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So, you’ve decided to take on the quite large task of planning a road trip with kids? You have made a great decision!
But you may be worried about missing something, forgetting something, or your kids having a mental breakdown while on the road. Don’t worry-we have all been there! My many, less than fortunate experiences on the road have allowed me to develop a system for planning a road trip with kids, minimizing unexpected mishaps and maximizing value and family memories!
I have taken that system and laid it out for you, so that you and your family can have the same enjoyable experiences we continue to have, year after year! From choosing what destination to visit, creating your itinerary, and making sure you are prepared for an emergency, we will walk through every step!
I have also created a free, printable checklist for you to use on the go, along with free itinerary and budget planning worksheets to make your road trip planning a breeze! Go forth and have lots of fun, while making priceless memories!
My System For Planning A Road Trip With Kids
Setting your family road trip up for success begins in the planning stage of the trip. Making sure that you pick the right destination, the right amount of time, how you will travel, and the budget you will have from the get go will guide you through the rest of the trip like a breeze!
1. Consider Trip Essentials
The first thing you need to do when planning your family road trip is to consider the basic information like when you will travel, the duration, how much time you want to spend driving each day, and the number of stops you will make.
Once you have these details figured out, you can dive more into the nitty gritty details to make your trip perfection! When answering these questions, be sure to keep your family’s unique needs in mind! The ages of your children will impact the answers, the appropriateness of the destination you choose, and travel factors, such as how long to spend driving each day.
You know your kids and what they can handle, so be sure to factor this into the planning!
Some questions you may want to ask yourself include:
- Where are we going?
- Why are we going there? Do we want to get outdoors and explore nature? Do we want a ton of family friendly indoor activities?
- When are we going to go? Are there any seasonal specific activities we want to experience?
- How long will our trip be?
- How will we travel for the road trip? In our own car, a rental car, our own RV, or a rented RV?
- Will there be one destination or multiple destinations? We often take road trips that involve multiple stops, and that are often across an entire state, like our Lake Michigan road trip, or across multiple states.
- How long will we spend at each stop?
- How much time will we spend driving each day?
Once you have answered these questions, you can then move on to planning your itinerary (one of the best parts if you ask me!).
You can use our family friendliness rating scale when choosing your destination too! We use it after we have visited a destination to make recommendations for other families, but it can also be used in your planning process!
2. Itinerary Creation
So, you have already decided where you will be going, and hopefully have determined if you will have one destination or multiple. Now you get to break it down into more detail and make a day by day itinerary for your trip.
I am big on planning an itinerary and maximizing the time and value I get when visiting new destinations. I have often been equated to Danny Tanner from Full House, with the clipboard of fun when the family visits Hawaii. Buuuutt…it has made for some very memorable trips!
P.S. You should always leave some room for spontaneity too!!
Step-By-Step Guide
- Create a list of must-see attractions that you don’t want to miss.
- Order them by priority-starting with the ones you want to do the most to make sure they have a spot on your itinerary.
- Think about the timing for certain attractions and operating hours. Note if timed reservations are required.
- Consider the location of each attraction. You don’t want to be backtracking all day, so create an itinerary that logically makes sense when planning out your days. Spend less time traveling between each destination and more time having fun!
- Don’t forget rest days! Vacation is all about having fun, but it is totally possible to overdo it! When we are traveling, we like to see as much as we can (perhaps a little bit of FOMO here!). But we have also discovered the importance of taking a day here and there to just relax, slow down, and just enjoy being where we are.
- Don’t forget to factor in transition time and time for unexpected things like bathroom breaks and backed up traffic. These things happen-don’t let them ruin your trip!
Tip: Aside from rest days, you will also want to incorporate rest periods during the day, especially for younger children. Whether this be scheduling nap time consistent with what they are used to at home, planning driving time around their nap time, or finding a quiet area for free play, it is important to give your children, and yourself, time to recoup.
3. Choose Where You Will Stay
***The Navigating Mom (and this post) may contain affiliate links. If you purchase from one of these links, we may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.****
The next step for planning your family road trip is to choose where you will stay. Will you stay in hotels or camp? Will you be in an RV and need to worry about finding RV sites?
When taking a road trip, I will often plan to stay at a hotel or campsite close to the next day’s activity. So, if we finish up one destination on a Friday night, I will spend Friday night evening/night driving to the next destination and choose an accommodation choice in the new area. That way when we get up in the morning we are close to the action with minimal driving.
If the distance is too far to realistically drive to and still have adequate rest time, I will choose a spot somewhere in the middle and reserve a hotel room for the night. This lets me split up the time to avoid too much driving in one night. Airbnb or VRBO is great for this because we don’t have to worry about missing check in times if we arrive later in the night.
Other Factors to Consider:
- Look for flexible accommodations. Things can change quickly and you may need to make adjustments to your booked accommodations. Having a flexible reservation is gold!
- If traveling with pets, you will need to factor this in when booking a reservation as well. Be aware of any pet policies and extra pet fees.
- If traveling by RV, make a list of the RV Parks and Campgrounds along your route that you can stay at. Find out if advance reservations are needed, or if you can just show up.
- You will want to consider amenities as well. Does the site have things like clean restrooms and warm showers (if camping), pools, playgrounds, and other kid friendly activities, or rooms with a kitchenette? You may not want or need some of these things, that is completely up to you to decide!
Figure out your family’s wants and needs, and then make your decisions from there!
4. Plan Your Budget
Planning your budget is another essential part of the planning process. There are so many things to account for, and you want to make sure you don’t overlook something and come up short.
What To Include In Your Road Trip Budget:
- Gas and mileage costs.
- To get an estimate of gas costs, first determine approximately how many miles you will be traveling. You can do this using Google maps. Then use a free tool like Gas Buddy to calculate approximate gas prices based on mileage and the MPG your vehicle gets for both city and highway. Add this cost into your budget, and it is my recommendation to add on a little more just to play it safe.
- Always consider the destination into gas costs. Prices vary by destination (some may have higher gas costs). When we traveled to California, prices were significantly higher than what we were used to back home.
- Accommodations.
- Book your accommodations of choice, and factor this into your overall trip budget. We always aim for lower cost accommodations during a road trip because we don’t plan on spending a lot of time there. Camping is a great, inexpensive option that will also bring you countless family memories!
- Flights
- Flights might not be involved in a road trip, but it is possible. Sometimes we fly to a destination, rent a car, and begin our road trip from there.
- You will also want to consider transfers from the airport if applicable.
- Rental Car Costs
- Food and snacks.
- Plan some extra for unexpected treats and drinks along the way.
- If you will be visiting theme parks or venues along the way, remember that prices are generally much higher than they should be. Factor this is.
- Activities and Admission Costs
- Highway/Thruway Tolls
- Parking Fees
- Souvenirs
- I recommend setting a limit per person so that you can plan ahead and ensure that you have enough for other costs. This can help overspending on souvenirs.
- Plan for unexpected expenses and emergencies (car breaks down, unexpected hospital trip, or a million other things that could go wrong).
5. Prepare the Vehicle
Preparing your vehicle for a road trip is just as important as planning your itinerary or packing your bags—especially when you’re traveling with kids. The last thing you want is to deal with a breakdown or flat tire in the middle of nowhere.
Steps for Preparing Your Vehicle:
- Schedule a basic maintenance check.
- Make sure your oil is changed, tires are properly inflated and have good tread, brakes are functioning well, and all fluids are topped off.
- Make sure your battery is in good working order.
- Ensure your spare tire and jack are in good condition.
- Organize your vehicle for comfort and function
- Clear out unnecessary clutter
- Make sure you have snacks and entertainment. A back of the seat car organizer is great for this.
- Make sure you have blankets and travel pillows
- Make sure the essentials are easy to reach
- Wipes, paper towels, trash bags
- Install sunshades for the little ones in the back seat
- Have a roadside emergency kit
- Jumper cables, flashlight, first-aid supplies, basic tools, and your roadside assistance information.
6. Make Sure You Have Roadside Assistance
Having roadside assistance on a road trip with kids is one of the smartest decisions you can make. Road trips are unpredictable by nature, and even with a well-maintained vehicle, things like flat tires, dead batteries, or getting locked out of the car can happen at the worst times and in unfamiliar areas.
Roadside assistance gives you peace of mind, knowing that help is just a phone call away no matter where you are. It minimizes stress, keeps you safe, and prevents a minor inconvenience from turning into a full-blown trip disaster.
For families, this safety net is even more important. Stranded on the side of a highway with young kids can be overwhelming and potentially unsafe. Roadside assistance services can get you to a safe location quickly or tow your vehicle to a nearby mechanic while you focus on keeping your children calm and comfortable.
It also saves time and money in the long run—many plans include perks like towing, fuel delivery, jump starts, and even trip interruption coverage. In short, it’s an affordable layer of protection that makes your family’s road trip safer, smoother, and far less stressful.
7. Planning a Road Trip With Kids: Pack Your Road trip Essentials
When taking a road trip-a lot is needed. Especially if you will be camping-it adds on a lot of necessities! Packing for a road trip with kids is a balancing act between being prepared and not overloading the car.
We found this out on one of our first road trips with an infant (and it was a camping road trip). The camping equipment in addition to the equipment required for the infant filled the car up very quickly!
The goal of packing for a road trip is to make sure you have everything you need to keep your family comfortable, entertained, and safe—without feeling like you’ve packed the entire house. Think about what you’ll need for the car ride itself (snacks, entertainment, travel pillows), what you’ll need at your destinations (clothing, toiletries, gear), and what you might need in case of emergencies (first aid kit, medications, roadside assistance info).
Start with the basics—clothes, toiletries, and shoes appropriate for the activities and weather at each stop. Then, build in family-friendly road trip essentials like individual activity bags for each child, a cooler with drinks and snacks, and anything else that will help keep kids occupied and comfortable during long stretches of driving.
8. Get the Kids Involved!
Last but not least, get the kids involved in the planning process! Getting kids involved in travel planning isn’t just helpful—it’s empowering. When children have a say in where they go or what activities they’ll do, they feel a sense of ownership and excitement about the trip.
It turns travel into a shared family experience rather than something that’s just happening to them. Involving kids in choosing a destination, picking out road trip snacks, or helping plan part of the itinerary teaches responsibility and builds decision-making skills.
Plus, when they’re included in the process, they’re more likely to be cooperative and enthusiastic throughout the journey. My daughter has become accustomed to helping with the planning and absolutely loves being able to pack her own activity bag!
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I keep my kids entertained during long drives?
Pack activity books, coloring pages, audiobooks and small toys. Rotate activities every hour or so. Play music or kid-friendly podcasts. Simple car games like “I Spy” or license plate spotting help, too.
What snacks are best for road trips with kids?
Choose easy-to-eat, mess-free snacks: pretzels, crackers, fruit slices, cheese sticks, granola bars. Avoid sticky or crumbly foods. Bring a small cooler for items that need to stay cold.
How often should we plan to stop?
Plan stops every two to three hours. Let kids stretch, use the restroom and get fresh air. Look for rest areas with play spaces or safe places to walk.
What should I pack for emergencies?
Pack a first-aid kit, extra clothes, wipes, hand sanitizer and any medicines your kids need. Bring a list of emergency contacts and a phone charger.
How do I handle motion sickness?
Give kids bland snacks before leaving. Keep them looking out the window, not at screens for long periods. Stop if they start to feel sick. Carry motion sickness bands or kids’ medication after checking with your doctor.
How do I organize the back seat to keep things tidy?
Use a backseat organizer for toys, snacks and water bottles. Bring a small trash bag or container. Encourage kids to put things away after use.
What if my child gets bored or cranky?
Change up activities, play music or offer a new snack. Sometimes a short stop for a walk makes a big difference. Let kids help with simple trip tasks, like choosing music or tracking progress with a map.
How should I handle bedtime on the road?
Bring familiar pillows, blankets or bedtime toys to help kids wind down. Stick to your regular sleep routine as much as you can, even in hotels or other beds.
Book Your Accommodations
Book your traditional hotel accommodations using Booking! We love booking because of the wide variety of options, that can accommodate every budget and unique family needs!
Alternatively, consider booking a VRBO and having the entire place to yourself! VRBO is another great options for families because it gives you your own space and access to essential amenities like a full kitchen.
Book Your Flight!
Book your flight using one of our recommendation resources:
Need Help Choosing a Road Trip Destination?
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