There are few moments your kids will reminisce about more than a family road trip. Not only is the destination exciting for everyone, but the journey itself feels like a thrilling adventure. Of course, there’s plenty to see and experience along the way. However, as parents, we love the opportunity for the whole family to connect and bond.
Though there’s lots to love about a road trip with the family, we’d be lying if we said there weren’t challenges! One of the biggest ones? Keeping kids entertained from point A to point B. To keep everything calm, fun, and stress-free, your kiddos will need something that stimulates their minds or occupies their hands on the many-hour drive, whether it’s 5 hours or 15 hours.
Luckily, at Safe in the Seat, we’ve been on a road trip or two. That said, we have lots of tips to help you have the most successful family vacation yet. Here are some of the best ways to keep kids entertained in the car on the way to your destination:
10 Things to Do for Kids on a Road Trip: Stress-Free Tips
Car Seat Safe Toys
Bring some toys! However, be mindful of what you pack. Hard-sided, heavy, or sharp/pointed toys could become a projectile risk in a crash. Additionally, anything with small parts or long strings could become choking or strangulation hazards without your supervision. Leave all those things at home!
If you need ideas, here are dozens of car safe toys that are Safe in the Seat-approved! These have all been tried, tested, and loved by moms who are either part of the Safe in the Seat team or the community. You can also check out our post, “Best Car Seat Toys,” for car seat-safe options. There’s plenty for everyone!
Mess-Free Crafts
Crafts are another great way to keep kids entertained on road trips. They usually occupy more time, and the fresh experience of new activities can be exciting for both littles and bigs! However, we recommend staying away from glitter and glue. This way, you won’t have to deep clean your seats or stop to unstick your child’s fingers from the windows.
Things like coloring supplies, Wikki Stix, scratch art kits, origami paper sets, dry-erase boards, and pipe cleaners can fill hours of your road trip with fun.
Puzzle or Activity Books
Books with puzzles, games, and activities make entertaining your child in the car easy. Each page offers something new, which means you won’t be constantly rotating out toys and activities the whole trip. These should help keep kids locked in for at least an hour or two! Consider books like Paint by Sticker, Water Wow!, Tangram Magnetic Puzzle, Search & Find, or Reusable Puffy Sticker book.
Soft-Sided/Paperback Books
Road trips are a great opportunity to read and learn, so be sure to bring some books. However, ensure they’re soft-sided or paperback so they’re not a projectile risk. For littles, choose Indestructible Books or crinkle books. And for bigger kids, we like this Would You Rather book and joke book.
Audiobooks or Music
Audiobooks and music are another great way to pass the time. There are screen-free ways to do it, too! We recommend the Yoto Mini. It’s a handheld (and durable) audio player that uses cards and toddler-friendly controls to play your child’s favorite songs and stories. You’ll need the Yoto Mini, a carrying case, headphones, and a few cards to get started.
Classic Road Trip Games
Can’t beat a classic road trip game! Even better, you don’t need much to play them just each other! Here are some favorites:
- License Plate Game
- I Spy
- 20 Questions
- Alphabet Game
- Would You Rather
- Categories
Travel-Friendly Board Games or Card Games
Board games and card games can be a good way to pass the time for kids sitting next to each other in the back seats. Of course, not every game is road trip-ready. Nonetheless, there are lots of travel-friendly versions of your favorite board games, like Scrabble to Go and Sorry! Travel Edition. As for card games, options like Guess in 10 and Spot It are also easy to play while traveling!
Travel Journaling
Journaling is a great idea for older kids! Giving them a way to document their trips is the perfect way to keep them occupied. It can also foster a love for travel while encouraging creativity, reflection, and a little storytelling. Grab them a kids travel journal, some colorful pens, and maybe a few sticker sheets, and you’ve got an easy, engaging road trip activity that doubles as a keepsake.
Snacks and Drinks
Snacks and drinks are inevitably going to be a part of the perfect road trip equation. However, understand that all snacks and drinks are a choking hazard in the vehicle. Monitor your kids closely and stay away from hard candies or suckers, popcorn, whole grapes, raw vegetables, and peanut butter. These are all snacks that can pose a greater risk.
When packing snacks, consider the container you’re putting them in. Hard-sided drink cups (like popular stainless steel options) are a projectile risk. Instead, grab silicone options! And, for the snacks, consider packing them in something fun, like the GoBe Snack Spinner or this Memory Snack Tray, which doubles as a game. For more, read our full guide to safe snacking in the car.
Mindful Screen Time
There’s nothing wrong with a little screen time in the car. Road trips can be LONG, so feel free to set yourself up for success by downloading some movies, music, or educational apps to keep kids occupied. Just limit the usage by mixing in some of these other activities too, and you’ll have a well-rounded entertainment strategy!
How to Plan a Road Trip With Kids
Before you hit the road:
- Choose your destination: Decide where you want to go based on what you want to see, how far you want to drive, and what works best for your budget and schedule.
- Book accommodations: Book hotels, campsites, rentals, or other accommodations for when you arrive. And if the trip is lengthy, consider planning a stop or two on the way. Check out our guide for planning stops on a road trip with kids for a little help.
- Set a budget: Make a plan for what you plan to spend on fuel, food, activities, lodging, souvenirs, and everything else!
- Check seasonal/weather factors: Check for road closures, weather hazards, and the best times to visit your destination.
While planning your drive:
- Engage the kids in the planning: When you let kids help with planning, it builds excitement and ownership. This should also help keep them engaged and content along the way.
- Map out your route and stops: Decide the route considering scenery, rest stops, traffic patterns, and any attractions you want to see along the way.
- Schedule stops strategically: Plan to stop every 2 hours, especially if you have infants. If you want, you can choose locations near parks, scenic viewpoints, or kid-friendly attractions. Then, stops become more than bathroom breaks, they’re mini-adventures!
- Account for your furry family members: Ensure you make a safe travel plan for your pets if you’re bringing them along. Here’s how to travel with a dog in a car safely.
- Anticipate potential car sickness: Even if kids aren’t normally prone to car sickness, the long ride or terrain could aggravate things. Our car sickness guide can help you plan for the worst!
- Set up an emergency potty strategy: Again, even if kids don’t normally have accidents, a long ride or travel excitement could cause a potty accident. Make sure you protect your car seat and bring a travel potty.
- Pack a weather-appropriate emergency kit: This one is so important. Make sure you pack strategically to prepare for common road trip interruptions. Here’s our list of road trip essentials to help you make your packing list.
- Prep your vehicle for the long drive: The last thing you want is for your car to break down along the way. Prepare your car for the road trip by checking fluids, inspecting tires, and doing other basic maintenance.
- Make sure everyone stays comfortable: Bring along blankets, pillows, and your child’s favorite comfort items to keep them cozy.
Extra touches:
- Download offline maps & entertainment: You may encounter no service areas, so have the important things downloaded for offline use.
- Plan meals and snacks: Decide where you’ll eat and what food you need to pack to stay on budget.
- Share your itinerary with someone: For safety purposes, make sure you communicate your travel plans with someone.
- Make a family road trip playlist: To make the trip extra special, create a playlist of your family’s favorite songs or stories to listen to together.
Keeping kids entertained on your drive will make your road trip enjoyable, peaceful, and memorable!
With a little planning, a few creative activities, and some thoughtful extras, keeping kids entertained on a road trip doesn’t have to be stressful. From games and activities to snacks and music, these tips help make the journey as fun and memorable as the destination itself. Hit the road prepared, and enjoy the ride together!
For more on planning the perfect vacation, read our post on how to prepare for a road trip.
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