If you’re planning a road trip this summer, you may be dreading keeping the kids entertained. Long journeys can be notoriously stressful. If you’re eager to eliminate arguments in the back and constant questions about how long there is to go, we can help. Here are some tips to help you survive your road trip and enjoy an incredible family holiday.
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| Road Trip to Ocean City in 2014 |
Get sorted in plenty of time
Nothing sets the tone for a fraught car journey like last-minute packing nightmares and delayed departures. Write a list of things that each member of the family has to do. Plan ahead, get cases packed and check that the car is ready and raring to go.
If you’re renting a car for your journey from HotWire for your journey, arrange to collect it a few hours before you plan to set off on your travels.
Plan your route and mark gas stations and potential pit stops. Look out for entertainment venues, sights and attractions along the way. Work out where you’re going to stay and keep your eyes peeled for hotel discounts and coupons for theme parks and movie theatres.
Do a food shop
Before you go, it’s essential to stock up on drinks and snacks. If the children get hungry, they’ll start moaning you could be miles away from the nearest store or cafe. Holidays are for fun and treats, so don’t forget to pack their favourite sweets.
Invest in a portable DVD player and pack games and toys
Driving for long periods of time can get boring, especially for little people. It’s a good idea to keep them occupied with toys, games and films. You could also plan a quiz for your route. Give them clues and encourage them to look out for landmarks or animals, for example. If you don’t have a portable DVD player, download some films onto your tablet before you go.
Stop frequently
Stop every few hours to allow everyone to stretch their legs and get some fresh air. Encourage frequent toilet visits to prevent unexpected stops at the side of the highway.
Make the journey part of your holiday
Start your road trip from your house. Incorporate stop-offs at beaches, parks or bowling alleys to get the party started and break up your journey. The kids won’t complain that they’re bored, and you can rest between long spells behind the wheel. Look at the map before you set off and work out where you can stop on your way down to your first destination.
Talk to your kids about their holiday before you go. Get them excited about the different locations and encourage them to follow your journey on the map.
Put some music on
Create a soundtrack for your journey. Choose songs, which everyone likes and get ready to showcase those vocal talents.
Long car journeys can be boring, stressful and fraught. However, they can also be fun. Bear these pointers in mind and try to break up your journey and keep the mood light-hearted and relaxed. Plan ahead and provide plenty of distractions.
23 travelers' comments:
It's definitely a challenge to keep kids entertained when you're on a long road trip. I normally pack toys of their choice so they won't get bored. Aside from that, we have snacks and music!
oh yes, I guess having something to eat while in the car, some music can do some tricks :)
This information you provided is a great help for those who travels a lot who have children that sometimes gets bored so easily. Thanks for this.
We've done many long roadtrips with the kids and for us, the keys are to bring LOTS of snacks and make lots of stops.
These are great ideas. I'm so glad my kids are older so they don't need as much on car trips. I can put on my headphones, read, and tune everyone out.
These are excellent tips. Road-tripping with the family is great, but it can be a challenge to keep the kids occupied and keep the squabbling to a minimum.
These are all wonderful ways to survive a long road trip with kids. Stopping often to stretch the legs always helps.
Packing food is always so important. Plus it will save money in the long run. Take your time and makes stops for everyone. Have fun.
We going to lotta road trips and I think these are some great tips. We always have a bunch of snacks and games to play. I think the biggest thing is to stop and stretch our legs and have a little fun as we travel to ur destination.
Long car rides are the worst but better than a long flight :-) Thanks for all the tips! They will come in handy.
We are taking a 7 hr road trip for the holidays. One of our fave tips is to insist everyone get out when we stop for gas and go to the restroom to wash their hands. That way they stretch their legs walking to the restroom.
I have gone on long road trips with my kids, it seemed easier for me when they were YOUNGER. Now that they are older, OMG they literally drive me more nuts.
These are all wonderful tips. I’ve found amazing restaurants through our travels. I always try to include the kiddos in our playlist.
These are all great tips for traveling with kids. Having snacks on hand is one of the most important things!
Bring comfy blankets and pillows for a satisfying nap. Designate a time to close eyes and relax. Traveling does bring on a lot of stress!
These are amazing tips especially when you are traveling with kids. This will be very useful when we are having a kids someday.
I entertain my nieces and nephews with shows and movies I've downloaded on my iPad from Netflix! Thank goodness for iPads!! LOL!!
This is a great and happy bonding moment together such a perfect quality time for the family.
Those questions about how long there is to go are so stressful! Thank you for you useful advice!
These are all great ideas. I like the idea of stopping often because kids need to get out and move. I'm planning a trip in March and it's almost a whole day of driving, so I know the kids are going to want to get out often.
Long car rides are horrible, just ask my son. We've gone to New Mexico plenty of times so I know first hand. We watch movies.
Loving this list. The only thing BB ever made sure of on family trips was having snacks. LOL Actually, Babushka does that on daily trips too. ; )
I am not strong enough to do a long car trip with my kids, they are not for me. But I love your suggestions especially making the trip part of the vacation.
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