Kids, Travel and You, Part 4: 5 Tips for Road Trips with Kids
- Nov 9, 2025
- 6 min read
5 Tips for Road Trips with Kids
Unless you have different circumstances, many kids' first trip is a car trip, a road trip. Different circumstances will include people who have family far away and will want to visit with little ones by airplane.
Many parents do not want to do long trips with children in a car. There are many reasons: children who get car sick, those who do not like to be in an enclosed area for a few hours, children who may have medical issues or if you need a larger vehicle for a long journey. But if you can, a road trip with children can be possible, not a nightmare and even fun! Read on for our tips from our experiences. And at the end, we'll have a few places in the United States besides theme parks that are great places to take children.
What if you are taking a child that's not one you are raising? First of all, you should know the child very well. By the time you plan a vacation with a child, you could have done many day excursions, sleepovers, frequent visits, family gatherings. The child should know the parameters and boundaries and recognize and respect you as an authority figure (as well as the person with which to have fun). Plan the trip with the parents. Explain all of the details, the itinerary and how you will keep in touch. Also, make sure you know who is paying for what.
The following tip is not intended as legal or medical advice but is based on this blogger's personal experience: Have the parents fill out a trip packet with a permission slip, waiver, medical insurance information, allergies, and any other information you may need. You may want to purchase travel insurance, even for a road trip. Check your auto insurance for details.
1. Start young... If kids begin to travel when they are young, by the time they are tweens, they'll be experts. If they are used to riding in a car for long periods of time while they are young, they will be able to handle it when they become older. As they get older, you will learn how to create a reasonable itinerary for a road trip. Include them in planning the itinerary. Tell them where you are going, and make plans for the journey with a map. Explain what might be along the way. Next time you're out in a vacation spot, observe around you. You'll know instantly which ones travel a lot and which ones don't.
2...or wait. If you know your children well, you may want to save the really long road trips until they are tweens (beginning at ages 6-8 or so. In the meantime, take day trips (staycations, excursions, etc.). Prep the kids for journeys that will take over an hour. Have snacks and activities ready. Also, plan the route for restroom stops. Tell the kids how long each leg of the journey will be in time and miles. Explain what the goal for the day is if the trip is more than one day long. And take heed with Tip Number 3.
3. Oxymoron: plan to be spontaneous, take your time and stay on schedule. How? Have a loose agenda but don't be afraid to switch it up. Budget about 2 hours more than it really takes to get to your destination so that you can make unplanned stops. Or, if there is traffic, allow for that and come off the highway for an ice cream break. Sometimes those billboards on the interstate that announce sightseeing attractions pay off. Take a short detour and then get back on schedule. Tell the kids to pay attention to the road or to research something on their phones (they're going to have them anyway in the car). This way, they are contributing and traveling on the trip and not just being "taken" on a trip.
4. Always book lodging with a pool. Your nerves will thank you. The kids will love you for it. Try to find a hotel with an indoor pool, so that weather will not be a factor. Know your children's ending point and plan to be at your hotel 2 hours before their bedtime. Stay with your children at the pool, there is normally no lifeguard anyway. But, it's a wonderful time to teach them how to swim, play "Marco Polo," or let them show off for you. Bring an extra towel, rinse out the kids swimsuits, put the towel on top of bags in the car and lay the suits out to dry (unless the hotel has a guest laundry area).
5. It's OK to suspend some rules to have fun. And it's OK to keep some. Stick to bedtime rules if you're going to be on the road the next day. Let them stay up a hour later if you're staying put. Allow a snack that they normally would not be allowed to have at home. But don't let them stuff themselves or overeat (you know what the results can be). When your children see you loosen up a little when you are vacation and when you have fun with your kids, you won't relinquish your authority. They will know that you are still the parent and they you are in charge.
As promised: here are some places you can explore with children on a road trip. Stop at the welcome centers in each state or town for brochures and ask the staff for special locations that welcome children.
Forts: Play pirate games, run around (be careful, forts can be dusty); defend yourself against an imaginary enemy. Forts are a great place to learn and play at the same time. Normally, forts are located near water since they were often built to defend any attack from sea but there are some inland as well.
Lighthouses: Once again, trips along highways that are near water will yield lighthouses, which often times are developed into small parks. Some are accessible, which means you can climb up to see the view.
Forts and Lighthouses are often near small beaches: Beach towns have arcades, ice cream spots, even rides and attractions.
Public parks: a playground will not only give kids some exercise, but will tire them out so they can rest for the next leg of the ride. Look for safe areas (you may have to pay an entry fee for state parks). The centers of many cities will have play areas.
Children's Museums: this is a no brainer. Designed for fun and education, children's museums are full of please touch exhibits, interactive spots and some come with playgrounds as a bonus. Some have the courtesy to be next to parks, places to eat and other attractions.
Technology museums such as autos, trains, planes or spaceships. Of course, the museums in Washington DC come to mind but look at the local brochures. There are many to be discovered.
Zoos, petting zoos, farms, picking vegetables and fruit: these locations are another win-win. Learning and fun combined in one activity.
Family friendly restaurants with themes: pirate themes are popular, so are tropical themes. Some have entertainment, such as music, or magic. Just double check with locals that the food is good and you're on your way.
Enjoy the child or children in your life with delightful road trips and you'll create memories that they never will forget. Nor will you.
The NYC Traveler Presents Tips for Your Trips
Subscribe to our blog
Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.
Comments