TOP TIPS TO SURVIVING LONG ROAD TRIPS AND FAMILY TRAVEL WITH KIDS
We have done a few very long road trips our kids. I wanted to do a post about the things that worked, what didn’t, and of course how we kept what is left of our sanity. So here are my top ten tips on surviving long road trips and travel with kids.
WHY WE DROVE
We drove because we have a bazillion kids and are on a limited budget. And to be honest, the last flight trip we took was way more stressful than the ones we drove. I know, driving that far sounds daunting and terrible. But it honestly was not bad, and we love the adventures we see along the way. And the memories……the ones of them whining, fighting and asking “are we there yet?, priceless! Jokes aside, it truly is manageable budget friendly option and you may be pleasantly surprised.
MY TOP TIPS FOR TAKING ROAD TRIPS WITH YOUR KIDDOS
Here are some tips I’d give s fellow traveler parent-these are the things I thought worked really well for us.
1) Pack everything and load the vehicle as much as you can the night before.
2) Shower everyone the night before and have them stay in pajamas.
3) Get up super early (or middle of the night) to get on the road. Kids typically will go back to sleep while it’s dark out (we left at 4am). During this time, drive as LONG as you physically can. This will be the best time you will make the whole trip.
4) Pack sandwiches/fruit/snacks/waters to save money and stop less.
5) Limit drinks (less frequent bathroom stops).
6) Map your route out ahead of time.
7) Drive until you can’t any longer for that day and then book a hotel room. We only had one issue doing this any time we’ve traveled and we ended up going about 15 minutes out of our way to get a decently priced room that was nice.
8) Stay at hotels that offer free breakfast.
9) When stopping for gas and bathroom breaks, make sure to not buy anything extra inside, because that always ends up way more expensive than you want it to.
10) Make sure to bring electronics, just in case, as well as crayons, small busy boards, etc to keep the kids occupied.
ONCE YOU ARRIVE
-Order groceries at Target or Walmart once you get there and do PICKUP. I repeat. PICKUP is a lifesaver.
-If you are doing a beach vacation, buy beach chairs and towels when you get there (again, on PICKUP)
-Have a plan of a few things you want to do when you are there.
-Decide how many meals you will be eating out (if any) and plan accordingly for groceries and budget
-If you have babies, buy the majority of the diapers you’ll when you get there to save packing space(of course, PICKUP)
-If you are doing a beach or trip where you will be outside with a baby, make sure to bring a nice beach tent (check this one out for babies) or a canopy like this one here. Here is a whole blog post on our tent!
I hope these tips help and I hope you aren’t afraid to travel with. your littles! I know it can be overwhelming but it’s honestly a lot of fun! You’ve got this!