Solo (With Kids) Road Trip Tips

Remember how we talked about being flexible on any trip last week?! The day after posting that three of the four Whitakers were off on a last-minute trip. I’m talking about a trip that was planned Tuesday night, and then we left early Friday morning. It was only a quick weekend trip, but we all had a lot of fun, and it was good to see friends and family after two years!

We’ve posted our road trip tips before, but today I want to share with you how to make a solo (with kids) road trip easier! Like I said, the kids and I made the drive from South Carolina to Pennsylvania, and it’s a whole different ball game driving with just yourself and kids in the back seat compared to having a driver and someone else that can help the kids if need be. So, here are my tips for a solo road trip with kids.



Leave early. This tip holds true for just about any road trip. Leaving early guarantees that there will be fewer other cars on the road, that you’ll get to your destination earlier, and that your passengers can go back to sleep for a while in the car.

Pack things to keep the kids occupied. Allow your kids pack a small bag with toys, games, books, and make sure that they can reach it from their seat. We normally keep the kids’ bags in between their car seats.

Have food accessible. For our most recent trip I had food for breakfast, lunch, and snack on the front seat so that I could reach it and hand it back to the kids while we were still driving.

Pack water. Don’t forget to drink water while you’re driving! Yes, you’ll have to stop to pee, but no one wants to get to their destination dehydrated.

Pack chargers and battery packs. If your kids will be using tablets during your drive, make sure that you have a way to charge them that is easily accessible. We normally keep the battery pack and a charging wire in the center console while we’re on road trips.

Plan for pee breaks. Plan for a least one, if not two more rest area stops than you would need for yourself.

Let the kids run around. At one of those rest steps, let the kids, and yourself, stretch your legs for a few minutes!

Music. Music is an important part of any road trip. Let your kids help pick some songs for the road trip playlist.

Those are my tips for taking a solo road trip with kids! Did I miss one that you think is vital to a good road trip?! Let me know.

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