The holidays are an amazing time for food, fun, and family togetherness. They are also some of the busiest travel days of the year with people all over the country trying to get to family gatherings by plane, train, and automobile. Add in the potential for weather-related delays (a white Christmas is amazing, until it causes flight cancellations!) and all the extra work that comes with traveling with kids and it’s no wonder why moms can find holiday travel to be a less than jolly experience!
Whether we travel on the holidays because we think the final destination is totally worth it or if we travel just to avoid a massive grandparent guilt trip, the good news is that there are ways to make traveling with kids easier on everyone. We can’t control the weather, the traffic, or if someone happens to have a diaper blowout at the worst possible moment, but we can share some mom tested travel hacks that just might help make the journey a little less stressful for all involved. So read on for game changer ideas to make all day car trips or cross country flights as easy as a free sleigh ride from Santa! Well, maybe not quite that easy, but every little bit helps, right?
Anticipate Bumps
“I think a clear mindset goes a long way. There will be friction, frustration, and mishaps of all kinds. Guaranteed. Our mantra is ‘it’s not a vacation, it’s a trip.’ When we anticipate bumps we’re better able to roll with them. Sounds stupidly cliché, but it’s really helped us. Also, plan for eleventy times the number of pit stops you think you’ll need to make.” — Kristin S., Seattle, Washington
Travel in an RV
“I love the thought of saving a fortune on hotel rooms, traveling [in an RV] with my own sheets, pillows, towels, and favorite foods, and setting my own schedule so that we can pack up and go on a whim or stay where we are a little longer.” — Lindsay F, Nashville, TN
Listen Up
“My kids love a good audiobook. Like they will cheer when I tell them that a car ride will be a couple hours because it means they get a couple hours of story. Also snacks.” — Michelle B., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Embrace Novelty
“When our kids were smaller, I prepped for any lengthy travel by hitting Target and buying a bunch of little surprises (books, small toys, stickers, candy/chips) and packing them in their backpacks the night before. No opening until we were on the way! The novelty of a bunch of new things to open, play with, do, eat, etc., was always highly valuable and lent an air of occasion to the travel part.” — Jenny B., Salt Lake City, Utah
Prep for the Gross Stuff
“I dedicate a bag for stuff to deal with anything gross that happens in a car. I’ve got empty plastic gallon bags for catching vomit (being able to seal it up after is clutch when you aren’t able to pull over right away), diaper wipes and Clorox wipes for clean up, mouthwash to both rinse mouths and to spot treat vomit splashes to help with the smell, and a old towel to put down on the seats if someone has a pee accident. It helps my stress level to know that we won’t be scrambling if someone has an accident.” — Ellie R., Topeka, Kansas
Potty Break Helper
“If any of your children potty trained in the last few years, a portable potty can reduce the stress of getting caught in traffic between rest stops. We’ve for sure pulled over to the side of the road and had someone pee in the car when it didn’t seem like they could make it another 20 miles!” — Anne B., Fairfax, Virginia
Get Them Moving
“When the kids were little, we’d make them get out and play a physical game at any gas or bathroom stop, even just three to five minutes of running helps (and we always tried to find a stop with some grass so we could do this). Also, look on Google Maps for green spaces and/or playgrounds along the route and try to plan stops near those.” — Kate P., Cleveland, Ohio
Test the Tech
“Screen time is clutch during a long car ride so if something isn’t working right, it’s a bad scene! I make sure to check to make sure everyone’s headphones are still working, that all of the movies/shows are downloaded and working without Wi-Fi, and make sure I charge up all the portable chargers and have the cords we need. Portable chargers are huge when the drive is 10+ hours, so I have one for everyone!” — Laurie R., Abilene, Texas
Make Fighting Costly
“On an eight-hour road trip I filled the two cupholders in the front with $10 each in quarters. Anytime the two kids in the back started fighting or yelling or acting like little s—- I’d take a quarter from each cup and put them in my purse. I think they each earned $8 that day. I assumed they might end up with 75 cents each at the end of the trip, I was thrilled at this outcome. They were maybe 10 and 12 at the time? And just at each other’s throats constantly. Best $16 I ever spent for travel with kids.” — Harriet F., Scottsdale, Arizona
Plan for Laundry
“Plan to do laundry when you get there. It saves so much packing space and leaves room to bring things home (especially at holidays/gifts). Also, if you’re making multiple overnight stops, pack by night, not by person. (Don’t haul every suitcase in at every stop.) Also, family audiobook.” — Erin G., Charlotte, North Carolina
Travel by Night
“With little kids, especially when they are too young to hold their own screens, it’s really hard to keep them occupied for a long car trip. We always try to leave around 5 p.m. or so and drive through the night. By the time the little one is bored, they can fall asleep and sleep the rest of the way. The key is to make sure at least one parent can sleep in the car so that the drivers can switch shifts and drive safely.” — Toni M., Las Vegas, Nevada
Snack Smart
“Everyone is happier when there are car snacks! We have a couple of things that work for us. First, we alternate sweet snacks with stuff like nuts or jerky that have some protein so that nobody gets too overly sugared up. I like to give them snacks that take a long time to eat as well, things like pistachios in the shell, lollipops, candy like Skittles that they have to eat one a time. We also make sure everyone gets out to pee at the gas station by letting everyone choose a new snack with every gas station stop.” — Vanessa V., Holland, Michigan
Med Bag Must Have
“A big must is a car med bag or first aid kit. I keep kids chewable pain meds, Dramamine, anti-diarrhea medicine, cough drops, and all the other stuff handy because there’s nothing worse than needing it and either having to take out all the luggage to find it or having to hope the next gas station has it. Also, no matter how old kids are, always have diaper wipes in the car!” — Laurel W., Ankeny, Iowa
