We are getting ready to head out for our next big adventure in just over a week, and we have some grand plans. I can’t wait to share our travels with you along the way! We LOVE a good road trip! Last spring we drove from Florida to California and back in 9 days. This was such an amazing whirlwind trip. The highlight of the trip was the Grand Canyon, for sure. Even if you have seen a picture of it you cannot imagine what it’s really like in person. It’s really amazing! In the fall, we drove from Florida to Maine to Niagara Falls and back to Florida in 10 days. The trip was more relaxed. The shorter distance gave us more time to enjoy each stop.
This year we are headed out for a big summer road trip to Utah. Most of our trips will probably be during the summer going forward since Hayden starts Kindergarten in the fall. Not that I would hesitate to pull my kids from school for an adventure. We will definitely be the parents that take our kids out of school to travel. Our kids have seen so many amazing places that I definitely count our travels as educational experiences.
All those miles on the road can be fun, but we also have to keep the kids entertained. We are so thankful for our iPads and iPhones every time we travel. I am not at all ashamed to admit we let our kids use the iPads for more than the recommended amount of time when we are on the road. (and at home for that matter) They are really a game changer when it comes to how much time we can spend in the car. As helpful as they are, we definitely don’t want to spend the entire trip glued to technology. Today, I am sharing ideas to keep your kids entertained on a road trip that don’t involve hand held technology.
This post contains affiliate links, but all opinions expressed are 100% my own.
23 Ideas to Entertain Kids on a Road Trip Without Technology
- I Spy- A Classic!
- Coloring Books/ Crayons
- Blank Paper- Have them draw the places you go
- License Plate Hunting
- Legos- In a plastic bin
- Music- so simple, but the kids are really into it. We listen to a lot of Moana and Trolls songs
- Snacks
- Scavenger Hunts
- Busy Books
- Gel clings on the windows
- Books
- Individual jewelry making kits with beads or even food (think Theodore’s craft necklace from Chipwrecked)
- Small toys
- Maps (treasure or the regular kind)
- Cameras
- Sensory Bottles
- Audiobooks
- Printables- there are a lot of great ones on Pinterest
- Would You Rather? (family friendly)
- Rubick’s Cubes
- Simon
- Binoculars
- Knock knock jokes
I know we will rely a lot on technology to get us all the way from Florida to Utah, but it’s nice to know that the kids won’t miss the entire trip while their heads are down paying attention to technology. Have you ever taken your kids on a long road trip? I’d love to hear your best tips for keeping the kids entertained in the car on a long road trip!