39 Million Families Hit the Road: What to Pack for Kids' Feet

Key facts

On May 11, 2026, AAA projected that 45 million Americans would travel at least 50 miles from home over Memorial Day weekend, with 39.1 million of them driving. That volume sets a new record for the holiday and marks the unofficial opening of the 2026 summer road-trip season. For families with children, hours in a car seat create specific foot-hygiene conditions, including heat, moisture buildup, and limited opportunity to change footwear, that podiatrists link to blisters and fungal infections.

• 39.1 million Americans are projected to travel by car over Memorial Day weekend 2026, the highest number on record, according to AAA.
• The American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) advises that wet or sweaty shoes should be dried completely before the next wearing to prevent bacteria or fungus from growing.
• APMA recommends packing extra sneakers or protective water shoes on any trip that includes beach, lake, or river activities where footwear will get wet.

What it means for parents

A long car journey compresses kids' feet inside closed shoes for hours at a time. Cabin heat and limited airflow raise skin temperature, which increases sweating. The APMA notes that keeping feet dry is the primary defense against athlete's foot and blisters on vacation, and that changing socks partway through the day is a practical way to manage moisture. For a multi-day road trip, that math adds up quickly: podiatric guidance broadly suggests packing at least two pairs of socks per child per day, with extras for any water or outdoor activities, rather than relying on laundry access along the route.

Rest stops are a useful reset point. When kids climb out to stretch, parents can swap socks, check for hot spots or redness on the heel and toe area, and allow feet to air briefly before re-entering the car. The APMA specifically calls out athlete's foot risk at hotel pools and public showers, which are common stops on summer road trips. Wearing flip-flops in pool areas and drying feet thoroughly before putting socks back on reduces that risk without adding significant packing weight.

Background and context

Tinea pedis, commonly called athlete's foot, is a fungal infection that thrives in warm, moist environments. The APMA advises washing feet daily with soap and water, drying carefully between the toes, and using foot powder when sweating is expected. For children, who tend to run through sprinklers, wade in streams, and splash at rest stops, moisture exposure is frequent and often goes unnoticed until irritation or itching sets in. Blisters present a related risk: the APMA notes that socks with large seams or a poor fit can force toes together, creating friction points that become painful on long walking days at a destination.

The Memorial Day travel surge is consistent with a broader post-2022 pattern of record-setting holiday road trips. According to AAA, 87 percent of Memorial Day 2026 travelers chose to drive rather than fly, making car travel the dominant mode for American families this summer. Canadian families face a similar pattern: summer long weekends drive the highest domestic highway volumes of the year across Ontario, British Columbia, and Quebec corridors, where foot-hygiene conditions in warm cars are equivalent to those in the U.S.

Takeaway

The 2026 summer road-trip season is underway, and foot hygiene is a practical packing priority rather than an afterthought. A simple rule: two pairs of socks per child per day, plus a designated rest-stop sock swap on drives longer than four hours. Keep wet shoes out of sealed bags until they can air dry, use flip-flops at hotel pools, and check young feet for redness or hot spots whenever you stop. For long stretches in a closed car, combed-cotton socks with a smooth, seamless toe reduce the friction and moisture buildup that lead to blisters and fungal irritation on travel days.