I’m not one to plop the kids in front of the TV to keep them busy at home, but traveling is a whole different thing. When everyone’s stuck in a confined space for hours at a time, boredom can hit an all-time high and if it reaches the whining, tantrum or naughtiness stage, the whole travel day can be ruined.
We’ve all been there, and it stinks. It more than stinks; it sucks, and the best way to prevent it from happening in the first place is to be prepared with entertainment. Keep yourself and your kids busy and happy.
Tons of Netflix shows and movies are available for offline viewing, so download them on to your devices before you leave home and you’ll be ready for anything. It’s Netflix-on-the-go and it’s the best thing since well, Netflix itself.
To find downloadable Netflix shows, go to the main menu on your Netflix app and scroll down to “Available for Download,” and you’ll see an enormous number of great entertainment options.
If you’re in the mood for some holiday spirit as you head over the river and through the woods, here are some festive movies you may enjoy:
The Legend of Frosty the Snowman
Dreamworks Home: Home For the Holidays
How The Grinch Stole Christmas
And for some non-holiday entertainment:
Shannon Gurnee says
We love watching Netflix in our home. We’ve even watched it on the road and in hotels. There are so many great tv shows and movies to watch!
Tim B says
I haven’t seen Stranger Things yet. I’m going to have to get a Netflix subscription to see what I’ve been missing out on.
Cyn Gagen says
I love this feature SO much! I use it all the time when we’re on the road.
Angela Ricardo Bethea says
Netflix has a lot of great downloadable contents. From cartoons to action movies, a lot of selection to choose from.
Lynndee says
There are so many great movies and shows to watch on Netflix and that’s why we love it. Going to check for those holiday movies later.
Dhemz says
It’s been awhile since we cancelled our subscription, and I kind of miss it. I might go back to Netflix next year. Thanks for sharing!
Tara says
I love this. Now we can watch Netflix without having to be connected to the internet. I’ll have to check out which shows are available to download.
Stacie says
We love our Netflix. I am so glad they now offer downloadable content. It’s perfect for road trips.
Amy says
We love netflix. My son watches it daily. He loves that he can download shows so he can watch them while on his hour long bus ride to school.
Shannon Gurnee says
We love watching Netflix in our home! There are so many television shows and movies available on Netflix.
Carol Cassara says
Talk about making the road trip even more fun with the shows and the movies that you can download! I think this is pretty cool! Netflix is really a life saver.
Up Run for Life Healthy Lifestyle Blog says
We love watching shows on netflix. I had no idea that you could download netflix shows so that you can take them on the go. I will have to do this next time we travel.
Heather Johnson says
We watch our shows and movies on Netflix all the time! I had not been aware of the download option yet!
Kristen from The Road to Domestication says
I had no idea there were things you can download off Netflix! Oh my gosh! You literally just saved my life! (From my 15-month-old twins LOL)
Alicia Trautwein says
My son uses netflix all the time! We haven’t used the downloadable options yet, but I definitely plan on downloading a few things for my daughter tabler for our next trip!
Terri Beavers says
My kids are all grown. Now they are using Netflix to keep my “grands” occupied when they are traveling. Wish we had something like this when we were raising our children.
Tomi C says
Love Netflix and I downloaded our first movie a month or so ago and love it! I don’t know how my parents survived road trips when I was a kid. I mean no DVD player just scratching cassettes and in and out radio stations. Me? I embrace all of the latest road trip survival technology there is.
steph parrell says
Got to love Netflix. Holiday traveling is something I have never done but would love to someday as weird as that sounds.
Farrah Less G. says
Believe it or not we don’t have cable for years now. All we need is Netflix a smart tv or ipad so we can watch movie wherever and whenever we want. We just finish watching the 2 Season of the Stranger Things I am so hooked by that TV series.
AnnMarie John says
If you’ve been on a road trip with kids, you know that food and entertainment are things that must NEVER be forgotten. Netflix is a lifesaver and it definitely makes things easier! This is awesome!
Our Family World says
Thank you for these suggestions. These movies and shows will surely keep the kids pre-occupied. We will be traveling a little this holiday season so I guess I will have to get my Netflix list ready!
Jocelyn at Hip Mama's Place says
Entertainment is really important when we’re on the road or in flight. I think Netflix is one of the best options especially for the kids! Love this!
Kiwi says
I really need to be apart of this Netflix Stream Team. I just binged on Stranger Things 1 and 2 and I am super looking forward to watching a bunch of holiday rom-coms to get me in the lovey dovey spirit!
Toni | Boulder Locavore says
These are really great ideas! Saving these for our holiday travels!
janis says
I can’t imagine life with kids without Netflix. There are so many fun family-friendly things to download, quality entertainment that mom and dad will also appreciate.
Sarah says
Netflix is such a life saver when we are traveling. We travel a lot during the holidays and it sure does come in handy.
Sara Welch says
Netflix has really changed how a road trips happens. The rides are no longer filled with boredom.
Angela Milnes says
Oh wow, this is going to be awesome! Now my daughter won’t be bored on longer trips!
Marissa Zurfluh says
Traveling with kids has seriously never been easier. They love playing on tablets while we drive.
Ra'Nesha says
Netfflix is our only source of entertainment so I’m excited about any new updates or features.
Chelley Martinka says
My kids are Beat Bugs obsessed. We don’t like a lot of shoes, but sometimes, in this season, we all need it!
Heather says
We’ve been all about the road trip this year. We have seen some amazing destinations, but the kids are tiring of the travel. Love that Netflix is doing this!
Erin says
It’s almost hard to imagine a time without entertainment during long trips (we used to count VW bugs lol). We will definitely be watching our favorite movies on Netflix during our next trip home!
Amy Desrosiers says
I love Stranger Things so much! I think my kids might be too young for it, but I would love to introduce it to them some day!
Kathy says
I love Netflix! I use to go off my friends, but we finally decided to get it for ourselves. It’s been really nice. We don’t have cable, so it’s great to have Netflix.
Brianne says
Netflix really has the best shows right now on TV. I am so into everything right now like Crown, Ozark, and Stranger Things!
Estelle Erasmus says
I love Netflix because it offers something for every person in the house. My daughter can watch her cartoons and me and my husband can binge watch our favorite shows.
Sinisa says
Netflix is truly wonderful. It made travel so much more fun.i love cooking and watching Netflix too
Amy Desrosiers says
We are so thankful that Netflix offers some of their content for download. My husband fills up his iPad when he travels for work.
Ada says
I had no idea that you could download movies or tv shows from Netflix. What a gamechanger!
Mommy Moment says
Being able to download content for offline viewing has been a lifesaver! Perfect for that long wait at the doctor’s office.
Travel Blogger says
This has been a lifesaver for us! We have about a four hour drive to see my family for the holidays, and I have to have something for my 3 year old to watch so I am so thrilled that Netflix has shows to download!
Pam says
I love that Netflix offers downloads now. It’s great for when we are traveling with my granddaughter.
TColeman says
This is definitely news to me! I am gonna have to stock up on some entertainment from the app before we travel.
Christie says
I’ve never heard of this! We’ll have to download this for our next trip!
Pam says
It is perfect for long road trips. That is mainly what we use it for.
Autumn Reo says
The option to download from Netflix changed our lives in travel this past year. Thanks for the reminder! Gotta get all loaded up before we take off on holiday travel!
Cathi says
Download for later? Are you kidding me? How did I, the biggest Netflix fan on the planet, not know this? Cheers!!
Vera Sweeney says
Downloading Netflix will make life easier on road trips! Our kids will love this!
Amy @ Marvelous Mommy says
Wow, I didn’t even know this was a thing! I will definitely be using Netflix-on-the-go!
Scott says
We’re huge fans of downloading on Netflix. Especially when travelling – you never know what’ll be on TV when stranded in a hotel!
Mjchristine says
I just saved your list, this would really help me with the kids at home so they could just sit and watch while I can do my chores.
Heather @ Kraus House Mom says
I never realized you could download and watch without wifi, this is a huge game changer for me. Forget the kids, I’m doing this for myself on my next trip.
Joline says
We love Netflix. I cannot imagine a time when it did not exist lol! I don’t think we can download movies here though, hopefully that feature becomes available soon.
Neely Moldovan says
Netflix is my favorite thing! So great for long flghts or car trips!
Lisa Favre says
I love the idea of being able to have Netflix available during our family trips. Especially road trips. This trick even helps when we’re at a restaurant and there’s no wi-fi!
Heather says
I love my Netflix. It’s great that they offer the option of downloading to watch later. I need more space onmy devices!
Jeni Hawkins says
Download on Netflix~!? WHAT!? That’s amazing and will come in handy on my drive to California from Texas in January! There are some really boring parts of the drive and this is perfect for entertainment!
Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle says
I’ve been using this new feature from Netflix extensively since they came out with it. It’s made travel so much better for me.
Robin rue says
We have a road trip coming up on New Years weekend, so trust me – we will be streaming the Netflix for the whole 3 hour drive!!
Jaime says
We have a 6-hour drive coming up – and how did I not realize some of my son’s favorite Netflix shows were available for download??? I’m definitely going to have to get a few movies or shows before that trip!
Michelle Waller says
Netflix has been a total lifesaver for us more than once. I didn’t know that you could download the movies. I am going to have to do that before our next big trip.