Tips for Road Trips with Littles
So, do you need some tips for road trips with your kids? We just got back from a 9 day family road trip to Salt Lake City for a convention and some fun family adventures along the way, so I've definitely got some tips for you!
At the time of this post, my kids are almost three and almost five and I'm six months pregnant with Baby #3 to give you an idea of the ages I'm talking about in this post. If your kids are different ages, some of these tips may apply and some not so much, just take what works and leave what doesn't! =)
We had a lot of fun on our road trip and overall it went probably about as good or a little better than I expected. I put a lot of prep into this one and I had learned some lessons from past road trips with littles, so here are my tips for road trips with kiddos. =)
Tips for Road Trips with Young Kids:
1. Don't Overpack
This is a hard one, but the more you have, the more of a mess it will make in the car and you will lose your mind. I can't tell you how much stuff I pack and never use.
This time I was trying super hard to cut back on what I brought and I STILL had so many things I never used.
2. Be Prepared for Technology to NOT WORK
This isn't specifically about kids, but I learned the hard way. It is so tempting to rely on technology on our road trips. Google Maps, and other apps to help us. It's ok to use them, but BE PREPARED for them not to work and have a physical backup!
Either buy a real map for the route you are taking, or at least print it out so when you go through areas with little to no reception and Google Maps won't load, you still know how to get where you are going.
There was a lot of our route that we had bad cell reception so on our way back, I made sure to write out the directions ahead of time. I had bought an Arizona road map, but not one for Utah, so next time I'll be more prepared.
Seriously, sometimes Old School is just better.
3. Try out Apps But Don't Rely On Them
I tried out Roadtrippers, Toilet Finder, Gas Buddy, and IExit apps for the trip. Honestly, the only one we actually used that was particularly helpful was Gas Buddy. The other ones had trouble loading when I actually wanted them or we just never reached for it.
You might like them better than I did, but don't feel like you need to have a bunch of apps to have a good road trip.
4. Dole Out the Activities Sparingly
DO NOT give them free access to all the activities you brought. They will churn through them and be asking for more before you can blink. Dole them out VERY sparingly.
Let them look out the window, talk to them about the landscape or something to get them focused outside. Sometimes that will buy you time. Or put on an audio book and let them just listen.
Then when they start getting crazy, pull out the new activity. Big sticker books were a huge hit for my kids as was a binder with a pencil bag with dry erase markers and some maps and things in page protectors that they could draw on.
5. Minimize Screen Time If Possible
I didn't let them have any screen time in the car. This is just a personal preference but then when I needed them to relax and be quiet and not stomp around in the hotel in the evening, we could put on a show or something without going crazy with screen time each day.
And the more screen time they have, generally, the crankier they get and who needs extra crankiness on a road trip! 😂
6. Use Lunch to Burn Energy
Try to stop for lunch at a park/rest stop, somewhere they can run around and burn up some energy.
You will thank yourself later.
7. DO NOT expect them to nap in the car
My daughter was consistently falling asleep in the afternoons when I did the 45 min drive home from my mom's house and even my son sometimes fell asleep for a bit.
Did they sleep in the car on our trip? Not even once.
Not even a five minute doze. Don't count on napping!
8. Have Realistic Expectations of Your Car Time
DO NOT expect to get a lot done in the car, have uninterrupted reading time, get your life figured out, etc.. The kids WILL interrupt you just as you were getting started with something and twenty-five times in between.
This can be super frustrating if we have expectations of getting things done.
Normally I way overpack in this area but the best thing I did for my sanity this trip was to have only one book if I felt like reading and a notebook and pen in case I had the time or inclination to write something, but 90% of the time, I just let myself be.
I watched the scenery and let my thoughts drift and it was what I needed. My brain had been fried and this was very restorative and it makes the interruptions less irritating.
9. Don't Get Too Tied to Your Schedule
Pad your estimation for how long it will take you and be willing to let go of expectations. Things always take longer (especially with kids) than you think they will.
And then your husband will decide you should stop and hike down to the river or something and if you keep your time clock in your head, it is so easy to get frustrated and anxious. Have a loose timeline but be prepared to go with the flow and be spontaneous.
10. Oil up
I have several that I make sure to have on hand:
Lavender for when kids get crazy, and for relaxing and calming as well as little owies kids may get.
Immune boosting oils diluted in a rollerball that I roll on all of our feet every night because our immune systems inevitably take a dive during trips with all the road trip food, germy hotels, and short or interrupted sleep.
Peppermint and an oil blend for digestive support and relief from all the travel food.
Oils for sore muscles.
Cedarwood, Lavender, etc... for diffusing or rolling for sleep before bed
Mood boosting/stress relieving oils in my purse for me for ALL THE TIME! 😂
(Not sure what essential oils/how they can benefit you, or just want to know which brand I love? Click here)
11. Prepare for them to stay up later and wake up earlier
It shouldn't be so, but it is. Also realize that it will probably take them longer to actually fall asleep, especially if you are sharing a hotel room.
My husband and I each had a kid in our bed and I had to literally lay down and snuggle with my son for him to calm down and fall asleep. Otherwise they roll all over the bed and get themselves all crazy and they egg each other on.
Separate them and lay next to them if you need to. I made some lists on my phone while I was waiting for him to fall asleep or if I was super tired, I dozed myself.
Sleepy girl
12. Be Prepared for Fussiness and Melt Downs
Especially toward the end of the trip and the drive home.
We were gone for 9 days and that's a long time of not getting enough sleep, different eating habits, and lack of routine and structure for the littles.
The ride home will not be as easy as the ride there. I stopped at Target and got a few more things at the Dollar section so they had some novel items.
13. Clean Out the Car BEFORE You Head Back
Make sure to take the time to clean out the car and reorganize their activity bag and your area. Again, your future self will thank you when you don't have to play Twister with your body to reach something the kids or you need! Lol
14. Return Home Transition Plan
Have a transition plan already in place for when you get back. Especially if your trip is longer, you will need some time to adjust. We got back last night and I thought I'd be able to unpack everything before bed.
Oh the delusions! I crashed and then today I crashed even harder and had to lay down and nap at 11am!
It's going to take some time to ease back into your schedule, get food back into the house, unpack everything, get the kids back on their normal sleep schedule, physically recover yourself.
Give your family some space if you at all can when you get back so you can recover and settle back in. Your future self will thank you for it!
Trust me.
Have you realized a theme that seems to be running through these tips?
Expectations.
Mindset.
Readjusting those expectations.
I know I tend to make things harder on myself by the expectations I set and the rigid way I hold on to them. You may be more like my husband and not struggle so much with this, but I'm sure some of you are like me!
I hope these tips help!
All in all, it was a great time for us and the kids had a blast!
Don't be afraid to take your littles on a road trip, just remember to adjust your expectations! =)
XO, Heather
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