Road Trip with 3 Kids Recap
In May 2022, we drove our family of five, 11 hours to visit friends and family in Ohio. We’ve made this drive before, but this was our first time with three kids and a dog. To say I was stressed about the drive is an understatement. I started packing for our trip a week before we left. This helps me ensure I don’t forget things. We discussed how to arrange our minivan to give us optimal space. We planned out rest stops, movie breaks and snacks. It felt overwhelming preparing for “every” scenario and to consider the kids comfort needs. But once we got on the road and embraced the imperfections, it was a pleasant experience. Looking back, I’m so impressed with how it all came together.
Quick tips:
First, on all road trips, Ryan does the driving. We learned early on that I can’t stay awake in a car for more than 4 hours. I think my parents did some sort of hypnosis on me and my brothers when we did family road trips as kids.
Second, I didn’t give my kids “high value” items on demand. This means the tablet, DVD player, and special snacks weren’t handed to them. They received them in spurts. In the entire 11 hour drive, our kids only watched two Disney movies (and not back to back). The time they weren’t watching a movie, they used their individual activity boxes, played together, ate food, listened to the Reading Bug podcast or slept.
We gave the kids a new toy car as a reward for doing well in the car. It was a fun incentive for them. It was inexpensive too. I bought a box for 4 HotWheels.
We also made a point to stop and eat at one restaurant. This gave us a chance to stretch out our legs and get a change of scenery. The downside of this pitstop is that it takes about 1.5 hours, from ordering to eating to everyone using the restroom. Despite that it was worth it.
What we packed in our minvan: (ft. Instagram Reel)
Snack box= protein bars, candy, 5 hour energy for Ryan, trail mix, popcorn, animal crackers, goldfish, food pouches for Griffin
Activity boxes= pouch with markers, sketch pads, water marker pads, small soft toys, coloring books
Cooler= for drinks. This is how we kept Griffin’s milk cold. We travelled with a quart of milk for him.
Baked goods= the day before our trip I made banana muffins
Headrest tablet holder= if your vehicle doesn’t have a DVD player. Get tablet headrest to position for your kids to watch their shows v. them holding the tablet.
Extra batteries= it just makes sense
Boppy as a pillow (even though whenever I try to sleep kids need me)
Overnight diapers= diaper changes won’t be as frequent with these
Find a kids themed podcast that the adults don’t mind. We love The Reading Bug Adventures.
RainX= don't forget to apply this to your windshield—it’s a game changer on the highway.
Full recap of our drive to Ohio:
4:45 am -Start drive
Boys slept on and off until 9:00 am
9:00 am- Drove for about 4 hours, then stopped at Cracker Barrel (until10:30am) gave Sonic themed toys, let Remi pee. Griffin diaper changer. Everyone uses bathroom.
10:45- In car, boys watched Monsters, Inc. G slept about an hour.
Pit stop to replace headphone batteries get cash for toll roads. Let Remi pee.
12:35 pm- Ate packed lunches. Boys played with cars, Nolan makes Aussie Lunchable sandwiches, G eats teether crackers in seat.
12:50 pm- A & N fall asleep
1:03 pm- Rest stop to changer diaper & feed G pouch. Ry gets snacks out of box. G has had 4 (5 oz) milks by 1:20pm.I nap for about 45 min. Kids listen to The Reading Bug Adventures podcast. G is asleep.
3:51 pm- I am holding pee until G wakes up.
4:47pm- Stop at McDonald’s to pee. Get Happy Meals, apple pie and fries (too salty to eat). Feed G a pouch. Remi pees outside. In car N & A watch Aladdin while eating Happy Meal. They called our van, “the movie theater car.” G got 5th milk.
6 pm- Arrive at Air BNB in Ohio
