Do you ever look around the car and wonder how the heck our parents handled long car trips without electronics? Books are great, but when you've got a kid who gets carsick, movies can be the difference between a pleasant trip and a steady stream of "are we there yet?" The little pink DVD player my daughter has for road trips has been a lifesaver for my husband and me over the years -- especially when we're in bad traffic and need to cut down on conversation so the driver can concentrate.
But that little magic box is no good to us without a good stock-pile of road trip movies. Need to refresh yours? Here are the family vacation movies you NEED to add to the rotation for upcoming travel:
1. The Muppets -- Whether you go for the original or the new Jason Segel version, both are good family fun with road trips involved.
2. It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World -- An oldie but a goodie from the '60s, this campy flick sends some of Hollywood's greatest stars on a wild adventure across the US to find some treasure.
3. The Great Outdoors -- The '80s gave us a pile of fun family adventure flicks, and this John Candy classic one of the best. Rated PG, but beware that was PG in 1988.
4. Wreck-It Ralph -- This relatively new Disney flick is already a big favorite in our family for its video game references, but it's little Vanellope's dream of being a race car driver that makes this one perfect for a trip on the open road.
5. Cars -- Another Disney classic with a road theme!
6. Harry and the Hendersons -- Another '80s vacation classic that gets truly wild when the family car hits an "animal" in the road.
7. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang -- This '60s musical is good clean family fun in a car that flies!
8. Bedknobs and Broomsticks -- Another adventure flick straight out of the Disney archives, the kids travel not by car or even train, but flying magical bed.
9. The Adventures of Milo & Otis -- Let the kiddos follow a lovable pug and his kitty friend as they go on a long adventure over hill and dale, and you'll be at your destination before they know it.
10. Wizard of Oz -- Maybe you're not off to see the wizard, but every family road trip is a little like a trip to Oz for little ones.
What is your absolute favorite family road trip movie?
Image by Jeanne Sager