Summer vacation has arrived. What could be more enjoyable than planning a vacation for your family? With longer days, a little more responsibility, and a lighter itinerary, you can take a road trip and see parts of the United States you haven’t yet experienced. Our family has taken several road trips over the years, and it’s always a great time to make memories.
Whether you miss nature in national parks and campgrounds or crave fun and adventure in a big city, road trips are a great way to discover new parts of the country or old attractions. The great thing about the United States is that there are so many different geographies and areas of interest that you may not have explored. And because it’s a huge country, you can spend time exploring new areas every year.
But don’t forget to make a plan before you hit the open road. I made that mistake once on an 18+ hour road trip a few years ago! Planning is important when you have kids, and traveling is no different. If you make the effort to plan a great vacation, you and your family will soon be saying, “That was the best road trip ever!”
8 Tips for Planning an Epic car travel with family
Traveling with kids is fun, but it can also require a lot of planning and preparation. But don’t feel bogged down or overwhelmed by your travel plans. These tips will help you plan the perfect road trip for your family.
1. Plan a road trip to wherever you want to go
The first step in planning a great road trip is deciding what type of vacation you want.
Maybe you want to spend time in nature and go camping. You can plan a trip to Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming and Montana or Arches National Park in Utah. Or, if you’re looking for a city tour, try Chicago or New York. There are beach vacations you can take to Florida, North Carolina, and California. Or you could visit the mountains in Colorado or Washington.
When making your plans, also think about the number of places you will stay. Do you have one home base from which you can make day trips and return home? Or do you want to make several stops and spend a few nights at each location? Need to fly somewhere and bring a rental car for a road trip? This allows you to see parts of the United States that you can’t get to by car alone.
Another important factor is how long you can (and want to) be gone. Is there only one week left? Or are you planning a road trip across the country for an entire month (or more)? The time you have determines where you can go. Don’t forget to factor in driving time when planning how long you can be gone!
2. Route planning
Now that you know your travel time and destination, plan your route. To do this, you use an online map like Mapquest to create a route by placing up to 26 different stops. Or, use Google Maps to get to fewer locations (up to 9). Choose your starting point, enter the place you want to go, and finish with your destination. The software will do the work for you!
Now is a great time to take advantage of online road trip planning. This is from AAA Planning becomes super easy! Browse our library of road trip itineraries to find areas of interest. It gives you directions and great stops from New England to Arizona and even Hawaii and Alaska. It will also help you find a pet-friendly hotel if you are taking your furry friends with you.
One thing to consider is finding a scenic route to your destination. If there are national forests or scenic byways along your route, try driving through them along the way. You can also drive to your current location one route and then return another route. That way you can see more of the country.
3. Find a good place to stay
Where you stay will depend on which holiday you choose. Should you rent a campervan or campsite? You can find rentals at national parks, state parks, and other campgrounds. Or do you prefer a hotel? Some have packages that can save you money and give you access to more amenities.
Want to rent a vacation home? This is a great option when traveling as a family. You’ll have more space and can even put the kids to bed earlier if you need to. There is also a kitchen, so you can save money on eating out. Some even have swimming pools or playrooms with toys for children!
If your area is expensive, use a wider search area to save money. For example, if you’re planning a road trip to Chicago, look into the suburbs to save money. Although you’re not in the city, you can take the train into the city (what a fun experience!) and then explore the countryside for a quieter day.
4. Find fun things to do along your route
Don’t forget that the fun isn’t just in the destination, it’s in the journey as well. Take your time to stop and see cool things along the way. The world’s largest chest of drawers? check! The world’s largest twine ball? check! A quick Google search of your destination (city or state) name and “attractions” will reveal some interesting items to check out along the way.
This is also a good time to think about gas stations and rest areas. Bathroom breaks are very important for young children (and even moms!). Stretching your legs is important for everyone. Although it doesn’t always work out perfectly and sometimes you may have to stop suddenly, it’s a good idea to be prepared for some stopping.
5. Plan your meals and snacks
Eating with family on vacation can be difficult. It is difficult to go out and eat with a large group. Sometimes it’s hard to find quality food on the road, and eating out isn’t cheap! Planning your meals and snacks will help you save time, money, and frustration.
Snacks are a big part of car travel (my kids always seem to be hungry in the car!). I love having healthy snacks within reach. This is especially important when driving through parts of the United States where there aren’t many places to stop.
Meals require a little creativity and planning. If you’re staying in a rental home, campervan, or hotel room with a kitchen, you can plan what meals to cook. With a crock pot, you can have dinner waiting for you when you get home after a day of exploring! Hotels will require you to be more creative with your meal preparations in mini-fridges or coolers. But you can always pack the ceramic pots and install them in your hotel!
When I’m on vacation, I like to plan my meals and have groceries delivered to my rental home (if possible) or to stop at the store along the way. Or you can prepare a meal and take it with you before you leave!
When we eat out, I like to find restaurants that serve fresh, natural food. If you have dietary restrictions, here are some great apps: Find me GF If you’re looking for user-reviewed gluten-free restaurants, they have them all over the place (even in Europe!).
6. Entertainment plan
Don’t forget about car entertainment. Making a plan before you go will help everyone be happier. But you can’t stop asking, “Is Mommy still there?”
Music is always a great way to pass the time in the car. Create a playlist with popular travel songs or share your favorite songs from your childhood. Of course, the playlists for kids are endless. Make several and rotate through them when you need a change of pace.
podcast Audiobooks are also an amazing way to entertain children. There are so many great children’s podcasts, including: story pirate and circle round. You can find audiobooks for children online or through your library.
A typical part of road trips with kids is car games. Consider the alphabet game, where you find letters of the alphabet on billboards and signs on the road. Or there’s a license plate game where you find the license plate number for each state. There are many options in car games. There is a lot of great content in this post!
7. Pack the essentials
When packing your clothes and toiletries, don’t forget your car essentials. These are things you want to keep close by in case you need them.
I like to pack all the important essential oils I might need for motion sickness or increased alertness. It’s always a good idea to have trash bags with you (especially if you have children who are prone to carsickness). Tissues are another great item to keep handy, as are hand wipes and homemade hand sanitizer.
A charger is also a great item to carry around. I like to carry something with me There are many ports Stay with us in case you have a large amount to claim. It would be nice to have one AC outlet You can also charge things like laptops.
8. Go with the flow and have fun!
This last tip is probably the most important! Even though you’ve spent a lot of time planning your road trip, remember to go with the flow. Whenever you travel, something unexpected is bound to happen. This is especially true for children. The best road trip plans can unravel very quickly. This is where problem solving and positive thinking come in handy, allowing you to quickly make the best out of any bad situation.
Remember, your children are watching how you react to adversity. This is a great time to teach children that things can go wrong, but it’s not the end of the world.
Road trips are an amazing time to create family memories, good or bad(!). You will have stories to share for years to come, and the bond will be worth it.
Do you like to travel? What is your favorite road trip planning tip? Let us know by leaving a comment!
