RVing with Kids: How to Keep Them Entertained During Long Summer Drives

Summer is here, and that means it’s time for family road trips in the RV! While these road trips can be super fun, long drives can test everyone’s patience. Fortunately, there are ways to keep kids entertained even on the longest road trips.

In fact, I’m pretty sure our family has learned every trick in the book by now. All it takes is a bit of preparation and planning, and you’ll be able to have a (relatively) peaceful drive and the memorable family adventure you’ve always hoped for. 

Here are my favorite ways to keep kids entertained on long drives. 

Create a Travel Activity Kit

One of my favorite things to do before a long day of travel? Pack a travel activity kit for each kid who will be riding with us. This could be a small bag or backpack, but I actually prefer to use a bin with a lid, as it’s easier for the kids to dig around and find things in a box, and the bins stack neatly while not in use. 

Whatever you decide to use, fill it with things like:

• Coloring books, crayons, stickers
• Puzzle books
• Travel-friendly board games
• Headphones
• Magnetic drawing boards 
• Felt storyboards
• Window stickers
• Pipe cleaners or Wikki Stix
• New small toys wrapped as surprises for each milestone

Having a small collection of special things to do will help keep the kids happily entertained for many miles. 

Embrace Audiobooks & Podcasts

We LOVE podcasts and audiobooks. These two things can fill a lot of driving time and they don’t even take up much space. Besides, when we play the podcasts or stories over the car speakers, it gives the whole family a way to connect as we drive.

Of course, if you’re just looking for a bit of quiet time, you can also have the kids use those headphones I mentioned above. 

Some of our favorite kid-friendly podcasts include:

• Wow in the World!
• Story Pirates
• Brains On!

Some of our favorite audiobooks are:

• The Harry Potter series
• The Paddington Bear series
• Anything by Roald Dahl

Play Classic Road Trip Games

No road trip is complete without a classic road trip game. There are so many to choose from, and most don’t require much more than a pen and paper. Best of all, these games will get you laughing and having a good time as a family, which is what family vacations are all about, right?

Some of the best classic road trip games are:

• “I Spy”
• License Plate Bingo
• 20 Questions
• “Would You Rather?”
• Scavenger Hunt: Make a list of things to spot (a red barn, a cow, a yellow truck, etc.)

Rotate Activities

I’ve noticed that my kids are often overwhelmed when I hand them several things to do, and they end up switching between them quickly and become bored all too fast. You can prevent this problem by rotating activities every so often rather than handing the kids every option at once. Set a timer to half an hour, hand the kids one activity, and then rotate to the next when the timer goes off. 

Some options of activities to rotate between include screen time, games, snacks, and nap time.

Make Screen Time Count

I’m not a huge fan of lots of screen time for kids. That said, I definitely make exceptions for travel days when my kids end up getting more than their fair share of tablet time. To make myself feel better about the excessive screen time, I like to download educational and creative apps so I know they are at least doing something productive with their screen time. 

Some of my favorites are:

• PBS Kids games
• Toca Boca apps
• Duolingo for Kids
• Epic! (ebooks for kids)

Schedule Fun Stops

There’s no reason you need to drive 8, 10, or 12 hours straight. Personally, I like to schedule time to make some fun stops along the way to stretch our legs and break up the drive. Research roadside attractions, quirky diners, or nature trails and your pit stops will turn into mini-adventures.

For an extra fun touch, let kids help choose the next stop—it gives them something to look forward to!

Use a Travel Journal or Map

Okay, so I’ve never actually used this idea, but I think it’s brilliant and I will be implementing it at some point. Give each child a map or travel journal, as well as a pencil or pen. Encourage them to take note of progress made each leg of the trip, draw cool sights or attractions, and write about their day. This builds anticipation, gives the kids another way to fill time, and results in a super cool keepsake and record of your trip.

Pack a Snack Station

Hungry kids are never fun to travel with. Ask me how I know. For this reason, I try to always keep some snacks close at hand on travel days.

Healthy, low-mess options like trail mix, cheese sticks, fruit leather, and popcorn help keep everyone full and happy without making a huge mess in the vehicle. To help keep things interesting, let kids pick their own “snack of the hour” each hour you’re on the road. 

Bring a Comfort Item

As much as I hated napping as a kid, I’m the first to suggest one to my kids on a long trip. Naps help keep everyone in a good mood and help the time move a bit faster. Of course, napping only happens if the kids are comfy. This is why you may want to pack a comfort item. A favorite stuffed animal, pillow, or blanket can make naps easier and help provide security during long stretches.

Get Them Involved

Kids love to help. Why not use that to your advantage? You can give them small “jobs” like navigator assistant, snack monitor, or photo documentarian. Feeling responsible helps them stay engaged and makes the whole experience more interesting. Besides, you might just appreciate a little extra help. 

Yes, driving long distances with kids can be stressful. That said, these tips have helped us cover thousands of miles with two kids in tow, and I imagine they will help you as well. Which ones will you use on your next summer road trip?