This post is sponsored by Pilot Flying J, but all opinions are my own.
Hitting the road as a family can mean lots of stops, detours, potty breaks, and other distractions that make your road trip take much longer than it needs to. Some stops are inevitable, but even so there are things you can do to keep stop times down and stay on schedule!
Secrets to Save Time on a Road Trip. These are so key, especially when traveling with kids. Skip the stops, where possible, and use these other tricks and hacks to cut down on travel time!
Check Construction Traffic – Along the route, or before you take off, check your planned route to avoid as much construction and traffic as you can. Getting stuck in a bad construction zone can add a long delay to your trip as you crawl through slow or stopped traffic.
Plan Your Travel Times – Driving through large cities along your route can lead to lots of traffic. Plan your trip times to avoid the peak hours heading through those major cities and you’ll avoid a lot of unnecessary delays.
Prepare Entertainment – Have activities ready for the whole crew. An audio book and movies are a great distraction to kill the time. Or make a fun kit around a theme to keep the kids engaged and entertained. We’ve made a Bubbles Kit that includes Bubble wrap, bubble gum, and mini bubbles. Stash all the goodies in a zipper sandwich bag and tell the kids to keep their trash in the bag to swap out with their next activity kit.
I also made a darling Rainbow Kit with a multi-ink colorful pen, holographic stickers, colorful popsicles sticks to make patterns or design a rainbow, glass gems to reflect light, and a blank sheet of paper to design their own colorful masterpieces. There are tons of possibilities you can create for cute themed kits.
Time Your Drinks – Staying hydrated is important, but instead of sipping throughout the drive, gulp down a water bottle and pass the kids back a drink about an hour before you’re next planned stop. You can plan your upcoming stops around refueling and meals to save time.
Multitask At Stops – During your road trip, it will be necessary to stop for different needs such as to use the restroom, stretch, refuel, or grab a bite to eat. Lump your stops as much as possible to cut down on your overall stops. When you stop to refuel, for example, let everyone out to have a chance to stretch and grab some snacks to get you through to your next pit stop.
We grabbed a cup of fresh grapes at Pilot Flying J’s, as one of their wholesome food options as part of their PJ Fresh Marketplace ™. They even had hard boiled eggs which is a perfect protein snack that won’t make your stomach upset like junk food will.
Use Rest Stops – When someone from your crew needs to use the bathroom between your stops, watch for rest stops. They’re the fastest way to get off and back on the road again. They also offer a nice place to run around for a few minutes and burn some energy before your back in the seat.
Dinner on the Go – Meals can take a lot of time if you stop to eat. Grab a bite while filling up your tank at a Pilot Flying J and you’ll be able to tackle two jobs in one stop. Their PJ Fresh ™ menu includes soups, fresh fruits and vegetables, hot dogs, tamales, sandwiches and salads, roasted chicken and sides, and amazing pizza you literally won’t believe you found at a gas station.
This post originally appeared on A Mom’s Take.
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