Family Road Trip Tips when Driving to Mt Hood for Christmas Vacation

Family Road Trip Tips when Driving to Mt Hood for Christmas Vacation
Posted by Mt Hood Vacation Rentals | Wednesday, September 21, 2016


Staying in a Mt Hood Vacation Rental with family and friends has been a tradition for decades. Many of our holiday guests drive to Mt Hood, so we thought it would be a good idea to share a few tips for getting here and getting around after you arrive.

Family Road Trip Vacation Travel Tips

Taking road tips longer than an hour with kids can be very challenging. Depending on the age of your children, road trips can be trying for parents and add the need for extra planning. Young children need a lot of attention and older kids will constantly need to be entertained. Here are some tips to make that road trip as much fun as the destination.

Family Tips For Parents

Relax and Breath – Your kids are going to play off your emotions. If you are stressed and in a hurry it will be more difficult for your kids to enjoy the car ride. Don’t be in a hurry to have fun. Plan an extra day at the front end of your holiday visit, so you will have more time to enjoy the holidays once you are here. If you are planning on preparing a big meal, bake pies, wrap presents or decorate a tree, you will appreciate the more relaxed atmosphere.

Be Prepared for Hiccups – With kids something is going to go wrong. It doesn’t have to be the end of the world. Plan for car mishaps, lost money, and possible medical issues.

Take the Right Car – Consider renting a car. Renting a car will alleviate wear and tear created by mountain driving on snowy or icy roads at Mt Hood. And a rental car might have a few amenities you don’t have in your personal vehicle that will make the drive easier for everyone. And if you rent a larger vehicle you will have more room to haul the family’s gear. The extra money might be worth it.

If you are driving your personal vehicle, make sure it is equipped with traction tires or devices for driving on snowy or icy roads. You also want to be sure your heat and defroster are working and you have good-quality windshield wiper blades. We recommend carrying a blanket, flares and drinking water in the car just in case.

Short Breaks – Make the journey as fun as the destination. Depending on the length of your road trip, you might need to stop a few times. Be creative on where you stop. Plan ahead so you can stop at popular and interesting destinations along your route. Let the kids take fun pictures along the way, then post them on your social media pages, Facebook or Instagram. If you have fun selfies, share them with us and we will post on our Selfie Hot Spots blog. Or plan your breaks around meal stops.

Family Tips For Younger Children

Extra Necessities – Make sure you pack extra baby wipes, diapers, snacks, medicine, drinks, bottles (for babies) blankets and pillows.

Car Games – This is a must for all families. Simple old-school car games can help occupy the kids for a few hours and will be fun and different for today’s digitally connected kids. Some possible games include 20 questions, the License Plate (finding 50 states) game, or I Spy.

Leave at the Right Time – Planning your departure time around your kids nap time can be huge. Also, try not to leave too early in the morning; let everyone get enough sleep before departing. Make sure you give yourself enough time to get here including delays due to weather, traffic and other unforeseen events.

TV/DVD Player – No parent wants to admit that they use the electronic baby sitter, but it really works on those long car rides.

Don’t Forget The Toys – Picking the right toys and books can help create some distraction time in the car. Bring at least one of your kids’ favorite toys.

Family Tips For Young Teens

Portable Electronics – Your kids already know how to keep busy with their smart phones and tablets, so for this longer road trip, let them go with it..

Necessities – Much like younger kids teens will love to have pillows and blankets for napping and snacks for when they are hungry.

Put Them in Charge – Take turns letting the older kids ride in the front seat and co-pilot with the driver. Giving an active child some responsibility will help occupy some of their time. This is also good training for when they get to help with the driving. Teach the kids how to use a paper map, comparing the route to the GPS on your smart phone or in your car.

Local Information – Let your kids help you find things to do and see along the way and once you arrive at Mt Hood using smart phones and tablets while driving.



Holidays At Mt Hood



Categories: Holidays at Mt Hood

Recent Blog Posts

Font Resize
Contrast