Top Challenges of Solo-Parent Travel and Solutions From Parents Who Have Been There

You want to travel, but you are a single parent, your partner can’t take time off or you can’t afford a nanny. So what do you do when the idea of going solo feels too overwhelming? My advice: Go anyway.

Solo parenting when traveling requires a unique combination of planning, flexibility and confidence. The goal is to minimize stress, maximize comfort and safety, and most of all, have fun. But how?

To curate the best solutions to common challenges associated with traveling as a solo parent, I asked local moms for ideas and also relied on my extensive travel experience. The moms I spoke with have children ranging in age from babies to 12 years old. We have traveled solo with our kids in a variety of situations — road trips, international flights, we’ve even camped down the road from home. We have all lost our cool, and possibly even a child (momentarily), at some point.

While traveling with kids on your own can be tricky, we all agree that it is undoubtedly worth it. Angela (@outdoor.fun.for.kids.wa), mom of two, says, “It seems daunting and it can be hard. But it’s also amazing. You’ll remember the good stuff about the trip. Not the bad. Start small. You’ll find what works for you.”

How do I overcome my anxiety about traveling alone with my kids?

It’s perfectly normal to feel nervous! Giving yourself an on-ramp and practice goes a long way. Consider ways to ease into solo parent travel.

• Start small. Can you go for an overnight stay at a hotel near your home? After that, try a few days at a location within a few hours of home, or plan your first solo flight to visit family.
• Take one kid. If traveling with your whole brood feels overwhelming, can you take one child? Bonus: One-on-one travel with kids is quality time like no other.
• Invite others. Remember, solo doesn’t mean completely alone. Can you plan a trip with a friend and their kids? Or perhaps plan your destination around visiting loved ones? Maybe the grandparents aren’t up for all of your adventures, but want to meet up with you for part of the itinerary.
• Go somewhere familiar. Reduce the mental load by planning to visit a place you know well.

Experienced parent tip: Elissa (@seattlestorys), Eastside mom of two suggests: “Choosing destinations you are already familiar with or where you know you’ll have help once you arrive — such as a place where grandparents or friends live — can be a great first solo attempt with a safety net.”

How do you manage all the gear when it’s just you?

What you pack when traveling with kids is very personal and depends on the needs of your family. But the adage “less is more” definitely applies when you are solo with kids. Here are a few more tips that may help:

• Buy consumable items at your destination. Buy diapers upon arrival or order and ship ahead. Use local shops to stock up on snacks.
• Donate clothing and toys as you go. Lighten your load as you travel by bringing things you don’t mind donating or disposing of as you go.
• Rent or borrow equipment. Strollers, car seats and even hiking packs can often be rented at your destination. Services such as BabyQuip provide baby gear rentals worldwide. If you are traveling to an area where you know people, ask to borrow items rather than pack them.
• Do a trial run with your gear. Test before you go. Can you carry what you’ve packed? If a child melts down and you have to carry their bag too, can you? If you are flying and checking bags, can you get yourself, the kids and all the gear to the counter?
• Pack a carrier. A comfortable baby carrier serves multiple purposes: It allows you to be hands-free, keeps kids safe and can aid in regulating big emotions on long travel days.
• Bring an extra bag. Travel with a small packable bag and keep it handy. Having something you can toss “extra” things in easily can be helpful in transit or until you are back to your accommodations and can reorganize.

Experienced-parent tip: Seattle mom Johanna (@Johanna.wanders) says, “I’m not a big fan of ‘stuff.’ We made it through a several-hour flight when [my son] was around kindergarten age just playing games like name an animal, flower, etc. for each letter of the alphabet or let’s think of all the words we can that rhyme with xyz. I also like to make scavenger hunts or bingo boards.”

How do you handle the mental load of doing all the planning and following an itinerary?

Save your brain power for memory-making and do what you can to set yourself up for success:

• Plan before you go. Reduce the number of decisions you must make during your travel by planning before you leave. Know where you’ll stay. Look up all the playgrounds. Have a short list of restaurants that serve food your family likes or needs.
• Keep your plans flexible. Plan activities that can be cancelled or don’t require timed-entry or prebooking.
• Use airport services. Use pre-check or Clear to reduce security wait times. Use airport lounges for food, bathrooms and comfortable (often contained) places to sit. Several credit cards include access to these services as a benefit.
• Build in downtime. Reserve time in your schedule for rest, to linger or to keep playing at that cool playground you stumbled upon.
• Involve your kids. You can’t divide and conquer activities to meet everyone’s preferences when you are solo. Involve your kids in planning; allow children to weigh in on what sounds exciting so that everyone feels invested looking for mutually-enjoyable options.
• Minimize complicating factors. Consider ways to reduce variables. Can you stay closer to the train station to avoid a long walk? What flights are most convenient for your kids’ schedules?
• Lower your expectations. You can’t do it all, and that’s okay! Choose travel and itineraries that meet the needs of your family now and remember that as they grow and you become more comfortable, what you’re able to do will continue to evolve.

Experienced-parent tip: Joanna (@toddling.around.the.sound) a Seattle-based mom says, “Whenever I see anything interesting, whether it’s just while scrolling, or chatting with friends or during dedicated trip-planning, I save it to Google Maps so that I can refer to it later. Before road trips, I like to zoom in on the map and look into or save any place that’s ‘green’ on the map along my route — parks, highway rest stops, playgrounds. That way, I know that if someone really needs a break, we already have someplace bookmarked that we can go.”

How do you get a break?

This is the most asked question when I talk to people about traveling solo with my kids. Truthfully, it is hard. It also gets easier as kids get older. Try to stay open-minded about what a break can be and get creative with how you meet your needs too.

• Give yourself and your kids a lot of grace. Mindset is important. Take deep breaths, have a helpful mantra, feel your feels and remember that you are all on the same team.
• Lean into “yes.” Saying yes more than you might at home can often feel like a break. Gelato three times in one day? Yes, please. Spend an entire day at a science museum that the kids love? Absolutely. Pop in an earbud and enjoy your audiobook while they play.
• Choose restaurants carefully. Managing multiple kids in restaurants can be a lot of work. Save your energy for more fun activities. Find places with a play area, eat outside when the weather allows, make use of grocery stores or delis, set up the kids with a hotel picnic and a movie while you eat your meal “alone” on the bed.
• Treat yourself (too). Research the best croissant in town and enjoy it at a nearby park while the kids play. Build yourself a campfire after the kids go to sleep. Dedicate an hour of quiet time where everyone reads their own book.
• Use screens. If your family is open to using screens for entertainment, lean into that for travel. You can be rigid about limits when you are home; the novelty of extra screen time rules may just be the gift you give yourself!
• Ask for help. Ask for and accept help when offered — from airline staff, kind strangers or hotel personnel.

Experienced-parent tip: Natasha (@suitcasesinseattle), a Seattle mom of two, says, “I like staying somewhere with an after bedtime treat for me (a hotel gym, a cozy lobby where I can read a book, or an Airbnb with a great porch where I can relax). I also specifically research destination playgrounds since that’s a place my kids play independently so I can think my own thoughts for 20 minutes.”

How do you handle emergencies?

While you can’t plan for every potential emergency, there are a few things you can do in advance to be prepared if something were to happen.

• Share your location. Ensure someone knows your itinerary. Establish a check-in plan so they are aware promptly if something happens to you. Share your location via GPS.
• Teach kids what to do if they get separated. Encourage them to find an employee or a mom with kids. Make sure they know your phone number or consider temporary ID bracelets or writing your contact info on a sticker or tag inside clothing. Review this plan often.
• Take a photo each morning. Take a photo of your children each day before heading out, so you have a current image of what they’re wearing in case they get lost.
• Research emergency services. Know the local emergency number and the closest hospital or urgent care. If you take specific medication or have allergies, have relevant information printed out in the local language.
• Print maps for areas where you may not have service.
• Carry a backup charger for your phone.

Experienced-parent tip: Lauren (@sauntermama), Seattle mom of two, says, “Since each of my kids have now been lost at the airport, the pre-trip safety briefing is essential as well. Talk them through the scenarios of who to look for if they get separated and what to say, and then work through for yourself what you’ll do in that situation. On our recent trip when my older son got separated from me and his little brother at the airport, I followed the excellent advice of repeating his description loudly. At the same time, he had gone up to airline employees and asked for help finding me. The result was a super speedy reunification with minimal stress and no missed flight!”

Are there any legal considerations I need to know about?

Solo parents may face added scrutiny at border crossings due to concerns of child trafficking. Having essential documents can alleviate concerns and expedite your border crossing. If you plan to travel internationally, plan to carry the following:

• Valid passports. Check the terms of the country you are entering to ensure the expiration date meets their requirements. Take color copies and store them separately.
• Copy of birth certificate(s). Bring a notarized copy of each child’s birth certificate.
• Travel consent forms. You need a signed and notarized consent form from the non-traveling parent that includes permission for you to travel across borders and seek medical care. You can create a form for specific dates/countries or a general permission for any international travel over a specified date range. You can find templates easily online.
• Travel insurance/medical cards. Bring copies of your cards and any relevant international numbers to seek care.
• Custody-specific documentation. If you are going through a divorce or have sole custody, bring notarized copies of all relevant court documents to show that you have legal permission to travel across state or international borders.

Take photos of all of these and store them in a folder on your phone for easy access.

Experienced-parent tip: Natasha suggests, “Ask other parents who have solo traveled if they encountered any issues, and keep up with news. I flew with just one kid recently and was actually asked for proof that the father of my child approved our travel on a connection in Germany. I haven’t traveled with these in the past, but we got a notarized travel consent for our recent trip.”

When you embark on travel as a solo parent, you may not have an extra pair of hands, but you have something even better: your love of travel and your love for your kids. That’s more than enough. Embrace the adventure, lower your expectations and celebrate the little victories along the way. Tammy, (@bellevuewithkids) a Bellevue mom of two, wisely shared, “Solo parent travel when you’re ready, not when your kid is.”