200 Tips For Family Road Trips
Simple tips to make your next road trip with kids more enjoyable so you can have an awesome, low-stress family vacation.
As we leave the winter (long Canadian winter) behind us, camping, road trips and family fun are all ahead of us.
Such an exciting time!
In our family, we take long road trips to see family in different places far far away from us and Summertime is the best time to travel. Winter is not very safe to travel since we are up in Canada and the snow and ice on the highways can be dangerous.
You can understand how happy our family is when the snow melts and the summer weather comes around.
Summer is always full of adventure, fun, and excitement. As well as a much-needed break from the school year. Learning in a classroom is great, but learning on a long trip doesn’t even feel like learning, does it?
The only challenge about road tripping in the summer months is the organization, the planning, and the packing of the whole family, usually all done by MOM. I’m super lucky to have been at this for years, and it doesn’t take me very long to pack my young kids for the best road trip.
See also: Toddler And Preschooler Road Trip Activities and 9 Kid-Friendly Road Trip Games (That Don’t Involve Screen Time)
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The Big List Of Road Trip Tips For Families
- Plan your route in advance, including stops for breaks, meals, and attractions.
- Make sure your vehicle is in good working condition before you leave.
- Pack a first-aid kit and basic tools for emergencies.
- Bring essential documents like driver’s licenses, insurance, and vehicle registration.
- Create a checklist for packing to avoid forgetting important items.
- Pack snacks and drinks to keep everyone fueled and hydrated.
- Use a cooler to store perishable snacks and drinks.
- Bring a variety of entertainment options for kids, such as books, games, and movies.
- Have a designated trash bag to keep the car clean.
- Pack extra clothes and blankets for unexpected weather changes.
- Make a playlist of road trip tunes to keep everyone entertained.
- Consider getting a travel app or GPS for navigation.
- Have a plan for rest stops and bathroom breaks.
- Pack wet wipes and hand sanitizer for quick clean-ups.
- Bring reusable water bottles to reduce waste.
- Keep important medications easily accessible.
- Plan scenic routes to make the journey more enjoyable.
- Pack a flashlight and extra batteries.
- Bring a camera or smartphone for capturing memories.
- Plan activities and games for the car, like “I Spy” or trivia.
- Check for road closures and construction before you leave.
- Know the speed limits and traffic rules of the areas you’ll be traveling through.
- Pack a travel pillow for more comfortable naps.
- Consider a roof rack or storage container for extra luggage.
- Have a car charger for electronic devices.
- Teach kids about safety, including how to use seat belts.
- Make frequent stops to stretch your legs and avoid fatigue.
- Keep an eye on the weather forecast and adjust plans as needed.
- Carry spare keys in case of loss or lockouts.
- Stay hydrated and avoid excessive caffeine.
- Plan for pet care if you’re bringing pets on the trip.
- Have cash on hand for tolls and places that don’t accept cards.
- Pack a small toolkit for minor repairs.
- Use travel apps to find nearby restaurants and gas stations.
- Know the location of the nearest hospitals and urgent care centers.
- Secure valuables and electronics when leaving the car.
- Use a sunshade to keep the car cooler during breaks.
- Be mindful of wildlife on the road, especially at dawn and dusk.
- Follow a regular sleep schedule to stay alert while driving.
- Avoid distractions like texting or excessive phone use.
- Share the driving responsibilities if possible.
- Learn basic car maintenance tasks, like changing a flat tire.
- Keep a spare tire, jack, and lug wrench in the car.
- Research pet-friendly accommodations if you’re traveling with pets.
- Pack a small trash can for the car.
- Dress comfortably for long hours in the car.
- Use travel apps to find discounts and deals along the route.
- Check local COVID-19 guidelines and restrictions before traveling.
- Be flexible and open to changes in your itinerary.
- Enjoy the journey and make lasting family memories!
- Pack a roadside emergency kit with items like flares, jumper cables, and a fire extinguisher.
- Consider purchasing a national park pass if you plan to visit multiple parks.
- Bring a travel-sized sewing kit for quick clothing repairs.
- Invest in a sunshade for the rear windows to keep the sun out of kids’ eyes.
- Use a tablet or e-reader to save space compared to physical books.
- Download offline maps to navigate in areas with poor cell reception.
- Label your luggage with contact information in case it gets lost.
- Include a travel journal for kids to document their trip.
- Pack a laundry bag to keep dirty clothes separate from clean ones.
- Bring a reusable shopping bag for souvenirs.
- Keep a small stash of cash for unexpected expenses.
- Research pet-friendly parks and trails if traveling with pets.
- Have a spare set of car keys in a different location than the originals.
- Carry a travel-sized tool for removing ticks if you’ll be in wooded areas.
- Use a roof cargo box to maximize storage space.
- Keep a small fire extinguisher in the kitchen area of your RV.
- Invest in a portable Wi-Fi hotspot for consistent internet access.
- Bring a travel-sized electric kettle for hot water on the go.
- Pack an extra set of headphones for each passenger.
- Use a phone mount or holder for hands-free navigation.
- Pack a travel-sized sewing kit for quick clothing repairs.
- Bring a travel-sized power strip for charging multiple devices.
- Consider travel insurance to cover unexpected cancellations or emergencies.
- Pack a compact travel umbrella for unexpected rain showers.
- Use a carabiner to keep keys or small items organized.
- Create a family road trip playlist with everyone’s favorite songs.
- Carry a portable battery charger for electronic devices.
- Bring a portable phone charger with a solar panel for backup power.
- Keep a paper map as a backup in case technology fails.
- Use a travel app to find clean and safe rest areas.
- Include a small cooler bag for medication that needs refrigeration.
- Pack reusable cloth napkins and cutlery to reduce waste.
- Keep a travel-sized stain remover pen for spills on clothing.
- Store important documents in a waterproof pouch.
- Have a designated “lost and found” bag for items left in the car.
- Consider packing a small camping stove for on-the-go cooking.
- Bring a camping hammock for relaxing breaks in nature.
- Pack a car trash can with a lid to contain odors.
- Include a small travel mirror and grooming essentials.
- Pack a headlamp for hands-free lighting during nighttime stops.
- Bring a set of binoculars for birdwatching and scenic views.
- Keep a basic sewing kit for emergency clothing repairs.
- Pack a windshield sunshade to keep the car cooler.
- Carry a travel-sized fire starter kit for campfires.
- Bring reusable food storage containers for leftovers.
- Use packing cubes to stay organized in your luggage.
- Pack a roll of duct tape for quick fixes and repairs.
- Keep a small lock for securing luggage or valuables.
- Include a collapsible water bottle for easy storage.
- Have a travel-sized lint roller for clothing maintenance.
- Share your itinerary with a trusted friend or family member.
- Pack a portable tire inflator for maintaining proper tire pressure.
- Carry a fireproof document bag for important documents.
- Bring a basic toolkit with screwdrivers, pliers, and wrenches.
- Use a travel app to find pet-friendly accommodations.
- Keep a travel-sized sewing kit for unexpected clothing repairs.
- Carry a basic fishing kit for spontaneous fishing stops.
- Include a travel-sized camping stove for cooking outdoors.
- Pack a multi-tool with various functions.
- Bring a reusable coffee filter for making coffee on the go.
- Carry a portable folding chair for impromptu breaks.
- Use a roadside assistance service for added peace of mind.
- Include a deck of cards or travel-sized board games.
- Carry a compact telescope for stargazing at night.
- Use a travel app to find the best scenic viewpoints.
- Pack a travel-sized insect repellent.
- Keep a basic car maintenance log for reference.
- Bring a car sunshade for the front windshield.
- Carry a travel-sized lint roller for pet hair.
- Include a portable grill for outdoor cooking.
- Use a dashboard camera for recording your journey.
- Pack a small travel-safe for securing valuables.
- Carry a travel-sized water filter for clean drinking water.
- Include a portable pet food and water bowl.
- Keep a roll of painter’s tape for labeling and organizing.
- Bring a portable camping shower for extended trips.
- Carry a compact camping table for meals and activities.
- Use a travel app to find free camping spots.
- Pack a travel-sized fishing rod and reel.
- Include a collapsible bucket for various purposes.
- Carry a travel-sized portable heater or fan.
- Bring a small campfire cooking grate for outdoor meals.
- Include a car air purifier for improved air quality.
- Carry a travel-sized GPS tracker for added security.
- Use a car sunshade for the rear windshield.
- Pack a travel-sized water purifier for emergencies.
- Bring a small backpack for day trips and hikes.
- Include a portable campfire pit for safe fires.
- Keep a set of playing cards for family game nights.
- Carry a travel-sized wind-up or solar-powered radio.
- Use a car trunk organizer for better storage.
- Pack a travel-sized bike for exploring new areas.
- Include a portable travel cot for young children.
- Carry a travel-sized campfire starter kit.
- Keep a travel-sized yoga mat for exercise and relaxation.
- Include a portable travel grill for BBQs.
- Carry a travel-sized pop-up trash can.
- Use a car seat organizer for storing essentials.
- Pack a portable clothesline for laundry on the go.
- Include a travel-sized firewood log carrier.
- Carry a roll of adhesive tape for various needs.
- Use a headrest-mounted tablet holder for entertainment.
- Pack a travel-sized vacuum cleaner for quick clean-ups.
- Include a collapsible camping sink for washing dishes.
- Carry a travel-sized bicycle repair kit if you plan to bike.
- Bring a portable jump starter for dead car batteries.
- Include a compact travel hammock for relaxation.
- Use a car seat travel bag to protect car seats.
- Pack a portable camping toilet for emergencies.
- Include a waterproof phone pouch for outdoor activities.
- Carry a travel-sized sewing machine for larger repairs.
- Bring a travel-sized noise machine for better sleep.
- Include a portable tire repair kit for minor punctures.
- Pack a folding camping cot for more comfortable sleep.
- Carry a travel-sized kitchen sink for washing dishes.
- Use a childproof lock for RV and motorhome cabinets.
- Include a collapsible sled for snowy destinations.
- Carry a travel-sized air compressor for inflatable gear.
- Pack a portable dog fence for pet safety at camp.
- Bring a travel-sized bike rack for additional bikes.
- Include a car window breaker and seatbelt cutter.
- Use a roof-mounted cargo bag for extra storage.
- Pack a portable espresso maker for coffee lovers.
- Carry a travel-sized picnic table for outdoor meals.
- Include a compact snow shovel for snowy conditions.
- Bring a travel-sized bike pump for maintaining tires.
- Use a rooftop cargo basket for large, bulky items.
- Carry a travel-sized childproofing kit.
- Pack a portable work light for night emergencies.
- Include a travel-sized clothes steamer.
- Bring a compact inflatable kayak or paddleboard.
- Use a rooftop cargo net for securing loose items.
- Carry a portable camping oven for baking.
- Include a compact travel fan for better airflow.
- Pack a collapsible sled for winter fun.
- Use a rooftop cargo bag for soft, weatherproof storage.
- Carry a portable child safety gate for RVs.
- Include a travel-sized carpet cleaner for spills.
- Bring a portable travel potty for young children.
- Use a rooftop cargo box for secure storage.
- Carry a portable bike repair stand for maintenance.
- Include a compact travel hairdryer.
- Pack a travel-sized toolset for DIY repairs.
- Bring a portable telescope for stargazing.
- Use a rooftop kayak rack for easy transport.
- Carry a travel-sized drone for aerial photography.
- Include a compact travel blender for smoothies.
- Pack a portable camping shower tent.
- Bring a portable stovetop oven for baking.
- Use a rooftop ski rack for winter adventures.
Tips To Get Your Car Organized
Organizing your vehicle will make your road trip much easier. We use this organizer between the children’s seats that hold select snacks and toys for the kids to grab themselves. It has 3 compartments so I can keep road trip essentials for my young kids separated, at least for a little while.
If you have small children who are constantly dropping things on the floor, a portable travel tray could be a good idea for you.
If you are planning on mounting your iPad or a portable dvd player to the back of the chair, this organizer might be for you.
No matter how you choose to organize your car, it’s always a good idea to keep some snacks and games accessible to kids at all times.
When you pack the car, pack up your items the night before you leave. This can help your family leave on time, or if you’re traveling early in the morning, it will make your life easier in general.
Tips To Prepare Snacks
Road trip snacks are very important and should not be left to gas station options. Not only will all the snacks at gas stations be overpriced, most of the time they have many unhealthy junk food options and not much else.
The car organizer we used has a built-in cooler, so packing a variety of healthy snacks was a breeze.
Snack Ideas For Cooler
- Hard-Boiled Eggs
- Cheese Cubes
- Cut Up Veggies
- Fresh Fruits
- Cheese Strings
Non-Cooler Snack Ideas
- Trail Mix
- Apple Sauce Pouches
- Pretzels
- Raisins
- Cookies / Crackers
- PBJ Sandwiches
- Beef Jerky
Don’t forget drinks! Water is always a great choice for travel, or juice boxes if your kids are allowed to have them.
Mommy ALWAYS gets carbonated water for trips.
Keeping The Kids Busy In The Car
There are a few things you can do to keep the kids busy in the car. If you don’t mind the kids making a mess in the backseat, then you may have more options than we normally use.
Personally, I prefer to not do, busy bags or multi peace toys in the car. Because of this, we opt-in for loads of screen time, and I’m ok with that. But here are some fun games that we have played in the past that are a great way to pass the time for a couple of hours.
Activities For The Kids For The Car
- Printable Road Trip Activities
- Licence Plate Game
- Scavenger Hunt
- Create A Magnetic Lego Travel Tray
- Make A Busy Wallet
- Make A Travel Playset
- I-Spy Treasure Bags
- Make Your Own Felt Board
- Learn Car Yoga
- Play String Cheese Games
- Play The Memory Game (I’m going on a road trip and I’m going to bring”
- Encourage Sleep
- Learn About Maps
- Do Brain Quest Challenge Cards
- Create Travel Journal – Free Printables
- Road Trip Activity Pack Printable
- Learn With Travel Math Activities
- Play with small dolls
- Use coloring books
- Play the alphabet game
- Mad libs
- I spy with my little eye
- Portable lego kit
Prepare Easy Access “Go Bag”
I always strive to have a small, easy-access bag that goes in the trunk of the car, or in the back seat under the kids feet, but is the first accessible thing to us when we open the back. This is essential if you have kids of all ages and makes a stop at rest areas much easier to get through.
- Spare Change Of Clothes For Each Child
- Spare Fruit Snacks Just In Case
- Chargers For Devices
- Sunscreen / Hats / Bug Spray
- Small First Aid Kit
- Tylenol (kids and adults)
- Gravol
- Plastic Bag
- Water Bottle
My go bag is super easy to access, I can’t stress that enough. If we have a car sickness incident, the go bag should help get us out of a jam in less than 5 minutes on a family trip on the open road.
Extra water should be used to clean anything gross and put into plastic bags, or wet bags like these. Easy, fast clean-up can help us get back on the road in no time.
If your child does get sick on the trip, give them some Gravol to help ease the tummy.
Prepare Emergency Kit
I have this emergency kit. It has everything we need in case of trouble. I’ll usually take a look inside the kit before a trip and make sure everything is still working and if we need to add anything to it before we leave.
Plan Your Route And Your Stops
Let your kids know that the trip is going to be a long one. Make sure you give frequent updates to the family so everyone is aware of how much longer the trip is going to be. Hopefully, that can eliminate the need for “Are We There Yet?”
You may know your destination, but planning your route can help you be prepared for unexpected stops as well. You will know the road ahead of time and can be better prepared for an emergency stop.
You can use apps like Roadtripper or OnTheWay to plan your adventure.
Make sure to check the weather before you leave as well. The Weather Channel Trip Planner can help you with this.
Prepare Playlist
Nothing says road trip like a good playlist. Create your perfect road trip playlist by mixing in songs your children will like, your passengers will enjoy and some the driver will like as well.
We planned our playlist on Spotify . It was great because we got a month free subscription and were able to download all of our favorite tunes. There were some pre-made road trip playlists that we downloaded as well as many children’s song options. You can also use Audible (here is a 30 day free trial)
It took us a while to prepare our playlist, so make sure you start downloading those songs well ahead of time!
“You Don’t Have To Be Rich To Travel Well.”- Eugene Fodor
How To Enjoy The Road Trip With Kids
Drive Early (Or At Night)
If you can start your journey while the kids are asleep, do it! Sleeping children, even if it’s for one hour, is a blessing to have while you drive. The quiet won’t last long, but it’ll be nice and enjoyable if you can get a head start on your journey early in the morning or drive through the night. We normally travel for 10+ hours, and the best time to leave is about 4 in the morning so the kids can snooze while we drive out of the city and into the beautiful landscape of the road.
Take Plenty Of Stops And Enjoy The Views
When you’re on a road trip, it can be hard for the driver to stop and enjoy the sights because they just want to get to the destination. But don’t let these opportunities pass you by! Stop and enjoy nature or pop into that little town you’ve always been curious about. It’ll help create some amazing memories.
Seat Kids Properly
Make sure all the kids have proper car seats and are all buckled in securely before you take off for your trip. I know this seems like a given, but sometimes older children who should still be in a booster seat, end up not using their booster in order to have more space and comfort during the road trip, and this is just not safe.
You’ll also want to make sure that siblings aren’t too close to each other which can cause fighting and disagreements, which can be disturbing to the driver.
Keep It Tidy
Snacking and playing games during the trip is a must, but all those snacks can cause some garbage problems. Make sure you are controlling the garbage situation so things don’t get out of hand because it happens quickly and the next thing you know you’re driving a garbage van around the province/state.
Schedule Play Time
It’s always nice to have some playtime for the kids while you are on a long road trip. We like to plan an hour at a playground if we are on a road trip that is longer than 10 hours. This gives the kids an opportunity to get out some energy, and perhaps persuade them to take a car nap later..though this doesn’t work for all kids but you can hope.
Let The Kids Be Bored
Yes, I said it! While you can totally pack all the travel games, electronics and load up the iPad with all the no wifi required apps you like, the kids are going to show signs of boredom and that’s ok. Let them observe nature, whine a little, and just be bored. You’ll never know what kind of games they will come up with without this boredom stage, or sing some songs that you didn’t even know they knew. It’s ok to be bored!
Limit The Liquids
It’s a good idea to pack liquids on your road trip but limiting them is a good idea too. You’ll want to stop the car every few hours for a potty, gas, and snack break, but stopping more often because of emergency bathroom breaks can be avoided by limiting the liquid intake for everyone in the car.
Accept The Unexpected
Things are going to happen and you never know when! Poop explosions, vomiting, car troubles etc. Just roll with it! If you need to stop to fix a problem, it’s best to not be grumpy about it because it’s already done and it’s out of your control. Remain a calm parent and just go with the punches.
Tips For Taking A Road Trip With Kids Bottom Line
Road trips are all about family fun and while a lot of preparation and organization are required which can put stress on mom and dad, it’s important to put those things behind you and enjoy your family time together.
Our lives are busy, and creating these connections isn’t an opportunity that all of us have on a daily basis.
I hope you have a great family road trip and enjoy all the quirky roadside attractions and beautiful national parks as you drive.
You may also enjoy these Quotes About Family Road Trips to help inspire you for your adventure.
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