Roadtripping in a Truck... With FOUR kids!

Full-Time Travel Life Without the RV (For Now)

Travel days look a little different for us right now.

Normally, our life on the road happens inside our motorcoach—our beds made just the way we like them, lunch can be prepared while careening down the highway, and naps happen whenever they need to. But with our old RV currently in the shop and our new Foretravel motorcoach still finishing its remodel, we found ourselves temporarily living full-time travel life without the RV.

This weekend, we packed up the truck and headed from Nacogdoches to Austin to shop for bedding for all four kids and our king bed. I've looked online, but it's so hard to choose without feeling... seeing.

Traveling with four kids (including two toddlers) is never effortless, but it is manageable when you go in with a plan.

Here’s exactly how we keep road trips sane—RV or not.

Timing Is Everything (Seriously)

One of the biggest lessons we’ve learned over years of travel is this: when you drive matters just as much as how far you drive.

We almost always leave early in the morning or later in the evening.

Why? Because the alternative is the dreaded mid-evening nap. You know the one: The “I slept for 27 minutes in the car so now I’m wide awake until 3 a.m.” scenario. 🤯

We do one of two things: Leaving early, kids are bright eyed and bushy tailed, so they don't feel the need to nap. If they do, it's a normal hour that doesn't sabbotage bedtime. OR we travel in the late evening, so they stay awake through dinner, and roll right into their normal bedtime. Both options beat a midnight meltdown in a hotel room.

Hydration, Snacks, and Embracing Bathroom Breaks

Before we leave, every water bottle is filled. Snacks are stocked—plural, not singular. And we mentally prepare ourselves for frequent bathroom stops.

Yes, it can be frustrating when your three-year-old has a bladder the size of a peanut. But here’s the bright side: he’s not in diapers. Milestone unlocked. 🎉 They do make something called a 'piddle pad' though that you can get here ---> Travel with Kids Essentials It's a waterproof pad that works with the carseat buckle to provide a waterproof seat for the toddler in training. (Check out all the other amazing sanity-saving items on that list also... GAME CHANGERS!)

A few parent-approved road trip rules we swear by:

• Easy-to-grab snacks (protein, fruit, crackers—very little sugar)

• Frequent bathroom breaks (with opportunities to get the wiggles out.. take the long way to the restroom.. run, hop or skip on the way)

• Accepting that stops are part of the journey, not interruptions to it

Skip the Sugar High

We never load the kids up on sugar before a long drive. That’s basically asking for chaos.

Instead, we aim for a balanced breakfast:

• Eggs + Toast + Fruit

• Avocado Toast + Glass of Milk

• Lower Sugar Oatmeal + Banana

• Or tacos if we’re grabbing food on the go

Protein + healthy fats go a long way toward keeping moods stable and energy steady—especially when everyone’s strapped into a seatbelt.

Screens… With Boundaries

Yes, we allow iPads. And no, they aren’t unlimited.

We typically cap screen time at 30 minutes to an hour, and all devices are set to “learn first.” That means educational activities must be completed before playtime unlocks.

This system does two things:

1. It keeps screens from becoming a constant expectation

2. It turns learning into something that feels like progress, not punishment

Win-win.

So what do we do with all the non-screen time? We play road bingo, they color, play with magnetic toys or mess free marker sets. (water wows for the really little ones)

Sleep Setups for Night Drives

For evening or nighttime travel, we’ve found a setup that truly works!

We picked up toddler-friendly neck pillows from Target, and each kid has:

• A pillow

• An eye mask

• A blanket

• Noise-canceling headphones OR wireless headphones and they can listen to music or a book.

If they want to sleep, they can. If not, they’re still comfortable—and that alone reduces friction.

Comfort matters, especially when you’re asking little humans to adapt to changing environments.

Hotel Stays: A Necessary Evil

We’ll be honest—we love our own bed. One of the reasons we chose RV life in the first place is because we don’t love hotel hopping.

But this weekend, it was a necessary evil.

Without our RV, a hotel was the ONLY option. I mean, don't get me wrong, some hotels are BOMB, but some are less than ideal (the one we stayed in this weekend had a broken AC, busted spring in the pull-out bed, and the bathroom was riddled with mold.) Temporary discomfort is easier to handle when you remember it’s just that—temporary. Unless you are the type of family that travels full-time hotel hopping, and then.. well, I just have mad respect, I stand in awe, and you need to drop a comment to YOUR blog below so I can give praise where it is due.

Final Thoughts for Traveling Parents

Whether you’re living the RV life, temporarily traveling without it, or just tackling a family road trip, preparation changes everything!

Start with:

• Smart timing

• Full water bottles

• Balanced meals

• Entertainment

• Flexible expectations

Kids don’t need perfect travel days. They need parents who are calm, prepared, and willing to adapt.

And honestly? These in-between seasons—where plans shift and routines change—often become the memories we talk about the most.

Here’s to full-time travel life, even when the RV is parked.

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