Episode 80: Our Simple Road-Trip System 🚗

Traveling with super little kids is… a lot. Schedules get disrupted, naps get weird, babies need to nurse, someone always needs a potty stop—and packing alone feels like a marathon. But staying home until everyone is 12 isn’t realistic either. 😉

Today I’m sharing our family’s simple, sustainable system for road-tripping with babies and toddlers—what actually works for us with three kids four and under.

First Mindset Shift: It’s a Trip, Not a Vacation 😉

Once you stop calling it a vacation, everything gets easier.
Trips with little kids are work—but they’re also so special. Reframe it, and you’ll feel much less frustrated when reality… realities.

Why We Love Road Trips

We prefer driving vs. flying because it gives us flexibility, low stress, and no last-minute airfare sticker shock.

I keep three running lists in my planner:

🌳 Local adventures (parks + playgrounds within 30 minutes)
🚙 Day trips within 2 hours
🏙️ Road-trip cities within 6 hours that need lodging + light planning

We aim for one family trip per month from March through October. We usually plan 2–3 weeks in advance—life is chaotic, and that’s what works.

How We Plan a Trip

We choose a city, pick 2–4 anchor activities, and build a loose outline. For example: Crystal Bridges + the botanical gardens + the Amazeum in Bentonville, AR.

When planning, I always:

Check hours & websites
Map out driving distances
Decide meals (packing vs eating out)
Plug everything into my phone calendar—addresses, times, confirmation numbers

Pro tip: Limit yourself to one morning block + one afternoon block per day. That’s it. Anything more is a meltdown recipe. 😅

Packing Light(-ish) 🧳

With little kids, packing light means lighter than you think, not minimalistic.

Clothes:

1 outfit + 1 pair of PJs per day (plus a backup per kid if no washer/dryer)
My daughter gets 1 outfit/day (plus one backup)
I take 1 pair of pajamas + mix-and-match basics
2 small duffels + 1 backpack is usually enough

Gear we always bring:

Packing cubes + wet bags
Pre-packed toiletries for everyone
1–2 bedtime books + one stuffed animal each
Weather-appropriate extras (jackets, swimsuits, hiking gear, etc.)

What Goes in the Car 🚗

I pack a few small bags that stay easily accessible:

Diaper bag (diapers, wipes, trash bags)
Snack bag (family favorites + special “trip snacks,” everyone’s water bottle, extra trash bag)
Activities bag (road-trip-only coloring books, stickers, quiet fidgets)
Potty bag (extra wipes + a travel potty—non-negotiable!)

We also download an audiobook ahead of time—my husband and I nearly always agree on a sci-fi. 🎧

Baby Gear 👶

Ergo carrier
Double stroller (only if the trip involves walking/hiking)
Travel crib (if the hotel doesn’t provide one)

Food: The Make-or-Break Element 🍽️

Depending on our lodging:

Sometimes we pack light meals + a cooler
Sometimes we rely on hotel breakfast + restaurants
Sometimes (cabins or Airbnbs) we bring full meals to heat up

At minimum, I decide which meals we’re eating out and look at restaurants before we leave—especially on weekend trips.

Budgeting & Rewards

We use one credit card (Capital One Venture) for points and redeem them for lodging or flights. Every month, I set aside a small “trip fund,” even if we don’t travel that month.

Typical weekend trip costs (not including lodging):

Gas
Admission tickets
Dining out
Occasional souvenirs

Our average out-of-pocket spend is around $350.

Why These Trips Matter ❤️

These little monthly adventures break up the sameness of life with babies and toddlers. They give our family shared memories, new scenery, and a chance to breathe different air.

Not every moment is smooth—we’ve had meltdowns, unexpected detours, and logistical hiccups—but we’ve neverregretted a trip. The imperfect moments become the stories we retell.

If You’re Nervous—Start Small 🌱

Take a two-hour trip to a state park.
Don’t even spend the night.
Just get the muscle moving.

Pick a city within a distance you feel good about, look up 2–3 things to do, and go. A simple 30-minute planning session is often enough.

Summer isn’t over—there’s still time to squeeze in a family adventure. 🌞
You’ve got this.