TRAVELING WITH KIDS:

HOW TO DRIVE CROSS COUNTRY

Long car journeys and children. I have had more than my fair share of them, and traditionally they don’t really mix. Because of the horror stories we hear from other parents, it really isn’t something high up on most people’s to-do lists. We explore how to drive cross country when traveling with children.

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However, I can honestly tell you that some of our best and most memorable trips have been the ones where we have spent a lot of time in the car. Furthermore, sometimes it is just necessary to drive longer distances or even across the country with your children. Plus, there is no better way to see the country than driving.

In order to save you from completely losing your mind and never wanting to step into another car ever again, I have listed some of the things you can do to make a journey across the country with your kids a bit easier on everyone.

First, get the right mindset. Start by waking up every morning before your trip and saying the following: “I am strong. I can do this. People used to travel in covered wagons and survived.” Okay not all of them survived, but enough of them did. You are one of the survivors!

TIPS FOR HOW TO DRIVE CROSS COUNTRY WITH KIDS

Bring snacks and drinks:

Car trips generally are not fun for kids, and they’re going to get hungry and thirsty while driving. Unless you want to be stopping every 5 minutes, it’s important to bring plenty of snacks and drinks to keep them sufficiently hydrated and fed. Plan to make stops along the way. Plan lunch at nature sights where you can have a nice picnic before setting off on the road again for the rest of the trip.

Bring entertainment and activities:

As adults, we need less entertainment than children do overall, but especially on road trips. While we can easily appreciate and enjoy the simple things like good music and nice views that we pass on the way, children, depending on their age, are less likely to appreciate these things. Additionally, they really shouldn’t be expected to do so. 

Bringing activities for your kids is important. In fact, this tip is essential when traveling cross country with your children.

Your goal should be to keep your children entertained and keep yourself from getting completely stressed out. Make sure you bring items along for them to keep them amused. Watch for my upcoming post on things to bring besides an iPad or movies. 

However, don’t feel like a bad parent for bringing an iPad and putting a few movies on for them – it’s going to make the trip easier on everyone and will also be more comfortable for them. While some of my children were very entertained by games, my youngest son needs to watch movies along the way, and if this is what will keep him happy during the journey, it is worth it in the long run.

Plan for frequent stops:

Stopping for things like bathroom breaks, food, drinks or even just to stretch your legs is something that needs to happen during every road trip. However, stops need to happen more frequently during trips with children. When planning your schedule, make sure you add time for frequent pit stops. It can also be a good idea if you’re on an especially long journey to make an overnight stop to break things up. We stop in hotels/motels more frequently with children than without. 

Planning overnight stops:

Before children, my husband and I would drive and just stop whenever we felt like it. We didn’t care what type of place we stopped, and what time of the day or night it was. However, when traveling with children, you want to stop at a destination that will be accommodating to families.

IIf I am driving from Washington to California along the coast, I will look at the map and determine a good stopping place. For instance, my family is planning a trip from San Francisco to Seattle. We certainly can drive the distance in one day, but after driving across the entire country to get there, it can be overwhelming to continue having long day trips with children for the entire trip. I look for a motel or hotel in Creswell, Oregon.  I prefer to stay in little towns which will save you money.

Drive at night if possible:

When traveling with kids, it’s a good idea to keep them on a normal schedule as much as possible. Young children will easily fall asleep in the car. If you can drive at night, make sure that their bedtime falls as close as possible to your leaving time. This will make the journey more comfortable for them, which means it will be easier on them and you. It goes without saying; but make sure that you’re fully insured, just in case, and it might be worth having the details of auto accident attorneys, like Dennis Hernandez & Associates so that you really have covered all bases beforehand. Also, added peace of mind on a night drive is only a positive thing. We love driving at night (actually my husband loves driving at night). 

Feel free to ask me questions about long-distance trips – our family has driven almost the entire United States. I hope these tips have been helpful when deciding to drive cross country with your kids. Stay tuned for some of our more interesting trips. And make sure to check my top toys and games for car rides