I have been on countless road trips with my 6-year-old and 2-year-old. In fact, we recently returned home from a 12-hour road trip that took us from New Jersey to Indiana, and confirmed that at this point we have this road tripping thing down to a science. We've been doing it since my oldest was just 2 months old, and have learned a ton of tips and tricks along the way. No matter how old your children are, there are lots of ways to keep them entertained and happy when you're on the road.
More from MamásLatinas: Fun car games the whole family can play
To be honest, these days, if our trip is shorter than two or three hours, I just let the kids watch a movie or two. When they movie is over or I've decided they need a break from screen time, we're close enough to our destination that I can dole out some snacks and distract them with the scenery until our arrival. But, we also go on some pretty long road trips and even screen-addicted kiddos can burn out on technology after so many hours, so it's always a good idea to be prepared for that eventuality.
While you may not take 100% of the responsibility for keeping your kids entertained at home, trust me when I say when you're in the confined space of a car for hours on end, it's better to have an arsenal of ideas for them at the ready than it is to deal with the cranky, crying, bored-out-of-their minds meltdowns. Click through the gallery to see 40 fun family road trip ideas to keep in your back pocket.
Get a device mount for shared viewing.
Earlier this year I discovered that you can buy a headrest mount for devices that is adjustable so that the screen can be positioned between the two back seats of your vehicle and I bought one right away. We've now used it with our iPad for both kids to watch movies together on two road trips, and it works like a charm. You can even get one that adjusts to fit different devices. Older kids could even set it up and play games together. Car Headrest Mount, $19.99
Pack a toy bag to keep in the front of the car.
I always pack a tote bag with some of my kids' favorite small toys and keep it within my reach in the car when we are on a road trip. I don't give out any toys until the kids ask for them or start getting whiny, then I give out a few at a time. If you give them over all at once, they'll get bored faster. And no zippers or buttons on the bag–you want it to be easy access in case you have to get into it while you're behind the wheel.
Wrap up some new toys.
For toddlers and younger kids, buying a few special but inexpensive new toys and wrapping them up as surprises to bring out during your road trip is also a fun way to keep them happy. Little kids enjoy simply unwrapping and the excitement of something new can buy you a good chunk of time.
Keep a bag of snacks at your side, too.
It's also important to keep a bag of snacks and water close by at all times. It can be tempting to power through until you get to your destinations, but low blood sugar can ruin the atmosphere real quick. Pack some healthy snacks and water to dole out when the kids are peckish. Just be sure to limit fluids so you're not constantly stopping for potty breaks. In the summer, you might want to use an insulated bag.
Let them blow bubbles!
What kid doesn't love blowing bubbles? Let your kiddos have fun with bubbles in the car and you'll be rewarded with lots of smiles and laughter instead of whining and complaining.
Fill your car with stars.
If you'll be traveling after dark, get some adhesive glow-in-the-dark stars to tack up all over the inside of your car and your kids will absolutely love it! Glowing Twinkle Stars, $6.50
Get some fun window clings.
You can get some cheapie window clings and let your kiddos have fun sticking them to the back windows of the car. Consider alphabets and numbers or fun themed clings that they can create different scenes out of. Alphabet Window Clings, $1.99
Plan to stop every few hours.
Whenever you're on the road with kids, you should plan to stop every two to three hours for potty breaks and to let your kids stretch their legs and get some energy out. Find a good rest stop and go for a stroll or simply let them run in the grass to burn off some energy before continuing on.
Bring along some wheels.
We've taken to tossing our kids' skateboard and scooter in the trunk on road trips so when we stop at rest stops they can ride for a few minutes and get the wiggles out. It's also something fun for them to do while one parent is waiting for a food order or filling up a gas tank.
Snag some maps at that rest stop, too.
Actual paper maps are something of a novelty these days, but you can find them at most rest stops and travel centers. Grab a few for your kids and encourage them to track your progress on the road.
Build in sightseeing.
You can also plan a few of your stops at places of interest along your route. Use a map or roadt rip app to locate fun or interesting things to do as you near a stopping point and take a quick detour to go check it out!
Coloring books and crayons are always a winner.
Coloring is always a good way to kill some time. Bring along a few coloring books or print off some coloring sheets for some quiet fun in the car. I like to keep the crayons they give kids at restaurants just for this purpose.
Try paint-by-sticker.
Paint-by-sticker is a trendy new mess-free craft form that is absolutely perfect for road trips. Everything stays contained in a neat little book and it takes lots of focus and concentration, so it should keep kids calm for a while. Paint-by-Sticker paperback, $8
Play audiobooks.
Create a family road trip playlist.
Create a road trip playlist of songs everyone in your family loves and play it through the car speakers for everyone to enjoy.
Play the license plate game.
This classic car game has passengers attempt to spot a license plate from every state during their road trip. Assign one person to jot down every state you see during your trip.
Get in a few rounds of "I-Spy."
Even my toddler loves to get in a game or two of I Spy when we're on the road. Each person takes turns finding something out the car windows and describing it to the rest of the passengers so they can guess what it is.
Have kids keep travel journals.
Give each kid an empty composition book and tell them to keep a journal of things they see and experience during your road trip. They can draw pictures, write descriptions, create stories, etc.
Get to know each other better.
You can also pass the time by getting to know each other even better with a game of 20 questions. Take turns asking each other any questions you can think of…silly or serious!
Let them be the official photographers.
Both of my kids love taking pictures, so any time they're given a phone or tablet and instructed to do so, they are thrilled. My 6-year-old can entertainment himself taking photos for long stretches of time. Why not let your kids document your journey.
Give a Spanish lesson.
Use some of that time to give your child a Spanish lesson. You can do simple things like reciting numbers and letters in Spanish or turning it into more of game by pointing out colors in Spanish as you see them out the window or singing in Spanish.
Surprise them with new apps.
Before hitting the road download some fun, new, age-appropriate apps and games for your kids to enjoy on the road.
Do a road trip scavenger hunt.
Have your kids do a scavenger hunt of things they might be able to spot from the car window. The version pictured here is a great starting point but you can switch it up and add things to your liking too.
Get more info from Kelle Hampton.
Download the Mad Libs app.
You can go old school and buy an actual Mad Libs book, or you can streamline and download a Mad Libs app for kids. This classic is sure to make for lots of laughter on your next road trip. Mad Libs for Kids, free.
Play the "Quiet Game."
That's right, it's exactly what it sounds like. It might seem like trickery, but kids usually fall for it anyway. Just tell them it's time to play a game to see who can stay quiet the longest. You can even offer a prize to sweeten the pot and get a few extra minutes of peace.
Don't forget about sing-a-longs.
Whether you sing classic rock songs, Cardi B or traditional car songs like "The Wheels on the Bus," singing is a great way to pass the time on a road trip.
Give them busy bags.
Busy bags are just little contained play/learning kits. Create a themed version for each child to play with on your road trip.
Find lots of ideas on Powerful Mothering.
Make Lego kits.
Use hard pencil cases to create mini DIY Lego kits. They are totally portable and great for playing with in the car.
Get the full tutorial at Fun at Home With Kids.
Let them play with your wallet.
It might not be a great idea to let your little one play with your current wallet, but they'll get tons of entertainment if you fill up an old wallet with photos, play money and old credit cards. I've done this on road trips and toddlers love it.
Dry erase boards can be fun in the car.
Get your kiddo a mini dry-erase board and some markers for the road. It's a novel and fun way to draw in the car. They can change up their drawings with the passing scenery.
Get a big sticker book.
Both of my kids get endless play out of stickers. With a sticker book you can avoid getting too many stickers stuck to your upholstery and the kids can still enjoy themselves. My First Book of Stickers, $24/case
Silly putty is very calming.
Not only is silly putty a great way for your kids to use their imaginations without getting too messy, it's also perfect for calming a case of the crankies. Silly Putty, $2.49 for a two-pack
Felt boards are convenient for road trips.
With a felt board your child can get in some imaginative play and not worry about losing or dropping parts and pieces since the felt sticks to itself. Barn Felt Storyboard, $12.56
Finger puppets are perfect for the car.
My husband bought my kids a set of zombie finger puppets on our last road trip and they got endless car play out of them. It's so entertaining too for them to act out fun stories with their hands. Insect Finger Puppets, $4.99/dozen
Go old school with a deck of cards.
From solitaire to war, a deck of cards can provide endless hours of fun for older kids. Even toddlers will love stacking them and shuffling.
Masking tape makes for some sticky fun.
Give your kids a roll or two of masking tape and let them have some sticky fun in the backseat. Toddlers will love simply ripping it and balling it up and older kids can build structures and characters out of them or even create scenes on the car windows.
Help them pick out some magazines for the road.
My kids love looking at the pictures in magazines and catalogs. Help kids pick out a few they might enjoy flipping through while you're on the road and you could buy yourself hours of quiet.
They can make sculptures with pipe cleaners.
Colorful pipe cleaners are great for contained creative play. Your kids can use them to make sculptures and little people and animals during long road trips, and then play with what they've built.
Snack necklaces are a tasty treat and fun to play with.
Instead of sugar candy necklaces and bracelets, use o-shaped cereal to make necklaces and bracelets for your kids to enjoy on a road trip. Nibbling each piece off will keep kiddos quiet for at least a little while.
Get the giggles out.
Laughing can help burn off a lot of energy. Get the giggles going by taking turns telling jokes. We're partial to knock-knock jokes when we're driving, but whatever you come up with will work.
