Intentionally Well: Striving for present intentionality every day.

Going on a road trip with kids doesn’t conjure feelings of rainbows and sunshine. I get it. Having your whole family crammed in the car for an extended time feels overwhelming.

As you may know (or maybe not), we live in Indianapolis. Our entire family lives in Alabama. So, we have become accustomed to long road trips with our kids. I am here to share with you all the things we do to make these trips bearable and fun.

Tip #1: Prep Expectations in Advance

If you are familiar with Intentionally Well, seeing preparation at the top of the list. Ha! I like to plan. Here is what I do. First, I talk about the trip with my kids often. I mark the dates of the vacation on my children’s monthly calendar which is always posted on our refrigerator. They love counting down the days until we leave.

Additionally, I remind them the travel days will be spent in the car. I tell them over and over again that we will be driving all day. This helps manage their expectations. I also tell them they cannot ask me how much longer. That is to keep my sanity. Instead, I give them an estimate of what time we expect to arrive.

According to Maps, it takes about eight hours from our house to my parents’ house without stopping. However, stopping often is a given when traveling with kids. Last time, it took us about eleven hours to make that drive. Eleven.

Tip #2: Pack Everyone’s Most Favorite Snacks

We usually keep pretty basic snacks in our house—fruit, Larabars, raisins, etc. But when we go on a road trip with kids, we go all out with the snacks. Gummies…you got it. Chips…you got it. Whatever the kids want, I will pack it.

I promise having everyone’s favorite snacks on a long car ride is worth it. And don’t forget the adults! Enjoy your favorites too. I love strawberry Sour Straws, a Milky Way, and a Coke on a road trip. Treat yourself and your kids, mama.

Tip #3: Bring Activities for the Car

I did a poll on Instagram, and it was about 60/40 regarding families preferring activity books to screens for road trips. We utilize both. My kids enjoy fun sticker books. My three-year-old also plays with his favorite toys well in the car, which is currently dinosaurs. Additionally, I love these travel craft kits. I am also a fan of listening to audiobooks during long car trips.

Our van does have a DVD player, but I know not everyone has this option. We typically play a movie after eating lunch or toward the end of the trip when we all need some quiet.

I let my children choose how they want to occupy themselves when we travel. I don’t limit screens, toys, or books. They can do whatever they like as long as they are being respectful of others (using headphones, sharing, etc).

Tip #4: Make the Most Out of Potty Breaks

First, stop at the big truck stops (Love’s, Pilot…). I find the bathrooms at these establishments are more extensive and cleaner than most regular gas stations. They offer more snack choices and are usually situated at exits with several food options.

Next, take advantage of rest stops along the highway. These are great if you don’t need food. Rest stops almost always have some green space, so kids can go around and get those wiggles out.

Lastly, and this is super specific, but hear me out – Cracker Barrel. If you don’t already know, Cracker Barrel is a southern-style restaurant, and it also has a store in the front. The bathrooms are clean, kids love exploring the store, they’re typically located right off the highway, and it’s just something a little different and unexpected.

I hope these tips and tricks help you thrive on your next road trip with your kids. Do you have any other information to share with others? Please post them in the comments below. As always, please share this post with your friends if you enjoyed it!