Planning any long road trips this Summer? Have you planned beyond the packing and trip itself for the long car ride? Will there be kids on this trip or just adults?

Whether you are traveling with children or there will only be grown ups on this trip, I have some ideas for that long car ride that everyone will enjoy. There are many ways to make passing the hours on the road more enjoyable. With the trip ahead, don’t forget to plan for the car ride too!

Listen to great stories, sermons, music, and plan time for silence.

Pack some great audiobooks dramas. These are some of our favorites: Narnia, Secret Garden, and Anne of Green Gables -even my husband enjoys listening to them! They are so good, they are worth listening to again on the  next road trips too. The reason these versions are especially great is that they are more than audiobooks, they are audiobook dramas which means there are several voices as well as music.

If you are looking for some extra long sermons that are interesting too, here is the channel to my favorite YouTube preacher.

Break up the stories and sermons with some great music. My family has different music preferences and so our mp3 players come in handy on long trips. However Dana Dirksen is an artist that we all enjoy. I highly recommend any of her music. It is designed for children, but the excellent quality and style makes it great for the entire family!

Don’t forget to plan some time for silence. We all benefit from quiet. If you don’t need a nap, this is a great time for some planned snacking. To have a really great road trip, planning great snacks is essential! 

Plan for gum, lollipops, melting candy and healthy options.

I prefer more natural gum choices, but they’re not as good for blowing bubbles. The kids really enjoy bubble gum. Also, Juicy Fruit and Big Red are fun options. Gum is especially helpful for popping ears when traveling up and down mountains and changing altitude.

Sucking lollipops is a great way to pass some time. Whether you like Tootsie Pops, Dum Dums or Blowpops, your lollipop and gum in one, lollipops are a good snack choice on road trips. It’s also fun to see who can resist crunching them.

Another fun game is sucking on small melting candies. Having contests to see who can go the longest before the candy disappears can definitely help pass the time. Be careful not to eat too much sugar!

That’s why healthy snacks are essential! Breaking up sugary treats with some protein or more complex carbohydrates is a great way to keep your body fueled and balance your diet. Packing a small cooler with perishable items is helpful, or there are so many packaged options for healthy snacking now. Planning ahead is vital to guarantee having your favorite snacks on hand.

What are some of your favorite snacks for road trips? Does your family have any great tricks for passing the time? Please let me know so I can try them out on our next family road trip.