5 Spring Break Packing Tips that Every Parent Needs
5 Spring Break Packing Tips
Spring break is coming! And that means that it is travel time!!!
Spring Break is always the unofficial beginning of travel season for my little family of 3, and we are always so excited to just GO. This year we are going to New Orleans and I am so excited! ( you guys know it’s my favorite place ever).
I am a planner by nature, and with each trip, I live by my lists and my planner. The trick with our spring break is that this time of year( early spring) makes it so hard to predict the weather. It could be in the 80s or in the 50s. And anything in between. Our spring break travel plans tend to be short road trips ( by short I mean 4-6 hours at the most) and we don’t stay for long. So not only do we need the usual distractions on a road trip for the 7-year-old( tablet, headphone, cars, basketball…) but a good variety of clothes!
But packing for spring break can still be frustrating for even the most determined planner. You have still have to be strategic with packing no matter how long you stay!
So here are My 5 Best Spring Break Packing Tips:
Tip #1: Plan to dress in layers
Spring break can be unpredictable. You never know what the weather will be like. And most likely, it will be cool start to your day, a warm middle, and cool again in the evening. Plan for that and layer!
Tips #2: Take more tops than bottoms. and switch it up
I always pack about 3 bottoms( jeans, shorts, and khakis) that can be worn no matter what the weather is. And then take about 4 or five shirts. Because lets face it, kids are notorious for messing up shirts with spilled drinks and food. But having more shirts with the same bottoms not only saves room in your suitcase, but makes for a nice variety in your kids wardrobe.
Tips #3: Take one pair of shoes.
Yes, I know, it sounds blasphemous. But truly, for kids, unless you are going to the beach( which in that case, add a pair of flip-flops) you really don’t need more than one! It saves time when getting dressed and room in your suitcase.
Tip #4: Take your kid’s favorite toys.
Road trips can be long for our little people. There are only so many songs you can sing with your kid and punch buggy blues you can play before you get the inevitable “Mom are we there yet?” The trick is to keep them occupied and provide entertainment with a FEW of their favorite toys. In our household, that’s his tablet and his basketball. They go everywhere with us. On every trip.
Tips #5: Pack snacks. For the kids AND the adults!
Because…hungry makes everyone cranky! I tend to pack a variety: fruit, crackers, cookies and water. Nothing worse than a hungry kid in your back seat! Or a hungry driver!
So those are my favorite spring break packing tips. Do you have any great tips for parents? Share!
I’m hoping to plan a trip to Belgium this year!
Pookah is a great model:) I’ve had great luck finding clothes for RJ at OshKosh and Carter’s.
We aren’t traveling until May and we’re flying. I will definitely be using your packing tips as I’m a notorious over-packer, but I want to avoid checking bags.
Have fun in NOLA!
Yes, we plan to travel to San Antonio and New Braunfels this year.
I’m hoping for a mini vacation in the fall
These tips are great! My girls always want to take more than one pair of shoes though! 😉 Also like the idea of taking more tops than bottoms. (Thanks for the shot at the giveaway!)
These are great ideas, and man that kid of yours is so dang cute! Your photos are great too. It helps that he’s so dang photogenic. 🙂 So cute!
You provided the best tips. We always re-use our bottoms on vacation too. Snacks are a must with my family too!
These are great tips!!! We travel all the time we try to pack things in sets of outfits for the different days we are gone. Also we make sure we pack one extra set of clothes just in case.
Nice tips. I definitely pack more tops than bottoms when packing for a trip. Packing snacks are definitely on top of our “must do’s” when it comes to traveling with kids.
Adorable photos and you’ve given us some great ideas! Thanks for sharing.
We will be traveling a few times to see family in Michigan and we hope to get down to Atlanta. Living in East TN know means we can do a lot of staycations.
We live in Oregon and are traveling to California during spring break for a family reunion and then heading down to Legoland for a family vacation. We just told our three boys tonight. We are so excited!
We are planning to travel in July
demureprincess7(at)gmail(dot)com
I’m planning a trip to italy
I am so jealous. #thatisall
Those are great packing tips! On my side of the world though, we don’t have such a thing as ‘spring break’ but we do have our good ol’ vacations. 😉
such great tips! layers have saved me from the cold and snacks are a must, as I’m like a cranky lil kid when I’m hungry haha
Dee T
No spring travel plans. These are great packing tips!
none during spring break but hopefully driving up north to visit family in the summer
My younger two and I are going down to the beach for Spring Break. As a family, we’re planning a cruise during the holidays – right before Christmas.
I try to avoid traveling during Spring Break just coz it’s super busy and super expensive but great tips for travelers with kids!
we are going to florida!
Yes! We are traveling this year. To Wooster Ohio to Detroit Michigan and maybe to Erie PA!
I am not sure what we are doing yet! Can’t decide!
We will be going to visit family and taking a trip to the beach too.
My dad had surgery last month so we are planning to drive to MS to spend a few days with him! <3
Yes! we are going to Vegas on the 20th and then Indiana, Chicago and Michigan this summer
Yes, we’re going to Costa Rica!
Right now I don’t have any plans to travel but I would like to.
My husband and I want to take a road trip to the Snake Indian Mounds here in Ohio.
We are planning on a trip to Wisconsin Dells this year!!!
Great tips there. We are planning on a trip to Amsterdam and will surely keep your tips in mind. And I like how the boy is good in posing, really cute.
Cindy
We are planning a trip to Disney in a few months.
I don’t have any travel plans.
I don’t know if I will be traveling anytime this year as I am looking to move first and foremost.
No travel plans yet. I would like to go the beach this summer.
We go to Dollywood in TN every summer. Definitely looking forward to it!
No plans to travel… yet.
Not as of right now.. nothing special.
Yes, we’re going to Houston in April and the Midwest this summer. I’m hoping to go to DC before the year is out as well.
Yes, in August
I might be visiting Pittsburgh with my family.
We’re doing a Disney cruise in November. I don’t even know where to begin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Why is Pookah a big boy?!?!?!
Im so jealous you are going on a Disney Cruise. I’m trying to talk the whole family into going for Christmas!
Yes, going to Las Vegas and then Florida then Minnesota all in one month
We have a trip planned for Myrtle Beach.
We don’t have any travel plans for spring break. We take our annual beach vacation in the summer.
We may go to one of the Carolinas or Florida this summer.
We plan on going to California this year.
Oh yes, my hubby and I have some trips planned later this summer. Hopefully we will be able to go to Santa Barbara in Southern California and the Grand Canyon.
Just a small trip to the coast!
We are going to the Oregon coast.
We’re going on a cruise in May when the kids get out of school
Great guide! I like this article so much. You really shared such a great tips and would be definitely helpful for me. Thanks a lot for sharing.