Planning a Family-Friendly Road Trip

Summer is fast approaching and many of us are starting to consider getaways for the entire family.

This is a great time of year where you don’t necessarily have to head overseas in order to benefit from good weather, meaning that travel can be cheaper and that we can fit a family trip into our budget more easily.

If you’re wondering what type of trip might best suit your needs, you may want to consider a road trip.

Here’s a little information on the subject that should help you to get the show on the road!

Why Consider a Road Trip?

There are so many benefits that come hand in hand with road trips for families. Like other forms of holidays, heading away allows you all to disconnect from the responsibilities and routine of everyday life.

You can disconnect from work, while your kids can disconnect from school. This gives you a way to connect with one another, enjoying some quality time together that isn’t interrupted by other commitments.

Of course, there are benefits that are specific to a road trip. Here are some to consider:

New experiences – it’s important that your children have new experiences that take them outside of their day to day routine and comfort zone. When you go on a road trip, you can introduce them into new environments where they can live in a different way, see new sights, connect with nature and more. Road trips can really expand your little ones’ horizons.

Encouraging new interests – when your children have new experiences, they can also develop new interests. You never know where your child’s passions may lie and a road trip could tap into them. Nature walks and hikes can see them discover new wildlife, trees, plants and more. They may see a historic site that sets of an interest in a specific time period. The list of potential goes on.

Memories – when you think back to your own childhood experiences, chances are, the ones that you remember best are holidays and getaways. A road trip can provide great opportunities for meaningful and memorable times to be captured together, strengthening your family bonds.

Developing patience – children who go on road trips tend to be a lot more patient. Sure, the first time, you may get a lot of calls of “are we there yet” from the back seats as you venture out onto the roads. But road trips teach children to value the journey as much as the destination. They’ll quickly learn how to practice patience and how to occupy themselves during longer legs of the trip.

The Benefits of a Road Trip

Road trips are also paired with unique benefits. When you opt for a road trip, you can take more belongings with you.

You won’t be confined to the limits of suitcases and airline weight limits. You also gain a lot more control over your time away. You don’t necessarily have to stick to set dates for certain places and activities.

Instead, if you find a location you’re particularly enjoying, you can stay for longer, whereas if you find somewhere isn’t all you thought it would be, you can move on sooner.

Planning Your Road Trip

So, if a road trip sounds right for you, where should you start your planning process? Here are some key elements and considerations to really focus on during your road trip planning phase.

Destination

Where do you want to take your family? Destination plays an important role in every road trip, as it determines how long you’ll need to drive to get there, which route will be best, where you can stop and what you can see along the way and so much more. Determine a destination before taking any further steps.

Vehicle

You need to make sure that you have a suitable vehicle for a road trip. Whether you own this video or if you decide to hire one, you need to make sure that not only is it suited to long journeys and any terrain you’re considering tackling, but that it has sufficient room for you, your family and your luggage too. On top of this, you need to make sure it’s in good condition.

Have a full inspection carried out to determine whether you need any work done or replacement parts—perhaps you need to purchase an exhaust manifolds—and can have this completed before heading away.

Stop Offs

Full blown road trips where you live in the vehicle aren’t suitable for all families. You may need to stop off at different places along the way. For many families, hotels, hostels or even camping are good options.

Consider what best suits your family and your budget for the trip. Then look for appropriate options along the route, so you don’t need to drive too far out in order to stop off and relax.

Toilet Breaks

Kids tend to need a lot more toilet breaks during road trips than adults. It’s best to prepare for this. When planning a route, make sure that you pass by plenty of establishments or service stations where you and your little ones can use the bathrooms and rest rooms along the way.

Entertainment

If you’re going to be driving for a long period of time, you should make sure that you provide your little ones with options that will keep them entertained along the way.

There are only so many rounds of “eye spy” and other basic, in-car games that anyone can enjoy. Good options include tablets with downloaded TV shows or films, handheld games consoles, books, coloring books and more.

Alternatives

Of course, road trips aren’t going to be for everyone. Some people want pure relaxation when it comes to heading away from the routine of day to day life. If this all sounds like way too much effort for you, you may want to consider an alternative form of holiday.

Here are some options that might better tick your boxes.

All-inclusive – the all-inclusive holiday is extremely popular amongst families, especially those who want to kick back and relax. These hotels tend to have all of your meals covered, often in the form of a buffet. Your little ones can have drinks and ice creams as they please. You also have your room cleaned. Many offer kids clubs and creches too.

Villas – for a home away from home, you may want to consider renting out a villa. This will provide you with a home in your chosen destination. This gives you the option of cooking at home and keeping costs down.

Caravans – caravan sites tend to feature caravans that you can rent for the duration of your trip. They tend to be low cost and allow you to cook and manage your own space, while having access to facilities, such as entertainment on the evenings.

Camping – camping is a great way to help your family immerse themselves in nature. Often, it is best to visit a family-friendly campsite rather than heading out into the wilderness with your little ones. This also provides you with access to home comforts, such as electric points, charging ports, warm showers and flushing toilets.

As you can see, there’s a lot you need to take into consideration when it comes to planning a family road trip, but hopefully, some of the information provided will help you to get the ball rolling in the right direction.

Give each step full consideration and you’ll be heading away before you know it.