For many families, Thanksgiving starts long before the turkey comes out of the oven. It starts in the driveway, with a packed trunk, a pie balanced on someone’s lap and a small voice asking, “Are we there yet?” before you reach the end of the street.
Thanksgiving falls on November 26 this year. A long drive with children can be stressful, but it can also be some of the best together-time of the season. Here is a calm, practical plan to get everyone there safely and in good spirits.
Start With the Car Seats
The most important packing job is buckling each child correctly. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) offers simple guidance:
- Rear-facing: Keep babies and toddlers rear-facing as long as possible, until they reach the top height or weight limit of their seat.
- Forward-facing: Once they outgrow that, move to a forward-facing seat with a harness and use the top tether when allowed.
- Booster seat: After the harness seat, use a booster until the adult seat belt fits properly, with the lap belt low across the upper thighs (not the stomach) and the shoulder belt across the chest (not the neck).
- Back seat: NHTSA recommends kids ride in the back seat at least through age 12.
Cold weather adds one more step. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) warns that puffy coats and snowsuits should not go under the harness, because the padding can flatten in a crash and leave the straps too loose. Buckle children in regular clothes, then lay the coat or a blanket over the harness. A quick check: if you can pinch a fold of harness strap at your child’s shoulder, it needs tightening.
Plan the Stops Before You Leave
Kids, and drivers, do better with a rhythm. Many families find that a stretch-and-snack stop roughly every two hours keeps moods steady. Look over your route the night before and pick a few rest areas or parks. Build in extra time so a surprise bathroom stop doesn’t feel like a crisis.
A Quick Word on the Car
You don’t need a full garage checkup, but the AAP suggests a few basics before winter trips: check wiper blades and fluids, and carry extra washer fluid. Check the weather along your whole route, and let a relative know when you’re leaving and when you expect to arrive, as the Red Cross recommends.
Pack a Simple Emergency Kit
Drawing on AAP and Red Cross advice, a good family car kit includes:
- Water and non-perishable snacks.
- Warm blankets, hats, gloves and extra socks.
- A first-aid kit and any important medicines, such as an inhaler or epinephrine.
- A flashlight, phone charger, jumper cables and safety flashers.
- An ice scraper, a small shovel, and sand or cat litter for traction.
Keep the Driver Rested and Focused
According to NHTSA, drowsy driving contributed to 644 deaths in 2024. Its advice is simple: get a good night’s sleep before a long trip, and avoid driving between midnight and 6 a.m. or in the late afternoon slump if you can. Coffee alone is not a fix. If you feel sleepy, pull over at a safe rest stop for a short nap, or switch drivers.
Distractions matter too. Put the phone out of reach, set the GPS before you go, and let a passenger handle snacks, music and spilled juice. If a child truly needs you, find a safe place to stop.
Beat Boredom Without Endless Screens
A tablet can be a fine helper for part of the drive (the AAP suggests headphones). But the open road is also a rare chance to talk. Try mixing in:
- Audiobooks or family-friendly podcasts everyone can enjoy together.
- Classic games like I Spy, the alphabet game or license-plate bingo.
- A small “surprise bag” with a new coloring book or sticker set opened at each stop.
Make the Miles Meaningful
This is Thanksgiving, after all. Turn the ride into a journey of gratitude:
- The Gratitude Alphabet: Take turns naming something you’re thankful for, from A to Z.
- Story Time: Ask grandparents (in person or on speaker) to share a memory from when they were young.
- Blessing Count: Every time you pass a church, a farm or a school, someone names a person they want to pray for.
Those little conversations may be what your children remember most, long after the leftovers are gone.
“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.”
— Psalm 100:4 (KJV)
Wherever the road takes your family this year, may you arrive safely, with thankful hearts and plenty to talk about.
What’s your family’s favorite way to pass the time on a long holiday drive?
Sources: NHTSA, “Car Seats and Booster Seats”; AAP/HealthyChildren.org, “Winter Car Seat Safety Tips” (Feb 28, 2025); AAP/HealthyChildren.org, “Holiday Travel Tips” (Dec 4, 2025); NHTSA, “Drowsy Driving”; American Red Cross, “Urges Caution and Preparedness During Holiday Travel” (Dec 18, 2025); KJV Psalm 100:4.
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