Family Road Trip Haulers for I-75 and I-65

Families in the Great Lakes region spend a surprising amount of vacation time on two interstates. I-75 carries Michigan and Ohio traffic south toward Cincinnati, Lexington, Knoxville and eventually Florida, and it also runs north to the Mackinac Bridge. I-65 links Indiana and Louisville to Nashville and the Gulf. Along those corridors sit Cedar Point, the ferry docks for Mackinac Island, Mammoth Cave, Gatlinburg and the spring-break beaches.

A family hauler has to do more than seat everyone. It needs cargo room that works with all the seats in use, a way to keep kids occupied, a tank that makes fuel stops tolerable, and traction for a January departure. This guide compares five options. All prices are the manufacturer's starting figures before destination, checked in November 2026. The Voyager figures are for the 2026 model year.

Seating and cargo: where the differences show up

The numbers that matter most on a road trip are not the maximum cargo figures, which assume folded seats. They are the volumes behind the third row and behind the second row, because a family of six or seven is usually using both.

Model	Starting MSRP	Seats	Behind 3rd row	Behind 2nd row	Fuel tank
Chrysler Pacifica LX	$41,595	7 or 8	32.3 cu ft	87.5 cu ft	19 gal
Chrysler Voyager LX (2026)	$41,395	7	32.3 cu ft	87.5 cu ft	19 gal
Dodge Durango GT	$43,875	5 to 7	17.2 cu ft	43.3 cu ft	24.6 gal
Jeep Grand Cherokee L Laredo	$41,730	6 or 7	17.2 cu ft	46.9 cu ft	23 gal
Jeep Grand Wagoneer	$65,000	7 or 8	27.9 cu ft	70.8 cu ft	26.5 gal

The minivan's advantage is plain. Behind the third row it holds nearly twice as much as the Durango or the Grand Cherokee L, which is the difference between suitcases that fit in the back and suitcases that go on the roof. The Grand Wagoneer closes much of the gap, and its long-wheelbase L version offers 42.6 cubic feet behind the third row.

Chrysler Pacifica and Voyager: the road-trip default

A minivan remains the easiest way to carry seven people and their luggage. The Pacifica starts at $41,595 for the LX, with the 287-horsepower Pentastar V6 and no plug-in hybrid for 2027. It seats seven, or eight on the Select with a $695 seating option. Power sliding doors and an adjustable-height power liftgate come on the Select, and the Limited and Pinnacle add hands-free operation.

The Voyager is the leaner version, at $41,395 for the 2026 LX. It uses the same engine, seats seven, and has the same cargo volumes. It is front-wheel drive only, and it tows up to 1,500 pounds, against 3,600 for a properly equipped Pacifica.

Both use a 19-gallon tank and are rated at 19 city and 28 highway mpg with front-wheel drive. Chrysler quotes a highway range of up to 532 miles for the Voyager, which matches a rough check of tank size times highway mpg.

Durango and Grand Cherokee L: the SUV route

Families who tow a pop-up camper or a boat for the lake weekend tend to land on an SUV. The Dodge Durango has standard all-wheel drive on every trim, starts at $43,875, and is rated to tow 7,200 pounds, or 8,700 with the Tow 'n Go package. The 5.7-liter V8 uses more fuel, at 14 city and 22 highway mpg, and the third row is tight on cargo. Second-row captain's chairs cost $1,715 on the Plus trims and above.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee L starts at $41,730, seats six or seven, and tows up to 6,200 pounds. It uses less fuel, at up to 26 mpg on the highway, and the 4x4 system is standard on Limited Reserve, Summit and Trailhawk and optional lower down. For a family that owns a second vehicle for hauling, this is the sensible middle path.

The Grand Wagoneer: the big, expensive option

The Grand Wagoneer starts at $65,000 and goes to $101,400 for the Summit Reserve, with $3,000 added for the long-wheelbase L. It has a 420-horsepower twin-turbo six, the most cargo room behind the third row of the SUVs, and a 26.5-gallon tank, or 30.5 gallons on the L. An eight-passenger package costs $795, and towing reaches 10,000 pounds with the right axle and the Heavy-Duty Trailer-Tow Package. Its payload is only about 1,300 pounds, which a full family and luggage can eat quickly.

Screens, charging and climate

On a nine-hour day, rear entertainment is one of the most useful extras you can buy. The cost varies:

• Pacifica Pinnacle: the Theater Group is $1,395 and adds seatback video screens, a Blu-ray player and Amazon Fire TV.
• Pacifica Select and Limited: the Family Tech Group is $1,395 on the Select and $1,895 on the Limited. It adds a 115-volt outlet, a third-row USB port and an interior camera.
• Grand Cherokee Summit: the Rear-Seat Entertainment Group is $1,995 with 10.1-inch screens.
• Grand Wagoneer: the same screens are $2,595 on the Limited and most trims above it.

On climate, the Grand Wagoneer comes standard with three-zone temperature control, and the Summit adds four zones, which helps when the third row sits far from the front vents.

How far between fuel stops

These figures are rough estimates worked out as tank size times the EPA highway rating, using the front-wheel-drive or standard numbers. Loaded vehicles, headwinds and mountain grades all cut into them.

Model	Tank	Highway mpg	Rough range
Pacifica or Voyager (FWD)	19 gal	28	About 530 miles
Pacifica (AWD)	19 gal	25	About 475 miles
Durango GT	24.6 gal	22	About 540 miles
Grand Cherokee L (V6, 2WD)	23 gal	26	About 600 miles
Grand Wagoneer (2WD)	26.5 gal	22	About 580 miles

Four to five hours is a realistic driving stint with children, so the range is rarely the limit. The better lesson is that all five can cover a long Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee day on two or three stops.

Winter departures and all-wheel drive

Many family trips begin in the cold. Spring break and Christmas travel often start with snow in West Michigan or northern Ohio, and then end in sunshine. The Pacifica offers all-wheel drive on the Select, Limited and Pinnacle, at a rated 17 city and 25 highway mpg. The Voyager does not. The Durango has all-wheel drive standard. The Grand Cherokee L has 4x4 as an option on the lower trims, and the Grand Wagoneer comes with rear-wheel drive on the base trim and 4x4 optional.

Ground clearance for the Pacifica is a low 5.1 to 5.4 inches, so deep unplowed snow is a problem for the minivan. Good winter tires matter more than the badge. Whichever model you choose, allow time to clear the roof and lights before you leave, and check the road conditions on the route with the state transportation department.

In short: for pure seating and luggage, the Pacifica wins. The Voyager does the same job for a little less. The Durango is the choice for towing and V8 character, the Grand Cherokee L for a balance of cost and fuel economy, and the Grand Wagoneer for families that want space and are willing to pay for it. Confirm current prices and availability with a local dealer.