Road trip tips for families

Family activities
Europe
8 min read

A road trip with kids doesn’t need to be daunting. LeShuttle is a quick, cost-effective way of taking your family (and their can’t-live-without toys) to Europe. Read our tips on how to prepare for a family road trip and how to make the most of your time in – and out – of the car.

If you love the sun, sand and scenery of a European holiday but can’t face playing the plane game with the whole family in tow, have you considered taking the car instead? A long road trip with toddlers may seem like a daunting prospect but a road trip with kids can be fun and rewarding for the whole family.

Taking LeShuttle from Folkestone, you can be in Calais in just 35 minutes – less time than it takes to check in at the airport! From there, roads lead into France and on to Spain, Italy, Belgium and beyond.

Why road trips are the perfect family holiday

Call us biased, but we think road trips make for the ultimate family getaway. Few holidays create so much space for adventure and family bonding! Road trips are the perfect stress-free break. Not only can you pack everything you need (and more!) but you can travel on your own terms – setting a pace, itinerary and route to match your family’s needs and desires. Better still, you can do all this from the comfort of your car. With no expensive flights or luggage fees, these customisable breaks are also a great budget-friendly option for families too.

Whether you are taking a campervan or finding holiday stays en route, you’re sure to make plenty of unforgettable memories on a family road trip!

Take it easy – regular pit stops for a blast of fresh air and sunshine will keep everyone happy

Plan your family road trip with LeShuttle

Planning a road trip for the whole family is easy with LeShuttle.

Bring up to 9 passengers

We all know that a trip with the whole family can pull on the purse strings, but taking the car on LeShuttle can drastically reduce your travel costs. The route is priced per vehicle, rather than per person, meaning it’s one fare for up to nine passengers. Even better, prices start from [PriceShortStaySaver] each way for a Short Stay ticket. Plus, with the flexibility of your own vehicle, you can pick and choose the best times to travel.

Choose from over 90 departures a day

If budget is a primary concern, travelling mid-week usually results in the cheapest fares. Plus, you can choose from more than 90 departure times per day to find the one that best suits your itinerary. Book a ticket with LeShuttle early to secure the best fare.

Pack everything with unlimited luggage

Full-size shampoo? A crate of baby food? Stash of wine you picked up along the way? Hooray, there are no 100ml liquid restrictions on LeShuttle and, in fact, with the exception of flammable gas canisters, there are hardly any restrictions at all. Tents, surfboards, skis, buggies and bikes – take as much as you can squeeze in. The main question is, is it time to buy a bigger car?

No family member left behind

The other huge perk of driving to Europe by car is that you can bring your pooch with you! Dogs can travel for £23 each way (cats and ferrets, too), although registered guide and assistance dogs travel for free, as do a range of other pets. Official pet travel documentation is essential – read our article on travelling with pets for the latest requirements, as well as top tips from our resident vet. And make sure you book pet-friendly lodgings for your stay.

Keep the whole family together and take your pooch on holiday with you!

Road trip tips for families

We’ve put together a guide on everything you need to know about how to prepare for a family road trip in Europe. Pack up the dog, the kids and the kitchen sink (if you must) and hit the road with our top family road trip tips.

Read up on the road rules

Before you travel, familiarise yourself with the route you plan to take and read up on the driving rules and regulations for each country. In France, for example, you are required to travel with a high-visibility vest in case of a breakdown and a portable breathalyser. Our detailed post on driving in France has some useful advice and tips. Most European countries require you to have a UK sticker on your back window to identify your vehicle’s country of origin.

Plan plenty of car games and activities

They may be stuck in the car for extended periods, so coming up with some long car journey games will keep kids entertained. Twenty Questions, the ABC animal game (take turns to name an animal for each letter of the alphabet) and I Spy are classic and fun ideas for long road trips that never get old.

Keep kids in the loop by discussing the things they see out of the window to engage them in your trip. With some simple research, you can come up with a mess-free sticker chart game for a long road trip with toddlers; stickers can be awarded for spotting sights such as windmills, rivers, horses, bicycles and bridges, as well as for good behaviour.

Hit the road and capture your kids’ imaginations with a new adventure every day

Remember - your holiday, your rules

Depending on your holiday style, you might want to choose a time when the roads are clear and head directly to your destination as quickly as possible. But, if you are more flexible with your plans, you can enjoy a stay-as-you-go holiday, stopping for longer at somewhere you love or setting off prematurely from a place that didn’t quite live up to expectations.

With the whole of Europe to choose from, you could tick off two or even three countries in a short space of time. A round trip from France, through Belgium and Germany can comfortably be done in 10-14 days if you fancy a multi-country adventure.

Pack smart for a stress-free road trip

Ah, the never-ending list of things to pack for a road trip with kids. While engaging youngsters in the journey itself, spotting the sights and sharing fun facts about each destination, can kill quite a lot of time and be educational for them, there’s only so much of their attention you can expect to command. Modern entertainment such as tablets, smartphones and portable DVDs have become increasingly common for a road trip with kids. It’s wise to pre-download programmes and games to avoid extra roaming charges or problematic signal areas. Pack portable charging packs as a back-up.

Audiobooks are a great way for the whole car to be entertained together. It’s also wise to pack a first aid kit, plenty of drinking water and extra clothes, outside of the suitcase, in case of spillages. For a long road trip with toddlers, have nappies, wipes and blankets easily accessible. Window shades are often overlooked but vital for younger babies in the sun.

Slow down and enjoy the ride

They say the journey is more important than the destination and that is never truer than on a family road trip. To make a long road trip with toddlers go as smoothly as possible, don’t try to rush the drive, and make sure you schedule in lots of stops for food, bathroom breaks and the chance to get some fresh air and stretch your legs.

The chances are your route from A to B will be dotted with quaint towns, open countryside, parks, beaches and even playgrounds. Take the time to do a little research on potential places to stop and make the most of your surroundings. One of the biggest perks of a self-drive road trip is discovering smaller, less touristy towns that aren’t served by major stations or airports. Here you will often find the best food, drink and lodgings for bargain prices.

Do a little research to find tucked-away places where the kids can play and burn off some energy

Family road trip ideas

On board with a family road trip but not sure where to go? Don’t worry, there are plenty of family-friendly destinations to explore across Europe.

France

France is the easiest location to reach from our terminal in Folkestone and is a perfect destination for first-timers. Head to Normandy to explore the region's history and coastline or drive south for an exciting outdoor adventure in the Dordogne. For museums, landmarks and art galleries, a trip to Paris is a must. Families will find a range of holiday resorts across the country, from theme parks like Disneyland® Paris and Parc Astérix to holidays villages like Eurocamp and Center Parcs.

Belgium

The Belgian border is only around 45 minutes from our Calais terminal, making it another ideal location for families starting out on their road trip adventures. Drive to Bruges for its winding canals and warm waffles, before heading to Ghent for its museums, water parks and castles. Further north in Antwerp, families will find Antwerp Zoo and the mouthwatering Chocolate Nation – an interactive chocolate museum.

Canoeing in the Dordogne is a great family activity on a French road trip

The Netherlands

Less than four hours away from England, the Netherlands is another unmissable destination for a family road trip. Drive to Eindhoven in November to see the magical light festival and visit the Silly Walks Tunnel to recreate the Monty Python sketch. Drive to Amsterdam to explore the city’s many museums, canals, and tulip-filled streets.

Germany

Germany is well known for being a family-friendly destination so the journey will be well worth the effort! Whether you head to Berlin, Munich, Hamburg or Nuremberg, you’re sure to find a wealth of museums, landmarks, zoos and attractions for the whole family. Thrill-seeking families and theme park enthusiasts will enjoy visiting Europa Park, Legoland and the Playmobil Funpark too.