A road trip with kids can make for a great family vacation. Having a vehicle, whether it is your own or a rental in another city, is a huge convenience. The stress of making it to train or bus reservations on time is removed. You are given more freedom of deciding when and where to stop along the way, and you can bring along more luggage. When traveling with kids, these are all pluses.
Our family is well seasoned in all different types of road trips and have done everything from quick drives just 300 kms (186 miles) to 9000 kms (5600 miles) over the course of 21 days. Our 3 year old is a road trip pro. The idea of sitting in a moving vehicle for hours or days on end with your kid(s) may seem like torture, but with help from a few simple tips, a road trip with kids can be fun!
Table of Contents
- Stay Organized
- Bring an Assortment of Toys/Activities
- Try to Limit Driving Time Each Day
- Get Kids Involved During the Drive
- Bring Snacks They Are Excited About
- Have Diapers or Travel Toilet Handy
- Bring Lots of Wet Wipes
- Don’t forget a Sickness Bag or a Bucket
- Wear Comfy Clothes and Slip on Shoes
- Send Postcards Home
- Stay Hydrated
Stay Organized
The number one tip for surviving a road trip with kids is to stay organized. Start organized and stay that way throughout the trip. This may sound like an impossible task, but it’s actually quite easy if you know how to start.
The best way to maintain organization is to pack using bins or boxes that stack easily in your vehicle. Each bin contains related items (toiletries, kids toys or games, cooking utensils, snacks, etc.) I even use long stackable bins for our clothes, rather than packed bags or suitcases. The bins I use are designed for under the bed storage so they have a long lid with a hinge in the middle. This makes the clothes easily accesible when you slide the bins out from under each other. No need to pull the bin out completely.
Our latest long road trip was a camping trip and the bins full of clothes and toiletries made finding what you need very easy. When we stopped and set up our tent, we would grab our pajamas and change of clothes for the next day right away and put them in the tent. No need to lug big bags in and out of the car. When we stopped at hotels for the night, I had a small bag to take inside the hotel in which we would put our change of clothes in, leaving the majority in the car overnight. The toiletries were in an easy to carry plastic bin clearly labelled, so the whole bin would come into the hotel room with us. All our laundry was placed in a laundry hamper that was stored in the car.
When camping without a trailer or rv, you will also have things like cutlery, plates, cooking utensils, a stove and propane tanks. All of these things were boxed or binned according to function and when they may be used. We even had a bin used just for our morning coffee, including coffee beans, grinder, percolator, and mugs. These bins were multipurpose, as when we were done cooking, they were also used to wash the dishes.
The most used bin was likely the toy bin. A clear plastic storage bin full of toys and games was placed in easy reach of our toddler in the back seat. Whenever he liked he could grab what he wanted without needing us to find it for him. As an added bonus for him, on the top of the bin I made some vinyl stickers that transformed the bin into a stove top on the go. He could help us cook when we arrived at our destination. It was a hit.
Bring an Assortment of Toys/Activities
For younger kids, choose as large an assortment of toys as you can manage to store during your trip. You don’t want your little ones getting bored with playing with the same toy over and over again. Bring something they really like, but also maybe something they haven’t played with in a while, or at all.
When we have a road trip planned, I like to go out and buy a new small toy, and keep it hidden until the trip. At some point during the trip, break out that new toy. Having something new is much more entertaining than playing with the same toys they get at home.
Small toys and activities like colouring should be kept close at hand to where your child is sitting. We also like to bring things like Frisbees or a football that we can all throw around together during pit stops. Spending even a few minutes running around together will stretch your legs enough to be able to drive another few hours restless free.
Older kids can choose what they want to bring themselves. Give them a limit and let them pick. Older kids are also more easily occupied without help.
Try to Limit Driving Time Each Day
No one likes driving for hours on end, adults included, but it can be especially hard on younger kids as it’s also confusing. It can be hard to understand why you drive a long distance and for a long time.
Usually you aren’t going to be able to limit your driving time without it greatly impacting your trips timeline, but if you can make each driving day consistent this will help your little ones anticipate when you may be stopping next.
If you do have long drives ahead of you, making time for leg stretching and bathroom breaks is a must. With small kids, playgrounds are always a hit. Take a look on your map or gps and look for a playground in the towns you will be heading through. A good run on a playground is a great way for small kids to burn some energy quick, and hopefully be tired enough to take a nap.
If you can’t find a playground near you, a green space or wooded area are great too. You can break out that ball or frisbee you brought. Our toddler likes to search for butterflies and mushrooms when we stop. Anything that gets their legs moving, makes for a great stop.
Get Kids Involved During the Drive
If you have some flexibility or spare time, allow the older kids to choose some stops. If it’s not in the schedule to allow them to plan an attraction, or give them some freedom in choosing lunch or dinner stops.
Younger kids can be involved in other ways than planning. Allowing younger kids radio time is a great way to make them feel involved. Choose some music they love and play it, or let them choose a song. Sing-alongs will eventually drive any parent crazy, but in moderation, you’ll survive and your little ones will love being involved in a some decision planning.
Road trip games can be great fun as well as kill some time. There are many different games for all ages. Do an internet search prior to leaving on your trip and find some that interest you or your kids. Whether you think you will play them or not, being prepared with a few doesn’t hurt.
Bring Snacks They Are Excited About
Road trip snacks are important at any age. Snacks should be easy to eat with your fingers, relatively low mess, and delicious. In my opinion, a road trip is not the time to push the healthy snacks. By all means bring some carrot sticks if your kids or you love them. Our favourite road trip snacks include chips/popcorn, assorted nuts (peanuts, cashews, macademia nuts, etc), applesauce pouches, fresh fruit bought along the way and sandwiches or wraps we make each morning.
If your kids have a snack they love but seldom get at home, let them have it now. Our little one loves to snack on cereal, and rarely gets the real sugary ones at home. On our road trips (and even long haul flights), I put together single serve baggies of a cereal he loves. Properly stored, it stays fresh the whole trip, and he can have something he really loves while putting up with our long drives.
If you consider bringing a cooler with you on your longer trips, you can buy and store items a little more versatile in snack making. We like to make sandwiches on the go. We store deli meat, condiments, lettuce and cheese in the cooler. Peanut butter is easy too, if that’s what your kids are into. Sandwiches are easy to make up before you start your drive for the day, and store neatly in the cooler all ready to be eaten later on. Sometimes we don’t even make them before hand, but on the go. When we stop for a bathroom break, we whip up a few sandwiches and find a park bench or picnic table for a quick meal. This also gives us a chance to stretch our legs.
Have Diapers or Travel Toilet Handy
If you are traveling with kids, you know they may have to use the bathroom at a moments notice. Traveling with babies, be sure to pack change of diapers and wipes somewhere easily accessible. You don’t want to have to dig around in the car for the supplies you need. Be sure to have some kitchen bags or garbage bags handy as well, In case you needed to make a stop where there is no garbage can.
When driving with toddlers or small kids, consider taking along a travel toilet or potty. On our road trips and camping trips, we have found success with our travel potty. The My Carry Potty is great as it is completely sealable, very sturdy and easy to clean. When we use this potty while on the road, I keep a roll of kitchen sized garbage bags inside of it. When our little one had to use it, no matter the purpose, I would open one kitchen bag and place it inside the toilet. This would allow me to easily just remove the soiled bag from inside the toilet and toss it in the trash without dirtying the toilet itself. In a pinch with no bag, the potty itself seals, so no need to worry about it spilling along the way.
For older kids and adults, be sure to have a roll of toilet paper or some Kleenex on hand just in case you have to stop between bathrooms, or the bathroom is out of paper. It’s important to make sure you know where it is in the vehicle, so you aren’t digging for it when someone really has to use it.
Bring Lots of Wet Wipes
Wet wipes are your best friend. Whether you are traveling with a baby or not, bring wet wipes, they can and will be used by everyone.
Wet wipes or baby wipes are great for general spills in the car, wiping sticky hands and faces, cleaning off toys or other gear in a pinch, among other things. While traveling it’s always a great idea to carry around some wipes just in case.
Don’t forget a Sickness Bag or a Bucket
Sometimes kids get motion sickness. Heck, sometimes adults get motion sickness. It’s always a good idea to have a bag or a bucket handy just in case someone starts to feel nauseous. Kids don’t always give you a lot of notice when they are going to be sick. Having something on hand can be a life saver.
We usually learn this the hard way. On a recent camping trip, we were driving home when we learned our lesson. We were driving a rather twisty road when our 3 year old gave almost no warning. After advising rather quietly he didn’t feel well, he proceeded to vomit all over himself and his car seat. Luckily on this day we were actually driving home.
After getting him undressed and wiped down (with those magical wipes mentioned above), we proceeded to wipe off the car seat as best we could. With no way to wash it, we were forced to just place a towel down and put him back in it. At this point we weren’t far from home, but did opt to drive with the windows rolled down. From now on, we always have some bags kept nearby.
Wear Comfy Clothes and Slip on Shoes
This goes for everyone in the car. Jeans have no place in a road trip car. Wear something super comfy, especially for the really long driving days. As driver or passenger it’s important to be comfortable while sitting for extended periods. For small kids and babies in car seats this is especially true.
I like to dress our son in sweat pants or a similar style light weight cloth pant, with a t shirt. If he gets cold or just wants to cuddle up with something for a nap, he always has a blanket handy and a front zip hoodie.
Myself and my son also like to remove our shoes as soon as we get into the car for a long drive. Wearing a pair of slip on shoes makes pit stops much easier and quicker. We wear a pair of slip ons in the car, but we each keep a pair of good walking or hiking shoes behind the drivers seat. This way if we pass somewhere we want to get out and walk around, or go for a hike, we are all set.
Send Postcards Home
This is less of a surviving the actual drive, and more of a fun activity to look forward to. Post cards are a fun way to connect with family at home. Younger kids get a kick out of seeing their post cards at a later date when they’ve returned home. We like to send a card to each set of grandparents at all the major stops we make.
Older kids can be tasked with writing out the cards in the car while you drive. We would often buy a post card in one city, and mail it in the next city which would give us some time to work on what to say, and allow my son some time to draw something on it.
You could even allow each child to send their own card home to someone. When I was younger, I would always send a post card home to my best friend. It was a great way to feel connected to home while actually being far away.
Stay Hydrated
A simple, but important tip most people forget, stay hydrated. It can be easy to forget to drink fluids while you are sitting for so long in one place. The last thing you want on any trip is a dehydration headache. Drink plenty of fluids, ideally water, and save yourself the suffering. Remind your kids to drink as well. The only thing worse than a dehydration headache is when your kids have one. You may have to make a few extra bathroom stops, but it will be worth the trouble.
If you’re worried abot your first road trip experience, start small. Drive somewhere near home for the weekend. This will give you and your kids a taste of what being in the car together for a few hours will be like. It will also give you the chance to practice organizing the car, and see where things should go, or what they should be stored in.
A road trip with kids will make great memories for you and your family.
Comments
These are fantastic tips! Thank you.
These are all great tips, particularly not to drive too long. Every time we pushed it too far when our kids were little, disaster struck.
Author
Thanks. You’re right. Kids are always good, until they are not. Without warning, you realize you’ve overdone it.
These are all great tips!
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