Are you and your family considering a long drive? And are you a bit unsure whether you’re up for it? We’ve been on several long road trips with our son, Sebastian, and we’ve learned a lot along the way. From those journeys, I’ve gathered 7 tips on how your family can get the best out of long road trips.
Road trips that involve covering many miles in the car with a child can be exhausting for everyone. Children – or in our case, just one child – can easily get bored and feel like the trip is never-ending. Driving through Europe with a bored child might even discourage some families from attempting the journey. But don’t worry – there are ways to tackle boredom, and you’ll find some of them in this article (see tip #3).
But first, let’s start with the most important thing:
1. Safety First
Safety is always important – and that goes double for road trips. Make sure your child’s car seat is 100% secure. Also, be sure to bring a blanket (or two), a first aid kit, a flashlight, and a fully charged phone for the journey.
In case of an emergency, it’s crucial to have your roadside assistance subscription in order.
And don’t forget: a good night’s sleep is essential for a safe trip. If the driver is tired, it’s easy to lose focus – and that puts everyone’s safety at risk.
2. Food
The heading might sound obvious – of course you’ll need food along the way. The real question is: what kind of food?
Highway cafés and fast food rarely provide much real energy for the body. That’s why it’s a really good idea to bring healthy food from home – like sandwiches you’ve prepared yourselves, some fruit, and a bit of fresh veggies.
That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t stop at a café now and then for a snack or treat – it can actually be a nice break. But make sure to balance it out with healthy options too. Otherwise, you’ll quickly become irritable, and your energy will slowly drain away.
The same goes for drinks. Soda and coffee are, of course, a nice treat on the road, but they don’t do much good for your body. So remember to pack plenty of water for the trip.
3. Little surprises against boredom
Prepare a bag at home filled with small gifts you’ve bought in advance. These could be inexpensive little toys (maybe used), or small treats such as gummy bears, raisins, or similar snacks. The key is that they’re surprises – something new that can keep your child entertained for a while.
We’ve used this trick a lot, and it really does make those long drives easier to get through. Just remember to choose things that are practical to play with in the car. A big puzzle isn’t exactly ideal for a road trip – but drawing supplies, books, toy cars, or dolls work really well.
And don’t worry – you don’t need to spend a fortune on gifts before the trip. It’s simply about stocking up on small surprises that can keep your child happily occupied for a bit.
4. Prepare your child’s tablet or phone
I’m not a big fan of letting our child sit with a tablet or phone all day – but on road trips, I gladly make an exception. A tablet can be used for so many things, such as:
Podcasts & audiobooks
There are plenty of options for age-appropriate audiobooks.
Movies
If you already have a streaming service, you can stream directly to your tablet. Many services also let you download movies for offline viewing – perfect for when you don’t want to rely on streaming but just play the film straight from the device.
Games & activities
There’s no shortage of games for tablets and phones. Still, it’s a good idea to choose ones that don’t require an internet connection. You might also consider educational games that let your child have fun and learn at the same time.
5. Shared activities in the car
Shared activities might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think “road trip,” but there are actually plenty of things you can do together in the car.
Examples include:
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Singing songs (e.g., alphabet songs – take turns singing songs that start with a certain letter)
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Listening to audiobooks
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Counting cars of different colors – red, blue, green, etc.
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Playing guessing games, like “Which animal am I? I have fur and live in Africa.”
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Making up stories together
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Talking about what you’re excited to experience when you reach your destination
Come up with shared games to help pass the time, and feel free to leave your ideas in the comments – we’d love to hear your suggestions!
6. Pack Strategically
When packing the car, it’s a good idea to think about how you pack. For example, it’s no use having the food you plan to eat for lunch buried at the very bottom of the car, where it’s hard to reach.
Make sure you have a set of spare clothes, jackets, snacks, drinks, and other essentials easily accessible. This way, you won’t get frustrated when you need something and can’t reach it.
7. Drive at night – or early in the morning
If you’re planning a road trip, it can be a great idea to drive at night or early in the morning. Here are three reasons why:
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You avoid the worst traffic.
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Your child or children are likely to get tired and may sleep for part of the journey, making the trip feel shorter for them.
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If you have many kilometers ahead, you’re more likely to reach your destination at a reasonable time. Especially on a multi-day road trip, arriving at your accommodation with plenty of time allows you to relax properly before setting off on the next day’s drive.
There’s something really special about road trips – the feeling of being on the move, watching the world slowly pass by, and enjoying the closeness of your family along the way. We’re already looking forward to our next one!
Have a fantastic trip!
Do you have any tips or experiences from road trips with children? Please share them in the comments – I’d love to hear about your adventures.
