10 Tips to Roadtripping with Kids

As wonderful as summer vacation sounds, what doesn’t always sound so nice is the prep work leading up to the trip and if you’re taking a road trip, the work seems to double. I’ve flown with two and have recently taken a road trip with two (1 year and 3 years).

I’ll admit, I was stressed about everything that had to be done before we even got in the car so I planned it out, spaced it out and it wasn’t so bad. Here are some of my tips for road tripping with kids.

Rather than just giving you a list of things to pack, here are five pointers for each type of packing.

Car Time
1. Car Essentials Food is critical to a drama free car ride. Pack nonperishable items, in bulk within arm’s reach.
2. Plan your pit stops in child friendly locations. Look for places like Chick-fil-a that has clean child play areas.
3. Leave as early as possible. The more time you can get during kids regular sleep time will serve you well. Technology is your friend.
4. Load up your iPads, portable DVD players and all. Remember, no wifi in the car.
5. Be patient and flexible.  You aren't going to get to eat perfectly or stay on your schedule perfectly.  Make this a "special" occasion and go with the flow.

Vacation Time
1. Know what you’re going into, does the place have washers/dryers, that will effect what you pack and may help with over packing.
2. Combine kids with your clothes to cut down on the number of pieces of luggage you need
3. Don’t forget the strollers, pack ’n’ plays and all the other equipment not provided by your hotel or condo.
4. Be creative about space. I put MiniE’s pack ‘n’ play in the closet because she loves her personal space. Add a nightlight and white noise and she was as happy as a jaybird.
5. Pack personal items (i.e. pillows, blankets, etc) to help kids transition in new spaces. If you can’t take pillows, take pillow cases

What are your tips for traveling with kids?

Check out my wifi friendly apps and traveling with kids.