Summertime means hitting the road for many families each year. My family has seen its share of I-95 over the years as we traveled back and forth to visit extended family. We’ve had some great trips and some not-so-great trips, but our successes usually start with good planning. I’ve teamed up with Allstate to provide you a few simple tips for a smooth road trip this summer.
Create a driving plan.
If you are driving for more than one day set daily driving goals with places to stop along the way. Don’t overestimate your distance, especially if you are driving with kids. Remember to account for bathroom stops and other “emergencies.” Even if you have a GPS in your vehicle it is a good idea to plan your trip ahead of time and find stopping points throughout the drive. You don’t want to end up on that 40 mile section of interstate with no rest stops or restaurants at noon.
Have your car checked out before you go.
No one wants to break down on a road trip, especially with temperatures hitting 100 degrees in many parts of the country. Getting an oil change, checking wipers, tires, and other basic maintenance can prevent having to make repairs on the road. We’ve all seen the people with their entire car unpacked (to get to the spare tire) on the side of the interstate. While sometimes this is inevitable, checking these things before you go can prevent problems.
Pack snacks/ meals.
Even if you are planning on stopping at restaurants for meals, consider packing a special container of snacks for each child. It helps keep them occupied during the trip and sometimes holds them off a little longer between meals.
As for eating at restaurants I always found that after sitting in the car for three or four hours my kids need to get out and play. Going from car to restaurant does not bode well for good restaurant behavior. We usually bring a cooler and pack one or two meals. We are able to stop at rest areas (provided it isn’t too hot) and let the kids run around for 30 minutes while the parents eat lunch. After the kids have burned off some energy we let them eat in the car after we’ve gotten back on the road.
Pack each child a special activities bag.
On our trips each child gets a bag with activities for the road. We pack things like stickers, small toys, travel games, colored pencils, notepads, and more. This helps keep the kids occupied while in the car.
Early morning start on our road trip.
Don’t be afraid of electronics.
My kids watch almost no television, but we have a DVD player in our car. On road trips the kids take turns picking out movies. If a child doesn’t want to watch a particular movie they still have the activity bag to keep them occupied. We also use things like ipods, Leapsters, books on tape, audio books, and play lists (with the kids favorite songs) to help pass the time. While I definitely think electronics should be limited on a daily basis, using them for a road trip can make the time fly by for the kids, especially when using them is a special treat.
Strategically pack the car.
This tip can make all the difference in the world for a long road trip. If you are driving over a few days pack an overnight bag with a change of clothes and toiletries for the entire family. When you stop for the night you don’t need to unload the entire car, just the overnight bag. This makes getting back on the road the next morning much simpler.
Make sure a first aid kit and medicine bag is easily accessible. We keep ours in the front seat so if we need a bandaid or allergy medicine we don’t have to pull over and unpack the entire car to get to it.
Keep a roll of paper towels and a bag for garbage in the front seat too. This makes cleaning up messes and taking care of the trash easier. Dump your trash at each stop to keep the car cleaner on the road.
If you are traveling with electronics make sure all chargers, batteries and extra games are in the same place. We have a small bag that holds these items and one of the kids is in charge of the bag during the trip.
Have fun.
Getting there is half the fun, right? I know road trips can be long, tiring, and stressful. Spending 8, 15, or 20 hours in car, even with people you love, can present challenges. Try to find fun at every stop, sing songs, play games, and remind yourself that the kids will remember the road trip long after the vacation is over.
It’s not just about getting from point A to point B, it’s what happens along the way that creates lifelong memories.
Michelle says
We always forget batteries and my wireless mouse usually ends up battery-less until we are ready for a stop.
Lawanna says
Just a tip…don’t pack crayons. They melt. We only pack colored pencils or color wonder markers.
Laura says
Thanks for the tips. This couldn’t have come at a better time. We’re about to move from Washington state to Illinois (34 hour trip) with a 13 month old and me pregnant – first trimester, and a cat (who hates being in the car). I’m praying that everything runs smoothly!
Rebecca P says
Thanks for this! We are about to (in 2 weeks) embark on an 18 hour trip (over 2 days) up to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, from New Jersey. There will be 7 adults, a 2 1/2 year old and two 7 month olds. The good news is that the adults out number the children…we shall see how we fare!
Sheila Gregoire says
We actually always loved car trips, even with little kids! We did the activity bags, and we played tons of games. I laminated Bingo cards, and we did alphabet games and listened to books on CD. But most of all we laughed. I wrote about it in a column here, called The Summer Car Trip Horror Show, featuring the best idea of all: a test run to make sure the kids take your “no yelling” rule seriously!