How to Maximize Your Rest Stop Visits
- Minimize meltdowns
- Maximize energy
- Keep the car cleaner (bless it)
- Restore everyone’s mood, even yours
Table of Contents
Make Rest Stops Regular (Not Random)
- Every 2–3 hours for younger kids
- Every 3–4 hours for older kids and grown-ups with iron bladders
- “Are we there yet?”
- “I forgot to pee.”
- “I dropped my entire lunchbox, and now we have to pull over again.”
Designate a Routine: Same Steps, Every Time
- Everyone uses the bathroom (non-negotiable)
- Refill water bottles
- Trash sweep (everyone brings out 2–3 things)
- Quick movement/stretching game
- Snack time (if needed)
- Back in, buckle up, drive on
Use a “Rest Stop Bag” with the Essentials
- Hand sanitizer
- Paper towels or napkins
- Flushable wipes
- Mini first-aid kit
- Trash bags
- Tissues
- Change of clothes for younger kids (you know why)
Pack a Car-Friendly Trash Bag for Quick Cleanups
Make Movement Mandatory (Even for Grown-Ups)
- Family jumping jacks (guaranteed giggles)
- Walk around the parking lot or building
- Simon Says or a mini dance party
- Bring a ball, jump rope, or Frisbee for grassy stops
Don’t Underestimate the Power of a Good Snack Stop
- Cheese sticks
- Apple slices
- Crackers
- Granola bars
- Yogurt tubes
- And yes, a few fun snacks (because morale matters)
Choose the Right Stops
- State-run rest areas with picnic tables and grassy areas
- Large travel plazas (especially with indoor bathrooms and food courts)
- Buc-ee’s because OMG! If you haven’t been to Buc-ee’s yet, see if there’s one along your route. It’s worth all of the chaos of getting in and out. The snacks are superior, and the toilets are always clean.
Let Rest Stops Be Mini Memories
- Picnic lunches in random fields
- Photos at weird roadside attractions
- Getting ice cream from a gas station freezer that somehow hits different
Have a “Back in the Car” Routine
- Everyone checks their shoes and personal items
- Refill water bottles
- Buckle up in silence (okay, maybe that’s a fantasy)
- Give a 2-minute countdown before starting again
Wrapping It Up: Rest Stops = Reset Buttons
Free Family Road Trip Starter Kit
🎶 Ready to hit the road with magic in the speakers?
Don’t forget to grab our FREE Family Road Trip Starter Kit — packed with printable checklists, kid-approved games, and snack ideas for your next adventure!
🎒 Includes:
Packing checklist
I Spy game
Travel Bingo boards
Snack list
Activity ideas
Save a Pin & Start Planning Your Adventure!
For future reference, be sure to save our post “Rest Stop Routines That Actually Work”! While you’re at it, take a look at our printable children’s travel journals, they are the perfect way to keep your kiddos entertained in the car. Read about how you can start your own 50 State Challenge or how to plan the perfect road trip.. Pin one of the images below to Pinterest. Go ahead and follow 5 Suitcases on Pinterest while you’re at it!
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