This post is sponsored by Amazon but all opinions are completely my own.
I am the baby of 7 kids. Yup, you read that right, SEVEN! That’s a lot of people! Because we were a big family we usually took our vacations in the form of road trips. It’s way cheaper to drive that many people around then buy that many plane tickets so I grew up learning the art of a successful road trip. Times have changed, and with technology road trips are a lot more fun, but I can still use some of the lessons I learned back from my childhood and so I share with you my family road trip tips and tricks.
Technology can make it awesome!
Special snacks
Being stuck in the car for hours at a time can be hard on everyone! We always pack some snacks that we don’t usually buy. Perhaps it’s certain chip flavor, candy or new types of granola bars. Always bring healthy snacks as well to keep your strength up. With a small cooler it’s easy to bring fruit, cheese snacks and lots of cold water. My Dad always said “never go into the wilderness without water.” Road trip count! If you wanted an extra special treat for your kids you could let them go inside at one of your gas stops and pick something from the convenience store. Doing this has given my kids something to look forward to at the next stop.
Make it educational
Often times there will be markers on the side of the road of historical events, or places. Sometimes they aren’t far off the freeway and it’s easy to visit these sites. Perhaps before you leave you can learn some facts about the places you will be driving through. On a recent road trip we decided to make a stop to see the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln. This fun and educational stop had nothing to do with the vacation we were on, but we had a good time, learned some new things and created a fun family memory.
Road trip games are the best
Have you ever played the alphabet game while watching all the road signs go by? My kids love this game. We also love to play license plate bingo and try to find as many states as we can. I Spy is another great option. What do you see that is green?
When I was a child, my siblings taught me a couple great songs we would sing in rounds during our road trips. Last year I taught my kids these songs so we could sing these super cheesy, really funny songs in a round in the car. It’s a lot of fun. These are the best kind of childhood memories.
Capture the memories
No matter your activities, snacks or games, family road trips are a great way to spend quality time together and build memories that can last a lifetime.
Do you have additional tips or tricks to help make your family road trip successful? I’d love to hear them in the comments.
Crystal says
We always stick with technology and snacks. It never fails us.
Jeanette says
We go on a road trip each year. We usually have a good amount of snacks and stuff to do in the car as were driving. I like every tip you have here. We do most of these ourselves but there are a few more that I could add on.
Stacie says
Snacks and technology are both key if you want to have a good road trip. The kids need to be stuffed and entertained.
Melissa Chapman says
That is a great tablet and would definitely make the trip go faster. I liked all your tips and will keep them in mind for those important road trips.
Amy says
My kids love their Amazon kindles! My son has a blue kids case and it has kept his safe!
Mama to 6 Blessings says
When we travel my kids pack their tablets and I have a few of my older smartphones that I give to my littlest with movies on them for him to keep quiet. Snacks are also a must!
Merry Kuchle says
Tech is definitely our go to for roadtrips. I love that they have a kid version tablet!
janis says
I grew up on family roadtrips and raised my own 4 kids the same way. Today’s parents have it so much easier to keep the kids entertained on trips with that cool kid’s tablet.
Jeni Hawkins says
My sister needs these tips! She has three girls and always goes on road trips with them. I love the capturing the moment idea!
Nancy at Whispered Inspirations says
These are such great ideas! Especially with the summer coming up and road trips to be had. Thanks for this, bookmarking!
Allison Cooper says
These are really great tips! We have a road trip coming up over Memorial Day weekend and I’m honestly tempted to get one of these for my toddler just to keep her busy during the ride!
Lisa Bristol says
We are planning a road trip this summer with the kids. I will have to take a look at this tablet. I am sure it can be a huge help when the kids get bored in the car. Snacks are a must on all trips.
Alicia Gonzalez says
These are great tips. The happier the kids are the happier the journey for MOM! I also like audio books for the kids.
Sherry says
Playing games on road trips help pass the time. I dread hearing “Are we there yet?”. When I was young I used to keep tally of the different colored vehicles that we passed.
Stacie says
These are some great tips and tricks for road trips. My daughters enjoy listening to music or readig when we travel anywhere.
Krystal Herrera says
Snacks and planning some activities together are definitely essential for a family road trip. Anyways, great read! I love it!
Katy says
WIth a four year old daughter, we’ve just started doing longer road trips this year. Thank goodness for or technology, right? The fires for kids sound like awesome devices. I’ve found it is important to take our time when traveling with a preschooler. She needs the slower pace and it’s been fun to stop and check out tonwns we would have just driven past.
Jessica W. says
Although technology may help, you can play all kinds of road trip games without any type of smart device. These are great trip tips!
Cassandra D says
I always like to bring special snacks on the road trip.
Daniel Jones says
Thanks for sharing so much information. Ideas like these are so useful for a travel freak like me! Looking forward to going for a road trip soon! 🙂
Erika Ann says
Technology is really great for kids. I know its not the popular opinion by a lot of people especially of parents, But as long as there is good supervisions and limitations set, gadgets can really make life better. Its technology’s purpose any way.
Monika @ ispace1 says
what makes a good road trip is lots of snack and no smart phones : )
john says
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Mark says
Thanks a lot for sharing all your tips and tricks for keeping kids entertained during a long car trip. It seems like every time I take my kids on a long car trip they need a new form of stimulation. Sometimes a phone or tablet will do the trick, while other times they need some personal attention. As long as you mix it up and keep them busy you’ll be at your destination before they know it.
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Ernest Simmons says
Hi, Snacks and planning some activities together are definitely essential for a family road trip. I think your tips and tricks for keeping kids entertained during a long car trip. We have a road trip coming up over Memorial Day weekend and I’m honestly tempted to get one of these for my toddler just to keep her busy during the ride! Thanks for the sharing such an informative article.
Julie Simpson says
I’m disabled with arthritis and I’ve had mobility problems since I was in my 30’s. I really want take my two gorgeous grandsons on a little road trip and I have gotten some good ideas from your blog thanks!