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With nearly a third of people planning road trips for this summer, there is no question that their popularity is rising — particularly among families. As many moms try to balance work and family, one of the most recommended tips is to carve out dedicated time for business and loved ones. It turns out that hitting the open road with your children may just be the answer.
It can be easy on your budget, encourages family bonding, and creates lasting memories with your children. In fact, almost 86 percent of parents are planning on taking a road trip soon. Whether it is hopping in the car for a weekend road adventure or planning a long summer vacation exploring the country with your children, here’s what you need to know when planning the road trip of your dreams.
Brush Up On Your Auto Repair Basics
The last thing you want to happen on your road trip is for your car to break down. Not only does it derail your plans, but it can also cost you a pretty penny. This is why it is important that you choose a vehicle that is reliable and perform key car checks before hitting the road. These checks can also help you determine whether or not your car can handle long distances, or whether it would be more prudent to rent a car instead. Start with checking your tires for wear and tear along with changing your car’s oil.
Also, be sure to check whether your wipers are working correctly and fill up on wiper fluid. Lastly, before setting off on your dream road adventure, head online for a quick brush up on basic car repairs and maintenance like tire replacements, oil changes, and replacing broken light indicator bulbs. This will help you minimize any roadside emergencies and ensure you and your family stay safe on the roads.
Scout Out Your Route And Location Before Your Pack
It always helps to do your research before heading off on a road trip, particularly if you have kids in tow. Besides helping you to plan a route with ample breaks and stopovers, you get to see attractions that may interest yourself or your kids. You may also be able to book an Airbnb that suits you and your kid’s needs ahead of time. In short, it makes sure everyone has a good time.
Head online to travel forums, review, and comparison websites to see what others are saying about certain hotspots, routes, or hotels. Alternatively, you can visit individual hotel websites to check out their accommodation features for mother and child such as a kid-friendly pool or milk warming amenities in room for babies. This also helps you know what to pack such as snacks, bottle warmers, or swimming gear.
Prep Your Phone With Essential Road Trip Apps
Before heading off on your road adventure, there are a few apps that can make aspects of your trip a lot easier — like finding stopover accommodation, gas stations, or finding the best route traffic-wise. For accommodation, Hotel Tonight or Priceline Express is useful for breaking up long road trips and finding kid-friendly hotels for overnight stays. Alternatively, you may decide to spend a few days in a city spontaneously. In this case, you want to be able to book safe and highly reviewed accommodation while on the road.
Apps like Gasbuddy pinpoint your nearest fueling station so that you never run out of fuel while on the road. Many parents will attest that getting stuck on the side of the road with no fuel and kids in the backseat is an easy recipe for disaster. When planning your trip and while driving, utilize road trip planning apps like RoadTrippers and Waze which will help you spot attractions, and the best routes, and also come with GPS, ensuring you don’t get lost on your way. Finally, consider some kid-friendly apps for the road such as Deezer/Spotify for sing-along sessions or Amazon’s Kid subscription for their favorite shows on their tablets. It helps to break up the monotony of a road trip for kids.
If you are thinking of hitting the road with your kids, don’t hesitate. Planning the dream road trip doesn’t have to be complicated. By sticking to a few basics, you can gloss over the planning stage and focus on creating wonderful memories with your children.