The anticipation of hitting the highway — the wind in your hair, possibility in the air, nostalgic hits on the radio — is intoxicating. But then you remember the rest of the family will be in tow, and the fantasy comes to a screeching halt. While a road trip may sound like the ultimate family bonding experience, without careful planning you’ll be lucky to make it out of the driveway before hearing the four dreaded words that foil any dream of adventure on the open road: “Are we there yet?”
So our road-trip prep guide is designed to help you pack and make the hours behind the wheel pass by in a blur. And this is where DashPass by DoorDash swoops in to save the day (and your bank account), with discounts on essentials to stock the car for every scenario — hunger, boredom, temperature changes, you name it.
DashPass is the most affordable way to order on DoorDash — on average, members save $5 per eligible order, and whatever you click-to-cart is delivered straight to your door. It also means year-round access to $0 delivery fees on eligible orders, reduced service fees on eligible orders, exclusive promotions and savings at more than 150,000 grocery, retail, beauty, convenience and pet stores. And with five weeks of members-only offers from 6/20 to 7/24, the Summer of DashPass savings event is prime time to sign up. Every purchase you make automatically enters you for a chance to win epic prizes like free gas and groceries for an entire year.
Now that you have all the intel on DashPass, let us count the ways you can use it to help make your road trip the smoothest ride possible.
Nip hunger before they’re hangry
As any parent knows, “thou shalt not leave home without snacks packed” is perhaps the most important commandment of car travel that ever was, since hungry kiddos (or grown-ups, for that matter) in a crowded car with no rest stop for miles is a recipe for a very, very long ride. Make everyone’s life easier by ordering pre-packed snack boxes or mini bags of healthy munchies to have within reach. Basic finger foods like sliced apples, grapes and orange segments keep crumbs under control, as do squeeze pouches and wrapped cheese sticks. Juice boxes and sippy cups wash it all down in a spill-proof way. Equally important: wipes (and lots of them) for cleaning sticky fingers and minor mishaps. Stock up from Food Lion or Stop & Shop between July 18 and 24 to receive 40% off orders $40+ (max $20) for new consumers and 30% off orders $50+ (max $20) for existing consumers. Or, check out the DoorDash app to see where you can get groceries delivered quickly and easily to your door.
Bust boredom big-time
When “I Spy” goes dry — and it will — the kids will require entertainment beyond the family sing-along. Depending on your children’s ages and interests, stock up on coloring and sticker books (or an LCD writing tablet for mess-free doodling), magnetic puzzles and blocks (so the pieces won’t go missing) for tots, and activity books, word games, portable game consoles and instant cameras for older kids. Books are great, but only if your kids don’t get carsick. (If they do, have a few audiobooks queued.) Be sure to charge all the devices and download shows to watch and games to play ahead of schedule for those no-service moments. Also, give every child their own set of headphones — sharing might not be caring in your car — and think of all the ’80s tracks you can blast thanks to noise cancellation.
Keep them cozy
Backseats cramp real quick, especially with multiple kids and multiple items filling every crevice and corner. Tricking out the space with homey comforts helps everyone travel a little easier. If nothing else, commit this to mind: Put your child’s stuffed animal in a place where it’s clearly visible. Leave a note tacked to the front door, etch a memo on your hand — whatever it takes so this blessed object does not get left behind.
Meanwhile, give each older kiddo their own travel pillow and blanket, to prevent fights over the thermostat. It’ll be best to keep the air on the cooler side, since there’s no relief from a hot car and those who run cold can easily bundle up; use sunshades on side windows to block out heat and sun. And if you have a pet along for the ride, order their travel essentials from PetSmart between July 18 and 24 and receive 40% off orders $45+ (max $25) for new consumers and 30% off orders $45+ (max $15) for existing consumers. (But don't fret if you miss the window: DashPass members still save every day with bonuses like reduced service fees.)
Corral clutter
So many people, so much stuff, so little space. The struggle to keep it all streamlined (children included) is real. But before you give in to the madness and just throw everything on the floor, consider a few potentially sanity-saving organizational hacks. For example, hang shoe organizers on the backs of the front seats and fill the pockets with essentials — snacks, baby-care items, wet wipes. Rubber floor mats, which are easily wipeable and spill- and crumb-proof, are key, as is a car-specific trash bin attached to the console. And if you’re an extreme-cleaner type, take along a portable vac that plugs into your car’s power outlet to suck up gunk during pit stops.
Sign up here to unlock access to thousands of members-only DashPass deals, as well as a chance to win summer’s most exciting prizes — or try a 30-day DoorDash trial.
