Family Car Travel- Tips for Road Trips with Kids

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Ooh road trips, not my favorite way to travel pre-COVID, but now they feel so much safer and easier than an airplane with kids, I’ve actually started to embrace road trips with our kids!

Twice a year we make the 350-mile trek to visit family with the kids. This has taken us as little as 5.5 hours (leaving at 8 pm and arriving at 130am) and as long as 11 hours (leaving at 9 am the day before Thanksgiving with a 3-month-old). We also routinely travel 2-3 hours to visit family, so we have learned a lot over the years. I hope these Tips for Road Trips with Kids make your travels a bit easier!

Road Trip with Kids

I typically consider a road trip anything more than 3 hours in the car. This may be because we routinely drive 2-3 hours to visit family out of state for a day trip. Also, 2 hours is easy to fill with a movie. Fun facts- Moana is 107 minutes long, Incredibles is 115 minutes, Cars is 117 minutes, Incredibles 2 is 118 minutes and Ratatouille is 111 minutes.

Once we hit that 3+ hour mark, I get a bit of anxiety about how to help everyone have a smooth and positive experience. We have developed these Tips for Road Trips with Kids over many 3-8 hour road trips.

If you are traveling with babies, be sure to check out my Road Trips with Babies post with age-specific tips for your littlest traveler.

Safety First

Be sure your kids’ car seats/booster seats are safely and properly installed. This is especially important if you have recently removed or replaced the seat. Click here to head to the United States Department of Transportation and enter your zip code in the Car Seat Inspection field to find a local inspection site.

Also, check to be sure that your child is in the proper seat for their age/weight/height. Laws vary from state to state regarding car seats so confirm before you go, to be safe.

Prepare in advance

Prepare some fun games or activities in advance, like Road Trip Bingo for screen-free entertainment for part of the ride. Laminate papers like Road Trip Bingo or Search and Finds, with a blank piece of paper on the back, for reusable activities and a reusable blank coloring page. Add a zip-top pouch with dry-erase markers (preferably with erasers on the lids) and you’re good to go! See below for the pouches we use.

If you use them, have any screens fully charged, and movies/shows downloaded. An iPad dying an hour into your road trip could spell disaster if your child hates the car (like mine!). Our iPad and Kindle both need to be on Wifi to have internet access so trying to download a movie on the road is not an option.

Snacks

Don’t forget the snacks! Stick with snacks with a low choking risk (avoid grapes, popcorn, hard candies, etc) to keep kids safe since your eyes will be on the road.

To avoid a huge mess, pack snacks in small containers or bags in case of a spill. I love Stasher reusable snack bags because they seal tight and can be thrown in the dishwasher.

Bring your kids’ favorite refillable water bottle for the ride. Keep a cooler nearby if possible with extra water for refills along the way to minimize stopping to grab water. You may want to hold on to the bottles to avoid someone chugging the entire thing before you get out of your driveway!

Consider Your Destination When Planning Travel

What is expected of you on arrival at your destination? Is it a relaxing vacation destination? A big event or family function where you need to be “on” for the entire trip? A busy Disney trip with non-stop activities?

Answering these questions can help you plan your road trip. If you are thinking of leaving at night to avoid traffic, but that will result in little to no sleep for you/your driver, you may want to reconsider.

Keep an Eye on the Traffic

Checking Google Maps before any major highway interchanges can save you invaluable amounts of time! There may be an accident that a quick detour can scoot you around, or you may need to change up your route.

We abide by moving is better than sitting. Taking an out-of-the-way detour that could save us time and keep us moving is huge with little kids. Plus it is way easier to accommodate an unexpected pit stop when moving, than when stuck in standstill traffic. Baby J is newly potty trained so this is huge for us as we aren’t sure how long he can hold it.

Break Up the Ride With A Fun Activity

We have pivoted from late-night exhausting, stressful rides to daytime trips with a fun stop along the way, and what a difference it has made for everyone! Knowing you only need to make it 2-3 hours before there is a break to get out, stretch, and have some fun makes the ride seem more manageable and far more enjoyable for the kids too!

This also allows everyone to use the bathroom, which may minimize future unplanned stops on your journey, depending on how long your driving stretches will be.

You can visit a friend along the way, or find a local playground, children’s museum, theme park, or even a mall to run around! Adding these little pit stops to our travels has been a total game-changer!

I would advise planning this destination in advance to ensure you know it’s open, how to get there, hours, if tickets are needed, etc.

Everyone Gets Out at Each Pit Stop

If one person has to use the restroom, everyone has to try! This allows everyone to stretch their legs and will hopefully prevent another stop 5 minutes down the road!

Be Patient

Road trips can be stressful but with kids, there is also potential for fun adventures! Remember to be patient, it can be hard for kids to understand why they are strapped into a car for hours on end, especially little ones.

I would love to hear about your road trip adventures in the comments below! I hope this Tips for Road Trips with Kids post helps you in your travels!