6 Ways to Make Long Road Trips Enjoyable for the Whole Family

If you’ve ever taken a road trip as a kid, you know that this is one of the most memorable types of vacations. Maybe it’s the close quarters or the elevated stress levels, but road trips tend to stand out in everyone’s minds.

What does that mean for mom and dad? Well, this is your chance to create an epic vacation that your kids will remember for a lifetime.

But as we’re talking about this, let’s remember that there are two reasons why something may be memorable. It’s either a major disaster or an absolute blast.

Here are 6 ways to make long road trips enjoyable:

Prepare your vehicle

Here’s one great example of a time when things could go horribly wrong. You’re rushing to get all the last-minute stuff and you forget to get that oil change. That’s not such a big deal, is it?

Well, it really can be. Oil changes are extremely important. And while you can go a few miles over the recommendation, it’s not a good idea. The purpose of oil is to pull debris away from your engine and to lubricate it to keep it cool. As debris builds up, the oil loses its viscosity and becomes more like sludge. At this point, it won’t be able to pull debris or cool your engine, and your engine may halt. This isn’t something to mess around with, so if you forgot to get an oil change when it was recommended, it’s worth stopping at a quality car service shop on the road. Getting stuck and potentially needing a new engine would be memorable but in all the wrong kind of ways.  

Keep Organized

Have you ever had to reach around to rummage for something in the back seat while you’re driving? It’s not ideal to say the least.

Be mindful of distracted driving situations like this when you’re getting ready for your trip. Keep everything organized and easily accessible so that you can grab it in an instant.

Also, if you’re using your phone for navigation, consider getting a mount for your car. It’s a lot safer when you can always see the navigation.

Get everyone involved in planning

If you want everyone to have a good time, be sure to get input from the entire family. Here’s a list of things you can ask for input on:

• Pit stops
• Snacks
• Songs
• Games

Just make it clear in advance when it’s time for input and when it’s time to follow someone else’s choices. You don’t want every decision to turn into a debate.

Build an epic road trip playlist

Can you imagine a great movie without a soundtrack? Of course not. And the same holds true for your road trip. Make it a great one by setting it to an epic soundtrack of your favorite songs. Again, make sure there’s something for everyone.

Focus on the food

There’s a reason why we have to focus so hard on making road trips fun. You’re stuck in the car for hours. It’s not exactly Disneyland. So focus on some fun food surprises to keep everyone looking forward to meals and snacks. Consider theming the snacks to each state you pass or asking the kids to help you plan them in advance.

Go heavy on the activities

Bring more activities and plan more games than you think you’ll need. You don’t have to go through all of them, but it’s better to have too much to do than not enough.

Plan things for the kids like coloring, magnetic boards, guessing games, Mad Libs, and trivia.  

Now that you have all the secrets to having an epically-fantastic road trip, you’re ready to start planning. So, where will you go?