How to Keep Kids Happy on the Road: 7 Travel Hacks Every Parent Needs

Recently we came back from a road trip to visit the State Fair of Texas. While we had fun, there were a few things along the way that made me think about some elements of traveling when you know it might be hectic. Like going from Austin to Dallas the same week UT plays OU…(my Texas people, if you know, you know!)

You’ve done one of two things. Either packed the snacks, organized the route, filled up the car and created a schedule. Or you packed what you could and prayed for things to fall into place. Either way, there’s a chance traffic can squelch your fun road trip vibes. Traffic hits, people are everywhere, and your family excitement quickly starts resembling a survival mission. Sound familiar? Don’t worry—you’re not alone, and I’ve got your back! Here are 7 common travel issues we all face and some tried-and-true tips to keep the meltdowns at bay (both yours and the kids).

1. Traffic—The Never-Ending Roadblock

The Issue: Everyone’s happy until you hit bumper-to-bumper traffic. Suddenly, the back seat turns into a scene from Hocus Pocus with the bickering Sanderson Sisters.

Coaching Opportunity: Turn traffic into a game! Play “I Spy,” make up silly car songs, play the license plate game, or hand out small treats for the quietest kid every 10 minutes. Need a coaching twist? Use this moment to ask, “How do you think we could make this more fun?” Encourage your kids to come up with their own boredom-busting ideas—hello, problem-solving!

Bumper to bumper traffic on the way to Dallas

2. Crowds Everywhere You Go

The Issue: Whether it's a museum, theme park, or airport, crowds bring out the worst in everyone. Your child’s patience? G-O-N-E.

Coaching Opportunity: Prep your kids for the crowds: “There are going to be lots of people, so let's stick together!” You can even make them your “crowd navigator” to help find a less crowded path. Coaching question: “What can we do if we start feeling overwhelmed by all the people?” Let them brainstorm ways to manage their feelings. Genius, right?

3. The ‘I’m Bored’ Complaint

The Issue: It’s been 10 minutes, and they’ve already used up every activity you packed. Suddenly, you're dealing with a chorus of “I’m bored.” This is probably every mode of transportation...

Coaching Opportunity: Let your kids have a say in the trip’s agenda. When they help pick activities, they’ll be more invested. During downtimes, use coaching questions like, “What’s one thing you could do right now to entertain yourself?” You’ll be amazed at what they come up with!

We used this map of the “green line” to count down our stops

4. Hanger: Hungry + Angry = Meltdown

The Issue: They’re hungry, you’re hungry, but the next rest stop is miles away, and you can already feel the tension building. It’s all about to boil over.

Coaching Opportunity: Never underestimate the power of snacks! Pack extra—seriously, you can never have too many. Use hanger as a teachable moment: “What do you notice about how you’re feeling when you get hungry? What can we do to prepare next time?” This helps them tune into their own needs and problem-solve for future trips.

5. Mood Swings and Eye Rolls

The Issue: You can feel the tween/teen attitude radiating from the backseat. They're bored, annoyed, or just in a mood. And you're the lucky one who gets to deal with it!

Coaching Opportunity: Validate their feelings: “I get it, long trips can be tough.” Then flip it: “How can we turn this trip into something we all enjoy?” By encouraging problem-solving, you shift them out of the attitude spiral and into a more cooperative mindset.

My son rolled his eyes at this Haunted Castle ride, but ended up enjoying it with his sister

6. Sibling Squabbles

The Issue: They love each other until they don’t (and it happened in an instant). Suddenly, you’re playing referee between two backseat wrestlers.

Coaching Opportunity: Create a “peace pact” before the trip begins. Have each kid come up with ways to resolve conflicts peacefully and make them the “conflict resolution captain” when things get heated. Ask them, “How can we work together to solve this without arguing?” It’s like coaching, but with fewer coffee breaks!

7. The “I Don’t Want to Do This” Protest

The Issue: You’ve planned a fantastic day, but your kiddo decides they hate the next activity.

Coaching Opportunity: Before leaving, give your kids some choices in the plan. They’ll feel more engaged if they’ve had a say in what you’re doing. If protests still arise, use a coaching prompt: “What’s something we can do to make this more fun?” Giving them some control might turn the mood around.

While walking to one activity we pivoted and took a look at the dinos instead

The Coaching Model in Action

Here’s the thing: travel is one giant, chaotic opportunity to help your kids (and yourself) grow. When you use a coaching approach, you’re teaching your kids how to problem-solve in real-time. By asking open-ended questions and letting them come up with solutions, you’re empowering them to manage their emotions and think critically about how to handle tough situations. Plus, you're giving them skills they can use in everyday life (not just on road trips!).

Focus on What you Can Do

Let’s be real: traveling with kids isn’t always picture-perfect. But instead of stressing out, what if you had a toolkit of mindfulness strategies to get through those tough moments, and focus on yourself? That’s exactly what I offer in my Mindful Goals Masterclass for Busy Moms. I teach moms how to set goals that align with their family life and stay cool under pressure, whether you’re stuck in traffic or managing a sibling squabble. If you’re ready to travel (and live!) with more intention, this course is for you.

Next time you’re stuck in traffic, instead of losing your cool, try this: ask your child, “How do you think we can make this situation better?” They might surprise you—and you might just avoid that meltdown after all.

Safe travels and may the force (and snacks) be with you!

Copyright Me Time 4 Mom, LLC