How to Survive a 14-Hour Road Trip

This post was written on behalf of Biena Foods, but all opinions are my own.

The day is almost here. The day we embark on a 14-hour road trip to Florida for Christmas vacation. There will be 5 of us in the same car, which should be enough entertainment in itself; but 14 hours is a long time to be in the car. Especially with a 4 year-old.

We’re totally going to have fun, but something like this needs a lot of planning to make sure we’re comfortable and happy the entire way. Here’s how we plan to survive our road trip; if you’re traveling this holiday season too, take notes! You just might need them.

Leave at night

If you don’t mind being a night driver, this is a great option. Especially if you have kids. The idea is that you can get them ready for bed, put them in the car with a blanket and pillow, and pray that they sleep their normal hours.

Now, the last time we attempted this, Allison was only 3 months old. We left Florida around 7:00 PM, and she slept until about 6:00 AM the next morning. It was glorious; but now at 4 years old, it may or may not be different. She may wake up at 2:00 AM and want to watch movies, in which case I’ll just have to laugh and maybe let her do it.

Bring books/listen to audiobooks

I never have time to read, so road trips are a perfect opportunity to catch up on books I’ve been wanting to read. And using my Kindle app means I only have to bring a lightweight reader as opposed to 15 heavy books.

Plus, if you get carsick easily like I do, you can also turn to audiobooks to help ease that sickness a bit. Did you know you can check out audiobooks digitally from most libraries? Check your local library; ours uses an app called Overdrive, and I can check out a ton of audiobooks completely free. I’ve been wanting to get through Harry Potter again, so that’s one of the series I’ll be digging into during our trip!

Have tons of food

There’s no doubt about it: Food is the most important part of a road trip. What is it about sitting in the car for long periods of time that makes us crave ungodly amounts of food? I actually get excited about stopping at gas stations because of the endless selection.

However, because I’m frugal, we’re bringing our own snacks. And a good variety so we don’t get bored. Here’s what I’m bringing:

• Natures Bakery fig bars
• Larabars
• Pretzels
• Peanuts
• Goldfish
• Biena Chickpea Snacks

They’re all delicious, portable, healthier snacks. And for someone who I consider a dramatic picky eater, I was surprised to see Allison dig into these Biena Chickpea Snacks. They come in at least 10 different varieties, and she and I agree that the Cinnamon Crunch is the best. A lot of their flavors are vegan-friendly too, which is great because we’ll have someone with us on a vegan diet. Check Biena’s store locator to see if you can find any near you! And keep reading because below I’m giving away 3 free bags!

Allow extra time to get out and exercise

Being cooped up in a car for 14 hours is tough, for any age. We might have to stop every 2-3 hours, which I think is pretty typical and generally a good idea with young children. Weather permitting, let your kids run around in the grass at the rest areas; or do jumping jacks; or anything to get their wiggles out, really. I’ve pretty much given up on getting in my 10,000 steps during those travel days, but I’ll do my best!

Use this time to be productive

Do you have anything you can do on paper or a computer/tablet during your road trip? This could be the perfect time to do any last-minute trip planning, or writing, or whatever else you might need to get done. I know for a fact I’ll be bringing my 2018 blogging binder, planner, and my brain to start thinking through my goals and post ideas for next year. My actual post writing is better done in the early mornings when I’m alone, but this extra time in the car will give me more opportunities to brainstorm!

It’ll be an interesting 14 hours, but we’ll survive. We always do! Also, Biena Foods has given me 3 coupons for their Chickpea Snacks to give away to 3 lucky readers; here’s what to do:

• Take a look at the varieties of Biena Chickpea Snacks
• Leave a comment here and tell me which one you’d like to try!

The winners will be picked and emailed on Tuesday, December 26th; so make sure you use your correct email address when you comment!

Jaime Bacon

Jaime is a Nutrition Coach through the ISSA and professional writer. She has 4 years experience coaching and 9 years experience in writing. She enjoys cooking easy meals, running, and learning more about food.

Jaime specializes in helping women with ADHD learn to meal plan and cook healthier meals without getting overwhelmed.

See full bio here