10 Tips for Road Trips: Planning
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Vegas Baby Yeah! And…Arches National Park, Colorado National Monument, Denver, Garden of the Gods, Bandelier National Monument, Santa Fe, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, and Tombstone. Whew. Road tripping for 45 hours of driving was definitely exhausting, but also uber enriching and full of learning. As the planner and homeschooler, I offer you these 10 tips to consider for the ultimate road trip plan. (We discuss this more in length on our podcast episode #53.)
Write a Road Trip Micro-Mission Statement
It may sound touchy-feely, but trust me, this will ensure you design your road trip around your family’s values and goals. Do this with your travel partner(s) (spouse, friend, family) so that everyone is basically reading the same guide book of fun. If your mission is enriching and safe educational experiences but your spouse’s mission is risky adventure - you are just asking for strife from day one. (Need help writing a mission statement? Check out our free downloadable you can convert for your road trip.)
Plan Way Ahead of time
I suggest planning a year ahead of time, especially if you are camping or desiring popular destinations. Yosemite opens their reservation site 366 days ahead of time and can sell out. Other places have limited hotels nearby popular destinations and you might not get your preferred lodging if you don’t plan 6-12 months ahead of time. Some museums and excursions require reservations, and they may fill up on the day they release their reservation window. Carlsbad Caverns required reservations, and since I needed a time slot before 10 AM, I made sure to be available when the reservation window opened. Ropes courses, immersive art experiences, and tours fill up faster than you think, and, depending on your schedule, you might not get the chance to return on another day.
Obtain Family Input
You can do this while writing your micro-mission statement, or at a separate time - but this is critical to know where all your traveling partners want to go! We knew we were driving through Vegas, so we asked our kids to share their top things they wanted to do - and thankfully, all three wanted Circus Circus! Done! You want to make sure that every family member/traveler feels like their interests are represented. They will pay more attention to and learn more about their interests while on the trip. If one traveler is super excited about a certain destination, offer to let them take the lead on planning it or partner with you on the task. Involve your fellow travelers whenever you can. It’s a great opportunity for your child develop these planning life skills!
Pick an Ultimate Destination
Being on the road takes a lot out of you, especially your children. It helps if you have an ultimate destination where you can do laundry, have down time, relax, and feel at home for a few days before taking off on more adventures. We had family in Denver, so after 3 nights in 3 different hotels, we spent 6 nights with our favorite people enjoying all the peaceful living Denver suburbia had to offer. Then, we had 5 more nights to follow in 4 different hotels, with clean laundry and renewed spirits.
Research Stops Along the Way
Blogs and travel sites galore offer so many ideas of places to stop along your route. Some are actual major destinations and others are just special restaurants to try in tiny towns. I had the choice between Zion, Bryce, and Arches - but after reading a few blogs and the parks’ websites, I knew that Arches was the right stop for us for the ages of my kids and the time frame we had available to us. Then I read blogs and asked friends all about things to do within Arches. We were given advice, took the advice, and had the best time exploring. There’s also sometimes an 8 hour driving stretch where there is literally nothing to do, but spend a little bit of time researching the route - there might be a space-themed alien restaurant or giant dinosaur you won’t want to miss.
Gather Educational Supplies Early
Books:
If you truly want the road-schooling experience, then do your homework 2-3 months ahead of time to allow time for Amazon delivery and pre-learning (if you choose). For our trips I have found numerous Who Was, What Was, and Where is books that suffice as perfect read-alouds during our driving legs. I also buy picture books for where we are traveling to such as books about animal poop (there’s a unique one for many of the major parks), state information (this one is beautiful and this one is funny), national parks (this one has great art work) and also our ultimate destination (Colorado coloring book). We also use the National Park journal for recording our experiences. My kids love stamping their national park passport books at each visitor center too (you can usually buy the passport books there too).
Music:
With consideration of our sights, I typically create a play list to introduce classic bands and popular songs. For our Colorado road trip, I found classic songs such as “Take it Easy” by the Eagles and “Rocky Mountain High” by John Denver.
Audio Books:
A family audio book is a conducive way of sharing the driving experience together with discussion and parenting throughout your route. Or, downloading books for each of your children for their tablet and headphones can also give you some much needed quiet.
Maps:
Legends, problem solving, directional queues, etc. can be learned in real time! Obtain maps from AAA (if you are a member, US maps are free!) or local gas stations to show them where you are all headed. You might even cut down on the relentless questions like, “Are we there yet?” (Your child loves maps? Consider buying your state’s Thomas Guide!)
Activity Books:
On top of all that, I have created numerous activity books of information and activities that give a brief history of the various destinations we are visiting plus a journaling option. It’s a great way to learn about your stops prior to arrival, building appreciation and anticipation along the way. (See free downloadable excerpt from my road trip 40 page activity book to Colorado here.)
Car Games and Prizes:
The Bag O’ Fun is a family favorite for us, full of fun car games, prizes, and even some tablet time. Check out how to make your own Bag O’ Fun here. Also, I incorporate fun activities within the activity book, such as this road trip scavenger hunt (free downloadable). For prizes, sometimes we let them pick out their favorite candy at the next gas stop or I find inexpensive souvenirs at the visitor centers that catch their attention. Imagine their surprise when they receive this prize in the next leg of the trip! These activities make for a memorable experience for the entire family.
Leave Room for Flexibility
No matter how much planning you do, your fellow travelers need to have room to move where the road takes them. Traffic, flat tires, vomit, hunger, bathroom needs, grumpiness, skinned knees, fatigue, and more may all cause a detour to your perfect plan. Keep your plan cushioned with plenty of time for unforeseen experiences, good and bad. You never know when an opportunity arises to meet an accomplished artist at the art museum or their impromptu enthusiasm to catch the street performers.
Prepare Your Vehicle
Nothing like a broken-down van in 110 degree heat to spoil the day! About 3 -4 weeks prior to your trip, take your road-tripping vehicle to see the mechanic for a tune-up. Share your plans with the mechanic and ask the expert to recommend the necessary fixes. New tires needed? Get them. Preparing your vehicle also includes making sure each traveler has the space they need for their personal items, tote bag, arms, legs, and head. There are hooks and head rests you can buy that can really add to your children’s comfort level (and yours!). I loved having a small ice chest to keep some fresh food like yogurt, cheese, and sandwiches - it helped cut down on the need for restaurant consensus since we had other nutritious options.
Learn Your Route - Both of You!
It always helps to preview your route ahead of time. Check your destination addresses by calling hotels and restaurants ahead of time to ensure you have the correct information. (On one of our road trips, the Expedia hotel address was different than the actual address!) Also, both of you need to be aware of the route ahead of time, so that if the designated navigator tunes out, you’re not at a total loss. Also, check out your potential gas station stops. Even though some gas stations appear on Google Maps or highway signs, they are sometimes just a ghost gas station of yesteryear. Gas stations near town and eateries are typically a great way to fill up on more than just gas, even if your tank isn’t empty. Use the opportunity. (Did you know gas stations have ratings? If you have a number of options, you can search along the route for the higher rated stations.) Did you know there are apps you can utilize for planning your route? Check out our podcast episode #53 for more information about that.
Review Plans & Expectations with Travelers
Now that your trip is basically planned, check-in again with your fellow travelers. You can create a video montage of the sights, enthusiastically share the learning experiences you’ve planned, introduce the Bag O’ Fun games, and share what gets your engines going. Discuss the schedule, expectations, and trip manners. Pay attention to new ideas your travelers suggest and work with them on incorporating their input. Make sure everyone is basically on board and try to be willing to compromise too.
These 10 Tips should have you well on your way to building the epic road trip of your dreams.
Start your engines!
(For more about planning your road trip, check out podcast episode #53.)
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