Preparing to go on a long drive with your children can make you feel anxious. Before, the longest drive I took my kids on was 2.5 hours and I dreaded every time we had to drive even that far. So, imagine the dread that ensued when I had to drive 9 hours with 3 kids, 2 cats, and 1 dog. However, by taking the steps listed below, the trip went amazing. There were no meltdowns, and I didn’t need to raise my voice at all.
Prepare for a Long Drive Before You Leave
Prepare Your Kids
Children are creatures of habit. Get your children mentally ready to sit in a car for a long period. Before our trip, my husband and I told our children that we’d be going on a long road trip, where we were going, and what we were doing once we got there.
Clean Your Car
If you’re anything like me, there’s nuggets on the floor, fries between the seats, juice spilled on the floor mats, and toys and books strewn across the car. Once the kids were in bed, I parked the car in our yard, grabbed the shop vac, and went to work.
Having a clean car eliminates the chaos of packing and traveling. Just imagine adding suitcases, backpacks, and snacks to an already messy car. Then stepping on top of the mess every time you stop along the way. In preparing for a long drive, cleaning your car first is a no-brainer.
Tablets. Tonies. Toons. Oh my.
During a long drive, entertainment is essential. At every age, entertainment can vary. My kids’ ages are 5.5, 3, and 1.5. For our youngest, we had a headrest strap to place his tablet in when times got rough. For our two oldest, they had tablets with downloaded games and videos on them. The night before the trip, we charged all tablets to 100%, then turned them off and packed them into the kids’ car bag (don’t forget their chargers!).
Another form of entertainment is the Tonie Box. Thankfully, you can plug headphones into the box, so it’s perfect for my oldest. She has control over the music she listens to, and I don’t have to hear it.
Some kids might prefer books, such as I-Spy and coloring books. Pro tip: They have I-Spy books for every age.
Car Bags
One of the things that makes preparing for a long drive a breeze is designating a car bag for each kid. In the bag should be their form of entertainment (Tablet, Books, Chargers), blankets, a few snacks in baggies, water tumblers, and a change in clothes or pajamas. One of the best things I’ve found is to give each kid a see-through backpack with each kid’s name on it. That way the child can see everything in their backpack from the outside.
Outfits
We had our children wear comfy clothes the night before instead of pajamas. This looked like a soft t-shirt, spandex or soft shorts, or leggings. We left early and didn’t want to stand out in our pajamas at gas stations, rest stops, or when we got to our destination. Being comfortable enough to fall asleep in the car was essential for our children as well.
Preparing for a Long Drive: During the Trip
Time for a Break
In preparing for a long road trip, it is essential to split your trip up into segments. We tried to make a stop every 3 to 3.5 hours for our 9-hour drive, splitting our trip into 3 even parts. 3 hours also seemed to be the sweet spot for our family.
If we needed gas, we stopped at a gas station. Every other time though we’d try to aim for rest stops since they’re better for getting out and stretching your legs. When we stop at gas stations, we would fill up with gas, use the restroom, and buy drinks. At rest stops, we would fill up water tumblers, use the facilities, and stretch our legs.
Last Resort Remedies
The last couple of hours were trying. That’s why I made sure to download music on my phone so that I could plug it into the Aux and play their favorite tunes. My kids love the toddler tunes album, Bluey albums, My Little Pony: A New Generation album, Sing movie album, and my youngest absolutely loves the song: 5 little pumpkins. For the younger crowd, Elmo songs and Bob the Train are big hits!
All of these tips and tricks will make preparing for a long drive with kids a breeze. Packing all the essentials for a long drive will ensure you’re well prepared to handle whatever is thrown at you while you’re driving.
