RV Traveling Tips for Families with Kids

You've finally done it! You've bought an RV, and you're ready to hit the road. Now comes the planning portion of the trip, and if you've got children, you need to consider them during the process. 

RVing with your kids is a great way to spend time with them. Not only do you get to enjoy new experiences with them, but it's also educational, and the whole family will get a new appreciation for nature. Done the right way, RVing with the kids can make for some incredible memories.

To that end, we've put together a list of tips that can make everybody's trip smoother and much more enjoyable – especially the younger members of your family.

- Involve the children in planning the trip. If your kids feel like they're part of the process, they'll enjoy it all the more. Talk to them about where they would like to go, what they want to do, then work together to develop a trip that everyone will enjoy!

- Make sure the kids have space to play. Designate a particular section of the RV that the kids can enjoy their toys or play games. This also keeps toys and games in one area so that you know where they are and that they're not spread out all over the camper.

- Limit travel time. This is particularly true if your kids are smaller and very active. Long travel days can be miserable for little ones, which can quickly become bored. To make sure everybody is as happy as possible, limit your travel time to six to eight hours a day if possible.

- Don't forget the games and activities for indoors as well as outdoors. Electronic games, iPads, laptops are no-brainers. Still, when you don't have internet connectivity, you also need to have board games, videos, books, footballs, baseballs, basketballs, etc. Oh, and bicycles too – your kids will love going for a ride after a long day of traveling in the RV.

- Planned bathroom breaks. OK, we know when you have kids, especially younger ones, planning potty breaks is nearly impossible, but maybe if everyone is on board and tries to adhere to the schedule, it will work. Make sure kids know that they should all go when you stop to keep them from deciding five minutes later that they do need to go and you have to stop again. This can add lots of time to your trip, so TRY to keep the kids on a timetable of sorts.

- Give them their own space outdoors with a small tent. This can be an excellent place for them to play with toys, games, or even to read. This way, you can keep up with all of their items while making them feel like they have their own special area to enjoy.

- Stay at kid-friendly campgrounds. Try to select campgrounds that have playgrounds, along with hiking and biking trails, swimming pools, or other activities the children can enjoy.

- Bring snacks. Lots of them.

- Make sure the kids buckle up. It's not a good idea to let kids roam around the camper freely when it's moving, and many of them have seatbelts in the living space. When the RV is moving, everyone should be strapped in if possible – especially the children.

- Explore the area and have fun. Take a day trip to a state or city park, swimming pool, museum, zoo, or other attraction in a nearby city. This will break up your campground stay while giving everyone another fun experience to enjoy. 

Follow these tips, and you and your entire family will be on the way to a pleasant and memorable RV trip! Enjoy!  And be sure to visit Crowder RV for all of your camping needs!