In my opinion, a road trip is a kind of vacation that doesn’t require much preparation, especially with little kids. Maybe that’s why I love them so much. All you need is a car and you are good to go.

Road trips are also the best way to be close with your family during any time of year. Most recently (as you know from our trip to Arizona), we took a road trip over Thanksgiving break. Our next planned road trip will be with my family in Germany. They are so convenient!

One of my favorite road trips I have ever taken was with my mom. We drove from where I grew up in Maryland to Utah, where I now live. Those three days were full of the fun conversation and spontaneity that I adore.

Although there are not necessarily rules for road tripping, I do believe that there are certain guidelines that can help you have a more relaxed auto-adventure.

Here are my 9 tips for a successful family road trip!

#1: Pick Your Destination

This may seem obvious, but it is the most important step of road tripping. As the Cheshire Cat in Alice in Wonderland likes to remind us, knowing where to go “depends a good deal on where you want to get to.”

When you pick your destination, make sure to be exact. It’s not just the city you are traveling to, but the place you will sleep in. Are you going to stay in a hotel or in a family member’s home? Knowing the specific location can change a lot about your trip.

With our latest road trip, we actually had two destinations. The first was to Nate’s grandparents house and the second was to his brother’s house. Then we reversed those directions on the way home.

#2: Determine Your Drivers and Riders

Again, this one might seem silly to say, but I do think it is often overlooked. Since Nate and I are the only ones in our little family who can drive, we are the clear choice for drivers. Parker has to stay in the back of the car with his carseat.

What that means though, is that whoever isn’t driving has to take care of Parker. They have to refill his sippy cup and give him any snacks he may want. Basically, if Parker isn’t sleeping, neither can the passenger.

Nate and I normally arrange who will drive for how long and when we want to switch. For example, I don’t like driving in the valley (of Utah) so Nate will drive when we leave our house and arriving back. I drive the rest of the time.

#3: Plan for Traffic

This one is crucial! It doesn’t matter what kind of day it’s supposed to be, somehow there is always traffic. We’ve found that instead of getting frustrated, it’s best to expect it and then celebrate when it’s not so bad.

When we left for our Thanksgiving trip, it wasn’t snowing. However, the snow started about an hour after we left and never stopped. You can bet there was a ton of traffic then! Luckily, we were expecting it so we weren’t too concerned about arriving on time. Our main goal was to stay safe, which we did.

On our way back home, Google Maps took us on a detour to avoid the traffic. It may have took a little longer, but it actually turned out amazing. Rather than being stuck in bumper to bumper congestion on the highway, we were able to drive through an Indian reservation and see gorgeous scenery. Which would you prefer?

#4: Schedule Pit Stops

Not many people I know like to hear about taking a pit stop. I don’t know what it is about them, but I have enjoyed them as long as I can remember.

Pit stops on a road trip can be anything from stopping for gas to getting a quick bite to eat to simply stretching your legs. In fact, they can be the funnest part of the drive!

Since Nate and I both love exploring new places, I purposely plan our pit stops according to what unique town we might pass through. On one of our road trips to Arizona, we had lunch in Kingman because it was on the famous Route 66. Nothing compares to classic diners and old trains!

#5: Make a Budget

Okay, I know budgeting isn’t always fun, but it is significant. Road trips can often be seen as the cheaper vacation option because you’re not paying for a flight, but it can just as easily add up if you’re not careful.

Think about it. You’re buying gas and food to start with. Then you might want to stop along the way and pay for some cool activity. And what if you get tired at night so you book an impromptu hotel room? Road trips have the potential to be big budget busters.

One way I stay under budget is by using the GasBuddy app. It sorts through all the gas stations in your surrounding area and tells you which ones have the cheaper prices. We also use their Pay with GasBuddy membership card which takes off your total 5 cents per gallon. That is something I do like to add up!

#6: Play Your Music

Who here loves music? I do! It is a widely known fact that music can change your attitude. Personally, I like to listen to regular pop music on the radio in the morning and then I change to country music at night. Why, you might ask? Pop music pumps me up and gives me energy for the day, whereas country music calms me down at night.

So, if you are planning a road trip, you need to plan your music too! If you use Spotify, you can make a specific road trip playlist. If not, the normal radio works great too. Get creative with it! You can plan it out according to your favorite artists, songs, time of day you will be driving, where you will be driving, etc.

Tell me in the comments below what your favorite road trip music is!

#7: Read a Book

This one is more for you than it is for the kids, although you should choose a kid-friendly book. The good thing about books nowadays is that you can have the hard copy or listen to it over the speakers.

Nate and I started reading books together about a year ago and now we recommend it to everyone. It has an entertaining way of bringing us closer because we are both invested in the story.

Most recently, we have been reading the I Am Number Four series. Since we are so interested in the plot and characters, we knew we had to bring it with us on our long drive. Let me tell you, it was worth it!

#8: Pack Your Favorite Snacks

Ah snacks – everyone’s favorite part! This, to me, is the ultimate way to have a successful road trip with your family. Snacks can make or break the whole vacation.

Now that I have experience driving with Nate, I have a pretty good idea of what he likes and doesn’t like. The same goes for Parker, although Parker can’t yet tell me with words.

As you can see from the pictures, I pack a mix of sugary and salty treats, with some healthy options on the side. Buying the little snack packs has proven to be the best thing for Parker because he can hold it himself and it doesn’t make a mess. We also bring his special straw sippy cup so he can have a little more control.

#9: Double Check Your Checklist

Last, but not least, you have to double check your checklist – everywhere. Write down a packing list and look it over at every stop. Trust me, you will need it.

It wasn’t until about an hour after we left Nate’s grandparent’s house that we realized we forgot Parker’s diaper bag there. I repeat, we forgot his diaper bag! You know, the thing that holds all his diapers, wipes, clothes, extra sippy cup, toys, everything.

Fortunately, we only had to buy diapers because Parker’s cousin’s had clothes and everything else he could use. But oh boy was that a face palm moment! Never again will I leave somewhere and not double check my checklist.

 

Were these tips useful to you? What is your number one tip to have a successful road trip with your family? Tell me below!

If you liked this, you are sure to like How to Road Trip with a Newborn.