Planning a family road trip is sure to be a fun experience, but it can also bring up a blend of excitement and stress.
You’re looking forward to getting away, seeing somewhere new and spending time together, but you’re also thinking about everything that needs to happen before you leave.
From the packing to the snacks to the pit stops you need to make along the way, hitting the open road isn’t always as easy as it seems.
When you’re travelling with kids, a little preparation can make a big difference.
But, that doesn’t mean planning every minute of your trip, or trying to create a perfectly timed itinerary.
In fact, the best family road trips usually leave some room for things to go differently than planned.
If you’re planning a family road trip, take a little time to plan your route, prep your vehicle, and ensure you have all season tires that can handle the journey.
These tips can help ensure that your vacation is one that you’ll all remember with a smile.
Start With a Realistic Road Trip Plan
Choosing a destination is one of the first big decisions you’ll make, but it’s worth thinking about what will actually work for your family.
That dream destination might not be nearly as enjoyable if it involves hours of driving with a toddler who hates being in the car, or teenagers who are already complaining before you’ve left the driveway.
Think about your children’s ages, personalities, and interests when deciding where to go.
You might want to spend your vacation hiking and exploring, while your kids are dreaming about a hotel pool or an amusement park.
Finding a destination with something for everyone can make the trip much more enjoyable.
Once you’ve chosen where you’re going, plan the drive in a way that works for your family.
A long stretch of highway can be a lot for kids, so look for easy opportunities to stop for meals, bathroom breaks, and chances to get out and stretch.
You can also look for a few interesting stops along your route. Just don’t feel like you have to plan every single one.
Leaving some room for an unexpected playground, roadside attraction or little town you’d otherwise drive right past can make the journey more fun.
Give Your Vehicle a Quick Pre-Trip Check
Packing everything your family needs is important, but your vehicle deserves some attention before you hit the road, too.
Start with the tires. Check your tire pressure, look at the tread, and make sure there aren’t any obvious signs of damage.
You should also check your oil, coolant, brake fluid and windshield washer fluid.
Make sure your headlights, brake lights, and turn signals are working properly, and replace worn windshield wipers if necessary.
It’s also worth thinking about what you’d do if something went wrong along the way.
Keep your spare tire and the equipment needed to change it accessible, along with jumper cables, a flashlight and basic tools.
A first aid kit, bottled water, a warm blanket, and reflective safety equipment can also come in handy if you end up dealing with an unexpected delay.
If you’re heading out on a particularly long trip, or your vehicle hasn’t been serviced recently, consider having it inspected before you leave.
Finding a problem at home is going to be easier to deal with than discovering it several hours into your road trip.
Pack for Comfort, Not Just Necessities
Even with a great road trip itinerary, if everyone is uncomfortable in the car, nobody is going to have much fun.
Think about the things your family will want during the drive, rather than packing everything away in the trunk.
Keep snacks, drinks and water within easy reach. Bring pillows and blankets in case someone wants to sleep, particularly if you’re leaving early in the morning.
It’s also helpful to keep chargers and power banks where you can easily access them.
Wireless headphones can be a great option when everyone wants to listen to something different, while books, games, tablets and other activities can give kids something to do when the scenery stops being interesting.
Finally, don’t forget that long road trips can get messy.
Wet wipes, tissues, garbage bags, and a change of clothes for each family member are road trip essentials when you’re travelling with kids.
Spilled drinks, carsickness, and snack-related disasters have a way of happening at the least convenient time.
Make the Journey Part of the Adventure
It’s easy to think of the drive as a chore that you have to put up with before the fun starts.
But, part of the magic of road trips is that the journey can be part of the experience.
Get your kids involved before you leave. Let them choose a few snacks, help create the playlist or pick some of the games you’ll play in the car.
Even younger kids can get excited about having a little responsibility for making your trip fun.
You can also look at your route together and choose a few interesting places to stop.
There may be a museum, park, scenic viewpoint, unusual roadside attraction, or local restaurant along the way.
Sometimes these unplanned or unexpected stops end up being the things your kids remember most.
There are plenty of ways to have fun in the car, too.
Try travel bingo, “I Spy,” trivia, counting license plates, or other games that get everyone involved.
These activities can break up a long drive without relying entirely on screens, and give you an opportunity to actually talk and laugh together.
Plan Stops Everyone Will Enjoy
Bathroom and gas stops are inevitable, so you might as well make some of them a little more enjoyable.
Instead of stopping only when someone desperately needs the bathroom, look for opportunities to get everyone out of the car and moving around.
A short walk through a park, a playground, or even a scenic viewpoint can give kids a chance to burn off some energy while giving everyone a break from sitting.
You can also make meals part of the experience. Rather than automatically pulling into the closest fast-food restaurant, look for a family-friendly local spot when your schedule allows.
If you’re passing through a small town, take a few minutes to explore it.
You don’t need to turn every stop into an attraction. Sometimes getting out of the car, grabbing a snack and spending 20 minutes somewhere new is enough to make the next few hours of driving much easier.
Leave Room for the Unexpected
If there’s one thing you can count on during a family road trip, it’s that something probably won’t go exactly according to plan.
You might hit traffic. Someone might need another bathroom break five minutes after the last one. Your child might suddenly be starving even though they ate half an hour ago. Or, you might discover an attraction that everyone wants to see.
That’s why it helps to leave some breathing room in your schedule. You don’t need to arrive at every stop at a specific time or stick rigidly to your original route.
A flexible schedule can actually make the trip feel easier. Instead of stressing because you’re 30 minutes behind schedule, you can take an extra break your family needs and get back on the road when everyone is ready.
Prepare for the Weather and Road Conditions
Before leaving, check the forecast for both your starting point and your destination, as well as the areas you’ll be driving through.
Weather conditions can change considerably during a long road trip, especially when you’re travelling across different regions.
Make sure your tires are appropriate for the conditions you might encounter, and that they’re properly inflated.
It’s also a good idea to know what roadside assistance or emergency services are available along your route, particularly if you’ll be travelling through remote areas.
A little preparation can give you peace of mind, without requiring you to plan for every possible problem.
It can be easy to forget that an amazing family road trip doesn’t need to be perfect.
Your kids won’t remember whether or not you were behind on your schedule. You probably won’t remember having to detour because of construction.
What you will remember is that spontaneous stop for ice cream, singing along to your favorite songs in the car, or finding a random roadside attraction.
So, check your vehicle, pack the snacks, plan a few stops, and make sure everyone has what they need to be comfortable. Then, give yourself permission to be flexible.
A family road trip isn’t about getting from one place to another as efficiently as possible.
It’s an opportunity to slow down, explore somewhere new and spend time together.
Sometimes, the moments you didn’t plan are the ones your kids will remember for years.