Hi fellow travelers! I hope you all are exploring! As some of you know I am going to do the unthinkable and take a road trip with my husband and two toddlers over Easter. Yes, I know, it sounds terrifying right? We will be in the car for about 6 hours each day and it may turn into a complete bust. But, the comforting part is that I have done this before with my kids and actually it hasn’t been so bad. We have driven to Santa Fe, NM and up to Craig, CO, which average about 4-5 hours depending on how many times you stop. Now, I have said before that my kids beg to get out of their car seats as we are pulling out of the driveway, so they are not up for traveling for hours in a cramped space. But, I have learned a few tricks to keep them docile, for a few hours at a time anyway.

Tip 1: The most important thing is to pack snacks, my kids love to eat constantly and if they are snacking, they are distracted and happy. It helps to bring a cooler full of snacks that you may buy on the road anyway. If you have different snacks that they don’t usually get or drinks that are treats (like juice boxes or the “good2grow” juice that has characters on the top), then they are all the more happy to have them. Taking a cooler cuts down on the time you have to stop to get something to eat and it creates an excitement that drives distraction. It buys you at least 30 minutes of peace every hour or so.

Tip 2: Bring media devices, tablets, portable DVD players, if you are lucky enough to have TV’s in your car then great! Let them watch movies, it’s a way to entertain them as the miles pass and they might actually fall asleep for a few hours. I know it means they are glued to a screen for a while, but trust me, when all of you are driving endlessly in a cramped space for hours, it won’t matter. It keeps kids from fighting and talking, which can go on forever, everyone needs some peace and quiet to maintain a positive outlook.

Tip 3: Stop only for major meals (unless you have planned stops around attractions you want to see along the way), if you stop every time someone needs a snack, or potty break or they want to get out and move around, you will never get to your destination. Breakfast, lunch and dinner occur every 2-3 hours, which allows everyone enough opportunities to get out and release some energy. Take the kids who are potty trained to the bathroom, let them walk around the restaurant or the location you have stopped at and they will be good for another 2 or 3 hours. If you give in to the “I want to get out” whining, you will create a monster. Planned stops let them know that this is the time to let out their energy before you start driving again.

Tip 4: Figure out when your kids are most tired or most relaxed. The best times for us to travel are in the morning, even when we fly. We get up and out and we are on our way, we stop for breakfast about 2 hours into our trip and from there we keep going. After they eat, they will fall asleep for about two hours and then they will want to eat lunch. Our kids have learned to be early risers, for some bizarre reason, and they are ready to go first thing in the morning. If your kids are more easy going and relaxed in the evening then travel at night, if you don’t mind driving in the dark. Determine what is going to be the least path of resistance for your family, that way you aren’t fighting chaos because you changed up their routine.

Tip 5: If you are driving for more than 6 hours and you have small children, it’s best to stop overnight somewhere and rest. I know that we want to get to our destination ASAP and the thought of getting out of the car and dragging everything into a hotel and paying for a room just sounds like too much work. But, honestly it helps everyone get through another day of driving, without throwing endless tantrums. As adults we can endure a lot, even spending over 12 hours in a car just to get somewhere quick, kids cannot, they have much less tolerance and patience for these types of trips. They don’t have an understanding of time like we do and 5 minutes seems like an eternity to them. If you plan your trip well, then you can find cheap hotels and let everyone rest and take a break, besides you might end up somewhere really cool and add a new adventure to your trip!

Tip 6: Don’t bring too many toys in the car. I know it sounds like a good way to entertain the kids, but it can create more drama then necessary. Toys that cause distraction while you are driving, that beep and buzz, will make you nuts, and my kids fight over every toy, even if they each have the same one. They will constantly drop their toys, making you the toy retriever every 5 minutes and it can create a chaotic environment. Plus, do you really want your car littered with 15 different toys that you have to find and pick up every time the kids want them? A stuffed animal, or one car is not a big deal, but, bringing the whole toy box is just a disaster waiting to happen for you. My kids like their movies on their TV’s and the songs on the radio, it can get us through the 6 hours easy.

So, there you have it, some tips for getting through a crazy yet incredible car ride! If you have any tips for me or our readers let me know! Growing our tool box of tricks to manage traveling with kids is key to keeping families happy!