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An eating tray might sound unnecessary until you accidentally get McDonald’s ketchup all over yourself trying to eat a cheeseburger in the car.

At BuzzFeed, I'm a Shopping & Products contributor, where I cover everything from fashion finds to clever cleaning solutions.

Promising review: "I loved this digital camera. It is super compact and light, ideal for children or for those looking for something simple but functional. The image quality is quite good, and the 16X zoom allows you to capture details without losing so much quality. In addition, the anti-vibration function makes the photos sharper. Includes 32 GB card, which is a big plus. Very good value for money." —Fredy Ulloa Hernandez

Get it from Amazon for $39.99 (available in four colors).

PSA: *ONLY* use ice packs (aka ice is a no-no) for up to eight hours and do not leave perishable food in it without ice packs for more than two hours in a vehicle over 85 degrees F. 

Promising review: "Have had this bag for about five years now and used it for numerous road trips. We fill the main compartment up with snacks and the pockets with a few activities like car trip scavenger hunt cards. It's still going strong and plan to use it for an upcoming summer vacation. We do whatever we can to keep our young son content on days-long road trips and he likes to be able to access his own snacks and have an extra place to store his things. Part of the excitement of upcoming trips is filling this bin with road trip goodies that he normally wouldn't have access to." —lady.k

Get it from Amazon for $39.99 (available in two colors). 

This has a retractable arm and 360º rotation for the perfect positioning you want. 

Promising review: "I had bought another auto phone holder but this was the best. Rather than placing it in the middle of my dash or blocking my front view, I placed it on the left of the steering wheel in an area that was already a blind spot. I was able to spin, bend, and tilt it to exactly the right position. The quick-release button for my phone is so convenient. It has held in place for three months now, even when the windows are down and the wind is blowing. Finally! My phone is not inconveniently taking up one of the spots in my cup holders." —Anonymous genius

Get it from Amazon for $9.97+ (available in four styles). 

Promising review: "My second grader used this while we road-tripped for two weeks. It eliminated that awkward contortion that kids do when they nap in the car. It was definitely one of our more useful purchases for the trip. Keep in mind that the pillow is large and can take up some space in a cramped car. Outside of traveling, my kid likes to use it inside the house since it's so soft. She naps with it on the bed or just snuggles with it while reading." —Sarah Aquino

Get it from Amazon for $27.99+ (available in two styles and various colors). 

Promising review: "Never thought I'd spend this kind of money on a simple eye mask, but I did and don't regret it at all. Yes, it's perfect for side sleepers; it doesn't move and blocks out every bit of light. The game changer is the space around your eyes so it's not pushing on your lashes. Buy this, and you'll never look back." —Jessica 

Get it from Amazon for $13.99+ (available in eight colors).

Promising review: "Portability and keeping me connected to the internet while traveling is the best. Kept my 6-year-old granddaughter connected to the internet while we drove for seven hours. Prior to that, she had only ridden in the car for no more than 60 minutes (and was not happy about it). Successful trip thanks to Solis Lite." —Steve P. 

Get it from Amazon for $99+ (available with different GB plans). 

Promising review: "Love these for my baby. Super easy for her to carry around the house and use in her car seat on road trips." —Jordan

Promising review: "This little crumb-sucking machine is awesome! I have had mine for about six weeks now. As a mom of four, I find that my kids are always dropping crackers or dry cereal and then stepping on them. The car seats are known to have entire ecosystems in all the nooks and crannies. This vacuum tackles all of them without trouble. I leave mine in the trunk of the van plugged into the outlet back there so that it’s always charged when I need it. Worth every dime! It hasn’t died on me yet… And I’ve run it 20 minutes straight before." —Wundermama

Get it from Amazon for $49.99 (available in four colors). 

Promising review: "It worked great for long road trips to help with fatigue and lower back pain. I never imagined this would work as well as it did, and as an added bonus, it worked as a great pillow when we needed to pull over for short sleep [breaks]. It's worth the price for the pain it relieved." —Jess

Get it from Amazon for $23.99+ (available in four colors). 

Promising review: "I bought a BMW with sport seats, and my back would hurt every time I sat in it. I tried several different pillows, but none of them helped. This one was a lifesaver — I can now drive for long periods without back pain, and it saved me from having to replace a brand-new car." —Michael Shamis

Springer Pets is a woman-owned small business run by a mother-daughter duo (and the dogs who love them). They were also featured on Shark Tank! 

Promising review: "I am extremely happy with this purchase! We have two medium-sized dogs (30 pounds and 42 pounds), and this was a LIFESAVER. We beat the heat, car anxiety, and quenching thirst by providing our fur babies with much-needed water breaks. This bottle is 'mess-free' and was absolutely easy to provide water to our dogs even while we were driving. No water spills, no need for extra plastic water bottles or collapsible bowls. Throw some ice cubes in there, and you'll see it holds cool and fresh water for a good amount of time." —Tatiana

Get it from Amazon for $21.99+ (available in four sizes and eight colors). 

Promising review: "These were a last-minute purchase before a summer road trip with our 4- and 7-year-old sons, and I couldn’t be happier! It’s a great way to keep the car organized with games, toys, colors, devices, water bottles, etc. Definitely recommend for everyday and road trip uses!" —Kathy

Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in five colors). 

Drop Stop is a small business that specializes in car accessories. 

Promising review: "Somehow my phone manages to ALWAYS fall perfectly between the large gap between my console and seat. And MAN when I'm driving it is so frustrating, because I can NEVER reach it without stopping the car, because it's wayyyy under my seat. Before I ordered this I tried the traditional insert that is a popular solution because it gives you extra storage and such, but it didn't fit the gap, it was loose, sloppy and would literally slide forward with the brakes. UGH, Those are now sitting on my bar waiting to be gifted to some lucky person hopefully with a smaller gap. I immediately ordered these and love love love them!" —Ronald & Shannon White

The gap has to be *at least* .3 inches for this to fit — just FYI!

Promising review: "I put this in last night and went to work today and everything was perfect. I did have to install the foam spacers (included) to make it a really snug fit. It would have still worked without it but I like things perfect. So now the coins go in the coin pocket and my keys and other work related accessories go in the bigger pocket. This is one of the best cheap life hacks you can get if you're a car person and/or just like being organized and neat." —R

Promising review: "Our 8-year-old and 3-year-old LOVE playing Mad Libs. We keep it in the car to play while we wait for the bus or on car rides. I like that it's educational, too — reinforcing parts of speech and practicing spelling and reading, as well as broadening their vocabulary. A must-have for every family!" —Chelsea Peterson

As someone who rides the New York City Subway religiously and grabs onto those extremely germ-ridden poles, I needed a hand sanitizer in my life. I finally grabbed Touchland’s Beach Coco and…yeah, I get the hype now. It smells so good, keeps my hands bacteria-free, and saves me from constantly hunting down a bathroom to wash up.

Promising review: "Survival 101 for public transit! How to survive commuting in Ottawa??? This amazing hand sanitizer reminds me of the beach and keeps me safe from icky germs on the bus and train. Will continue to repurchase!" —Emacsha

Get it from Sephora for $10 (available in 12 scents).

Promising review: "I really love this fan because you can literally hang it or stand it on just about anything. I took it on a 12-hour road trip and stopped for a couple of hours to take a nap, and the fan lasted on high for about 2–3 hours. I still haven’t had to charge it since I got it, but I probably will soon. I have another long drive, and I’m camping, so it’s great to have it with me. It’s also super light but feels like a quality fan. Hardly made noise, and the low hum it did make was soothing to me. I recommend this fan!" —Kelsey O'Leary

Get it from Amazon for $24.22+ (available in six colors). 

Promising review: "I have a touchscreen display in my truck and my wife's car. In the sunlight, fingerprints show up like a crime scene. This product and the cloth remove all "evidence" of using the touch display and without leaving streaks or requiring tons of effort. I find it works best to spray the cloth and then wipe...also the larger bottle is great for me in the truck, and the small one is perfect for my wife's sports car. Also, the cloth is modest in size, and that's a plus too." —Brian A.

Get it from Amazon for $17.99+ (available in two sizes). 

Promising review: "I like to have battery cables in the car for long trips. This cable looks well constructed and comes with a case so it should easily do the job. I have seen people have problems on the road and while others are frequently willing to help - no one has cables in their car. Not me." —Francis P Summers, Jr

Get them from Amazon for $15.97+ (available in different gauges and lengths)

The little pieces are magnetic, so they're less likely to end up underneath the seat!

Promising review: "I love this for road trips. I bought this for our first road trip that was longer than we have ever gone. Now I take it every time we go more than two hours from home. I, the mom, love it the most. I’m always looking for plates now. Haha. A fun activity for the whole family to do that is not just iPad time." —Amanda Gainey

Get it from Amazon for $13.14 (also available in nine other styles). 

Promising review: "I bought these sunglasses because they’re very trendy right now, but I didn’t want to dish out an exorbitant amount of money because the frame isn’t my usual. They block out the sun better than my designer sunglasses. I’m glad I bought them because they are extremely sturdy, just as pictured, and (actually?) they frame my face very nicely!" —Addie

Get two pairs from Amazon for $12.38+ (available in a variety of colors and packs).

Promising review: "These are the perfect size. We are going on a road trip, so I got one for each of my front seats. They're not too bulky, and they hold a fair amount of trash. Love that they are adjustable and have pockets on the outside. Great for holding knickknacks or extra trash bags." —Katlyn

Get it from Amazon for $7.95+ (available in two sizes and six colors). 

Travel Tray is a small business that makes convenient products for easy snacking on the road. 

Promising review: "I bought this for our car seat to use during a road trip. It really came in handy, and it's so easy to clean and reinstall. Bonus that it's snug enough in the cupholder, but not so snug that it makes getting drinks out of the holder hard for the child. I would buy this again." —Emily

Promising review: "Got this for my new car for our summer road trip. Perfect size. Had everything we might have needed." —Happy Primer

Get the 160-piece set from Amazon for $18.36 (also available in an 80-piece set).

Reviewers love that their kids were taking in their surroundings instead of staring at screens!

Regal Games is a small business based in Chicago, Illinois and has been around for over 70 years creating games for all ages. 

Promising review: "I purchased as a gift for my daughter to use in the car with her children. These are perfect to occupy them on long road trips. She keeps them in the seat pocket so they are readily available. The sliding door for each square makes it very easy to play. No added pieces or markers to have to use." —noreen

Get it from Amazon for $12.99 (available in five styles). 

To use it, just hook this onto your u-shaped door latch in your vehicle's doors. This *new* design can fit any car. Btw, you might've seen this on Shark Tank!

Rightline Gear is a small business that designs and manufactures outdoor gear for cars and people. 

Promising review: "Really well made. Very pleased with this product. I tested it on a 2025 Subaru Forester and it works great — no indication of denting the car body when using. Great product! I’ve spent years climbing up hanging on with my toes on the seats when installing pods. Well, no longer." —ALH-Jr

People have also put napkins or disposable face masks in these! 

Promising review: "This is my second time buying it; this car tissue holder makes my car more organized and saves space. I love this car tissue holder! So when my sister got her new car, I ordered this again for her as a gift. She loves it, too. She said the design is amazing; the clip holds on tightly. When she is driving and needs a tissue. No more stopping alongside the road looking for the box. This car tissue case is attractive, elegant, and modern. Good quality!" —Cathy

Get it from Amazon for $9.79+ (available in four colors). 

Promising review: "These are great and pretty strong. I made the mistake and tried another scent after using these, and you have no idea how much I'm still regretting it. The scent lasts long after the oil inside is done, and it hits you as soon as you open your door, without being overbearing." —camelia virgo-evans

Get a pack of four from Amazon for $12.88.

Some color options come with dry-erase markers and an eraser included.

Promising review: "Are you a parent who is sick of picking up everything your kid accidentally drops off their lap while on a car ride? If not, lucky you. If you are… this thing is great! We recently went on a beach vacation that involved a 9-hour drive each way with my 4-year-old. Usually, he drops stuff while playing with it. With this, everything stayed on the tray! It also helped him balance his tablet to watch, held his drink and foodstuff in place without anything spilling, and gave him a space to draw and play on. Easy to take on and off for potty breaks." —Dawn Michele

Get it from Amazon for $25.99+ (available in 11 colors). 

Promising review: "We absolutely love these shoulder pad cushions in our car. The seatbelt, even at its lowest setting, would scratch my neck. I would be left with scratches on my neck as a result. My husband often pulls his shoulder strap out on long trips because he is uncomfortable. Since purchasing these, I no longer get scratches and my husband is comfortable even after eight hours in the car. Great purchase!" —Fourth Grade Teacher

Get it from Amazon for $7.99 (available in 17 colors). 

This comes with a lighter adapter and allows you to plug in four USB chargers and two AC outlets! Plus, it has a built-in fan so it won't overheat.

Promising review: "I purchased this item for long trips with my grandkids to keep snacks cool in my plug-in cooler, but more importantly, for their medication that needs to be refrigerated. It has a cooling fan built into it. A few USB ports to charge electronics like phones and tablets, and regular plug outlets for anything else. I used so many things on it and all at once. Definitely pulled its weight. What a monster workhorse it is. It's compact enough and doesn't take up a lot of space. It's pretty quiet even with the fan running. It's great quality and the functionality is better than I expected. Such a cool little gadget. It would totally make a great gift for someone that travels a lot and spends a lot of time in their car. Will definitely buy this little beauty again." —Ginger

Get it from Amazon for $22.95+ (available in two sizes). 

It's non-slip so your dog can have good traction on it. Plus, you install it by looping it around your headrests — easy peasy!

Promising review: "Perfect for travel. Didn't get to test it much because my pup just HAD to be in the front seat with me the whole time. I bought the front seat cover to match, so I know the material is amazing. Pretty comfortable, canvas-type material. Easily cleaned and mostly water-resistant. Had a slight spill on the front seat cover that was wiped rather quickly, and none transferred to my actual car seat. The adjustable straps and backseat anchors are easy to install." —Ashley C. 

Get it from Amazon for $26.48+ (available in four colors and an optional dog seat belt). 

Make sure to *not* eat while you drive — it's dangerous!

Promising review: "I used it for a 13-hour road trip to Colorado for camping/wheeling, and it held up great. So nice to be able to throw snacks, fries, or whatever on there while I was driving. Perfect arm's length for everything I needed for the long drives. When I got home, I just removed the table part and used the big drink holder. Perfect to have a large water bottle in one and a big coffee tumbler in the other." —SamoanJoe

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* You Need Comfy Shoes If You're Going On A Trip, So Here Are 30 Pairs

* Reviewers Say They *Never* Travel Without These 31 Products, So It's Time To Start Packing Them For Your Own Trips

Plus, travel wallets, portable chargers, and finds from Walmart.

BuzzFeed Shopping is service journalism first: our writers and editors spend all day shopping so you don’t have to, vetting products, fact-checking brand claims, and surfacing what actually helps in real life. We center readers over revenue, recommend products with authenticity (using real experiences, not ad-speak), and reflect our diverse audience, inclusive of a variety of price points, people, and needs. We cut through fake deals, favor useful info over glossy fluff, and recommend both budget and splurge options with context so you can decide what’s right for you — and still have a little fun along the way.

The reviews for this post have been edited for length and/or clarity.