How to Put Together a Summer Car Kit
Bugs, sun, scrapes, messes, mud…a summer car kit will help will all of these things and more when you’re on the road! Perfect for families…and everyone!
Already the sunscreen and bug spray have come out of hibernation, and plans are being made to enjoy every single minute of the summer. We’re on the go a lot during the summer months, whether it’s a road trip, or just around town. It means a lot of parks and outdoor activities and FUN! With all that fun comes the inevitable, and odds are, I’m going to need something out of the summer car kit that I keep in my trunk. Preparedness is key! I change it up a bit for each season, and today I’m sharing the summer version, plus a super cute free printable.
Summer is the best. No school, lots of adventures, sunny days (or cozy rainy days), and packed with fun. My kids love playing in our yard on our wood swing set, making shave ice, summer trips, and checking off all the things on our summer bucket list. We end up in the car quite a bit, either due to road trips, or just around town on our adventures.
If you’ve got kids, you know that bugs, sun, scrapes, bee stings, dirty diapers, wet clothes, mud, accidents, emergency potty stops along the side of the road (or in the woods), and a myriad of other things are bound to happen at some point during the summer months, and I’m always so happy when I can go to the trunk and pull out what I need to take care of it. Or at least help the situation until we get home! But whether or not you have kids at home, most of these items come in handy for everyone.
Table of contents
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A summer car kit is easy to put together, and once it’s done, it just stays in the back of your trunk of vehicle. Replace items as you use them up, and you’ll always be prepared. Having it all in one place, ready to go, makes it so much easier.
I gathered all of the items below, along with a plastic tote that would fit everything on my list, and fit in the cargo space of my trunk. A taller, thinner bin worked well for me because It took up less space overall, but you can buy whatever fits best with your vehicle.
Kit supplies
- Hand sanitizer
- Clorox wipes
- Baby wipes
- Sunscreen
- Bug spray
- Toilet paper
- Paper towels
- Grocery sacks/trash bags
- Baby powder–removes sand like magic!
- Plastic tablecloth–you never know when you need a clean surface to eat on! (I love red gingham!)
- First aid kit: I always include items for bee stings!
- Extra hair ties (my girls love these ouchless ties–they’re great for wet hair too) and comb
- Feminine products (if necessary)
- Money
- Kleenex
- Plastic tote
Additional emergency car supplies
I also have a few survival items that I always have in the car, but I don’t keep all of them in this bin. We happen to have a compartment in the back of our truck that’s perfect for holding jumper cables and other emergency items, so I keep pretty much all of the following items there, except for the food and bottled water.
If you want to keep it all together you may need to get a slightly larger plastic tote, and I would put the survival items on the bottom–you’re likely to use them much less than the summer items like baby wipes and grocery sacks. You can also purchase emergency car kits that come in a bag that’s easy to store.
- Jumper cables
- Trail mix/other snack (no chocolate–it will melt!)
- Bottled water
- Flashlight
- Duct tape
- Gloves
- Portable phone charger
- Emergency blankets--yes, even in the summer!
- Multi-purpose tool
There’s some controversy about whether or not keeping bottled water in your car is safe. After a lot of research, I feel comfortable keeping it in my car, I just rotate it frequently. I would rather carry water in the hot summer than not. You can do your own research and decide for yourself what you want to do!
How to make
- Gather all your supplies
- Fold or stack items as necessary to fit in your bin.
- Download the label, and print on to full sheet white labels. Place on the front of the bin.
- Find a spot in your trunk or vehicle to keep your bin!
Download printable label
If you’d like to download the printable for your own summer car kit, just click on the link below, and print. I print on full sheet 8.5 x 11 white labels, then cut it down to size with scissors or a paper trimmer. Stick it right on the outside of your tote, and you’re good to go!
FAQ
I update the kit each summer, and replace any items that I removed at the end of the season.
More summer ideas
- DIY Tetherball Set…for half the cost!
- How to Make a Wooden Swing Set the Easy Way
- Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream — No Cook, No Eggs
Thanks for stopping by! Follow me on Instagram and Facebook for even more ideas, and don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter so you don’t miss a thing! 🖤
*Originally posted 2015.
I super LOVE these ideas! We already have somewhat of a “Be Prepared Box” in our car, and I consistently carry many necessities in my oversized purse (I have a 4 year old and 3 year old), but I love your list! I will be added to our box and using the cute printable, thanks! :)
Thanks, Sara! I’m with you–I also have an oversized purse that I carry with me, full of extra snacks, changes of clothes, etc. I would rather have too much than too little. :) Thanks so much for stopping by!! xoxo
I love your website so much! I check it almost daily….okay daily!;) You are so organized and so prepared. I love it! You inspire me! Thanks for always sharing. You are quite the talented lady.
Ashley, thank you!!! I SO appreciate your kind words–truly. So glad you’re here!! xoxo
Where did you get your plastic bin?
I got it at Walmart!
Doesn’t it feel great to be prepared? I recently put a change of clothes (including underwear and socks) for each of my two boys (6 & 3) and me in my trunk, after taking them to the beach without thinking ahead and feeling like a terrible mom when they had a long, uncomfortable car ride home. I wrapped each person’s clothes up in a roll with their pants on the outside, then put a rubber band around it to keep it together and easy to grab. I keep it all in a reuseable shopping bag. I also put in other stuff like baby wipes, trash bags, an old towel, and sweatshirts in–the sweatshirts have already come in handy more than once, including today! I’ll be adding some of your suggestions, too. Yay for the peace that comes with being prepared!!! Thx for posting :)
I love the idea of a clothes roll, and the rubber band is perfect! I will be using that, thanks for sharing! :) And totally–being prepared makes me feel so much better!!! xoxo
Great ideas and the printable is super cute…thank you! :)
You are so welcome! xoxo
This is my first time here, thanks to Pinterest. :) I love this post. Great ideas! Thank you!
Yay, I’m so glad you found me, welcome!!! xoxo
I love all the ideas. I’m going to add some of your suggestions to our box.
Thanks!!!
Yay! So glad you found me and love the ideas!! Happy Summer! :)
Love this! We keep a box like this in our car year round. I would advise against keeping the sunscreen in the car though. It breaks down when stored in such high temps and won’t be effective. Best to keep that one in your bag/purse.
Thanks for the tip, Leigh! We go through it so fast (like in less than a week), so hopefully it wouldn’t go bad in that space of time. I carry it in my bag too, because I always need it!!!
Great ideas! These kits are helpful even when the kids are grown and gone. My Handsome Hubby and I like to take impromptu trips to the beach, park, or wherever. Having a stash of emergency and not-quite emergency basics keeps us enjoying our time without having to head back home because of a minor accident or spill. I like to keep the sample packets of laundry soap, body wash, lotions, shampoo, conditioners, and other toiletries in a small container. I jokingly call it being prepared for the zombie apocalypse, but if there’s a hurricane or other disaster, I don’t have to look for anything. We can just go.
Absolutely! It’s always important to have something like this in your car. Items may differ slightly, but many are the same. We’ve always had one, before we had kids, and we will after as well. Keeping extra toiletries is a great idea–you never know. Even a zombie apocalypse. ;) xoxo
This is so adorable, and it would have come in so handy when my 4 kids were little! I wanted to add something to your box, especially for the summer, although I keep on in my car year round… that is a BEACH TOWEL. You never know when you’ll get an unexpected rain storm or just feel the need to run thru someone’s sprinkler! And my dog seems to use it the most. Just a thought… thanks for sharing!
That’s a GREAT idea! Love it! You’re right–there are so many times when a towel comes in handy. Thank you for sharing!!! xoxo
I always include an old white shirt as well. Great ideas, thanks!
Love that idea, Carrie, thank you! xoxo
Absolutely love this idea. I am going make one this weekend for our van. We have 4 kids (6,3,2,1) and you never know what can happen when out and about. This will ensure I am better prepared for emergencies. Thank you! :)
You are so welcome! You definitely know how emergencies can happen with little ones! :) xoxo
Great idea!!! I need to keep one of these in the car as well. I had NO IDEA about the baby powder for sand, THAT will come in handy :)
You will LOVE using that baby powder–seriously one of my favorite beach items EVER. :)
I have one of these it’s my life saver. Many times over.
I put mine in a little pack pack because I’m constantly crushing it I broke 3 bins before I swapped to a backpack. But if something happeneds and I need to abandon the car the backpack does make it easier.
I have a fold up metal shovel which has helped dig out snow when I was stuck in a ditch once. I keep extra diapers and a swim diaper because some times I’m not as prepared as I think I am.
I also have a collapsible water bowl for my dog I have an extra outfit for the baby just incase. I also have a fleece blanket.
And I want to add a hoody for everyone but I never remember.
I do have another small pack for car stuff and it in there is instant tire. Everyone who can’t/ doesn’t want to change their own tire should have a can in their car. It plugs small leaks and fills 1 tire from flat. And the plug last 24-48 hours. More then enough time to get it to a person who can fix it. I had a few bad experiences with my tires before I found this stuff.
I like to be prepared even though my child is grown and on her own, This is an awesome idea and it may come in handy for another family that is not as prepared. Share a little kindness goes a long way.
Great list of items! I never thought about adding a tablecloth to our kit. I might have to do that!
We’ve used it a bunch–love having it on hand, just in case!
I love when being prepared can look so cute! I have a Rubbermaid tote in the back of my car now because I was rear ended and my clear bin (which had a few of these same items!) was broken…not sure a Rubbermaid would have lasted, either, but I figured it had a better chance ;)
What do you have in what appears to be a cutely-decorated Clorox wipes container? Is it actually a repurposed Clorox wipes container that holds grocery bags or something?
Did you use washi tape to decorate? I think I need some better washi tape…mine is all so thin, it would never work to make something so cute!
Thanks!!
Hello! Yes, it is something other than Clorox wipes! It holds grocery bags, and it’s covered with washi tape. I actually have a tutorial here: https://oldsaltfarm.com/washi-tape-grocery-bag-containers/
I have some links to washi tape in the post…check amazon, they have some great options. xoxo
What a great idea. Thanks for the inspiration.
You are so welcome! Thanks for taking the time to comment. xoxo