesting sights, and to bring soft toys and favorite music for a sing-along, plus safe water and snacks. It also says always to use a car seat for infants and young children, a belt-positioning booster once they outgrow a harnessed seat until the belt fits (about 4 feet 9 inches tall), and that children under 13 should ride in the rear seat. (checked 2026-10-18) - **AAP, Prevent Child Deaths in Hot Cars: check the back seat.** AAP's hot-car page says it is not safe to leave a young child alone in a car for any length of time, that cracking a window, parking in the shade or using the air conditioner does little to change the temperature inside, to always check the back seat before walking away, and to keep the car locked when it is parked. (checked 2026-10-18) - **AAP, Road Trip Play Ideas for Backseat Fun: boredom and classic games.** AAP's road-trip play page says not to be afraid of a little boredom and that it is natural and okay for kids to have occasional bouts of boredom on a long car ride. It lists classic games such as I see something, the license plate game, 20 questions, would you rather, counting cars and an alphabet game. (checked 2026-10-18)