40+ Road Trip Tips for Traveling With Kids
Note: I may earn money or products from the companies, products, or links mentioned in this post.
It’s almost summer and that means school will be out and vacations commence! Although my family won’t be going on a vacation this year, we have traveled a lot with kids, and I wanted to make sure you had some of the best tips out there to prepare you for your next road trip!
Being a military family usually means being far away from family. Being far from family means traveling – a lot! My in-laws live in West Virginia about 12-14 hours away (depending on how many stops we make and the traffic) and my mom is about 6 hours away in Florida. We have traveled to both houses by car and my son has been a terrific car rider too!
My Road Trip Tips:
1. Use a Portable DVD Player
I know a lot of parents don’t like a lot of screen time for their kids, but maybe make a special exception for a small part of your trip. You can bring special DVDs, rent a movie, or bring your child’s favorite movie to watch. The kids can always take turns during the duration of the car ride. In trips we’ve made in the past this tip has been a lifesaver!
2. Use the iPad
There are so many games kids can play on the iPad and plenty of educational apps too! Apps that have games that you can pass around and take turns on are fun for the whole family. Try: The Best Apps to Have on a Road Trip, Apps to Entertain on Road Trips, and check out my Pinterest board full of app ideas as well.
3. Ideas to Keep Cool in the Car
If you are traveling in the car this summer, most likely you will be looking for ways to keep cool. Even though we have an air conditioner in our car, my son has a hard time with even the slightest warmth or heated temperature change. We use personal hand-held fans
4. Invest in a Nice Cooler
This probably does not need to be said, but if you are planning a road trip, invest in a nice cooler. One that will hold a lot of food, and one that is good at keeping things cool. It’s worth it, I promise!
5. Have One Main Bag/Case/Container for the Car Ride
Always have one bag in the car with you with the things you will need during your trip. Things to include could be things like snacks, toys, baby bottles (if traveling with an infant), and more! This way you will not have to stop and dig through your contents in the trunk, you will have all your important items in the car with you.
Recommended Cars for Road Trips:
Looking for a car that is great for road trips? Try Courtesy Dodge of GA. They have the cars I mention below and tons more that are ready for traveling and good times with your family. You can find out what specials are going on right on their website, including a discount for veterans and military families, so be sure to check it out today!
- 2014 Chrysler 200 Touring Sedan – “This midsize sedan stands out in its class as affordable practicality with a stylish twist.” Â
- 2014 Chrysler Town and Country Mini Van – “Looking for a new car at an affordable price? Sensibility and practicality define the 2014 Chrysler Town & Country!”
- 2014 Dodge Dart SE Sedan – “This sedan hits the mark with consumers demanding economical versatility!”
- 2014 Dodge Journey SE SUVÂ – “This vehicle shines in its off-road ability while forging a new path toward value, efficiency and flexibility!”
Road Trip Tips From Around the Web:
- 20 Road Trip Ideas for Kids of All Ages
- Vacation + Free Printable Packing List for Kids
- Road Trip Grab Bags for Traveling with Kids
- 25+ Activities for a Road Trip With the Kids
- The Road Tripe Pack List
- Creative Road Trip Ideas for the Kids
- Ten Tips When Traveling With Young Children by Car
- Road Trip Tips ( A Series)
- 20 Best Ideas, Activities, and Resources for Trips With Kids
- Simple Ideas for Happy Family Traveling
- How to Keep Your Sanity on Long Car Trips With Kids
- 50 Road Trip Ideas for Kids
- Road Trips With the Kids
- 16 Hour Road Trip With a Toddler and Preschooler: My Plan of Attack
- Traveling With Kids: 10 Tips for a Smooth Vacation
- 5 Road Trip Ideas to Keep Kids Busy
- Road Tripping Mama
- Road Trip Mayhem: Travel Activities for Kids
- Eating on the Road: Meals and Snacks
- The Ultimate Road Trip Guide for Families
- Road Trip Pillow Case
- 40+ Tips for Road Trips With Toddlers and Preschoolers
- Organizing for a Road Trip
- Family Trip Survival Guide
- Tips and Tricks to Keep Kids Entertained During Car Rides
- Survival Tips for Road Trips With Kids
- Tips for Keeping Kids Happy and Parents Sane on Road Trips
- Travel Timeline
- Road Trip Tips: Ticket Time
- Are We There Yet? Bags
- How to Keep Smiling on a Ten Hour Trip With Little Ones
What road trip tips do YOU have? What are some of your favorite car games to do as a family?
This post was created in partnership with Courtesy Dodge GA. All opinions are my own.
KathrynâŚbrilliant tips!!! I am also a mom of two kids and thus know how difficult is to travel with kids. Without proper planning a trip can be ruin. I got to know some additional information that will help me in my next trip. Thanks a lot for such helpful post.
Summer is great time for road trips.Our kids love traveling and love road trips. I will say, that my kids love watching movies in the car.So many memories are made during traveling .I enjoyed reading your post, I will defintely consider the some of your ideas for sure for our next mini road trip.
Thank you for including me in this post. As my kids have gotten a little older since my Road Tripping Mama post, I’m excited to look through all of the resources here and compile some new ideas for future trips!
No problem! Hope you find something just right for your little bit older kids. đ