Badass Mom Emily’s 7 Kid-Friendly Road Trip Tips

Love road trips but unsure of how to keep the kids entertained? Full-time road-tripper and badass mom Emily Harteau knows a thing or two about long family car rides. Follow her tips below. It will keep the kids from repeating “Are we there yet?” every ten minutes. Promise!

1. FOCUS ON THE JOURNEY

Make a map of cool pit stops. Give the kids something to look forward to besides the final destination.

2. PACK SNACKS

Pack a cooler bag full of mess-free (and protein-heavy) snacks and drinks: hummus roll-ups, water, healthy bars, homemade trail mix, apple slices, cheese cubes, and yogurt sticks.

“When you travel with little ones, you will find your kids more hugged and loved than you ever thought.”

3. REVEAL YOUR SECRETS, SLOWLY

Bring a small stash of surprises. A few new toys/puzzles/games from the Dollar store are a life-saver.

4. PLAY (NON-IPAD) CAR GAMES

Brush up on the classics: license plate game, I spy, 20 questions, picnic game, count the…, ABC game.

5. KEEP A TRAVEL JOURNAL

Have the kids keep their own journal for writing, drawing, collected memorabilia, maps, photographs.

6. GIVE KIDS A SMALL ALLOWANCE

Allocate a little bit of money for the kids to use as they wish.

7. STOCK UP ON BABY WIPES

Keep a pack within arms reach at all times for sticky faces, bathroom trips, and inevitable spills.

This is our second post in our three-part series with Emily Harteau. Read Emily’s story here!

Photography: Adam Harteau