Kids, Travel and You, Part 4: 5 Tips for Road Trips with Kids
- May 7
- 4 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
5 Tips for Road Trips with Kids
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 age 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 and 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. 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.
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.
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Articles in the "Kids and Travel" series:
Articles in the "How To Travel" Series
Articles in the "How To Cruise" Series
The NYC Traveler Presents Tips for Your Trips
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