11 Tips to Keep Your Car Clutter-Free on Summer Road Trips

Organizers recommend treating every stop as a quick reset. “Throw away trash, return activities to their bags, and tidy up the seating areas before getting back on the road,” Cuti advises. She says the five minutes you spend resetting the car at each stop keeps clutter from building up throughout the trip.

“When traveling with kids, it’s helpful for each child to have their own activity bag,” Cuti says. She suggests filling it with travel-friendly activities and placing the bag near where that child sits to avoid clutter. “I’ve seen families pack all of the activities in one bag and store it in the very back of the vehicle—that usually leads to frustration because someone has to unload part of the car just to reach one item,” Cuti explains.

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If you’re traveling with kids, one of Cuti’s favorite strategies is the “one out, one in” rule. “If a child wants to color, they take out one coloring book and one small container of crayons,” she says. Before moving on to another activity, everything from the first activity is put away. “This simple habit keeps activities contained instead of scattered throughout the car, making cleanup much easier and helping everyone enjoy a more peaceful ride,” Cuti says.

“To prevent trash from being everywhere, we use organizers that go over the seat in front of our kids,” Eckerle says. Most have multiple pockets, one of which Eckerle dedicates to the kids’ trash. “If you don’t have a similar over-the-seat organizer, you can dedicate a nook in the door next to them as their only place for trash,” she says.

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“Trash is the most important thing to contain during a road trip,” Carson says. There are several ways to stay on top of it. “One idea is to hang a trash bag from the passenger seat back so trash goes immediately into it, then empty the bag whenever you stop,” Carson suggests. If you don’t have a trash bag, use Eckerle’s tip: “If we stop at a convenience store or drive-through, we keep the bag to collect all trash as everyone finishes their food.”

If you’re planning to stop for a picnic, Cuti suggests placing the cooler or bag near the back of the car so you can easily grab it without moving luggage. “I also like to keep a small cooler or tote with snacks and drinks within easy reach of the front seats for quick access while traveling,” the organizer says.

Disposable, single-use items are some of the biggest road trip clutter culprits. One specific example is empty water and soda bottles that pile up on the car floor. Eckerle shares a simple solution: “We pack a reusable water bottle for everyone to eliminate extra disposable bottles being purchased and becoming trash.”

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Just as you create designated zones in the kitchen for various activities, Carson says the same works for your car when you’re taking a road trip. “We set our car up by zones—examples of zones include snack zones, trash zones, personal items, and emergency gear,” she shares.

“The best way to avoid building up clutter and trash is to limit what comes into the car,” Carson says. Take the pro’s advice and don’t add last-minute odds and ends and contain what you do pack in clear or labeled bins. “Those things that are not immediately necessary can go into the trunk; try to minimize what you keep in the passenger space,” Carson advises.