Planning a long road trip with kids? Here are some tips on how to prepare, what to pack, and where to stop.
Our family takes multiple road trips each year. Whether traveling for a sports event, traveling to visit family, or vacation travel, we often choose to load up the car and drive to our destination rather than fly. Our favorite road trip destination is Yellowstone National Park, but we also love to explore other parts of the U.S.
At least twice per year, we drive for 13 hours from Idaho Falls, Idaho to Palm Springs, California. We have family in Palm Springs, and we love all the fun activities that you can experience there. We usually opt to make the 13-hour drive in one day, rather than go through the hassle of staying in a hotel for one night on the way. Once we arrive in Palm Springs, the vacation officially begins! However, a 13-hour road trip with a toddler and two teens can be quite a challenge!
Here are some tips that I have acquired after dozens of family road trips.
Tips for a Long Road Trip With Kids
A large car is a must. You will need some elbow room, and room for all your gear and supplies. We travel in a Suburban. Here is what I pack:
What to Pack for a Long Road Trip With Kids
- Back of seat organizers. The last thing you want is to scramble around the vehicle looking for lost items. I pack wet wipes, reading material, glasses, sunglasses, phones, headphones, chargers, and I even travel with a pair of scissors because I always seem to need them.
- Pillows and blankets for the kids. We usually depart for our road trip super early in the morning, well before dawn, and our teens love to take long naps in the backseat.
- A trunk organizer full of all sorts of snacks, drinks, and lunches. You can use any type of box or bin for this purpose, whatever fits in your car. I fill up a trunk organizer with loads of snacks and drinks and plop it in the middle of the two backseats. I do NOT keep it in the trunk, because I want easy access to all the items. Also, during the long road trip I bend the rules with regards to limits on sugary snacks. I usually bring a special treat such as lollipops for our toddler (sugar free works well too!) and for our teens I allow them to select a few treats that we normally do not stock in the house (such as fruit roll ups).
- Surprise activities. I bring a backpack filled with some small, low-cost surprise toys and activities. Sticker books, games, and random activities (my teens love these too).
- Reading material for mom. For those precious moments when everyone is occupied, and if my husband is driving, I enjoy reading a few pages of a magazine or novel.
- Screen time is ok (within reason). Normally, we don’t want our kids staring at a screen all day long. However, when we are stuck in a car for 13 hours we bend the rules. An Ipad and headphones for our toddler are essential, and our teens use their iphones and airpods. I typically download some new shows that my toddler has not seen yet, along with some of his favorite older shows. My teens download a few shows or movies that they have not seen yet. And don’t’ forget a portable charger!
How Often to Stop on a Long Road Trip
- Aim to stop at gas stations only – avoid restaurants to reduce your time on the road. As mentioned above, I always try to pack some lunches, such as sandwiches, Lunchables, or Uncrustables. If we stop at a restaurant, even a fast food restaurant, that will increase our time on the road, which we want to avoid.
- Arrange to have some groceries awaiting at your destination. Finally, after a long day of driving, you have arrived at your destination! After a day of travel, the last thing you want is to rush out and find dinner. If your accommodations have a kitchen, you’ll want a few essentials to get through the first evening, and the first morning. If feasible, make arrangements to have some groceries delivered (Walmart+) or have dinner delivered if you can (Grub Hub, Door Dash). Alternatively, you can pack a separate cooler in the car with ingredients for a simple dinner, and a quick breakfast.
Long road trips can be a challenge, but the experiences of travel are so worth it. Next, I’ll share my experiences of surviving a 13-hour flight with a toddler and teens!
