{"id":7123,"date":"2023-02-10T09:00:16","date_gmt":"2023-02-10T15:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aipflorida.com\/?p=7123"},"modified":"2023-02-13T09:10:16","modified_gmt":"2023-02-13T15:10:16","slug":"rv-pro-tips-10-tips-for-surviving-long-rv-family-road-trips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aipflorida.com\/es\/blog\/rv-pro-tips-10-tips-for-surviving-long-rv-family-road-trips\/","title":{"rendered":"RV Pro Tips: 10 Tips for Surviving Long RV Family Road Trips"},"content":{"rendered":"

RV road trips are a great and\u00a0affordable way to travel<\/a>! You can take the whole family, have all the comforts of home, and there are so many family-friendly camping destinations to choose from.<\/p>\n

But the truth is, long drives and travel days can be pretty tiresome. Rainy days at the campsite can leave kids whining and bored. We\u2019ve got all the tips you need to survive long RV family road trips so you can enjoy the ride, arrive at your destination safely, and have a fun vacation the kids will talk about for years.<\/p>\n

<\/span>1. Safety Check<\/h2>\n

Be sure to pack a\u00a0roadside emergency kit<\/a>,\u00a0check your tires<\/a>, and walk around and\u00a0inspect your RV<\/a>\u00a0before you hit the road. If you\u2019re not sure you\u2019ll remember all the checkpoints, book an appointment at a\u00a0Camping World service center<\/a>\u00a0to have qualified technicians give your rig a once over.<\/p>\n

Leave information with a loved one regarding your route, estimated arrival day and time, and anything else relevant to your travel plans. Keep in touch with that person throughout your trip to inform them of your location, and any change in plans.\u00a0It\u2019s common to lose cell phone service as your driving along and if something were to happen, you\u2019d want to make sure someone was aware and could send help.<\/p>\n

<\/span>2. Know Your Route and Stop Frequently<\/h2>\n

The biggest time and stress saver for your RV family road trip will be mapping out a route. You want to be focused on the road as you\u2019re driving, not glancing at a map or questioning your turns while hauling a long RV. Popular cell phone navigation apps may not take into account weight limits, low clearance bridges, hairpin turns, and other factors that are critical for safe RV travel. A good\u00a0road atlas<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0GPS<\/a>\u00a0will help you avoid roads that could be tricky for RV navigation. The\u00a0Good Sam Trip Planner App<\/a>\u00a0is designed to route RVer\u2019s on big-rig-friendly roads. Take the headache out of finding your route and automate it with this easy-to-use app. Schedule your gas stops, rest stops, and plot out your campgrounds for extended road trips.<\/p>\n

It can sometimes be hard to pull off every 2-3 hours when you\u2019d rather keep going and get to your destination sooner. But, you don\u2019t want to push it too much, which can lead to burnout and exhaustion.\u00a0Allow yourself breaks to step out, get fresh air, and recharge as often as possible. It\u2019s a good idea to take shifts driving. While driving doesn\u2019t seem like that much work, it can wear you down quicker than you realize. You don\u2019t want to risk falling asleep or mentally checking out and losing concentration while on the road.<\/p>\n

<\/span>3. Plan and Prep Meals and Snacks Ahead of Time<\/h2>\n

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It\u2019s tempting to load up on junk food to help make the drive more enjoyable and pass the time. It\u2019s also convenient to get fast food while on the road. While you can definitely enjoy these foods from time to time, it\u2019s a good idea to bring along healthy snack options to avoid a sugar crash. Be sure to drink plenty of\u00a0water<\/a>\u00a0too\u2014stay hydrated.<\/p>\n

When it comes to meal planning, there\u2019s nothing you can\u2019t cook in your RV kitchen or on an\u00a0outdoor gas grill<\/a>\u00a0that you can\u2019t cook at home. Meal plan ahead of your trip to take a huge stress factor out of your family RV road trip. Pre-chop ingredients for chili at home and keep fresh in your RV refrigerator. Then, dump all ingredients in the slow cooker and hit the trials. Return to an RV full of the savory smell of soup. Fewer runs to the grocery store means more time to have fun together as a family.<\/p>\n

Help kids feel comfortable in a new environment by keeping their meals and diet familiar. At the same time, don\u2019t be afraid to create new tasty traditions for your family road trips, like roasting marshmallows over an open fire and crafting gooey s\u2019mores for a rare after-dinner sweet treat. It\u2019s these quality time memories that will have the kids begging to hit the road again once they\u2019re home.<\/p>\n

<\/span>4. Exercise or Stretch During Breaks<\/h2>\n

Go for a walk or run every chance you get while on a long road trip, especially if the trip is a couple days long. Moving and stretching your body is important to avoid cramping, soreness, or stiffness.<\/p>\n

You don\u2019t want to show up to your vacation with an achy body and not be able to fully enjoy the activities you\u2019ve planned. Moving your body can also help you stay alert and energized so you can power through!<\/p>\n

<\/span>5. Gas Up Often<\/h2>\n

Don\u2019t let your tank go much below half a tank. We become so accustomed to driving our cars until we\u2019re close to empty, knowing we can usually find a gas station within a few miles.<\/p>\n

However, driving long distances, you\u2019re likely to pass through rural areas where gas stations can be harder to come by. You also can\u2019t rely on your vehicle\u2019s typical fuel consumption. Driving at varying speeds, up and down grades, and pushing against the wind can greatly impact your gas mileage. Again, you can\u2019t guarantee that you will have cell phone service either, so running out of gas could mean you\u2019re stranded until someone stops to help.<\/p>\n

<\/span>6. Try Not to Drive Past Dark<\/h2>\n

Many people think that driving at night is best for road trips because there\u2019s less traffic, and the passengers can sleep to pass the time. However, driving tired is dangerous and dark roads mean reduced visibility. Wildlife also tends to be more active at night and harder to spot on the side of the road, increasing your chances of hitting an animal and causing an accident. It\u2019s important after a long day of driving to rest and get a good night\u2019s sleep so don\u2019t hesitate to pull over and catch some z\u2019s.<\/p>\n

<\/span>7. Give Yourself an Extra Day or Two<\/h2>\n

Don\u2019t cut it close by assuming your road trip will be as long as the GPS suggests. Tack on at least one extra day to your agenda. Weather can interfere with travel, things could go wrong with your vehicle, or you could come to unexpected road closures or other delays. It\u2019s better to have extra time than stressing about being behind schedule and rushing, which is never a safe way to travel. Road trips are much more enjoyable when you can take your time.<\/p>\n

<\/span>8. Think About Entertainment<\/h2>\n
Keep kids calm and happy on road trips with tablets, coloring books, and plenty of snacks. Image: Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

To keep kids entertained on long drives, or on bad weather days, bring elements of home with you. What does that mean?\u00a0Bring games<\/a>\u00a0that you play at home with you in your RV. After the sun goes down, cozy up in the RV for a family game night. If video games help your kiddo wind down, an hour or so of game time at night before bed will help everyone feel a little more relaxed.<\/p>\n

For long car rides, don\u2019t be ashamed to let the kids indulge in extra screen time. The most important part of the drive is for the driver to stay focused on the road. If kids are screaming, crying, or whining, it can pull focus from driving.<\/p>\n

Whether you listen to an audiobook, sing along to your favorite tunes, or play the classic road trip games, you\u2019ll want to find ways of keeping everyone in the car occupied. Don\u2019t forget your\u00a0furry family members<\/a>\u00a0too. Give them bones and toys to avoid boredom. Nothing makes a road trip feel long like being bored or having cranky passengers!<\/p>\n

<\/span>9. Don\u2019t Overload Your Schedule<\/h2>\n

It might be tempting to cram the schedule to make the most of your time, but when traveling with kids it is important to schedule in free time too. Kids can quickly become cranky after seeing several monuments and museums back to back. Aim to visit one big attraction per day. Schedule in some \u201cfree,\u201d days where the kids can play and explore at their leisure. It may seem like you\u2019re throwing away valuable education time, but kids learn a lot playing by themselves and with others. It\u2019s important to let them recharge to avoid crankiness and tantrums.<\/p>\n

<\/span>10. Enjoy it!<\/h2>\n

Sometimes it\u2019s more about the journey and not just the destination. Allow yourself time to pull off, enjoy sights and detours, take photos, and make the trip memorable. Your vacation should start the moment you get in the car, not when you arrive.<\/p>\n

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