A few years ago, I thought “real” vacations meant boarding passes, hotel lobbies, and packed itineraries. If we weren’t flying somewhere big and exciting, it didn’t feel like it counted.
But somewhere between overpriced airfare and exhausted kids melting down in crowded tourist spots, I realized something: the trips we remembered most weren’t the expensive ones. They were the slow ones. The simple ones. The ones where we actually had time to be together.
That’s when we started embracing road trips and slow travel. And honestly, it changed everything.
If you follow along our Instagram you’ve probably seen that shift happening in real time.
Why Families Are Choosing Road Trips Over Flights
Flights used to feel like the fastest way to get somewhere exciting. But for families, they can also be the fastest way to drain a budget.
By the time you add:
- Airfare for everyone
- Checked bags
- Rental cars
- Hotel stays in high-demand cities
- Eating out for every meal
It adds up quickly.
With road trips, we control the pace and the spending. We can pack our own snacks. We can bring the stroller without paying extra. We can pivot if something isn’t working. There’s a kind of freedom in that.
And when you’re traveling with kids, flexibility is everything.
What Slow Travel Actually Looks Like for Us
Slow travel doesn’t mean doing less. It means doing fewer things more intentionally.
Instead of trying to cram five cities into seven days, we’ll choose one area and stay longer. Maybe it’s a small beach town. Maybe it’s a national park. Maybe it’s a quiet lake community a few hours from home.
We’ll book a place with a kitchen so we can cook some meals. We’ll plan one or two “big” activities. The rest of the time, we explore parks, walk local trails, visit small-town ice cream shops, and let the kids actually play.
There’s no rushing from attraction to attraction. No packed schedule. Just space.
And honestly, that’s where the memories happen.
How Road Trips Save Us Money
Here’s what we’ve noticed financially:
- No airfare. This alone can save thousands for a family.
- We can drive during off-peak times. No surge pricing.
- We stay longer in one place. Weekly rates are often cheaper than multiple short hotel stays.
- We cook more meals. Even cooking half our meals makes a big difference.
- Free entertainment is everywhere. Beaches, hiking trails, playgrounds, scenic drives.
When you remove the pressure to “maximize” every minute because you spent so much getting there, the entire experience feels lighter.
Making the Car Work for You
Let’s be honest. Road trips with kids can go sideways fast if you’re not prepared.
We’ve learned the hard way that organization matters. A chaotic car equals stressed parents.
One thing that has helped us tremendously is using a backseat organizer like this one:
Car Backseat Organizer – Buy it on Amazon
It keeps snacks, wipes, books, small toys, and tablets contained and easy to grab. No more digging through bags at gas stations. It sounds simple, but it keeps the whole trip smoother.
Another lifesaver, especially with little kids, has been a portable car bathroom:
Portable Bathroom – Buy it on Amazon
If you’ve ever heard “I have to go right now” when you’re 20 minutes from the nearest exit, you understand. Having a backup option in the car has saved us from stressful roadside situations more times than I can count.
These small tools don’t just make things convenient. They reduce stress. And less stress means more patience, more laughter, and more enjoying the trip.
The Quality Time Factor
The biggest surprise for me has been how much closer we feel after these slower trips.
When we’re not running from activity to activity, we talk more. We play silly car games. We listen to audiobooks together. We stop at random roadside attractions just because we can.
The kids remember the funny gas station stops. The time we got caught in the rain. The night we stayed up late playing cards at the kitchen table of our rental.
They rarely talk about “famous landmarks.” They talk about us.
And that’s been the biggest shift in my mindset.
It Doesn’t Have to Be Far to Be Meaningful
You don’t have to drive across the country to make it special.
Some of our favorite trips have been within a few hours of home. A new town we’ve never explored. A state park we always meant to visit. A quiet weekend near water.
When you remove the pressure for it to be big and impressive, you start noticing how much beauty is close by.
A Different Kind of Luxury
For me, slow travel feels like a different kind of luxury.
It’s not five-star resorts or perfectly curated photo ops. It’s time. It’s space. It’s not watching the clock.
It’s being able to sit on a porch while the kids run around. It’s not feeling guilty about spending because we’ve planned within our means. It’s coming home refreshed instead of needing a vacation from our vacation.
Road trips have taught us that meaningful travel doesn’t have to be expensive. It just has to be intentional.
If you’re feeling priced out of traditional vacations or overwhelmed by the cost of flights, maybe this is your sign to try something different. Pack the car. Choose one place. Stay a little longer. Slow down.
You might be surprised at how much richer it feels.
And if you want to see how we plan and budget our family trips, you can follow along at https://www.instagram.com/budgetfamilyjourneys/. We share the real behind-the-scenes, not just the highlight reel.
Because at the end of the day, the goal isn’t to travel the fanciest way. It’s to build memories our kids will carry with them long after the trip is over.
Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you choose to purchase through them, at no extra cost to you. We only share products we personally use and genuinely recommend. Thank you for supporting our family and the work we do.
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