Welcome to Mom Van Up

I am so glad you are here! I help families enjoy their time together or road trips. Get out there, it is going to be great.

About Mom

The Latest

Family playing on the beach with a picture of a cooler. Text Cooler for Large Families

The Best Road Trip Cooler for a Large Family

We are frequent road trippers, but with 5 kids we need to pack SNACKS! We have a bunch of coolers to meet each need on a trip.  When traveling with family, choose an electric cooler for trips longer than 4 days or if you road trip frequently. A standard hard sided cooler meets most needs…

What Is a Good Budget For A Family Road Trip?

You can plan an amazing family road trip on any budget.  As a general rule, road trips cost $107 per person, per day. A 5 day road trip for a family of 4 would cost $2,140. Trips can be less expensive if they are closer to home, choose affordable accommodations and eat out of a…

Can you Drive Over Hoover Dam? Cost, times and details

The Hoover Dam is open for cars to drive half way over, then turn around. Through traffic is not permitted on the dam.  How Much Does It Cost to Drive Over the Hoover Dam? Driving over the dam is completely free.  However, extras like parking and tours will cost money.   The most convenient parking…

Family Camping By Water, Family Travel A Tadition

Making Travel a Family Tradition: How to get the time and money.  

So, we all have dreams. When we are in a family the dreams can be difficult to manage. It feels like you have to pick one, your dream life or your family.  I want to encourage you that you can still travel as a family and you should.  You want to give your children those…

Packing for Toddler Beach Vacation

The Ultimate Packing List for a Toddler Beach Vacation

Family beach vacations are a great choice for family vacation, and packing the right things can make the trip smooth with your toddler.  We take a lot of road trips with our family of 6, and we often take spontaneous trips. The way to pack for these trips quickly is to pack in categories! Packing…

7 Great Road Trip Stops in Maryland

7 Exciting Maryland Road Trip Destinations

Maryland road trips offer anything any traveler may want:  history, local culture, forests, beaches, and great food.   Regardless of your family and friends’ road trip preferences, you can find something for everyone in Maryland. Here are 7 road trips destinations in Maryland you may want to check out.  Inner Harbor Location:  In Baltimore  If you…

How to Plan a Free Vacation

Can’t Afford Family Vacation? How To Make It Work 

We know you want to take your family on vacation, we know you need a break, but the money is just not there.  We can figure out a plan that you can afford.  Parents often hope to give their child things that they did not have when they were growing up. Family vacation is a…

What is a road trip? with an image of a jeep on a dirt road driving away in the mountains.

What Is a Road Trip? The American Tradition 

Definition of a Road Trip  A road trip is any trip that requires at least one stop for bathroom, snacks, and/or gas AND involves spending at least one night somewhere else.   Naturally, people have a variety of opinions, but there are some simple reasons for this definition.  If you don’t have to stop in the…

North Dakota Vs South Dakota Road Trip Choices With Arrows Pointing To Each State

North Dakota Vs. South Dakota Road Trip: Which State To Drive Through?

If you are driving across the country most northern routes will take you through North Dakota, but South Dakota has more to offer.  South Dakota is the best route if you have time for detours to the many attractions close to the highway, but if you do not have time for many stops North Dakota…

Solo Road Trips

Should I Road Trip Alone? Check Your Personality

Benefits of Solo Road Trips Solo road trips offer complete and total flexibility. This is the biggest and most obvious benefit of a solo road trip.  You get to decide where you go, when you go, how you go, PLUS what you do when you finally get there.  You get to make the schedule (if…

Latest Posts

Family playing on the beach with a picture of a cooler. Text Cooler for Large Families

The Best Road Trip Cooler for a Large Family

We are frequent road trippers, but with 5 kids we need to pack SNACKS! We have a bunch of coolers to meet each need on a trip.  When traveling with family, choose an electric cooler for trips longer than 4 days or if you road trip frequently. A standard hard sided cooler meets most needs…

What Is a Good Budget For A Family Road Trip?

You can plan an amazing family road trip on any budget.  As a general rule, road trips cost $107 per person, per day. A 5 day road trip for a family of 4 would cost $2,140. Trips can be less expensive if they are closer to home, choose affordable accommodations and eat out of a…

Can you Drive Over Hoover Dam? Cost, times and details

The Hoover Dam is open for cars to drive half way over, then turn around. Through traffic is not permitted on the dam.  How Much Does It Cost to Drive Over the Hoover Dam? Driving over the dam is completely free.  However, extras like parking and tours will cost money.   The most convenient parking…

Family Camping By Water, Family Travel A Tadition

Making Travel a Family Tradition: How to get the time and money.  

So, we all have dreams. When we are in a family the dreams can be difficult to manage. It feels like you have to pick one, your dream life or your family.  I want to encourage you that you can still travel as a family and you should.  You want to give your children those…

Packing for Toddler Beach Vacation

The Ultimate Packing List for a Toddler Beach Vacation

Family beach vacations are a great choice for family vacation, and packing the right things can make the trip smooth with your toddler.  We take a lot of road trips with our family of 6, and we often take spontaneous trips. The way to pack for these trips quickly is to pack in categories! Packing…

7 Great Road Trip Stops in Maryland

7 Exciting Maryland Road Trip Destinations

Maryland road trips offer anything any traveler may want:  history, local culture, forests, beaches, and great food.   Regardless of your family and friends’ road trip preferences, you can find something for everyone in Maryland. Here are 7 road trips destinations in Maryland you may want to check out.  Inner Harbor Location:  In Baltimore  If you…