Driving Home for the Holidays: How to Handle Long-Distance Trips Like a Pro

The 2025 holiday season is here, and for thousands of Washingtonians, that means packing up the car for a long-distance trip to see family and friends. While these trips are exciting, they also come with a unique set of risks: crowded highways, unpredictable weather, and the major threat of driver fatigue.

According to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, the leading causes of holiday accidents are consistently impairment, distraction, and driving too fast for conditions.

Handling a holiday driving safety WA trip like a pro doesn’t mean driving faster; it means driving smarter. It requires planning, patience, and a defensive mindset. Here’s how to ensure the best gift you give this year is arriving safely.

Planning the Safest Route Before You Hit the Road

A successful road trip starts days before you turn the key.

• Check WSDOT, Then Check It Again: In Washington, your route isn’t just a line on a map; it’s a mountain pass. Before you leave, check the WSDOT travel alerts for Snoqualmie, Stevens, or White Pass. Are chains required? Are there active closures? Knowing this before you’re stuck in a 10-mile backup is critical.
• Prep Your Vehicle: Ensure your tires have proper tread and are inflated to the correct pressure for a heavy load. Check your wipers, washer fluid, and antifreeze. Pack an emergency kit with blankets, water, a flashlight, and a first-aid kit.
• Pack Smart: This is a key part of safe family road trips. All luggage, gifts, and heavy items belong secured in the trunk. In a sudden stop, loose items can become dangerous projectiles.

Managing Fatigue and Night Driving on Highways

Fatigue management is the most overlooked part of long-distance driving. Being awake for 18 hours has been shown to impair your driving as much as having a blood alcohol content of 0.05%.

• Sleep is Your Only Solution: The only “hack” for drowsy driving is a full 7-8 hours of sleep the night before your trip.
• The 100-Mile Rule: Plan to stop every 100 miles or 2 hours, whichever comes first. Don’t just get gas—get out of the car, walk around for 10-15 minutes, and stretch.
• Avoid “Sleepy Hours”: Your body’s natural clock makes you drowsiest between 1-3 p.m. (the post-lunch dip) and 12-6 a.m. Avoid driving during these windows if possible.
• Know the Signs: Heavy eyelids, frequent yawning, “highway hypnosis,” and drifting out of your lane are all signs you need to pull over immediately and rest.

Staying Alert During Long Family Drives

The driver’s one and only job is to drive.

• Manage In-Car Distractions: Set up entertainment for the kids, finalize your GPS destination, and build your music playlist before you put the car in drive. A chaotic car is a distracted car.
• Eat Smart, Stay Hydrated: Avoid heavy, greasy meals that can make you sluggish. Opt for light, healthy snacks and drink plenty of water. Caffeine is not a substitute for sleep; it’s a temporary mask that can lead to a “crash” later.
• Share the Drive: If you’re traveling with another licensed driver, plan to switch every 2 hours. This keeps both drivers more alert.

WMST’s Top Safety Tips for Holiday Travelers

At WMST, we teach that safe driving is a proactive skill, not a passive activity. This is never more true than on a crowded holiday highway.

1. The 4-Second Rule is Your Best Friend. We teach the 4-second following distance for new drivers, and it is the single most important WMST defensive driving tool for holiday trips. It gives you the time and space to react when the driver in front of you—who is probably also tired and distracted—brakes suddenly. In rain or snow, extend that to 6-8 seconds.
2. Assume Everyone is Distracted. Drive with the mindset that every other car is a potential hazard. Assume the driver next to you will change lanes without signaling. Assume the person in front is looking at their phone. This defensive mindset keeps you out of accidents.
3. Plan for Zero Distractions. Remember Washington’s E-DUI (distracted driving) law. Your phone should be in a mount, and your hands should be on the wheel. A long, “boring” stretch of I-90 is the most tempting time to check a notification, and it’s also the most dangerous.
4. Play a game: Remember “I Spy”?  Play the WMST version of identify potential hazards and predict what will happen next.  Sounds silly, but everyone in the car can play and it keeps the driver engage with the road.
5. Give yourself extra time: Everyone is in a rush during the holidays, but when it comes to roadtrips, give yourself extra time to get there.  With all the challenges of holiday travel, ‘tis the season to slow down and enjoy the journey.

Conclusion

The goal of a holiday trip is to celebrate with the people you love. The best way to ensure you get that chance is to prioritize safety above your schedule. A little extra planning, a commitment to taking breaks, and a WMST defensive driving mindset are what separate an amateur driver from a pro.

Preguntas frecuentes (FAQ)

How many breaks should I take during a long trip? 

Plan to stop every 2 hours or 100 miles, whichever comes first. Get out of the car for at least 10-15 minutes to stretch and refresh your mind.

What’s the best way to avoid drowsy driving? 

El only cure for drowsiness is sleep. Get a full 7-8 hours of sleep before your trip. Do not rely on caffeine, loud music, or an open window; these are unreliable tricks. If you feel tired, pull over to a safe rest area and take a 20-minute nap.

How can I keep kids safe in the backseat? 

First, ensure they are in the correct, properly installed car seat or booster seat for their age and weight. Second, secure all luggage, gifts, and loose items in the trunk to prevent them from becoming projectiles in a sudden stop.

Should I use cruise control on long drives? 

Cruise control is an excellent tool for reducing leg fatigue on long, dry stretches of highway. However, you should never use cruise control in heavy rain, snow, or icy conditions. It can reduce your reaction time and cause your wheels to spin, leading to a loss of control.

Are WMST instructors available for refresher lessons? Yes. WMST offers refresher lessons for licensed drivers of all ages. If you feel anxious about highway driving, winter conditions, or haven’t been on a long road trip in a while, a one-hour refresher lesson is a perfect way to sharpen your WMST defensive driving skills.