Road trips are meant to be fun! You get to travel at your own pace, in a more comfortable way than if you were strapped into an airplane seat. You also get to share the journey with people you know and love, and enjoy the experience of setting out on an actual adventure together!
But seeing as even the closest of couples need the occasional 5 minutes away from each other, your road trip experience may become overstimulating and annoying at some point. And these feelings can even hit out of nowhere, so it’s hard to plan ahead for them!
However, you can make sure they’re easier to deal with when they do happen. Take the 5 minutes you need and keep the trip feeling as fun as it should – here are a few tips for taking breaks when you’re road tripping.
Schedule Some Calm Stops
Calm stops are the kind of breaks where you stop the RV and get out, maybe having lunch or a picnic while you’re out, but you’re not really ‘going anywhere’ or near anything. You’re just stopping to have some calm space.
Of course, make sure you’re taking these breaks in safe places where it’s OK to spread out a bit. Get away from the road, if possible, and always make sure you leave nothing behind when you pack up again.
Stay at RV Parks
RV parks are amazing for getting your own space on a road trip. They’re the kind of place where you can book in, pull up, and then just be – and all in a wonderful natural setting. And if you head to an RV resort, you’ll get even more space to make use of!
Once you’re inside, don’t be afraid to create the kind of private space you need. Set up the RV to have its awning or porch area out, put your camping chairs and dining equipment underneath, and create yourself a mini living room while you’re on the campsite.
This way no one is restricted to the inside of the van, so everyone gets fresh air, a bit of room, and the chance to actually properly recline and relax.
Make Sure Everyone Has Headphones
Or earplugs or ear defenders; whatever you and the kids prefer to help keep the sound level down. Get a pair for everyone, because with a good set of headphones, you can ‘create’ space where there’s none.
Plugging yourself into your phone or tablet, where you can play your music, a podcast, audiobook, or game, allows you to get into a more calm zone with minimum disruption to the trip as a whole.
And if you’re on a stretch of road where you can’t really stop to do that outside, this will be the only way to keep everyone’s heads about them!
Road tripping is fun, but it shouldn’t be a battle of overstimulation 24/7. Take breaks, create calm, make some space, and make liberal use of headphones in between.