Planning family travel has never been so complicated. We’ve been dealing with coronavirus-related travel restrictions for a year, and many challenges still remain. But with an increasing number of the U.S. population now fully vaccinated and travel restrictions being rolled back, many are ready to get back out there cautiously for a family vacation—whether it’s in search of a change of scenery for restless young ones, tired of being cooped up at home, or to finally see family members who live elsewhere.

Road trips became the main form of travel in 2020, as we shied away from planes and trains, and the trend shows no sign of waning. (RVs, too, have started to look enticing as a way to move broods around.) As the weather warms up—and the long summer break approaches—it now feels like a good time to explore the nation’s national parks (perhaps ones that you’ve always meant to visit, but have never gotten around to). For those based on the West Coast, there are few things better than a drive along the Pacific Coast Highway for a vacation in Monterey. All-inclusive resorts and family-friendly hotels, meanwhile, take the heat off of planning, if you want to head down to Mexico, or maybe to the Caribbean.

But before hitting the road, there are still tons of questions to ask about safety, comfort levels, and bringing together family members who live in different places, especially when it comes to a multigenerational trip. We asked experts to weigh in on the essential steps to think through before planning a group getaway—and the questions to ask each person you’re traveling with—for a safe (and drama-free) family get-together. Of course, there’s always the option of ripping up the holiday travel calendar entirely. And with the pandemic disrupting many of our plans and remote work adding new flexibility, there may be no better time to think about what that less traditional travel schedule could look like in the long term.

Finally, even if you’re staying close to home, take a cue from parents who have been getting creative when it comes to entertaining young ones. Whether it’s travel-inspired books or turning your Airbnb into a makeshift movie theater, we have plenty of ideas for how to capture the essence—and joy—of travel, regardless of your summer travel plans.

The choice to take a trip right now is highly personal, with many different factors.

Experts agree that the outdoors is the safest place to be right now.

Check with your doctor before planning any trips.

Be ready to speak to children about the importance of social distancing.

When you don’t know where to go…

When you’re not sure how to get there…

Am I going on vacation or moving?

We learned a few things along the way…

All the rules you need to know…

Once you’re there…

This page was last published in September 2020. It has been updated with new information.

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