Top Family Travel Tips for Smooth and Fun Adventures
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Family Travel Tips: Making Every Trip Memorable
Traveling with kids is an adventure like no other. While it comes with its challenges, the rewards far outweigh the hiccups along the way. With a little planning and the right mindset, family trips can be smooth, enjoyable, and full of unforgettable moments. Here are some of our best family travel tips to help you make the most of your travels.
All photos in this post were taken by me during our many family adventures. I love capturing real experiences to give you an authentic look at what to expect.
1. Plan, but Stay Flexible
Having an itinerary helps, but don’t overfill your schedule. Kids need downtime, and sometimes the best moments happen when you go with the flow. Kids also thrive on open-ended activities where they can use their imagination and play, and outdoor spaces are some of the best for this. If you have toddlers and young elementary-aged kids, one planned activity for the morning or one for the afternoon is usually just the right amount of structure. As my kids have gotten bigger, we’ve added in one before and one after lunch. But you know your kids best! If they like to be busy, then keep them busy! Sometimes an involved adventure like a hike paired with a relaxed adventure like exploring a children’s museum is the best balance.
2. Choose Family-Friendly Accommodations
Look for hotels or vacation rentals with amenities like kitchens, extra space, and kid-friendly perks such as pools or play areas. Bonus points if they’re located near major attractions! We prioritize sleeping arrangements when booking accommodations, especially now that our kids are older. Good rest is essential for a smooth trip, so we make sure everyone has their own space or bed.
Secondary to sleeping arrangements is food. We love choosing hotels that include breakfast, and if they have mini kitchens or fridges, even better. Having a space to pack a picnic lunch or prep snacks before heading out for the day—or the ability to make our own dinner—is a huge money saver.
3. Pack Smart
Less is more, but don’t forget the essentials: snacks, entertainment, comfort items, and any must-have medications. Packing cubes and a well-organized carry-on can be game-changers.
We have always had our children carry their own backpacks on adventures. They’re always age and size-appropriate, but it’s great for them to have a space for their own things. As they’ve grown, the contents have shifted, but we still each have our own backpack for quick-access items. One packing hack I often use is putting each person’s belongings in a packing cube and then placing all the packing cubes into a single suitcase. This keeps things organized while allowing us to manage just one suitcase. When they were younger, we could fit everything into a carry-on, but now that they’re teens, we usually opt for a checked bag. Depending on where we’re going and baggage allowances, sometimes we each take our own carry-on. However, this packing method is especially useful when flying airlines that charge per bag—one checked bag is often much cheaper than multiple carry-ons!
Another one of my favorite family travel tips is that I also have my kids pack their own things. I provide them with a list, and they put everything into their suitcase or packing cube. This helps them learn how to pack, understand what’s needed for a trip, and take ownership of their belongings. Plus, they get to choose what they love, which makes them more excited to wear their outfits on the trip!
4. Embrace Local Experiences
Engage kids in cultural experiences, whether it’s trying new foods, visiting markets, or participating in local traditions. Hands-on learning makes travel more meaningful. One of our favorite parts of travel is experiencing places like a local. We always do some research beforehand on the best local eats and activities. We also look for unique experiences that we can only do at the specific destination. Some of our favorites have been feeding kangaroos at Mammoth Cave National Park and rock climbing in the canyon at New River Gorge National Park. I love to find restaurants that serve my kids’ favorite foods in a unique way or activities that align with their favorite interests.
5. Keep Travel Days Manageable
Long travel days can be tough on little ones. If possible, opt for direct flights, build in extra time for breaks, and have activities on hand to keep kids entertained. We always prioritize food while traveling. Low blood sugar causes groggy kids and bad attitudes, so we make sure to pack healthy snacks in their packs and a few extra in mine. On road trips, we like to batch our stops, getting gas, food, and bathroom breaks all at once.
6. Prioritize Safety and Comfort
Ensure kids have identification, keep emergency contacts handy, and teach them what to do if they get lost. Familiar routines, like bedtime rituals, can also help them feel secure. We keep our daily routine similar to our routine at home, except we fill our days with adventure activities instead of school or work. When our kids were young, we’d prep them before the trip about what would stay the same and what would be different. This helped set proper expectations and reduced any negative effects from disruptions in routine. We also research different areas of our destinations and choose ones that are safe and family-friendly—everyone sleeps and plays best when they feel safe!
7. Capture the Moments
Encourage kids to keep a travel journal, take photos, or collect souvenirs. These small keepsakes help them remember and appreciate the journey. We have small digital cameras that we let our kids use to take photos of our trips. I also try to take a lot of candid photos so I don’t stress my kids out by asking them to pose too often, which can take away from the fun. We also love bringing our travel watercolors with us and painting our favorite view from the trip.
8. Have Realistic Expectations
Not every moment will be picture-perfect, and that’s okay! Embrace the chaos, laugh at the mishaps, and focus on making meaningful memories together. Things will often turn out differently along the way, but learning flexibility—especially at a young age—will serve you and your family for a lifetime. We like to print out a calendar with our big event for each day so our kids know what to expect and have a visual of all the exciting things they get to look forward to.
Final Thoughts
Traveling as a family is one of the best ways to grow together, learn about the world, and create lasting memories. While there may be challenges along the way, the joy of discovering new places, trying new things, and simply spending quality time together makes it all worth it. Every trip is an opportunity to connect, teach resilience, and embrace adventure. Whether you’re exploring a new country or taking a weekend road trip, these moments will become the stories your family cherishes for years to come. So, pack your bags, embrace the adventure, and enjoy the journey!
