How to Turn Your Move Into a Fun Family Road Trip

Transforming a long-distance drive into a family vacation

If an out-of-state or cross-country move is on the horizon, you’ve likely made a plan for getting your belongings to the new address. But what about getting your family there in a way that doesn’t make you want to call the whole thing off?

Make the process fun and less stressful by turning a necessary drive into a vacation. That’s right — a road trip. Keep reading for the best tips for road trip success.

How to plan a road trip

Planning a road trip is like preparing for a move — there are tasks to complete before the trip and things to do during the drive to ensure the best experience.

Map the route

Getting lost is stressful and wastes time and fuel. Map the route before leaving by using a pre-planned cross-country trip route or plugging the destination into your favorite map website or app.

Search for sightseeing opportunities

Look for sightseeing opportunities everyone will enjoy along the route (or just off the path). Remember to include any admission fees when planning a travel budget.

Here are some family-friendly suggestions to get started:

• State parks (many are pet-friendly!)
• Museums
• Zoos and aquariums
• Amusement parks

Make reservations for overnight stays

Once you’ve decided on sightseeing stops, find places to stay along the route. Most moving experts recommend driving 500 or fewer miles daily, so look for stops within that range. Making reservations ahead of time will avoid last-minute struggles to find somewhere to sleep.

Consider these other details about accommodations:

• Make sure it’s pet-friendly if traveling with a furry friend.
• Make sure there’s enough room to park and secure a rental truck for the night if you’re using one for the move.

Note: Moving with U-Pack® means we will drive your things to the new place. Then, you can travel without worrying about the security of an entire household's belongings.

Get pre-trip car maintenance

Before the long drive, give your personal vehicle a checkup to avoid any preventable problems. Take the car to a trusted mechanic for a tune-up, or follow our car maintenance checklist to handle the tasks yourself.

Plan fun activities for the long car ride

It’s easy — especially for kids — to get bored during a long drive if there’s nothing to do besides stare out the window. Keeping passengers entertained is a must!

Try some of the following suggestions for the ride:

• Listen to audiobooks or podcasts
• Sing along to a vacation playlist
• Equip the kids with tablets and headphones (download content before the trip)
• Break out the crayons and coloring books (use a travel lap desk or a clipboard)
• Play some engaging road trip games

Pack some road-worthy snacks

The only thing worse than a bored passenger is a hungry one. To curb hunger before the next meal stop, pack car-friendly snacks, like dry cereal, trail mix, raisins, granola bars and cheese crackers.

On moving day, a cooler stocked with bottled water, juice and sandwiches is perfect for a quick meal on the go.

Review state traffic laws

Always obey traffic rules like speed limits and stop signs. And before hitting the road, make sure you’re familiar with laws about wearing seatbelts and distracted driving for the states you’ll pass through.

When traveling with kids, each child should ride in a properly installed car seat or booster. Local police or fire stations can help with installation questions if you’ll be using an unfamiliar rental vehicle.

Suggested reading: Are car seats allowed in rental trucks?

Have back-up plans

Even the most carefully planned vacation can have challenges. Before heading out, be ready to deal with any issues that might arise.

Car trouble

Contact information for a roadside assistance program is essential for long drives. Many car insurance policies offer these services, so check with your provider. If you don’t have coverage, consider a company like AAA in case of a vehicle problem during the trip.

Lost debit or credit cards

Keep a copy of the last 4 digits of each card along with customer service phone numbers in a safe place in case you need to report a loss. It's also a good idea to have some cash on hand in case of emergencies or for expenses like toll roads.

Bad weather

Keep a close eye on weather conditions with a reliable app like The Weather Channel. By checking upcoming travel areas during each fuel or rest stop, you can see if any bad weather is ahead. If so, you might need to extend one of the stops to wait it out.

Moving in the winter? Make sure you’re equipped to drive during icy weather!

Road-tripping your next move?

We’d love to hear about it! Let us know about your trip in the comments! 

Still in the planning phase? Don’t miss out on the service and savings you can get with U-Pack. Request a free, no-obligation quote online today or call 844-362-5303844-594-3077 to speak with a moving consultant.