Last-Minute Road Trips Before Back-To-School

As summer comes rolling to an end it’s the perfect time to plan a last-minute trip with the family before the hectic schedules of fall get in the way. What better way to spend some time together and get away from home than with a last-minute road trip?

Road trips are a great way to bond as a family and see America, but they don’t have to be big ordeals. Sometimes a quick road trip to a nearby location is just as exciting and rewarding as a cross-country jaunt that takes weeks to plan and prepare for.

When the trip is a short one all you have to do is pack a few days’ worth of clothes and find a place to stay. There is no need to worry about putting the mail on a vacation hold or finding a house sitter if you won’t be gone for longer than a weekend.

There’s no need to worry about hotels being all booked anymore — with the advent of Airbnb and similar sites for vacation home rentals, you can always find a place to stay, even at the last minute.

If you’ve got a family dog, simply pack a few days’ worth of food for your pup and bring him along — there are plenty of hotels and Airbnbs that allow pets. If your family likes to camp, pack the tent in the car and bring it along. You just might find the perfect campsite along the way that has an open spot for a couple nights.

For entertainment in the car don’t worry that you aren’t prepared. We live in an age where cell phones fix just about every problem so take advantage of that and download some road trip apps that will keep the family occupied on the drive. Some good ones are What Would You Choose? and Car-tegories.

Don’t forget to pack a bag of healthy road trip snacks, like carrot sticks, granola bars and fruit snacks. You don’t have to get anything fancy and remember that when the trip is a quick one and close to home, you won’t have to worry about being stranded without knowing where to get a good meal or being able to grab some extra snacks so you don’t run out. Last-minute road trips should be fun and casual. Don’t stress over making sure every little detail is covered.

When a vacation is spur of the moment, it’s a great opportunity for families to come together and work as a team to come up with fun ideas and plan things out. The spontaneity of an unexpected road trip can boost the kids’ excitement, making even a small trip to a local destination an exciting vacation.