I’ll just say it—I love a good road trip. Give me cheesy state sign photo ops, quirky truck stops (hey there, Buc-ee’s!), and never-ending games of “I Spy,” and I’m in my happy place. My kids? They love Buc-ee’s, but being cooped up in the car for hours? Not so much. That’s why I’ve learned to plan road trips that work for all of us—fun, flexible, and most importantly, budget-friendly.
We’ve done family road trips across Australia, the UK, Europe, and now the U.S. In this post, I’ll share practical tips for planning your itinerary, saving money, packing smart, and keeping everyone happy on the road.
Why Road Trips Are Great for Families on a Budget
Here’s why I think road trips are the ultimate family vacation:
- Cost-effective travel
- No airport delays or baggage fees
- No car rental needed
- Quality family bonding time
How to Plan a Family Road Trip Itinerary
Start by answering these questions:
- Where are we starting from, and where do we want to go?
- How many days can we travel?
- What’s our total budget?
Use Google Maps (or your favorite navigation app) to estimate driving time. For example, our road trip from Florida to Niagara Falls was about 19 hours each way—38 hours total.
Daily Driving Limits
If you’re traveling with kids, I recommend driving no more than 4 hours a day. You’ll need breaks for meals, sightseeing, and bathroom stops. Fatigue sneaks up quickly, especially on longer trips or unfamiliar roads.
Plot Your Route
Once you have the destination, the number of days or the budget you can make a plan. You might like to wing it but if, like me, you want to stick to a budget and a timeframe, it is worth doing the planning before you go.
Once you know your destination and travel window, plan overnight stops along the route. Look for accommodations that:
- Are in the direction you’re heading
- Fall within your driving limit for the day
- Have amenities like laundry or free breakfast (more on that later!)
For budgeting purposes I like to book accommodation ahead of time. This can be one of the most time consuming parts of planning a road trip but it’s worth checking prices and reading the review before you go.
Plan at least one sightseeing or lunch stop per day. In bad weather, look for indoor spots like malls, trampoline parks, or indoor playgrounds.
Use a Spreadsheet to Stay Organized
A simple Google Sheet can help you:
- Track daily stops and addresses for navigation
- Estimate gas costs based on mileage
- Share the plan with your kids (cutting down on “Are we there yet?” questions!). If you have time, create a binder with the itinerary and information on the places that you’re going.
Where to Stop: Get the Kids Involved
If your kids are old enough, ask them what kinds of places they’d like to visit. Mine love anything with engines, science museums, and new foods. On our Niagara Falls trip, we stopped at transport museums, space museums, quirky roadside diners, and even a lavender farm.
If your kids like sports there are some amazing sporting fields that you could tour. Maybe you could stop at a local zoo or a farm that is open to the public. We found some amazing parks on our road trips. When entering your starting location for the day you can use Google Maps to find attractions in that area. There are so many inexpensive parks and museums to explore on a road trip.
Top stops from our trip:
- Kinzua Sky Bridge, PA
- Jack Daniel’s Distillery, TN (some tours are adults only so check before you go but you can also just stop and take a look around without booking a tour)
- A giant candy store in Jacksonville, FL
- The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, MI
- Niagara Falls (viewed from the Canadian side—stunning!)
Tip: Niagara Falls is expensive. We saved by visiting midweek and staying further from the falls, using rideshare to get around because parking is limited around the falls.
Before You Go: Must-Do Prep Tips
- Print your itinerary. Cell coverage can be patchy. Your cell/mobile carrier should have information on their website on where they do not operate.
- Download offline maps. In Google Maps, select the areas you’ll be driving through that do not have cell coverage and download the map offline for this area. This will save you getting caught out with no cell coverage in the middle of nowhere.
- Check for toll roads. Know if you need cash or an electronic tag. Rental cars often charge extra for unpaid tolls. Mapping apps will usually tell you where tolls are payable.
- Research amenities. Find nearby gas stations, restrooms, grocery stores, hospitals, and attractions. Nothing sucks the fun out of a road trip faster than a frantic search for a restroom.
- Check your insurance. Make sure you’re covered for where you’re traveling. This is not just vehicle insurance, check your medical as well to make sure you’re covered in the areas you’re traveling through.
- Check the weather. Don’t get caught in unexpected snow (ask me how I know!). This applies not just for the destination but the route you’re taking. The weather in one town may be completely different to the town three hours away (learned this one the hard way).
Budget-Friendly Road Trip Tips
- Book motels with free breakfast. It’s often worth a few extra dollars for the convenience.
- Search for accommodation discounts. Does your credit card offer cashback on certain hotel chains? Are your a AAA member?
- Buy groceries. Stock up on snacks, breakfast items, and easy meals from stores like Walmart or Costco.
- Pack sandwiches and picnic lunches. Skip the drive-thru.
- Use coupon sites like Groupon. Save on attractions and experiences.
- Get a National Parks Pass. If you’re visiting more than one park, it’s worth it.
- Download the GasBuddy app. Find the cheapest gas near you.
Smart Packing Tips for Families
- Pack light and do laundry. Book accommodations with washers/dryers every 4–5 days.
- Bring a cooler. Use ziplock bags with ice (most motels will have an ice machine) to keep food and drinks cold.
- Multi-use items: Beach towels double as picnic blankets or car spill catchers.
- Kitchen basics: Bring bowls, plates, utensils, cups, paper towels, a chopping board, and containers for snacks.
How to Keep the Kids Entertained (Without Screens)
- Let each kid be DJ for an hour. They pick the playlist.
- Talk! Road trips are great for real conversations.
- Visit Target or the dollar store pre-trip. Grab coloring books, card games, and travel games.
- Play classic games: “I Spy,” license plate bingo, “20 Questions.”
- Break up long drives. Stop every 90 minutes or so to stretch, snack, and explore something fun.
Final Thoughts
Family road trips can be some of the most memorable—and affordable—vacations you’ll ever take. With a little planning, a flexible attitude, and a good playlist, you’ll be all set for the ride.
Have questions or favorite family road trip memories? Drop them in the comments—I’d love to hear from you!
If you want to see more of my travel adventures follow me on Instagram @bright_sky_vacations.
From Sydney to Somewhere 