6 Parents Share The Road Trip Tips That’ll Make You Feel Like A Vacation-Planning Hero

Somewhere along the way, road trips became the classic symbol of family fun. Even the thought of them brings up vintage images of parents and kids driving on the open road, stopping at diners and road-side attractions on a whim, and singing along to iconic tunes — a scene not totally unlike what road trips look like these days. But there are also some key differences between today’s road trips and those of yesteryear.

These days, fast food options dominate over diners, road-side attractions are fewer and further between, and family singalongs have been replaced with the entertainment conveniences of tablets. Luckily, there have been plenty of positive changes, too, like the fact that family cars are being designed to ignite a sense of adventure in even the busiest of modern families.

Take the first ever Toyota Grand Highlander for example: The newly launched SUV has an impressive amount of cargo space, comfortable seating for up to eight people with an adult-sized third row, and a style that looks just as sleek driving down country roads as it does navigating the busy city streets. And with so much room for people, their stuff, and their snacks, the opportunities for family exploration have never felt bigger.

To help you plan your next grand adventure with your own crew, Fatherly asked parents to share their best road trip-planning tips. Check out their (very good) advice below, choose a destination, and set out on a memory-making journey that you’ll never forget.

1. Timing Is Key

For Jeff and Christina, traveling with an infant taught them an important lesson when it comes to departure times: “Plan it around naps,” says Jeff, dad to Jamie. “You don’t want to interfere with that! You’re going to have more fun if your baby is well-rested.”

2. Think About Ways To Unplug

As a dad to two boys who — like most kids — are very into their tablets, Omar found success with classic car games like “I Spy” during a recent road trip to the Poconos. “It was a great way to remove them from the tablets and just be one with each other. It made the trip more memorable for them to be able to interact with the actual route.” The license plate game, the alphabet game, and good ol’ identifying shapes in clouds are also classic crowd pleasers to keep in mind.

3. For Formula-Fed Travelers, Use This Strategy

As both frequent takers of long drives and parents to an infant, Kyle and Cat have picked up more than a couple ideas for smoother car rides — especially when it comes to feeding. “Set up the bottle of formula in the bottle dry so you can get water anywhere on the road,” suggests Kyle. The parents also love having one adult sit in the back seat with their daughter, Siren. “It helps them feel included in the ride, and you can give them a little more attention.”

4. Pack Essentials For Your Kids — And Yourself

This past summer, Lip and his family chose a new destination to travel to every weekend. After an entire summer of two to four-hour rides in the car, he became an expert in prepping a vehicle for both his kid and the adults aboard: “Have garbage bags handy in case it’s been a bad morning,” he says. “And you definitely need a phone or tablet, and a cooler with you so you can pack it with cold brew, water, and snacks.”

5. Get Creative With Your Playlists

Robin has two great ideas for tunes that are worth stealing for your next adventure. The first is to keep a playlist with easy access to all of your kiddo’s favorite songs that you can cue up at a moment’s notice. The second is a bit more gamified: “Make another that’s still kids songs, but tell them they don’t get to choose right now, and that the playlist will be a surprise.” Robin’s mystery playlist is about an hour long, and the anticipation of guessing which song will play next adds an extra layer of entertainment for easily bored travelers.

6. Don’t Forget To Enjoy The Journey

Sounds simple, but it’s true. “Take time to stop. See the scenery, take in the environment, then get back in the car and go and don’t just make it a straight shot,” says Chandra. “Road trips are such a bonding experience, so just enjoy the journey.”

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