The Wayfinder
Navigate Travel Like an Expert
As the song says, “Over the river and through the woods, to Grandmother’s house we go.” It just proves how classic a holiday road trip is (although I was today years old when I found out the song is about a Thanksgiving trip). Many of us take to the roads during winter to celebrate various holidays with family and friends, or to simply enjoy the season in a new locale.
For some, holiday road trips are a tradition. “It became the norm for me and my sisters,” said Seven Corners writer Ashley Fritz, who would often spend Thanksgiving in Chicago, Christmas in St. Louis, and New Year’s in Iowa visiting family. “It was so customary to us that as we got older and our parents considered just staying home for the holidays, we argued that a holiday season without road trips would not be a holiday season at all.”
When you’re traveling this winter, knowing how to make a road trip with kids easier can be the difference between an enjoyable outing and wishing you’d just stayed home. So let’s get started with some road trip tips for the winter.
Here’s what to expect in the guide below:
Absolutely! Taking a road trip in the winter reveals beautiful sights you can't experience any other time of year, whether that’s natural landscapes in the Western U.S. or small towns festooned for the holidays in the Northeast. A winter road trip can also let you beat the airport madness that’s so common around the holidays. Skip the crowded TSA line and delays, and enjoy the drive instead.
Of course, a winter road trip also requires that you take a few extra precautions. Remember that road conditions can be snowy or icy, and they can change rapidly. There are also fewer hours of daylight in winter, meaning you may have less time to drive safely before it gets dark.
These aren’t reasons to avoid taking a road trip during the winter, but they do mean that you need to be prepared for weather-related emergencies. Before you leave home, be prepared to keep you, your family, other drivers, and your car safe.
Your kids want to have fun, you want to avoid as much stress as possible, and the driver wants to stay awake at the wheel. There’s a lot to manage during a family getaway. These seven tips will have you feeling like an expert winter road trip planner.
A car organizer can make your life easier by containing clutter and help your kids take care of themselves while you focus on driving. The organizer should include items for cleanliness as well as entertainment, hopefully reducing the cries of “Are we there yet?”
Don’t think that your organizer has to be fancy. You could buy something online designed specifically for your car. But it could also be a couple of small baskets repurposed from the closet, one for each kid to stash their own car trip goodies.
Here’s a list of ideas for what to pack in your car organizer:
The “right time” could be different for every family. Some prefer to drive at night when the kids will sleep. Others vote to leave early in the day when everyone is feeling fresh and energized. Either way, prepare and pack as much as possible the night before. It’ll make those last-minute tasks easier as you’re trying to get everyone out the door.
When it comes to winter travel, factor the weather into your decisions about when to leave. Will colder temperatures at night bring icy roads? Will overnight snowfall make early-morning drives more difficult? You might make your itinerary extra flexible and choose your departure time based on road conditions.
Help everyone get in the holiday mood and fend off boredom with holiday-themed entertainment. Load up iPads with the kids’ favorite holiday movies. Look for kid-friendly podcasts everyone will enjoy. Treat them to holiday-themed coloring books for when you want them to turn the screen off for a while.
You can also play classic car games and add a holiday twist. If you’re a Christmas family, see who can find the most red and green cars. Play a game of “I Spy” where the items you’re looking for match the season. It could be a snowman with a scarf or inflatable snow globe in someone’s yard. Find more family road trip games to play.
Gift giving is part of many winter holidays, and you can make it part of your road trip, too. There are two ways to approach this. One, treat your kids to a gift that will keep them occupied during the drive. This could be a new book, a new app for their phone, or an extra-cozy blanket to snuggle with in the backseat.
The second option is to create a road trip-specific gift. Ashley, who traveled the Midwest every winter as a kid, remembers Bug Juice as a highlight from her own family holiday road trips.
“My sisters and I looked forward to our Bug Juice each trip. I can’t say I’ve seen it sold anywhere recently, but Bug Juice (glorified sugar water) was our favorite drink that our dad would never fail to pick up when we refilled on gas on our road trips,” she said. “I remember exclusively drinking Bug Juice on our road trips as a kid and thinking you could only buy it at certain places. It made using up our gas worth it in my eyes!”
If you typically ride with two adults up front, switch things up occasionally and put one adult in the backseat. This gives them a chance to ride with the driver, which could be a treat. It also opens up the chance for a child in back to have some one-on-one time with a parent. And, if we’re being honest, it also splits up the bickering if you’ve been in the car a bit too long.
One tip for surviving a long road trip is to break it into smaller stretches and give the kids a chance to burn off some energy along the way. Look for tourist destinations or roadside attractions en route, or simply stop at a playground or park.
You might think of it as just another jungle gym, but they’ll still love it, especially if they can make snow angels or have an impromptu snowball fight. Pack extra clothes if it’s cold or wet.
If you have some furry family members, the steps below will help keep them comfortable and safe during your winter road trip, too.
Get more tips for traveling with pets.
Before you even gas up the car, you’re going to want to go through this winter trip checklist to keep you, your family, and your belongings safe.
North of San Diego, Carlsbad offers miles of coastline for when you want to escape the cold or return from your holidays with a healthy glow. November and December temperatures hover in the 60s during the day with just a few days of rain, perfect when the purpose of your road trip is to avoid the chill of winter.
If exploring the beach isn’t up the kids’ alley, check out LEGOLAND California. There’s also plenty of golf courses to test out. Some resorts in the area cater to traveling families, offering outdoor movie nights, Christmas crafts, and more.
Many of us are familiar with the classic Southern charm of Charleston. In the winter, you’ll find Christmas parades, drive-through holiday light displays, and more to give you that festive feeling during your visit, even with daytime temperatures in the 50s and 60s. The King Street shopping district and Holiday Market in Marion Square are ideal for any last-minute gifts.
One of four barrier islands that make up the Golden Isles, Sea Island has everything from private beaches to luxurious resorts to stunning golf courses. December high temperatures in the Gold Isles average the mid-60s.
Start the holiday season with Thanksgiving celebrations in November — live music, bingo, family activities and, of course, turkey — then carry on through December with a visit to the life-size Gingerbread Cottage and the delightful Reindog Parade. Wrap up with a New Year’s celebration that includes fireworks and even more delectable food.
Nearby Colorado and Utah get most of the attention for skiing, but Jackson Hole has its fair share of snowy slopes. This town is also full of luxurious resorts, perfect for cozy family holiday time together.
When you’re ready to venture out from your resort, Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks are a short drive away. Just stay aware of the weather conditions as some parts of the parks may be closed due to snow.
Ski season in Vermont usually starts in mid-November, and Stowe is one of the most popular spots on the East Coast. This is partly because of the great powder and partly because of its location. Stowe is within easy driving distance of many Northeastern cities. There’s a reason the 1954 movie White Christmas was set in Vermont — it's the perfect backdrop for a fun family holiday.
Deciding how to spend a holiday in New York City is probably the most difficult aspect of this trip. Try picking one or two activities — a show, ice skating at Rockefeller Center, visiting Santa at Macy’s — and then leave the rest of your itinerary open to simply take in the lights and energy.
Because driving in the city can be a harrowing experience for out-of-town road trippers, look for accommodations with parking included and then walk or take public transit to see the sites. You can also book a rental house outside the city and take the train in if you’re looking for less expensive options, although this might be easier if your children are older.
We bet you didn’t know Branson is known as “America’s Christmas Tree City.” That’s because this Midwestern playground city has more than 1,000 trees covered in millions of lights to make the season bright. In a town that’s also known for its shows year-round, you won’t be short on entertainment options, either.
You can find more winter vacation ideas on our blog ranking some of the best holiday destinations in the world.
Anything can happen on a road trip, from minor cuts and bruises to a car accident on an icy road or catching the flu. Planning for an emergency doesn’t mean you’ll avoid it, but it can make it easier to deal with the consequences.
In addition to stocking your car with emergency supplies, travel insurance is a great way to prepare for the unexpected during a winter road trip.
Look for a plan that includes rental car coverage if you’re renting a vehicle. If you’ve planned excursions at your destination, such as a family outing at an amusement park’s holiday extravaganza, trip protection can also reimburse you for that prepaid expense should you have to cancel your trip or a delay causes you to miss the outing for a covered reason.
Finally, look for a plan with 24/7 emergency travel assistance. All our plans come with services from Seven Corners Assist, which can help in a number of predicaments like when you need to find medical care if you get sick or hurt while traveling.
Find the right plan for your winter road trip and get a quick quote online. You might be surprised by how affordable it is. You can also talk to a licensed agent to make sure you get the best coverage that fits your budget.
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