Family Road Trip – Tips to Survive

Going on vacation is an exciting time for the whole family. But the journey to your destination is not always fun. Kids are impatient and have a short attention span. So how can you keep your kids busy on a family road trip?

My family and I recently went on a 2,000-mile road trip. My kids are 7 and 3 years old. It wasn’t easy but we survived. To be able to survive a long road trip you have to plan ahead. And you need to know what to do for those dreaded words, “I’m bored.”

Driving long distance is already stressful enough. It doesn’t help when kids start complaining about being in the car. Before leaving for your road trip come up with a plan to keep your kids entertained.

Keeping Kids Entertained on a Road Trip

Be Prepared for No Wifi

There are many times when traveling that WiFi won’t be available. So consider downloading apps that don’t need the internet to phones and tablets. My kids love playing the Toca Boca and Sago Mini games.

Also, remember to download movies and shows from Netflix. Remember to clear out the memory on your phones and tablets so you can have your kids’ favorite show or movies downloaded.

Creative Supplies

Bring along the basics such as coloring books, a notebook, crayons, markers, and pens. Your kids will have plenty of time to create and imagine. Consider buying a new coloring book or markers. So that your kids will be more excited to use these new supplies.

Family Road Trip Games

Always have ideas of games on hand that you can all play together. Games like bingo and a scavenger hunt. Where each person has a sheet of items they can check off as they find them during the trip.

We like to play a game called would you rather. You ask each other questions like, “would you rather hold a snack or get kissed by a camel?” My daughter loves this game. And it helps to pass the time.

Books

My kids also like to ask a lot of questions. So these books are fun to read while taking a break from staring at screens. National Geographic Kids Why book or 5,000 Awesome Facts.

More books that can help pass the time are I Spy Books or the classic Where’s Waldo books.

Game Consoles

I remember having the original Game Boy when I traveled as a kid. It only had black and white graphics and was two dimensional. Now there are game consoles like the Nintendo Switch. My daughter doesn’t know how lucky she is to have such amazing graphics! Also, you won’t have to worry about having WiFi for it to work.

Music

Music is a great way to pass the time. Before leaving on your trip download or create a playlist to your phone. Create a playlist parents would enjoy and a playlist of music your kids enjoy.

Audio Books

Another way to keep everyone entertained in the vehicle without staring at a screen is to listen to audiobooks. You can sign up for a free 30-day trial for Audible from Amazon. Or borrow audiobooks from your library. Harry Potter, How to Train Your Dragon or Lord of the Rings are great books everyone could enjoy.

Movie Player

If you don’t have a vehicle that’s able to play movies, consider buying a portable DVD player. Making it easy for your kids to watch movies on. It might be a good idea to bring headphones too. So they can hear the movie and won’t get bored of it because they can’t hear. Also, the parents in front can still listen to the radio.

Camera

If you have a digital camera, encourage your kids to take photos while traveling. On our last road trip, my daughter spent a lot of time taking photos out the window. She liked taking pictures of the scenery we were passing.

Taking pictures kept her busy for a while without staring at a screen. She was doing this on my phone. I wished she could have used the digital camera, but we forgot the charger. So, most of the picture she took I ended up deleting for lack of memory on my phone.

Other Items to Bring on a Family Road Trip

Snacks

Make sure to bring plenty of snacks when going on a road trip with your kids. I like to get some snacks they usually don’t get. To make things more exciting. Don’t forget to put to snacks and drinks in an area of your vehicle where they are accessible.

Car Window Shades

Car sun shades come in handy for sunny days. It will protect your little ones from getting too much sun in the car. My little guy gets really irritable when the sun his in his eyes. So these help to keep him in a better mood.

Ziplock Bags

On occasions, my daughter will get motion sickness while in the car. It usually happens when we are traveling on a windy road. Ziplock bags are good to have on hand for motion sickness. Put a Ziplock bag where your child can grab it if they are not feeling good. It contains the vomit making clean up super easy.

If you like what you are reading please PIN this post

Packing your Vehicle

Keep the kids’ activities bags and the bag with snacks and drinks next to them. But try to keep everything else in the cargo area or in the trunk. That way the kids have room and if they drop a toy or activity it can be pick up.

Bathroom Breaks

Make sure everyone tries to go to the bathroom at every stop. If you are stopping for gas or a bite to eat make sure everyone tries and goes to the bathroom even if they say they don’t have to. Trying is easier than having to pull over again after you have only gone a short distance from your last stop.

Stretch Your Legs Often

If you can, stop at a park and let your kids run around to get some energy out. Try to eat lunch at a park. It will be a good way for everyone to get out of the car and stretch their legs.

Enjoy your Road Trip with your Kids

Traveling can be boring, or it can be a lot of fun. It all depends on how well you planned for it. When you are traveling with kids, there are many ways to make it more exciting for them. Try these tips and enjoy your road trip while watching your kids enjoy theirs as well.

How do you prepare for a road trip with your kids? Let me know in the comments:)

Related Posts:

• Planning A Family Camping Trip
• How to Pack For A Day at the Beach With Kids
• Springtime Family Activities, Fun Outdoor Ideas