You’ve taken the big steps toward planning your perfect family road trip. You blocked off your calendar, took time off work and decided on a destination. What now? Here are the essential tasks you should complete before hitting the road with your family. You’ll be able to enjoy your trip knowing you’ve checked every essential off your list. 

1.   Decide Your Road Trip Type

You have two main types of road trips to choose from. Will your adventure lie in the destination or the journey? Your goal can be to make it to the endpoint and plan most of your leisure activities there. Alternatively, you can make the trip itself the vacation, making lots of fun stops along the way to your turnaround point. You’ll spend more time along the route and less at the final destination.  

2.   Set a Budget for your Trip

Before you make any further plans, you need to set a budget. Family road trips are generally an affordable alternative to other vacation formats or modes of transportation. However, without a budget and a plan, it’s all too easy to spend more than you’d like. Fun stops, food, lodging, gas, and other random expenses add up quickly. Start saving ahead of time and set your budget at that cap so you don’t overspend. 

3.   Book Your Nights in Advance

You can book your accommodations once you have a general plan for your route and spending plan. Budget-friendly and unique locations fill up quickly, so it’s always a good idea to claim these stops in advance. Try to choose places with loose check-in times so you can arrive late in the evening if you’ve made a few extra stops during the day. 

4.   Leave Rest Stops Open

It can be tempting to meticulously plan each rest stop along the way. Many families pick bathroom breaks and sightseeing spots before hitting the road. However, traveling with children requires a little more patience and flexibility. They may not be able to hold it until your planned stop, or you might want to skip it because the kids fell asleep. 

Only choosing your final stop each night and leaving the rest open also allows you to explore things you might have missed otherwise. When entering a new state or town, visit the welcome center and peruse the brochures. What exciting things can you discover along the way? Let your family take turns choosing activities and sightseeing stops so they’re invested in the journey. 

5.   Clean and Service the Car

Since you’ll spend countless hours in the car each day of your family trip, you want to ensure your vehicle is in tip-top shape. Take it to the car wash and give it a good cleaning. Run the vacuum through the interior and suck up lingering Cheerios and bits of who knows what living symbiotically in your floor and seats. 

You should also get your car serviced. At the very least, rotate your tires, change your oil, and check all your fluids, topping them off if necessary. Securing a form of roadside assistance is also a good idea before leaving. Call AAA or a similar service to get set up in case of an emergency.  

6.   Pack Trip Emergency Supplies

You should pack emergency supplies for any road trip because you never know when disaster may strike. Food, water, a flashlight, blankets, and a first-aid kit are essential to safe travel. 

However, you should take a few extra steps when preparing for a long trip with kids. Someone will inevitably get carsick or be unable to make it to a rest stop to use the bathroom. Spills are also a high probability. Cover your bases by packing basic cleaning supplies and plastic bags. 

7.   Live Like a Local

Some of the best stops along your way won’t be traditional tourist locations. Go to a gas station or diner and ask locals where the best places to visit are. What hidden gems do residents love but go unnoticed by people passing through? 

Eat lobster rolls and visit the easternmost point of the contiguous U.S. at West Quoddy Lighthouse in Maine. Watch a wild pack of buffalo and a prairie dog city in Caprock Canyons, Texas. The world is yours to explore. Beat the crowds by avoiding the major touristy locations. 

8.   Plan Your Road Trip Entertainment 

You should plan your in-car entertainment. A little forethought can reduce the number of times you hear the dreaded “Are we there yet?” Whatever your thoughts on screens at home, car trips are the time to make an exception. 

Of course, you don’t want your kids to stare into the tech abyss for the whole trip, so you’ll have to plan some moderation. However, popping in a movie or granting an hour of tablet time may be just what you need to save your sanity. You can also lean into tech without screens, like a family-compiled playlist or age-appropriate audiobooks or podcasts. 

You should also pack plenty of non-tech options. Batteries fail, and kids need to look away from screens occasionally. Pack some tried-and-true road trip staples like car-friendly coloring supplies, books and magnetic games.

Enjoy and have a safe family trip!

Share your most epic family vacations in the comment section below!