The Ultimate Parent-Approved Hacks for Long Car Journeys

Planning a long car journey with kids? If the thought fills you with dread, you’re not alone: according to our recent poll, 69% of UK parents feel stressed when driving with kids in the car.

Parents across Reddit have shared their tried-and-tested tips to keep little ones entertained and tantrum-free on the road.

We’ve rounded up the advice and counted the number of upvotes each tip received. Upvotes are essentially other users agreeing with the comment and ‘voting’ for it, so this shows how popular the hack is.

But, to ensure these hacks stand up, we’ve consulted with a Norland Nanny, Louenna. If you don’t know what a Norland Nanny is, they’re elite nannies that the royal family uses. Louenna graduated from Norland College in 2005 and has more than twenty years of qualified childcare experience.

So, here’s what parents swear by - and what the professionals think.

Top Parent-Approved Hacks

Based on Reddit’s most upvoted suggestions, across multiple popular parenting subreddits, these are the top-rated hacks parents rely on:

1. Interactive car games are the most popular tip with 40% of votes

Car games remain one of the best ways to keep the whole family entertained, and proved to be the most popular on Reddit with 40% of votes. Whether it’s ‘I Spy’, ‘Cows on my side’, or creating a story together, these games encourage interaction and make the miles fly by.

Louenna, Norland Nanny and childcare consultant says: “I Spy is a great one, and for younger children, you can use colours instead of letters.”

Other fun games Louenna recommends are ‘first one to spot the red car’, and ‘guess an animal’. Ask questions like does the animal have four legs, does it climb trees? “Playing games in the car is a great way to interact and entertain the whole family". 

2. Stopping en route at parks or attractions was the second most popular hack with 32% of votes

Parents agree that breaking up the journey with fun stops makes a world of difference, with 32% of votes across different subreddits. National Trust sites, local parks, or even attractions en route give children a chance to burn off energy.

“Stopping at National Trust sites is a great idea. There’s fresh air, space to run, and usually better toilets than service stations. Bringing a football along can also help little ones stretch their legs before getting back in the car. If you stop, you’re more likely to spend more time out of the car which means the children are more likely to be happy to get back in” says Louenna.

3. Packing a road trip bag with surprises wins 10% of votes

To keep children engaged, some parents swear by a road trip bag containing small toys or snacks, revealed at intervals throughout the journey. This turns the trip into an adventure rather than a chore.

Louenna says: "It’s good to have a stock of toys and snacks that children can’t see. I suggest bringing them out when needed, rather than at set intervals. This way, you can save them for when boredom really sets in."

4. Travelling overnight or early morning

Many parents prefer setting off when children are most likely to sleep, making journeys feel shorter - and this tip has 9% of upvotes.

However, opinions on travelling overnight are mixed, with some parents saying this hack didn’t work for them as the child didn’t sleep. One alternative is to travel early in the morning. The child will either sleep some of the way or still be half-asleep and unlikely to cry. It also means you can stop off on the way for breakfast.

If you decide to travel overnight, Louenna recommends: “Before setting off, make sure little ones have had a filling dinner and their usual bedtime routine so they’re ready for sleep.”

She adds, “dress them in pyjamas and keep a familiar comfort item like a blanket or soft toy within reach.”

5. Pre-downloading movies and audiobooks

Downloading content before you leave ensures entertainment is available without relying on Wi-Fi or mobile data. Some parents recommended this tip, gaining 5% of votes, and said pre-downloaded movies mean the children aren’t messing around with a tablet. There’s also a clear end to the screen use, rather than episodes continually playing and giving instant dopamine hits. If they’re younger this works well as they might not know how to use the tablet.

An alternative to iPads that some parents recommended is a portable DVD player. This works well if you’re concerned about giving a tablet to your child.

Audiobooks and CBeebies radio on the BBC Sounds app are other great options.

Louenna adds: “Audiobooks allow children to sit back and relax without having to be busy with their hands. It’s also good for children who get carsick.”

How to save money on the road

Road trips can be a cheaper option than flying, but they can still rack up their fair share of costs - especially if your go-to hack for keeping your children entertained is making stops en route. So, how can Brits save money on the road?

Save £110 in extra charges by pre-downloading movies on home WiFi

Avoid unexpected mobile data charges and download movies to your devices on home WiFi before setting off. Some mobile plans charge £2.50 for every 100MB you go over your cap; if you watch a movie which equates to 4.2GB, that would cost you £110 in extra charges.

It’s worth noting that some mobile plans don’t charge extra if you go over your allowance, and instead just cut off your data.

One single service station stop could cost you £109

You might think it’s a good idea to stop off at a service station to stretch your legs, refuel, and pick up food. But our analysis has found that this little stop-off could cost you £109. That includes cheese sandwiches, crisps and cokes for a family of four, plus refilling a tank with 50 litres of diesel.

If you were to pack your own sandwiches, drinks, and crisps, and refill at a non-service station you could save £30. So if you need to stretch your legs on the way, pack a picnic and stop off at a park.

Choose healthy meals and save £12

You might think somewhere like McDonald’s could be a good cheap option to get food. But, for a family of four, a Maccies stop will cost you £18. On the other hand, four homemade ham and cheese sandwiches, two cokes, and two fruit shoots will cost just £6.41 from a supermarket, saving Brits £12.

What a Norland Nanny would never do on a road trip

Louenna has years of experience in childcare, and here’s what she advises against.

Don’t Showcase Toys and Snacks and Don’t Give Them Too Early

Hiding your toys and snacks means that you can reach for them when you need them - and not just when your children want them.

Louenna says: “Keep a bag of toys in your footwell that you can bring out when needed.” But save your toys until your child becomes bored or fidgety. Louenna suggests: “Children are often excited to start the journey and happy looking around or chatting for a while before they need entertaining.”

Don’t Just Pack Sugary Snacks

Louenna recommends packing lots of snacks, but avoid having too many snacks full of sugar. These could result in a sugar high followed by a sugar crash.

Don’t Leave Behind Any Comfort Items

Louenna says: “Dress your children in comfy clothes, and pack their comfort toy and blanket to help them feel more settled”

Don’t Skip Rest Stops

It’s tempting to power through but children need time to stretch their legs and burn energy.

Louenna adds: “If you stop, you’re more likely to spend more time out of the car which means the children are more likely to be happy to get back in.”

Methodology

We analysed popular parenting subreddits and searched for posts asking for tips for road trips and long car journeys. Each tip and ‘upvote’ was collected, before totalling the accumulative ‘upvotes’ to uncover the most popular tips. We then spoke with a Norland Nanny for their expertise and thoughts on the tips.

Service station food costs were obtained from Admiral data, and compared to the costs of making a comparable sandwich at home from Asda. Fuel prices were obtained from RAC. McDonald’s prices were checked online. Data collected 27th January 2025.