Hitting the open road is a great way to create unforgettable memories – just so long as everyone travels safe and gets along!
Most Perth families may have already ticked off some incredible scenic drives with the kids while exploring the Greater Perth region – but navigating your first trip to faraway destinations like Margaret River or the Kimberleys can naturally prove to be more unnerving.
The logistics of driving a longer distance is just one part of the equation: there’s also questions on how to keep the kids entertained during the journey, plus making sure the trip stays safe and comfortable for all travellers, big and small.
Thankfully, it’s not that tricky to keep your long distance road trip preparation systematic and organised. All you need are strong guidelines, and that’s precisely what we’ve provided for you today.
Here’s how you can make sure your first long distance family road trip goes off without a hitch.
Select the Right Car for your Journey
If you’re a two-car family with a sedan and SUV, you can safely assume which one will be used for your trip. The extra space makes SUVs or minivans great for long distance driving with plenty of passengers, ensuring everyone can stretch out when they need to.
But it’s important to remember that there’s more to selecting a car for a trip than just space. If your SUV is veering on the older, less reliable side, it may end up being safer renting a newer model for your journey. Less risk of breakdowns means greater peace of mind on your travels.
While you can get recommendations from rental car providers, we recommend doing a little independent research using third-party review sites and a reputable car comparison tool to make sure all relevant specs and features are considered. Do you need space for a stroller? A powerful A/C? Good fuel efficiency? A built-in entertainment system? 4WD for anticipated off-road driving? Then make sure your selected ride ticks all of these boxes.
Get your Vehicle Serviced Before you Depart
If you aren’t hiring a car and opting to take your own, then you’ll definitely want to book in a servicing appointment with your family mechanic before you go. Alongside this, be sure to check your tyre pressure, oil, and coolant levels.
And before you even start popping your luggage in the boot, make sure you include a spare tyre, tyre jack, and a basic toolkit so you have all the supplies you need to change a tyre in the event of a puncture. WA highways can be unpredictable, and you don’t want to find yourself stranded on the side of the road in midday heat.
Similarly, even if you aren’t anticipating a breakdown, it’s still wise to sign up for roadside assistance, just so you can be rest assured that help will arrive if you and the kids do find yourself stuck in the event of a breakdown.
Plan Your Route in Advance
Having a game plan is the golden rule for parents travelling with young kids. That means planning a clearly defined road trip route with plenty of stops that include morning tea, lunch, and afternoon snacks alongside giving kids the opportunity to stretch their legs and blow off some steam.
As a good rule of thumb, driving should be kept to four or five hours daily. Impromptu visits to parks or playgrounds could help overcome an unexpected tantrum. Thankfully nowadays, you can plot your road trip route easily enough with a GPS app – with maps downloaded for offline driving, of course. When charting out your route, simply factor in driving distances with the positioning of rest areas, servos, parklands, playgrounds, and eateries along the way to pinpoint your ideal stops.
Pro tip: if you anticipate that it’ll take a few days of driving to reach your destination, then be sure to book stopover accommodation in advance if possible to ensure ample lodgings for the entire family – and to avoid missing out and having to nap in the car instead!
Pack Smart and Stay Organised
Packing well doesn’t mean packing…everything. That way, you run the risk of not being able to find anything. And if your kids are taking medication or simply need particular things at particular times, this disorganisation can be a recipe for disaster.
Again, maintaining a systematic method can help here. Start by making a must-have checklist for every member and packing these items where they’re easily accessible. Priority should be given to prescription and motion sickness meds. These can be stored in your vehicle first aid kit for easy access.
Comfort items (i.e. a beloved stuffed animal or blanket, etc.) can anchor restless children quickly, so make sure these are also easily accessible at all times – and that they aren’t ever left behind at a petrol station.
For those travelling with a roof rack, weatherproof, see-through storage cubes are great for roof stacking. Non-weatherproof bags can be stored securely in the boot. One bag per person allows you to quickly find specific items, and you can also pack an overnight bag to get you through short hotel stays without needing to unpack your entire vehicle.
Prepare Kid-Friendly Entertainment
Entertaining children is a full-time job. This is especially true during long stretches of driving. So for parents who anticipate their kids will get restless along the journey, be sure to bring a variety of kid-friendly entertainment. This means packing loads of books and colouring activities, travel-friendly board games, activity books and puzzles.
For personal entertainment (and a little quiet time for parents), load a tablet or computer with movies and games, and/or pack along some handheld gaming consoles like a Nintendo Switch. Just don’t forget to pack some headphones either to allow for some quiet time.
For car games you can play “I Spy”, travel bingo, or alphabet games to make the trip fun and encourage some family bonding whilst also giving the kids a little bit of a screen break too.
Stock up on Snacks and Drinks
Hungry travellers do not make happy travellers. But packing for long-distance road trips may look a little different to packing after school snacks.
To avoid snacks getting overly soggy in the car, it’s best to stick to mess-free, non-sticky, single-serving items. Some favourites include chips, cut fruits and veggies stored in cooler bags, juice boxes in spill-resistant cups, crackers, trail mix, granola bars, cheese snacks and sandwiches (also stored securely in cooler bags to keep them from getting uncomfortably warm).
Ensure everyone is well hydrated at all times by bringing refillable water bottles for each member of the family. Store all snacks properly and ensure you can reach the snack bag without pulling over. Treats keep the kids happy and can be used to negotiate with them if they get too antsy.
Embark on your First Long Distance Family Road Trip in Style
Sorting out that first long-distance family trip is a big step, and long hours of planning and anticipation can definitely start to take a toll even before the trip begins. But once you do set out, that’s when the work begins to pay off.
And don’t get us wrong, there will be tedious and dull moments too. Just do your best to power through them. Make your kids’ first road trip memorable by creating fun-filled experiences. Remember, it’s not just about arriving at your destination – plenty of memories can be made along the way as well so long as you’re open to it. Just embrace the mess and chaos, and enjoy the bonus family time that comes in between every inevitable question of “Are we there yet?”.
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
