Summer Special: How We Survived (and Loved) a 5,000-Mile Road Trip With Three Little Kids

Every year, we pack up our family of five and drive from Florida to Arkansas to visit my husband’s family. It’s become a rhythm of our life—and a chance to add a few extra adventures along the way.

Last year, we detoured through Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Mammoth Cave National Park, and Gateway Arch National Park. It was so much fun. The kids have been talking about it all year even though we took several trips since then. This year? Well, life had other plans.

We were all set to head back to the Smokies, but the forecast promised nothing but rain. It was the Saturday morning we were going to leave. We were going to hit the road after my daughter’s dance recital that afternoon. Justin looked at me and asked, “Do you want to go to Texas instead?” And without much hesitation, I said, “Yep.”

And just like that, we turned what could’ve been a soggy trip into an unforgettable two-ish week journey across Texas and New Mexico (which is a highly underrated state in my opinion). Over 5,000 miles, four national parks, and minimal meltdowns later, here’s how we did it—and some of our favorite tips about roadtripping with little kids.

Where We Went (on the fly!)

Big Bend National Park, TX
Guadalupe Mountains National Park, TX
Carlsbad Caverns National Park, NM
White Sands National Park, NM
Petroglyphs National Monument, NM
Valles Caldera National Preserve, NM
Bandelier National Monument, NM
Palo Duro Canyon State Park, TX
Then, we wrapped up by renting a camper parked outside of my husband’s family’s church in Arkansas for six days before heading home.

The first nine days? Completely planned from the road. And honestly—that flexibility made it one of our best trips yet.

5 Real Tips That Make Roadtrips With Kids Work

1️⃣ Keep everyone comfortable—and fed.
Before every trip, we make a Costco or Walmart run for road trip essentials: water, La Croix, coffee, meat sticks, trail mix, applesauce, and other easy snacks.
We also bring a plug-in fridge for the car—game changer for perishables, especially in the southern summer heat. This makes it so much easier if we want to store jelly or other sandwich fixins. PB&Js are one of our go to lunches on the road. Saves time, money, and is readily available. Sometimes you can drive for hours without seeing anything….not even a gas station.

2️⃣ Make screen time work for you, not against you.
Road trips are the one time we allow iPads, but with strict limits. No YouTube, Disney+, or Netflix. Instead, the kids have learning games (like ABC Mouse) and Bible stories on Minno. It keeps them entertained and calm—and we know what they’re watching. Hearing them sing Bible songs from the back seat is an added bonus.

3️⃣ Know when to take breaks.
Every couple of hours, we stop: a playground, a park, or even just a walk through a store. Stretching legs helps everyone reset—and helps avoid car seat meltdowns. And in some cases, passenger seat meltdowns from me. I need to stretch my legs, too.

4️⃣ Entertainment for the grownups.
Spotify Premium offers free audiobooks now, which is a lifesaver for us. We’ve listened to Dave Ramsey books, autobiographies, etc. On this trip, our favorite was Rescue Story by Zach Williams (fun fact: like my husband, he’s also a well-over-six-foot Arkansan).
For me, the always-passenger, I also bring physical books to read when Justin wants to switch back to music. On this trip my favorite two books were Let Them Be Kids by Jessica Smart and Boy Mom by Monica Swanson. I love reading and I especially love reading in front of my kids, or to my kids when the content is appropriate for their age and interests.

5️⃣ Know your limits—and respect them.
Yes, there are days we can crush 10 hours of driving. But not every day. We aim for 3–6 hours most days, starting early so we reach our destination by lunch, or leaving later in the afternoon.
And when it’s bedtime? We stop. Little kids in new places can take up to an hour to wind down, so we plan for that instead of fighting it.

Why it works for us

All three of our kids (ages 5, 4, and 2) have been traveling since before they were six months old. They know the routine—and we try to keep it gentle and predictable.

Sure, it’s not always perfect. But when you keep everyone comfortable, fed, and rested, the miles become memories instead of misery.

And hey, you might even get to plan nine days of your trip on the fly—and still call it the best adventure yet.

The Three National Parks I’d Visit Over and Over (and Over) Again