How to take a long road trip with babies and toddlers

Mar 3

Recently, my husband and I made the big decision to move our family from Philadelphia to Southern California. At the time, our kids were five months and just under two years old. Well, we also have a Great Dane and own a car, so flying wasn't really an option. We committed to a two-week road trip across the country. Everything we needed was in our little 4runner; everything else was shipped using Pods for cross-country moving. I can officially call myself an expert in the art of long road trips with babies and toddlers. We had minimal tantrums, lots of happy singing, and even had one bout of RSV. We not only survived the long road trip but really enjoyed ourselves and made some lasting memories. Follow these tips to ensure your long family road trip will be a fun and memorable experience.

The key to a successful road trip with babies and toddlers is to be prepared for anything. From unexpected diaper blowouts to impromptu snack requests and sudden bouts of restlessness, anticipating the unpredictable is crucial for a smooth journey. I thought at one point during my preparation for our cross-country road trip with kids that I might be overdoing it with planning. However, every detail I poured over leading up to our departure was well worth it. I used every part of my preparation and was very proud to have not traumatized my kids with the long car rides every day. Instead, everyone actually enjoyed themselves. The following is, step-by-step, exactly what I did to prepare for and do on our long road trip.

Toys and Activities

Boredom is the enemy of road trips, so come prepared with an arsenal of entertainment. Bring a mix of travel toys, kids' coloring books, etc. My biggest tip would be to get a variety of new toys. I did this for both kids, but for my 2-year-old, especially, he got really excited every time a new toy came out, which kept him entertained for longer.

Hide them away

I kept all of the toys and activities tucked away in a couple of bags in the car. Whenever I could sense that my son was getting bored or antsy, I would take out a new toy. I felt like Mary Poppins. He couldn't see everything all at once so it spread the entertainment for longer.

Vary them

Make sure to bring your child's favorite variety of toy, whether that be a travel coloring book, dolls, etc. But you want to keep them engaged, so add in some new types as well. One of the big hits on long our road trip was sensory toys. I pulled them out, not only for boredom but when I sensed emotions getting high as well. Sensory toys are a great calming activity to mellow the mood.

Snack Box

Yes, a box. It could also be a bag or whatever you like, really. But I used a cardboard box that I placed in front of my baby's car seat, which was out of sight and reach of my toddler and right behind my own seat. I filled it with all kinds of healthy and yummy snacks and reached back there for easy access when I needed to.

Make it Comfy

Comfort is key to a happy road trip, and although we had our car stuffed to the brim when we moved across the country, I always made sure that my kids' car seats and areas were comfy and cozy and they had everything they needed within access. Bring along blankets, favorite stuffies, comfy socks, and a water bottle. Anything that will make your child feel safe. Long road trips with infants and toddlers can be a big transition, so keep everyone happy with all the comforts.

Download Media

Ok, don't come at me for this, but my toddler has a tablet. Yes, he's two, but the games and shows he watches on it have helped to teach him his colors, numbers, and letters. And you can't expect a kid to sit in a car for 6 hours at a time without a variety of entertainment. I downloaded a number of things for him while we had internet access so they would be all ready for him when we were driving in the middle of nowhere. You don't want to be stuck without internet while the stakes are high.

Plan Your Route Loosely

One thing that I struggled with in planning our road trip was whether I should book everything ahead of time to ensure we had a place to sleep every night or to fly by the seat of our pants every day and chance it. I ultimately decided on the latter because I knew we would be driving through big cities, so more hotels would be available, and it was the middle of winter, so it was the off-season.

I probably wouldn't have taken the risk if those two things weren't a factor. And the decision paid off when we hit a massive snowstorm in the Rocky Mountains between Denver, Colorado, and Moab, Utah. I wanted to stop and find a hotel where we were as the snow was piling up fast, but our youngest had been a little sick with a cough, and that day, he got worse and worse. We decided to power through the storm to take him to an emergency room in Moab and, ultimately, found out that he had RSV. We were very grateful that it was a mild case, but we stayed an extra night in Moab while he recovered. If we had booked hotels following that destination, we would've lost out on deposits or total booking fees. Decide what's right for your long road trip. Every family and scenario is different, so evaluate that trip's individual needs.

Timing is everything

Knowing your child's nap routines and where they'll sleep best is an art, and I'm not going to claim that there's one plan of action for all road trips. Every family is different. For us, this meant leaving the hotels early in the morning, driving for the day, and allowing our 2-year-old to take his nap in the car. Our baby ended up sleeping for most of the drive anyway. Other families might decide to wait until bedtime to leave for that day's drive if it's easier for the kids to fall asleep in the car and then be transferred to their beds at night.

Sweep Every Hotel Room for Kids' Belongings

I can say, without a doubt, that the worst mistake we could've made on our trip would have been to leave "Boppy," our son's bunny he sleeps with, in a hotel room. So, we made certain, even amid snack requests, running the hallways, and crying when Daddy left to pack the car, that we did a sweep of every single room we stayed in. Boppy would not be left behind on our watch!

Podcasts and Kids Musicals

This is an obvious one, but listening to something kid-friendly in the car can help keep spirits up. We're big fans of soundtracks like Moana and Vivo, and there are even some podcasts made specifically for children. Here are a few good ones to look up

The Arthur PodCast

Molly of Denali

Pinkalicious

Frequent Breaks for Play

One of the saving graces on our long road trip was playground stops. It sounds simple, but it was a total game-changer when it came to our kids' patience for being in the car. With a little research, you can pretty much find a playground in every town you're in, and the payoff is huge. Most playgrounds will be visible on Google Maps or any other GPS system. We tried to plan for a playground visit when the afternoon nap time was approaching. We'd give our 2-year-old lunch, and then daddy would take him to the playground while I gave a bottle to our youngest. Everyone would be well-fed and tired out by the time we got back in the car.

Patience and Positivity

Staying positive can be difficult when there are tantrums, but children can sense stress, so stay calm and reassure them if they get fussy. When possible, engage your kids with distractions like a favorite toy or a brief stop at a scenic spot. Remember, maintaining a cheerful atmosphere can turn challenging moments into opportunities for bonding and creating cherished memories on your family road trip.

Essentials

Here are some of my favorite purchases for our long road trip across the country. These items helped our family get through the long driving days, and I hope they'll do the same for you.

Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links. I earn a small commission if you make a purchase.

The ideas and opinions expressed in this post are entirely my own.

family travelroad tripping

Daniela Fedorowicz