Surviving 20ish hours in a car with a 4-year-old is a challenge, but it’s nothing compared to that same drive with a 2 1/2-year-old in the midst of potty training. I’ve experienced both—and then some, after driving from New York to Florida (and back) about once a year over the past three years.

With each trip, I try out all kinds of kids’ travel gear, from books and games and toys (aka distractions galore) to pillows and luggage and tray tables (aka stuff to make life on the road easier). Here’s what’s really made our trips more enjoyable.

The Best Kids’ Travel Gear

1. Lusso Gear Kids’ Travel Tray, $30 — This tray easily straps around your kid, fitting on a car seat or booster seat. And it has organizers to keep crayons, activity pads, snacks, a drink and toys all within easy reach. It’s great for eating during the trip, and the surface doubles as a white erase board for drawing. Consider it the road trip MVP…if you don’t count a tablet (more on that in a bit).
2. Unicorn Seat Belt Cover/Cushion, $14 — Inevitably, the seat belt gets annoying mid-trip. This cushion keeps the belt from digging in, and it can double as a pillow, should they start to nod off. I wish it offered a bit more support come naptime, but overall, it’s been a cheery, comfy addition to long-haul trips.
3. Ello 14-Ounce Water Bottle with Pop Toy, $11 — In a world of $20 water bottles that only wind up getting lost or their straws chewed to smithereens, I value, well, value. This dishwasher-safe bottle holds enough water to last most of the day and doesn’t crack easily (no matter how often it’s dropped). Plus, it has a pop-toy keychain that helps distract them from returning to their chorus of “Are we there yet?”s.
4. Munchkin Snack Catcher, $6 for Two — If you have a toddler, you’ll have crumbs everywhere in your car. This snack cup minimizes mess, containing Cheerios and Goldfish as you navigate potholes, speed bumps and temper tantrums.

The Best Kids’ Travel Games, Toys & Distractions

Might I recommend cramming all of these (plus any beloved stuffies or small toys) into one “backseat backpack”? That way, all road trip diversions are all in one place—and within easy reach.

1. Crayola Light-Up Tracing Pad, $19 — Great for letting them trace, color and play tangrams when you’re driving after dark (thanks to the illuminated pad), and all of the pieces fit inside the pad itself, making it compact and easy to keep track of
2. Melissa & Doug Water Wow Book, $5 — Great for 2- and 3-year-olds with this mess-free notebook that just needs water to let your kids color. (And no rummaging for marker lids!)
3. Mudpuppy Magnetic Playset, $17 — Imagine paper dolls, only made entirely out of magnets and served in a slim, compact tin that holds everything and doubles as the setting for said dolls. If your kid’s in a puts-everything-in-their-mouth phase, avoid this (you don’t want to worry about swallowing a magnet!). If that’s not the case, this toy can provide 15- to 20-minute bursts of imaginative play throughout the trip.
4. Colorforms Playsets, $1.25 to $6 — These reusable sticker sets let kids create and act out scenes from their favorite shows and movies, repositioning them as they see fit. You can find basic sets at the Dollar Tree, or more complex multi-packs on Amazon. In my experience, you really only get one 10- to 15-minute diversion out of these sets per trip, but when you’re desperately cycling through activities from the passenger seat, this seat-of-paper-sized diversion is worth a buck.
5. Coloring Books & Crayons — They’re a classic for a reason. Keep two books and a pack of crayons on hand (just remember to grab ’em when you leave the car, if you’re traveling during the summer!)
6. Model Magic Air Dry Clay, $16 — This soft, squishy clay doesn’t stick to your hands or other materials easily, making it a great sensory play alternative to slime. It dries within 24 hours, so your children can mold their own characters, let them dry and play with them later.
7. Pipe Cleaners or WikkiStix — WikkiStix, or strands of yarn coated in wax so they’re easy to bend and shape, are right up there with pipe cleaners for a mess-free craft kids can tackle from the backseat.
8. 6-in-1 Card Game Pack ($12) & Playing Card Holders ($12) — If you’re road trippin’ with multiple kids, try busting out some card games. Old Maid and Crazy Eights are classics, and they’re easy to pick up on the go. Playing card holders are great for little hands to keep track of their, uh, hand, as well.
9. My First Learn-to-Draw Baby Animals Dry Erase Notebook ($10) — You may want to buy extra dry erase markers juuuust in case the included marker (or its lid) gets lost. If your little one likes to draw, they’ll love going page by page through this book. It breaks down each animal into four simple steps that are easy enough for kids age 3 and up to follow.
10. Amazon Fire HD 10 Tablet, $200 — I know, I know; you want to avoid screen time as much as possible, but on a road trip, it can be a godsend. Set your phone up as a hotspot and let them play games or watch videos on this sturdy little device.

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Lead photo: Candace Braun Davison