Tips

Surviving a Road Trip with Kids

Ensure your family road trip becomes a happy memory with these travel tips

By Claire Newell /

Credit: Flickr / Benedict Francis

Make road tripping with the kids an easy, breezy experience

Car travel and kids aren’t always a great combination, but it doesn’t have to be all stress and no play

Family road trips don’t need to be anxiety-filled and stressful – they just require a little planning, some creative thinking, and loads of patience. If you are planning a car trip with kids this summer, here are a few tips:

  • Check the car seats. Make sure each child’s car seat is correctly installed and that the straps are properly buckled.
  • Time your departure. Avoid rush hours or, for a really quiet ride, time it so that the kids sleep in the car.
  • Plan your stops. Estimate how long the trip will take before you leave, but remember to be flexible and allow for lots of bathroom breaks, meals, and playtime stops.
  • Brush up on road games. Simon Says, Counting Cows, 20 Questions, I Spy, and License Plate Pick are just a few.

  • Get wired. Portable TV/VCRs or DVD players are ideal for long trips but books on tape or favourite music CDs will do the trick. This a great way to entertain the kids when you are all game-played out.

Packing for a long car ride takes a bit of planning but there some essentials you shouldn’t leave without:

  • A First Aid kit
  • A cooler filled with drinks and snacks
  • Toys and activities
  • A spill kit with trash bags, wipes and paper towels
  • Changes of clothes

Founder and president of Travel Best Bets, Claire Newell has appeared on The Today Show, Fox & Friends, Good Day New York, ABC Morning News – Chicago, Martha Stewart Living Radio, and CNN Radio, and is the official travel consultant for Global TV. She has been a spokesperson for Disney’s www.family.com, and featured in promotions for the Vancouver International Airport and the Canadian Tourism Commission. Newell has authored or been featured in articles for Success, Professional Woman, Today’s Parent, Readers Digest and for various newspapers. She is the best selling author of Travel Best Bests – An Insider’s Guide to Taking Your Best Trips, Ever and has just finished her second book.
 
This wife and mother of two has also launched two lines of luggage & travel accessories. Visit www.clairenewell.com for more information.