Oh the family road trip! I have such a love/hate relationship with you. You can be so awesome, or so very very bad!
The key to setting yourself up for success is to have a plan. I want to share 3 tips that will help you survive your next road trip with a family of 5 and hopefully make it an oh so great adventure!
Tip 1: Make Sure Everyone Has Space
It’s a cruel joke that the more people you have in your car, the less space you have to put stuff, but this is the hand we are dealt when you set out on a road trip with a family of 5. It is so easy when you are traveling by car to just grab this and that a find a spot for it in the car, but be careful this can add up to tight quarters.
Sharing a small space can put everyone on edge and being cramped in with items at you feet and crammed in beside you will only add to it. Make sure that you dedicate enough empty space so that everyone can travel comfortably. Sometimes I will even mark off space with an extra pillow or empty tote bag, then take them out at the last minute to ensure comfortable leg room or space for kids to spread out their toys.
It also helps to have a one in one out rule. Once you feel like you have filled the car a comfortable amount if anything addition needs to go in, something must come out.
If you need any additional tips on packing- get my freebie 7 Secrets to Packing Like a Pro
Tip 2: Think About The Kid(s) In The Back
If you are traveling with 3 (or more) kids it is likely that at least one will be in a third row seat. It will save you a lot of stress later if you think about the logistics of this before you are getting loaded up to leave on your trip.
Think about if they have access to everything that they may need, or how you will get things to them (snacks, headphones, etc.). From personal experience you do not want to be driving down the highway throwing multiple bags of goldfish at them hoping one will be caught.
Also plan on checking in on them each time you stop. Make sure to allow plenty of time if they need to trade out books with a sibling, refill a water bottle, or clean up any trash from their area. Most importantly make sure to make time to chat and check in with them. It can sometimes be hard to communicate with all the noise from the road, chatting and electronics. Make sure they know that you are interested in how their trip is going and give them an extra hug.
Tip 3: Always Have Something New And Special
This is something that I have always done since our very first road trip when our first child was only 9 months old. When things start to turn south a new toy, book, or snack can save you!
This doesn’t have to be a big investment, in fact my favorite spot to shop for trips is the Dollar Tree or Target Dollar Spot. For an investment of $2 per kid you can have something new for on the way to and from your destination. Some of my favorites are the play packs which come with coloring sheets, crayons, and stickers. For older kids activity books full word searches and mazes, or simply a new set of cool markers are always a hit.
Special note for your tiny travelers, if this will be the first time using a toy it is a great idea to get it out of the package and check it out before you go to make sure there are no pieces that can come off or anything else that you would feel unsafe to give your child while in their car seat. Just because it is rated for their age, doesn’t mean that you might not feel comfortable giving it to them when they are out of quick reach.
This also applies to snacks. I try to bring a mix of their normal favorite healthy snacks as well as things that feel special. Not only will pulling out a pack of gummy bears (or whatever junk food you don’t normally buy) distract from a sibling squabble, it can save you money compared to caving at a gas station and spending a ton on a special snack.
I usually spend $10-$15 total on buying “surprises” for our road trip. I can confidently say that these are purchases that I never regret!
Hopefully these tips will be helpful in your next adventure out on the open road.
Now I’d love to hear from you! What is your #1 tip for surviving a family road trip with a family of 5 (or any size)?
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