Is there any family vacation more classic than a good old-fashioned road trip? This year, hopping in your car may be your only chance to get out of town for a day or two. However, anyone traveling with kids knows it requires plenty of preparation ahead of time to ensure that your smallest passengers are entertained so you can drive safely and free of distractions. Movies, screens, and books are all great forms of entertainment, but can cause car sickness after an hour or two. Here are our top seven screen-free tips for making road trips fun for the whole family!
Top Seven Tips
- Purchase inexpensive disposable cameras so that your kids can document the trip with pictures from the car ride, roadside attractions, and more. Develop the film at a drugstore after your trip. Then put an album together for each of your budding photographers that you look back on for years to come!
- Games like Celebrity, I Spy, Concentration, and more are classics for a reason– they’re fun for all ages! Games like this require plenty of creativity and memory from everyone involved but are easy enough for the driver to participate without taking their eyes off the road, making it a welcome diversion.
- Make a road trip scrapbook! Bring notebooks, washable markers, and glue sticks along for the ride. Let your kids document every step of the trip in their own style, with plenty of wet wipes on standby! Great souvenirs include pictures, napkins from restaurants, brochures from interesting places, flowers from rest stops, and more. Older kids can write notes about the trip, while younger kids can simply have fun coloring their pages.
- Need a break from talking? Turn on a podcast the whole family can get into! Whether your family is interested in storytelling or journalism, science or history, you’ll be able to find something that everybody will enjoy. There are also plenty of kid-friendly podcasts on the market that parents will find just as enjoyable.
- Have young artists in the car? Non-toxic dry erase markers are a great option for doodling on car windows. Masterpieces can be drawn and wiped away easily with paper towels over and over again. Just make sure to purchase the odorless kind to keep the scent from taking over your car!
- Plan a scavenger hunt before your trip! Include plenty of things found at restaurants, roadside rest stops, and any other places along the way. Decide on a small prize for the winner, like a candy bar or extra window seat time, and have fun competing as a family!
- Do some research beforehand and put together a list of roadside attractions. We love Fredericksburg peach stands, Amarillo’s Cadillac Ranch, and the Dr. Pepper Museum and Magnolia Market in Waco. Don’t be afraid to stop on the road if you see something that catches your eye! After all, it’s about the journey, not the destination.
Whether you want to have your car looking fresh before you hit the road or you’re looking to clean the dust off after a successful trip, we’re here for you! Click here to find a location near you and stop by today!
