9 Tips for Surviving a Family Road Trip
When you think family road trips, you might imagine confined spaces, loud siblings and too many pit stops. Well, that's about to change.
We're here to transform the way you perceive these sometimes-dreaded journeys. Road trips can be seriously fun. You just need to head out equipped with the right gear and a positive attitude.
Check out these nine tips and you'll be ready—and eager—to hit the road with your family.
Load Up on a Variety of Activities
It seems pretty obvious, but staying entertained is a must. If you're going to be in the car for a significant amount of time, make sure to bring enough activities to occupy your time. Books, electronics, card games–bring it all! Try and pack items that don't take up too much space and can possibly be shared with your siblings. If you don't come prepared with things to do, you will get bored.
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Bring Portable Chargers
This is a biggie! If you do bring any electronics, make sure they're fully charged. Nothing is worse than getting in the car and realizing your phone is almost out of juice. Pack portable chargers or car chargers for all your electronics if you have them. They will save your life!
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Have Everything You Need to Tune Out
When you're in a small space with lots of people, it's pretty much headache central. If you need to tune out, invest in a pair of noise-canceling headphones. They're perfect for your road trip snooze fest. Make sure you're also prepared with a great playlist. If you have the right music, the time will fly.
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Assemble a Snack Station
Snacking is half the fun of road trips. Before you get on the road, prep baggies with your fave road snacks. You'll save loads of money if you purchase them ahead of time instead of buying them at pit stops along the way. If your parents are feeling really generous, maybe you can convince them to buy a car cooler. You can fill that bad boy up with tons of food and drinks so you'll never go hungry or thirsty.
Be Mindful of How Much Liquid You Drink
It's important to hydrate on long road trips, obviously, but you don't want to drink too much liquid or you'll be hopping out at every single truck stop on your journey for a bathroom break. Be mindful of how much water you're chugging down, and when you're about to embark on a long stretch of road that doesn't have many off-ramps. Having to hold it for miles on end is not fun.
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Be Comfy
Because you'll be in the car for hours, you might as well be as comfy as possible. Rock those sweatpants, bring a pillow and blanket and make sure to bring extra layers of clothing. Everyone has different temperature preferences, and you want to come prepared for when your sibling asks to crank up the air conditioning when you're already freezing.
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Talk It Out
So maybe you have electronics, books and activities to occupy your time for days, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't interact with your family. Make sure you really soak in this quality bonding time. Talk about your trip, what you're most excited about and what you hope to get out of the experience. This time with your family is precious.
Take Pictures
If you're going on an epic cross-country road trip, you'll travel through all sorts of scenery. Have a camera on hand in the car, or make the most of your phone's camera, so you can snap and document your journey. When the trip is over, you'll love reflecting back on your entire experience.
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Play an Old-Fashioned Game
Nothing screams family road trip quite like a car game. No matter how old we get, car games never get boring. Try spotting license plates from all 50 states, or play a classic game of "I Spy."
Are you ready for your big road trip? You should definitely check out one of THESE seven ridiculously cool hotels on your journey.