9 Tips to Survive a Road Trip as a Single Parent

Road trips are the classic summer vacation and a pretty popular way to travel for many families. But as a single parent, the idea of tackling a road trip can be intimidating! But don’t worry! It doesn’t need to be stressful! Road trips as a single mom are definitely do-able. With a little preparation and planning, the trip can be fun and maybe even better than the final destination!

Here’s 9 tips to survive a road trip as a single parent, and even make it successful and fun!  

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1. Check your car

Now this may sound like an obvious one, but sometimes in the rush of packing and planning it slips your mind! At the minimum, make sure to get an oil change and check the tire pressure, although it wouldn’t hurt to have the brakes and transmission checked too.

As a single mom, I know how to change a tire if needed, but being far from home and having two kids to look after isn’t ideal if your car breaks down!

If you have roadside assistance, make sure to keep that number handy – and if you don’t, it might be worth looking into!

2. Plan your route

Now you’ve probably already got a basic route planned out, but make sure you’re familiar with where you’re going and any directions needed.

As a single mom, you can’t rely on another adult to help navigate. Every time we stop, whether a rest stop or overnight, I try to look ahead at the route for the next section of our trip.

Even with GPS, I find it easier if I’m familiar with the general route. Many cars come with a GPS now, but if not, maps.me or google maps are great and you can even download your route on google maps so that you can use it offline.

3. Snacks

Bring snacks! You can never have too many snacks, so don’t be afraid to pack more than you think you’ll need.

Dry snacks like rice cakes, popcorn, granola bars and cereal are some of our go-to options, along with fresh fruit that can be eaten with minimal mess.

4. Use the front seat

As a single parent, you don’t have an extra set of hands to help pass things to kids in the back, but you probably DO have the front seat empty.

This is a great place to set anything you need access to while you’re driving (make sure to stay safe while driving though!)

Keep a few snacks handy, Kleenex or napkins, a map (that you can check when you pull over), water bottles and anything else that you may need.

5. Rest Area

Taking a break and stretching legs is important for everyone! If you spy a designated rest area, try to take advantage of it!

We’ve stopped at some that have picnic benches and play equipment, which is a bonus when you’re travelling with kids!

If not, we’ve also just stopped along the side of the road (where it’s safe!!) or pulled off the highway into a town to take a break from the car – anything to stretch those muscles!

6. Activities

We’re not necessarily a screen-free family, but we don’t rely on screens, whether in the car or for other travel.

But whether or not you use screens, be sure to pack some other activities as well! Small toys like dolls, hot wheels or trains are safe and will amuse kids for awhile.

My guys also love books and can happily read (and re-read) their books for hours in the car. Other options are the Melissa and Doug Water Wow, magnetic games, Road Trip Bingo and the Crayola Mess Free Art Kit or Mess Free Markers. Depending on the ages of your kids, there’s also loads of DIY car games or busy bags that you can find on Pinterest. We’ve rounded up some great road trip activities in this post here.

7. Podcasts

I’m going to admit, I had heard of podcasts but hadn’t realized how great they would be for road trips, or even for kids. But then last year, I discovered how awesome they are and they’ve become a staple for us now. There’s loads of great podcasts for kids – our favourites right now are Story Pirates, Storynory and Circle Round. Now I know my kids are bigger book fans than other kids are, but most kids love listening to stories! Use this time in the car to relax and listen to some stories! Many cars have Bluetooth, but if you don’t, like some of the rental cars we’ve had on trips, you can always let kids listen from a portable speaker or even just your phone. Check out these great podcasts for young kids.

8. Packing

Everyone has their own style of packing and what works for some won’t always work for others. But there are a few general suggestions (and you can check out our list of what to bring on a road trip here). Keep a spare change of clothes (for everyone) near the top of your luggage. You never know when you may need a quick change. We also keep our swim bag handy, just in case we spy a beach or splash pad along the way – it makes for a great rest stop but you don’t want to be digging through all of your luggage just to get a bathing suit out.

9. Take your time

A road trip with kids should be more about the journey, not just the destination. Make some impromptu stops if you see something along the way that looks interesting!

Some other useful Apps

There are a few good apps that while maybe not essential, will definitely help make your road trip easier.

• Roadtrippers – use this to plan your route and discover the coolest “off the beaten path” places along the way
• Maps.me and Google Maps are great for navigating (google maps also lets you see alternate routes, construction and any tolls)
• Booking.com to find accommodations or a last minute hotel.

Read more | 15 Great FREE Travel Apps for Families

Are you feeling ready to try a road trip as a single parent? Take the leap and go enjoy it! Let us know how it goes!

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