Flying or driving, that is usually a big decision when it comes to planning vacations. So how do you decide when you are a large family that consists of littles? Cost can be a big factor and also the time to travel to the destination can make a huge difference in which travel method you choose. For my family, driving was our choice due to cost and not wanting to deal with going through an airport with three kids, two of which would need a lot help managing their luggage. So here are a few tips to help with long road trips.
Tip #1: Always pack plenty of snacks and food items. Bringing a variety is best as you never know what your kids will be in the mood for at any given time. I always bring breakfast and lunch items so we don't need to stop for those meals on the way down. I also try to let the kids pick out what food items they want for snacks and such.
Tip #2: The time you leave makes a difference. I always try to leave for our trip in the evening so that they will sleep for the first half of the trip. They are fed and all snug in their pajamas and usually fall asleep after a couple hours of driving.
Tip #3: Make sure to pack activities that will keep your children entertained. I bring a portable DVD player and plenty of movies for them to choose from as that can keep them entertained for a while. Don't forget chargers for any devices you do bring. My kids each have a car tray that has a whiteboard and cup holders so they can color or put food on the tray easily. I pack coloring books and car games as well as I never know what the kids will want to do.
Tip #4: I try to limit stops on the way down as much as possible. We stop every time the gas tank gets to half a tank and we all use the restroom to try to prevent any emergency bathroom breaks along the way. For my vehicle, that means about every 4 hours so if you car can go longer between stops, emergency bathroom breaks may be unavoidable. If you have a toddler potty, you can bring that along and line it with a pull up or diaper and use that for emergencies.
Tip #5: Make sure you have a trash can lined and ready for all trash and possible sickness if any children are prone to car sickness. You can also bring along the sea bands that can help with motion sickness to prevent anyone from getting sick.
Those are all my tips for long car rides with littles. I would love to hear from all of you to see if you have any other great tips for road trips. My family's last road trip was 24 hours from Maine to Florida and these tips help my family. Once kids are older, I will start flying but until then, we drive. #neverlandingtravelbysara #roadtripswithlittles #mamastravelfun
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