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10 Tips for Road Tripping With Different Ages

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As many of you know, we travel all summer long. My family lives four hours away. We own a pop-up camper. Needless to say, most summer weekends we are traveling all over the place, and most likely, we aren't even in our state. We have years and years of experience of traveling with kids of all ages (and we travel with our kids friends too!). I have a few things I have I have learned over the years. (Granted, my kids are 11 and 8 now. I am sure I'll have a few more add-ons as they get older!). Here are my tips:

  1. Make sure you pack blankets and pillows. Why? I always have a kid sleeping. Also, we can never keep the temperature in the vehicle so everyone is happy. If my husband is just right, I'm freezing. I never know if my kids will be hot or cold. This solves most of the arguments over temperature.
  2. Lots and lots of reading material. We always have something in the car to read for both adults and kids. I personally love how quiet the vehicle gets when everyone is reading! Will, right now loves activity books.
  3. Each kid has their own bag. Why? This stops so much fighting! Everybody can put whatever they want in their own bag — their own crayon, their own books, their own games, etc. It also keeps your vehicle cleaner, because when they are done, it goes back in the bag!IMG_1130
  4. Snacks. We always have food and drinks available in the car. Nobody needs to get “hangry”!IMG_1135
  5. Electronics. We do allow our kids to play with their electronics in the car. Movies and games help keep the peace on long car rides.
  6. Chargers. Nothing is worse than when your phone dies (especially since we use my phone for GPS!). We have a multi charger we bring with us, so we can charge both our phones and the kids reading devices.
  7. GPS. It doesn't matter if your vehicle has it or if you have a handheld device (or if you use your smartphone like I do). This is a must have with kids. You never know when you are going to hit construction traffic or when somebody needs an emergency bathroom break. (Yes, in my car now, I am the one we have to stop for. However, we stopped at many highway gas stations when the kids were little.) GPS lets you know about both!
  8. Garbage bags. I always carry something for everybody to throw their garbage in. There is nothing worse than getting to your destination and have it look like a tornado went through your vehicle. Plus, I think the kids actually behave better when they aren't sitting in their trash.
  9. Plan on some games. Remember the “letter” game you played as a kid in the car? You know, the one where you try to find the alphabet on signs? You can still play that! There are definitely games you can play that don't require cards or electronic devices. Some games just require a little imagination and creativity — I remember playing the alphabet game where you had to take turns naming animals using each letter of the alphabet.
  10. Headphones. Passengers can listen to their own music/games/movie and nobody has to be annoyed by it.

We use all of these tips when we travel. Do you have any advice for road-tripping with kids?

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Lisa Martin

In April 2006, Lisa began blogging to stay connected with distant relatives and friends. As she delved into blogging, she discovered the potential to assist others by sharing her experiences. Lisa has actively engaged in numerous exclusive media ventures. Notable among these are her participation in events such as the Sony Mommy Bloggers Event, the Pampers Mommy Bloggers Event, the Epson Event in Chicago, the Stouffers Event, a memorable yacht excursion with Lands End, collaborations with 1-800-Baskets, an exclusive tour for bloggers by Mrs. Prindable’s, partnerships with Hallmark, PopCap games, Chicago Cubs Mastercard Priceless Events, and Rug Doctor. In addition, she has collaborated with Nutrisystem on a weight loss initiative, teamed up with Buick and Chevy, and served as a brand ambassador for Sprint. Lisa's collaboration portfolio also extends to Disney, where she has participated in press trips for significant movies such as Frozen, Guardians of the Galaxy, McFarland USA, The Good Dinosaur, The BFG, and Cars 3. Notably, for projects like Frozen, The BFG, and Cars 3, she was granted the privilege of walking the red carpet and conducting interviews with celebrities. The impact of Lisa's blog has gained recognition, with The New York Times referencing her content. Moreover, she has been featured in interviews by respected publications such as the Southtown Star, The Chicago Sun Times, and inside.

This Post Has 18 Comments

  1. Snack and activities. Always snacks and activities. A car full of hungry, bored kids is the 10th circle of Hell.

  2. Robin (Masshole Mommy)

    I definitely like to have extra pillows and blankets in the car. You may need them to get comfy in the car and at the hotel if the ones there aren’t to your liking.

  3. 1heart1family

    Travelling with kids can be painful or a joy depending on if you are prepared. My three must haves are food, comfort and entertainment! Oh did I mention ear plugs! lol

  4. Valerie

    These are all great ideas. I definitely think a bag for each child is a great idea. Fighting in the back seat is a sure fire way to ruin a vacation!

  5. Alli

    I always have a blanket in the car, even now that the kids are grown. I usually get cold and my husband is always hot, even with the dual AC. And you’ve got to have lots of snacks for the kiddos. Great tips!

  6. marilu d

    Games are great to keep busy. I know I sure love them when on the road as well as music!

  7. Jeannette

    These are such great trips! We always try to plan our road trips around nap time so that the kids can sleep in the car part of the time. It makes a huge difference!

  8. Liz Mays

    These will definitely make road trips a lot easier. Snacks, games, and pillows always helped us out a lot.

  9. Ann Bacciaglia

    These are great tips for travelling with kids. I always pack a ton of different snacks and games for them.

  10. Jaime Nicole

    This is a great list. Now that our teenager has developed competing tastes in music, headphones for her are a must. And the individual bags cut down on the drama!

  11. Marts

    Different ages require different items to bring during trips. And this is a great list to consider and take into mind.

  12. Chubskulit Rose

    Blankets and pillows are important because there is always that tendency that they would take a nap in the car. Thanks for the tips.

  13. Lynndee

    Such great tips! We love road trippin’ and we always bring with us pillows, snacks and lots of water. Our son is always hungry and always thirsty not to mention, he sleeps most of the time during the trip. 🙂

  14. Rosey

    Snacks do transcend ages. From the youngest to the oldest, snacks make everyone happy on a road trip. 🙂

  15. Ashleigh Walls

    My grandmother always had us play I Spy when we went on road trips. Such a great idea to keep kids busy so they can’t get bored.

  16. Digna

    Good tips. Pillows for the trip are always something I try to have. Especially on long road trips.

  17. These are all excellent tips are going on road trips with kids! In the future when we have a vehicle of her own will be going on lots of road trips!

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