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in Family· House & Home· Travel

Tips for Traveling with Kids: Happy Kids, Happy Ride

I remember the days before kids when road trips had a totally different meaning than they do today, with 5 kids in the back two rows of seats.  In my early 20’s one of my best friends moved several states away.  We’d leave late in the day, drive all night long listening to loud music to be there by morning.  It was a fun drive then once we got there we’d nap for an hour or two and make the most of the days we had together.  No one needed sleep!  Traveling with 5 kids, 3 of whom are toddlers is not so much fun.  In fact, some drives to the grocery store that’s 30 minutes away are too long with them.  The problem is we like to travel, from weekend camping trips to mini vacations a state away to week long road trips, traveling is our family’s idea of fun.  So how do we survive Traveling with Kids?  We have a bag of tricks that helps us to keep our sanity.  With these tips and Auto Trader’s generous giveaway (see details below), traveling with kids can be less stressful and more fun this holiday season.

Tips for Traveling with Kids

Tips for Traveling with Kids

The first thing that makes traveling easier is to make sure you’re going to get there.  If your kids are anything like mine, they tend to be pretty OK while the car is moving, but when the car stops anything could happen – they could be fine or it could be a catastrophe.  Planning ahead to make as few stops as possible is important for a smooth trip with our kids.

  • Gas up ahead of time,
  • Check your fluid levels (oil, brake and transmission)
  • Top off your washer fluid.
  • If it’s a long trip, consider an oil change and have them give the brakes, tires and suspension a check.

The second thing that makes travelling easier (and again, safer) is if the driver can focus on the road and the passenger can make sure the driver is awake and aware.  Both of these are harder if you’re dealing with backseat drama (not counting backseat drivers).  Singing songs and playing the letter game work in a pinch but tend to get old pretty quickly.  So we plan for the kids to have things to keep them occupied in the back seats.

  • We like to have the older kids bring a couple of books to help occupy the miles.
  • Our latest car has a DVD player which is great for the little kids.  We let the older kids have tablets or personal devices like smart phones so usually everyone is happy for the whole trip.  Of course the exception is for potty breaks and agreeing on where to eat.

Keeping the car stocked with everything we might need is next on the list.  With 5 kids and 2 grown ups all with different likes, dislikes, and needs that can be tough.  This tip kind of ties into tip 1 because the fewer stops we have to make the better and if the car is stocked we should need to stop less often for drinks, snacks, and such.

  • Stock the car with healthy snacks that are easy to eat in the car.  Things like granola bars, fruit snacks, pre-cut fruits and veggies, meat sticks or jerky, and dry cereal are all great ideas.  We try to keep mess as minimal as possible so we keep individual snack bowls in the car for everyone.  Having snacks that everyone likes means happier travelers.
  • Stock the car with drinks for everyone and refills.  We make sure everyone has their water bottles and we bring along big bottles of water to refill as needed.  While we don’t want to have to stop to pee every 30 minutes, staying hydrated while traveling is important.
  • Keep wet wipes, tissues, napkins, and such on hand and within close reach.  Snacks, snotty noses, and such can mean messes so having these things on hand mean less stops for clean up.
  • Sometimes watching movies, reading books, and playing on the tablet can get boring if the trip is too long.  Add some crayons, coloring books, note pads, and similar items to a tote to keep the kids busy.

One of the most important things for us when it comes to road trips is staying organized.  Whether it’s what we pack and how, the snacks on hand, trash bags for trash as you have it, things for the kids to do, or maps & directions or reservations that we need for getting where we are going, organized travel is so important.

In addition to our tips, Autotrader has 7 Clever Hacks for Driving with Kids that can also help keep you sane on the road.  Don’t forget to enter the giveaway for some great items that will make Traveling with Kids easier this holiday season including a charger, $25 Visa gift card, tote, seat back organizer, a selfie stick, a First Aid Kit, Single-use Wet Wipes, and snacks.

Tips for Traveling with Kids

Tell us your travel plans this holiday season!

 

Comments

  3. Tammie Venne says

    make my own hair detangler and laundry detergent to cut down with all of the kids laundry expenses

  4. Lisa L says

    My kids have toys that they can only play with in the car. It’s the only way they’re able to sit in the car quietly.

  7. Carolyn Daley says

    Power bank chargers can be a life saver on road trips. Sometimes you need to charge a device and you will not always have access to an outlet. A power bank will allow you to charge devices on the run which is really nice. I always like to have the small scented trash bags on road trips so we can fill it up instead of having things all over the car and throw it out at the next rest stop.

  8. Lorena Keech says

    When we travelled with kids, we tried to build in entertaining/educational stops. We saw some great places we would have missed otherwise.

  9. Susan Smith says

    We stop often at rest stops so the children get a chance to get out of the car and run around.

  10. Candie L says

    They have their own section of the car and they can use it anyway they want. This helps because we always take a massive road trip every year. Thank you

  12. clynsg says

    Let them get out and run once in awhile–they need to do something physical during the trip.

  14. Rosey says

    I always pack a surprise bag with a gift item I know will occupy the kids. On an international flight once it was a tablet, on a cross-country car ride once it was a backpack full of goodies like activitiy books, pens, etc.

  15. Crystal F says

    My only tip is to bring along lots of entertainment for the kids. It’s easier now due to electronics but it’s also nice to play games as a family. We like to play the alphabet game as we travel. thank you!

  16. Karen Deva says

    We like to bring car games like Mad Libs and Brain Quest that work for both kids and adults!

  17. Betty C says

    Allow plenty of extra time for daily travel. You never know when you will find an interesting place to explore and the kids will enjoy the change.

  19. Birdiebee says

    When traveling, use a plastic cereal container with a lid for all of the garbage in the car. This works great for all of the snacks, napkins, etc. #MomHacks

  20. Laurie Emerson says

    My best #MomHacks tip is if you are planning on stopping at a hotel or motel on your trip stop early each night so everyone can get a nice hot bath or shower, eat a good meal and get plenty of sleep. It helps make the trip the next day so much better.

  22. Trisha McKee says

    I have a large spool of paper that the kids draw and color on. At Christmas time, I use the colored paper as wrapping paper. Saves money and the relatives love receiving the kids’ artwork.

  25. Shayna says

    ALWAYS PACK A BAG AHEAD OF TIME, WITH SNACKS, DRINKS AND ENTERTAINMENT SO YOU ARE NOT RUSHING AROUND RIGHT BEFORE THE TRIP 🙂

  26. Tina Reynolds says

    I pack surprise treat bags that I give them when we go a trip new coloring book crayons favorite snacks I get those canvas bags and each kiddo gets one

  30. susan smoaks says

    one of my best #momhacks is to stop at a park and let the kids run around for a while every few hours during a long road trip, it really helps get our energy out

  31. Stephanie Larison says

    My mom hack is having a bag of snacks in the glove compartment for when they start getting whiney and we can’t stop.

  41. Jennifer Reed says

    One of my #MomHacks is to have a small ball, frisbee or hackeysack in car for spontaneous play at pitstops during the trip. It allows all of us to have some moving around time and helps with the grumpies.

  47. John says

    Plenty of snacks and water. Keep small trash bags or plastic bags in the car, which makes cleanup a breeze.

  49. Tammy Woodall says

    We always keep the kids favorite snacks and water with us. We play games like I-Spy and Counting Cows also. When we run out of things to do, I give them books to read or coloring books or Activity Books to play with.

  52. TRACY SIMMS says

    #MomHacks I have the boys do a game with license plates when we go on a road trip..pick a state and see how many cars from that state u see on the highway..thanks and MERRY CHRISTMAS!

  53. Amy C. says

    We don’t travel too often, but when we do I make sure the kids have lots of activities to keep them busy. We also bring our own food to save money and have a healthier choice.

  55. June S. says

    My daughter in law always packs different toys and games for my grandson to play with when they go anywhere.

  56. Wanda Patterson says

    If at all possible take a friend or other family member that you know travels well (no car sickness) Kids get board and a friend helps. Keep a pillow for them its hard to sleep with your neck all twisted they can lean on it. Snacks anything not sticky that can be easily swept up and out.

  57. Leigh Anne Borders says

    We like to have thigns ready by packing snacks, water, change of clothes, and our first aid kit. I never know what I might need with the kids in the car. We even have shoes! I can;t even begin to tell you how many times we have left home without shoes!

  59. Kimberly Hilbert says

    I have a tote bag in the car with everything we might need. Plastic utensils, plastic cups, a roll of paper towels and a sample size towelettes. We don’t always like to go out to eat but sometimes we get thirsty or want a snack. We pick something up at Target and it doesn’t have to be the small 1 serving drink, we’ll get the big one and share. 🙂

  62. Kathleen says

    I always keep a snack, a drink and an activity in the car just in case.

    kport207 at gmail dot com

  63. Paol Trenny says

    We add a a couple of days to our total travel for spontaneous adventures such as visiting local universities or stores. We also pack for every situation when we are on the road.

  64. Lisa Rios says

    Traveling with kids is always a fun moment to go through, but at the same time can be a worse nightmare if you don’t plan well. These are some great tips to keep in mind for everyone of us.

  68. Julie Lundstrom says

    I plan plenty of stops for time out of the car ride to break it up and lots of games and activities to make the time go faster.

  69. Amanda Alvarado says

    Not a traveling hack but a parenting hack – when one of our kids had an accident overnight, instead of changing the sheets in the middle of the night, I would simply find a nice thick towel and throw it over the wet part and worry about the sheets the next day!

  70. Marielle Altenor says

    Traveling with kids can be quite stressful indeed. The few times we took long trips with my son I remember wanting to pull all my hair out lol Thanks for sharing these tips with us!

  71. Jillian Too says

    Plot good places to stop for breaks where everyone can stretch their legs and take a breather from being in the car.

  75. Allison Swain says

    My tip is to bring movies, coloring books, books, and games, as well as plenty of snacks on road trips! Never let them be hungry or bored.
    Thank you for the chance to win this !

  76. Gina M says

    My #momhack, if it is a long drive, is to provide new toys/games/snacks along the way – don’t give to kids all at once. This gives kids something new to play with/look forward to along the way to keep it interesting.

    Thanks for the chance to win!

    wildorchid985 AT gmail DOT com

  78. Trisha Burgess says

    My my mom hack for car trips is play the eye spy game! It keeps everyone engaged on trip, you’ll see things you wouldn’t otherwise see and if your kid is car sick it helps because they focus outside the car rather than the motion of the car!

  80. amy tolley says

    my best #MomHack would be snacks easy and not to messy and playing games like count all the blue cars…And, I will read to them and they will read books plus DVD’s

  81. sandra davis says

    When going on trips, I always pack the portable dvd player and plenty of movies. They never get tired of movies.

  85. Debbi Wellenstein says

    Snacks? Check! Books? Check! Activities and car games? Check, check, and check! Don’t forget the snacks!

  87. jeanette sheets says

    i always have treat bags with trail mix dried fruit crackers etc,and bottled water on hand plus little games in a baggie they can play with

  88. Seyma Shabbir says

    I keep a box of snacks in the car! #MomHacks Great for if we need a snack or have a last minute play date at park!

  97. Sicorra@NotNowMomsBusy says

    Excellent tips!
    I can only imagine how much stuff you need to take along to keep everyone entertained and happy while travelling. But the happier everyone is, the less the driver needs to worry about, and they can just focus on the road.

  100. Natalie says

    One of my mom hacks is that I use ice cubes to remove gum from my daughter’s hair. Trust me it works!

  101. Sandy Weinstein says

    #MomHacks i am not a mom and dont have any kids, only 4 legged girls. however, taking lessons i learned from my mother, is to treat all kids equally. when traveling, have books, available, play some games if possible, depending on their ages, make sure everyone has their own space if possible. have a cell phone charger or battery pack and emergency kit. take a cooler that will hold drinks, food and healthy foods so you will not have to stop if traveling a long distance and get junk food. when stopping for bathroom breaks try to get everyone to do some stretches and a little exercise.

  102. tiarasandtantrums says

    I would say you covered all the needs here! We have taken a few road trips with the kiddos and we have it down to a good system now. It is much easier now that my kids are a bit older

  104. Margaret Smith says

    When going on long trips, I pack a travel bag that has snacks and drinks in it. I also have a small amount of toys that I have on hand for only when we travel. This way, the kids look forward to being able to play with those toys.

  106. rochkirstin says

    It’s really sometimes a struggle to travel with kids because their attention span is so short. There must be a couple of games to be played and safety precautions should be observed.

  109. Elle says

    My #momhack is to use plastic grocery bags as garbage bags in the car. With kids, there are always messes and this is the best way to keep it controlled.

  112. Kelly D says

    My best #MomHack is to bring my plug-in cooler filled with snacks and drinks. It is also useful to keep items cool that we buy along the way.

  117. Sandy Klocinski says

    If you want to see more than one place, be realistic about what you can cover with little ones in tow. The less you feel you have to pack in, the more enjoyable and stress-free the trip – and you’ll be better able to take the odd day indoors in your stride if the weather is bad or the kids need to rest.

  118. Cynthia R says

    Our #MomHacks bordering on bribery but totally helps with the sanity is to give them a new book/game/toy they can work on and explore while traveling.

  120. Julie Wood says

    One #MomHack I have when traveling on a road trip is to keep the kids from being bored I wrap up puzzle books, coloring books, snacks in wrapping paper and the kids always get a kick out of opening these items. It makes traveling fun. Also I put their snacks in ziploc bags to keep their snacks fresh.

  121. Janet W. says

    One of my best #MomHacks is to use a grocery bag as a trash bag in the car. Also, if a child all of a sudden comes down with a stomach bug, they have somewhere to vomit if needed!

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