I love going on family road trips. These are fun as you manage to create a lot of memories and have a good time together. Your bond also gets stronger. But I’ve seen people having trouble with it or stressing over it. So can that be resolved?
Globally renowned English critic and essayist Leigh Hunt once said, “Traveling in the company of those we love is home in motion.” This is true when you are traveling with your loved ones, you are carrying your whole home.
Just so you can have a great trip, I’ll be giving you some effective trip on how to plan a stress-free road trip. If you can follow these, then you’ll have a wonderful time with those you love.
Start With a Plan
You’ll need a good layout to conduct your family road trip stress-free, and you’ll have to consider certain things. Road mapping would be the first as where you are going what will be your destination and what route you’ll take to be there.
You can pull up a physical map, or some apps could create a perfect route for you. Such application also gives you live updates on traffic and choose the best route possible that will avoid such inconvenience. Or take help from resources like JM.
Another important this is at what type you’ll leave. If your arriving spot is far, consider leaving early, and you will find less traffic in the morning. But, this is for when you don’t have toddlers. If you have newborns or small kids, choose to leave time that matches with their sleep time and stuff.
Pack Smart
For a stress-free family road trip, you have to pack up some essentials. Start with packing a small first aid kit consisting of bandages, antibiotics, wound cleaner, etc. Water bottles are a must and reusable would be the best choice.
Each member should have their bottles, and make sure that they are wearing clothes according to the weather, and they are comfortable. Snacks can’t be avoided, as trips can be long and you’ll need some munchies.
But get those snacks that won’t melt to avoid any mess. Also, carry things for entertainment like card games, or create little trivia games of your own. Customized playlists and coloring books for you little fellas.
In the infographic below, you can those things that you should carry at all costs.
Car Comfort
Most of your time is going to be spent in your car, so it must be comfortable for everyone. Clean it from the inside out to create a positive vibe. Have your vehicle checked so that there won’t be any issues during the drive.
Adjust the temperature inside the car and consider getting sun shades as they will block the sunlight if it’s too hot or shiny outside.
Plan Breaks
Breaks are crucial both for the driver and the passenger. So while road mapping find different spots like restaurants, gas stations, and game zones where your folks could hang out, get recharged, and have fun all together.
If you want to do outdoor activities, look for picnic spots, beaches, or parks where you can sit and play games. You can also go to landmarks or public attractions and capture some good clicks.
Conflict Resolution Pro
Look, a stress-free family road trip is possible, but only if you know how you can resolve conflicts. Sitting in a car for too long can leave people grumpy and easily triggered over little things. So, instead of getting mad yourself, you can sort things out by doing a few things.
Consider taking a short break and getting outside the car, in most cases this is enough to calm down the situation. If not this you can joke around a bit to lighten up the tension.
But the best solution is before leaving for the trip consider your family member’s demands when they want snacks, music, when to take a break, etc. This way, each one of them will feel included. You’ll have all the insights and if you work according to that, arguments are unlikely to arise.
Be Flexible
It’s good to have a schedule as it tells you what to do and when to do it, but sometimes they might fail because of unexpected delays, traffic, or any other reasons. This is why you need to be flexible and make further moves according to your current situation.
You might have to create a new plan on the spot and leave the original one behind, but it’s for your household, so it’s worth it, right? You can try a new thing or go to a new destination, and it might be better than your original one.
The purpose of this family road trip is to bond together and share new memories. It’s not about where you are going, it’s about the distance or the journey that you are covering with your loved ones.
PRO TIP
Take suggestions from your children and follow them, this will increase their excitement and make them feel valued!
Conclusion
These are some of the essential tips that could help you organize a stress-free family road trip. You mustn’t be too fixated on planning or reaching on time. You should enjoy every second with your close ones, everything else is secondary.
Problems might arise, but you can get past them if you think calmly, there is no need to feel angry as it will ruin the mood of everyone else in the car. Take breaks, to explore new places, and click a lot of pictures.
But make sure you are driving safely because your closest companions are with you. Don’t try to overtake or go over the speed limit. Be safe and happy journey!
