How to Plan the Perfect Family Road Trip Route
Table of Contents
Start With Your “Why”
- Visiting family?
- Showing your kids the Grand Canyon before they think everything is “cringe”?
Pick a Realistic Destination (and Back)
- With Littles (0–5): 4–5 hours max
- With Big Kids (6–12): 6–7 hours
- With Teens: 7–8 hours if they have snacks, chargers, and noise-canceling headphones
- With Freaks of Nature: Our kids are so down for an adventure that they’re content being in a car for even longer than 8 hours! We pack a ton of snacks, and they have their road trip essentials to keep them happy.
Scenic vs. Direct: Choose Your Adventure
- The Direct Route
Best for: tight timelines, younger kids, trips where you’re just trying to get there already
Bonus: fewer chances of someone getting carsick on twisty backroads. - The Scenic Route
Best for: longer trips, kids who can handle a bit of extra time, or families who enjoy the “off the beaten path” vibe
Bonus: Instagram-worthy views, quirky pit stops, and better storytelling later
Build in the “Three S’s”: Snacks, Stops, and Surprises
- Snacks:
Know your route well enough to identify snack needs. Pack your favorites, but also note where grocery stores or healthy options might pop up. This isn’t just survival—it’s morale management. - Stops:
Aim for a real stop (not just a bathroom sprint) every 2–3 hours. Think parks, playgrounds, cool roadside attractions, or even just a pretty rest area. Pro tip: picnic lunches = budget win + fresh air. - Surprises:
Leave space in your itinerary for the unexpected. That funny billboard advertising the “World’s Largest Rubber Band Ball”? Go see it. Let your kids pick one random stop. The best memories are often the least planned.
Tools to Help You Plot Like a Pro
- Google Maps or Waze: For plotting routes and spotting traffic
- Roadtrippers: Lets you see cool stops, restaurants, and attractions along your route
- iExit: Tells you what’s coming up on your highway exit (restrooms, food, etc.)
- Offline Maps (like Maps.me): Great for dead zones in rural areas
- Paper Map: Because GPS betrayal is real, and you don’t want to explain to your kids why you’re crying in a cornfield in Iowa
Get the Kids Involved
- Help choose stops from a list of options
- Pick a “trip mascot” stuffed animal that tags along
- Create a travel bingo or scavenger hunt game based on your route
Time It Right
- Avoid rush hour if you’re going through a major city
- Plan to stop for a longer break in the mid-afternoon (when everyone’s cranky)
- Know your kids’ rhythms: time your driving for their happiest hours
Back-Up Plans = Sanity
- A park is closed
- It rains
- Someone suddenly must pee even though they “didn’t have to go five minutes ago”
Don’t Overplan Every Minute
Final Thoughts From the Driver’s Seat
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 “Planning the Perfect Family Road Trip Route”! 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! Pin one of the images below to Pinterest. Go ahead and follow 5 Suitcases on Pinterest while you’re at it!
📌 Save this post to Pinterest
📸 Follow us on Instagram @5suitcases
👍 Follow us on Facebook @5suitcases
▶️ Subscribe on YouTube @5suitcases