Road trips are an exciting way to travel. The beautiful scenery, the open road, and the time to bond with your family before you arrive at your destination make this form of travel so appealing. It is no wonder that about 72% of Americans prefer road trips! However, it can be a bit stressful, especially when you have children. All the time spent in the car can make them cranky and bored, making them a handful. Well, you should consider these tried-and-tested hacks to ensure that you have a fun road trip experience with your children.
Start the trip at night or early in the morning
This is a hack worth trying if you have younger children. Keeping your younger children entertained during the whole journey can be quite exhausting, especially if they are very active. Going at night means you can drive with your sleeping children, reducing the chances of being distracted by their activities in the backseat. If you aren’t so comfortable driving at night, you can try leaving early in the morning to give you a few hours of peaceful driving before your kids wake up. However, if you have a long journey to make, it is advisable to start the trip at night for a more attentive driving experience.
Be sure to have their entertainment planned
Be sure to pack (or if you have older children, be sure they take) their entertainment sources. Ensure that tablets and phones are filled with games, movies, and shows they enjoy. Also, ensure that these devices are fully charged and pack a car charger, should you need extra charging while on the road. You can download a playlist with their favorite songs to have a family car karaoke session. You should also make offline games available. From the Alphabet Game to the classic I Spy game, there are so many road trip games you can play with your children without their iPads or cellphones. These offline games make your child more active and help them see the fun in taking a road trip.
Take breaks to rest and cool off
The great thing about road trips is they give you a chance to create more adventures. Do not forget that your road trip is not about just the destination. Take time during the journey to stop off at interesting roadside attractions. If you come across a national park, allocate a 30-minute break for your family to stretch and explore the area for a bit. This would help reduce the crankiness your kids may feel after being cooped up in the car for what may seem like forever. Explore other locations en route to your actual destination, whether it’s SeaWorld San Antonio, the alien artifacts in Roswell, New Mexico, or the dinosaur footprints in Utah.
Road trips with the whole gang can be fun, and with these tips, you are sure to create memories that would last a lifetime.
This post was contributed by Simone Devonshire.
