Ep. 20 | How We Road-trip with 7 Kids (Without Losing Our Minds)

If you’ve ever looked at the idea of a road trip with kids and thought, Absolutely not, that sounds exhausting, you’re not alone.
We’ve heard from so many parents who avoid road trips altogether because they imagine endless whining, constant snack requests, and a chorus of “Are we there yet?” But after traveling thousands of miles with seven children, we’ve found something surprising: some of our family’s favorite memories haven’t happened at the destination, they’ve happened on the road getting there.
Road trips don’t have to be something you simply survive. With a little intentionality, they can become one of the places your family grows closer together.

Create Traditions Your Kids Look Forward To

One of the biggest shifts for our family came when we stopped thinking about road trips as transportation and started thinking about them as part of the vacation.
Simple traditions give kids something to anticipate and transform long hours in the car into meaningful memories.
Some of our family’s favorite road trip traditions include:
Creating a family road trip playlist where everyone contributes songs
Listening to audiobooks together
Stopping for ice cream or a meal at Cracker Barrel
Giving a Dum Dum sucker or Twizzler every hour if no one asks, “Are we there yet?”
Packing special snacks we only bring on road trips
These traditions aren’t complicated. They’re simply small rhythms repeated over time—and those rhythms eventually become your family’s culture.

Set Clear Expectations Before You Leave

Road trips are far more enjoyable when everyone knows what’s expected.
Before we leave, we remind our kids of two simple categories of rules:

Safety Rules

No throwing objects
No shouting near the driver
No kicking seats

Respect Rules

Respect each other’s personal space
No teasing or hitting
Don’t ask, “Are we there yet?”
Kids thrive with clear expectations. Rather than constantly correcting behavior during the drive, we teach expectations ahead of time and follow through consistently. That creates a much more peaceful atmosphere for everyone.

Keep It Simple and Prepare Ahead

You don’t have to entertain your children every minute of the trip.
Instead, prepare a few simple activities and practical systems before you leave.
Here are a few things that have worked well for our family:
Pack a small backpack of activities for each child.
Bring a basket of toys for babies and toddlers.
Limit screen time instead of relying on it all day.
Keep an emergency kit with wipes, paper towels, plastic bags, and sickness supplies.
Pack one overnight duffel bag for hotel stops so you don’t unload the entire vehicle.
The goal isn’t perfection. It’s reducing unnecessary stress so you can enjoy the journey together.

The Journey Is Part of the Memory

One of the biggest myths about road trips is that they’re simply something to endure until you arrive.
We’ve found the opposite to be true.
Years from now, our kids probably won’t remember every highway we drove or every mile we traveled. But they’ll remember the music we listened to, the ice cream stops, the special snacks, the conversations, and the traditions that made each trip feel uniquely ours.
If road trips have felt intimidating in the past, start small. Plan a day trip. Add one new tradition. Set a few simple expectations.
You might discover that some of your family’s greatest memories are waiting between destinations.