Going on a family road trip is one of the most exciting ways to create lasting memories with your kids and spouse. However, there are plenty of things that can go wrong throughout the planning process, and unfortunately, a lack of planning often leads to a less-than-enjoyable experience with bumps along the way.
To ensure your trip goes smoothly, here are five essential tips for planning your family road trip. Let’s get started!
Pack Strategically
You want to make sure that you have everything you need for every point of the trip. Beyond packing your clothes and toiletries, you also want to make sure that you have plenty of activities for the ride. From coloring books to music, road trips with kids must be full of things to keep them occupied.
The younger your children are, the more activities you want to have. Ideally, you should have several activities ready to go and switch them out every hour or so. In addition to activities, you want to make sure that you have plenty of snacks and, of course, handy tools like Kleenex and baby wipes. Create a checklist before you go to ensure that you don’t forget anything important.
Be Flexible
You never know when your plan could deviate from the original itinerary. While planning is important, you need to always leave room for a little unexpected spontaneity. You never know when a kid could get sick, or you could accidentally take the wrong exit and find yourself on a different route. Embrace the unexpected by remaining flexible. You never know— something unforeseen could lead to a wonderful adventure that makes your trip even more memorable.
Dress Comfortably
Long hours in a car can start to creep up on you. That’s why it’s important that you and your family focus on comfort when getting dressed before you drive. Wear loose clothing that isn’t restrictive or squeezing you in all the wrong places. Also, make sure that you bring travel-friendly pillows and shoes that slip on and off easily.
If your little one requires you to pull over unexpectedly to go to the bathroom, you want to make sure you have shoes that are easy to put on quickly. Overly complicated laces and buckles can be a pain when making pitstops.
Consider Safety
Safety should be a top priority for your road trip. Make sure everyone is properly strapped in, seat belts are attached, car seats are properly hooked up, and you have fully charged cell phones in case your car breaks down. Above all, make sure that your car is in working condition before setting off on a road trip. Unlike small trips to the grocery store or school drop-offs, a road trip puts serious mileage on your car. You want to make sure that you go in for a tune-up before you hit the road.
By taking these precautions, you’ll ensure a worry-free, enjoyable adventure that you’ll treasure as a memory for years to come.
