Tips for Summer Travel with Kids

With summer just beginning, and many families planning trips and vacations, today I am sharing the best tips for summer travel with kids.

Traveling with young kids is never easy (and rarely relaxing), but it's so worth it. The experiences, the memories, the family time - these are the moments we will remember when our children are grown. These are the memories that we hope they will remember as well.

Whether you are driving a few hours or flying across the country (or world!), being well-prepared for travel with young kids is imperative. With the right mindset, and lots of snacks, you can make the most of your family trips.

Here are some of the best tips for summer travel with kids.

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Tips for Summer Travel with Kids

ONE: Snacks, snacks and more snacks. I mean this one is first and foremost for good reason - is it even a trip without lots and lots of travel snacks?? No matter the age, well-timed snacks are key for long hours in the car, for waiting in lines, or on a long plane trip. To make those snacks even more exciting, try to pick up some snacks or treats that your kids don't usually have. My kids love this! They know they will get some special snacks when we travel and they look forward to it.

MY FAVORITE: Check out my favorite healthy snacks, here!

TWO: Travel-friendly activities. When we travel (whether by car or plane) each of my kids gets one backpack to fill with things to do. I pack for my youngest (age 4), with cars and trucks, a coloring book and crayons or a mess-free activity book, and a few new things to keep his interest. I usually buy the new items at the dollar store or Target dollar spot. If they get lost, no big deal.

MY FAVORITE: I love these inexpensive pouches for crayons, colored pencils, legos, snacks - the possibilities are endless. I use these pouches for so many different things when we travel. They are so versatile.

THREE: Stock your bag. I probably overdo this one, but I like to be prepared. You never know when motion-sickness, a fever, or a headache might strike. I like to have common meds along with bandaids (always a necessity!), wipes, and hand sanitizer. I like to have 'go bags' that I can throw into whatever bag I'm traveling with. One is meds, one is toiletries, and one is sunscreens. I never unpack them, just refill them as needed. I use them all summer long and I love that I can easily grab them and go.

MY FAVORITE: I use these pouches to for my 'go bags.'

FOUR: Plan it out. Travel delays are inevitable, no matter how you are traveling, but planning your travel day from the get-go is an important step to help things go as smooth as possible. For us, this means timing our travel based on our kid's schedules (when possible), planning how, when and where we'll have meals, and building in breaks to move and run around when we can.

MY FAVORITE: When we take long car trips, we love the Family Road Trip Trivia Podcast. There are so many fun themes, and the whole family loves it. Podcasts are a great screen-free way to mix things up when kids (and adults!) are getting a little stir-crazy on long trips.

FIVE: Screen time is okay! If there was ever a good time for screens, travel is it. So pack up those iPads and kid-friendly headphones and use as needed! And while your kids are occupied, bring a good book for yourself or listen to a podcast, you deserve some relaxing time, too!

MY FAVORITE: We love these headphones, and we never travel without them. I always bring my beloved Kindle, and I'll sneak in time to read whenever I can.

SIX: Set expectations and have a sense of humor. Travel delays, exhaustion, and meltdowns are pretty common. Knowing that from the beginning can help to set expectations. Long travel days can be tough. Take a breath, and know that it will all be over soon (hopefully). And if all else fails, get yourself a good snack. 🙂

MY FAVORITE: For more on managing expectations when traveling with kids, check out this podcast episode with Dr. Becky.

Those are my best tips for summer travel with kids. I hope they are helpful for you as you plan your summer adventures. What would you add? Please share below!

And for all the days spent at the beach or pool, check out the best pool and beach gear for families.

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