When we first decided to drive from our home to Colorado to visit family, I had no idea what we were getting ourselves into. My oldest was only 9 months old at the time, and that 18-hour road trip turned into a blur of tears, teething, and near-constant nursing. I spent 16 of those hours hunched over her in the backseat, and I remember thinking, “We are never doing this again.” But . . we did. And each time since, it’s gotten a little easier.
This last trip was our first with two kids—and it was actually smooth. Like, surprisingly smooth. Because over the past few years, I’ve learned a lot about what it actually takes to survive (and even enjoy) a road trip with young children.
Here are the biggest takeaways that made all the difference this time around:
Build in more time than you think you need.
One of the first lessons I learned: it will take longer than expected. There will be extra stops. Someone will need to nurse. Someone else will need to pee. And when you plan for a tight schedule, every little delay becomes stressful.
Instead of aiming for precise mealtimes or rigid plans, we let the rhythm of the day guide us. We stopped when it made sense—when the kids were hungry, when we needed a break, or when we found a good place to eat (I’m gluten-free, so this required some flexibility).
We also packed a variety of snacks—protein-packed, sweet, salty, crunchy, chewy—so everyone had options in between meals. And, we kept tons of water on hand in a cooler so we could stay hydrated without having to continue stopping.
Split the drive into multiple days.
Eighteen hours is a long haul. Pre-kids, we might’ve powered through it. But now? Breaking it up is essential. This year, we left early in the day so that both kids could nap during the drive. We stopped for the night around dinnertime, before everyone hit their limit. I booked hotels right off the highway with restaurants within walking distance so we didn’t have to get back in the car.
After dinner, we let our toddler swim in the hotel pool, which helped her burn energy before bed. Everyone slept better, and we woke up ready to finish the drive the next morning. Bonus tip: look for hotels with breakfast included—it’s one less thing to think about when you hit the road again.
Make the backseat your headquarters.
I get carsick when I’m constantly twisting around from the front seat, and it’s hard to really help from that angle anyway. So this time, I rode in the backseat with the kids, and it made such a difference. Sitting in the back let me hand snacks to the toddler, soothe the baby, and keep things running smoothly without acrobatics.
We downloaded movies ahead of time and used a headrest mount for the iPad so our toddler wasn’t looking down the whole time. That helped with motion sickness and made screen time feel like a little theater experience. We also rotated in simple games (like “I Spy”) and easy to transport toys to keep things fresh.
Organize your car like a pro.
Packing strategically was a game-changer! Snacks and diapers went in a bag in the back seat for easy access. Toys, blankets, and pillows were closest to the trunk opening. Clothes and extra gear stayed tucked away unless we really needed them. Plus, we packed a separate overnight duffel so we didn’t have to unpack the whole car at the hotel.
And here’s a little hack that saved me so much energy when we got home: I brought a garbage bag just for dirty laundry. As clothes got used, they went in the bag. When we got home, I just dumped it straight into the washer. Done.
Final Thoughts
Road tripping with kids isn’t always easy—but it can be manageable, and even meaningful, when you set realistic expectations and create systems that support everyone. You’re not going to do it perfectly. There will be messes, meltdowns, and unexpected stops. But there will also be moments of joy—singing in the car, laughing at silly games, and watching your toddler discover the magic of hotel pools.
If you’re thinking about hitting the road with little ones in tow, I hope this helps you feel just a little more prepared—and a lot less alone.
