I don’t think today could have gone any smoother! After a frantic morning because I have anxiety before every trip, we left with everything we needed which meant no return trip from down the block. Win!
It took exactly one tank of gas to make it to our first stop about 470 miles away. Gas prices are awful as everyone knows. 😭
We only made one pit stop at the visitor center 100 miles from the Oklahoma/Texas border. It’s iconic, and I can’t remember a trip going west on I-40 when we didn’t stop there. They have family restrooms, a playground, and vending machines. They also have covered picnic tables and some epic scenery.
Tip: In a hurry? Planning to drive straight through to Arizona or even California? You can sleep in your vehicle at rest stops. They have google reviews with pictures so you can check them out in advance. Taking a few hours to sleep in your vehicle at a safe rest stop meant for exactly that is safer than driving while sleepy.
The Stay…
You have to pay close attention any time you are on a budget and you plan to stay in a hotel. My current method of finding a safe and family friendly spot is through booking.com. I use the search filter to find 8+ ⭐️ reviews, swimming pools, free hot breakfast, free cancellations and a place within my budget. I know I am going to pay about $100 plus tax for a decent 2 star hotel with the amenities I’m looking for. Caveat: This is usually not true for any hotel on the coast, but you can still find deals if you look hard enough!
We met our first reading goal by listening to Tuck Everlasting. It was a captivating story and the perfect length— apx 240 minutes. After that we watched Song of the Sea and then listened to some cds.
Once we arrived we got a quick bite at a diner. It was nice to sit down at a table to eat instead of ordering food and then eating in our room.
Next, we went for a quick swim. We have to check out before the pool reopens tomorrow which is a bit of a bummer. But, the kids enjoyed their swim and even made some friends.
Tomorrow, we have another 7 hour drive ahead of us!
Adventures and Camping With Kids! 