Planning a family vacation can be an exciting--yet stressful--adventure in itself. With the abundance of amusement parks, beaches and campgrounds throughout the U.S., the options of where you are going and how to get there are almost limitless. If you are looking for a little excitement and the opportunity to experience the open road with your family, a road trip might be exactly what you need. It is important to remember, though, that family road trips are seldom an easy Sunday drive, so you need to be ready for anything.
Plan your route. While jumping in the car and hitting the road without a plan might have seemed like a great idea when you were 22, trying to do it with a family can turn any trip into a nightmare. Open an atlas before you go, and plan the route you want to take to your destination as well as an alternate route in the event there are road closures or construction.
Calculate your fuel costs and other expenses well in advance. Road trips are a great way to experience the country, but you need to think about where you will sleep, what you are going to eat and what you are going to do once you get there. Reserve your hotel rooms in advance, and check out the AAA fuel-cost calculator to get an estimate on how much gas will cost.
Come up with ideas to keep your family entertained on the road. Even if you think you can keep the conversation going for 12 straight hours, your partner and kids might disagree. Plan to bring along books, magazines and music for every member of your family to keep them content when the road gets long.
Pack an emergency road kit. No matter which season you are driving in, you'll want an emergency kit in the event you are stranded or someone is injured. Your emergency road kit should include a first-aid kit, flashlights, spare tires, blankets and possibly a candle for heat in the winter.
Make a list of snacks to pack for those mid-trip munchies. Even the most enjoyable road trip can turn into a nightmare when you have a hungry child screaming in the back. Consider healthy snacks, such as fruit and granola, and drinks to tide over your family.
Check out the weather forecast for your trip. Unfortunately, the thunderstorms and tornadoes blowing through Oklahoma aren't concerned about you trying to make it to the theme park by Saturday morning.
Pack your bags at least a day before you leave. Plan to take clothes for every weather condition you might encounter, and remember all necessary medicines for the members of your family. Forgetting an asthma inhaler or even some non-aspirin is a great way to ruin a perfectly good road trip.
