How to Set Your Family Road Trips Up for Success

When we told friends about our first three week road trip, some of them were surprised that we would travel for so long with a 9 and 5 year old. Admittedly, we had some concerns as well. However, we were pleasantly surprised by how well our Littles adapted and settled into our travel schedule.

Many families think they have to wait to take their kids on the road. We believe that kids are very resilient and the best way to prepare them for travel is just to start doing it. Will there be bumps and uncomfortable moments along the way? Of course! But many of our favorite stories are from when something went wrong and we had to roll with it. It provides an opportunity for your kids to see how you face difficulties and overcome them. This, in turn, helps to develop a mindset of resiliency and confidence in your kids. Don’t let the fear of what could happen when traveling with your kids keep you from all the amazing memories that will be made. Stop waiting for some arbitrary day “when they’re older” and start adventuring! Children of ANY age can travel!!

Tips for Managing Long Road Trips with Kids:

1. Your vehicle matters - It’s important that the driver and ALL the passengers are comfortable for the duration of the ride. We once owned a conversion van and it was the BEST for family travel. The kids all had room to move without bothering each other. I could leave my front passenger seat to comfort a crying baby, address any problems, or make a snack from items in the cooler. Unfortunately, our van grew old and unreliable and we began to rent vehicles for our long road trips. It’s important to do your homework when renting a van. Make sure you have one that will accommodate all of your children comfortably and give you plenty of room to store your luggage and gear. Kevin has been known to return to the rental desk and (kindly) insist on a replacement if what they’ve given us is not acceptable.

2. Be prepared for your plans to get changed – Even the very best plans can get derailed. A mechanical problem with your vehicle, an unexpected rain storm, an illness or injury. It’s important to make these hiccups part of the overall journey. We try to maintain a mindset that “everything always works out.” When things go wrong, as they most certainly will, you’ve just got to roll with it. Remind yourself that this is part of the story you will later tell of your adventure together. Your kids are watching how you respond to adversity. Show them that responding positively and giving yourself, and others, grace will help get you back on track much more quickly. Stay positive and find the lesson for the next time.

3. Go ahead and stop at those “tourist traps” – From Ozarkland, to The Thing, to Buc-ees, there are so many places to stop along any road trip. Yes, we know some of them are a bit silly, but you need to take time to stretch your legs, grab a drink, and eat some snacks anyway. You might as well enjoy a little travel entertainment too. You never know when one of these stops just might create a memory that you’ll talk and laugh about years later.

4. Plan ahead for a Hanger Attack – Pack plenty of snacks and drinks because, by the time you realize how hungry everyone is, hanger may have already set in. Tempers will start to flair and it will be hard to agree on a plan. Bottled water, protein snacks, fresh fruit, and peanut butter sandwiches all look pretty good when you get stuck in endless traffic and need a pick-me-up.

5. Plan activities to keep the kids entertained – When Ellie was young, we used to wrap silly dollar store party gifts and let her open one every hour or so. They were cheap and they kept her busy and excited for the next one. Over the years, our kids have watched countless videos, read books, done logic puzzles, played travel games, sang songs, and answered trivia questions. A little preparation makes the time pass faster and keeps boredom (and arguments) at bay.

6. Don’t forget the First Aid Kit – We had no idea that Rachel gets carsick until we found ourselves stuck in traffic between San Diego and Los Angeles and her Jack in the Box lunch decided to make an encore performance. She’d never had a problem before, but that day we learned that reading while in the back of a minivan was a big NO for her going forward. We learned that ginger, spearmint, and peppermint can all help a bout of nausea. This can be a sip of ginger ale, a whiff of ginger (root or essential oi), or a stick of spearmint or peppermint gum to chew. Now, we’ve added Dramamine to the kit along with hand sanitizer, band-aids, Neosporin, Tylenol, and alcohol wipes.

7. Change things up – Kevin and I like to take turns driving on long trips. Now that Ellie is old enough to drive a rental car, she sometimes takes a turn. We will stop to change drivers and move the girls around too. This helps if they’re getting argumentative, someone needs to be left alone for a nap, or just to get to see out of the other side of the car.

8. Take a Break – If you have young children, you need to know their limitations. When our girls were under the age of 5, we knew they needed a regular break from stimulation. Sometimes that was as easy as having them take a nap in the stroller while the rest of us continued to wander. Often, it meant leaving an amusement park for a few hours to go back to the hotel, cool off, and try to take a nap. Know the warning signs of overstimulation and have a plan to disengage for a bit. Also keep in mind that many kids are notorious for waiting until the last second to let you know they need to use the restroom. That’s fine if you’re on a major highway with lots of stops, but not so convenient when you’re in the middle of nowhere.

9. Pack a Favorite Toy – I’m not a fan of carrying tons of gear around, but we did let each of our Littles pack a (kid-size) backpack with some favorite things for this trip. Rachel always carries a sketchpad and pencils and Sophie never leaves home without her favorite pal, Cinnamon.

10. Know when to call it a day – Your plans and itinerary may say that you have 4 more hours to drive before you can stop for the day. However, your family may be DONE! If no amount of positivity is holding arguments and complaints at bay, it might be time to call it an early day. You may not always be able to have flexibility, but be mindful of the cost of being too rigid with your plans. Your next few days may be worlds better based on a decision now to stop, grab some food, and rest, starting again later.

Kevin and I are so proud of how adaptable our girls have become. They know how to laugh at themselves, how to lend a hand, and how to respond positively in a difficult situation. Much of their ability to do this comes from a lot of practice out on the road together. What big adventures are you waiting to have? What’s holding you back? We hope our Tips for Managing Long Road Trips with Kids will inspire you to get out there and create lifelong memories.