How To Make Your Next Family Road Trip the Best One Yet

Many families end up taking road trips over the summer in order to visit the beach, parks, or other fun destinations. Unfortunately, family road trips can also be very stressful for parents if they are not properly planned out. After all, children can become grumpy and frustrated when trapped in the car all day, and this can lead to you feeling tired and frustrated as well. The good news is many of the annoyances of family road trips can be avoided with a little bit of foresight and planning. Here are five ways you can prepare for a family road trip that will make it the best one yet.

Plan out your route before you leave.

Before you even pull out of the driveway, plan out your trip and the route you will take. Figure out how many hours per day you will be driving, when you will stop, etc. If you have smaller children, make sure you plan out some stops where they can stretch their legs and get some exercise. This could be at a park or rest area, for example, where there is some green space to get some movement in before heading back to the car. You could even do some research to see if there are any roadside attractions to stop at for a short break—world’s largest gnome, anyone?

Figure out some entertainment options.

You can bring audiobooks, movies, family-friendly podcasts, and more, but have a few entertainment options planned out before you leave. This can help shorten the long hours in the car. And think about some games you can play as a family—think: I Spy, finding something that starts with ‘A’ and working your way through the alphabet, or 20 Questions.

Have each child pack a “fun bag.”

Have each child fill a bag with books, toys, art supplies, magazines, or other entertainment options for the trip. Let them keep this bag beside them throughout the trip. That way, when they feel bored, they can find something to entertain themselves all on their own.