50+ Simple Tips: How to Enjoy a Safe and Healthy Family Road Trip

Roadtrippin’ is where it’s at these days. A healthy family road trip enables you to cherish your time on the road, maintain wellness and safety, and create lifelong memories.

Affiliate Disclosure: There are affiliate links throughout this post. This means if you click on a link and purchase a product through that link, then I will receive a small commission for the referral. And that is kinda cool.

Embarking on an epic family road trip allows you more control over your schedule, a laid back experience, relaxed time with your kiddos, and even a little spontaneity when the need arises.

Let’s plan a healthy family road trip starting with these ten essential tips.

1. Start with a practical plan, but as you know, plans can change and will. And it’s OK. Flexibility is of the utmost importance when planning family travel.
2. Consider who is going when you choose a destination. A three-day straight on cross country journey may not be much fun for (and with) toddlers. Our most extended trek with our teens was about eleven hours, and that was pushing it.
3. Create an epic packing list based on your planned activities.
4. Gather up your travel planning documents and store them in your travel planner or travel journal.
5. Plan meals and snacks in advance.
6. And don’t forget the drinks.
7. Have a plan for your accommodation at the end of your trek. Yes, it’s fun to be spontaneous, but you don’t want to waste time trying to figure things out on the road. Have a basic plan of where you are going to stay.
8. Scope out a few fun stops along the way to get some fresh air, eat lunch, or sneak in a walk or quick workout.
9. Pack an old school map. You never know. Plus, kids need to learn how to read a map, and you need to brush up on your map master skills. OK, just do it, purchase that Road Atlas.

10. Make sure your vehicle is in good order and travel-worthy. Maybe even take it in to have a pro check.

• Check the oil and consider an oil change if the mileage is close.
• Assure healthy tires and tire pressure. Pack a tire gauge for travel. AND make sure your spare tire is ready.
• Fill up the washer fluid.
• Have the brakes checked and top off the fluid.
• Check the coolant and the transmission fluid as well.
• Pack a spare key.
• And jumper cables.
• Give it a good cleaning.
• Documentation: Driver’s License, Registration, Insurance.
• Car chargers.

Packing for Your Healthy Family Road Trip Adventure.

Of course, I made you a Road Trip Checklist Download with all of the essentials.

• Travel Documents (Driver’s License, Car registration, Insurance).
• Stash of extra cash.
• Always pack plenty of healthy snacks. No one likes a hangry passenger.
• Water bottle.
• Hand sanitizer.
• Wet Wipes.
• Your routine medications.
• First Aid Kit.
• Car Sickness Bags.
• Emergence C for immune support.
• Sunscreen.
• Chapstick
• Hat or Cap.
• Shades.
• Insect Repellent.
• Camera.
• Car chargers.
• Headphones or AirPods.
• Your playlist, Podcasts, or book on Audible.
• Tech (Phones, laptop, chargers, Kindle).
• Bluetooth speakers.
• Cooler.
• Ziplock bags.
• Trash bags.
• Pop up hamper.
• Towels.
• Pillow and Blanket.
• Hoodie.
• Essential Oils (they don’t take up much space)
• Travel Journal and accessories.

Ninja Tip: Pack a bag for each passenger, kind of like a carry-on bag for flying.

Road Trip Packing List ~ Download PDF Here.

Snacks for Your Healthy Family Road Trip.

First things first, a few snack tips for maintaining proper nutrition during your road trip. You don’t have to let go of healthy eating altogether, 80/20 is an excellent way to go, and you can still have fun.

• Plan road trips meals, and snacks ahead of time.  
• Pack for the day. Save time and money by packing meals and snacks for the entire travel day.
• If you are leaving super early, pack it all the day before.
• Bring an empty cooler and fill it up by stopping at orchards and food stands to find local goodies.  
• Make sure you hydrate.
• Pack fresh fruits and veggies in the little snack-sized Ziplock bags.
• Don’t forget dried fruits, super easy to transport (no cooler required), and tasty, too.
• Don’t forget to pack plenty of protein; it will keep you full longer.

Healthy Road Trip Snacks Everyone Will Love.

Fresh Fruits and Veggies.

• Apple slices.
• Bananas.
• Strawberries.
• Grapes.
• Blueberries.
• Blackberries.
• Cantaloupe.
• Watermelon.
• Baby carrots.
• Cucumbers.
• Celery Sticks.

Crunchy Snacks.

• Pretzels.
• Popcorn.
• Granola bars.
• Chickpeas.
• Plantain Chips.
• Rice cakes.

Protein Rich Snacks.

• String Cheese.
• Beef Jerky.
• Protein Drinks.
• Greek Yogurt.
• Hummus.
• Hard-Boiled Eggs.
• Peanut Butter (if no food allergies).
• Nuts (if no food allergy).
• Granola, Almond, or Sesame Seed Butter.

For a little upgrade, pack these dipper combos.

• Hummus and pretzels.
• Plantain chips and guacamole.
• Rice cakes and granola butter or sesame seed butter.
• Carrots sticks and Ranch.
• Celery sticks and cream cheese.

Or make your own special treat.

• Blueberry muffins.
• Scones.
• Oatmeal cookies.
• Homemade trail mix.

A few more tips on eating healthy while road tripping.

• Eat a good breakfast every morning before you head out on the road.
• Bring more food than you think you will need.
• Book accommodations on your route with a refrigerator and fill it up with nutritious foods.
• There are plenty of apps to help you find healthy restaurant options. Plan ahead of time so that the healthy restaurants you want are on your route.
• Eat a serving of vegetables with lunch and dinner every day.
• Or go crazy and ask for double veggies in place of your starch.

Maintaining fitness while on your healthy family road trip, here is how.

You don’t have to put on the pounds just because you are on vacation. Here are a few ways to get in those extra steps while on your road trip.

• Stop every two to three hours for fresh air. Use google maps to find a local park to take a quick 10-minute walk.  
• Have a fitness plan. Combine lunges, bodyweight squats, jumping jacks, or a jump rope for few quick no-equipment workouts that are fun and interesting.  
• Promise yourself that you will complete at least ten minutes of physical fitness even while on the road.
• Make sure to hydrate and maintain healthy nutrition mentioned above. If you eat bad, you will feel bad.
• Wear your fitness tracker and create a daily step goal.  
• Get your rest.

If you love travel fitness, read this interview with a travel fitness expert.

Family Road Trip Safety Tips.

1) Know your route. When planning your road trip adventure, consider the safety and security of your course and destination.
2) Let a friend or family member know your plans.
3) Never flash your cash.
4) Be aware of your surroundings at all times.
5) Minimize stopping or even being out and about after dark, especially if you don’t know the area. If you can’t avoid stopping, always stay in well-lit areas. Avoid dark areas if at all possible.
6) Stay sober.
7) Don’t let your tank get too low while on the road. Fill it up at about the quarter tank mark. You never know when the next stop will be.
8) Keep an eye on the weather radar, and pull over if you get hit with inclement weather.
9) Don’t speed and always wear your seatbelt.

Read more about important family travel safety here.

Now for the elephant in the room named COVID-19.

Family travel has changed in our world, but you can do this safely and respectfully.

• First, consider specific state guidelines when planning your road trip destination. For example, many places require a mask. And you want to make sure you aren’t traveling to the most recent hot spot.
• Plan outdoor activities with less risk of exposure or exposing others. As you know, people can have COVID-19 and be asymptomatic but can still infect another with COVID-19.
• Are the restaurants open? If so, are there outdoor options for seating.
• Are the locals OK with you being there?  
• Outdoor parks and hiking travels are safer options for you to explore.  
• Consider takeout for meals or outdoor seating. Or better yet, cookout on the grill at the Airbnb.
• Avoid indoor sporting events or events with lots of people crowded in one place.
• Wash your hands. Use hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes. And wear your mask when face to face with people. And when the city or state mandates it.

Hotel VS Airbnb

My thought on lodging and the coronavirus’s current state is this: If you stay in an Airbnb, you have no interaction with people a check-in, in the elevator, stairwell, and hallways. Self-check-in and check-out are available using a lockbox; there are no lobbies or elevators. AND you eat breakfast and drink your coffee in the morning with your family only; it seems like a way better option in this day and age.

Furthermore, Airbnb launched an enhanced cleaning protocol based on insight and recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), including cleaning and then sanitizing with the right disinfectant. Plus, cleaning of sofas, rugs, drapes, washing all linens, cleaning, and sanitizing laundry baskets.  And there’s more here. 

The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention states protect yourself and others by doing the following during your trip.

• Wash your hands after you have been in a public place, after touching surfaces frequently touched by others, blowing your nose, coughing, sneezing, and touching your face or eating.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.
• Keep six feet of physical distance from others.
• Wear a face-covering in public.
• Cover coughs and sneezes.
• Pick up food at drive-throughs, curbside restaurant service, or grocery stores.

A couple more thoughts on traveling during COVID-19.

Know your lodging’s cancellation policy. Plan ahead just in case. What if you or your family member gets sick before or during your trip? Or what if stuff gets even more real while you are gone, and you have to quarantine for two weeks when you get back. Keep those things in mind when planning your getaway.

Road trippin’ may be “the thing” for a while, so make your lists, check them twice. Make sure you have everything ready to go.

Stay safe and healthy. Have the time of your life and send me pictures.