Taking a long road trip soon? Not going to lie, even when it’s easy to take road trips with kids, it’s still hard. Our boys do extremely well on road trips. However, they still get tired of being buckled, not able to run around to play, having a different routine, not having comfy naps, etc. It’s a lot for kids and added work for us as parents. We put together a list of practical and helpful tips that work for us.
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Table of Contents
Let Them Sleep
Don’t make a stop at all while they are peacefully sleeping. The only exception is if you’re going to pee yourself by not stopping. Otherwise, keep driving!
Kid-friendly Music
Long road trips can get boring fast for kids and adults. Have some fun kid-friendly music playing. We like Disney music and kids worship songs, both are easy to sing to.
Toys
We don’t typically buy new toys for long road trips. Instead, we let the kids pick up the toys they’d like to take. They have plenty to choose from and I’m not interested in adding more to the collection. If we do buy them something new, it’s usually a fun themed travel pack with coloring, stickers, etc. Sometimes you can pick something up at Target in their Dollar Spot.
Screen Time
We don’t usually allow much screen time in the car, but road trips are the exception. We keep them entertained for as long as we can, but they’re stuck in the car for hours and hours and deserve some movies, games, etc. They get to use their Amazon Fire Tablet.
Consider Driving at Night
I personally absolutely HATE driving straight through and driving all night, but it really is so much easier for babies and kids. They’ll typically sleep most of the night, which means fewer stops and happier kids. In the end, even I must admit it tends to be worth it.
Stop Often
If you decide to drive during the day and the kids aren’t asleep, then stop every 2-3 hours. You’ll want a break and the kids need a chance to stretch, use the bathroom, fresh diaper, have a snack, etc. If you’re able to stop for a meal at a place with a play area, we HIGHLY recommend doing so. Their playtime doesn’t need to take long, but it lets them get some of that cooped up energy out.
Keep Snacks Easy and Accessible
We don’t give anything to eat to our kids while they’re in their car seat, with the exception of an apple sauce pouch. Whether you choose to or not is your choice, but either way, keep the snacks easily accessible and simple. Whether they snack in the car or at a rest stop, it’ll make it go much easier. We usually pack apples, bananas, applesauce pouches, pretzels, Cheerios, goldfish, water, and a few sweet treats. We avoid snacks like berries because they aren’t the easiest to travel with and they’re messier to clean up… colorful berry juice all over, no thanks!
Always Add Time
It definitely takes a lot longer when taking road trips with kids. For our family, it takes about 30-60 minutes for EACH rest stop we take. You need a bathroom break, change diapers, snacks/meals, etc. Try your best not to rush them, because they need that break. You’ll be thankful to avoid that extra meltdown that you’d have to make a stop for anyway.
Road Trips with Kids, Worth It?
Yes! It’s worth it! Taking road trips with kids is definitely no easy feat, but don’t let that discourage you. Don’t set up false expectations, plan ahead, and just go with it. The memories that you’ll make as a family will be 100% worth all the hard parts you go through.
Xoxo,
Heather
What tips and advice do you have when taking road trips with kids? Let us know!
When my son was younger, I drove at night as much as I could. I do love driving at night, though. The roads are always less crowded so it’s much more enjoyable, especially through parts that just aren’t very pretty to look at.
Great read. Thanks for the tips
Oh yes, long road trips are very difficult on the kids. Especially more so if you are travelling with a toddler. Great tips, I will keep some in mind for future adventures.