Have Kids, Will Travel: Five Ideas for a Summer Road Trip from DFW!

Five more weeks of school and summer will be here!

Are you ready?

If you're like me, i.e., someone who loves travel and live life on the go, you're probably already lining up your summer travel plans. Maybe you're considering a trip down to Galveston to soak up some south Texas sunshine, or you're thinking about a weekend in San Antonio to see the Alamo and let the kids play at SeaWorld. These tried and true trips are quick drives from DFW and affordable for Texas families.

But, if you're like me, you may be wanting something a little different this summer. Maybe you want a new state, a new destination. Something driveable- because hello!- flights are expensive, especially if you have a bigger family. Driving just makes sense a lot of time for a lot of reasons. 

Maybe you want the beach or lake for a little laidback summer fun. Or maybe you prefer the bright lights of a big city. These five destinations- all driveable and none in Texas!- offer tons of activities and family-friendly fun for groups large and small. 

If you're looking for an off-the-beaten path getaway with the family this summer, consider one of these five fun destinations you can easily roadtrip to from Arlington. 

Five fun summer road trip ideas from Arlington, Texas

Time to plan summer travel! Check out these fun road trip ideas from DFW.

Branson, Missouri

Guys, I don't mean to brag, but I consider myself an expert on Branson. And not because I've actually ever even been to the city (how I escaped spending my four years of college in the Show Me State but never actually made it to Branson is beyond me!). But, for more than a year now, I've written a weekly blog post about Branson for ABC Campground in Branson, and I'm blown away every week by how much there is to do there.

Why vacay in Branson:

Drive time: 7 hours from Arlington

Where to stay: Take your pick. You can camp, stay at a hotel or resort (how cool does Grand Country Resort look?) or even find a fun AirBnB.

What to do: See a show- there are magic shows and comedy shows and variety shows- and they all sound wonderful. Go to the Titanic Museum. Take in some thrill rides at Silver Dollar City. Ride the Branson Ferris Wheel, relocated in recent years from Chicago's Navy Pier. Boat on Lake Taneycomo. The possibilities are endless! 

If you need any recommendations, just ask! And one of these days I'll actually head that way myself... I love me some Missouri!

Lake Hamilton/Hot Springs, Arkansas

Lake Hamilton is a gorgeous spot in Arkansas for a lake getaway. Less than 5 hours by car from Arlington, Lake Hamilton is located in the Hot Springs area and offers a cozy retreat from the tourist-y city while still being close enough to enjoy its amenities.

Why vacay in Lake Hamilton:

Drive time: 4.5 hours from Arlington

Where to stay: If you want to stay on the water, look for a house or condo for rent on the lake. Otherwise, staying in Hot Springs will give you easy access to both the city and the lake. Emerald Isle Resort looks like it have a lot to offer at a great price! 

What to do: At the lake, go boating, swimming, fishing, canoeing or simply relax and enjoy lake life. Nearby in Hot Springs, you can go to the Mid-America Science Museum (we highly recommend this spot!) or try out the Magic Springs Theme and Water Park. Don't forget to check out the national park and Bathhouse Row to learn a little about Hot Springs!

A trip to the lake is always fun in summertime. 

Gulfport, Mississippi

I can't stress enough how much we enjoyed our visit to Gulfport last year. The shores of Mississippi certainly don't offer the same beaches as Alabama or Florida, but "the Secret Coast" has its own personality and offerings to make it worth your trip. Not only is it less expensive to vacation on Mississippi's coast, it's closer, too!

Why vacay in Gulfport, MS:

Drive time: 8.5 hours from Arlington

Where to stay: We stayed in Gulfport, right on the water. However, the Mississippi Coast is made up of 12 communities that offer condos, AirBnBs, motels and more. There is a Margaritaville on the water that looks fabulous as well as a myriad of hotels to choose from. 

What to do: Go shrimping! We can't recommend a Biloxi shrimping tour enough. Not only is it educational and fun, you'll get to see dolphins and all sorts of marine life on the water. Play at the beach. Go to the nearby waterpark. Check out the Mississippi Aquarium. Let the kids play at Lynn Meadows Discovery Center. Shop in Ocean Springs. Go gambling in Biloxi. Trust me- there is a TON to do in coastal Mississippi!

Fun in coastal Mississippi!

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

It's hard not to hear the lyrics to Garth Brooks' "Callin' Baton Rouge" as I write about this Louisiana town! Baton Rouge is an interesting town with a storied history. The capital of the state and home to Louisiana State University (LSU), Baton Rouge is a southern city with deep roots and lots to do for families. 

Why vacay in Baton Rouge: 

Drive time: 6.5 hours from Arlington

Where to stay: There are a number of hotels right along the Mississippi River that are fun and accommodating for families. If you want to splurge, the Watermark Baton Rouge comes highly recommended. There are also several hotels attached to casinos if you are looking for tons of amenities under one roof.

What to do: Learn about animals at the Baton Rouge Zoo or about sea life at the Blue Zoo. Splash around at the nearby waterpark. Check out Knock Knock Children's Museum or the Louisiana Art & Science Museum. Take a swamp tour and learn all about the Bayou and the animals, reptiles and fish that call it home. 

Santa Fe, New Mexico

New Mexico is a state filled with stunning geography and a rich history. Santa Fe is nestled at the very southern edge of the Rocky Mountains and is a city that offers a lot of family-friendly fun year round. Did you know? Santa Fe is the highest capital city and third highest city in America!

Why vacay in Santa Fe

Drive time: 9 hours from Arlington 

Where to stay: There is no shortage of gorgeous hotels in Santa Fe. So many I looked at were well, well out of my price comfort zone. The Hilton Santa Fe Buffalo Thunder came up time and time again but even that was at my absolute max budget. So, this may be a town I find an AirBnB in, and, a quick search shows there is no shortage of those, either! 

What to do: Meow Wolf looks incredible, and the Santa Fe Children's Museum would be a blast for kids. Railyard Park offers lots to do, and you could always stroll and shop downtown. Learn about Native American culture during your trip. Go gambling during your trip or go for a hike in the mountains. 

Where will you travel this summer?

Affordable Family Travel: Must-Follow Tips to Maximize Travel on a Budget

With all the travel content I've been posting lately, I've gotten more than a few questions about how I can afford to travel as frequently as I do with kids. While I have, admittedly, gone on several media trips this year where large portions of my trip are comped, I have also simply prioritized travel with my kids. 

I grew up the daughter of a flight attendant, and every long weekend and break from school was a chance to travel. In my 20s, before kids and a mortgage, I had a job where I traveled almost weekly. Sure, life on the road can be draining. but I love it! I want to travel as often as I can with my kids, so I've compiled my best tips for budget-friendly travel with kids! By keeping my per-trip cost down, I can afford to take my family on more trips. We simply love life on the go!

We love to travel! 

I also recently did a list about beach-day must-haves for Zulily. We did two beach trips this year, to Port Aransas and Coastal Mississippi, so I wrote an article for Zulily about must-have items when you pack for a day at the beach!

Budget-Friendly Tips for Traveling with Kids

• I know these days that AirBnB is all the rage. And I've stayed at more than a few AirBnBs in my day (my brother was an early employee at the company so I'm pretty partial for personal reasons!). But, with kids, I prefer hotels. I find them to be financially equal to or less expensive than AirBnBs in the area. Let me tell you why...
• I pick hotels with pools. This way, at the end of a long day, the kids can unwind and hang out in the pool. We don't always use the pool, but we love to have the option.
• Free breakfast! I try to always pick a hotel with free breakfast. This adds up monumentally over time. I always make my girls wake up and fill up on free breakfast before we hit the ground running. We grab apples and bananas to stick in purses and backpacks and eat a full breakfast so we are ready to explore and play until mid-day when we break for lunch. 
• Safety. Honestly, when I'm traveling with my husband or extended family members, I don't think as much about safety. But, when I'm alone with my girls, I worry about safety. Hotels feel safer because there is always someone at the front desk and other people close by. I feel safer arriving back at a well-lit hotel after dark than I do at a house or condo where I don't know the area.

We prefer to stay in hotels when we travel.

• Okay Steph. I hear you on some great reasons to book hotels. But I have more than two kids! And most hotels are only made for families with two adults and two kids. How do you work around that?
• This took us some time to work out, honestly. I have three kids. When I travel with my husband or my mom, that makes five people. Tricky when most hotels are meant to sleep four or fewer people. We simply can't afford to book adjoining rooms or two rooms with every trip. My trick? A cheap blow-up mattress from Walmart! Seriously. We always book the biggest space we can at the best rate. Typically, that gets us two queen beds or a king-sized bed with a pull out couch. Not always ideal for sleeping five people. So we travel with this mattress. Easy to blow up and fit a kid. We take turns with which girl sleeps on the mattress. And, honestly, if we are flying and can't fit one in our bags, we simply hit up a Walmart at our destination and buy one there. At the end of the trip we simply leave it behind. Best money spent all trip...
• Cool. So, you've helped me navigate saving on a hotel room. Book a room at a great rate, eat the free breakfast, utilize the pool and buy a blow up mattress to sleep an extra kid or two. But what about food? We spend sooo much on food when we travel!
• When we get to a new city, we hit up a Walmart or Target first thing. We load up on lunchables and non-perishable snacks. We snag water and other drinks that will cost us four times as much anywhere else. When we head out for the day, I stuff my backpack or purse with snacks and drinks. This saves us so much when we are out all day.
• We also don't do a lot of sit-down meals when we travel. Not that we don't want to! But $60 plus tip per meal can add up if you do that two times a day for five or six days. It's just not feasible! I do a lot of couponing apps (like Ibotta and Shopkick) and redeem my rewards for gift cards before a trip. We aim for gift cards to Starbucks, Chili's, McDonald's, etc. Then we try to find these places in each city and use money I've "earned" elsewhere. Coupled with free breakfasts from hotels and snacks (and lunchables) bought cheaply from a big box retailer, we eat well for less. We plan two-three nicer meals per city and budget for those.
• Got it. It's okay to say no to big fancy meals every day on vacation! But what about activities? Everything costs money these days! How do we do all things without spending all the money?
• This is the hardest part of budgeting for vacation honestly! We start by picking out the free things to do in a city before we start on paid activities. Once we've filled our schedule with free things, we start on paid activities. To find discounts, I always google the activity we want to do plus the word discount. Sometimes this yields unexpected discounts that add up! Also look for discount passes such as Pogo Passes (use code Everything for $5 off per pass) or City Passes in any city you visit and prioritize the activities you want to do. Don't forget to sign your kids up for the free National Parks Pass if you have a fourth grader this year- it will save you more than you realize!

Enjoying a free activity in Philadelphia- seeing the Liberty Bell!

Other tips I have....

- Join ALL the rewards programs. Even the ones you think you will never use again. You just never know! Multiple stays at the same hotel room yield free nights, and enough coffees from Starbucks means free Starbucks! 

- Check with the local visitors' center in any city you visit. Sometimes they have coupons you can use for local attractions and events.

- If you are a member of any local museums or zoos, check your reciprocal benefits! Oftentimes you can use your Fort Worth or Dallas Zoo membership for free admittance to other zoos around the country.

- Check for age-based discount. Ask for a child discount or senior discount. If you are military, check for discounts. If you have AAA or other similar memberships, check for discounts! Small discounts can add up to big amounts of money over time.

- Don't check bags. I repeat... Don't check bags when you travel by air! Not only will it save you money, it will force you to pack lighter. Use the hotel soap and shampoo- save money by not buying travel-sized items that are marked up at local stores. 

- Check for corporate discounts with your employer. Right now, rental cars are crazy-expensive. I had booked a car for our recent trip at $900 for the week. My husband's employer, however, has a corporate rate negotiated with a rental car company. He booked using his corporate discount and got a bigger car than what I was able to book and the total cost was only $600!

What are your favorite ways to save on travel? What tips can you share with the rest of us to afford the travel of our dreams without the hefty price tag?