Elements of Planning a Successful Summer Family Road Trip

It is hard to know where to get started when planning a family road trip, but by breaking the process down into steps, you can make a great deal of headway quickly and easily. Planning a road trip can seem overwhelming, but by allowing yourself plenty of time, it shouldn’t be too stressful. Once you hit the road and start to make memories you will realize it was worth it.

Make The Journey Part of the Vacation

It is tempting to make the road part of your road trip as quick as possible. Instead, get online, or pull out an old fashioned atlas, and plan some interesting stops. The right stops depend on you and your traveling companions. Young children will enjoy a chance to run around while older kids may enjoy quirky roadside stops. The opportunity to get out and stretch their legs without feeling like you are racing the clock to get back in the car is what is important. Stops at state and national parks are also good choices. Even if you don’t make it much past the visitor’s center, there will undoubtedly be something interesting to see and do.

Pack Snacks and Water

Fast food is a popular choice for road trips, and there is nothing wrong with incorporating it in your trip. Having a selection of snacks, light meals, and drinks available, however, is also beneficial. With refreshments on hand, you can make stops when people are ready, or if you see a place that looks interesting.

Have Boredom Busters

No matter how well prepared you are, and no matter how good everyone in your group travels, there will be moments when the trip gets boring. In addition to the typical items you would pack for a road trip, think outside the box and bring along some things to keep your kids occupied. Stickers, portable car games, removable window decals, and a small dry erase board and markers are fun additions. Also, include a paper map with your route and stops marked. Depending on the age of your kids, you can keep them updated on your progress, or allow them to follow along with some help from you.

Invest in Travel Insurance

Travel insurance isn’t just for long, overseas trips. Investing in trip protection can help you salvage your plans when something goes wrong. People are often under the mistaken impression that unless they may lose money from cancelling airline tickets or pricey hotel reservations, travel protection is not worth the investment. In fact, travel insurance can cover many different types of emergencies that may arise. For a very minimal expense, you receive coverage for items that are lost or stolen, coverage for emergency medical coverage, and reimbursement if you need to cancel or shorten your trip for a covered reason.

Ideally, your road trip will be seamless. The more planning and preparation that you put into it, the more likely it is that things will go well. If something unexpected comes up, travel insurance protects you from taking a financial hit and can help save your vacation.