Family road trips have a great power towards bringing everybody together. The long stretches of open road, shared snacks, and listening to music all become part of the journey and the story to be told. If you’ve been thinking about planning one, it’s not as complicated as you might think. With a little bit of preparation, you can turn a drive into one of your family’s favorite memories rather than it being something that feels tedious. Let’s have a look at this more below.
Start with a Loose Plan
It helps to have a routine in mind, but that does not mean that you need to have a really tight schedule. Kids get really restless when you are on the road, the weather can change, and sometimes the best moments happen when you have a stop that you didn’t plan. Choose a few main destinations and check-ins that you want, and make sure that you leave room for plenty of breaks that aren’t just going to fill up the tank.
Small towns, local diners, and scenic overlooks make the trip far more interesting for everybody. There’s no need for you to plan every single meal or activity ahead of time. All you need to do is make sure that you have a small goal for each day, such as you’re going to go and see a landmark that day, or you’re going to head to the park for a quiet afternoon. That gives the trip a little bit of direction without it turning into a life where you are following a checklist.
Photo by Samsung Memory US on Unsplash
Finding the Right Place to Stay
One of the biggest decisions when it comes to a family road trip is where you are going to sleep each night. Hotels can work great, but if you want a little bit more flexibility, consider staying in an RV park. These are brilliant for families who want to have a little bit of freedom but also have the convenience of things like showers on site and little shops, and walks nearby. You’ll even find things like a laundry area, so if you’re going on a longer journey, you can wash your clothes on the go.
Packing for the Road
A good packing list will help you to keep the stress low, especially when you are going on a road trip. Bring plenty of layers for different weather, but try not to overpack. Reusable water bottles are great, and take plenty of snacks so that you don’t have to keep stopping for food. Small toys or games for the kids to play on the go are also ideal for longer trips. You might want to bring a small cooler with sandwiches, fruit, and drinks so you’re not relying on fast food all the time.
Final Thoughts
Road trips don’t have to be stressful, and they certainly don’t need to be something that is complicated. With some planning and a little bit of an open mind, you will find perfect places to stay and create memories for you and your family. Have you ever been on a family road trip? How did you find it? We’d love to hear about it in the comments below.
