This post was sponsored by RITZ as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.
Taking a family road trip is one of the best things you can do for your family. The reward of a family road trip doesn’t come in the planning or in the destination, but in the journey. Road trips are a time for you to really get to know each other, make memories together, and explore places together. You get to travel at your own pace, make stops when you want, and take your time exploring places you have never been to.
Our family loves taking road trips, especially during this time of the year. Getting away from technology and out on the open road is one way we can become closer as a family. Of course with three boys in the mix, it takes a little bit of planning and preparation beforehand.
Although my family loves going on adventures and taking road trips together, we have learned a few tips throughout the years to make it even safer and more fun.
Here are some tips for a fun and safe family road trip!
1. Get the car ready
Yes, I know this one from experience, and trust me, you don’t want to be stuck on the side of the road during your family road trip. Before you go, take the vehicle in for a check-up, get new brakes, change the oil, and top up your fluids. The last thing you want to happen is to break down. If you don’t feel like waiting around for your car to get done, you can always rent a car for the week, or however long you plan to be gone. Renting a car ensures you won’t be stranded. With this being said, regardless of the vehicle, it is about creating memories with the family and ensuring this road trip goes as smoothly as possible, no matter whether you’re in a camper van, an RV or the family car.
2. Pack lots of snacks
If you want a fun family road trip, you are going to want to pack enough snacks for the trip. Keep in mind that getting snacks at the gas station is going to get really pricey. So, if you are on a budget, bringing snacks is a double win. Here are some of our family’s favorite snacks:
- a variety of fresh fruits: apple, banana, oranges, grapes, blueberries
- cheese sticks
- homemade cut up veggie trays
- RITZ Crisp & Thins
- homemade ranch dips and hummus
RITZ Crisp & Thins variety chips make great healthy snacks and are some of our favorite choices. We already love the variety of flavors they offer but our two top favorite flavors are cheddar and barbecue so the last time I shopped at Walmart, I just grabbed a few bags for our upcoming family picnic. RITZ Crisp & Thins are delicious and are perfect for grab-and-go, no mess snack, whether we’re going on a family road trip or for any summer gathering.
We love to pair RITZ Crisp & Thins with my homemade hummus. (Recipe coming soon!)
We always bring a good size cooler for items such as cheese, fresh fruits and veggie trays, and to keep our drinks cool while on our trip.
3. Make plenty of stops
Before going on your trip, you will want to plan out and schedule plenty of stops. Not only is it dangerous to drive for long periods of time without stopping, it isn’t very fun for the kids. We like to plan numerous stops before we get to our actual destination. So take a look at the major cities you will be driving through and plan an activity to do in each city. I would recommend making a stop every hour to two hours for bathroom breaks and stopping every four to six hours for an activity.
4. Play games while you drive
If there isn’t a lot going on or much to see, the drive can begin to get long and monotonous. So make sure you have some games in your back pocket to keep the party going. Here are some of our favorite road trip games:
- The singing game: One person starts singing a song. Then using a lyric from the song, the next person has to connect it with another song until someone messes up.
- The Movie game: First person starts with an actor/actress. Then the next person says a movie they were in. The following person has to state another actor or actress in that same movie. It continues until only one is left.
- Alphabet Categories: Start with a category such as food. Each person must name a food with the next letter of the alphabet until they can’t.
- Scavenger Hunt: Of course, you can always pick some things everyone has to find while on the road trip. The one who finds the most things on the list wins.
5. Never let the gas get too low
You never know whether there will be an accident or construction that slows traffic. My rule of thumb is to fill that tank up at right under a half of a tank. When it goes below half, it is time to fill up. This also helps with bathroom breaks. It usually takes about one to two hours of drive time to get under a half tank, so this is the perfect time to fill up and use the bathroom. Consequently, it is important to remember to drive within the speed limits.
6. Bring pillows and light blankets
This may seem like a weird tip, but seriously nobody wants to deal with cranky kids or adults for that matter. Bring a couple pillows and light blankets so naps can be taken when needed. Along with this tip, make sure you have at least two drivers. One driver can nap while the other drives. Those who are driving will be much safer if they are well rested after their nap.
Do you have any other road trip tips to share? We would love to know how your family has a fun and safe family road trip in the comments below!
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A former school teacher, Jocelyn Brown created Hip Mama’s Place in 2007. Her motto for this blog is: get inspired, create and share! Jocelyn loves sharing about food and recipes, crafts, DIY projects and her random travels with her family. She also loves all things social media, but her latest obsession is Instagram.
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You really are keen to preparing. Everything seems to be organized and well prepared. You are such a good parent, your family is lucky.
Jocelyn, all are very legit tips! I’ve been taking road trips for many years, and did find that all those tips above work!
We are headed to Michigan this August. Will make sure to apply these tips!
Snacks are the best idea for road trips. It keeps from spending so much money at the gas station.
This is a great post. I will now always get my car checked and comfy before I go on a road trip.
Great tips on how to pack safely for a road trip and the foods looks nice .. Such a wonderful blog.. Thanks for sharing.. ?
This is the perfect season for weekend trips. I should try some of these tips!
So many wonderful tips for helping a family be prepared for their road trip. Snacks are almost a must and cut down on the unneeded gas station expensive snacks! Also packing a pillow/blanket is a great idea.
We are going to on a road trip next week! I am excited and will use some of them tips you have shared.
I’m traveling abroad this summer, so no road trips for me, but this is a great resource for parents out there 🙂
People don’t realize how many things can go wrong on a simple family road trip. Preparation is important in order to prevent surprises and fully enjoy your family adventure.
These are great tips. I always make sure we have snacks and drinks for our road trips as well as a survival kit.
Lots of stops are needed for me for road trips. I also need lots of snacks too.
I’m guilty of pushing it when it comes to fueling. This is such a good reminder to keep the tank at a reasonable amount!
I just remember the road trip that i had with my friends 12 years ago, it took us 13 hours to get into our destination’ it is exhausting but the experience is memorable.
We just returned from a little road trip and I’m so exhausted. It was a good time though.
You could not have said this any better, snacks and games are lifesavers. I always pack a variety of snacks in small quantities.
I wil make sure to plan a lot of pitstops on our next road trip to enjoy some RITZ crisp and thins!
Road trips are what summer is all about. At any age!
I love roadtrips and I love reading about tips from other parents. I agree that it’s practical and healthier when we prepare our own food. I’ll wait for your hummus recipe!
My husband and I are going to make a road trip this weekend to Branson. It’s just the two of us, but I am going to incorporate many of your tips!
I am soo keeping this as a bookmark to have handy for our family roadtrips. Our kids love them so much but we haven’t had one for a while.
You’ve got your list pretty well made out. The only thing I’d add to the list is GREAT MUSIC to keep the driver happy.
I always looked forward to our road trips with the kids. Having snacks made the trip a lot better. We didn’t use a DVD player and had a lot of fun playing games like the ones you mentioned. When our kids were in the napping stage, we tried to plan our stops so we didn’t interrupt their naps.
You can’t beat a good road trip for a great holiday. It’s one of my favourite ways of travelling. The Ritz crisp and thins look excellent for this kind of trip. Very handy. We like to pack our own snacks when we’re on a road trip too as you never know if you’ll be able to find healthy food at road stops.
My favorite car activity as a kid was an alphabet game. We would take turns calling out things we saw starting with A and so on. The first person to Z won!
Snacks are the best part of the road trip!