6 tips for making it through a road trip with a large family

As a family of eight, we travel a bit differently from others. Costs that seem small, like a $5.60 tax on an award ticket, quickly add up. For a round trip, that's nearly $100. And don't forget the hefty fuel surcharges airlines often tack on.

That's why we usually choose driving over flying. It's much more economical to transport eight people in one car, making road trips a regular part of our travel plans, even when gas prices soar. (Check out the best credit cards for road trips, gas purchases, and tips for earning rewards on the road.)

Family road trips can be a smart choice year-round if you're staying close or avoiding the high cost of flights. Over time, we've developed several go-to road trip tips, which you’ll find below.

Set screen time rules

When I asked my 12-year-old daughter for her top road trip tips, she replied, "screens, snacks, and space." Although our family generally enforces strict limits on screen time, road trips are an exception to that rule. We do make an effort to incorporate other entertainment options (more on that below), but let's be honest—most long trips involve kids glued to their screens.

Our approach to screen time during road trips has changed over the years. When the kids were younger, we relied on a portable DVD player mounted on the headrests of the front seats. However, as they grew older, we discovered that finding a movie that appeals to both a 14-year-old boy and a 4-year-old girl is nearly impossible.

As our children matured and technology progressed, we transitioned to individual devices. The older kids typically use their phones, while we provide tablets and other gadgets for the younger ones. On our latest road trip, each child enjoyed their own Nintendo 2DS system (see picture below), which was a huge success.

Don't forget to stock up on snacks

Ensuring you have plenty of snacks for the journey is another essential tip. We bring cups for distributing "messier" snacks like Goldfish, pretzels, Cheez-Its, or oyster crackers. This way, the "snack master" in the front can easily hand out treats to those in the back. The more snacks you have, the less you'll need to stop along the way. (Check out TPG's list of healthy snacks to bring on your travels.)

One of my favorite road trip snack stories involves my oldest daughter when she was about 5 or 6. She was sitting in the back row of the minivan, while the younger kids were too small to help with passing out snacks. At snack time, we had no choice but to toss snacks back to her, hoping they landed within her reach without her needing to climb out of her car seat.

By the time we arrived at our destination, we discovered about 20 sandwich cookies (or their remnants) scattered throughout the back seat.

Consider your space

Space is another crucial factor, but unfortunately, it's something you often can't control. Usually, the vehicle you're driving is the only one available to you.

When your van sets off for a road trip looking like this, you know you're going to be short on space.

If you're opting to rent a vehicle rather than using your own, one alternative could be to rent two smaller cars instead of one larger one. We discussed this in our article about which rental car company might suit you best.

Choosing the two-car option is not only more budget-friendly than renting a minivan (or even a full-size van or large SUV), but it also allows you to separate kids who may not get along. However, a drawback of this approach is that both my wife and I have to take turns driving instead of being able to share the load.

Make the most of your break times

Depending on the duration of your journey and the ages of your children, you will likely need to make several stops along the way. If it's a familiar route (like the one to grandma's house), you probably already have your preferred rest stops in mind. We like to turn those stops for food, fuel, and restroom breaks into mini-exercise sessions.

Instead of everyone rushing to the bathroom, we often pull over at a rest area, find a patch of grass, and engage in activities ranging from calisthenics to a quick game of hide-and-seek. The older kids might participate with a bit of reluctance (typical teenage behavior), but the younger ones have a blast running around.

If you can spare a little extra time in your itinerary, look for some free and interesting attractions along the way — here are some tips for discovering those stops.

Seek entertainment wherever possible

As I mentioned earlier, our primary form of entertainment during family road trips these days tends to be personal devices (phones, tablets, and gaming systems). However, we also have a few other favorites that help pass the time on our journeys. Here are some of our top picks:

• Books on CD. The "Harry Potter" series narrated by Jim Dale is a beloved choice for our family.
• Then there’s the classic "Alphabet Game."
• We also enjoy a family game called "I am something in the world; what am I?" which is essentially an upgraded version of 20 Questions where one person thinks of anything, and everyone else asks yes or no questions to figure it out. I'm often amazed at how we can guess even the most obscure things with the right questions.
• When the kids were younger, we would print out sheets featuring license plates from every state for them to mark off when spotted. Bonus points if you're in a state (like Ohio) with county-level stickers on its plates.

Establish a realistic driving schedule

My final piece of advice for road trips is to be sensible about your timing. You know your family best, so consider when to start your journey. Check your route and anticipate when you'll pass through major cities. I have unpleasant memories of being stuck in rush-hour traffic in Chicago with a crying infant.

I know some families choose to drive overnight to make the most of their vacation time. The one time our family attempted that, my toddler daughter cried nonstop for over an hour, which prompted my wife to insist we turn back. (Of course, she finally fell asleep just as we headed back home, so we turned around again and ended up arriving at our destination about three hours late.)

Those of us who enjoy the miles and points world often prefer to break up long road trips with a hotel stay. Don’t hesitate to take breaks—being confined in the back of a minivan for over 10 hours is far from enjoyable.

If you're uncertain about how to begin organizing your itinerary, visit the Roadtrippers website for helpful resources.

In summary

I hope these tips for family road trips assist you in planning your next getaway. Remember to pack plenty of snacks, provide sufficient entertainment for the kids, and ensure everyone has enough time to stretch at each stop.