We love a road trip in our house, but with 2 small children it isn’t always the easiest to arrange. That said, since becoming a parent I have learnt that organisation is key to any day out doing well and a road trip is no exception. Here are my tips for arranging a no hassle road trip.

Check Your Car Over Before You Go

Although car maintenance is essential for any car journey, if you’re planning a longer trip then this is a must. Even small things like making sure you have enough water and oil is a start. However, a check over of the tyres and some general car maintenance is a good idea. If you’re not sure about motors then a local mechanics will usually give everything the once over for you without too much of a cost involved.

Plan Your Route

Although sat navs and Google maps are great for helping us with the route as we go, I would suggest having a look at tis before you leave. This allows you to see where you’ll be driving and areas you’ll be passing through – also great for arranging any stops along the way if they’ll be needed. Although sat nav is pretty reliable, I always feel more at ease knowing my rough route first.

What About Fuel?

Topping up with petrol before you go is a must. If you think you’ll need petrol along the way then looking at this as part of your route planning is a must. Fuel cards are useful for budgeting too – they allow you to buy fuel at a set cost which is a great way to save money. Although you may think petrol only changes price by a few pence here and there, on a long journey this can make all the difference.

Consider The Time You Leave

Although it isn’t always possible, considering what time to leave is a good idea. For example, leaving at 8am in the morning probably means you’ll spend a significant amount of the start of your journey sat in traffic. You might find that leaving an hour earlier or an hour later works out best. For really long journeys some people opt to drive through the night, as they know the roads are likely to be clearer.

Pack Snacks

Although I would say snacks are an essential part of a long journey for me, if you’re travelling with children it is essential. My kids love a snack at the best of times, let alone when they’re in the car with nothing to do. Of course, we pack tablets to play on and books to read but these aren’t always enough of a distraction for a whole journey.  Instead some bribery in the shape of crisps or things like dried raisins can go a long way to ensuring a road trip is hassle free.

If you’re planning a road trip and have any tips to share, I’d love to hear them!