How to Survive and Thrive During a Long Travel Day with Kids

Raise your hand if you love LONG travel days.

Yeah, me neither! Long travel days can be tough, especially when you’re traveling with kids.

Whether you have one child or four, traveling with kids is challenging enough and then add in a long day- WHOA!

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As a family of six, we’ve had our fair share of long travel days. Whether it’s on the road 🛣, in the air ✈️, or even on a train 🚞, it’s crucial to have strategies to keep things running smoothly.

The hardest about about a long travel day with a big family? Making sure each kid gets the attention they need- while your patience is running thin!

The first step to managing this stress is keeping your own attitude and emotions in check.

I’ve learned that if I, as the mom, lose it, the whole thing can unravel fast!

So do whatever you need to do to stay calm and positive when challenges arise! 👍

Here are some things that help me: ⬇️

🌟 Take big deep breaths. Keep taking them for as long as you need. (It really works!) 🧘

🌟 Treat yourself– whether it’s a coffee, ice-cold Coca Cola, a candy bar, or a huge bag of gummy bears. Sometimes a little joy goes a long way! 🥤 ☕️ 🍫 🍩

🌟 If possible, put on some music or a podcast to keep your mind relaxed. 🎵 🎤

These little things help me remain calm and keep a positive mindset during long travel days.

➡️ Remind yourself: I am the glue here. I am strong. I can do this. It is up to me to keep things together. We will make it!

I have so many more tips and strategies for surviving long travel days with a big family. Keep reading to find out more!

1. Pre-Trip Preparation

Some long travel days are planned and others, unfortunately, are not. 

An unplanned long travel day is a whole different ball game ⚾️, but for now, let’s focus on a planned long travel day.

When you know that a long day of travel is coming up- it is important to do some pre-trip preparation. 

Planning Ahead for Your Travels in the Air and on the Road

Planning for Your Road Trip 🚗

For road trips, I typically plan no more than 6-7 hours of drive time for our family.  This doesn’t include stops or possible traffic delays.

Within this time frame, I usually schedule at least two or three stops.

Some stops are quick, like snapping a picture with a roadside oddity or famous landmark, while others are longer, like visiting a museum along the way. 

For example, on our trip to Gatlinburg, we made a quick stop in Metropolis, Illinois to take a picture with Superman. 📸

Another time, we stopped for a couple of hours in Springfield, Illinois to visit the Lincoln Presidential Museum. 🏢

These planned breaks help everyone stay positive during long stretches of driving. 

For the older boys, I’ll break down the trip by telling them, “We’ve got just two hours until our next fun stop,” instead of having them focus on the entire six hours we have to our final destination. 

➡️ Extra Tip: In addition to planning stops, I always plan where we will stay for the night ahead of time. It takes away the stress of scrambling to find a place after a long day on the road.

Planning for Your Flight ✈️

Our longest flight as a family was to Maui, Hawaii. 🏝

We flew from Des Moines to Denver, had a short layover, and then boarded the plane for the seven-hour flight to Maui.

Honestly, I’m still not sure how we survived it.

🖌Let me paint the picture: it was the year after Covid, I was pregnant with our fourth child, we had a two-year-old, and our other two boys were 5 and 7. To top it off, we had to wear masks the entire time, except when eating. 

That could be a whole other blog post- Surviving Long Travel Days in Masks with a Big Family. 🤣

When it comes to flying, planning ahead is tough because you don’t have the flexibility to stop like you do on a road trip. However, there are a few things I consider when booking a flight:

➡️ If possible, I try to time flights around when the kids will be well-rested and fed, though that’s not always feasible.

➡️ I also look for layovers that bring us closer to our destination. For example, when flying to Maui, I preferred a layover in Denver versus Chicago. It doesn’t always work out, but it’s something I consider.  

➡️ I also think about layover length. I like enough time to ensure we aren’t rushed, but I try to avoid super long layovers.

Packing Smart for a Long Day of Travel 🎒

When you know that a long travel day is ahead, packing smart is key. That means organizing your luggage and ensuring you have plenty of snacks and entertainment for each child.

Packing for a Road Trip 🛣

One of the reasons that I prefer driving over flying is that I can bring so much more to keep the kids entertained during the trip. 

I use white plastic bins from the Container Store to keep our car organized while traveling. 

Typically, I pack a couple of bins just for snacks, filling them with each kid’s favorites.

Some of our go-to snacks include Goldfish, Froot Loops, gummy bears, mini muffins, pretzels- and for those “losing it” moments, emergency mini chocolate bars! 🍫

I also pack a bin filled with pencils, crayons, paper, stickers, and coloring books to keep the kids occupied.

Another essential bin contains paper towels, baby wipes, Clorox wipes, and plastic bags. Trust me, these bins have saved us more than once!

Each child also has their own backpack with an iPad, charging cord, battery, headphones, and any other special toys or entertainment they choose to bring. 

➡️ Extra Tip: I also label our packing cubes in our luggage with the name of the hotel or town where we’re staying each night. That way, I don’t have to drag an entire suitcase in just for one night- I simply grab the packing cubes for that stop.

Packing for a Flight ✈️

When flying, we are much more limited in what we can bring. 

➡️ Again, each kid has their own backpack with an iPad, headphones, a book, a notebook, writing utensils, and small toys for the plane.

➡️ I also pack a change of clothes for each child in their backpack- because you never know when you’ll need it!

For instance, on our trip home from Palm Springs, one of our boys had the stomach flu and vomited all over himself and dad at the airport. Needless to say, that extra set of clothes saved the day!

➡️ For my two-year-old, who is the most challenging on flights, I bring a few extra “fun” items to keep him entertained.

If you’re flying with a baby, be prepared for anything. Pack enough diapers, wipes, a changing pad, bottles, pacifiers, burp rags, formula, snacks, a blanket, toys, and a couple of changes of clothes-just in case there are any delays. 🍼 🧸

➡️ Using packing cubes in your carry-on can help keep things organized and help you to find the things you need quicker.

Group similar items together- one cube for toys, one for diapering, another for feeding, and so on. 

There’s nothing more frustrating than trying to soothe a crying baby or child while frantically digging through your bag, unable to find what you need.

Trust me- I’ve been there!

Setting Expectations for Your Long Travel Day

An important part of planning for a long trip is setting expectations– for both yourself and your kids.

Start my mentally preparing yourself. Tell yourself that it is going to be a long day and repeat my mantra-  I am the glue here. I am strong. I can do this. It is up to me to keep things together. We will make it!

Know ahead of time that challenges will arise. The kids will likely get cranky, argue, and even throw a tantrum or two. Preparing for these moments will help you keep your cool.

Next, set expectations for the kids. Let them know that it’s going to be a long travel day, and walk them through what to expect, like any connecting flights or multiple stops.

Provide them with some expectations for their behavior and give them ideas for how they can handle boredom or frustration. 

Even the younger kids can benefit from hearing about the day in simple terms. 

And to help everyone feel a bit more in control, let each kid choose something that they want to bring to comfort them when they are feeling frustrated or bored from the long travel day. 

2. Entertaining the Kids During Long Travel Days

Keeping kids entertained is essential for surviving long travel days. I always have a plan that includes screen time (hello, iPads!) and non-screen activities. 

DISCOVER MORE: Top Tips for Traveling with Kids of Different Ages

Entertainment Ideas for Older Kids

My older boys love playing games and watching movies on their iPads. We let them choose what they want to download ahead of time so it is all ready to go.

One of their favorite things is when I create personalized binders for them. I fill them with activities like coloring sheets, word searches, and puzzles tailored to their interests.

For example, my Minecraft fan gets Minecraft-themed activities.

Scavenger hunts are another hit, especially during road trips. It keeps them engaged with their surroundings and gets their heads out of their screens!

I also encourage them to bring a book and a couple of small toys or gadgets that they enjoy. 

Entertainment Ideas for Younger Kids

For my five-year-old, I pack similar activities to what the older boys have. He loves coloring sheets and simpler scavenger hunts. 

I also give him stickers and a special drawing pad to stick them on. 

Additionally, I have purchased those Imagine Ink Mess Free Marker coloring books for him to do. 

Target’s dollar spot 🎯 is a goldmine for affordable road trip or plane ride activities! 

Entertainment Ideas for Toddlers

Entertaining a toddler is a little bit more challenging, especially on road trips when I am not sitting right next to him. 

It’s easier on a plane when he’s either on my lap or beside me, so I can actively assist with activities.

My two-year-old loves books, so I always bring a couple with us. 📚

Stickers are also a hit, though harder to manage in the car.

A personalized photo book is another great way to entertain him.

We also pass time with sing-along kid songs, which can occupy him for a good half hour in the car.

Small toys like Paw Patrol figures, dinosaurs, or Little People figures are great for keeping him busy too. 

➡️ Biggest Tip for Toddlers: Switch between activities frequently.  Keeping things fresh will help them stay entertained longer. 

Usually between his iPad, a few activities, snacks, and occasional stops, we usually get through long travel days fairly well!

3. Staying Organized during a Long Travel Day

Staying organized is crucial to surviving a long travel day.

How many times have you packed a bag full of snacks and entertainment, only to find yourself frantically searching through it during a flight to try to calm a crying child?

Or struggling to find that one bag in the car?

My hand is up and waving frantically! 🙋‍♀️

The key to avoiding this chaos is to keep that bag organized and within arm’s reach.

Here are a few more tips to help you stay organized during your long travel day:

➡️ Group similar items together

Use pouches, containers, or smaller bags within your larger bag or bin.

Keep snacks together, small toys together, and stickers in their own container for easy access.

➡️ Label everything

Labeling pouches, bags, and bins helps you quickly identify what’s inside.

It also assists with packing-just check off each item on your list as it goes into its designated spot.

➡️ Keep important travel documents together

Make sure your passports, tickets, and other important documents are in a secure but accessible spot.

You’ll want them handy to show at security or to airline staff without rummaging through bags- especially with a line behind you!

➡️ Put key items within arm’s reach- and return them there.

Here’s another question for you- have you ever had everything organized in your bag on a flight and after using an item threw it back into your bag only to discover that when you needed it again, you couldn’t find it?

Yep! Still waving my hand! 🙋‍♀️

It’s just as important to stay organized during your trip as it is while packing.

On a plane, put toys back into the pouch they came from.

During a road trip, return supplies to the labeled bin.

🌟Maintaining organization throughout your trip is essential! You can be as organized as possible when packing, but if you don’t keep it up, that initial effort is wasted.🌟

➡️ Extra Tip: Every time we stop at a gas station, I take few minutes to tidy up the car, putting everything back in its place to keep things organized.

YOUR NEXT FAMILY TRIP JUST GOT EASIER: 10 Game-Changing Tips for Traveling for Kids

4. Mindset Tips for Parents 🧘‍♀️

The single most crucial factor for surviving a long travel day is having the right mindset as a parent!

I have said this before, but if I can’t keep it together, no one will!

I am the glue, and I’ve got to take care of myself first in order to handle any challenges that come our way.

Whatever you need to do to maintain a positive mindset- do it!

Maybe it’s going to bed earlier for a good night’s rest, or waking up early to exercise before heading out.

Take care of yourself so you’re ready for whatever the day throws at you.

Engage in positive self-talk and set realistic expectations, knowing that kids will get tired, bored, and cranky—but you can handle it

Wrapping Up Your Long Travel Day

Surviving a long travel day with a big family can feel like a daunting task, but with a little planning, organization, and the right mindset, you can make it through—and even enjoy the journey.

Whether you’re tackling a road trip or braving the airport with your kids in tow, remember to stay flexible and keep your cool.

Expect some bumps along the way, but know that your preparation will make all the difference.

With well-packed bags, planned entertainment, and clear expectations, you’ll be set up for success no matter how long the trip may be.

And who knows, these long travel days might just turn into some of your favorite family memories! 🥰

May you love your adventure! KW