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Are you looking for tips for long road trips with kids? Road trips can be a load of fun, with adventure ahead and new destinations to take in along the way, but if you have ever been on a long road trip with kids, you may know these do not always go to plan.
Everything from whining from boredom and the constant ‘Are we there yet?’ and ‘How much longer?’, or the bickering in the backseat from being stuck with their siblings for hours on end!
Family road trips with kids can be a disaster unless you plan ahead.
We have put together some of the best tips for road trips with kids to help save your sanity and enjoy the ride!
These car activities will help keep kids entertained
The Best Road Trip Hacks For Long Car Rides With Kids
If you’ve ever been on a love car ride with your family, you likely already know that the whole experience can be downright awful if you aren’t properly prepared.
Bored kids… hungry kids… poorly planned road trip stops, and the whole family wishing they would reach their end destination already!
Well, thankfully there are plenty of ways to make your self-drive family road trip a whole lot more enjoyable.
Tips For Long Road Trips With Kids: The Ultimate Family Road Trip Guide
Road trips are one of our favourite types of travel to take with our kids.
It wasn’t always that way but we have come to really love the flexibility of being able to stop whenever we like and enjoy the scenery and highlights along the way!
Our first attempt didn’t go so well. Car sick, boredom and whinging. But those things are usually a thing of the past now.
When it comes to planning a long car ride with kids, there are a few tips and hacks for long car rides you need to know:
1. Start With A Plan
When you’re planning a long road trip with kids, it’s important to be as organised as possible.
This means having at least a loose plan for each day of the trip and being prepared for anything that might come up.
Discuss the trip with your kids ahead of time. Talk about what they can expect along the way and at your destination. This will help them to be prepared for the journey.
Having a plan also means knowing where you will definitely stop, while still leaving some flexibility for making spontaneous stops along the way too.
Make sure you read our huge guide to planning a road trip before you go!
2. Road Trip Games & Activities For Kids
Boredom is one of the biggest enemies of a fun road trip with kids.
Be sure to pack plenty of activities to keep them occupied. Games, books, colouring books, and handheld electronic devices are all great options
It can be a lot of fun for the family, adults included, to play some travel games along the way. This is good for bonding time, along with keeping the kids amused during the long drive.
Games such as I Spy, where you take in turns picking an item and give only the first letter for the rest of the family to guess.
Scavenger hunts are another great option. The scavenger hunt items you can either make up on the go or create a list before you leave and tick it off together.
Other popular road trip games include the license plate game, mad libs, or alphabet soup, where you each name something related to the theme going through in alphabet order.
When travelling with kids, it always helps to have a few of these you can play on-demand as well as solo activities they can do when they need some quiet time.
Trust us, you will be thankful for it when they start to get antsy!
To save you time, we have created a mammoth road trip activity book with loads of games, puzzles, activities, scavenger hunts & journaling pages for kids. Best of all, there are activities and games the whole family can join in with too!
GRAB THE PRINTABLE ACTIVITY BOOK HERE
Depending on the age of your kids, they may enjoy some travel-friendly activities, such as colouring books, busy bags or having some favourite toys to play with. Sure it may get a little messy, but happy kids = happy parents.
Creating your own travel activity packs is a great option and this is something we also do when we fly as well as for long car trips. Include little toys, pipe cleaners, and activities.
You will find LOADS of car games, travel toys and road trip activities that will keep the kids occupied for most of your trip.
Another option, if you don’t want to make your own, is bringing along a kid’s travel subscription box. They are usually compact and perfect to take with you for travel.
Road Trip Tip: If you are bringing electronic devices, download a few favourite episodes or movies from your child’s favourite streaming service before you go so they have videos to watch without needing wifi.
3. Be Prepared With Road Trip Meals & Snacks
One of the benefits of travelling by car is that you can take your own road trip food and drink with you, which comes in handy if you are on a budget or have specific dietary requirements.
Have lots of healthy snacks that are suitable for car rides – nothing too messy!
Avoid excessive junk food because this will increase the chance of someone getting car sickness!
If you’re planning on fast food and dining out, research restaurants in advance and make sure they will cater to your needs. If you’re going to be picnicking along the way, prepare some easy snacks and meals that everyone will enjoy.
A road trip meal planner is a great way of preparing ahead with meals, snacks and stops so you have everything ready before you go.
PLAN YOUR ROAD TRIP MEALS AND SNACKS. GET THE FREEBIES!
As for snacks, kids have smaller stomachs so they get hungry more often.
They also like to snack out of boredom sometimes too, so having an abundance of good food for a road trip with kids is essential.
Make sure to pack snacks that do not need refrigeration, unless you have a quality esky to keep them cool.
Road Trip Tip: Avoid high-sugar snacks or you could end up with hyperactive kids who won’t cope well with being confined to a car or other vehicle for prolonged periods.
HERE ARE SOME ROAD TRIP SNACK IDEAS:
- Fruit
- Muffins
- Veggie sticks
- Cheese and crackers
- Dried fruit and nut mix
- Natural popcorn
- Wraps
If you are planning on car camping or cooking meals along the way, these camping meal ideas might be perfect for your road trip:
4. Make Comfort A Priority
Staying comfortable on a long car ride can be a challenge, especially for kids. consider packing pillows and blankets that kids can use in the backseat for naps along the way.
Travelling for long periods is exhausting, especially for young kids.
Plus having rest time will make them less irritable than trying to over-stimulate them with entertainment the whole way.
Comfortable clothing is another must!
Wearing clothes that are soft and won’t irritate is essential, especially for kids. Dress them in layers that can easily be removed if they get too warm or added if they are cold.
Check out our full packing guide to road trip essentials
Road Trip Tip: Pack a pair of socks for each child no matter the season. Warm feet always add extra comfort.
5. Take Breaks Regularly
You might be tempted to drive as long as possible to get to your destination, but this isn’t always the best idea when you’re travelling with kids.
It’s important to take breaks every few hours so that everyone can move around, use the restroom, and eat a proper meal.
Regular pit stops and stopping at rest areas for meals can break up a long trip.
If you’re feeling tired, it’s also a good idea to take a break or switch drivers.
6. Plan Your Stops
While taking breaks is essential, it can help to plan some of your bigger stops ahead of time.
Try to find activities that the whole family can enjoy. Kids will love exploring new places and you may just find something really cool that you would have otherwise missed.
Usually, the best road trip activities are those unexpected stops you didn’t plan for.
A short hike through National Parks, visiting a playground, or checking out a local attraction are all great options for older kids.
Just make sure to do your research before you go so that you know what to expect.
If possible, try to plan your route so that you can stay in hotels or campgrounds that have amenities like pools or playgrounds. This will make your longer stops more exciting for the whole family.
7. Be Prepared For Emergencies
No one likes to think about emergencies, but it’s important to be prepared for anything when you are road tripping with kids.
Pack a first-aid kit and make sure everyone knows where it is. If you have specific medical needs, be sure to pack any medication that you might need along the way.
It’s also a good idea to have a plan in case of a breakdown or other emergencies. Knowing who to call and how you will get help if something happens can give you peace of mind on your trip.
Make sure you have an emergency kit in the car with a flashlight, flares, jumper cables and other essentials.
Having roadside assistance and appropriate travel insurance cover will also give you extra confidence that you are covered during your road trip.
Travel Insurance: Make sure you don’t leave home without travel insurance. Trust us, it’s one of those things you don’t want to skip, especially when travelling with kids. Check out SafetyWing to make sure you’re covered!
8. Keep The Car Clean
This one is especially important if you’re travelling with little kids and babies. A clean car will make everyone more comfortable.
Have a plastic bag or a garbage bag that you can fill with trash along the way that you can throw away when you stop.
Baby wipes are also essential for keeping the car clean. Use them to wipe down surfaces, clean up spills, and keep everyone’s hands clean.
9. Be Flexible
No matter how much you plan, there is always a chance that things will not go according to plan when you’re on a road trip with kids
Be sure to leave some extra time in your schedule so that you don’t feel rushed. This will help everyone stay calm if things do not go as planned.
It’s also important to be flexible with your itinerary. If your kids are tired or there is something that they really want to see, be willing to change your plans.
10. Drink Plenty Of Water
Make sure everyone stays hydrated.
Have a water bottle for each family member that you can refill at your gas station or rest stops or from a large water dispenser in your boot.
When we change our routine, it’s often easy to forget simple things like remembering to drink enough water so remind the kids to sip up, even if it means a few unexpected toilet stops.
11. Toilet Finder App
Have you ever been driving through stretches of open road or small towns only to have a young child suddenly needing a toilet stop?
It happens to us all the time!
Thankfully Simon has always had a toilet finder app installed on his phone for moments like this. You can search for the nearest facilities… and hopefully avoid the need for a bush wee!
12. Pack Essentials In Easy Reach
When doing road trips with kids, especially if taking a road trip with a baby or younger kids, you won’t want to pack the entire car only to realise something you need halfway is buried under all the bags.
Keep your baby road trip essentials, your diaper bag and extra diapers in the backseat for easy access and quick diaper changes.
Make sure the first aid kit is in easy reach and bring a roll of toilet paper in case you find gas stations and rest stops with none. Eeek!
13. Have Fun!
At the end of the day, the most important thing is to have fun! Road trips are a great way to explore new places and spend time together as a family.
Relax and enjoy the journey and not just the destination. Play road trip games and talk to each other.
Road trips are a great opportunity to spend time together as a family and create lasting memories.
Conclusion: Planning A Road Trip With Kids
When it comes to long drives with kids, there are so many ways to make this whole experience easier for the family, and hopefully, even make road trips with kids one of your favourite family trip experiences!
We hope these tips help you when preparing for a road trip with kids!
More Road Trip Planning Tips:
- Beginners’ guide to road trip planning
- Road trip activities for kids
- Road trip songs for families
- Road trip food list and meal planning tips
- Family road trip packing list
- RV road trip packing list
- How to plan a family camping trip
Need some new ideas for your next family road trip? Here are a few:
What are your essential ways of surviving a road trip with kids?