Sometimes the right gear makes the trip, especially if you're traveling with little ones. Over the past four weeks, we asked USA TODAY 10Best readers to vote for their must-have Family Travel Essential, and the results are in.
The winning essential, the Kids Ultimate U.S. Road Trip Atlas, gets kids interested in a trip both before and during a multi-state road trip. This family-centric atlas by National Geographic includes amusing trivia along with unusual stopping points and wacky roadside attractions.
Runner-up for Best Family Travel Essential, the Life360 app helps mom and dad keep tabs on the whole crew, especially during those times when different family members are doing different things while on vacation.
The top 10 winners in the category Best Family Travel Essential are as follows:
- Kids Ultimate U.S. Road Trip Atlas
- Life360
- Ride-On Carry-On
- Joovy Hook
- Take 'N' Play Anywhere Magnetic Games
- BabyBjorn Travel Crib Light
- Cash Passport
- Fujifilm Instax Mini
- Kidz Gear Headphones
- Pognae Hipseat
Other nominees in this category included Mad Libs, Trunki Suitcase, Vapur Anti-Bottle, CARES Airplane Safety Harness, YOYO Stroller, Gate Check Bags for Carseat or Stroller, Patagonia Lightweight Travel Courier, Neat Solutions Table Topper, Mom Maps and Postino.
A panel of experts picked the initial 20 nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote. Experts Katie Dillon (La Jolla Mom), Kyle McCarthy (MyFamilyTravels.com) and Eileen Ogintz (Taking the Kids) were chosen for their expertise in the family travel industry.
10Best and USA TODAY extend their congratulations to all the winners. The contest was promoted on 10Best and USA TODAY.
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The Experts
Katie Dillon
Katie Dillon writes the luxury family travel and... Read More
Katie Dillon writes the luxury family travel and lifestyle site, La Jolla Mom, named after her seaside community in San Diego. Before settling in La Jolla, she and her husband spent seven years as expats in London and then Hong Kong where her now 7-year-old daughter was born. Katie's knowledge of luxury travel stems from extensive first-hand experience--her family lived in a Four Seasons Hotel for most of their time overseas. She is also the San Diego editor for USA TODAY/10Best, a contributor to Four Seasons Magazine and never fully unpacked. You can follow her at @LaJollaMom on twitter and Facebook.
Katie Dillon

Katie Dillon writes the luxury family travel and lifestyle site, La Jolla Mom, named after her seaside community in San Diego. Before settling in La Jolla, she and her husband spent seven years as expats in London and then Hong Kong where her now 7-year-old daughter was born. Katie's knowledge of luxury travel stems from extensive first-hand experience--her family lived in a Four Seasons Hotel for most of their time overseas. She is also the San Diego editor for USA TODAY/10Best, a contributor to Four Seasons Magazine and never fully unpacked. You can follow her at @LaJollaMom on twitter and Facebook.
Kyle McCarthy
Kyle McCarthy is the co-founder and editor of... Read More
Kyle McCarthy is the co-founder and editor of Family Travel Forum, the trusted resource for family vacation planners since 1996. FTF’s award-winning publications (MyFamilyTravels.com, America’s Most Popular Family Vacations, and The Family Vacationist) provide expert and user reviews of global family vacations ranging from eco-adventures to city breaks, multi-generational cruises, resorts, theme parks and more. Each spring, FTF runs a Teen Travel Writing Scholarship for students 13-18 who blog about their trips to win cash grants. Through FamilyTravelConsulting, she advises the travel trade on ever-changing family needs, smarter marketing and conferences. Ms. McCarthy, author of a dozen Frommer’s guidebooks, also contributes to US News, CNN and other publications. She can be found on most social networks @familytravel4um.
Kyle McCarthy

Kyle McCarthy is the co-founder and editor of Family Travel Forum, the trusted resource for family vacation planners since 1996. FTF’s award-winning publications (MyFamilyTravels.com, America’s Most Popular Family Vacations, and The Family Vacationist) provide expert and user reviews of global family vacations ranging from eco-adventures to city breaks, multi-generational cruises, resorts, theme parks and more. Each spring, FTF runs a Teen Travel Writing Scholarship for students 13-18 who blog about their trips to win cash grants. Through FamilyTravelConsulting, she advises the travel trade on ever-changing family needs, smarter marketing and conferences. Ms. McCarthy, author of a dozen Frommer’s guidebooks, also contributes to US News, CNN and other publications. She can be found on most social networks @familytravel4um.
Eileen Ogintz
Eileen Ogintz, a leading national expert on family... Read More
Eileen Ogintz, a leading national expert on family travel, is the author of the Tribune Interactive syndicated column Taking the Kids that appears around the country, creator of the popular website TakingtheKids.com and co-chair of the TMS Family Travel Conference which draws top family travel influencers and major travel brands. She is the author of the 11-book Kids Guideseries; The Kid’s Guide to Acadia National Park is being released in April 2019. The Kid’s Guide to NYC is now in its 3d edition and The Kid’s Guide to Washington, DC the second edition.
Eileen Ogintz

Eileen Ogintz, a leading national expert on family travel, is the author of the Tribune Interactive syndicated column Taking the Kids that appears around the country, creator of the popular website TakingtheKids.com and co-chair of the TMS Family Travel Conference which draws top family travel influencers and major travel brands. She is the author of the 11-book Kids Guideseries; The Kid’s Guide to Acadia National Park is being released in April 2019. The Kid’s Guide to NYC is now in its 3d edition and The Kid’s Guide to Washington, DC the second edition.