Many families are chomping at the bit to get out and go somewhere. But, due to the current situation, they are a bit more hesitant to get on a plane. Is that you? Enter a great vacation alternative, the all-American road trip! There is so much to see and do on your family road trip throughout the United States. This summer, families can plan a short weekend road-trip or the ultimate month-long vacation. So many possibilities!
Road trips don’t have to be overwhelming. With a little advanced planning your trip can go much more smoothly. Now, let’s dive in to some tips that will help with planning your next road trip.
Have your Major Stops Plotted and Accommodations Booked Ahead
Part of the fun of road-tripping is having a bit of flexibility and kind of going with the flow. But, if the whole trip is this way it can get overwhelming. To have the best of both worlds figure out a few stops on your trip and what days you want to be there and book your accommodations. This gives you flexibility between the main stops but also confidence that you definitely have a place to stay every few days.
If you are traveling in a motorhome or trailer, pick campgrounds with shower facilities and laundry so you can clean up every once in a while. Another caution for those staying in campgrounds and want a bit of flexibility with their travels. In the morning figure out about how far you will travel that day and then search for campgrounds in that area. Call early in the day to get reservations as many campgrounds close up in the early evening.
Lastly a caution for Alaskan road-trippers in the Lower 48–It gets dark early in the States. We are so used to having daylight into the wee hours we don’t think much of pulling into a campground very late at night. Due to the fact the sun goes down so much earlier it is much more challenging to pull in late at night (and many campgrounds are closed up).
Don’t Pack In Too Much
There are so many awesome things to see and do in the United States it is very easy to pack something into every moment. Packing in too much stuff will be exhausting and make your summer road-trip less fun. Pick out a few major activities in each location. Then have a few extra things you would like to do if you have time and energy. This also gives you the opportunity to really dive in and enjoy the activities instead of rushing through them to check them off the list.
Plan for Down Days
It is important to plan for some days to kick back and relax. You might choose to spend the day at a park, splash pad, pool, lake or just hanging out at your resort, hotel, or campground. These rest days will give you the energy to get right back into the planned activities the next day.
I learned this lesson the hard way. On our 6-week summer road trip from Florida to Alaska I packed a lot of stuff in. We saw so many amazing things. But, what is the day my kids remember as the best day? The 4th of July we spent stuck with a flat tire in a park and ride lot off the freeway. We were supposed to be enjoying the 4th of July activities in Boston. Instead we road our bikes to a nearby lake and had a relaxing day in the water. Lesson learned! Next time I will plan for down time.
Talk to the Locals
When you stop for gas or go into the grocery store ask the locals what they like to do in the area. Often they will tell you about fantastic places that are a little less traveled. They are also a wonderful source for finding great places to eat.
Have a Cooler for Drink and Snacks
Inevitably someone is going to get hungry or thirsty while on your summer family road-trip. In our family, this is always about a half-hour after a bathroom stop. A small cooler with drinks and snacks will keep you from having to stop as often. We have a great collapsible cooler that is great but we also really like using insulated lunchboxes.
Ideas for keeping it all cool:
- Purchase ice at a store. Bring large ziplock bags if going the ice route. The bags can help keep the water contained.
- Get ice from the ice machine at your hotel
- If you have access to a freezer, ice packs work really well. This method eliminates the water problem from melted ice.
- Freeze water bottles and fill cooler with a mixture of frozen and unfrozen drinks. The benefit of this is having cold drinks all day long and takes up less space. You will have to see how long the ice in the bottles takes to melt to know how many to put in the cooler each day.
Download Maps Ahead of Time
All across the United States are pockets without cellular coverage. In these areas your Google Maps navigation won’t work. Google Maps allows you to download maps of specific areas that you can then use without being connected to cellular data.
Bonus tip: The same goes for streamed media like podcasts and music players (think Spotify or Pandora). Get some downloaded before you lose coverage so you never have to be without entertainment.
Bonus Bonus tip: Navigation will suck your phone battery quickly. Have a charger that can plug into your car to keep your phone charged during the drive.
Minimize Activities Brought by the Kids
If your kids are like mine they will want to bring so much stuff. But, that stuffed backpack of activities will quickly makes a mess all over and cause major meltdowns when they lose something under the seat. Have them choose a few compact items that they really enjoy and call it good. Surprisingly, small containers of playdough have always been really successful for us. Audiobooks, stories, and music downloaded beforehand help pass the time and are educational as well. As you travel you might want to pick up a new activity for them to do along the way to keep them entertained. Steer clear of anything with a lot of pieces.
Get Road Side Assistance Coverage
Many insurance companies have the option of adding Road Side Assistance to your vehicle insurance policy. It usually doesn’t cost too much but it will give you peace of mind knowing that if you have major trouble you will be covered. We were so thankful for Road Side Assistance when we blew a tire driving down the highway. We were up and rolling again the next business day.
Get Your Vehicle Ready to Go
Before you head out it is a really good idea to get a tune-up for your car. An oil change is very important. Make sure all of the fluids are topped off. Get that emergency kit together (if you are renting a car you still might want to pack some of these things to bring with you):
- spare tire
- tire iron and jack
- flares and/or traffic triangle
- safety vest
- tire pressure gauge
- duct tape
- jumper cables
- adjustable wrench and multi-screwdriver
- hose clamps
- gloves
- tire inflater that plugs into 12v accessory outlet
- quart of oil
Bring a First Aid Kit Along
You never know when an accident will happen. Having a stocked first aid kit will keep you from panicking about how to treat injuries. Have a supply of bandaids, antibiotic ointment, antiseptic wipes, bandages (including a triangle bandage), gauze and tape, thermometer, scissors, pain medication, throw-up bags, emergency blankets, and hand wipes.
Pack a Trash Bag or Two
When you spend so much time in the car it has a tendency to get really messy really quickly. A trash bag will be a sanity saver from the mess.
Hopefully, these tips will be helpful for you in beginning to plan your next family road-trip summer vacation. Have a great time on your road trip exploring all the wonders of the United States! Now, this article focuses on the United States but the principles can be applied to many other countries.
Do you have a great tip for a road trip in the United States or elsewhere? Please let us all know in the comments below!
Happy travels to you…until we meet again!
Other articles you might be interested in reading:
- Enjoy Wyoming Like Never Before– with Disney! (Gives some areas to include in Wyoming for your road trip)
- Traveling in the US this Summer
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