Camping guides
How to plan family road trip: ultimate parent guide
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Road trips with kids? Great idea – and easier than you might think. Taking your children on the road is a fantastic way of combining family time with holiday time, seeing beautiful parts of the countryside, and trying new adventures like outdoor sports or lengthy hikes. And no matter what ages your kids are, planning ahead is the best way to prepare a successful family trip.
From road trip ideas to choosing the right vehicle to the essential road trip packing list , we cover all the stuff you need to know about going on the road as a family. Read on for our expert guide to planning a family road trip in the UK!
1. Planning the road trip
Fully planning your trip before setting off is a good idea with many on-the-road adventures… and even more so with kids. Of course, your needs for the trip will vary depending on how many kids you have and how old they are , but if you want to enjoy (and not just survive) a family road trip, preparation is key.
First – what sort of trip do you want; and what will keep the kids happy and entertained? Get this right and a good trip should follow! Here are our family road trip ideas for the UK:
Harry Potter road trip
Among the most popular road trips in the UK are those based on the Harry Potter book and film franchise, including famous London destinations like Platform 9 ¾ at King’s Cross station or the Warner Bros Studio Tour at Watford.
There’s heaps to experience outside the capital too: your muggles will enjoy a magical trip to Lacock in Wiltshire , shown in the film of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince; and the Bodleian Library at Oxford , used as Hogwarts library throughout the film series. Heading north to Scotland, a must-see is the Glenfinnan Viaduct at Lochaber , where the Hogwarts Express makes it way to the school at the start of every term.
Our suggested itinerary for a Harry Potter family road trip starts in London, but is adaptable to any starting point in the UK:
Day 1 – London: Platform 9 ¾ (morning); Warner Bros Studio Tour (afternoon)
Day 2 – Lacock (Professor Slughorn’s house in Half-Blood Prince; Harry’s parents’ house in Philosopher’s Stone) and Lacock Abbey
Day 3 – Gloucester Cathedral (the troll scenes in Philosopher’s Stone)
Day 4 – Oxford (Christchurch College aka the Hogwarts Great Hall); Bodleian Library; the Divinity School (Hogwarts infirmary); New College Cloisters (Hogwarts exterior shots).
Day 5 – Alnwick Castle (the broomstick lesson scene in Philosopher’s Stone); optional stop-off at Durham and Durham Cathedral, used in several exterior shots
Days 6 and 7 – Glencoe, Scotland. See Loch Shiel (Hogwarts lake); the Glenfinnan Viaduct; and Eilean na Moine, the small island on Loch Eilt where Voldemort steals the Elder Wand in The Deathly Hallows Part I.
Game of Thrones road trip
Game of Thrones sightseeing trips are also hugely popular in the UK and will likely be a hit if you have teenagers into fantasy. Most of the GoT filming locations are in Northern Ireland , which we cover in depth in our dedicated Northern Ireland road trip guide, and are highly recommended if you’re in N. Ireland or have time to take the ferry there.
If not, make for Doune Castle in Scotland eight miles from Stirling, used as Winterfell in the Game of Thrones pilot. Stirling itself is a top option for a family day out afterwards: try Stirling Castle or the KIDZ TOWN indoor play centre.
Other suggestions for bucket list family road trips include:
South-west England
A perfect destination for the beaches of Devon and Cornwall ; fossil hunting on the Jurassic Coast; surfing at Woolacombe, Ilfracombe and Newquay; and checking out lots of family-friendly south-west destinations like the Eden Project , Gweek’s National Seal Sanctuary, the Dorset Teddy Bear Museum or the National Maritime Museum at Falmouth.
Coastal holidays
Take a trip around the UK’s stunning coastal destinations, like the Pembrokeshire coast and Cardigan Bay in Wales, the Yorkshire and Lincolnshire coastlines in the north east, or the coastal highlights of Norfolk and East Anglia like Cromer and Hunstanton.
Any UK coastal road trip should include the south-west too , for the Jurassic Coast and the beaches of Devon and Cornwall , plus the beautiful scenery of the South West Coast Path and the Lizard Peninsula.
In Scotland, try the Lothian coast from Dunbar to Portobello , or the jaw-dropping scenery of the west coast, around Oban and the Hebridean islands.
National parks
The UK has 14 national parks to explore, ranging from inland spaces like the Lake District and Dartmoor to the coastal highlights of the South Downs and the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. If you’re starting in the UK’s north, we recommend Cairngorms National Park , Loch Lomond and the Trossachs then Northumberland National Park ; to the south, explore the Broads and the South Downs before driving west to the New Forest and into the south-west for Dartmoor and Exmoor.
The North York Moors , Yorkshire Moors , **Lake District** (take a look at our guide) ****and Peak District are highly recommended too.
Theme parks
Theme parks, adventure parks and amusement parks to suit all tastes and budgets are all around the UK, so you’re sure to find something to keep all ages happy.
Suggestions include Alton Towers in Staffordshire, Paultons Park with Peppa Pig World in the New Forest, Chessington World of Adventures in Greater London, Flambards in Cornwall, Thorpe Park in Surrey, Legoland Windsor… wherever you go, you’ll find something to suit.
Check theDay Out With the Kids website for ideas on family days out at any of your chosen destinations.
2. Choosing the right vehicle
Next, how to choose the right vehicle for your family road trip, keeping in mind variations in family size and budget. We suggest going for the biggest vehicle possible in your budget – the extra space for games and play will be well worth the money if the kids get restless or bored on the road.
Another important consideration is safety , for example the number of seat belts in a vehicle or whether there’s enough space to secure a child’s car seat. Finally, you may want to bring along plenty of kit such as surfboards or bikes, or stock up on supermarket and kitchen items if budget is tight – either way, you’ll need extra room.
Browse the Camplify hire vans to get a feel for what vehicle you’d like (you can filter your search by amenities, date, price and more), then check the listing of each possibility for full details. Things you might want to check are:
Sleeping space
Are there fitted bunks/berths or will you have to pack sleeping areas away every morning? Can the adults get to bed without disturbing children who are already asleep? A motorhome with a bed over the cab is a great idea for a family holiday – kids will love this space, and grownups will save time not having to take the bed down every day.
Amenities
Does the van come with extras like outdoor table and chairs , or barbecue? How’s the kitchen space – big enough to cook meals comfortably if you don’t want to eat out or you have a family member with allergies so need to prepare your own food?
Location
Where is the van based and how will you get to it? Or do you want**the owner to deliver it to you** – a sensible option if you have lots to pack!
Whatever your needs, have a proper look at each van listing you’re interested in, and consider asking the owner if something you need isn’t supplied. If you need some inspiration, check out these examples of great vehicles for a family trip:
Mirage 500 ‘Family Sized’ 5-berth, Hurstpierpoint
3. First time hiring a motorhome or a campervan?
No worries – we have plenty of guides to help you out:
4. Family road trip packing list
Food, snacks, toys, first aid kid, child safety seats, wet wipes, electronic devices… if you’ve ever taken long car rides with your family, you’ll know there’s heaps to think about when road tripping with kids.
Here’s our definitive family road trip packing list , plus some top tips.
Toys, games, headphones and electronics for each child (see our top tips below), plus family games/board games, buckets and spades, a ball and a frisbee
Chargers and a battery pack
Bluetooth speaker (for audiobooks or playlists)
Atlas or paper maps (useful if GPS/signal fails, and for keeping older children occupied in helping en route)
Car seats for younger children, plus car seat organisers to keep everything in one place
Window shades if travelling in summer
First aid kit: general plasters, bandages, pain relievers, antiseptic cream etc, plus specific child-friendly items like Calpol or Sudocrem. Ice spray or ice packs are also useful for minor injuries.
Sunscreen and after-sun cream
Insect repellent
Motion sickness tablets
Nappy bucket if travelling with a baby or toddler
Hand sanitiser
Snacks (see top tips below)
Water bottles – one per family member
Cooler
Sandwich bags
Bin bags and kitchen spray, for quick clean-ups each evening
Wet wipes
Tissues or kitchen roll
Comfortable clothes for long drives; sunhats and sunglasses; rain gear and sturdy shoes/boots; fleeces
Favourite items like comfort blankets, teddies etc
Torch
Towels
Light blankets
Day bags
See ourFirst-time campervan hire: UK complete guide andFirst-time motorhome hire: UK complete guide blogs for general road trip packing lists.
5. Tips on packing for a family road trip
Give each child his or her own activity bag
They can pack it themselves with their favourite toys, games, colouring books etc and keep with them on longer trips. The activity bags can also hold a small day bag for each child.
Bring snacks
Snacks can include healthier items like dried fruit, fresh fruit, granola bars and nuts, but you might also want to include a few treat items (crisps, sweets) to stave off boredom or tantrums.
Pack a box with a lid
Have a specific lidded box for snacks so kids can help themselves without distracting the driver (keep treat items separate if you prefer). Let the kids choose items for the snack box when shopping for the trip.
Hide an extra toy
Pack a secret “last resort” item: a toy or game to distract kids if they’re tired and whiney
Pack the night before
If you’re having your van delivered, book an extra night and get the owner to deliver the van the day before your trip. This means you can pack at your leisure, and the kids can help without getting in the way.
6. Tips on travelling with kids in a van
Safety and security
The main safety issues to consider when campervanning or motorhoming with kids are car seats/seatbelts and bedding. Bedding issues will depend on the age of your kids , for example whether they can sleep safely in a bunk bed or will need pull-up bed sides to stop small children falling out. Carefully check the photos of your intended van, and ask the owner for clarification if needed.
Car seats and seatbelts should be considered well before hiring your vehicle. Legally, motorhomes don’t have to have seatbelts unless the seats are facing forwards, so if your children are too old for car seats you’ll want to ensure your proposed van has seatbelts fitted.
Asdditional safety tips:
Buy several lidded boxes to hold toys, books, food etc, so they don’t go flying around the van if the driver has to make a sudden stop
Kids are more likely to respect the safety features of a vehicle if they know what the features are and how they work. Let your children be involved in the vehicle handover, when the owner goes through all the aspects and safety aspects of the van.
While not specifically for on-the-road trips,this guide from Upgraded Points covers lots of useful info about travelling with kids.
7. Keeping kids occupied
Anyone who’s travelled with children knows how easily bored kids can get – and how distracting that can be for the vehicle driver. Keep your kids entertained and occupied by following these tips:
Plan for rainy days
Realistically it’s likely you’ll spend at least one day inside your van, so plan for it beforehand. (Even in good weather , it’s helpful to have plans for an “indoor day” if needed , if the kids are overly tired or someone gets sick.) The secret “last resort” toy or game as detailed above is useful here; otherwise, you may want to have a stack of downloaded films to hand, a working TV to keep everyone entertained, or plenty of space for everyone to spread out.
Look for campings with play areas
If you’re stopping at campsites every night, look for ones with play areas or play parks , to let the kids burn off any remaining energy in the evening.
Bring games
Look up car/travel games in advance or each night , so you’ll always have something new to suggest if the kids get bored.
Involve the kids in the planning
Get the kids to research information on the next place you visit , to tell you about it at the next rest area (if your next destination is somewhere like Alton Towers, the excitement of this should keep them busy for ages!).
Ask them to check too if your campervan or motorhome is allowed to park at the destination, as some attractions won’t allow this.
For older kids or teenagers, get them involved in meal planning and trip budgeting if you think they’ll be interested. Researching meals to cook over a campfire will interest most kids, especially if you let them take charge of the cooking.
8. How to save money while on a family road trip
Even if your budget is healthy, you’ll probably want to save a bit of money on your family road trip – for ice creams, theme park entry, toys, souvenirs… Follow the tips below to save cash where you can.
Anticipate expenses and plan ahead
As with most things travel related, preparation is key. Plan what parts of your trip you can: to save money on entrance fees, save petrol money by taking direct routes, and establishing your budget before you set off.
Organize your meals according to your storage capacity
Meal planning on a budget is slightly different when on the road as your vehicle may only have a small fridge and no freezer, making storage and batch cooking more challenging. If that's the case, buy little and often, and consider one-pot campfire cooking if the weather suits.
Compare petrol prices online
Check petrol price comparison sites and budget sites to save diesel when on the road.
Consider discount passes
Buy a Merlin Annual Pass if you plan to visit major attractions like theme parks and aquariums: these give discounts on 32 attractions around the UK, as well as discounts on food, drink and retail.
If kids’ school attendance allows, consider travelling in low or shoulder season to save money on vehicle hire costs.
Look into free camping, which is allowed in certain parts of the UK such as Dartmoor and many places in Scotland. Our "Free camping in the UK Guide" has all the details you need.
Ready for your family road trip? Start with the**Camplify hire vans** listings, enter your nearest town in the “My adventure starts in…” box at the top, and find a van near your home to start your family adventure!
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The information in this blog is accurate and current as of the date of posting. Please be aware that information, facts, and links may become outdated over time.