Our family takes quite a number of road trips, particularly when we visit my husband’s family in the Southeast. This holiday weekend, we’re laying low at home since we’ve been all over the country in the past month. However, I wanted to share some tips on making the long road trips a bit easier with young children.
1. As the boy scouts say, be prepared. While I typically try to travel light on airplanes, I don’t skimp when it comes to road trips. With ample storage space, I tend to bring essentials and niceties so that we’re comfortable on the road. Favorite toys and snacks help make the hours go by quickly.
2. Keep them entertained. I once read that the attention span of a child is 3-5 minutes per year if age. So even if you have a 10 year old, you may get about an hour, although I expect that would be less in the car. I like to bring new toys, DVDs, and coloring activities on the trip, introducing them one at a time throughout the duration of the trip
3. Be a night owl. Nighttime or early mornings are ideal for car travel since children will likely sleep, allowing you to cover more distance with fewer stops. Be sure to alternate drivers to prevent nighttime fatigue.
4. Build in rest stops. It’s likely that children won’t last longer than 2-3 hours, particularly if they’re young and mastering potty training. I like to research rest stops along our route and plan to make stops rather than waiting until the kids are cranky, hungry, or in need of a potty.
What are your best tips for road trips with kids?
Win It! One of you will win a road trip survival package containing the following:
- 2 coloring and activity books with over 100 pages of coloring and drawing exercises.
- One pack of crayons for coloring and activity books.
- One toy; for boys a toy motorcycle and for girls a small stuffed animal.
- One travel friendly Milton Bradley game, Hungry Hungry Hippos or Connect Four.
- One Johnson and Johnson First Aid kit which includes 70 items in case of emergency bumps and bruises, including 54 band-aids of assorted sizes, 6 hand cleansing wipes, 4 gauze pads, Tylenol, 3 antibiotic ointment, and a compact carrying case.
- One Johnson and Johnson supplemental First Aid kit with 12 more assorted items in a smaller
Simply leave me a comment with your best tip for taking road trips with kids. Comments will close on September 18, 2010 at 11:59 PM PST. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn. Want an extra entry? Do any or all of the following and receive an extra entry for each one.Be sure to leave me a separate comment for each additional entry.
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Tiffany Pettey says
leave early in the morning so they sleep
Tiffany Pettey says
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Kristie says
I like to make sure we have plenty of snacks. 🙂
Kristie says
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Jackie says
When my kids were little and we traveled to Florida from New Jersey, we left around dinner time so the kids would sleep through the night. When they woke in the morning, we were more than half way there and they were refreshed and excited to be traveling.
jackievillano at gmail dot com
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kara sceviour says
My best tip woulod be to bring LOTS of snacks, and juice packs! lol…My kids nintendo DS works wonders for entertainment also! karasceviour at hotmail dot com
kara sceviour says
I subscribe to you via email.karasceviour at hotmail dot com
judy brittle says
When we take a trip with the kids I make up a bag for each of them with snacks,toys and fun things to do. They enjoy each having their own and also a great way for them to learn sharing. Thanks!
judy brittle says
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cher says
We bring lots of DVDs for our DVD player!
cher says
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JW says
My tip would be to bring lots of stuff to keep them busy and plan lots of possible stops.
JW says
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Ladytink_534 says
Load up a playlist with songs everyone likes!
Ladytink_534 says
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Carolyn says
Unfortunately a last resort solution is bribing with candy. Maybe sugar free. I ended giving it to other kids on the plane because they kept crying. A handheld video game helps.
Soha Molina says
My tip is to bring snacks and toys.
Soha Molina says
http://twitter.com/sohamolina/status/22995986851
Soha Molina says
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Lisa says
My children are older now but we still plan in advance for roadtrips. What I have found works best is having the girls be part of the planning process. If they have ownership in something, they are much more likely to cooperate and participate.
sandy says
pillows/blankets and let them have their own map
Annette D says
Take plenty of non messy snacks and drink boxes. I always like to bring along travel games and small toys.
Annette D says
following and tweeted http://twitter.com/annedoggett/status/23068779465
McKim says
We have found that frequent stops help keep the kids from getting antsy in the car.
Caramel Cutie says
I make sure we have plenty of healthy snacks. We also pack books for the kids to read.
brandlyn says
I invested in one of thoes dvd players that goes in your car. It is agreat thing! My kids watch cartoons on long trips and I never here a word from them.
LT says
We try to start out when I know the kids will be a little sleepy and take a nap!
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LT says
I follow you on twitter and tweeted:
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Emily Roesly says
Before you go, get a bag full of different little things of interest, perhaps from a nearby dollar store. Kids have short attention spans, so one game or item, no matter how spectacular, will lose its appeal in no time flat. Keep the bag of goodies handy and give them out one per hour or half hour, depending on how long the trip is.
Michelle says
We always take an ice chest with drinks and snacks. That way we do not have to make frequent stops. We also take a potty chair, just in case we are 50 miles away from the nearest bathroom when my daughter lets us know she needs to go potty!
Michelle says
Following on twitter and tweeted http://twitter.com/FlyingGiggles/status/23108088293
Michelle says
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Donna L says
Bring a DVD player and lots of DVDs.
Royce says
We bring a bag of books, toys, and coloring. One of the best things that I bought for road trips was a tray that straps across my sons lap and hooks to the car seat cover. It has a soft bottom and has four sides to keep crayons from rolling off. He loves it!
Kelly Ann T. says
We play car bingo, trivia and we listen to books on tape. The kids also bring hand-held video games.
Richard T. says
We bring the portable DVD player and plenty of her favorite DVDs.
Denise B. says
Among other things, we bring along a portable dvd player and Veggie Tales dvd’s.
Ellie W says
My best tip is to time trips for nap time. LOL
Ellie W says
I follow you on Twitter @eswright18 and tweeted
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Stephanie V. says
snacks, travel games and portable dvd player. Zingo! is a winner in this house!
tvollowitz at aol dot com
Stephanie V. says
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nan lara says
my tip if at all possible have an adult sit in the back with the kids..last road trip my son kept taking off his seatbelt..til my sister moved to the back…then he was an angel
nannypanpan at sbcglobal.net
nan lara says
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Angel says
Leave at night so they will sleep the whole way!
Clarissa says
go to a few garage sales before your trip and get some new little toys etc that can be played with in the car that children have never seen before. Give them a toy each time they start to get antsy.
Clarissa says
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Clarissa says
http://twitter.com/cneiding/status/23204610139 tweet
Clarissa says
dugg
aparna says
I like to pack plenty of snacks.
aparna says
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Vickie Couturier says
My best tip would be ,travel at night if possible,kids do so much better at night,they sleep thru most of it
vlbelk(at)Hotmail.com
Vickie Couturier says
follow on twitter an tweeted
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edq143 says
traveling is tricky this is nice
beth shepherd says
I like to bring each child a new coloring book and crayons
Thank you
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Heather Turner says
Make sure they have a Leapster, DS, or something of that nature. Pack a bookbag full of activities, books, favorite toys and such. Map out bathroom stops so that they don’t have to hold it too long. 🙂
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susan says
Pack lots of snacks and toys!
susan says
I follow and tweeted. http://twitter.com/susanlanai/status/23899812285
susan says
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I clicked on the Technorati button.
cherice says
We drive at night so the little ones sleep! Thanks for the chance.
cherice says
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Marci says
I always have the mini writer in my car for both daughters. They can spend lots of time writing/drawing on them.
Marci says
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shelly says
went to the wisconsin dells
Jessica says
Invest in a portable DVD player. It’s worth every penny!
Jessica says
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Susan C says
Plan on making lots of stops for restroom breaks and so the kids can burn off a litte steam.
smchester at gmail dot com
Shawna OBrien says
Bring a lot of different types of activities for the kids to keep themselves busy and active during the road trip such as games, dvds, music, books, coloring etc. For some reason, on long road trips, one of my kids always seems to throw-up, so another tip I have is make sure that you bring extra towels, lysol in can, paper towels etc. to effectively clean up any messes in the car that you might get.
Shawna OBrien says
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Shawna OBrien says
Dugg
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gemma says
coloring stuff, handheld game, dvds
Jenn S. says
You can get children’s audio books from the library for free. My kids love listening to them in the car.
Annmarie W. says
My tip is to always have small easy-to-eat (and not too many crumbs!) snacks along for the trip!
Annmarie W. says
I follow you on twitter & tweeted! http://twitter.com/amweeks/status/24607908704
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Lisa Woods says
My tip is that we make sure their Nintendo DS’s are charged and have their games in a backpack so they have something to do.
Martha Payne says
My best tip for taking roadtrips with kids is to always make them at least try to go potty before you leave and every time you make a stop. Thanks for the contest! codisweepstakes2 (@) gmail(dot)com
Martha Payne says
I follow you on twitter (un:codisweepstakes) & tweeted: http://twitter.com/codisweepstakes/status/24729508945 codisweepstakes2 (@) gmail(dot)com
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Martha Payne says
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rachel burke says
on long trips drive at night so the kids sleep, my kids fight during long trips it is so much better this way
Erica C. says
I always have little snacks and lots of different activities to keep the kids occupied.
Sarah says
The portable dvd player is a lifesaver.
Jill L says
My best advice would be to make sure you bring lots of stuff for them to do. Having a dvd player isn’t enough on a 12 hour car ride. Got to have some other activities. We especially like car bingo.
Jill L says
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Jill L says
Follow you on Twitter and tweeted http://twitter.com/chipdip2010/status/24785632916
Jodi says
Bring lots of snacks and activity items to keep them busy.
Daniel M says
road trip with kids? bring a 1st aid kit
amy d says
bring snacks with you
amy16323(at)gmail(dot)com
Jill Myrick says
To make a trip more pleasant for everyone pack a backpack for each child that might include a variety of their favorite things such as a favorite toy, blanket, dvd, book, snack or drink.
They will be more comfortable with their familiar items and the trip will go much more smoothly.
jweezie43[at]gmail[dot]com
Jill Myrick says
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Tammy Darling says
I try to pack plenty of munchies and toys.
julia says
try to stick to “normal” schedules – mealtimes, etc. when traveling
Some Lucky Dog says
Let the kids help pick out toys and snacks for the car and then bring along some others for surprises. Bring the child’s favorite pillow (and blanket!) Be willing to sing and play “I Spy” a bazillion times 🙂
Some Lucky Dog says
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shared on facebook (Cindy Brooks)
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Laura Pruett says
My best tip: Always remember to pack plenty of snacks. Put them in little ziplock bags before you leave the house, and dole them out now and again to prevent incredible amounts of whining 😉
Laura Pruett
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Laura Pruett says
Following you on Twitter and tweeted:
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Amy Delong says
we bring the dvd players and a digital camera works great
ardelong2(at)gmail(dot)com
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Kerrie Mayans says
My best tip is to plan stops about every two hours to let people get out and stretch their legs and run around a little bit before getting back in the car. It makes it much more pleasant to drive with them.
Sarah says
Pack lots of snacks!
Becky S. says
We rely on the dvd player in our van.
Kerri R says
Make sure they all go potty before you leave
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susan says
get a good rest and have snacks! suelee1998 @ gmail.com
Janel C says
we drive throough the night so the kids sleep, works great for us!
janel_marie at yahoo dot com
Pamela S says
I like books on tape/CD. I try to find a few that we all can enjoy. Thanks.
Pamela S says
Subscribed to feed with google reader. Thanks.
April says
My best tip for traveling with the kids is to be prepared for anything. We have had motion sickness, unexpected bathroom breaks as soon as you get back on the interstate from a bathroom break, etc. Anything can happen when you travel with your little ones.
Brian E. says
Thanks for the giveaway…we try to stop every 90 minutes or so to let the kids run around, explore, etc. and release some of their pent up energy when we are on road trips.
senorpiero [at] yahoo [dot] com
Brian E. says
Following you via Twitter: @brianpiero
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Michelle H. says
My best tip is to have plenty of bathroom trips and bring drinks and snacks for the kids.
Michelle H. says
Email subscriber.
Brian E. says
…already listed on the mailing list of Rockin’ Mama.
vivian says
plenty of coloring stuff ty.
Marcy Strahan says
My best tip is to take a cooler filled with juice drinks, Dole fruit cups & some Boogie wipes.
Bring a trash bag too..don’t be a litter bug.
trixx says
Snacks are a must. A portable DVD player is also a lifesaver.
Marcy Strahan says
follow on twitter & tweeted
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trixx says
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I posted on my own cause the digg thingy did not show up!
Marcy Strahan says
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Gianna says
Pack a backpack full of games and activities for kids.
Sand says
Carry snacks, both healthy and a little unhealthy. Also some surprises like games, stickers, movies, etc.. Keep things interesting and fun.
Lisa L says
One of my best tips is to always be armed with games, toys and sing-along CDs.
Lisa L says
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