Road Trip Survival Tips
The dreaded road trip… calling the scenario that makes me insane. Unless I am driving, but even then, they can be intolerable. I get bored and antsy very easy. Not to mention car sick if I am not driving. For me, driving is better than riding; I make a very bad passenger. Nauseous, jumpy at everything, watching the speedometer, you name it, I am as bad a passenger; just as most nurses are patients.
6, 8, 10 hours or more quickly becomes boring and uncomfortable, especially if you’re traveling with kids So, I decided to see if I could pull together tips on how I might make road trips tolerable – or even actually enjoyable. Especially since we leave for Branson soon. I hope these tips and ideas for surviving long drives help make your next road trip a success!
First, make sure you have the essentials! This is important! Packing for road trips and having what you need in the car is important but prepping your car for the trip should be priority number 1.
Make sure to take your car and have the oil checked, tires checked, and a good travel once over inspection done…getting stranded is no fun.
Make sure you that you begin your road trips with a full tank of gas and know where you are going, running out of gas, again… NO FUN!
Things to have for the Road Trip:
- Car Safety Kit (Jumper Cables, 2 Light Sticks, Reflective Vest, Emergency Rain Poncho, Warning triangle, Whistle, Tire Pressure Gauge, Window Breaker)
- Blanket/Pillow
- Case of water
- Reusable Shopping Bag for trash
- Gallon zip plastic bags
- Tissues/Extra toilet paper/Paper towels
- Travel Games
- Road trip play list
- Umbrella
- Snacks, snacks, snacks
- Cooler for longer trips to keep food cold
- Tweezer
- Swiss Army Knife
- Be ready for car sickness – peppermints, motion sickness pills
- A good attitude
Start early.
The sooner you get on the road, the sooner you can get off it. Arriving at your destination around dinnertime gives you a few hours to do things before bedtime. Even better, kids will often sleep for the first few hours of the drive.Keep it FUN!
Car games can make the time fly by for both children and adults. If you’re driving, games like car bingo and the license plate game are fun ways to help your child connect with their surroundings. Have a pack with art supplies for doodling and bring music that everyone in the family can enjoy. It’s also a great time to talk to your kids.- 20 questions
- The Alphabet Game
- I Spy
- Road Trip Bingo
- Travel versions of board games
- Slug bug, or we invented Slug Love’s this trip (every time you see a Loves gas station.) Side note: This works well in Texas, but worked especially well in Oklahoma. There must be one every 10 miles)
- License Plate States
- Road Trip Scavenger Hunts (color of cars, etc., etc… make up your own)