Road Trip with Kids: 7 Survival Tips for Car Travel
Driving is one of the most common and least costly modes of long distance transportation for a family (at least in the US), and thus it makes it a default for many trying to travel with tiny humans in tow. But it does have its downsides: everyone has less opportunity to move around, it generally takes longer than flying, and it also is a small space to be stuck for long periods of time. So how can this be done without everyone in the car going absolutely crazy?
I grew up driving long distances very regularly from a young age with my family of 6, and now as an adult couple with our two kids we have taken some long road trips at young ages. Believe me, we have learned some tricks.
Essential Road Trip Hacks for Kids
Time your Departure Strategically
Depending on your destination, length of trip, and kids’ normal routines, plan how to best use your time. For shorter drives, try to leave around nap time. For longer drives, how early can you get on the road to help give buffer time for unexpected moments, construction, or longer breaks for the kids?
This will be highly influenced by the age of your kids during the trip, so review my Family Road Trip Hacks by Age post for more specific suggestions.
Map out scenic parks instead of rest stops
Instead of pulling over at generic highway gas stations where kids are buckled right back into strollers, search along your route for city parks or playgrounds 10 minutes off your route. A 20 minute sprint at the park can save a rough trip, and also help make naptime in the car more effective.
If possible, plan a longer stop in the middle of a long trip, somewhere you can walk around or hike a short distance. Be in nature, breathe the fresh air, help the kids burn some energy. It doesn’t have to be fancy, just let it be calming.
The "Audio First, Visuals Later" Screen Strategy
We do use tablets for our kids in the car, and I am so grateful for the peace and calm they can give us while we drive! However, they are never the first thing to come out. I recommend saving the tablets or movies for the last half of the drive or last half of the day for longer trips.
Yes, the kids still ask when tablet time starts, but if you set the mood, they will follow (eventually!). Start the trip with interactive audiobooks (Yoto is a lifesaver for kid friendly audio), family friendly podcasts (we love the Terrestrials Podcast), or high-energy music. Save the ease of screen time entertainment for later when you need the break, too.
Prepare for Motion Sickness
In my opinion, this is a tricky part of traveling no matter what form. I was the carsick kid and now I am the carsick adult who has little humans still needing help.
For carsick kids:
Teach them to look out the front window. Side windows help but don’t always help. Playing find-it games can help keep them engaged with what’s outside the car.
Keep the car cool for them. Cool air blowing nearby is really helpful when fighting nausea.
Fidget toys can help give their body something to do that they don’t necessarily have to see what they are doing.
Audio books or podcasts are amazing to help with wanting to read but not being able to.
There are so many more products on the market to help with motion sickness than there were when I was a kid. I have not personally tried any other remedies for motion sickness in the car, but it could be a good option if you have a particularly prone child.
For carsick adults:
Put the snacks in a very easy place to access. Even if you won’t be eating much, you will need to be able to grab and distribute quickly so you can get back to watching the road.
Mint gum can help keep the stomach from chewing itself up. Any other mint candies can also help.
Keep the car cool and airflow movement on the face, also a light and easily-removed jacket or blanket.
It’s okay to tell the kids you can’t look back at them right now. Explain that you are not feeling well and need to watch the road. Even if they are too young to understand, it will help you stay calm about it and they will start to learn as they hear you say that and then see you come back to being able to help them again after it passes.
If possible, try to switch to driving. Driving helps remove a lot of the motion sickness as you are in control of the car and your brain + body can connect the motion of the vehicle to an action you are making. This is sometimes the only way for my body to settle if it’s particularly bad.
Proper Packing for a Road Trip
Packing is a key part of getting a family there and back again without everyone feeling cramped and stir crazy. I have too many great hacks to share for it to fit here, so see our must-have items for our kids, and a free printable packing list.
As far as packing for the road trip, my tried and true methods are this:
Every kid needs a setup for entertainment near them. We use backpacks for ease of access, and each kid’s backpack is packed near them. We also put their blanket nearby for comfort and car naps.
Pack a bag with a change of clothes for everyone. This can be the diaper bag for younger kids or just a small backpack or duffle for families of older or more kids. Keep this EASY TO ACCESS. If there is a car accident, throw up, blow out, or some kind of delay where you have to stay overnight somewhere, this bag needs to be easy to get to. Make sure you have this simple back-up plan for if things don’t go as planned.
Pack everything else for when you get to your destination, UNDER everything else. You don’t need it until you get there so it goes in the bottom and the back.
Jackets go in last on top of everything. Weather changes are unpredictable and its worth the space on top.
Some kids feel too crowded by stuff nearby and that claustrophobia can increase motion sickness for some people (like me!). Be aware of how much has to be packed by kids and reduce as much as possible.
Roadtrip Snacks for Kids
Some say a road trip is only as good as the company, but those people may not have considered the snacks. Here is some of our family’s favorite foods for on the road and tips for snacks and meals during your travels.
Pack all snacks near the adult. If there are two adults, the passenger adult is in charge of snacks for everyone. If the driver is the only adult, they designate to an older child if possible or keep them in the passenger seat for doling out as needed.
For traveling with a baby, we bring 2 bottles for cleaning out and rotate. Also a hand pump in the car was the easiest for me when I was still nursing.
Regulate Everyone’s Nervous System
While this is an unusual one for this list, hear me out:
Car travel can feel like a lot with kids. Because car seats prevent the physical closeness young children rely on to co-regulate, long drives can disrupt their emotional and physical stability. Adults feel the pressure of a long drive mixed with kids out of their routines & needing closeness. There’s nowhere for all that to go when everyone is in the same small space for hours.
This means you have to give yourselves and the kids so much grace. Even when it feels hard or like driving was a mistake, remind yourself that it will be okay and it will end.
Don’t feel obligated to entertain the children the whole time, and remember that you can still enjoy the trip just for you, no matter what happens. Control the environment the best you can, and then let go of the rest. You don’t have to control how the kids experience this time in the car.
I know this is easier said than done, so here’s my tips for helping make that happen:
During pit stops help by holding hands or giving big hugs or any other form of physical contact. Also try to add full body movements like running, jumping, or swinging to help regulate. (Don’t forget the parks!!!)
Ice the vagus nerve. I know this sounds woo-woo, but I swear by it. To do this, place some kind of cold object (drink, ice pack, etc.) against the upper chest near the clavicle. Chewing/sucking ice (depending on the age of the child) can also help calm the body quickly and relieve anxiety. An ice roller can also be a great car tool and kept in a cooler until you need it.
Music can help balance the mood + reset the energy of the group after a challenging time. Put on a favorite tune, or even sing some silly songs to help with nervous system calming. We have some family favorites that we play to reset the mood; a couple great ones are Can’t Stop the Feeling - Trolls Soundtrack + Into the Unknown - Frozen Soundtrack.
Try some breathing techniques to help calm down yourself and your kids. If you are a passenger adult, try playing a silly game with them that will lead to breathing techniques, such as: “its everyone’s birthday and we all get a cake, blow out the candles! Oh no, they didn’t go out! Try again!”
For additional ideas specific to your child, I love Seed & Sew’s Regulation Quiz (non-affiliate link) to help you better assess your child’s needs and preferences. Seed & Sew’s creator, Alyssa, also has amazing content for connection that can help pre and post traveling to fill the child’s cup and help keep a trip rolling smoothly for everyone.
A Quick Reminder for the Road
No strategy guarantees zero tears, but with a little practice, you'll learn your child's flow and find your stride. Road trips with kids are inherently messy and unpredictable—that isn't a sign of failure, it's just family travel. Take a deep breath: you've got this!
