What Are The Best Family Road Trip Movies?

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Family Road Trip Movies

Are you headed out on a road trip with kids? Make sure to have some Family Road Trip Movies that are kid-friendly. And of course, we know, it’s not only about the kids. The truth is, whether it is live-action or animated, movies appeal to all ages and are perfect for family travel. Family road trip movies are great conversation starters when you are on the road. And best of all, they keep the kids entertained and it helps avoid the dreaded are we nearly there yet?

Gosh, don’t you love movies! Honestly, there’s nothing like a movie that’s great for the whole family. It is practically one of the best ways to enjoy quality family time. I always look forward to movie nights with my family. It’s a great time to let loose, relax, and share a laugh (or maybe a tear or two) with the people you love. But mainly, it’s a great way to bond with your family. I’m sure we all agree without a doubt that family movies are the absolute best, so why do we confine the fun to just the living room? How about we take them with us on the road.

To help on your next road trip with kids, BE Family Travel has put together the best family road trip movies just for you! In this post, we will highlight how to watch family road trip movies in the car. Plus our review of the best family road trip movies that you will want to watch, along with links, if you would like to rent or buy a movie.

How To Watch Family Road Trip Movies

Before we delve into the what to watch, let’s talk about how to take the fun on the road.

Unfortunately, not all cars come equipped with entertainment screens for the back seat
occupants but do not worry if your car doesn’t have one, because there are a thousand and one ways to enjoy family road trip movies in your car.

These travel movies for kids can be watched on a tablet or portable DVD player. Remember to bring a charging cable to use in the car. And if you have multiple kids watching different road trip movies then also bring kid’s wireless headphones.

BE Family Travel Tray

The BE Family Travel Tray will hold your child’s activities. It hooks over the headrest of a front seat and then rests in the child’s lap. It is designed to be used with a car seat, a booster seat, or for a child who uses a regular seat belt. The kid’s activity tray includes a tablet holder, which is perfect for watching family road trip movies. Available in red, blue, or pink.

SanDisk Connect Wireless Stick

We also love to use the SanDisk Connect Wireless Stick which is a flash drive reinvented to work with your smartphone and tablet. You can wirelessly access your media with the wireless stick in your pocket or across the room. 32GB of storage means you can keep all your content on the drive and access it from any device, no wires or Internet required. Isn’t that great?

And best of all, you can even stream HD videos and music to up to three devices at the same time. This is perfect when you’re on the road and multiple kids want to watch different movies, on different devices, all at once!

Be sure to read our article about the Best Road Trip Accessories for Kids and don’t miss our favorite Family Road Trip Audiobooks or the Essential Family Road Trip Checklist.

What are the Best Family Movies for Road Trips?

Well, now that that’s all sorted out, here are our favorite family road trip movies that are rated G or PG and are perfect for watching on a family road trip. Please decide for yourself what movies are suitable for your child(ren) to watch.

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27 Best Family Road Trip Movies

Here is our review of the 27 Best Family Road Trip Movies to watch with your kids.

We have included the IMDb rating for each movie, which is a score that provides user ratings of films. The IMDb rating scale allows users to rate films on a scale of one to ten.

1. Finding Nemo

Finding Nemo is an animated movie, released in 2003, with its second part released in 2016. Marlin is an overly cautious clownfish. When his son, Nemo, swims too close to the surface and is caught by a diver, then Marlin must set out to find him. The movie runs for about an hour and forty minutes and has an impressive IMDb rating of 8.4/10. This family favorite would be the ideal choice for family road travel. Watch and purchase Finding Nemo here.

2. Moana

This CG animated movie was released in 2016 and has been making waves ever since. An adventurous teenager named Moana sails out on a daring mission to save her people. During her voyage, Moana meets Maui, who guides her to become a master way-finder. Together they sail across the open seas on an action-packed adventure. The movie has a runtime of about two hours and has an IMDb rating of 7.6/10. Another great family movie, perfect for road travel. You’re welcome! Watch and purchase Moana here.

3. Up

Released in 2009, this family favorite has been schooling us about life! An elderly widower named Carl Fredricksen fulfills a lifelong dream of tying thousands of balloons to his house and flies away to the South American wilderness. Then he discovers a little boy named Russell is a stowaway aboard the balloon-powered house. This animated film
has a run time of an hour and thirty minutes and had an IMDb rating of 8.1/10. It is
another great choice for road travel. Get ready to wipe some tears though! Watch and
purchase Up here.

4. Frozen

Frozen is a 3D computer-animated musical fantasy movie. It was released in 2013 and is perfect for all ages. This is the story of a fearless princess, Anna, who sets off on a journey to find her estranged sister, Elsa, whose icy powers have inadvertently trapped their kingdom in an eternal winter. The movie runs for roughly an hour and fifty minutes and has an IMDb rating of 7.4/10. So let it go! Add this family favorite to the agenda for the next road trip. Watch and purchase Frozen.

5. Mulan

Disney released this American animated musical historical action-adventure film in 1998. And there is a live-action adaptation of the animated movie released in 2020. To save her aging father from serving in the Chinese Imperial Army, a fearless young woman called Mulan disguises herself as a man and goes to battle northern invaders in China. This empowering classic has a runtime of an hour and thirty minutes and an IMDb rating of 7.6/10. Let’s get down to business; put this on the list! Watch and purchase Mulan here.

6. Finding Dory

Finding Dory is a spin-off/sequel to Finding Nemo. Dory is a blue tang fish who suffers from memory loss. But she can remember that she became separated from her parents when she was a child. So, with the help of her friends Nemo and Marlin, Dory sets off on an epic adventure to find them. This 2016 American 3D animation has an IMDb rating of 7.3/10 and has a runtime of two hours. As always, its guaranteed fun! Watch and purchase Finding Dory here.

7. The Lion King

First released in 1994, this Disney animated musical drama film is one of every family’s
favorites. There is a photorealistic computer-animated remake in 2019 that journeys to the African savanna. Simba, a future king, overcomes betrayal and tragedy to assume his rightful place on Pride Rock. With a runtime of an hour and a half and an IMDb rating of 8.5/10. This movie is another great option for family road trips. Watch and purchase The Lion King here.

8. The Little Mermaid

Another great classic movie perfect for family road trips. Little Mermaid is an American animated musical drama film that was released in 1989. We’re sure every mom today remembers watching this movie as a little girl and dreaming of being a mermaid! Ariel is a fun-loving and mischievous mermaid who is fascinated with life on land. One one of her visits to the surface she falls in love with a human prince. Ariel makes a dangerous deal with the sea witch to become human for three days, but her plan goes wrong! This movie runs for about an hour and a half and has an IMDb rating of 7.6/10. Enjoy these under the sea adventures on your next road trip with the kids. Watch and purchase The Little Mermaid here.

9. Toy Story

This comedy film series was first released in 1995, with three sequels in the decades that followed. Toy Story takes place in a world where toys come to life when humans are not present. Woody, a cowboy doll, is Andy’s favorite. But when Buzz Lightyear arrives the space hero takes Andy’s room by storm. As they evolve from rivals competing for their owner’s affection, they must work together and become friends to escape and be reunited. The first movie has a runtime of an hour and a half and an IMDb rating of 8.3/10. The movie series contains four movies. So get ready to buckle up and press play. Watch and purchase Toy Story here.

10. Home Alone

This American Christmas comedy film was first released in 1990. Kevin McCallister is a bratty 8-year-old boy who is accidentally left behind when his family goes to Paris for the holidays. He assumes his wish to have no family has come true, but suddenly realizes he must protect his family home from two burglars and the adventures that ensue. Home Alone has a runtime of an hour and forty- eight minutes and has an IMDb rating of 7.6/10. The Home Alone movie series has five enjoyable movies, perfect for your next road trip. Watch and purchase Home Alone here.

11. Mr. Bean’s Holiday

Ah! Mr. Bean, you have got to love him! Mr. Bean’s holiday is a 2007 comedy film based on the British television series. Mr. Bean is going on holiday to the south of France, looking for a quiet and sunny trip to the Riviera. However, his vacation doesn’t go as smoothly as expected when he faces a series of misunderstandings and unfortunate coincidences. The movie has a run time of an hour and thirty minutes and a 6.4/10 IMDb rating. Watch and purchase Mr. Bean’s Holiday here.

12. Mary Poppins

Mary Poppins is a 1964 musical fantasy film. Talk about a classic! An English nanny reconnects a father and mother with their two children. This movie runs for a little
over two hours and has a 7.8/10 rating on IMDb. Another great classic family movie that can be enjoyed on the road. Watch and purchase Mary Poppins here.

13. Paddington

This live-action comedy film was released in 2014 and has a runtime of an hour and thirty-
five minutes. It is based on the famous Paddington Bear and is enjoyed by people of all ages. Paddington follows a young bear who finds himself in a series of comic misadventures while trying to avoid a museum taxidermist. With an IMDb rating of 7.2/10, this laughter-filled movie is great for family road trips with kids. Watch and purchase Paddignton here.

14. Dolittle

Keep your next road trip fun by playing this 2020 fantasy adventure film. Based on the Doctor Dolittle book series written by Hugh Lofting. The eccentric Dr. Dolittle sets sail on an epic adventure to a mythical island, regaining his wit and courage as he crosses old adversaries and discovers wondrous creatures. Dr. Dolittle is a children’s favorite, with a runtime of one hour and 40 minutes and IMDb rating of 5.4/10. Or you can opt for the classic movie, Dr. Dolittle, released in 1998. Either way, you would not regret it. Watch and purchase Dolittle here.

15. Night at the Museum

A fantasy film trilogy that began in 2006 and ended in 2014. When Larry starts working as a night security guard, a seemingly easy job turns out to be a wild ride when he discovers that an ancient spell has caused the museum “inhabitants” to come to life. The first movie has an IMDb rating of 6.4/10 and it runs for an hour and forty-nine minutes. This fun-filled film is a guaranteed laugh. That’s why it is on our best movies for a road trip list. Watch and purchase Night at The Museum here.

16. The Sound of Music

The Sound of Music is another amazing family classic. A woman, Maria, leaves an Austrian convent to become a governess to the children of a Naval officer widower. Her charm and songs soon win the hearts of the children. Released in 1965, this American musical drama has an 8/10 rating on IMDb and has a runtime of three hours! Although it’s lengthy, it’s a perfect family movie for road trip entertainment. Watch and purchase The Sound Of Music here.

17. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

Released in 2001, this family fantasy franchise boasts of eight high grossing movies. Based on the wildly popular J.K. Rowling’s book about a young boy who discovers on his 11th birthday that he is the orphaned boy of two powerful wizards and he has unique magical powers. The first movie has a run time of 2 hours and 35 minutes and has a 7.6/10 IMDb rating. Perfect for keeping the entertainment ball rolling during family road trips. Watch and purchase Harry Potter here.

18. The Wizard of Oz

Whew! The classics really deserve all the accolades. When a tornado rips through Kansas, Dorothy, and her dog, Toto, are whisked away in their house to the magical land of Oz. The Wizard of Oz is a fantasy musical, released in 1939 and runs for an hour and fifty- two minutes. It has an IMDb rating of 8/10. What a movie! It is widely regarded as one of the greatest movies of all time. It is genuinely one of the best family movies for road trips. Watch and purchase The Wizard of Oz here.

19. Back to the Future

This 1985 science-fiction movie is another film that’s perfect for road trips. Marty McFly is blasted to 1955 in the time machine created by Doc. Brown and finds himself in a time-shattering situation that jeopardizes his future. Back to the Future runs for about two hours and has an 8.6/10 IMDb rating. Watch and purchase Back to the Future here.

20. Free Willy

Released in 1995, Free Willy is a family drama with a runtime of an hour and fifty- two minutes. Two worlds separated by water and land come together in this heartwarming adventure about the friendship between a troubled young boy and an orca whale. With a 6/10 rating on IMDb, it is another good selection for family road trips. Watch and purchase Free Willy here.

21. E.T: The Extra-Terrestrial

Another family science-fiction classic that had us balling our eyes out. A stranded alien needs to phone home – he meets the suburban kids who help him get there. Released in 1982, E.T. has a runtime of two hours and was rated 7.8/10 on IMDb. E.T. is an excellent choice for your next family road trip. Watch and purchase E.T: The Extra-Terrestrial here.

22. Coco

Jeez, who is cutting onions? Coco is a 3D computer-animated movie full of emotions. A boy who dreams of becoming a great musician embarks on a journey to uncover the mysteries behind his ancestor’s stories and traditions. Released in 2017, and it runs for an hour and forty- eight minutes. Rated 8/10 on IMDb, this family movie is a perfect choice for road trips. Just be sure to have some tissues handy! Watch and purchase Coco here.

23. Elf

Elf is a 2003 family-friendly Christmas comedy. One Christmas Eve long ago, a baby crawled into Santa’s sack of toys. Raised as an elf Buddy goes looking for his true place in the world — in New York City. This Christmas favorite is sure to make you laugh, with a run time of an hour and thirty- seven minutes and an IMDb rating of 6.7 out of 10. A perfect choice for that time of the year, especially if you’re taking a road trip with kids for the holidays. Enjoy! Watch and purchase Elf here.

24. The Parent Trap

The Parent Trap is a 1998 fun family movie. Identical twins switch places and reunite their parents. The romantic comedy runs for about two hours and is rated 6.6 out of 10 on IMDb. Well, if it is on this list, you know it’s the right choice! Watch and purchase The Parent Trap here.

25. Inside out

Inside out is a 3D computer-animated comedy film. The emotions live in Headquarters, the control center inside Riley’s mind, where they help advise her through everyday life, including her move to a new city. The movie was released in 2015 and has an 8.1/10 IMDb rating with a one hour and forty- five minute run time. Inside out is kid-friendly and fun! It’s a great choice for your next road trip. Watch and purchase Inside-Out here.

26. Despicable Me

Despicable me is a 2010 3D animated comedy film trilogy. A supervillain discovers he has a heart while using three adorable tots for his latest scheme. The first film has a 1 hour and
thirty- five minutes runtime and a 7.6/10 IMDb rating. Despicable Me is hilarious as it is
heartwarming, and best of all, it has minions! We hope you enjoy this on your next road
trip with children. Watch and purchase Despicable Me here.

27. Madagascar

Madagascar is a 2005 computer-animated comedy film. A pack of not-so-wild animals experiences some serious culture shock when they move from the Big Apple to the Mighty Jungle. It has a runtime of roughly an hour and a half and an IMDb rating of 6.9 out of 10. With talking animals and lots of fun, this movie is a guaranteed choice for your next road trip. Have fun! Watch and purchase Madagascar here.

It’s a Wrap for the Family Road Trip Movies

Well, we hope you trust our judgment on this and you take at least one of these family
favorites out with you on your next road trip. Many of these movies are classics that you will remember watching as a kid. Now you have the opportunity to re-watch them and share them with your child(ren) on your next family road trip. Happy travels!

And remember, let’s Be family so you can enjoy the journey!

For more about family travel check out these posts:
Best Audiobooks for Family Road Trips
How to Survive a Road Trip with Kids
Essential Family Road Trip Checklist
Road Trip Activities for Kids Age 4-8

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