Have you ever taken a short road trip with your kids? It’s fun to take the family a few hours away from home so you can all discover new places and cities full of attractions. A short road trip is a great answer to getting a nice break from the usual home-town routine, and they’re rather easy trips to make.

How easy? Well, taking a short road trip that lasts just a couple of days (a weekend, perhaps?) is light on the family budget, gets everyone in a happy mood, and leaves parents and kids with that “I had a vacation!” feeling. Who said vacations had to be big, costly affairs?

Here are three great tips for taking a short road trip vacation with your family:

• Rent a car. Yes, your own car can probably handle a three- to five-hour trip and back, but you’re packing miles onto your vehicle and adding wear and tear to boot. Renting a car for a day or two is so cheap that it’s not even worth debating – and since rental cars are often newer vehicles, it gives a nice luxury boost to your trip!
  Stay at the best hotel you can afford. Some families try to save money by skimping with a cheap hotel, but they pay double when they get a poor night’s sleep in a shoddy, uncomfortable room. Your room is part of your vacation, so why not make it just as fun and comfortable as the rest of your trip?
  Give your child one small carrying bag. This bag has a single purpose: being filled with toys. Hand it over with a “if it doesn’t fit in, we can’t bring it” rule, and let your child decide what to bring. You’ll eliminate fussing and extra baggage, and your child will feel proud to have something in his or her control!

Plan where you’re going ahead of time, and choose one major activity per day of stay. Never try to pack in two activities – it’s easy to underestimate how much available time you have, and you’ll just end up rushing around.

All that’s left is hitting the road. With your plan in mind, a great place to stay and a nice car to get you there, you’ll be having a great mini-vacation in no time at all.  Make sure you always consider a child safety seat belt such as SeatSnug when traveling with children.