The Most Helpful Tips for a Road Trip with Kids
Living the full-time RV lifestyle can feel like one big road trip. We have driven over 2,000 miles in the last year and have spent countless hours in the truck getting from one destination to the next. While road trips with kids can sound intimidating and might be something you think you should avoid, they actually aren’t that scary! The fear of spending an extended period of time in the car with little passengers should never hold you back from getting out there and hitting the open road! Here are our tips for keeping everyone content and happy on your next family road trip.
Podcasts
Chances are you have your favorite podcasts that you listen to while in the car alone, but did you know there are podcasts intended for younger listeners? Keep the kids occupied on road trips with podcasts meant to entertain and feed the imagination of little ones. There are even some that will delight parents at the same time! Podcasts for kids come in a variety of topics and formats, from educational to storytelling. Here are a few of our favorite podcasts for kids that we enjoy while road tripping:
Wow in the World
If you’re an NPR lover like we are, you’ll love listening to this fun show hosted by Guy Raz and Mindy Thomas as much as the kids do! Wow in the World takes curious kids on a journey through the fascinating world around them. The show goes inside the human body, through the animal kingdom, deep into space, and everywhere in between for the coolest stories in science and technology.
Little Stories for Tiny People
Let your little road tripper’s imagination run wild with the help of this adorable podcast for kids. Each episode begins by reminding little listeners there are no pictures to see so they can use their imagination to picture the story any way they want. All of the stories told are original and will be sure to grab the attention of all listening. Stories are whimsical, humorous, and might just teach kids a lesson or two without them even noticing.
Stories Podcast
This sweet little podcast includes episodes with some of our favorite, classic stories such as Snow White and Peter Rabbit, as well as original work. Shows are narrated in a calm, gentle voice that might even help the kids take a nap while you cruise down the highway to your destination.
What if World
Have your kids ever wondered what life would be like if tiny dragons lived in their closet? Or how about if cats ruled the world? Each week, the host of What if World, Mr. Eric, guides listeners through silly and intriguing “what if” world scenarios. Everyone in the car is sure to get a kick out of this entertaining podcast. You can even call in and get some of your wild questions answered on an upcoming episode!
Audiobooks
If you’re like me and get car sick easily, then reading stories to your kids while on a road trip is out of the question. Well, audiobooks offer all of the fun and entertainment of storytime without the actual reading! Like podcasts for kids, pictures are not included, so audiobooks allow for your child’s imagination to illustrate the story. We use Audible for audiobooks. It’s reasonably priced and offers a huge selection of books for everyone in the family. Here are some of our favorite audiobooks for kids:
3 hours and 12 minutes of classic Winnie the Pooh stories by A.A. Milne, read by Peter Dennis. This tubby little cubby all stuffed with fluff and his friends are sure to keep the “are we there yets” to a minimum.
The Cricket in Times Square
This wonderful book written by George Selden and told by Tony Shalhoub is 2 hours and 35 minutes. The tale follows three unlikely friends, a mouse, a cricket, and a cat through their adventures in New York City. An enchanting story for listeners of any age!
The Cat in the Hat and Other Dr. Seuss Favorites
The Cat in the Hat, Horton Hears a Who, The Lorax, and other favorites by Dr. Suess come to life as they are read by some familiar voices such as Dustin Hoffman, Billy Crystal, and John Lithgow. The whole collection offers 1 hour and 59 minutes of fun for all of the Dr. Suess lovers in us!
National Geographic Kids
While these aren’t audiobooks, many come with a CD that the kids can read along with! I can keep from getting car sick, and the kids are able to hold the book and follow along with the narrator. Since each book is filled with fun photos and illustrations, they are fun for kids to look at even if they aren’t being read to. And for kids learning to read, there are beginner reader options available!
Activity Books
This travel tray organizer offers an excellent place for kids to do their activity books and also store their supplies!
The kids love doing activity books at home in the camper, then one day it dawned on me, why don’t we do these on travel days? Now we are able to kill big chunks of time while on the road with the kids entertaining themselves, being creative, and having a blast! We have several activity books that are also educational, so we are getting in a little schooling at the same time! Here are some great kid’s activity books for road trips:
Wipe Clean Activity Books
Dry erase activity books are great because they only require one marker, and you can wipe them clean, so the kids are able to do them over and over again!
Coloring Books
Good old fashioned coloring books are always a hit for kids on a road trip. It gives them a chance to have a little time to themselves and get in the zone creating their masterpiece. There are so many coloring books to choose from. It’s simple to find one or two to fit anyone’s tastes!
Game Books
No matter what a little one is into, there is a game book that fits their interests. My son is really into mazes, and there are game books just filled with hundreds of mazes. We can put a lot of miles behind us while he keeps himself busy doing them! Are puzzles or finding hidden objects more up your children’s alley? There are plenty of game books with those too!
Games
A family road trip can be fun even without the assistance of podcasts or books. Good old fashioned car games can be the best way to keep everyone in the car entertained!
I Spy
Our kids absolutely love playing I spy in the truck. It allows them a chance to stop and take in the world around them. It’s also helpful when the kids are learning about colors, letters, and identifying different options. One person simply thinks of an object that is in view, either inside or outside of the vehicle, and gives the other players a clue, so they are able to guess what that object is. The leading player will say, “I spy with my little eye something green” or “I spy with my little eye something that begins with a B”. The other players have fun taking guesses until someone chooses the right object!
The Alphabet Game
This game is sure to keep tiny passengers entertained for an extended period of time. The object of the game is to look around and find things that begin with each letter of the alphabet. The first player needs to find something that starts with A, such as an airplane or automobile. The next player then looks for an object that begins with B, like bridge or banana that’s in the car. With letters like Q and Z, this game can last the whole car ride!
Would you Rather
This simple game is a great way to get fun conversations rolling with your kids. One person asks the other players, “Would you rather…”, and gives them two options. For example, “Would you rather have a pet panda bear or a pet zebra”? Silly questions get everyone laughing, and you learn a thing or two about your family members! Here is a list of questions to get you started.
Limited Screen Time
If all else fails, it might be time to take out the screen. But rather than giving the tablet to your child and letting them mindlessly go to town on YouTube or their favorite shows, be intentional with what they are allowed to watch. Let the kids watch a movie together rather than become sucked into their own screen. We set up a movie on one tablet and use headphones that connect to one another, so both kids are able to hear. Age-appropriate apps are another excellent choice for small amounts of screen time while traveling with kids. There are a lot of apps that are fun, educational, and even free. Here are a few of our favorite kids’ apps:
PBS KIDS Games
Free, learning games featuring our kids’ favorite PBS characters such as Wild Kratts and The Cat in the Hat. Kids can work on math, science, and creativity skills, all while having fun. This app is great for kids ages 2-8.
Duck Duck Moose Apps
Duck Duck Moose has created several educational apps that are fun for kids of all ages. Their apps allow children to explore in a fun and safe environment. The best part, all of their apps are free!
Kodable
With games available for kids ages 4-10, this fantastic app helps your child learn one of the most valuable skills in today’s world, coding. Kids learn core programming concepts through engaging games developed with real teachers and kids in mind.
Snacks
I swear, on every travel day the kids want nothing to do with breakfast before we hit the road, and as soon as we start driving, they are begging for food. So, I started making breakfast to go and making sure I have plenty of snacks for the trip. The key with road trip snacks is variety, tastiness, and cleanliness. I also try to stick to healthy snacks to keep everyone feeling good. Here are a few of our favorite road trip snacks:
Muffins
Fruit
Hard-boiled eggs
Gogurt
Goldfish
Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches
Granola bars
Carrots
Break Time
Everyone needs a break now and then while on a long road trip. Especially a potty break! To try and keep stops to a minimum, and avoid wasting time looking for the right place to stop, plan out breaks before you hit the road. This is extra important for us while towing our fifth wheel. We don’t want to take a break somewhere we end up getting stuck !
Be realistic about how often you’ll need to stop. When you do take a potty break, make sure everyone at least tries. That way, another little passenger won’t say they need to go five minutes after getting back on the road! As for where to stop, we honestly prefer rest areas. They are conveniently located, are usually very clean, and offer space for the kids to run around for a minute. We also like rest areas because we aren’t tempted to buy unhealthy snacks as we might be at a gas station or fast food restaurant.
Enjoy This Time Together
It’s probably not often that you are confined to a small space with your entire family. Unless you live in an RV as we do ;). Take advantage of having this quiet time together! Talk, ask questions, be silly, and have fun! Talk about the fun things you are going to do on your trip or reminisce about the things you just did. Turn up the music and sing along to a song everyone loves. Get to know something about your kids that you are usually too busy to find out. Need more ideas? Check out my guide to travel gifts for kids and babies.
The drive doesn’t have to be the worst part of your road trip with kids. Enjoy this quiet time together, and make it the best!
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