Who says that road trips are just for summertime? Sometimes a little winter break does a family a whole lot of good. Our family enjoys taking quick trips year round, and traveling with kids of various ages presents certain challenges during the cold weather months, but with a little planning and prep, it's just as easy as packing them into the car and hitting the road as it is during the summertime. Let's take a look at a few must-haves for any winter road trip!

I love traveling with my husband and our kiddos. In fact, I would do it over and over again if I could homeschool the kids and hubby and I could both work from the road. Our jobs and school keep us grounded, but we do travel every chance we get. 

Don't go too far from home if you can help it.

Wintertime can leave us feeling a little antsy, so we like to take long weekend trips within 3-4 hours away from home. It's far enough away in any direction to make us feel that we've gone somewhere fun, without being too far from home if the weather turns bad or if we need to make a sudden and unplanned adjustment to our trip. Knowing the quickest and best way back home is a good idea. Have your route mapped out before you go, and avoid taking the road less traveled. Major throughways will be more likely to be cleared or receive attention faster than secondary roadways in the event of winter weather.

Make sure your car is in good shape to travel. If you're thinking about purchasing a new car, winter is a great time to do so. You can even unload an old car for cash at https://webuyjunkcarsfast.com/. You can use the cash for your old clunker toward a new vehicle.

Keep necessities in the car and within reach.

When traveling with kids in the winter, you might think that you need to bring their entire wardrobe or collection of belongings along with you. Be sensible about what you bring along for the ride. Think about the items the kids absolutely need, and allow them to bring a couple of special items, like a toy, a tablet, a book, etc. All other items should stay at home. Less clutter in the car is better no matter what time of year you're traveling.

Bring along winter gear.

I can't tell you how many trips we've been on where we wished we'd brought warmer clothing, warmer coats, and accessories. Traveling with bulky outerwear isn't tons of fun, but if you wind up stuck on the side of the road somewhere when it's 15 degrees outside, you'll be so glad that you and your family have your heavy coats. Think about bringing along scarves, gloves, and hats, and also bring a warm blanket that can be shared in the back seat, or smaller individual throw blankets for each child.

Don't forget the other essentials.

It's pretty much a given that you need to bring along items like a flashlight, extra batteries, a first aid kit, and other emergency supplies. Make sure you have at least one if not two phone chargers- it's always a good idea to have a back-up. Bring along a few bottles of fresh water, and non-perishable snacks, like crackers, granola bars, etc. It's also a good idea to bring a scraper for your windshield, de-icer, and a small shovel in case you get stuck in snow or ice and need to dig yourself out.

Map your stay.

If you're staying in a hotel while away, try to find one that's not too far off the beaten path. If you need to suddenly get back home, you'll want to be close to a main highway or interstate.

Most of all, don't forget to stay safe and have fun! Bust out every silly car game and travel song you can think of, and have a blast with your family!

Brought to you by Big Spring Cars.