Cross-country trip with little kids
From Virginia to Washington
When my husband retired from the US Navy in 2023, we knew it was time for a change. After 20 years of service, staying in Virginia Beach, we were ready for a new chapter—something different, something exciting.
I was born and raised in Czechia and spent part of my twenties living in Greece, so Europe has always felt like a second home to us. We even seriously considered moving across the ocean (instead of across the country :). But in the end, we found our why. One year after his official retirement, my husband was accepted into a one-year professional (beer) brewing program in Mt. Vernon! Washington, here we come!
How to plan a cross country trip with little kids
I took on the job of planning our entire road trip across the country, while my husband tackled the task of moving our entire household 4,000 miles and figuring out how a military move works. Fun fact: even though he’s no longer active duty, the Navy will move you one more time after retirement. And believe it or not, this was our first military move—ever!
At the time, our kids were 2 and 5, and I wanted them to feel part of the adventure. We bought a big paper road map of the U.S., and together we highlighted the route we’d drive. We gave ourselves three weeks, with the goal of visiting as many state and national parks as possible while keeping it fun (and realistic) for the kids.
We used the official National Park app to find beautiful stops along the way, plus all the details we needed about closures, fees, and passes. Don’t forget to apply for your military National Parks pass, it might be free or discounted but you have to do this in advance.
Our rhythm was simple: One day of longer driving (around 6 hours), followed by one fun day with minimal or no driving, filled with hiking, swimming, exploring, groceries shopping…
We circled points of interest on our map that were about 5–7 hours apart and planned to stay at each place for two nights. That gave us time to settle in, explore, and avoid burnout—because there is so much to see and you don’t want to just fly by staying on the highways. Ask chat GPT to plan the road trip for you and then pick some of the POI that are a good idea.
What to pack for your cross-country trip
We don’t own a camper—though that kind of road trip sounds amazing! We also couldn’t bring all the gear for tent camping, instead, we loaded up my husband’s truck (to the roof!) and hit the road. By the end of the trip, he was basically a professional puzzle master when it came to packing that thing.
Things we absolutely didn’t need:
Warm clothes – We traveled in August and September, and it was in the 90s almost the entire time even in the mountains.
A stroller – We used it once in Cedar Rapids while walking around downtown. Honestly, a hiking carrier for our toddler or a cheap, lightweight umbrella stroller “just in case” would’ve been more than enough.
Too many clothes – Since we stayed in Airbnbs most of the time, we had access to laundry and could wash every few days.
Things that were super useful:
A toddler hiking carrier – Necessary for national parks and trails.
A first aid kit – Thankfully, we only had one minor incident, and no sickness or ER trips.
A French press – We’re coffee people. Having this meant we could enjoy our favorite brew, even at remote cabins at campgrounds.
Extra blankets or sleeping bags – Necessary for nights at campground cabins that do not provide linen and to build bunkers :)
Picnic blanket, binoculars, fishing poles, and a ball – These simple things made park stops and downtime way more fun for the kids (and us).
a large YETI cooler - we stocked up on our groceries to be able to cook and prepare lunches on the way.
How to enjoy long car rides with little kids
Long road trips with little kids can feel like the most daunting part of travel. That’s why we planned ours with one full day of driving (around six hours), and then made sure the second day was as car-free as possible.
We kicked off the trip with a fun surprise for the kids: little backpacks filled with a few new road trip treats. I packed each one with small, easy-to-use toys, a new book, road trip bingo, magnetic people, and peel-off stickers.
Here are a few other things that made a big difference in the car:
Tablet with movies – No surprise here! Even though screen time is rare at home, we made an exception and let the kids watch one movie each driving day.
Headphones – A must. My 5-year-old loved listening to her audiobooks and “podcasts” (what she calls story time).
Interactive books – We brought along books that work with a “magic pen” that reads stories, teaches new words, and even gives little quizzes etc.
Erasable drawing pads – Great for doodling and kept both kids busy.
One stuffie per kid – Simple, but comforting and fun for imaginative play.
Snack bag – I kept a bag of easy snacks between the two car seats and packed a full lunchbox each morning so we could keep driving without needing to stop for food.
Travel potty – Essential! My son was 2 at the time, so having a potty in the back of the truck was a lifesaver. It also beat the questionable gas station bathrooms. I packed it with potty bags, wipes, and toilet paper for emergencies.
Each morning, we’d start with a big breakfast at our accommodation, pack everything up, and organize the back of the truck. We usually hit the road between 9 and 10am, made a few quick bathroom and stretch stops, and arrived at our next spot around 4pm. That timing worked well with check-in and gave us time to settle in, make dinner, or head out to eat. My toddler’s nap time was every time around 12-2PM so that worked perfectly. My 5 year old fell asleep in the car maybe 3 times during the entire trip!
Parents must have’s
While my husband was driving the entire time and listening to his brewing podcasts. I was catching up on my favorite podcasts, books and was researching things to do in the destination. These long car rides turned out to be mostly very relaxing for me.
Top 5 places we visited on our cross-country road trip
Things started to get really beautiful and interesting once we reached South Dakota. Here are our five favorite stops along the way:
1. Mount Rushmore
We took a short and beautiful hike around the monument, which gave us some great views. We also spotted the Crazy Horse Memorial from a distance, but honestly, we didn’t think the admission price was worth getting closer.
2. Yellowstone National Park
This one was a dream come true for me! Yellowstone is absolutely stunning—but also very busy. We spent two days driving through the park, trying to see as much as possible. Old Faithful erupts about every 50 minutes, so you might catch it more than once while exploring the area. Seeing the roaming bison up close was unforgettable. We also spotted a wolf—but still no bears. (That came later!)
3. Jackson Hole
This gorgeous, high-end ski resort town sits just past Grand Teton National Park. We didn’t have time to hike in the Tetons, but we enjoyed the mountain views from Jackson Hole itself. We spent a whole day there riding gondolas, hiking short trails, sipping good coffee, relaxing at our spa hotel, and enjoying a great meal. We spotted a moose from the safety of our car!
4. Glacier National Park
This might have been our favorite stop of all. A local we met said Glacier "blows his socks off every time," and we totally get it. The scenic drive through the park was breathtaking. We also took a boat tour on Lake McDonald—it was beautiful, though we learned that our 2-year-old isn’t a fan of sitting still on a boat. Still worth it! And finally we saw a bear!!! We spotted him in a river from our car and observed him for about 5 minutes, it was unforgettable experience reminding me who powerful nature is. He was absolutely beautiful and I was glad I was safe in my car! Lol
5. Deception Pass
Once we finally arrived at our new home in Washington and saw Deception Pass with Mt. Baker in the distance, I joked, “Why did we take a whole road trip when the most beautiful view is right here?” It truly felt like a gift at the end of the journey.
Bonus Stops
Czech Village in Iowa – A fun little cultural stop that felt like a piece of home.
Truck Museum in Davenport, Iowa – Perfect for a toddler who’s obsessed with trucks!
Where we stayed during our cross country trip
As I mentioned earlier, we didn’t travel with an RV or camping gear, so we mixed things up with a combination of Airbnbs, hotels, and a few primitive cabins at campgrounds.
Airbnb
This is hands-down our favorite way to travel. We love having the option to cook, so we made sure to stock up on groceries every few days. Meals were simple but healthy—grilled meat, fresh salads, and sides. Breakfasts were usually oatmeal, eggs, or pancakes, and we always packed sandwiches for the road. Having a kitchen made everything feel a little more like home.
Airbnbs are also great for families since you can book places with multiple bedrooms or separate sleeping spaces. We always looked for a place with two large beds or at least a sofa bed for the kids. Even though we were on the road for three weeks, we were able to stick to our usual routine. That honestly surprised me, but it was such a win—there were no late nights for the kids, which meant more rest for us too.
Another bonus: you can find some really fun and unique places to stay. One night we stayed in a historic home right by train tracks—our son, who loves trains, was thrilled to watch them go by. We also stayed in a dry cabin in someone’s backyard (so cozy) and a sleek, modern apartment in Spokane. Our top priorities were always cleanliness, safety, and location.
Hotels
We used Booking.com to find hotel stays in larger towns or places like Jackson Hole, where we treated ourselves to a little spa time. That said, we’re generally not hotel people. They work when needed, but they don’t offer the flexibility or comfort of a good Airbnb. Our absolute favorite was a brand new LOGE hotel at Glacier National park, we stayed at an old train cabin remodeled into luxury hotel room, set in the middle of woods. It was a total surprise as I didn’t realize that at the time of booking!
Campground Cabins
We also stayed in a few simple cabins at campgrounds, which we really loved. It let us stay closer to nature, saved a bit on accommodation costs, and still felt a little like “glamping.” It was a fun way to break up the trip and create a different kind of experience for the kids. We loved Divide Creek Campground at Glacier!
How much money we spent on our cross-country trip
Traveling 4,000 miles with kids isn’t exactly a budget getaway—but it was worth every penny. Here’s a general breakdown of what we spent and a few things that helped us save along the way.
Our average cost for accommodations was $200–$250 per night. We saved a bit by staying in simple cabins or more affordable Airbnbs, but places like Jackson Hole were definitely on the pricier side. Since our trip came together kind of last minute, I was booking most of our stays just 1–2 months ahead of time, which limited our options and sometimes meant higher prices.
We ate out every other day and cooked on the days in between. Having access to kitchens in most of our Airbnbs helped us keep food costs manageable—and honestly made things easier with little kids. The last thing they want to do after a long car ride is sitting in a restaurant.
Gas was a big chunk of our expenses too, which is to be expected on a road trip this long.
If you're moving with the military, don’t forget: they offer reimbursement through per diem for each service member and their dependents. That made a huge difference for us and helped cover a lot of the travel-related costs.
Another money-saver—national park fees are waived for military families. (apply for NP pass beforehand) We also got military discounts at a few campgrounds and hotels, so it’s always worth asking when you're booking.
Final tips for your road trip with little kids
Try to relax and enjoy it. I’m naturally an anxious mom, always thinking “what if.” Leaving our home, our life, and our friends in Virginia Beach had me feeling all the emotions, and it took a few days before I could really settle into the joy of the trip. At first, it felt overwhelming to think about driving so far and being on the road for three weeks—but after that first week, time started to fly. And honestly, I was sad when it ended. That’s when a whole new wave of emotions hit—because now, this is home. We live in Washington.
Lower your expectations. I always want to experience everything when we travel, but keeping the kids happy came first. Whether we did a little or a lot in each destination didn’t really matter in the end.
A cross-country trip with your family is a rare and special chance. Stay grounded in gratitude, soak it all in, and appreciate the gift of that time together.
Let your kids lead sometimes.We followed our kids’ curiosity more than once—whether it was pulling over to see construction trucks or spending way too long at a roadside playground. It slowed us down, but it made the trip theirs too.
