Our family doesn’t go on a ton of vacations, but we do make a 6 hour trek in our van at least a couple times every year to visit the grandparents.  As summer travel ramps up, I thought it might be helpful to share some of the tips we have collected over the years to help make traveling with kids a bit easier.

TIP 1:  CLEAN YOUR VEHICLE BEFORE THE TRIP

I know, I know. When you are planning a big trip, cleaning the vehicle probably isn’t even on your radar; But it should be.  Your family is going to be spending a lot of time in close quarters, and surrounding yourself with clutter and trash is an invitation for chaos.  Start the trip in the right state of mind by getting everything tidied up before you pull out of your driveway.  Trust me. Organization is going to be key.  If your child suddenly needs something and it can’t be found because it is buried under piles of other things, a meltdown is sure to happen.  Keep necessary items in easy reach and make sure to bring with a few extra trash bags, to keep your freshly cleaned digs that way.

Want to clean quickly?  Check out this post for tips on how to get the job done fast!

You might also want to think about having the vehicle serviced and the oil changed.  Doesn’t hurt to give it the old once over, to make sure everything is working properly.  As always, make sure you have the proper seasonal items along, especially if you will be traveling during the winter months (shovel, ice scraper, jumper cables, blankets, hot packs, snow boots, etc)

TIP 2: STASH EXTRA CLOTHES

This is especially important if you have very young children.  Whether it’s from a toileting accident, car sickness, marker stains or juice spills, the last thing you want to do is rummage through all of your carefully packed luggage for a new outfit to put on your little one.  Grab a gallon size Ziploc bag and toss in extra pants, socks, underwear and a shirt.  You may not need to use it – but you will be thankful to have it ready if you do!

TIP 3: FIND THE RIGHT SEATING ARRANGEMENT

You understand your family dynamics best. You know which kids like to push each other’s buttons, who needs more help from mom and dad, and who needs more personal space.  Although it might seem like a hassle to rearrange car seats from their standard everyday locations, sometimes it can be the most practical thing to do.  We have a mini van and typically the girls seats are in the middle row with the boys in the back; but for long rides the boys just feel way too packed in sitting together, so we do some rearranging (Two boys in the middle and one boy in the back with both girls.)  Thankfully our boys are old enough to help the girls if they need something from the back row.  You might need to play a game of musical seats until you get it right – but when you find the perfect combination it will be worth the extra effort!

Have lots of littles in car seats?  Check out the Diono brand – their models are more narrow, so you can fit 3 across the back bench seat.

TIP 4: HAVE ENTERTAINMENT READY

The modern day electronics such as on-board DVD players, ipads, and tablets are obviously very effective; But if you don’t want your kids looking like zombies when you reach your destination, try to include other activities such as coloring books, license plate bingo and other travel games.  Our kids enjoy listening to stories on CD, such as Adventures In Odyssey and silly songs like those by the Okee Dokee Brothers.  Even the popular fidgets can provide some tech-free car ride fun for kids.

Visit This website for links to a ton of fun looking travel road games that you can print for free!

TIP 5: PACK COMFORT ITEMS

Car-time naps are few and far between for our kids as they are getting older, but we still like to keep them as comfortable as possible should the need arise for one.  A special blanket, comfy pillow or favorite stuffed friend all come in really handy to keep kids calm and possibly (fingers crossed!) help them drift off into dreamland.

TIP 6: BRING ALONG PLENTY OF SNACKS

For our long rides, this is not an optional tip.  This is a rule to live by.  Hungry kids are not happy kids, and that’s a fact.  To avoid making pit stops every hour for food, pack snacks.  Instead of buying the individual serving sized convenience packages, opt for the family/bulk sized snack containers.  Not only will it be less expensive per ounce, but you will avoid having all that wrapper waste.  I recommend passing out snacks in small bowls or baggies.

We like to bring along a variety of fairly clean, kid friendly snacks – nothing too sticky, crumbly or easily melted. Some of our favorites include apple slices, baby carrots, string cheese, nuts and goldfish.  Try to keep the sugar rush to a minimum by packing healthy options.

Want more car snacking ideas?  Be sure to visit this site!

Make sure to have hand sanitizer and wet wipes at the ready for when the kiddos get the munchies!

TIP 7: PLAN STOPS ALONG THE WAY

Kids need to move.  They also need to pee.  You are going to need to stop at some point along the journey and it makes sense to figure out ahead of time where you are going to stretch your legs.  Find a stop along the way that is not far off of the main road you are traveling – with access to a gas station, toilets and preferably a park.  We have found that even a quick 15 minute stop can refresh our family and prepare us for the road ahead.

There you have it!  Although kids can be unpredictable and it is impossible to plan for every situation that may happen, by following the advice listed above you should be on your way to a fun and calm road trip!  Happy travels!