Worried your kids won’t last the drive? Here is how to plan a road trip with kids: schedule a break about every two hours, and build the day around those stops.
This guide is part of the wider topic of road trip planning, and it focuses on pacing with children in the car.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Break interval suggested by the AAP | About every two hours |
| Planning range for stops | Every 2-3 hours |
| Extra time to budget | 30 minutes per 2-3 hours of driving |
| Blood clot risk rises with travel of | Four hours or more |
| Car seats installed improperly | About 75% |
These figures come from Car Seats for the Littles and Safe in the Seat. They can change, so check the sources before you rely on them.
Why a break every two hours matters
The clearest benchmark comes from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Its 2018 travel safety advice, as quoted by Car Seats for the Littles, is to “plan to stop driving and give yourself and your child a break about every two hours.”
Other agencies point the same way, according to that same page:
- The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s 2005 guidance tells drivers to get out of the car every 2 hours to stretch and walk briskly (source).
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s 2023 travel page notes that traveling for four hours or more increases the risk of blood clots, and suggests moving your legs often (source).
- For a young baby, the same page says to stop frequently and take the baby out of the car seat (source).
The marathon approach can feel efficient. The CSFTL article calls driving many hours without breaks risky for both the driver and the passengers, and notes that even healthy full-term newborns can show worrisome oxygen desaturation episodes in the car seat.
Stops also protect the driver. Frequent breaks reduce the risk of drowsy driving, which the same page says can be as dangerous as driving while intoxicated.
How to build the schedule around breaks
Treat the breaks as fixed points and let the arrival time float. Safe in the Seat suggests stopping and hopping out of the car every 2-3 hours, and more often with a young baby.
- Check your route options before you leave, and look at them at different times of day to find the best departure time.
- Mark a break roughly every 2-3 hours of driving.
- Add 30 minutes for each of those blocks for the bathroom, a snack and some running around.
- Expect the trip to run longer than usual, and build that into your plans.
Choosing where those breaks happen is its own task. The guide on how to plan stops on a road trip covers restrooms, fuel, green space and lodging in more detail.
Night driving does not remove the need for stops. Safe in the Seat says you still need to let the kids out for a few minutes, and sleepy children may settle straight back down once they are buckled in again.
What should you check before you leave?
Start with the car seats, because long hours in them raise the stakes. Safe in the Seat reports that about 75% of car seats are installed improperly, and recommends a run-through with a certified car seat safety technician before you go.
AAA’s tips add a quick check: enter your child’s age, weight and height into the NHTSA right-seat tool to confirm the seat fits. They also warn that a bulky coat can leave extra space under the harness, so dress your child in a lighter jacket and lay a blanket over the harness if needed (AAA South Jersey).
Then cover the vehicle and the basics:
- Take the car in for a routine tune-up a few weeks ahead.
- Check tire pressure, wiper blades and fluid levels.
- Pack an emergency kit with jumper cables, tire-changing tools, a flashlight, road flares, blankets, water and first-aid supplies.
Those items come from Safe in the Seat. Vehicle checks and emergency kits get more space in these road trip safety tips.
Keeping kids fed, busy and buckled
AAA advises giving each child a refillable water bottle plus healthy snacks they enjoy, such as fruit, cheese sticks or yogurt. Choose age-appropriate options that are not a choking hazard, so your attention stays on the road (AAA South Jersey).
For entertainment, the same AAA page suggests age-appropriate hand-held games and books, audiobooks the whole family can enjoy, and classic games:
- I Spy
- 20 Questions
- Spotting license plates from different states
Older kids may unbuckle themselves when they get restless. Check periodically during the drive, and after every rest stop or meal make sure everyone is buckled before you pull out.
Finally, scan the back seat for hard, loose toys and tie down luggage and coolers. Safe in the Seat warns that unsecured items can become dangerous projectiles in a crash.
Prepare the driver and the children
You are part of the safety plan. Safe in the Seat recommends getting the best night’s sleep you can before departure, since drowsy driving is considered just as dangerous as drunk driving.
The same page suggests checking the weather along the entire route the day before, not only at the destination. If severe weather is likely, try to schedule your stops so the family is indoors while it passes.
Kids tend to cope better when they know what to expect. Read books about travel, tell them where you are going and how long it will take, and share your plans with someone at the other end.
Frequently asked questions
How often should you stop on a road trip with kids?
Show answer
The AAP’s 2018 advice, as quoted by Car Seats for the Littles, is a break about every two hours. Plan for more frequent stops if a young baby is on board.
Can you drive overnight so the kids sleep through it?
Show answer
It is convenient, but the Car Seats for the Littles article calls the marathon approach risky. Safe in the Seat says you still need to stop and let the kids out for a few minutes.
How much extra time should you add to the drive?
Show answer
Safe in the Seat suggests adding 30 minutes to every 2-3 hours of drive time for the stop itself. Its page is here, and it is worth checking for updates.
What should kids wear in a car seat on a cold trip?
Show answer
AAA recommends a lighter jacket with a blanket over the harness rather than a bulky coat, which can create extra space between the child and the harness. See the AAA South Jersey tips.
