How to Plan a Roadtrip With Young Kids

With the far-reaching effects of the COVID-19 health crisis, many families are falling back on the classic road trip for their next vacation.

Before you head off on that family adventure, it is important that you have a plan in place. Here are five tips to help you to plan the perfect road trip with young children.

Table of Contents

Plan Pit Stops Strategically

A road trip with young kids is not the time to try to burn rubber and make good time.

It is more important to enjoy the journey along the way. Strategically planning your pit stops will go a long way in ensuring that everyone has a great time.

You can make pit stops more fun by having the right supplies on hand for entertainment.

A frisbee or a bottle of bubbles will not take up much room in your vehicle, however, they will provide free entertainment when the kids need to get out and run around to burn off energy.

Try to map out some parks along your route for the most fun.

Download Playlists, Audiobooks, and Other Forms of Entertainment

Even if you have complimentary streaming available to you, do not count on always being able to get a signal.

Downloading plenty of audio entertainment options prior to your departure will ensure that you are not left out in the middle of nowhere with nothing to listen to.

Start your road trip by creating a customized playlist with all of your family’s favorite songs. This will bring your family joy for years to come when you listen to the playlist that you designed specifically for this trip.

You can also select audiobooks that you know the whole family will enjoy together. Listening to a story as a family will turn the longest stretch of road into a magical adventure.

Turn to The Experts

Being a super parent does not mean that you have to do everything.

Just like there are travel agents designed to help you to score the best deals out there, there are also personal travel concierge services engineered to plan the perfect road trip itinerary for any family.

When you start to ask yourself “how do I plan my vacation?” remember that you are not in this adventure alone.

In addition to personal concierge trip planning services, you can also turn to internet message boards, guide books, and more to help you to gather the information that you need to make this trip a rousing success.

Prepare for the Worst

While you always want to hope for the best with any trip, it is also important that you plan for the worst.

Before you take off, make sure that you have all of the essentials that you need in case you encounter any difficulties on your road trip adventure.

A well-stocked first-aid kit will go a long way in giving you peace of mind of knowing that you are equipped with the tools you need to deal with minor scrapes and bruises.

It is also vital that you have a stocked emergency roadside kit. You should also pack along extra changes of clothes, wet wipes, hand sanitizer, and anything else that will help to make messy situations a little better.

Do Not Discount the Power of the Snack Stash

Kids can be entertained for hours with the right selection of snacks. A wide array of snacks double as both nourishment and entertainment.

Make a plan to dole the snacks out strategically when they are most needed. Do not feel bad about leaning on favorite treats as a form of bribery.

Good ideas to bring along with you include apples, dried fruit, beef jerky, granola bars, raisins, trail mix, and whole-grain crackers.

You may even consider supplying the occasional lollipop as an incentive for good behavior.

Be sure to choose treats that will last a long time so that the children stay occupied as you put more miles behind you.

You will create lasting and meaningful family memories on your road trip if you take the time to implement these five tips.

Do not make this more difficult than it needs to be. With the right planning and execution, your family will embrace the role of road warriors.

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Emma

A mother and lover of all things practical. My blog covers about motherhood by exploring all areas of life. Our tips and tricks help the large community to do more in less time so they can spend time enjoying happy, healthy families.