Road-Tested Road Trip Tips

Say that title ten times fast. It’s that time of year again. We’re starting to make plans to see relatives or friends that live out of town for the holidays. Sometimes we’re the lucky ones and our people come to us. But sometimes it’s our turn to go to them. On Instagram, I asked the Lazy Genius community to share their favorite road trip tips for help with a new episode How to Holiday Road Trip. 

I’ve rounded up some of them here for your reference. Take what you need. Leave what you don’t. 

*Tips have been edited for length or clarity.

Road Trip Tips For Everybody

• A treat that is special just for long road trips. We only ever have lollipops on road trips.

• Expect it to take longer, it always does. Then you won’t feel like you are running late.

• Use a paper towel roll as a lumbar for the lower back.

• Everyone gets to have one fit consequence-free.

• Try audiobooks, or read to each other if you don’t get carsick. Try the Hoopla or Libby apps if you have a library card. 

• Stop at public libraries along the way! Clean restrooms & used books/magazine sales.

• Rent Redbox movies from gas station to gas station if you have a DVD player in the car.

• Create a playlist with fun music for you and everyone else in the vehicle, not just little ones. 

• Pick one or two playlists or albums and listen to them the whole trip because you’ll be reminded of the trip every time you hear those songs. (This could be a bad thing if the trip goes south.)

• Put a trash bag or several old grocery bags within easy reach so you can round up the trash and prevent a car dumpster situation.

• Visit Welcome Centers if you need a rest stop. You can grab free brochures and ask someone from the area what they do for fun.

• Pack a “short-term” bag for overnight stops on the road. You won’t have to haul everyone’s larger bags into the hotel for one night. 

• Have cash or a roll of coins on hand for unexpected tolls or produce stands that don’t accept cards. 

• Make your post-trip meal plan ahead of time (or at least for a day) so you won’t have to decide what’s for dinner the moment you get home. 

• Enforce a “preferred seats have extra responsibilities” rule. If you want to ride shotgun, you have to pick up all the trash and throw it out at the next stop.

• Family stretching at stops. It makes us laugh, improves blood flow and moods!

Kid-Specific Tips

• Use a piece of yarn and clothespin to visually mark the distance left in the trip and limit the “Are we there yet?” and “How much longer?” questions.

• Print out a map with your route highlighted so you can show your kids where you are when they ask. 

• If you have little kids and everything is peaceful and quiet and going well, don’t point out something outside. It’ll be chaos. 

• Use cookie sheets as play boards for magnet tiles or as a lap desk for coloring.

• Find parks/playgrounds along the way to take breaks if you have young kids. 

• Headphones for the kids for the devices. (And headphone splitters if they want to share a device).

• Battle “I’m bored” with educational worksheets or activities and set the expectations before pulling out of your driveway. 

• Less is more with kids! Bring just a couple of good things and they will make their own fun. 

• Pipe cleaners for in-car kid crafts. They’re quiet, and they can’t stain the upholstery. 

• Give kids a roll of quarters each. They owe you a quarter each time they fight or whine.

• Backpack for each kid with coloring books and small toys and activities that they can reach without your help. 
  Related tip: Hang backpacks using a carabiner on the seats in front of them.

• Keep a potty in your car so you don’t have to stop every time tiny butts need to pee. 

• Travel at night. Traffic is better and kids sleep = fewer stops for food, bathroom and less boredom.

• When you see an exit with gas stations and hotels, stop at the hotel for a restroom break. Hotels have clean bathrooms, and there’s almost always one near the check-in desk.

• If your trip takes more than a day, finish driving by 5 p.m. and order pizza at the hotel pool where you’re staying overnight. Kids can burn off the crazies, and you can get back on the road early the next morning.

Everybody’s Gotta Eat

• If you’re stopping for fast food, use the drive-thru. Then park and let the kids burn energy in the play area while you and any other adults eat without having to open a million ketchup packets and interruptions. Let the kids eat in the car once you’re back on the road. 
  Related tip: If you pack a picnic, let the kids run around at your picnic stop while you eat. Same concept. They’ll burn energy, you get 10 minutes to eat your food in peace.

• Keep Ziplock bags handy to fill with snacks so you can toss to kids in the back without mess. Related tip: Each kid gets their own Ziplock bag full of snacks and when they are gone, they’re gone. 

• Twizzlers are magic road trip food. No spilling, no melting, no mess.

• Use pillboxes or containers with multiple compartments as a fun way to contain snacks and empower kids to have a choice.

• Keep water bottles on hand or buy a gallon or two of water to refill drinks without stopping.

• Pack a small cooler to keep juice boxes or snacks that need to stay cold while on the road.

Minor Emergency Kit Tips

• Pack an empty small plastic bin in the car for motion sickness messes. (Pro tip: make sure it has a lid)

• Consider packing an emergency carsick kit with Dramamine, barf bags, upholstery cleaner, and maybe a clean comfy outfit for each kid.

• Review your roadside assistance plan before you start your trip. Some phone carriers will add on a temporary plan for the month you are traveling.

• Clean out your glove box before you hit the road. Make sure you have everything you may need should you hit a traffic stop in a different state or get a dreaded driving award.