Camping guides
Road trip with toddler: complete family guide tips
)
If you are wondering if your child is too young for an epic adventure, no worries, you are about to discover how to road trip with a toddler "almost" hassle-free , without giving up your # vanlife adventuring.
Road tripping with a very young family member is easier than you’d think – certainly easier than airport security then enduring a long-haul flight. But planning a road trip with a toddler is different than planning it with a baby or kids a bit older, which require their own specific tips. In this guide we cover all things toddler and road trip related, including what to pack, what vehicle to choose and our best road trip with toddler hacks.
Planning the road trip
The most important element about how to plan a road trip with your family is to think form your child's perspective. As you’ll know if you’ve been on any car journey with a small child, frequent breaks and plenty of entertainment are key; it’s also a good idea to plan your route around attractions and destinations that will keep your toddler happy and occupied.
We have tips on how to manage a long drive with a toddler just below, but first, here are our suggestions for the best UK trips with a child of this age.
The best UK road trips with toddlers
From theme parks to soft play, the UK is packed with attractions to keep all ages entertained, making this an awesome option for planning your trip. The country has an abundance of diverse landscapes and experiences too: you could plan your trip to take in best beaches, toddler-friendly walks, nature spotting and farms… it’s up to you.
Theme parks
Arrange your itinerary to take in some of the many theme parks in the UK designed for or with zones especially for toddlers. CBeebies Land at Alton Towers (Staffordshire) is a top pick, as is Chessington World Of Adventures (Surrey), with over a dozen rides specifically for toddlers. Also consider Peppa Pig World in the New Forest, Thomas Land At Drayton Manor (Staffordshire), or one of the four Diggerland parks around the country – in Kent, Yorkshire, Durham and Devon.
If you opt for Crealy’s Theme Park, also in Devon, you can stay in your campervan or motorhome right on site, a great idea to stop somewhere for a couple of days to give a fractious toddler a little break from the road.
Beaches
As we pointed out in our family road trips blog [LINK], the UK’s coastline and beaches provide endless opportunities for fantastic family holidays. You could head to Scotland and explore the stunning beaches of the east coast, to Wales for the Gower Peninsula and Pembrokeshire. Opting for a beach holiday on England’s east coast can cover famous seaside destinations like Scarborough and Skegness, while England’s southern coast is home to hundreds of toddler-suitable activities and destinations.
Our top recommendation for a UK beach holiday with toddlers is south-west England and the beaches of Devon, Dorset and Cornwall. You can combine this with a trip to a Devon or Cornwall theme park like Crealy’s, mentioned above.
How to manage a long drive with a toddler
Any parent will know that even short drives with toddlers can be challenging. Follow our expert tips to make any long drive on your road trip (almost) hassle-free.
Make the trip overnight
Got a 10-hour road trip with your toddler coming up? If you can do so safely (have a driving partner to swap times behind the wheel with, take regular breaks, pull over immediately if feeling sleepy), getting the bulk of a drive out of the way overnight can really help get the holiday off to a stress-free start. Get your toddler into their pyjamas, tuck them into bed, and hit the road
Toys, screens, snacks, blankets…
We cover this in more detail below, but in general, the best way to survive a long drive with young children is to keep them entertained by any means necessary. Most parents will agree this isn’t the place to worry about screen time! A tablet, your phone, a DVD player… use whatever it takes you keep your toddler from having an in-vehicle meltdown.
Take regular breaks
Build in a rest stop every couple of hours at a minimum, and make this non-negotiable. As well as giving everyone some fresh air out of the van, it allows for toilet breaks if potty training, and nappy changes if not. And speaking of “accidents”, always have a change of clothes handy for your toddler in a separate small bag: this way you won’t waste time looking for one in your main luggage.
Nap time
If your trip distance dictates a few longer driving sessions than a couple of hours each time, aim to do these during your toddler’s nap time. A toddler sleeping the afternoon away will mean many miles covered by Mum and Dad.
Choosing the right van
A road trip with a toddler is different than one with older kids – you won’t necessarily have to get the biggest van available for your budget, for example. But there are certain aspects to take into account when looking for a van to suit a trip with a toddler:
Car seat
Child car seats are of course mandatory in the UK, so this is your most important consideration when choosing a road trip van. Can you secure your toddler’s safety seat securely and easily? How close is the best car seat location to the main cab of the van?
Space
Is there room for one parent to sit in the back with the toddler, and plenty of toys? Very small children often dislike vehicle movement, so consider a van with plenty of room so you can remove your toddler from the driving area if necessary.
Sleeping
Does the van have fitted bunks or will you have to pack sleeping areas away each night (possibly not a good idea if dealing with a tantrum)? Can bed/sleeping spaces be made safe/secure enough so a toddler doesn’t fall out? Will one parent co-sleep with the toddler, meaning the van will need two adult berths?
Location
Where is the van based and how will you get to it? Or do you want the owner to deliver it – a sensible option if you have an over-excited toddler distracting you.
Things to take on a road trip with a toddler
In short, whatever they want within reason, and whatever will prevent meltdowns when your toddler is overtired. Five teddies in one campervan might seem excessive, but if you have space and they’ll keep your child happy and entertained, bring them all along for the ride. This applies to favourite dress-up outfits too!
What to bring on a road trip with toddlers
Our list of things to pack for a road trip with toddlers covers practicalities as well as entertainment:
Tablet or iPad, plus chargers and a battery pack
Bluetooth speaker (for songs and audio)
Favourite toys and games
New toys and games – to be kept hidden and used in the event of an epic meltdown
Buckets and spades for the beach
Beach ball
Car seat organiser
Window shades or blackout blinds, so your toddler will still sleep on a summer evening
Car seat organiser – one per toddler
First aid kit: plasters, bandages, pain relievers, antiseptic cream, Calpol
Sunscreen and after-sun cream
Sunhat for toddler, including spare
Insect repellent
Nappy bucket; wet wipes; nappy sacks; tissues; talc
Potty and portable potty if potty training (and emergency nappies or pull-ups, just in case)
Hand sanitiser
Snacks – easily opened/managed, such as dried fruit, small cereal bars, fruit bags etc. Add a few distraction/bribery treats to the snack box too.
Favourite sippy cup – and spare
Cleaning items (ask the van owner what will be provided)
Toddler backpack/day bag
Plastic tray (to do activities on)
Tips for travelling with a toddler
Safety and security
Car seats are probably top of the list when it comes to ensuring your toddler will travel safely. Don’t set off on your trip until you’re confident you can secure your toddler’s seat in the van safely and easily. The van owner should be more than happy to help you with this.
As above, check bedding/sleeping arrangements before choosing your van – carefully check the listing photos, and ask for clarification if needed.
Secure objects properly in the van before setting off (as you should regardless of passenger ages). Lidded plastic boxes are the best option to keep items safe and organised; the box can then be placed in a cupboard or secured on the floor.
Obviously logistics will be significantly harder if you’re driving alone with your toddler and don’t have a driving partner or someone to help entertain your child. As above, this is not the place to worry about too much screen time!
How to keep toddlers entertained during a trip
Did we mention screen time...? Use a mixture of devices and media to keep your toddler interested and distracted throughout the trip – simple games on a phone, downloaded TV shows on a tablet, films on a DVD player or laptop, for example.
But there are a lot of fun things to do on a road trip with toddlers that don't involve screens. For non-screen times , try our top tips:
Make your first stop within an hour , especially on the very first day of your trip, so toddlers don’t get bored right from the start.
Stop every two hours – if you don’t see a play park or somewhere else your toddler can run around and let off steam, find somewhere safe to stop for five minutes and throw a ball about.
Rotate who sits in the back with your toddler and who drives.
Stop at pound shops or other discount stores for sticker books and stickers ; most toddlers like stickers, and you could buy a new set every day of the trip for added novelty factor.
Most of all, don’t sweat the small stuff and get ready to go with the flow. Remember: road trips with a toddler are not the time to enforce regular bedtimes, no screen time and no strict healthy food – if your toddler is happy, you will be too. Have fun!
Plan your trip today
First time hiring a motorhome or a campervan? No worries – we have plenty of info to help you, no matter if it's your first-time campervan hire or your first-time motorhome hire in the UK we have you covered.
No matter what your current location or budget is , at Camplify UK you can find a v ast range of vans near your home or pick one up at your destination.
At Camplify we offer thousands of vans to get the most of your romantic holiday, just take a look at our search page and specify what type of van you want or need.
Why Camplify
We are proud to be the UK’s fastest-growing campervan, motorhome and caravan sharing community. If you are looking for a **van for hire**you'll get lots of advantages with Camplify:
Comprehensive hire insurance
24/7 RAC nationwide breakdown cover
Dedicated customer support
All members are verified
By hiring at Camplify, you are also helping local families who share their van on our platform and supporting many local companies across the UK in addition to ours. So we are very grateful to you.
Sign up if you want to join our beloved community of van life lovers and receive our most recent news and offers.