Planning a cross-country move for your family can be daunting, especially if you haven’t done it before. If you don’t plan ahead, you could easily spend too much money or even miss out on some essential items. Here are a few tips to help you plan a successful, fun family road trip.
Start Planning Early
Road trips are a great way to spend time with your family while seeing the country. However, there are a few things you need to do before you hit the open road. One of them is creating a budget and figuring out how much to spend on gas, food, and lodging. Once you have a budget, you must decide where you want to go.
Once you have a budget, you can visit many places on a fun family road trip. So pick a few areas that interest you and your family. Next, you need to figure out how you will get from place to place. You can hire a moving service to help you with packing arrangements. If you are driving, have a map and ensure everyone knows where they’re going.
Maintain Your Car Before a Trip
Dropping your car off at an auto repair garage a week before your road trip might seem difficult. However, it would help if you did a few auto repairs to help avoid car trouble on your fun family road trip. A good engine tune-up will ensure that your car runs smoothly and that all its systems are working correctly. It’s also a good idea to check your car tires, as they can wear out quickly when driving on long trips. Make sure you inflate them properly and have enough tread.
You can also do wheel repair to inspect the tires for alignment and balance at a local tire or transmission shop. It would help if you also did auto windshield repairs for excellent visibility. Ensure all your automotive lights are working, including your turn signals, brake lights, and headlights.
Ensure You Have a Portable Jump Starter
We all know the importance of being prepared for anything while on a road trip. But what do you do when you find yourself in the middle of nowhere with a dead car battery? A portable jump starter is a great way to ensure that you’re never stuck without a way to get your car moving again. These small, lightweight devices can provide enough power to start even the most stubborn engines. They’re a lot easier to carry around than a heavy-duty battery charger. So if you’re planning on taking a fun family road trip, pack a portable jump starter in your trunk.
Check Your Roadside Assistance Plan
When you’re on a road trip, the last thing you want is something to happen to your vehicle. That’s why you must check with your car insurance company to see what kind of roadside help coverage you have. If you don’t have any coverage, or if your coverage is inadequate, then you’ll need to find another option.
Your first option should be to call your insurance company. Many providers offer roadside help, such as rv towing service, as part of their policy, and you may not even have to pay extra. If you’re not covered by insurance or your provider doesn’t offer roadside help, plenty of other options are available. You can choose a roadside assistance plan from various companies or sign up for a membership with a roadside assistance service like AAA.
Carry a First Aid Kit
You must be prepared for anything while on a cross-country road trip with your family. That means having a first aid kit in the car, just in case. You can put together your first aid kit or buy one pre-assembled. But first, you must list the supplies you will need in your kit. You will probably want to include adhesive bandages, gauze pads, antibiotic ointment, pain reliever, and insect repellent. Besides, pack essential medical supplies, like tweezers, scissors, and a thermometer. Don’t forget to pack a copy of your insurance card and contact information for your doctor.
Plan Your Main Stops Ahead of Time
Taking a family cross county road trip can be fun. However, if you don’t plan your stops, you may drive aimlessly and not see as much as you’d hoped. One way to make the trip more enjoyable for everyone is to plan your stops correctly. That way, everyone will know where you’re going and what you’ll do when you get there.
You can start by picking your destinations, but you don’t need to plan a specific route. Instead, know the areas you want to visit upfront. Once you have your destinations picked out, check a map to see how logical your route will be. You don’t want to spend too much time driving in circles. Once you have a general idea of the route you’ll be taking, start planning your specific stops.
Get the Most Out of Your Map App
Map apps can do everything from finding the best amusement parks to gas stations and rest stops along your route. There are many types of mapping apps on the market, such as Google Maps, Apple Maps, and Waze. Each app has unique features that can be extremely helpful (or frustrating) when on a road trip with your family.
Google Maps is probably the most well-known mapping app out there, and it has access to a ton of data that other mapping apps don’t have. One of the best features of Google Maps is the ability to save locations, which can be handy for storing your home address, work address, or any other addresses you use frequently.
Make a Great Road Trip Playlist
Taking a fun family road trip can be a lot of fun. But it can also be challenging, especially if you have young children. Creating a road trip playlist is one way to make the trip more enjoyable. The playlist can include music, stories, and even jokes. It can help keep everyone entertained and happy during the journey. Start by making a list of songs that everyone in your family enjoys, including classic rock, children’s, and country music. Stories and jokes on your playlist will keep children entertained during the trip.
Carry Enough Snacks and Water
A road trip with your family is a great way to see the country. But before you hit the open road, make sure you stock up on snacks and water. That way, you’ll have everything you need to keep everyone happy and fed. Pack various snacks, including chips, candy, fruits, and vegetables. Have plenty of water, especially if traveling in a hot climate. Try to pack snacks that are easy to eat on the go, and avoid packing food that will spoil quickly. Pack a cooler with ice packs to keep your food fresh.
Play Interactive Games
When you’re on a cross-country road trip with your family, there’s nothing like a little interactive fun to keep everyone occupied and entertained. These games are perfect for those times when you’re stuck in the car for hours on end, and they’re a great way to get to know each other better. So pull out your smartphones or tablets and get ready for some fun. For example, you can play the geography game, which is a great way to learn about the country while on a road trip. In this game, players try to identify states and capitals by their shape and location on a map.
Visit All of Your Friends en Route
The open road is a beautiful thing. It’s a chance to see the country and spend time with your family. But one more key goal to consider on your fun family road trip is visiting everyone you know. Make a list of everyone you want to see and put them in order of importance. If you have relatives or friends in different parts of the country, try to visit them on this trip. It will allow you to see more of the country and spend time with people you care for and love. In that case, plan your route to fit as many visits as possible into your trip. Be sure to let your friends and relatives know when you will be in their area so that they can prepare for your visit.
Visit Popular Attractions During Off-Peak Hours
When planning a fun family road trip, you can do a few things to ensure your family has a good time. One of the most important things is to avoid visiting popular attractions on busy days. If you want to visit a popular attraction, try to go on a weekday rather than a weekend to avoid crowds and make your visit more enjoyable. If you know which days will be busiest, try to avoid those days entirely.
Many attractions offer online ticketing, so you can purchase your tickets in advance and avoid long lines. But If you can’t avoid busy days, try visiting early or late in the evening. Attractions are less busy during these times, so you’ll be able to enjoy your visit without having to fight through crowds. By avoiding the crowds, you’ll be able to enjoy your time with your family better and have memories that will last a lifetime.
Have Enough Rest
A fun family road trip is a great way to spend time with your family while seeing the country. But if you’re not careful, it can also be a significant source of stress. One way to minimize the pressure is to make sure you make the most of your rest stops. This will not only make the trip more comfortable for everyone, but it will also help to keep everyone safe.
Get out and stretch your legs because a bit of exercise is always good. It’s also a great way to wake yourself up if you’ve been driving for a while. One of the primary uses for rest stops is to use the bathroom. When traveling with children, this is especially important because they can get uncomfortable when they need to go and there isn’t a bathroom nearby.
Enjoy a Nice Dinner
While on a cross-country fun family road trip, have fun by going out to a nice dinner. That can provide a break from the stress of traveling and allow you to enjoy each other’s company. You can choose from many restaurants and find one your whole family will enjoy.
When looking for a restaurant, be sure to consider your budget. Many affordable options are available, and you don’t need to spend much money to have a great time. If you are looking for something special, many high-end restaurants can accommodate your needs. No matter what type of restaurant you choose, be sure to take the time to enjoy your meal. Relax and let go of the stress of the trip for just a little while.
Take a Lot of Pictures
Of course, no road trip is complete without a camera. You’ll want to capture all the memories of your journey, from the fantastic sights you see to the silly moments you experience. Take photos of your family having fun because it’s the best way to capture the spirit of your fun family road trip. Make sure you get some shots of everyone goofing around and having a good time. Find scenic spots to take photos, which help to keep things exciting and allow you to capture different aspects of your trip.
Moving can be tricky, but you won’t have to stress about it with careful preparation. If you’re looking into hiring cross country movers or long distance movers, contact us to provide efficient services at affordable prices and a hassle-free family trip.
