My family of six loves road trips. Several times a year, we hit the open road, traveling far and wide from our home in Washington, DC. We’ve driven up and down the East Coast, into Canada, and headed West.
I’ll be the first to admit, figuring out how to make road trips with multiple kids (ages ranging from 10 to 18) go smoothly wasn’t easy. After a lot of trial and error, my family figured out what makes our trips a success.
I prioritize comfort
To survive long road trips, comfort is key. Even if we make stops along the way, I encourage my kids to wear whatever makes them feel the most relaxed. My older kids usually wear sweats while my youngest often wears pajamas. Sometimes that means we wander into a rest stop or restaurant looking like we just rolled out of bed, but that’s a small price to pay for their comfort. I’d rather get a strange look from someone at a rest stop than listen to my kids complain about what they’re wearing.
Additionally, although it can make the car feel crowded, my kids keep a pillow and blanket with them at their seats to help them rest.
I limit bathroom breaks
Unplanned stops on a road trip can be time consuming and expensive. Just because we’re in a store to use the facilities, doesn’t mean I want to buy a million snacks. To limit bathroom breaks, I only allow my kids to drink water in the car and I don’t keep water bottles by their seats. Everyone stays hydrated, but this way, no one guzzles drinks that will inevitably lead to more stops when Mother Nature calls. Whenever I need to stop for gas, I force everyone to use the restroom while I am pumping gas and that usually works for us.
I make stopping for meals as efficient as possible
When it’s time to eat, I usually ask my navigation system to show me a fast food restaurant along my route. I then ask my husband or one of the older kids to pull up the restaurant’s app and place our order ahead of time. That way, our food is waiting for us when we arrive. If we have a little more time, I will pack a meal and look for a playground along the route to have “road trip recess.” I set a timer for 30 to 45 minutes, which is enough time for the kids to eat and play just long enough to run off some of their energy.
I limit screen time
At first, I tried to prohibit screen time altogether while traveling. Then, I tried allowing unlimited screen time. Neither worked well. Now, my kids aren’t allowed to start using screens until an hour or two into the ride. They also have to turn their screens off about an hour before I want them to fall asleep. It’s a balance that works for us.
We stay active
To fill the time, I make sure all of my kids have a variety of activities to do. We always bring a few books, and I download audiobooks that everyone will enjoy. We pack puzzles that don’t have pieces that can fall to the ground, and maze and sticker books. Additionally, we play games like 20 Questions and I Spy to pass the time. I also pick out some podcasts that are appropriate for kids to overhear. That way, my husband and have something to do when the kids are using their devices.
I make time for spontaneity
For me, a successful road trip is about the journey, not just the destination. I always try to work in one or two fun stops. We’ve enjoyed detours to Dollywood and South of the Border, a famous roadside attraction in South Carolina.
Pulling over for roadside attractions when we find them is fun, too. We once pulled over to explore the massive Unclaimed Baggage store we learned about from a billboard on our way home from Alabama. My kids will never forget the half-hour we spent exploring the spot where several airlines send the contents of lost luggage to be sorted and sold.
I stay flexible
Although I usually have a rough idea of my itinerary before hitting the road, I build in time for flexibility. This is especially important in case we hit bad weather and need to pull off the road for a few hours or the night. There have also been times I unexpectedly feel tired and need to pull over for a break to clear my head or stop for the night earlier than I was planning.
To make sure I can make these types of calls on the spot, I usually don’t book hotels in advance. Instead, I use apps to book hotels near where I want to spend the night. I can often find great last-minute deals this way, too.
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