Episode #28: Our East Coast 9-State Spring Break Road Trip With Kids: Family Travel Itinerary, Tips & Highlights 

Written By Jacquelyn Hunt

Our updated USA map we have on our wall from Thunder Bunny - Now at 23 States!

9 States in 9 Days: Our Epic Spring Break Road Trip With Kids

If you’ve ever wondered…

“Can we actually pull off a big multi-state road trip with kids?”

The answer is yes—but it might look a little messy, a little exhausting… and completely unforgettable.

This year for spring break, our family of seven set out on an ambitious adventure:

👉 9 states in 9 days

We flew across the country on a redeye, hit iconic landmarks like the Statue of Liberty and Washington, DC, explored early American history in Virginia, flew kites in the Outer Banks, and wrapped it all up with beach time and fun in Myrtle Beach.

It was a lot.
It was busy.
And it was one of the most memorable trips we’ve taken as a family.

In this post, I’m sharing a full overview of our itinerary, what worked, what was challenging, and tips if you’re planning a similar family road trip.

Starting the Trip: Redeye Flight With Kids

We kicked off our trip with a 10:45 PM United redeye flight (about 4 hours 45 minutes).

Thankfully:

  • All of the kids slept at least a little

  • Greg and I were able to rest too

We landed around 6:00 AM, tired but ready to go.

👉 Our strategy: Push through the first day, stay active, and go to bed early to adjust to Eastern time.

🗽 New Jersey & New York: Statue of Liberty + Ellis Island

Our first stop was the New Jersey side of the Statue of Liberty.

We had pre-booked ferry tickets and visited:

✔ Ellis Island

  • Found my great grandma’s name on the wall

  • Such a meaningful moment to share with the kids

✔ Statue of Liberty

  • Took the ferry over (runs every 30–40 minutes)

  • Went up to the pedestal (perfect for kids!)

  • Climbed 200+ stairs (worth it for the views!)

👉 Tip: Skip the crown with younger kids—pedestal access is much more doable.

🏛 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Quick Stop)

Next, we drove to Philadelphia.

The kids napped in the car (huge win).

We visited:

  • Liberty Bell

  • Walked near Independence Hall

It was very cold and windy, and the kids were tired, so we kept it short—but it was still worth the stop.

👉 Tip: Not every stop needs to be long. Even quick visits can be meaningful.

Overnight Stay (New Jersey)

We stayed at a Residence Inn by Marriott just over the border.

Perks:

  • Free breakfast

  • Plenty of space

  • Everyone crashed early

👉 We slept 10 hours and felt like new people the next day.

Driving Through Delaware to Washington, DC

On the way to DC, we made a quick stop in Delaware for a stretch break and a family photo.

Sometimes those simple, unplanned stops become part of the best memories.

🇺🇸 Washington, DC (Overview)

DC was one of the biggest highlights of the trip.

We visited:

  • U.S. Capitol (tour booked through our representative)

  • Air & Space Museum

  • National Mall

  • White House (view from outside)

  • Washington Monument

  • Lincoln Memorial

  • National Archives

  • Natural History Museum

The kids loved running around the National Mall and exploring the museums.

👉 Full DC episode coming soon! I’ll break down exactly what to do, where to go, and how to plan it all with kids.

West Virginia (Unexpected Stop)

We realized we were only about an hour from West Virginia, so we made a spontaneous stop at Harpers Ferry.

Despite heavy rain and tornado warnings, we:

  • Visited the visitor center

  • Learned Civil War history

👉 One of the best parts of road trips is the flexibility to add stops like this.

⚠️ Weather Changes Our Plans

We had plans to visit:

  • Arlington Cemetery

  • Mount Vernon

But due to weather, both were canceled.

👉 Lesson: Always build flexibility into your itinerary.

🇺🇸 Virginia: Yorktown, Jamestown & Colonial Williamsburg

We stopped at:

  • Yorktown Battlefield

  • Jamestown

  • Colonial Williamsburg

Highlights:

  • Replica ships

  • Musket demonstrations

  • Hands-on history experiences

  • Touring the Governor’s Palace

This was such a powerful way for the kids to see history come to life.

👉 Full Historic Triangle episode coming soon!

✈️ North Carolina: Outer Banks & Kitty Hawk

Next stop: Outer Banks, NC

✔ Wright Brothers Memorial

  • Kids ran the original flight distances

  • Connected perfectly with what they learned in DC

✔ Kite Flying (Unexpected Highlight!)

  • Bought cheap kites at Five Below

  • Flew them where the Wright Brothers flew

👉 This ended up being one of the most memorable moments of the trip.

Hotel Surprise (Outer Banks)

We stayed at a Hilton Vacation Club in Kitty Hawk.

Unexpected bonus:
👉 An AMAZING indoor waterpark + pool area. It was a mini indoor water park and my kids were obsessed. They asked if we could stay another night here but we had a schedule to keep to! :)

🏖 Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Our final stop was Myrtle Beach.

Highlights:

  • Go-karts at Boardwalk Grand Prix

  • Mini golf

  • Broadway at the Beach

  • Paula Deen’s restaurant

  • Beach time

  • Airboat tour (we saw alligators!)

This part of the trip was more relaxed and fun—perfect way to end the week.

👉 Full Myrtle Beach episode coming soon!

✈️ Getting Home (Using Points!)

We flew home using Southwest:

Downside:

  • Layover in Nashville

  • Flight delayed → didn’t get home until 2 AM 😅

Final Thoughts: Was It Worth It?

This trip was:

✔ Busy
✔ A little chaotic
✔ Physically exhausting

But also:

✔ Meaningful
✔ Educational
✔ Full of unforgettable moments

We:

  • Walked through history

  • Tried new experiences

  • Made memories together

And that’s what family travel is all about.

🎧 Listen to the Full Podcast Episode

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Jacquelyn Hunt
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Episode #27: What’s the Best Age to Start Traveling With Kids? Family Travel Tips for Every Age