When is the right time to take your kids on their first road trip?

Age 3 and a half is when kids are the most challenging to travel with, according to new research.

The survey of 2,000 American parents with children under the age of 13 asked respondents about the best — and worst — ages to go on a road trip with their children.

When asked why this was the worst age, parents’ top reason was because their little one gets bored easily (46%).

Others said this was the worst age because their 3-and-a-half-year-old will throw a tantrum in the car (39%) and they don’t enjoy road tripping at this age (31%).

And 55% of parents have purposefully avoided traveling with their child at certain ages because of how difficult they thought it would be.

Commissioned by good2grow ahead of their On The Road campaign and conducted by Talker Research, the survey found that while 3 and a half was pinpointed as the most difficult to road trip with, age 6 was found to be the easiest.

Regardless of their age, parents said seven hours is the cut-off — that’s the maximum length of time they’re comfortable road tripping with a child under the age of 13.

In those seven hours, parents are likely to hear “Are we there yet?” 22 times (3.2 times per hour), experience 18 sibling fights (2.6 per hour) and deal with 14 tantrums (2 per hour) in the car.

Perhaps it’s no surprise, then, that 59% of parents surveyed said road tripping is “somewhat” or “very” stressful.

“Traveling with young kids isn’t always easy, but our research shows that 93% of parents still find road trips to be a fun and memorable experience,” said good2grow VP of Brand Marketing Edzra Gibson. “With our annual On The Road campaign, we want to help take the mess and stress out of family travel — so there’s more room for smiles, laughter and connection for both kids and parents.”

Parents said the most stressful parts of a road trip are the prep and packing (46%), keeping their child entertained throughout the journey (36%) and the drive itself (36%).

The number one way parents reduce this stress? Giving their child snacks to help keep them occupied (53%).

This was followed by having movies or TV shows pre-loaded and ready for the car (52%), as well as giving their child toys to help keep them occupied (47%).

When it comes to the snacks they want to give their children, parents look for snacks that don’t have to be refrigerated (56%), ones that are mess-free (51%) and easy to share (51%) — potentially to help prevent any additional sibling disagreements.

They also prioritize snacks that come in a variety of flavors (44%) and “better-for-you snacks” (i.e., not junk food) (32%)

“Kids’ snacks and beverages are an everyday treat that helps families enjoy smooth, meltdown-free travel,” said Gibson. “This summer, families can go the extra mile with our mess-free options with reusable packaging, packed with flavor and fun for maximum value on every adventure.”

Top tips for parents taking summer road trips with their kids, based on the survey results —

• Pack plenty of snacks
• Ensure there are movies, TV shows and toys to keep their child entertained
• Pick a destination five hours or less away from home, to help ensure the “perfect” trip
• Regardless of the length, make regular stops along the way to get out of the car
• Be a little flexible with the rules — maybe giving more screen time to help make it a smooth journey

Survey methodology:

Talker Research surveyed American parents with children under the age of 13; the survey was commissioned by good2grow and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between May 5–9, 2025.