Savvy Road Trip Tips for the Entire Family

24/Savvy Mom: New York, NY

What comes to mind when you think of a 20-hour road trip with three young kids? Maybe a pounding headache or memories from your own childhood vacations.

Before we had three children, my husband and I loved road trips. We escaped the city, listened to our favorite music and had meaningful conversations. Obviously with three young children, road trips look and feel different, but we still manage to listen to our favorite music, have great conversations and build incredible memories with our kids. Here are things that make our road trips more fun for all involved:

• A DVD Player: Stating the obvious, but this is a two-hour sanity saver! 
• Lap Desk fo Kids: Kids can write, color and eat on it. We love the ones with zippered side pockets for crayons, markers and more. 
• Car Games: I’ll never outgrow the Sign Game. A person picks a word from any roadway signage (Example—Exit,) and the next person finds a word beginning with the last letter of that first word (Example—Travel.) There’s also travel bingo or keeping track of license plates your family spots. 
• Meal Stops: Meal times are a natural way to break up the monotony of driving. We pick kid-friendly places and take our time. 
• Goody Bags: I pick up trinkets at the dollar store, which provide at least 15 minutes of entertainment. Look for a Honda Pilot on I-95N with windows decked out in flowers and farm scenes. 
• Spend the Night: If you have a few nights to spare, pick a kid-friendly hotel. We love The Great Wolf Lodge in Williamsburg, Virginia. It has an indoor water park and is a new family tradition. 
• My greatest road trip lesson: It‘s not just about the final destination, but enjoying the ride along the way.