Top Tips for Traveling with Kids of Different Ages

Every time we’re on a trip, I always get asked, “are they ALL yours?”

I’m not sure why this question comes up so often, especially when we’re traveling, but it does.

Yes, they’re all mine-every bit of rambunctiousness, big feelings, cuteness, and sweetness. These four boys ages 10, 8, 5, and 2, are all mine. 🥰

Since these boys are ALL MINE, everything we do is an adventure–even traveling. That’s why I named my blog- Loving This Adventure. 

BUT- that said- the chaos is 100% worth it! 

I LOVE traveling with these kids. I’ll take the complaints as we hike up the mountain 🏔 and the whining as we approach our tenth hour of our road trip. 🛣 

I have been traveling with my boys since my oldest was 3 months old so I have a TON of experience traveling with kids of all ages. 

When planning and preparing for a trip, it is super important to meet the needs of all of the ages of kids in your family. 

Doing so will make your trip go much smoother and be more enjoyable for the entire family!

🌟My biggest tip is, if it fits with your day’s activities- to break up your day into two parts with a rest or downtime in between. 🌟

This is the key to everyone’s sanity especially when you have a young one that might need a nap or some downtime. 😴

Keep reading to find out more tips for traveling with kids of different ages.

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Tip #1: Choosing the Right Destination

When you have kids of multiple ages, you will want to choose a destination that has activities and attractions for toddlers, elementary-age kids, and tweens.

If your family is anything like ours, our toddler is happy just chasing after his brothers and trying to do whatever they do. But we always make sure to include an activity or place he’ll enjoy as well!

When researching potential travel destinations- I always make a list of attractions that we would be interested in visiting. 

I make sure that on our list there is at least one attraction that would be enjoyable for a toddler, elementary age child, and for the older boys. 

For example, on our summer trip to Vail we visited several parks that our toddler loved. The Pirate Ship Park, with its big pirate ship, was a huge hit with both our two-year-old and five-year-old.

Another day, we took the kids up to Epic Discovery at the top of Vail Mountain, where the older boys had a blast rock climbing and riding the mountain coaster.

Sometimes you’ll find attractions that are perfect for all ages–a true win-win!

On our Vail trip, all the kids loved bike riding. We put our youngest in the Burley on the back of my bike, and with some snacks, he was happy as could be!

Tip #2 Balancing Activities for Different Age Groups

Try to divide your time between age-specific activities throughout the day. Ideally, you want to include something that suits the needs of each child in your family.

This takes a bit of planning and flexibility. While I’m not a fan of rigid vacation schedules, it’s helpful to have a plan- even if it changes along the way.

I always print out this travel itinerary planner to help me plan our trips.

In our family, our five-year-old is just as happy doing activities suited for his two-year-old brother as well as has many similar interests as his older brothers, which makes planning a bit easier.

Typically I plan a morning activity, followed by a nap or downtime, and then a late afternoon activity.

For example, during our trip to Las Vegas, we visited the Discovery Children’s Museum in the morning and then later went to Circus Circus for the older boys.

One afternoon, we also took the older boys to explore Omega Mart at Area 15.

Tip #3: Dealing with Nap Time and Downtime

If we can make it happen, I really like to get my two year old down for a nap. This just makes the late afternoon and evening go much smoother. 

My older boys have adapted to this downtime and honestly, they enjoy it! We all do! 

Sometimes I get a little FOMO (fear of missing out) that we are sitting around when we could be exploring something but all in all, having this downtime is good for everyone!

It rejuvenates the entire family for another adventure in the late afternoon or early evening.

We use the SlumberPod for naps and nighttime sleep. It’s a blackout “sleep tent” that fits over a pack ‘n play, which has been a game changer for us, especially in hotel rooms.

With the SlumberPod, our two-year-old can’t see the rest of us, so there are no distractions while he sleeps. 

We also bring along a sound machine to block out noise, which helps him sleep even better!

If we have a busy day and can’t make it back for a nap, then we just deal with it. 

Thankfully, our kids have always been used to traveling so if a nap or two is missed, we just pick it back up as soon as we can!

DISCOVER MORE TRAVEL MUST-HAVES: 5 Must-Have Travel Essentials for Family Trips with Kids

Tip #4: Packing for Every Age

I use packing cubes to keep everything organized, and they are a game changer!

Each child gets 1-2 packing cubes depending on the length of the trip. I label them with each kid’s name.

To make packing easier and reduce the mental load, I created separate packing lists for each family member. 

I have one for myself, one for the older boys, and one for a baby or toddler.

I also have different lists for flying versus road trips.

As I pack, I check items off the list. This helps ensure that I do not forget anything and makes the whole process way less stressful!

I highly recommend using packing lists for all of your travels!

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Tip #5: Engaging Everyone During Travel Time

In recent years, we have really been enjoying taking road trips. On our road trips, it is essential that we have ways to keep the kids entertained.

The kids each have an iPad that they use in the car to watch shows and play games. 

Additionally, they each have a backpack with a book, notepads, coloring books, pencils, crayons, and some small toys.

One special thing I have done with our two year old is print out a bunch of photos of him and put them in a 4×6 photo book. He loves looking at pictures of himself, and it keeps him entertained for a while. 

I also made a binder with age-specific activities for the kids. In it, I put a road trip scavenger hunt and used a website to make personalized word searches for the older boys.

Snacks are also a great entertainment tool! I pack a ton of different snacks for the kids.

We use similar entertainment options for the kids on flights- iPads, snacks, books, small toys, and notepads or coloring books.

🌟MORE TIPS FOR YOUR TRAVEL DAYS: How to Survive and Thrive During A Long Travel Day with Kids

Tip #6 Dining Out with Kids of Different Ages

Dining out is always a little bit of a struggle with kids.

Unless there is a really unique restaurant that I have heard about, we usually eat wherever is most convenient.

I always check the menu before we go to make sure there is something that everyone can eat. 

If we have had a long day or the kids are just overly tired, we usually opt for a quick service or fast food dining option. 

When we stay at a hotel, we typically choose places that offer complimentary breakfasts.

We usually have one larger meal a day. If we end up having a substantial lunch at a sit-down restaurant, we opt for a quicker, lighter dinner.

When dining with kids of various ages, it’s essential to be flexible and open-minded in your choices. I’ve learned that convenience usually wins out when it comes to kids!

It’s also crucial not to let anyone get too hungry. When dining at a sit-down restaurant, we try to go early- around 5 or 5:30 if possible.

One of our favorite places is the Spaghetti Works in Omaha, which is ALWAYS busy. We make sure to put our name in early to avoid letting the kids get overly hungry. 

Traveling with Kids of Different Ages is the Best

Traveling with kids of different ages can be challenging at times, but it’s also incredibly special. 

It’s a joy to explore attractions and participate in activities together, as each children responds in their own unique way, making the experience even more rewarding as a parent.

I hope these tips provide you with the confidence and support to make planning and enjoying a family vacation with your kids much easier and more enjoyable. 

Even though it is an adventure and sometimes a crazy one….it is SO worth it!!

May you LOVE your adventure!