Holiday Headache:  National Survey Finds Six in Ten Americans Stressed By Family Road Trips

• Taking it on the Road. According to the survey, nearly eight in 10 Americans (77 percent) say they plan to drive for their next family vacation, compared to 8 percent who plan to fly.

 Part of the appeal of driving is the extra luggage and gear you can bring on your trip. Many of today’s vehicles have innovative storage areas that give travelers more packing flexibility than ever before. When packing the vehicle, gather everything in one area and edit to fit. Soft-sided bags often squish in more easily than rigid rectangular suitcases.

• Stressed to the Max. However fun a road trip may be, nearly six in 10 (59 percent) Americans have experienced stress before or during an extended family car trip. The most common stress inducers are boredom or lack of entertainment (30 percent). And when asked what they would most want in a car, more than half (52 percent) desire more space or more comfortable seats for a road trip.

Minimize the “Are we there yet?” question. The best way to combat boredom is really having a combination of activities at your fingertips. Entertainment features such as DVD players and satellite radio have really changed the modern American road trip. Classic family games are great ways to supplement -- looking for license plates from different states, telling jokes or counting cars of a specific color.

• Control Craze. One in three Americans (33 percent) say that his/her reason to drive rather than fly this holiday season is to maintain control of the trip, including to have the ability to decide when to stop or to go sightseeing.  When on the road, three-quarters of Americans (75 percent) say they enjoy being able to see different parts of the country.

Enjoying the journey – not just the destination – is a definite advantage of car travel. Choosing a vehicle that has a navigation system is an easy way to chart your itinerary, including stops at places of interest, instead of simply rest stops. Visit local parks or sights throughout the trip. History and geography become real when kids see the country for themselves. Choosing a different route for the return home helps to keep everyone interested for the entire trip. 

• Pack it Up. One in four Americans (25 percent) have experienced stress on a family road trip related to packing the car. One in three Americans (33 percent) in households of three or more said packing the car has caused stress compared with 20 percent of smaller households.

Decide where things should go based on when they are needed – last in, first out. Use storage bins inside the vehicle to pack the clothes you’re going to travel home in, but don’t include items you need access to first while driving, such as the kids’ stuffed animals they may want on the drive or the book you want to start.

 Eliminate packing stress by working in advance of the trip to prep your vehicle.

•  Two days ahead: Clean out the interior and cargo area and get rid of everything not needed for the trip. Make sure the interior light, especially in the cargo area, works properly.
• One day ahead: Pack as much of the vehicle as you can the night before you leave using the “last in, first out” rule. Packing always takes longer than you think it will, and this way you can actually leave first thing in the morning before everyone gets cranky.

• Table It. The survey found that half (50 percent) of Americans enjoy road trips for providing the opportunity to be together. Adding a table to the vehicle may actually help families bond as Americans said that they would be more likely to eat together (60 percent), talk (53 percent) and play board games or video games together (50 percent) if their car came equipped with this feature.  

The survey also revealed that when it comes to vacations, Americans are eager to put down the homework and other work.  Half (50 percent) say they would play board games or video games if their car were equipped with a table, but only 15 percent claimed they would use the table to do homework or other work.

 

The Dodge Grand Caravan Swivel ‘n Go™ seating system features amenities once only offered in RVs – second-row seats that swivel 180 degrees to face the third row, with a removable table between the two rows so you can actually “sit around the table” for more family time.