10 Game-Changing Tips for Traveling with Kids

Practical, real-life family travel tips to help you plan doable, realistic, and worth-it adventures with your kids.

Traveling with my four boys has been one of the greatest joys of my life.

As a mom of four kids ages 4 to 12, I know firsthand how overwhelming family travel can feel.

But after more than twelve years of traveling with kids—from babies to big kids—I’ve learned what truly helps make a trip smoother, easier, and much more enjoyable.

Whether you’re planning your first family trip or looking for practical family travel tips you can actually use, these ten game-changing tips will help you feel confident, prepared, and ready to enjoy your next adventure.

1. Plan Your Family Trip in Advance

Planning ahead doesn’t mean planning perfectly or planning every single detail. It simply means giving yourself a realistic plan that works for your family.

Here’s what to think through:

• Choose your destination. Search family travel blogs (hi!) and Pinterest for kid-friendly ideas, attractions, and restaurants. If you need help narrowing things down, take a look at my post on Tips for Picking Your Next Family Travel Destination.

• Create a family bucket list. My boys love helping choose must-see spots. This gets everyone excited before the trip even starts.

• Find family-friendly accommodations. A good sleeping setup is essential for us. Look for enough space, breakfast options, and locations that minimize stress. If you need ideas that truly work for bigger families, check out my guide to the best hotels for large families.

• Plan transportation.
  • If driving: Map your route, plan overnight stops, and mark fun roadside attractions.
  • If flying: Check layovers, seat choices, and plan what you’ll need to keep kids busy.

• Outline your itinerary. I usually plan one main thing for the day and leave the rest open. It keeps the day doable for kids of all ages. If you’re looking for tips tailored to different age groups, my post on traveling with kids of different ages breaks everything down.

2. Use a Packing List 

Packing for a big family is no joke. A travel packing list makes it so much easier.

I’ve used the same typed packing list for years. I update it as my boys grow, and it has saved me from so many headaches.

Before every trip, I print it out and check things off.

A packing list:

• reduces overwhelm
• saves time
• prevents forgotten items
• makes packing for kids much easier

🌟 Pro tip: A packing list takes away so much of the mental load.

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3. Pack with Packing Cubes

Packing cubes keep us organized and sane, especially with a family of six.

Here’s how I use them:

• Assign each child their own cubes. Each boy has their own cubes, which keeps their things separate and easy to find.

• Organize by category. For example, I’ll pack all pajamas in one cube and swimwear in another.

• Pack per destination or overnight stop. This way, you only take what you need into each hotel instead of unpacking everything.

If you want even more ways to simplify packing for your family, check out my post on Top Stress-Free Packing Tips for Families with Kids of All Ages.

🌟 Pro Tip: Be sure to label all the packing cubes. Use each child’s name, a category like pajamas or swimwear, or even the destination if you’re visiting multiple places.

➡️Discover my top 5 must have travel essentials for family trips with kids!

4. Bring Kid-Friendly Travel Entertainment

Whether flying or road-tripping, having activities ready makes a huge difference.

If you want even more strategies for keeping kids happy on long flights or long drives, check out my post on How to Survive and Thrive During a Long Travel Day with Kids.

Some of our favorites:

• travel binders (stickers, mazes, coloring, dry-erase pages)
• small toys
• window clings
• downloaded shows and movies
• reusable activity boards

One tradition we love: printing a simple Google Map and letting our kids follow along and circle towns as we drive.

And if all else fails? A family Disney sing-along cures just about anything.

➡️ Grab my free Road Trip Activities Printable below.

5. Carry Snacks and Water (Always)

One of the easiest ways to prevent meltdowns and keep everyone comfortable is to always have snacks and water available.

This is a must on any family trip.

If we are driving, I bring snacks from home because it is cheaper than buying things at gas stations.

I also buy a case of bottled water in bulk at Costco and use it to refill our reusable water bottles throughout the drive.

This saves so much money compared to purchasing individual bottles along the way.

If your next trip is a drive, you might also like my post on Family Road Trip Tips: Essential Advice for Traveling with Kids. It has even more ideas to help make road days smoother and meltdown-free.

6. Create a Sleep Environment That Feels Like Home

Kids (and parents) do so much better with good rest.

Here are some things we do to help our kids sleep well on trips:

• Choose hotels with comfortable sleeping spaces for all
• Try to keep bedtimes consistent if possible
• Bring our sound machines from home
• Pack cozy blankets or loveys if driving
• Talk through sleeping arrangements before we arrive

A little preparation makes bedtime smoother for everyone.

7. Always Have an Emergency Bag

This bag stays with us whether we’re in the car, at a theme park, or out exploring.

In our emergency bag:

• packing cube with extra clothes for everyone
• baby wipes (these can be used to wipe anything and everything)
• plastic bags
• extra diapers or pull-ups (if necessary)
• small first-aid kit
• snacks
• water bottles
• small fidget toys

Nine times out of ten, this bag saves the day.

8. Stay Flexible When Traveling with Kids

Traveling with kids means being ready for the unexpected.

Things will go wrong. Rides close. Kids melt down. Plans change. Weather shifts.

Flexibility truly is the secret to creating less-stress family travel.

Instead of fighting the unexpected, I try to treat it as part of the adventure. A positive mindset can shift the entire day.

9. Find a Moment for Yourself

Family travel isn’t always a vacation for moms. BUT you still deserve small moments of rest and relaxation along the way.

Try:

• enjoying your morning coffee outside
• taking a quick walk at sunset
• sitting by the pool while the kids play
• reading for a few minutes

Even five minutes can reset your energy. You deserve it!

10. Be Present

Sometimes I get so wrapped up in the planning and what we are doing that I forget to stop and just BE.

With kids, the magic is often in the simplest moments.

On your next trip, try to:

• pause more
• notice the little things
• watch your kids’ reactions
• soak in the newness

These are the moments that make family travel worth it.

I hope these tips inspire you to enjoy every moment of your travels, even the chaotic ones.

⭐ Related Family Travel Destinations You Might Love

If you’re starting to think about your next family trip, here are some of our favorite places to visit with kids. Each one is doable, memorable, and full of family-friendly things to do.

• Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge with Kids
• Niagara Falls with Kids
• Omaha with Kids
• Seattle with Kids
• Vail with Kids

These guides will help you plan activities, find family-friendly places to stay, and feel confident choosing your next destination.

May you LOVE your adventure! KW