Blame it on my anxiety or blame it on my character flaw of needing to be in control of everything, but I once refused to even think about road trips with kids. That was even before I had kids. Once I had kids, that thought remained pretty consistent. I wanted to simply reach our destination as fast as possible with as few meltdowns as possible. I didn’t want to enjoy the journey or take it easy as we drove. I wanted to get to our destination and that was that. Here are my tips on changing your road trips with kids from dreaded overnight drives to days filled with pit stops and memories that will last a lifetime.
Author’s Note: These are all tips for day trips where your kids will be awake most of the time. If you feel comfortable driving through the night that’s perfectly fine, but we have found that it causes us to have a terrible day upon our arrival. As always, be safe and don’t feel defeated if you need to pull over at a hotel or rest stop if you feel tired.
Start Your Road Trip Early
It doesn’t matter where you are going, start early. I suggest even making one stop within the first 1.5 to 2 hours to give kids a chance to get a feel for what’s to come without driving them to the edge of their limits.
Plan Your Trip with Your Kids in Mind
Map out routes that allow for the kinds of stops that you need to make. If you have toddlers who are potty training, be sure to take a route that has plenty of opportunities to pull off and make a pit stop. If you have older kids who want to have a few moments alone before they lose their mind, plan a route that gives them chances to stretch their legs without it being at a convenience store. It’s amazing what unique side road attractions or unique welcome centers you can find with a quick internet search.
Pack Individual Road Trip Bags
If everyone has their own bag of goods – including snacks, activities and entertainment – you’ll be less stressed and they’ll feel as if they have control of what’s going on. Don’t forget to invest in some portable phone chargers for your older kids who have tablets or phones, you don’t want a mid-trip argument over who can use what outlet in the car.
Add Important Items Into One Tote
While everyone has their own bag for entertainment and snacks, you should try to keep your own tote of necessities and important items that you need to grab in a second. Something you’ll want to have at your feet or on the floor in the second row are: wet wipes, extra diapers or undies for the really little ones (a portably potty with a diaper on the inside is perfect for side of the road emergencies), sickness bags, first aid kit, and gallon-sized ziplocks or plastic grocery bags for trash/accidents.
Making Road Trips Yours
Sure, these are my top four tips, but at the end of it all, do what works for your family. If you can only survive on screen time, then do it. If you only want to pack picnics and healthy snacks, then do it. If you want to make as many stops as possible at the most Instagram-worth places, do it. However you road trip, do it because I promise you that you’ll make some amazing memories.
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