5 Family Road Trip Survival Tips

The Family Road Trip -- Make Getting There More than Half the Fun!

By Mimi Slawoff

Road trips with children can be a unifying family experience with lots of adventure along the way. Cooped up together in the family vehicle can have its advantages: For one thing, it creates private family time without interruptions. The key to avoiding cabin-fever meltdown is preparation and customizing the trip to your family’s particular interests and needs. Follow this road survival guide and find out how life on the road can be a picnic.

Planning

Your children’s ages and personalities, as well as your family’s previous on-the-road experiences, should determine the overall structure of your trip, advises Laura Sutherland, author of The Best Bargain Family Vacations in the U.S.A. and other travel books. A mother of two who has traveled the world for weeks at a time, Sutherland begins by recommending sticking to your children’s normal sleep schedules as much as possible.

• Mapping it – After picking your destination, use your favorite Internet map service to plot your exact route.

• Drive time – Experts suggest limiting your driving to four hours a day if you have a baby on board and not more than six to eight hours a day with older children. Some families like stopping every two hours to stretch.

• Sleep stops – If you plan to spend a few nights in motels or campgrounds, make your reservations in advance, especially in summer.

• Staying flexible – While you should plan the big elements of your road trip – your route, food, accommodations and gear – it’s important to be flexible once you hit the road. Your family might want to linger at a park or stop to enjoy a spectacular view.

Packing