How to Survive a Family Road Trip with Kids
Wondering how to have a successful road trip with kids? Well, this post has you covered! Learn 9 tips to help you prepare, and survive your next family road trip.
Feature Image by Dids
Hello, hello from East Tennessee! Our family has been looking forward to this spring break road trip and cannot wait to explore all that Tennessee has to offer. Even though we don’t have anything planned, Justin, Nora, Sadie and I all have things we want to do and places we want to visit while we are here for the next week or so. But, before we get to that, let’s talk about how we got here first.
It was a little bit after 10 am on Monday morning when we left our home on Long Island, and set out for our first stop. We had a 13+ hour road trip ahead of us. But, after traveling 30+ hours (one way) for our road trip to Colorado in December, we all have a better idea of our limits when it comes to clocking miles on the highway.
And here are some of the things I learned about our family….
ROAD TRIP TIPS FOR FAMILIES
TRAVELING DURING THE DAY IS BEST
A little back story, we started our Colorado road trip at night to avoid traffic getting in and out of the city. And, while that worked like a charm – we made it to the Midtown Tunnel in an hour, and to the Lincoln Tunnel about 20 minutes later.
As the first driver, I did not get a lot of sleep during the day before hitting the road. And, I was only able to drive for a few hours before Justin took over. Not to mention, our girls stayed awake for most of the overnight journey.
Furthermore, our first stop was set for Indianapolis, which (for us) is a 14 hour journey. And, a mistake that we learned from for this road trip.
That is why we decided to leave around 10 am to avoid morning rush hour traffic. Equally important, deciding to lower our daily travel limit.
ALLOW TIME FOR UNEXPECTED TRAVEL DELAYS
Our travel limit is 8 hours max. Knowing this allowed me to zero in on a location for our first stop. Additionally, I knew I wanted to spend a small amount of time exploring the area before hopping in the car and heading out to our next destination. So, while there are a lot of towns within that 8 hour window, only a handful might have sights or attractions of interest.
However, a highway closure, and snow (in April!!) in Virginia added four hours to our drive down to Tennessee. So, our 8 hour travel day turned into 12 hours. Consequently, this tip will be front of mind when planning our next road trip.
Figure out your family’s travel limits, and then shave off about 2 hours when looking for a place to make your first stop. This will allow for any unexpected weather, or traffic delays.
FIND A LOCAL LANDMARK OR ATTRACTION TO VISIT
If possible, I try to plan our stops in state capitals. There’s sure to be a historic district, landmark or green space to visit nearby. One of my absolute favorite stops so far surprised both Justin and I, Topeka, Kansas.
But, with Virginia’s state capital being on a completely different interstate, we decided to visit Roanoke, Virginia. A great choice – with a historic downtown, landmarks like the Mill Mountain Star, and friendly people (never a given, always a bonus).
BRING A COLLAPSIBLE OR FABRIC COOLER FOR SNACKS
I don’t know about you but, our girls love snacks way more than sit down meals. One way we are able to keep them happy during long trips in the car is to pack their favorite snacks, water bottles, and quick breakfast bites. And, a fabric cooler has been one of our favorite road trip resources so far – it’s lightweight, and a space saver!
PACK FOR HALF OF YOUR TRIP
On past trips, I have been known to bring everything but the kitchen sink. But, with the rise of AirBnb’s and VRBO’s, packing for half the time has been a lot easier. Why? Because I always select a vacation rental with a washer/dryer.
On the other hand, if you are staying at hotels on your trip, this tip may prove a bit more challenging. Let’s face it, who really wants to spend time at a laundromat on vacation?
GET EVERYONE OUT OF THE CAR
Make it a rule that everyone has to get out of the car when you stop for gas (no matter what time it is). And, use this time for bathroom breaks, to stretch your legs, and to regroup.
EASE YOUR LITTLE ONES TRAVEL ANXIETY
Depending on the age of your kiddos, traveling may be difficult. So, bringing a favorite toy or stuffy might help. We’ve found that the three toy limit works best for our family. The girls usually bring one squishy that acts as a pillow during the drive (and a small blanket), their favorite stuffed animal to snuggle, and a doll to play with when we arrive.
SERVICE YOUR VEHICLE BEFORE YOU GO
This may be the most important tip on the entire list. Before any long road trip we always bring our car in for an oil change. And, since we traditionally visit our local Jiffy Lube they also check all fluids, the battery, engine and tire pressure as well. Do not skip this step. You will definitely want to fix any issues before you hit the road.
SAY YES TO SCREEN TIME
This may be a hard pill to swallow but, bringing the girls tablets along for the ride has been an absolute lifesaver! We usually download some of their favorite movies, and make sure they are fully charged before heading out. And, depending on how the drive is going we will limit their screen time.
Our OnStar subscription has been an absolute gamechanger for our family – wireless in the car, and roadside assistance for just $25 a month is a no brainer if you ask me!
And, if all else fails, Justin and I usually regale them in stories of the olden days (lol). And, how we would entertain ourselves on long family road trips – like checking for different license plates, the color car game, or (gasp) just looking out the window. This usually helps to put things in perspective for the girls if they start to get a little grumpy.
