Before you know it, Summer will be here and that’s usually the best time to travel with kids! We already have a few road trips scheduled for this summer – Kansas City and Louisville – and we will be taking our big road trip in October to Walt Disney World. My husband isn’t a big fan of flying, so we always drive. Honestly, we have a lot of fun during our road trips and I wouldn’t have it any other way!
We took Hayden on his first road trip when he was only 4 months old to Branson, Missouri. In the past 6 years, he has been on numerous trips and is now a road tripping pro. When Olivia and Evie were only 4 months old, we also took a road trip 12 hours away to Gulf Shores. Traveling with 3 kids vs. 1 kid was a lot different! Below are some of my road trips with kids tips!
Buy a Portable DVD Player
We bought a portable DVD player four Hayden’s first trip to Walt Disney World and it was one of the best investments we have made. There are so many different kinds and we had one that strapped onto the back of a front seat. Popping in a Disney DVD saved us from many tantrums while on the road. When we bought our minivan, the biggest draw was the built in DVD player!
Visit the Library
We always visit the library a few days before our road trip begins and pick out DVD’s that Hayden has never seen before and also books that he hasn’t read before. Our library lets you check out up to SIXTY books, but we usually stick to about 10-15 books that I put in a reusable bag in the backseat. When Hayden starts to get antsy, I hand him a book and let him look through the book or read it to him from the front seat. This easily provides hours of entertainment! Our girls are both big book fans, so I know we will be hitting the library for plenty of books this summer. Make sure to sign up for your local library’s summer reading program so your little one can earn prizes!
Pack Snacks and Drinks
It always happens – you’re a few hours into your trip and your little one is hungry or thirsty. Instead of going through a drive-thru where you’ll obviously have to get an ice cream treat for yourself {no? just me?} or paying $2.99 for a small bottle of milk at a gas station, pack snacks and drinks at home! We love the Playtex SmartCool On-The-Go Bottle Tote, which holds 3 baby bottles or 2 sippy cups for up to 14 hours. Hayden can keep that next to his seat where he can easily grab his cups from it. It also has room for a baggie of apple slices or grapes.
You can also pack a bigger cooler with juice boxes, sandwiches, fruit snacks and more! You’ll save money and you won’t have to lose time while traveling.
Pack a Fun Bag
For Hayden, we always would get a big reusable bag {or backpack} and pack it with the library books we picked up earlier in the week and also small toys and activities from Target’s One Spot or the Dollar Store. This way, whenever he started getting antsy, we pulled out new to him books and toys and they kept him happy and occupied.
Be Comfy
Whenever we are headed on a road trip, I always wear my yoga pants, a tee and a cardigan so I can be comfortable and I’m in layers. The same goes for kids! I never have my kids wear jeans on trips – comfy pants and tees all the way! Slip on shoes are easier in case they want to take their shoes off in the car but easily slip them back on for bathroom breaks.
Just in Case Bag
I always make sure to pack a “just in case” bag. It’s filled with grocery bags for trash, a small first aid kit, baby wipes and cleaning wipes and an extra change of clothing just in case we need them!
I’d love to hear YOUR tips on how you make road trips easier with kids! Are you planning any trips this Summer?
Disclosure: I am a member of the 2014 Playtex Mom Trust Panel. I have been compensated for my time but all thoughts and opinions are my own.
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a snack and a drink are our #1 packed items, too! Also, we have a magnadoodle that’s a regular hit!
We take lots of road trips and snacks are big for us. Hungry kids are cranky kids.
These are great tips! We have only taken one road trip so far and that was two years ago to Disney World. It was only four hours long but after the first hour my daughter was SO bored! I am going to reference these later in the year when we go back.
Great ideas for traveling with kids. I wish some members in our family would read this before they travel. I might have to send them this post.
Road trips used to be rougher, but now at almost 11 years old electronics save the day! We went through a lot of portable DVD players in those days!
We always make sure we are prepared when going on road trips! Lots of snacks and entertainment, for sure. Books are a must have, since they are a quiet way to enjoy the trip.
Fantastic tips for all the moms and dads out there!
We drove 9 hours just yesterday to visit my sis in DC, and I completely agree with all of your tips. There are many things that happen on road trips that we can’t prepare for, but the more prepared we are, the better we can handle anything.
I am not a big fan of road trips, especially if I am the driver. My kids are older now so it’s a bit better, but I loathed it when they were little. I wish I had these great tips then
Great tips! We haven’t been on many long road trips with our kids, but when we do go for mini day rides – we always take snacks, drinks and music that everyone will enjoy. We definitely do a lot of singing in the car, wherever we’re driving!
Great tips! I always like to pay a visit to the library to get everyone excited about a trip, and knowledgeable about our destination. Road trips are my fave!
Oh, that is a great idea! I definitely am going to do that!
Traveling with 8 kids, I totally agree with your tips. We do a cooler full of water bottles and carry water flavor enhancers for them. We also stop at the Dollar Tree and grab snacks and goodies for any trip. It cuts way down on food expenses. One tip that I would give is- travel at night or late in the evening if you can. Not only does that save on food bills, but there is less traffic and with the cooler air, you don’t have to run the a/c which saves on gas. With the added bonus of the kids sleeping during the trip!
Portable DVD is a must! When we travel it’s usually 6-12 hours almost always and I don’t know what we would do without our daughter being able to watch movies. It is something that if it broke on the road trip we would find the nearest store to buy another.
60 books! Wow! s that their normal policy, or was that an exception because you’re traveling?
I just went to double check! The limit is actually 100 now! No exception!
We love to travel. No little ones now though, so we ring music, movies and books.
Great tips! We have a road trip planned to Cape Cod at the end of June. Not looking forward to being in the car with an active toddler!
Not planning on going anywhere this summer but I wish we were.
Seriously, the $2.99 small milk is something I just expect. BUT that’s silly of me if I plan ahead. High five to you for turning on my lightbulb that was for some reason not coming on. 🙂
We don’t have kids yet, but the DVD player is already at the top of the list when we talk about new cards. His parents live 7 hours away and that DVD player will become my best friend.
More often than not I road trip alone, with my kids, without my husband. That takes road tripping to a whole other level of insanity. A couple things I’d add to your list are: gallon sized ziplock bags for carsick emergencies, to make sure all snacks are portioned out ahead of time into single serving snack bags, and these are WONDERFUL https://www.amazon.com/Star-Kids-Snack-Play-Travel/dp/B000KJBFC8/
Those are great tips! I love summer vacations!!
I used to have a heck of a road trip arsenal prepared for the kids. I made it so much fun for me and for them!
Those are great tips! The DVD player is a lifesaver, but we hate to have it on for too long. We’ve found that getting some of the books-on-CD from the library is a huge hit with the kids (and fun for us too)!
I’m still stuck on SIXTY books! I need to talk to our library. Need to up their game!
I just went to double check…it’s now 100 books is the limit!
What great traveling trips. I can barley go down the street without my boys melting down. You are brave doing a road trip.
A bag of fun is necessary! 😉 We pack wipes, toys, books, and maybe an iPad… cartoons on the go!
Snacks and the portable DVD are MUSTS when traveling with my little guy. He gets SO bored and his little legs get all weird when we drive long distances. He gets that from me. I have RLS and we have to stop often so I can get out and stretch my legs.
You’re brave to bring library DVDs! I’m always afraid of losing those
We love road trippin and your list could not be anymore perfect! I’m especially loving the comfy clothes and the snacks! And we always try to make a trip to the library before heading out, super smart!
Snacks and movies! I also bring a just in case bag too. Easy access for those quick stops.
These are great tips! I’m working on a similar post, too. We just returned from two weeks on the road, and it was (mostly) fun. The snacks and DVD player really pulled us through some difficult moments – and of course, I’m not referring to my daughter. She was the perfect traveler! I can’t wait to hear all about your road trip adventures!
I love that you included visiting the library. I travel with my son a lot and this is one of the “make” sure tips on my checklist. Your list has lots of great suggestions.
Great tips! We will be using some of these tips this summer while we head to and from camps and vacations!
I LOVE all your tips – we did all those things, plus I got wireless internet for my kids to be able to access things online (kept them quiet the ENTIRE 19 hr drive!)
(Tips on Taking a Road Trip with Kids) I have not had to do this yet with my i year old grandson, but you never know the time may come up someday. So far he has flown with his Mom about eight times now.
We ALWAYS pack books but instead of a DVD player we have iPads and laptops.
These are all great tips. We always pack snacks, otherwise our trips would cost us hundreds more.
Great tips! We don’t go on any road trip without gadgets- ipads, DVD players, etc. Especially when it’s a LONG car ride! Thanks for sharing!
Comfy all the way!!!
Oh yes I always have a Just In Case bag. Always!! I also take audio books