Family Road Trip Mistakes That Ruin the Holiday

Family road trips can either end up being the best idea you’ve ever had, or the worst thing in the world, and usually there’s no in between from it being amazing or awful.

But for the most part, a lot of the failures can be attributed to poor planning or overlooking small details that end up working against you. Lack of planning isn’t wholly responsible and you can’t control everything when you are on the road, but if you pin down these mistakes and remove them from your trip then you’ll be in a much better position to have a really good time.

Overscheduling

Sure, you want to pack everything into your trip but doing too much will only exhaust everyone leading to cranky family members and it’ll ruin everything you do.

Remember you need to allow them to rest, relax and get ready for the day. Small children that take a lot of time to get ready in the morning won’t automatically change that routine because you’re not at home. Children and adults will still get tired, there’ll still be delays, traffic, etc, impacting your plans. So, as much as possible, avoid overscheduling days so you can relax into things and enjoy them at your own pace instead of rushing around everywhere.

Skipping Unplanned Stops

The stops you didn’t plan to make are often the ones you remember long after you arrive home. It’s the fun aspect of the trip, the experiences you come to access you didn’t expect or the extra activities you stumbled on by accident.

This means not ploughing through to get to where you’re going, but instead pulling over at the roadside attraction that looks good, dipping in that swimming hole someone mentioned, and you didn’t know existed, or heading to the festival in the local town you’re passing by instead of driving past.

Choosing the Wrong Campsite

The wrong campsite can massively ruin the trip. If you have kids you want a family-friendly site that has areas for kids to play or activities on site to entertain them. If you’re a family that loves being outdoors, then a site like Preservation Point can deliver outdoor activities for you to enjoy without leaving the site.

Look at what your family needs or would want to narrow down your list of sites that offer these to make things that are a little bit more fun and enjoyable.

Packing the Wrong Entertainment

You know your family best, and if you’re not taking along the items that keep them happy and occupied, you’re setting yourself up for failure. It’s that simple. Children who are bored, overstimulated, restless, etc, will be resistant to pretty much anything you want them to do.

Take with you the things they enjoy, be it their devices, books, stationery, music, and so on. Whatever keeps them happy and relaxed at home needs to come along too.

Ignoring Nap Times and Meal Routines

Just because you’re not at home, it doesn’t mean your schedule needs to go completely off track. Expecting children to drive through for long periods that extend over the nap times and meal times can lead to negative consequences for everyone. Before you head out, make sure you plan in stops that allow you to accommodate your usual at-home routines and ensure that everyone is happy and relaxed as much as possible.