Road Trip: 15 Tips for a Fun, Safe & Sane Driving vacation with kids

Road trips can be a wonderful way for a family to bond and find new experiences and discover destinations together. “This is a shared experience, and one that will be talked about during family gatherings for years to come,” says Michael DiLorenzo, author of Adventures with Jonny: Road Trip to the Parks! and a father of three. “For busy parents, this is a time to savor their children’s youth. As moms and dads eventually find out, they grow up fast.” It’s an opportunity to “give your child the gift of the outdoors, which is a gift for life,” says DiLorenzo. In fact, rising gas prices won’t stop Americans from hitting the road this summer with 49% planning a summer vacation according to a new survey from Yahoo! Travel. 58% of those surveyed stated that gas prices won’t affect how far they are willing to drive for vacation. If you are planning to go on a road trip with kids, read these helpful tips on having a fun, safe and sane vacation on the go.

Baby steps

If you’ve never taken your kids on a road trip, start small, suggests April Masini, the critically acclaimed ‘Ask April’ columnist (www.AskApril.com). “An overnight in a neighboring town is a great way to start your family on road trips. For some families, just getting to a hotel, two hours away, getting checked in, unpacked and eating at the hotel restaurant, is a marathon worthy of Olympic style gold medals.”

Plan the timing of your travel

Living in the suburbs of Chicago, we know not to venture on the highway before 8 a.m. – that’s when most people are heading into the city for work. The same applies to all towns. Michael DiLorenzo recommends avoiding big-city rush hours: “When traveling through metropolitan areas, consider the busiest traffic periods. Whether you plan to stop and check out the city or simply zip through it, bumper-to-bumper traffic is something to avoid. A bit of consideration can save your family hours of grid-locked misery.” Joining the AAA and using their TripTik is very helpful not only in getting a good road route, but also avoiding road construction areas and blocked streets. AAA membership will also offer you a discount on hotels and restaurants and some amusement parks. There are many travel apps that can help with the best route too, or, at the least listen to the local news radio station for traffic reports. Timing is also relevant to your kids’ schedule. If you have a baby that takes frequent naps, plan to be on the road during a nap, or travel during down time and do activities in the morning.

Play Thinking Games

Before I bring up the numerous entertainment options for kids on the road, let’s not forget about free and mind-challenging, curiosity-inspiring games. I often find that my kids would rather play the games I invent rather than an ipod game. A few good suggestions from other travelers:

Michael DiLorenzo suggests the Road Kill Round-up: A point system might break down like this: two points for the first to spot a poor critter; three for whoever first correctly identifies the species; two points subtracted for a false road-kill call; three points subtracted for misidentifying the kind.
New Yorker Monique Dinor thinks kids will love the License Plate Lingo: “For kids who are a bit older play the license plate game. Have them grab a pencil and paper and whoever spots license plates from the most states by the time you reach your vacation spot wins!”
Monique also suggests Road Trip Scavenger Hunt:

Keep the kids occupied and get them thinking at the same time by making a list of items before the trip that they’ll have to spot while on the road (tire on the side of the road, diner, unique landmarks, a yellow car, a toll booth). Reward your kids when they find all of the items on your list.

A similar game we play is Travel Bingo. You can actually make your own bingo card for travel – find instructions in our Summer Crafts page.

More Stuff is Better

I would probably offer a different piece of advice if you were to travel by plane, but on road trips you have more capacity to bring the items that will make you comfortable. “Bring additional diapers, wipes, changes of clothes and ESPECIALLY snacks to keep kids happy and clean at all times”, suggests Diana Heather, author of ParentingsATrip.com and The Family Travel Guide blog. Other “essentials” could be the kids favorite pillows, hats, umbrellas, even folding chairs. Of course, consider that the heavier the car, the more gas it will need, so don’t go crazy.

Bring Knick-knacks

One of the best ways to keep kids happy on road trips is to surprise them with novelty. New places, new toys, new activities equal a happy child. New doesn’t have to mean expensive. Stop at your local dollar store or a Target or Wal-Mart and find plenty of little items for a dollar or less each, to keep kids entertained on the road. Dallas Louis, a mom of three, blogger and author of The Mommy Diaries: How I’m Surviving Parenting without Killing Anyone has a wonderful idea to give each child The Backpack: “This is a handy little tool, especially if your kiddos are under the age of 10. Most parents have a spare backpack or bag laying around the house. In the weeks leading up to the trip, make a run to the nearest Dollar Store, or local Wal-Mart. Pick up little attention getters such as, travel games, activity books, crayons, stamps, sticker books, seasonal jelly stick window decals (they stick right on the windows! The kids can play with them for HOURS!)…anything you can put in a backpack. Then on the day of your trip, give your kids the pack. It will keep them occupied for a long while!” A creative idea and one we will definitely be implementing!

And since kids love art projects, I also like the advice from Amy Graff, editor of the award-winning blog On The Go With Amy and independent family travel expert for Best Western: “Create an art pack. Fill a small canvas bag with crayons, pens, scissors, and paper. This will keep the kids occupied in the car, on the plane, at the restaurant, in the hotel.”

Get your Soundtrack

Older kids may not mind the radio stations in other towns, but little ones may be more inclined to listen to the Wiggles, or Disney, or other favorite music. Make your trip easier by bringing a good selection of their favorite music – a few CDs or an MP3 mix you can make ahead of time. I like bringing CDs, since it offers them a nice opportunity to pick one, and don’t they live choices!

Movies on the Go

You can bring your own DVDs if you have a DVD system in the car or are bringing a portable DVD player or laptop. Another great option is Red Box. “I’m a firm believer that Redbox is a divine gift”, says Dallas Louis.

“If you are traveling a really long way (more than a couple of hours) I highly suggest downloading the Redbox app to your smartphone. This will tell you exactly where the next Redbox location is AND what movies it has available. Most boxes are inside a McDonald’s; which works out great in case your little adventurers are having a snack attack!”

With over 30,000 locations across the US (in every state), you’re bound to find one near you. There are a lot of locations at Walgreen’s which is often a stop for small essentials on the road. You can also text ‘FIND’ to 727272 to find the nearest location to rent or return a DVD (or game).

Stay Hydrated!

It’s really important for everyone to stay hydrated when traveling, especially in the heat of summer. On trips, water is the best drink option (except for babies that drink only milk or formula). So make sure you bring a sippy cup for little ones or a water bottle for everyone on the trip. They are easy to refill with water at water fountains or at your hotel, and don’t cost anything, as opposed to juices or sodas that will only make the kids thirsty for more. A nice water bottle for kids who have outgrown sippy cups but not spills is a Contigo’s Kids Trekker with AUTOSEAL® technology is 100 percent leak- and spill-proof, and is made from BPA-free materials.

Potty Breaks

If you’ve got kids that have not started first grade, you will be making plenty of potty stops. There is nothing like being stuck in a traffic jam with someone urgently needing the potty. Avoid these kinds of emergencies by stopping often. Where do you stop? “I’ve never really considered myself a germ-a-phobe,” says Dallas Louis, “but the restrooms at gas stations and most fast food joints are so disgusting the CDC could start an entirely new civilization with just one swab off the wall of any stall! So, what do you do? You stop at a hotel. Park in the hotel parking lot, and walk into the hotel lobby. They have bathrooms right there. Most of them are spic-and-span clean, because no one uses them. Folks check in and then go on upstairs to their room to go potty, thus leaving the lobby facilities nice and clean for you.” Another option is the malls – if there is one on the way, it may be an easy stop to walk around, take a potty break, and perhaps stop at the dollar store.

Stock up on Healthy Snacks

You are probably familiar with the look and smell of a car where kids eat and drink on the go. You don’t want to be that car. “A spill in the back seat can eventually create quite a stink during a summer road trip,” says Michael DiLorenzo. So he recommends avoiding dairy drinks and smelly snacks. However, having a variety of healthy snacks is a great way to keep the kids happy and relaxed on the road, giving them something new to do if the drive takes longer, and is cheaper than stopping for (likely salty and sugary) snacks. A great example could be dried fruits and nuts. As to drinks, water is the best way to stay hydrated. My daughter loves lemonade, so I add in a little lemonade mix to her water on the go, and it works wonders.

Make plenty of stops and Stay Active

The longest a preschooler will sit in a car is 2 hours give or take. Kids love to move! Add in the need for potty breaks, and you will definitely make plenty of stops. I find that planning a trip to stop in interesting locations makes for a more entertaining adventure. Stopping for lunch in Kansas City? Try a BBQ place. Heading to New Orleans? Get your tots (and yourself!) some beignets. And it’s more than food. I love quirky places like the biggest chest of drawers in America found in North Carolina (near a furniture factory). AAA has a lot of quirky places on their TripTiks.

Keeping kids active during breaks on the trip should not be a problem. Diana Heather likes turning physical activity into fun games:

try to make everything a game – Who can run to the door fastest? Who can jump up and down for 10 seconds? A little physical activity can go a long way.

You can play tag, stop at playgrounds on the way in towns (or even some rest stops will have them). Take a short break to walk around – it will get blood circulating and make it easier to stay seated on the road.

Be Prepared for Emergencies

Make sure to pack a first aid kit and bring more of what you would use more often – in the summer this would include bandaids, cortisone for bug bites, wet wipes and lots of sunscreen. Grandparents.com also reminds all the parents and grandparents to pack the child’s insurance card, medications and medical info (if it’ s a grandparent). You can find some nice tips for grandparents in their article here.

You should also be ready for car cleaning emergencies. Dallas Louis highly recommends a roll of paper towels, a couple of plastic grocery bags, some Lysol spray and a small bottle of Febreeze. “Odds are, someone on your journey will spill, pour or douse something in Coke, Sprite, or a nice and half-melted chocolate Frosty. And when that happens, some left-over napkins from a Starbucks scone, just isn’t going to cut it. You will need the right supplies.”

There is an App for that!

As cliched as it sounds, there is an app for virtually anything you need on the road. Here are the ones I find most helpful when traveling with kids:

UrbanSpoon – helps you find a restaurant near you wherever you are and narrow it down to kid-friendly, etc.
GasBuddy – will find the cheapest gas near your location (note it may be the lowest grade)
Groupon/Living Social – find the best local deals in the area you’re traveling
Google Maps
Weather.com – plan for weather in any destination.

Having a wi-fi usually makes it easier to use the apps, so to avoid the delays, Diana Heather suggests downloading videos or kid-friendly songs that don’t require an Internet connection ahead of time: “I recommend downloading episodes of children’s TV shows that feature popular musicians or actors so adults can be entertained as well (Sesame Street has some great options). If you’re buying new, consider the LeapPad from LeapFrog – it’s a kid-version of the iPad and comes with entertainment and learning games for little ones.”

Book a Family Friendly Hotel

There was recently an excellent report on the best family friendly hotels in Parents Magazine, which listed SpringHill Suites by Marriott, Embassy Suites aand Hyatt House as the top choices, but breaking it down by price and size. Booking a suite is the most convenient option for families, or adjoining rooms are the next best choice. Look for hotels with a pool for extra entertainment during a trip, and a free breakfast. Many suites have a kitchenette, so you can save by getting a few items from a local store and having your meals in your room. Some hotel chains offer special packages targeted to kids. One example is Gaylord Hotels that offers a Summer Fun with Shrek & Friends this summer. Guests at Gaylord Hotel in National Harbor, MD, are greeted with a DreamWorks activity book, a pair of Shrek ears, and a reservation for the ShrekFeast interactive character breakfast. The package also includes a Character Parade, front-of-line access to DreamWorks character Meet and Greets, a Puss In Boots Quest for the Magic Beans Scavenger Hunt, a family movie on the lawn, souvenir family photo, special wake-up calls by DreamWorks characters, and a Fireworks Show over the Potomac River on Saturday nights.

Never Come Back on Sunday

Ending the week at home sounds like a nice proposition, but consider the consequences. “The last thing you want to do the morning after returning from a relaxing trip is wake up at the crack of down to get the kids to school and yourself to work on time”, says Amy Graff.