Patience and Planning: RV’ing With Kids Made Easy
Making Memories Through Family RV Adventures
RV’ing with kids is an incredible way to create lifelong memories as a family while exploring new places and immersing yourselves in nature. However, traveling with little ones can come with its own set of challenges. With a bit of patience and careful planning, you can ensure that your trip is both enjoyable and rewarding for everyone.
Include Your Kids in the Planning Process
Kids love to feel included and valued, even in the planning stages of your trip. Engage them by showing videos of campgrounds or destinations you’re considering and ask for their input. Are you heading to a National Park? Get a guidebook and let your kids pick a few spots they’d like to explore. Giving them some ownership of the trip helps build excitement and makes the experience even more special for them.
Cut Down on Travel Time
Long travel days can be tough on kids, especially younger ones stuck in car seats for extended periods. To minimize discomfort and prevent boredom-induced meltdowns, aim to keep travel days shorter. Plan your route with plenty of stops and come prepared with activities like puzzles, coloring books, or handheld games to keep them entertained. And don’t forget the snacks, lots of snacks!
Plan for Plenty of Breaks
Traveling with kids means adjusting your usual travel habits. Gone are the days of a quick gas-and-go pit stop. With kids in tow, rest breaks often take longer and require more planning. Use maps to identify easy-to-access stops ahead of time, especially if you’re driving a larger RV that’s tricky to maneuver in tight spaces.
Pro Tip: Rest areas are great for quick stops, they’re spacious, easy to access, and avoid the tourist-trap distractions of large gas stations. Places like Buc-ee’s might be fun, but they can turn a quick break into an hour-long adventure filled with extra snacks and souvenirs.
Focus on Fun and Flexibility
Things won’t always go as planned, and that’s okay! Meltdowns and unexpected hiccups are part of the adventure. Use those moments as opportunities to bond and make lasting memories. Show your kids that camping is fun and simple pleasures are the best part of RV life, playing in a river, helping to build a campfire, or finding the perfect marshmallow stick.
Encourage them to embrace the outdoors and let go of daily routines. Whether it’s getting muddy, exploring a trail, or gazing at the stars, these are the experiences that make RV’ing unforgettable. And don’t forget to snap plenty of pictures, you’ll treasure these moments for years to come.