Tips for Solo Travel with Kids
Updated June 2024
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Going on vacation should be fun and relaxing. Sitting on the beach enjoying the warm weather with not a care in the world…..Oh wait……my kids are swimming, where are they? Oh, there they are, having fun while I sit here and worry about everything.
Beach swimming, mountain hiking, hiking unfamiliar trails, sleeping in our van at night. There are so many reasons to worry, that is why it is so important to plan ahead so you are prepared as best as you can be for any situation that may arise.
Traveling solo with kids can be an adventurous experience with endless opportunities for exploration and bonding as a family. You will get to show your kids diverse landscapes, historical landmarks, explore cultural diversity, and the thrill of adventure. Although they experiences make the trip enjoyable, it is also crucial to plan ahead, including mapping out your journey, boondocking at locations with good reviews, and making sure you have necessary items for comfort and safety and emergency supplies.
As we have traveled, I have learned what is important in keeping my family safe. I have made a list of tips that will be helpful when traveling alone with your kids. Remember to always stay connected to family or friends as you travel and be flexible in case a situation looks unsafe, giving you the option to move on if needed.
Umbrella Alley, San Francisco California
15 Tips for Solo Travel with Kids
First, make a list
Make a list of everything you will need for your trip. I have a great FREE Camping Packing list you can download to help with your planning. If you are unsure what you will need this list will be a great guide for you. It is always better to be over prepared than to forget a crucial item when packing.
Do you have everything on your list?
If you do not have all of the needed items, find people you can borrow camping supplies from or shop thrift stores. I found a great camping stove at a thrift store for $7 and it has worked great. I have also found sleeping bags, coats, dishes, dry wick hiking clothes and more at our local thrift stores. You don’t have to have everything brand new the first time you go. You can take a few trips and decide what is most important for you to have now and what you can purchase later as you save up. If you are prepared ahead of time this allows for less stops, you will have to make while traveling therefore less opportunity to encounter suspicious people or buy more than you need or planned for.
Make a plan
Make a plan of where you are going to travel. I start making my plans at least 6-12 months in advance. I use Google Docs to keep track of all of my travel details.
I start with a general idea of where I want to go. (Example: Arizona or Florida or West Coast or National Parks, etc.)
I narrow that down by researching things I want to do at each location. (ie: Nevada - Las Vegas, Seven Magic Mountains; Illinois - Chicago, Navy Pier, Largest Starbucks in the World)
I then take that above list (2) and select the places I plan to visit. I research the locations and look for others who have traveled there to see if they recommend the location or not. Other people are great at letting you know if a place is good to visit or not and how safe the area will be when traveling solo.
You will also need to plan where you will boondock each night. Read reviews to make sure others felt safe at each location. If a place ever feels unsafe, leave! Check out this blog post on ways to find the best boondocking locations.
Check out more details on how to plan a long trip.
Let others know your plan
Know your route and share it with others who you trust. Make sure at least 2 trusted people know your plan and your route in case of emergency. Use Google Docs to share your trip itinerary. Occasionally pin your location and send to your trusted adult or get an app with tracking abilities such as Life 360. Don’t fully rely on the app in case you are in an area where you have no signal which happens a lot when boondocking. Many use a Garmin GPS satellite communicator to be able to communicate when in areas with no cell reception. This does require a monthly fee, but it can be tuned off when not in use.
Pick public places
Find places you want to visit that will be in public places around other people. Do not isolate yourself, especially in the beginning, to places that will have limited people and you might feel unsafe. Also make sure if you are going to be traveling in an area that is known for high crime that you have researched the area for the safest places within that community. Make sure you get gas outside of that area where there might be less sketchy people. (When we traveled to Los Angeles I felt uneasy at some of the locations where I got gas. Get gas early if you feel you are going to be in a questionable area).
Be prepared for emergencies
Make sure you have a safety plan in case of emergency. What would you do if there is a fire in your vehicle. Fire extinguisher? How will you keep yourself protected? Gun, knife, mace? Make sure you have easy access to these things if needed. Keep them by your bed for emergencies. Also, make sure you have a way to keep your cell phone charged by carrying a rechargeable cell phone charger. Share your escape/safety plan with your kids. You can purchase a GPS device to always have a way to call for help with no cell signal which others highly recommend.
Have snacks on hand
With kids there is always the need for snacks. When traveling long distance, there might be a time it is close to lunch or dinner and the kids think they are starving. It may not be the right time to pull over to cook a meal so always have snacks on hand so you can pass them out to keep the kids satisfied until you can stop and eat. Some of our favorite snacks are:
Always have plenty of water
Always have plenty of water as you travel. Keep your water bottles full for yourself and the kids. Keeping yourself hydrated can help prevent fatigue as you travel or on a hike. See my blog post on how to find water while traveling. Always carry water jugs to store water in as you travel and keep water bottles available to refill as well.
If it looks unsafe, Leave
We have attempted to camp at a few locations that looked sketchy. We chose to move to a different location that felt safer and so we could be near people in case of an emergency. Never hesitate to move if you do not feel safe.
Be BRAVE but responsible
Always take the adventure that you are dreaming of. Never let the words of others stop you from living your best life. People are always going to be concerned for your safety as a solo traveler. People might try and discourage you from taking the trip you have planned for but just remember, if you are prepared you will do just fine.
10. Research boondocking locations ahead of time
I add places we could potentially boondock to my list before we travel. I read the reviews of others and look at pictures to see if the area 1) can accommodate my campervan and I won’t get stuck in mud or sand 2) see if others recommend the location for safety reason. If it all seems ok, I then keep it on my list for a possible place to camp. There are times that I do not have a location picked out so I have to spend time sitting in my van doing research. I do not like this as I am sitting there not observing my surroundings while in a spot for an extended amount of time creating a potential safety concern.
This boondocking location (above) was in Virgin, Utah. There were other campers around which is something I appreciate to help feel more protected in case of emergency. But they were far enough away we still had privacy. We had been to this town before to camp (at a different location), so I felt pretty comfortable here.
Check out my blog post on other FREE camping locations across the US. These are locations we have stayed at personally and I recommend each of them.
The above picture is on our walk to Grasshopper Point in Arizona to swim and cliff jump. I did a lot of research of this area by using Pinterest to see what others recommended. I was prepared with a life jacket for my son in case he got in the deep water and for when we cliff jumped. We also wore our Chaco’s or Teva shoes to walk in this rocky area.
11. Never post your location on social media
When traveling I know it is exciting to post pictures of the amazing destinations you are visiting. But….it is recommended that you NEVER post your exact location on social media when you are at the location especially if you are traveling solo. If you want to post about your experience, then wait a couple days until you are out of the area then you can make that epic post to make all of your friends and family jealous!
12. Download apps before you travel
Always download all apps before your travel. Occasionally we have been in a location and wanted to use their local app for convenience but there wasn’t enough signal to download the app at that moment. We were in Chicago once and trying to download the Transit app so we could use the subway and it wouldn’t download which was super frustrating so always download the apps ahead of time. Apps I recommend downloading:
iOverlander, Campendium, Roadtrippers, The Dyrt
Translate or Translate Now
NPS
Parking apps - ParkMobile (Florida), Transit (Chicago)
Upside - gas app for getting cash back. Use my invite code when downloading the app: XJZTTH
Tides - to check tide schedule when on the beach
Google Maps - for when you do not have signal but still need to use the map
13. Use a tour guide
If you are visiting an unfamiliar location, consider using a tour guide to show you around the area. Tour guides can be an amazing opportunity to learn about the local culture while exploring an area with an individual or group that is familiar with the area. Tour groups you can use can be found on Viator, Get Your Guide, or Trip Advisor.
14. Teach your kids to lie
Yes, you read that right. When traveling solo, it is important for your kids to also learn about safety. Teach them to never tell strangers that you are traveling alone. If you are feeling uncomfortable, tell your kids it’s ok to say, “let’s go find dad so we can get going”. Have them memorize your phone number in case they get separated from you. Teach them who they could trust if they get lost such as an adult who is working behind the counter in a store, or to find a family with kids and ask for help. Safety is the number one priority when traveling solo with kids, so yes, on occasion it might be ok to lie.
15. Final recommendation: research each place you want to visit to make sure you have everything you need to keep you and your family safe.
I don’t ever want to travel to a fun place and then panic because I do not have the needed items for safety. Since I mostly travel alone (as my husbands work schedule does not allow to him take off as much time from work) I do not have an extra adult to help in an emergency. Here are a few things I recommend to have at all times for added safety:
Whistle. I add whistles to our life jackets, backpacks and kayak to call for help in an emergency
Life jacket. If you are in an area that may have deep water, I want to make sure I have a life jacket for my little one. We also carry adult life jackets as some areas require you to have life jackets in your kayak even for adults.
First aid kit. I keep one in my van and can take it with us as needed in our backpack
Snake bite kit - just in case you encounter any poisonous snakes
Mace or weapon for protection
Road Atlas - when there is no cell signal. We have had to use ours a couple times when we travel and lost cell service and didn’t know where to go
Cash/coins - for tolls. Some places still require this
Sweatshirt/jacket - in case weather changes unexpectedly
Extra blankets - in case you are stuck in cold weather for an extended time
Air pump - in case of flat tire or to air up sport balls or inner tubes
Garmin InReach GPS portable satellite system. If you are ever in a location without cell service, this device could save your life
Extra Batteries or AAA batteries - for flashlights or battery-operated fans
Flashlights - for those dark nights or if hiking in the dark
Lighter - to start a fire to keep warm or eat your food over the campfire
Cell phone charger - I have had chargers stop working or the cord gets loose, and it only works half the time. Bring an extra charger and cord.
Fire Extinguisher - just in case of fire
Generator - in case your battery fails, or you lose power (We use a WEN generator and love it)
Traction Boards - in case you get stuck in sand, snow, or mud
Extra food - for emergencies in case you are stuck somewhere or plan to stay at one location for several days
Water - I cannot stress this enough. Always have plenty of extra water! Always carry water jugs to store water in as you travel.
Shovel - For digging holes to poop in or for digging your van out of a situation
Jumper cables - if your van won’t start
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I have done several solo trips with my kids and each journey has created some lasting memories for us all. A couple of those trips have been for a month at a time. I did lots of research before our first long trip and have always felt prepared. As you embark on your incredible journey of solo traveling with kids across the US in a campervan or any desired method of travel it is essential that you are prepared and adaptable. Learn to adapt to the unexpected while experiencing the most epic journey while creating some of the most amazing memories with your kids.
I hope this blog post helps you prepare for your next solo trip with kids. Always prioritize safety as you hit the road for an exciting adventure. I plan way ahead and also read other blogs for tips on solo travel. Always be prepared! Please let me know if you have any questions.
Enjoy your journey,
Meet the author: Jennifer
I am a girl who loves to travel and enjoys sharing expert family travel advice. I am a content creator and influencer on Instagram with years of travel experience and provide readers with advice, tips, and details on adventurous family travel and tips on saving money while boondocking or traveling across the US. Pic: Hillsborough River State Park
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