My husband and I have always been road trip lovers. Hours in the car driving to a fun destination gave us lots of time to chat, dream, plan, and enjoy each other’s company. Then we had three children. Roadtrips suddenly became less about fun adventure and more about keeping everyone alive and somewhat happy for hours on end.
We didn’t shy away from road trips, though, and neither should you! Last fall we took a 1,500+ mile round trip drive to Mississippi and back. This summer has included trips to the lake and water park and everywhere in between. Over the years, our family of five has figured out ways to actually enjoy the drive as much as the destination! Here are a few of our favorite tips:
Start each day of travel with a prayer and a smile. God and a good attitude are two of the most important things to take along on a family road trip. Pray as a family to get everyone focused on Him. Ask God to keep you safe and help you follow His commandment to treat each other as you would want to be treated.
Plan your stops along the way ahead of time. I use Google and Pinterest to help me locate great places to stretch our legs, grab some food, see some history, and more along the way. Think about your own kids’ needs and interests, then make a plan for bathroom breaks, meals, and a little fun along the way!
Give the kids a map. For our trip to Mississippi, we printed off and laminated a map of the route for the two older children. They each had a dry erase marker and could trace the route to track where we were on the way! This definitely lessened the number of times we heard, “Are we there yet?”
Bring fun surprises to break up long days of travel. Before road trips, I will buy a few new books, a new DVD, a fun car game, and some special snacks to surprise the kids with when they get antsy or bored. Don’t use up all your surprises at the beginning of the trip! For a drive to the Black Hills a few years ago with a five- and three-year-old, we packed a paper sack with a small surprise in it for each hour. As they’ve grown up, we can space the surprises out a little more and it still helps out!
Engage with your kids. Our worst trips have been the ones where we tried to do our own thing in the front of the van and let the kids entertain themselves. We’ve found success with alternating family interaction and quiet activities: an all-family car game followed by thirty minutes of quiet reading or a movie for the kids followed by a read-aloud by mom. A family road trip is about family so find a rhythm that makes it enjoyable for all!
Go ahead! Take that road trip as a family, but plan ahead so you can enjoy the ride and make beautiful memories along the way!
Erin Mohring finds joy in her life as a Jesus-follower, doctor’s wife, mama to three handsome guys, writer at Home with the Boys, and co-founder of The MOB Society. She has a passion for running, healthy living, ethical fashion, and encouraging families to form strong bonds based on faith! You can find her on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest!