I'd rent a big SUV, like a Surburban, Toyota Sequoia, Ford Expedition. At least gas prices are down. Or, there's always a minivan. I don't know of any cars that have a backseat big enough fit two adults and a car seat comfortably. Plus, you will need room for everyone's luggage etc.

Yeah....the Escalade/Yukon-XL/Suburban (longer-length versions) would have the most room by far!! Their big V-8's have plenty of power too. Most minivans can't even get out of their own way, especially with people & a load of luggage! Even the "Full-size" cars now aren't all that roomy!

Faron

Town and Country van would meet that criteria.

I rented a minivan for a group of us to travel to an event a couple of hours from home because all of us had cars that would only seat 5. I was shocked by how much I liked it! It was a Dodge Caravan I believe and seated 7 people. Lots of seat room, leg room and room for luggage, too. I'd really recommend it for a road trip.

Road trip. You need luggage space too. We love our Ford Flex for that kind of thing. Third row can be up with enough leg room for honest to goodness adults or down for a ton of luggage room.

The vehicle is wide so it's going to have more room than most across--though even it won't comfortably hold a car seat and two adults in the second row, I don't think anything will. I often haul dd in her car seat and two more kids in that second row, but I wouldn't want to have to squeeze adults in there for any distance.

Probably I'd spilt the third row for luggage storage and seating and put one adult back there.

I would also look into a minivan with 3rd row seating. I drove a Toyota Sienna to a conference and it was really nice. I've also driven the Ford Flex and really liked that, too. It seems like a great car for those who need 3rd row seating. We are not used to driving something as large as a Suburban or Expedition, so I'd try to get the minivan or Flex. I have a Subaru Outback, but that is not large enough for your needs.

Go for a minivan. Lots of room, easy to get in and out and they drive more like a car.

I'd do some research on renting a conversion minivan. Roomy and soooo comfortable. TVs, swivel seats…all kinds of options.

Here is a place that rents conversion vans, 7 passengers, $800/wk w/ 1500 free miles. Comes with:V/DVTVer

Thank you all! The SUV and minivan suggestions are great--I will look into those models. And tibbrix, I had never heard of conversion vans until now. I will check out your link. If we lived in Canada I would give this van serious consideration... but I'm not sure if my relatives would ever recover from the trip!

ROFL! and get this t-shirt for everyone to wear (read the reviews for a good laugh, started by the first one)

Years ago some friends of mine had vacationed on Martha's Vineyard and they had a conversion van. I can't remember why, but they couldn't bring it home with them and needed someone to bring it off the Vineyard for them, some logistical thing. My sister and friends were also there and offered to drive the van home for them. Well, my sister told me that, at first they laughed because they thought the thing was so tacky, but then she said,' But that thing is AWESOME!" and told me they had a blast in it on the ride home from the ferry to Boston, "Sooo comfortable!"… It's that story that made me think of a conversion van for your long road trip.

We rented a Tahoe on our last trip and it was plenty wide, but luggage space was minimal if we used the 3rd seat. We rented a minivan a few years ago for a half-cross country road trip and it was great for a road trip. So easy to fold down un-needed seats and easy to get in and out of with walking space around the seats. The luggage fit even with seats all in use - we only used all when visiting friends one weekend, but it fit 4 adults and 2 kids with car seats comfortably and we would have been able to fit our luggage too.

The SUV's just don't have that same space. Now with all of them I worry about an accident and where the luggage would fly as there is nothing containing the luggage in place and keeping it from flying onto a person in the car.

I don't know if you can rent a truck with a bed cover. That might be worth looking at. We have an F350 and plenty of luggage space in the back of the truck under the bed cover. We have hard case suitcases so no worries about anything getting wet, gas mileage averages 16-19mpg with the diesel and the cab is super roomy. Two male adults can sit on each side of the car seat in the middle (Britax and very large) without touching the seat and no worries about flying luggage inside in an accident.

If you go the SUV route, be sure the second seat is a bench seat and not divided.

We were upgraded to a Mini Van while traveling, plenty of room for 6 adults and luggage.

What no one told us was that the sliding door could be closed with the push of a button. We wrestled with and pulled on that door each time we got in and out.

It wasn't until I turned the van in at the airport that we saw the valet use the button....

ML

ML

We are a family of 6, with two of our kids being adult sized teens. I drive a Toyota Sequoia SUV that seats eight (middle row bench where each seat folds down separately). Interior is mostly the same as a Suburban in the seating rows, but has a smaller trunk area so less storage (think the suburban is 18" longer). We can easily fit all our luggage but if hauling extra stuff, we add a car carrier up top. For example, we are road tripping to NC next week for spring break and bringing our bike rack on the back as well as carrier up top for things like skateboards, helmets and sports gear. When we road tripped to Charleston last year and were not bringing bikes, etc., we easily fit our luggage in the trunk and didn't need the top carrier.

That said, when flying to a destination and needing a rental, we have always gotten minivans with bucket seats in the middle row. Much better for traveling/sightseeing as it's much easier getting everyone in and out of the car, unlike our SUV which requires putting seats down and climbing out from the way back. They also get much better gas mileage, which is nice for a road trip. Depending on the age of your child and hisher self-sufficiency, I'd consider putting him/her in the way back so the four adults can more easily converse in the car, if that's desired. The child in the third row could still get help from an adult in the middle if needed, though depending on his/her personality might not like feeling isolated back there. Also, depending on the age of the relatives, a minivan is easier to get in/out of with it being lower to the ground than most larger SUVs.

Mini van. We've rented for several trips and honestly,, nothing beats them. Lots of flexibility in seat arrangement, amazing space for luggage and lots of stowage spaces under the floor. Gas mileage is better than SUVs, too.

Yes! We had a rental minivan for our extended family ( 5 adults, 2 kids, 1 toddler in a carseat) the last time we went to Disney World & it was perfect - everybody had plenty of room & it was easy to get in & out of the back seats.

Mini van top two are Toyota Sienna and Nissan

Ford Flex, it's a great ride. We love it!!

It kind of starts with what is actually available from the rental companies. And be mindful that rental companies won't guarantee a particular vehicle, only a class of vehicles, in my experience.

We just rented on our vacation. Three kids (who are virtually adult sized), us, and ten pieces of luggage. We had a suburban in LA, an Escalades XT on the Big Island, and a regular length Escalade in Maui. We liked the Escalade XT the best because all 10 pieces of luggage fit in the cargo area, leaving three rows of seating, and because the second row was captain's chairs, which means no folding back seats for entry and exit. I don't know, though, if you'd want captain's chairs because then how would you seat people? Adults in the captain chairs and carseat all alone in row 3?

Well, I don't know about a van, but I definitely need Tibbrix's t-shirt. If I can stop laughing long enough to order it...

Thanks all! We ended up renting a Town and Country and a Sierra (different weeks). Rave reviews. The main driver said it was our "mobile living room." You guys also gave me inspiration... one of our family members was so worried about what kind of car it would be that I told them I was renting the Craigslist van!

The next week, I told them that I'd been unable to get it, but was instead renting this one:

Funny car

The next week, same story, different car booked... Next car

And finally, this one. They said that the Toyota Sienna was somewhat of a disappointment after all of the pictures.

Love your car pictures!

ROFL, RG, esp. the first one.

bpathome, if you see this, aren't they HILARIOUS??? there is a 1-star review that had me laughing so hard, I had tears, and the reply to it from someone was just as funny.

If you want another that will also make you laugh out loud, read the reviews of the gallon of Tuscan Milk ($3.99 for the gallon; $27 for shipping! ROFL!)

Here are a couple of examples

Combine with other foods!By J. Fitzsimmons on August 5, 2006

Has anyone else tried pouring this stuff over dry cereal? A-W-E-S-O-M-E!

5Serious Problem

Bybiggestbambooon August 10, 2006

This product copiously leaks out of my nose whenever I read these reviews.

Glad to read about the Ford Flex. I need to get something larger for hauling stuff to the antique mall, and my '07 Lexus with only 75,000 miles doesn't cut it. Will be looking in Sept., so will take one out for a 'spin'.

patty_cakes, also look at the Subaru Forester. It has the tall, square roof as well, which makes getting furniture in and out much easier.

I drive a Toyota Sienna and love it. It's a wonderful car. DH drives a very fancied-up GMC Sierra pick-up truck that has the most incredibly comfortable seats, but it's a major climb to get in and out of, so we always use mine when we have guests. My Sienna seats 3 on the back row bench seat, 2 in the middle and 2 in the front, in captains chairs. It has large windows, so those in the back row don't feel claustrophobic and without a view. A pull-down screen for movie viewing, that I never use except when hauling teens and kids. It has the 4 doors, the side two that slide open with my key remote or a button near the driver. Air conditioning and heat seem to keep everyone happy. Great gas mileage. Surround sound. that can be easily adjusted. Built-in Bluetooth and a great backup camera. My CD player holds four, I believe and has a jack for Ipods. My navigation system is a nice one, although I'm jealous of DH's Garmin. Very comfortable leather seats, a moon roof and radar cruise control. It has a great motor and gets up to speed very quickly, which this former Motor City girl really appreciates! Nicely shaded back windows. The back seat automatically folds down with a push of a button when I need more room for hauling luggage or whatever (bushes, trees, flowers). But, with just the regular back storage area, it will hold 4 nice-sized suitcases and a couple of carry-on bags. I'm not the least bit embarrassed to be driving a minivan. My "baby" is beautiful, gas efficient, comfortable and has tons of bells and whistles.

But, that said, I also love Tibbie's suggestion of a conversion van for the swivel chairs and extra head room, if it works for the number of people you'll have.

Hmmmmm, Linen, I think they've already gone on the trip! they rented a Town & Country and a Sienna. Well, better late to the party than never!