Road Trip Tips for Long Car Drives With Kids

Whether you are planning a summer vacation getaway or are driving to the grandparents for the holidays, long car rides with kids can be challenging.

No one wants to sit in a car for an extended amount of time, especially the younger crowd. And we definitely don’t wants to hear “Are we there yet?” and “How much longer?” on repeat.

So how do we survive long car rides? What are some essential things to know before you hit the road? Keep reading below for our best road trips for long car drives with kids to find out.

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Before You Leave For Your Road Trip Tips

Prepare Your Car Before You Leave

Before you take off on your road trip, you’ll want to make sure your vehicle is in ship shape. Some of the things you’ll want to do before you take your journey are:

• Get an oil change
• Check the air pressure in your tires
• Top off your windshield wiper fluid
• Fill up your gas tank

Calculate Tolls and Know Payment Options

Nothing is worse than not being prepared for a toll! Thankfully, many toll roads and bridges have converted to electronic tolls or toll-by-plate systems. However, that is not the case everywhere. And paying electronic tolls is not universal across the country.

To make sure you are prepared, enter your destination in Google Maps (or another map app) to learn which roads on your journey are toll roads. As of publication, there is no single website to help you determine how tolls are paid in each state. You will have to visit each state’s highway site to learn how tolls are paid.

If you live in the northeast and own an E-Z Pass, you can comfortably drive through the following states, knowing E-Z Pass is accepted at the tolls:

Plan Fun Rest Stops

When you are planning your road trip route, keep an eye out for fun rest stops. When you know the weather will be nice, pack a lunch, or picking up something to go. Then make your way to a playground or park with some picnic benches for some fresh air and a chance to stretch your legs. Even a crazy roadside attraction could be a fun way to stretch your legs.

Power Up

Although we enjoy playing games on long car rides, we know your kids and other passengers will eventually use electronic devices to keep themselves entertained. Before your road trip, make sure all of the devices are fully charged. Bring your device cords with you to charge them in the car if they start to lose power. If you want to keep your car’s power ports free or don’t have many of them in the car, you can also use a portable charger.

Things You’ll Need For a Long Drive

Snacks

Of course, the number one thing you need for a long drive is snacks! What is it about sitting in the car that makes our stomach bottomless pits? Pack a travel cooler with water bottles, juice boxes, and maybe even a caffeinated soda to quench your thirst while on the road.

Since it’s a road trip, you’ll also want that “junk food” fix. We love hard pretzels, Goldfish Crackers, and other salty snacks. Lastly, just because it’s a road trip doesn’t mean it has to be all junk. There are many healthy foods that kids will love to eat on the road. We usually cut up some fruit and vegetables for a healthy snack. Grapes and baby carrots are perfect because they are already bite-sized and easy to eat. However, cut up strawberries and watermelon or cucumbers and celery make some delicious road trip snacks.

Comforts From Home

If you’re going to be in the car for a long time, there is a good chance someone will be napping. Make it easier and more comfortable for your kids to sleep in the car by bringing their favorite blanket along. Stuffed toys are also fun to bring along. In addition to helping kids adjust to a new area, toys are fun to play with. Our kids have made up many fun games with the fluffy friends while on a road trip.

Travel Water Bowl For Your Pet

Are you bringing your dog along with you on your road trip? If so, don’t forget water, food, and snacks for Fido. We bring a collapsible water bowl for our dog when he is along for the ride. It is easy to refill at rest stops!

Fun Ways to Pass Time on a Road Trip With Kids

Games to Play in the Car

We love playing games in the car to pass the time. From License Plate Bingo to Name That Tune, there are so many easy games to play as a family to pass the time. We share more road trip game ideas here. The kids even enjoy the Road Sign and Roadside Bingo boards I picked up from the Dollar Tree. Click here for more travel items we love from Dollar Tree!

Listen to an Audiobook

If you have a subscription to Audible on Amazon or access to audiobooks through your library, then you’re all set. Download a few family-friendly titles and listen to the book as you drive. It’s incredible how fast time can pass when you’re engaged in a story. We love the “Rivals!” series. A little history and humor make it perfect for the whole family.

Make a Road Trip Playlist

Fighting over music is a family road trip past time. But it doesn’t have to be that way! Thanks to the digital music age and streaming, families can put together a playlist to please everyone in the car. Have each member of the family choose 10-20 songs to add. Then you can joyfully listen to songs the entire car will enjoy.

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