Why 2025 is the Best Year to Take a Family Road Trip
Road Tripping with Kids
“In life, it’s not where you go, it’s who you travel with.”
Rachel, Sophie, & Ellie loaded up in the back of a rental minivan with our cooler, luggage, & comfort items. Ready for a family road trip!
Let’s face it: Family vacations can be expensive, overwhelming, and often feel out of reach. But what if the best trip of your life didn’t require plane tickets, pricey resorts, or months of meticulous planning?
Enter: The Timeless American Road Trip.
For generations, families packed into station wagons, snack bags in hand, and hit the open road. No Wi-Fi. No streaming. No phones. Just winding highways, roadside surprises, and the kind of uninterrupted time together that today’s fast-paced world rarely allows.
The Modern-Age Road Trip
Imagine a trip where every family member (mostly) unplugs, not just from devices but from the constant hum of daily life. A trip where you can create memories like past generations did: with laughter, spontaneous detours, and a cooler full of snacks.
As a digital-age parent, you may not have grown up with those classic cross-country journeys, but the magic of the road trip is still very much alive and accessible. With a bit of creativity, it can be reimagined for a new generation.
This isn’t about ditching technology entirely. It’s about unplugging enough to be present. In a world where kids often have screens in their hands from the moment they wake up to the moment they fall asleep, a road trip offers the perfect opportunity to hit "pause" and step back in time.
It’s an adventure where the journey is just as important as the destination(s), something that will leave your family with stories to tell long after the trip is over. Plus, it’s a great way to enjoy travel without the expense and stress of air travel.
We want to help you and your kids fall in love with the road trip adventure, and maybe remind yourselves how freeing it can be as well. This post is designed to explain why you should consider a summer road trip this year. After all, a classic road trip isn’t just a throwback; it’s the best way to reconnect, recharge, and give your family a summer they’ll never forget!
Join like-minded traveling families getting our authentic stories, honest tips, and behind-the-scenes chaos of full-time family travel.
No Instagram filters. No perfect moments. Just real help from parents who get it.
The Case for the Classic American Road Trip
These long drives are one of the best ways to enjoy quality time during the journey, and there are so many destinations all over the United States that are worth exploring.
Whether you're venturing to iconic places like Las Vegas, Grand Canyon National Park, or sunny San Diego or just making a long journey to visit family members in another state, a retro family road trip is a way to remind your kids that you can always have a great time together, even in the small space of the family car.
Here are some reasons why a summer road trip makes sense this year…
Economic Realities of 2025
The current U.S. economic climate may make you think that taking a summer vacation isn't a good idea. Airfare is up, hotels are pricey, and the cost of a restaurant meal for a family can make your head spin.
Costs for a family vacation add up fast, but road trips give families a great way to explore without blowing the budget. Gas and groceries are still cheaper than four (or more) round-trip plane tickets and restaurant meals three times a day. Planning a family road trip puts costs back in your control.
Whether your summer consists of several day trips within an hour's drive from home, or you're willing to brave long road trips through many interesting small towns en route to your final destination. Whether you like sun-soaked beaches, theme parks, glacial lakes, or quiet time with your young kids, you get to define your budget, and your next trip is only limited by your own imagination.
Click on photo to enlarge and see descriptions.
REAL ID
With the REAL ID enforcement having gone into effect on May 7th, 2025, and long wait times at the DMV to obtain one, many families may find themselves without the proper documentation to board a domestic flight for their summer travels.
No worries! Rather than standing in long lines with everyone else, wait until the chaos has died down and plan a road trip instead. Your current driver's license is still perfectly appropriate for your road tripping adventures. Enjoy your summer road trips and then head to the DMV to get your REAL ID in the fall or winter when the lines have shortened.
Gas Prices Are Down This Summer
Despite some bad economic news this year, there is a glimmer of hope: gas prices are making road tripping one of the most affordable travel options this season! According to Fox Business, U.S. gas prices hit a four-year low of 19% below last year, which is excellent news for families who want to hit the road this summer.
Budget Travel Without Sacrificing Experience
With a road trip, you set the pace and the budget. There are many ways to make a family road trip more affordable than a standard vacation. You can visit family and friends along the way, saving the cost of a few nights in a hotel and enjoying bonding time with extended family or close friends.
Insider Tip: To show your appreciation for the free accommodations, contribute to grocery costs and/or buy a meal (or a few) for those you’re staying with.
If you stay in hotels anyway, you should get something back. As part of a hotel loyalty program, you rack up points whenever you book with the same hotel brand. Then those points become free nights later. It's like the hotel is paying YOU to come back.
As a family, we're obsessed with IHG brands (Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, etc.). We've stayed at probably 50+ Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express places around the world, and here's why they're perfect for families:
Most hotel properties have a pool and a gym.
Complimentary breakfast at HI Express = one less meal to stress about.
Rooms are big enough that everyone has plenty of space.
They're everywhere, so you're never stuck unable to find a room.
Plus, their points program is really good. Compared to other hotel brands, you actually earn free nights pretty quickly, giving you future free vacations!
Our Advice: Get their credit card! It provides you with elite status and even more value.
Grab the IHG credit card here – and earn 4 free nights!
Rather than staying in a hotel, you could choose to stay in an Airbnb, allowing you to make some of your own meals and save on dining out. We love having the comforts of home as we travel. There’s something about being able to make and enjoy a favorite meal that makes a new place a little more enjoyable. We also love having the ability to spread out. After hours in a car together, having multiple rooms (vs one hotel room) provides some much-needed privacy.
Camping is another wonderful and economical option for many families. If you love the great outdoors and don’t mind a more primitive environment, check out campgrounds along your route. They often have family activities, like swimming, volleyball, and even water sports. You can cook hot dogs and marshmallows over the campfire, making dinner preparation part of the whole experience. You don’t even need to own your tent or RV. Many campgrounds and state parks have small cabins available to rent.
Insider Tip: If you like the idea of camping but would prefer slightly elevated accommodations (and are willing to pay a premium), you could consider Glamping. Glamping is basically “glamorous camping.” It lets you enjoy the great outdoors in a more resort-like atmosphere with your family. You trade sleeping bags on the ground for comfy beds or the occasional cot.
Educational Experiences
The first time we took a long journey with our girls, we discovered so much! Rachel was a rising 4th grader, and Sophie was about to start Kindergarten when we set out on a three-week journey round-trip from Raleigh to San Diego. Our friends with young children thought we were crazy to embark on such a huge road trip with them at that age. We learned so much on that trip with our girls. They surprised us with their resiliency, creativity, patience, and humor.
From reading maps to managing moods and solving problems together, the family road trip teaches resilience, curiosity, and patience. They showed us their geography knowledge as we traveled through mesas, mountains, deserts, and plains. They learned history at National Parks, and they learned problem-solving and resilience when our trip took unexpected twists and detours.
Eight years later, we still talk about how much fun we had on that first cross-country trip. We firmly believe our full-time travel adventures were born from that maiden voyage!
Convenience
Packing up the family car (or a rental) to hit the road means bringing all your favorite essentials, snacks, and more along for the ride. You can bring car seats, booster seats, comfort items, and a fully stocked cooler.
Unlike other modes of transportation, where you have to check your luggage or store it in an overhead or underbus compartment, traveling by car means having access to anything you need whenever you need it. Your luggage and all of your road trip essentials are within arm’s reach or only require a quick detour into the next rest stop or convenience store.
Need a snack or a book from your bag? You have easy access. Want to work on that knitting project you just started? Pack your needles and yarn and work on it along the way. Road tripping gives your whole family flexibility you just don’t get with public transportation.
Insider Tip: Pack your family’s favorite board game or card game to enjoy when you stop for a picnic lunch at a rest stop along the way.
Freedom & Flexibility
Road tripping puts you in complete control of your agenda. Whether you want to start your day early or sleep in, your schedule and route are flexible.
Feeling sleepy or irritable? Take a nap! (Unless you’re the driver, of course.) Since you have the convenience of comfort items (blankets, pillows, stuffed animals, etc.), a rejuvenating nap for your younger kids (or even your older kids) is just a few moments away.
Want to take a spontaneous detour to some weird museums or interactive exhibits? Do it! (We loved our stop at the Roswell International UFO Museum.)
Maybe you’ve been seeing billboards for a wacky roadside attraction that has piqued your curiosity. Don’t worry, just make the stop! (Ever heard of “The Thing” in eastern Arizona? Let’s just say that those billboards pulled us in.)
Road trips let you travel at your own pace. Follow your curiosity and enjoy every mile. That last-minute detour could be one of your summer highlights.
The Value of Time Together
I've heard it said that we only have 18 summers with our kids, so we need to make the most of them. Since our 28-year-old is traveling the world full-time with us, I can confidently say that I don't necessarily subscribe to the notion that our time as parents is limited to the first 18 years. I strongly believe that prioritizing family time is one of the best investments we can make as parents.
Some of my best and most heartfelt conversations with my kids have happened on the road. Little kids, older kids, and even teens tend to open up when you’re sitting in the car together. These moments, off-screen and on the move, are what road trips are made for. A family road trip could be one of the best things you could do for your relationship with your kids.
When was the last time you had uninterrupted hours with your entire family, no screen time, no schedules? Road trips create space for connection through conversations, music, shared snacks, and the simple act of being together. Keeping (mostly) off screens allows you to find fun and unique ways to entertain yourselves through music, goofy games, and pit stops.
The Journey Becomes the Destination
Road trips make space for spontaneity, like pulling over to see the world's largest pistachio or taking a last-second exit to downtown St. Louis to see the Gateway Arch up close rather than just staying on the interstate. You can pivot plans, chase the weather, or follow a last-minute deal.
The best part? These aren't just trips. They're core memorable experiences, full of stories you’ll tell for years!
Infinite Options
You could take a different road trip every week for the rest of your life and still never run out of options. From theme parks to outdoor adventures in nature reserves, the U.S. is full of lesser-known destinations and hidden gems.
And if you’re open to international road travel, the world opens even wider. Beyond the U.S., we’ve road tripped in France, Ireland, England, Wales, and Germany. Every time we travel, we only add more itineraries to our bucket list!
From dreaming to doing. We're here for every step!
Join like-minded families getting exclusive travel hacks, destination guides, and the unfiltered reality of life on the road with kids.
Whether you're planning your first family trip or already living as digital nomads, our community has your back.
Why These Might Be the Best Days of Your Life
One day, your kids won’t remember what souvenirs they got or the mileage you logged. They will remember the quality time you spent, the laughter you shared, the goofy roadside stops, and the song that became your anthem of the summer months.
Your next trip doesn’t have to be exotic to be extraordinary. The best family road trips don’t always take careful planning. Sometimes, they simply turn chaos into magic for the whole family as you embrace the long drive, the educational activities, and the spontaneity of a totally uncommon family trip.
So pack the granola bars and trail mix, embrace the pit stops, and let’s make your next family vacation one full of memorable experiences. Adventure is waiting just past your driveway!
What’s your favorite road trip memory? Tell us in the comments.
Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips & Tricks
Book Your Flight, if needed
Find a cheap flight using Skyscanner. It’s our favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines worldwide, so you know no stone is being left unturned.
Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as it consistently returns the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel and medical insurance protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. We never go on a trip without it. Our favorite company, World Nomads, offers the best service and value.
Want to Travel for Free?
Travel credit cards allow you to earn points that can be redeemed for free flights and accommodation, all without any extra spending. Many of these cards are offering bonus points or free nights for applying. Here are a few of our favorites:
Chase Sapphire Preferred (Best for Travel)
American Express Gold Card (Best for Travel)
Capital One Venture X (Best for Travel & Family Lounge Access)
Chase IHG (Hotel Branded Card)
Hilton Honors American Express (Hotel Branded Card)
Need a Rental Car?
Discover Cars is a budget-friendly international car rental website. No matter where you’re headed, they’ll be able to find the best and cheapest rental for your trip!
Need Help Finding Activities for Your Trip?
GetYourGuide is a vast online marketplace with cool walking tours, fun excursions, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more.
This post contains affiliate links, which means if you buy something following a link on this page, we may get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting our blog! / Colleen & Kevin
