SHOP MY ROAD TRIP OUTFIT:
According to AAA, 80% of Americans will be taking a driving vacation this summer season. Does that count you into the equation?! Wanderluster that I am, our summer vacation calendar is already filling up fast with various road trips and new destinations to visit. For sure we’ll head up to Memphis at least once or twice, a 12-hour drive if you include lunch and pit stops! I used to stress out about long road trips with my toddler in tow, but after so many of them, they’ve become somewhat of a piece of cake. (Hope I didn’t just jinx myself!)
Today I’m spilling several of my best tips on mastering a road trip with a toddler while also sharing a peek into our recent Carolina Coast road trip (where I was able to cruise around in this comfortable cruiser of Mazda CX-5!) More details below!
The past year has been a blur of travel – with a whole lot of highways getting us from point A to point B. From driving all across the state of Tennessee to road tripping the Southeast with my mom and Annie, and even a Pacific Coast Highway road trip thrown in – many many miles were racked up this year. Along the way, many of y’all have reached out & asked how I am could possibly road trip with a toddler so often – especially the times I do it “solo.” And oh my goodness do I have tips to share on the subject!
To be honest, you really never know the mood your toddler is going to find themselves in and one road trip could be a total hit and one a total miss depending on said mood. And we all know that each and every child is different, so what works for us may not work for your tot too. So while these tips don’t necessarily guarantee a smooth and tear-free ride for all, they certainly made our experiences a whole lot easier and our little girl a whole lot happier too!
Our favorite feature of the Mazda CX-5 was the roomy trunk to store our oodles of luggage and big ol’ stroller. I also liked how the 7-passenger ride included an Active Driving Display on the windshield. It made for a safe way to keep track of my speed and turn-by-turn navigation during the trip. But my favorite features of all were the ones that monitored the way that I drove and kept me in line. With both blind spot monitoring, steering while alignment monitoring AND lane-keep assist, I felt more confident than ever getting from point A to point B safely.
Plan the Departure Around Your Toddler
For those long hauls, we usually like to hit the road mid-morning, after Annie has had a leisurely breakfast and a few hours of playtime. This way we aren’t rushing out the door at the crack of dawn. Typically 15-20 minutes after starting the engine and hitting the road, Annie will be lulled to sleep by car’s vibrations – settling into an hour (or longer nap).
It definitely isn’t the most time-saving tactic, losing those precious morning hours of drive time, but this way she doesn’t go from sleeping in her bed to crammed in a car seat so quickly.
For even longer trips, we’ll opt to drive after dinner – planning to arrive later in the evening. Annie falls asleep quickly and stays snoozing for the majority of the drive. Patrick and I also get one on one time with one another (& our audiobooks!) too.
Expect A Lot of Pit Stops & Plan a Playground Visit or Two
What was once a 3-hour straight shoot drive turns into a 4-hour drive when a toddler is thrown into the mix. We like to stop here and there at truck stops or rest stops to get out and stretch our little one’s legs. Once Annie awakes from her first nap of the day, we’ll generally drive until she starts to get cranky or hungry enough to warrant a stop.
I like to plan out our meal and playground stops ahead of time. For lunches, we’ll often do something quick but also at a place where we can get out of the car and sit down inside. I love finding restaurants that have booths – this way Annie can stand in the corner and stretch her legs a bit while we eat.
Chili’s was once a high school hangout spot for me and my pals. These days it’s one of our go-tos when road tripping. It takes a long time to order and eat, which isn’t the ideal road trip stop. But I do love that they have booths and healthier options for kids. We order their quesadillas with a side of broccoli for Annie. (I also get chips and queso #noshame) Annie seems a bit too young for the kid’s menu at most fast food places and Chili’s seems to be one of those restaurants that line each and every highway too. & Michael Scott would approve! ha!
Even if it’s not meal time, it’s always Chick Fil A playground time! Chik Fil A’s playgrounds are clean and well-kept – they’re are all over the place in The South too. We’ll GPS one and hold on to hope that we make it there before a full-on meltdown occurs. We usually give Annie half an hour to play before it’s back on the road.
Surprise your Toddler with New Toys
Nothing lights up a little tykes face more than a shiny new toy, right?! I like to grab a few things from Target’s dollar spot to tuck away in a little backpack for Annie to discover along our drives. From coloring books and crayons to stickers and Peppa Pig action figures, these small surprises entertain her for hours on end.
It’s funny how they get so bored with the ones they already have. Sometimes, I’ll even tuck away some of the toys she has “forgotten” about for a few weeks to pull them out and reintroduce during the drive. My Little Pony may have been sitting in the bottom of toy bin for months and suddenly she seems shiny and brand new!
Pack Snacks, Snacks, and More Snacks for your Toddler
I don’t think a road trip with a toddler like Annie would even be possible without snacks!! We like to call our snack bin “Car Cafe” – a term my parents coined for my siblings and me during our childhood travels. We fill Car Cafe with all sorts of things from raisins, goldfish to juice boxes and even la Croix for the grown-ups. I like to purchase individually wrapped snacks in advance because they are easier to whip out and hand over at a moment’s notice.
Dress your Toddler Comfortably
Who doesn’t want to be wearing the most comfortable clothing during a long drive? Toddlers probably feel the same way we do. I’ll put Annie in sweat pants and her softest tees for our many road trips. If we’re heading straight to an activity upon our arrival, I’ll make sure a change of clothes is handy. I also always make sure to put her in comfortable slip-on shoes. She usually doesn’t even wear them during the drive but that way they can slip on in a pinch whenever we stop.
When to Pull Out the iPad?
I’ll admit, we let our tot watch TV. But I try to keep it to a minimum. When we’re on the road, we avoid pulling out the iPad at all costs. Because whenever we do – it’s all she wants for the rest of the trip. I like to reserve movies, games and TV shows until there is literally nothing else we can do or offer our daughter to keep her relaxed and happy in a long car ride. But I’m not going to lie, I don’t know how I could have made the 12-hour drive this fall from Houston to Memphis, by myself without it! If it ends up being the only thing that keeps the kids happy & entertained while you’re getting them from point A to point B safely – then, by all means, do it.
SHOP MY ROAD TRIP OUTFIT:
5 Travel Essentials for Road Trips with a Toddler:
Freshly Picked Diaper Bag – comes with SO much space, an insulated pocket and looks stylish when carried too. I also love that it has an extra strap giving the option to carry it as a shoulder bag instead of a backpack.
Graco Convertible Car Seat – this is the one we bought for Annie. I love that it is roomy, comfortable and includes cupholders too. The best part is that it converts to a booster seat that can accommodate her up to 120 pounds as she grows older.
Amazon Kids Kindle Fire – When I said iPad above, I meant Kindle Fire. 😉 At a fraction of the cost of an iPad, the Fire 7 Kids edition comes packed with games and video content with a Prime Membership subscription. It also has a heavy duty case which makes it virtually shatterproof.
Hard Shell Suitcases – I still haven’t found one brand of luggage that I’m loyal to just yet. With all of the traveling that we do, each suitcase seems to only last us about 6 months to a year. But I will say, I love how durable these hard shell cases can be – while also being easy to pack with the various compartments and zipper storage systems included.
A Back-Up Phone Battery – I grabbed this external battery at an airport once and was told it could charge my phone 4 separate times without needing to be recharged. Sold! In the car, I take advantage of getting charged up from my vehicle’s USB ports. But when we’re out and about during our travels this external battery has saved me 100 times over.
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I hope these tips & tricks help you out a bit on your upcoming summer travel adventures! I love nothing more than hitting the road to someplace new with my family in tow. Having a toddler makes things a bit more difficult but all the more fun!
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And as always, thanks for stopping by the blog,
xo, alice
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