9 Tips for a Road Trip with Kids – The Crafty Blog Stalker

We recently packed up and moved from Utah back to Wisconsin, and yep—we drove the whole way.

Four days in a moving truck with the kids felt less like a road trip and more like a test of patience.

Our kids treat being in close quarters like a full-contact sport—someone’s always looking at someone wrong.

If your car rides sound the same, these tips might just save your sanity.

1. Lots of Snacks

Bring a mix of healthy snacks and fun treats.

Some of our favorites include grapes, trail mix, string cheese, fruit snacks, cookies, and these lollies are seriously the best. They don’t get sticky like most suckers do.

These reusable snack containers are great for dividing snacks before you get in the car and can be reused for any snacks purchased along the way.

2. Road Trip Activity Bag

For each child, fill an activity bag. This could be a tote bag or a backpack, just something to hold a few items to keep them entertained.

Before the trip, visit the dollar store to pick up a few toys or activity books that you can pull out during the drive, so they have something new to play with.

These backseat tables can be used for eating and playing for both kids and adults. They are a bit more than I want to spend per child, but I can dream, can’t I?

3. Break Up the Drive

Plan frequent stops with scenic overlooks or quirky roadside attractions. Have you seen the World’s Largest Mailbox in Rush Creek, Nebraska? 😆

Stopping at a kid-friendly park allows them to run off some pent-up energy and fully stretch their bodies.

And if you’re staying overnight, consider staying at hotels with pools. It’s like a mini vacation at each stop.

Nothing motivated my kids to behave in the car like the promise of playing in the pool at the next stop.

4. Stick to a Routine

Try your best to keep meals, naps, and bedtimes as close to normal as possible. These routines can help avoid major meltdowns.

5. Audiobooks or Podcasts

Family audiobooks or kid-friendly podcasts are a lifesaver and a great source of entertainment! Here are a few podcasts that are great for school-aged kids.

• Magic Tree House
• Wow in the World
• Brains On

6. Movies and Videos

We don’t have a fancy car with a video player, so we bought these dual-screen car DVD players.

I don’t like to drive with a movie playing constantly. Instead, I encourage talking or listening to podcasts because that keeps their mind engaged.

But sometimes a movie works great to calm them down, or even to encourage them to take a nap.

7. Emergency Car Kit

Spills are almost inevitable, so be prepared for a quick cleanup with items like these.

8. Get Creative

Encourage your kids to do what they already love; they could draw what they see, write stories about what they’ll do when they get there, or scrapbook the journey with receipts and pictures.

It gives them a task and makes for a fun keepsake when the trip is over.

9. Set Expectations

Before you even leave the driveway, talk through what the day will look like, how long you’ll be driving, and when stops will happen.

Knowing what to expect goes a long way when trying to keep everyone calm-ish.

Final Thoughts

A lot of unexpected things can happen during a long road trip, but with a bit of prep and a good sense of humor, you can also create some fun memories that you’ll talk about for years to come.

We made our long trek, and I know you can too!

I’d love to know where you stop when driving across the country, and what are your tips for surviving with your children in the process?

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