For many Americans, the RV road trip is a shining light retirement vacation plan at the end of a long, dark decades-long career tunnel. And while that is a fantastic plan that is bound to be brimming with twilight memories, there isn’t the need to wait that long. With some proper planning and forethought, the RV road trip vacation can be fun for the entire family, kids and all.
Here are a few ideas to keep the kids both occupied and entertained while you’re on the great open road:
Remember that most of your RV trip, aside from driving hours, will be spent outside of the vehicle. Games will serve the purpose of silencing the “are we there yet?” and “I’m not touching yooouuu” bickering. Video games are your friend here. Give yourself, and the kids a break while logging highway miles. So much of your trip will be informative. The landmarks and historic national sites all provide you and your family with valuable lessons and academic information. While video games are not the ideal activity that you want occupying your children’s minds, it certainly will keep them busy when you need some peace and quiet to navigate.
Most RVs have televisions, so hooking up a Playstation, Xbox, etc. is as simple as it is at home. If you don’t own a game console, there are various online games and entertainment apps available. Look into Apple TV, or other platforms that allow you to link your tablet with the television. These devices allow you to monitor and control what is on the screen.
Board games are a classic option, as well, but they inhabit precious space in your RV. Bring only two or three absolute favorites. Have a deck of playing cards on hand as well. A small Tupperware container with various arts & crafts supplies (paper plates, construction paper, Elmer’s glue, glitter, scissors, cotton balls, etc.) can be a lot of fun for the kids, but beware the clean-up. The kids can try to replicate Native American artifacts from the site you recently visited, or create gifts for the new friends you’ve made at a campsite. Set goals for them and provide incentives upon completion. A successful family road trip is all about planning.
A key component to making your trip sail smoothly will be choosing kid-friendly destinations. Sure, no one can miss the Grand Canyon, and mom & dad have to see Nashville, but which sites are geared specifically for the kids? Depending on age and interest, naturally, plot out your vacation route to hit amusement parks or baseball games, zoos and aquariums, a state fair or a travelling circus.
Here’s a tip. Two words: water park. That is an incentive that will not use its luster. You’ll be pleasantly surprised how far you can get with “stop it now or we’re skipping the water park.”
Theses are just a few ideas. The key is to be prepared. As parents, there is no shortage of surprises and frustrations, and despite preparedness, the kids will always throw you for a loop. But with some specific planning and packing, the entire family can enjoy your vacation inside the RV, as much as the times spent outside of it at America’s great destinations. Get out the maps and get planning.
Check out our current inventory of new RV’s for sale today and you’ll be on the road before you know it.
