A road trip is fun, but a lot work. We’re preparing for our own road trip to Vegas for Christmas, and no not to hit the slots. We have family in Vegas, so we’re hitting the road. The last time we attempted to take the 4 hour drive from Los Angeles was when Ariabella was just 3 months old. We also brought our 2 dogs. Talk about a nightmare.
Make Family Road Trips With A Toddler Manageable
DON’T BRING THE FAMILY PET
Do NOT bring the family pet/pets! Not with kids AND presents! Way too much stress! If you have dogs or cats, drop them off at the kennel. Kennels are expensive, so have trusted family watch them to save money. We don’t have anyone to watch our 2 dogs. So, we’re dropping them off at Petsmart Pets Hotel, as we’ve had great experiences with them.
MINIMIZE LUGGAGE
We are minimizing our luggage and only bringing 2. We’re bringing a smaller one for our 19 month-old daughter and a larger one to share for mom and dad.
IF YOU HAVE AN SUV YOUR AHEAD OF THE GAME
We are driving our Prius- so all you SUV people go ahead and laugh! Yes, we are cramming Christmas gifts in every available space we can find. If you’re taking that family holiday road trip with an SUV or larger, you’re so lucky. We envy you! Even a 4 hour drive, can extend to 6 or more hours. If you have more than one kid, you’ll definitely need to take bathroom stops.
BRING A BOOK
Don’t forget to bring reading material for the road.
Road trip Toddler Essentials: Favorite Toys, Books, Items
Our daughter loves books like mommy. So, we’re packing some of her favorite books. She’s got a routine just before bed, her daddy reads to her. Not wishing to break this important routine, we can’t skip out on her books.
If you can ship Christmas gifts to the destination you’re heading towards, it saves up room in your vehicle. We shipped some presents via Amazon, but not all. Holiday road trips can be a lot of fun, but with a child/children road trips are often a stressful preparation process.
Make your life simple and bring what you need.
Merry Christmas
&
Happy Holidays!
So excited for your family to come down. You wrapped the present well! Wow! Don’t laugh at mine. Great tips for traveling with a toddler. Travel safely!
Thank you! Just got here. Next time, I think we’ll fly. Ha ha ha.