Family road trip survival guide
I’ve always loved traveling and it’s been a passion of mine since forever! But doing it on a road trip is even better! You get to see so much more and stop along the way to places you might have missed otherwise. You’ll get so much more out of your trip than your original plans would have! We’ve been on road trips with the kids but I hope someday I can actually bring them with me on an epic road trip abroad just like the one we did in Scotland without them.
Road trips can actually be plenty of fun for everyone. Adding road miles rather than flying miles is great. Not only will you appreciate more from the trip, but you’ll also feel more connected and present on your journey. So here is my family road trip survival guide!
Forget about making time
It’s great if you can drive for 20 hours straight with your kids in the car without them fighting, crying, or telling you every 5 minutes: when do we get there?. But I think for most of us, this is not the case. If you are planning a family road trip, you should consider driving less in a day, making more stops, and planning fun activities for everyone along the way. Kids need to move and staying in the car is kind of lame for everyone anyway. Make sure that at every stop you make, everyone gets a chance to really stretch out those legs.
Keeping it clean
Having a clutter-free car is the way to go! Every chance you get, make sure to clean a little bit and get rid of your trash. That way, everyone will feel a little calmer and it is one less thing to fight about because one’s rubbish touched the other one’s leg! Believe me, you can avoid unnecessary fights!
Activities
Switching out activities every 30 minutes or so is a great way to keep the kids entertained. Don’t be afraid if they get bored. Boredom can actually be a good thing sometimes. That way, they will relax their bodies and they won’t get overwhelmed with too many activities.
Make it a date for mom and dad
Before starting a movie for the kids, it could be a great idea to grab a coffee for yourself and your partner. While the kids are watching their movie, it’s a great time to catch up as a couple and have some great conversations while sipping your coffee, or hot chocolate, or whatever you like to drink!
Fill every kid their own backpack
Having a backpack for each kid filled with stuff specifically for them can go a long way. Travel games for their own age, coloring books, crayons, and snacks are only a couple of ideas. I like to pack their favorite blanket for when they fall asleep.
Make sure to have the gadgets charged
Charging them beforehand is a great idea. Nothing is more annoying than telling the kids you are going to make them watch a movie and realize the Ipad’s battery is dead… I try to bring plenty of games for the kids and make them watch a movie only once in a while. But this can actually be a lifesaver on some occasions. When everything seems to be going to hell and kids are too tired of being in the car, it can keep them occupied for at least an hour!
Screen-free time
Good old fashion way games will help you connect more as a family and have a great time together. Travel games such as Ispy, license plate games, find a yellow car are great games everyone will enjoy. You could also play some trivia games for all the family! Games can also be educational for all ages. Make sure to keep reading as I have a bunch of screen-free games for everyone to have plenty of fun while putting on some miles!
Activity ideas for everyone
-Reading material: If your kids can read and they don’t get car sick while reading, it’s a great idea to get them to read. It could also be a great idea to bring a journal if they can write. That way, they can write their feelings, their impressions, and everything that goes through their minds on the trip.
-Coloring books: I always buy them a new one for the trip. That way it’s all new to them and they have plenty of pages to color.
-Movies
-Video games
Game ideas for everyone
-Trivia apps: Many apps are available, including movie trivia, name the song and so much more.
-License plate map: If you are traveling to the USA, print out a map of the country and have the kids color the state of every license plate they see. Make sure to print it out before you go.
-Slug Bug game: Instead of having your kids whack each other every time they see a yellow car, have them color every time they see one instead.
-Car bucks: As your kids get victories in the games you are playing, give out some ”car buck” to the winners. Or even for their good behavior during the trip. Then at the end of the trip, or whenever you decide to, kids can redeem their money for stickers, surprises, or whatever you decide to give them with their ”car bucks”.
-Car bingo: Print out a bingo card and choose whatever you like for them to spot while you are driving. Feeling crafty, laminate them and use an erasable marker to reuse your game throughout the trip.
-The Alphabet race: Have a cup filled with every letter of the alphabet. Whichever parent isn’t driving can pull out letters from the cup. Whoever spots the letter first through the window gets to keep the token. Whoever has the most tokens at the end of the game wins!
-Word explorer: Before hitting the road, make sure to print out these hidden word puzzles. You can tailor them to your kid’s reading skills. Follow this link for a tutorial!
-Road sign bingo: Instead of spotting license plates, have the kids try and find different street signs.
-Road trip scavenger hunt: Have the kids look outside to find all the items on their scavenger hunt.
Get 30+ pages of road trip games to keep the kids entertained right here! Just put in your email address and I will send you all these free printables!
Whether you’re an expert on family road trips or just taking the plunge for the first time, I hope these tips will help you plan your next family getaway.
What are your tips for family road trips? Any special games you play while driving all those miles? Make sure to leave a comment and let me know your favorite family games!
Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, I earn a small commission if you make a purchase through these links. I would never recommend anything I don’t personally love and use!
Want to know more about planning a trip with the kids? Always wondering if you should take the plunge and bring them with you? Make sure to read these posts to help you out!
Family travel all-rounder packing guide
7 reasons why you should travel as a family
10 things you should do before your next family vacation
20 photos to inspire you to visit Scotland
Our Magdalen Island road trip itinerary
