By Parenting Editor, Michelle Aller
Last summer I took my family on a cross-country adventure from our home in North Carolina, traveling west to California and Mexico and returning back to NC along a different route. Below are some lessons I learned from being the sole adult and driver in a car for more than 125 hours – with four kids in tow.
(feature image by Lennart Pagel)
Have Realistic Expectations.
Knowing I was the only adult, parent and driver, I limited our daily itinerary to just a few things for my own sanity. It also allowed me a buffer of time in case a visit took took long, or if we wanted to spontaneously see something else.
I also expected meltdowns and sibling squabbles, so when we had a miraculously happy and easy excursion, it felt extra incredible. Having a realistic mindset for each day helped me stay more calm as a parent and a person – it also allowed me to enjoy our trip more.
Snacks Save!
This was my first big road trip where we didn’t stop for lunch and instead, only snacked throughout the day. In the morning, I would grab fresh fruit and yogurt (often for free at our hotel) that I would supplement with non-perishable snacks I kept in our car. Plus, my kids just wanted to snack all day long in the car anyway.
Skipping lunch saved me a lot of money and time too. When we arrived at our final destination of the day, we would get dinner from a local place and I felt I could splurge more on better restaurants and fun treats with the savings from lunch. I’m a complete snack convert for all my future road trips, it was fantastic!
Listen Up!
Find a podcast that discusses a place you’ll be visiting. Prior to our visit to Vicksburg National Military Park in Mississippi, I downloaded a podcast about the historic Civil War site. We listened to it in the car on our way to the park and it made our visit so much better and more memorable. The kids were excited when they saw something they’d heard about on the podcast and breezed through the park’s Junior Ranger program.
Listen to a musician or band from the state you’re visiting. Listening to the band Alabama while driving through Alabama on day 2 of our trip sparked a great game that lasted all summer: listening to musicians from the states we were driving through. It was so fun to introduce my kids to Jimmy Eat World (Arizona), Whitney Houston (New Jersey) and the Killers (Nevada). And sing our hearts out to songs they love by Michael Jackson (Indiana) and Kacey Musgraves (Texas).
Finally, if your trip is a cross-country one, choose an audiobook series for everyone to enjoy. My children range in age from 5 to 11, so we chose the Land of Stories series and it was a hit with everyone (especially me!). Nearly every chapter ended with a cliff-hanger, prompting the kids to beg for one more chapter. We even played it in the hotel before bedtime (which I loved) to calm energy and get ready for sleep. We were wrapping up the series’ fourth book when our trip was finished!
Pack a Pass.
Two passes were crucial for me on this trip. The first was my National Park Pass. It allowed us free admission to several national parks and monuments. National Park sites are always family friendly and most offer wonderful Junior Ranger programs to teach and excite children.
The other favorite pass is one to my local science museum that has ASTC reciprocity. By being a member of a museum within the ASTC organization, we had complimentary admission to science and discovery museums all around the country. My kids are always excited to visit a science museum but it was especially wonderful when traveling in the heat of summer. My kids could burn off energy, engage their senses and have fun – all in glorious air conditioning. Plus, by not paying admission, I didn’t feel an obligation to have an extended visit, which fit our travel schedule.
Pit Stops Rule.
To break-up the long car rides, pit stops were usually planned: national parks, museums, or a visit with a family member or friend. But sometimes they were spontaneous and became stand-out sites.
As I was driving past Laramie in the state of Wyoming, I could see a cluster of huge boulders and trees out of the corner of my eye along I-80. I pulled off the road and discovered magical Vedauwoo (imagine a mini version of Joshua Tree but in a forest). My NP pass allowed us free parking and we hiked and climbed boulders for an hour. It was a beautiful, happy visit and because it felt like we stumbled upon it, became extra memorable.
Vedauwoo and other unplanned pit stops like the Salt Flats in Utah, became big highlights of the day and the trip. These stops didn’t just help the kids get their energy out – they rejuvenated me and reminded me why I wanted to do this crazy trip in the first place.
My Biggest Surprise…
The part of my trip I feared the most – all that daily driving! – surprised me by being a treasured part of my trip. I feel grateful for those long lengths of time that required me to pause my life and just… drive.
Drive and see a beautiful country with diverse landscapes. Drive and listen to amazing music and words. Drive and think – or not think at all!
I felt grateful for the time I had to drive, travel and discover with my children. Plus, there was a wonderful feeling of accomplishment that something I was scared to do – drive across the country… with four kids… and no other adults… I could do well. Well enough at least, to already be planning our next roadtrip (Maine, I’m coming for you).
Any other road trip lessons you’ve learned? With or without kids? Please share below!
Photography by some favorite travel photographers: Lennart Pagel (1,6), Renee Roaming (3, 5), and Daniel Gorostieta (2, 3, 7)