How I Managed To Sneak In Workouts On A Recent Road Trip

By Regan Jones, RDN, ACSM-CPT
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Getting in a workout while taking a road trip with family isn't always easy. But with a few simple circuits and a few free weights, it can be done.

Getting in a workout while taking a road trip with family isn’t always easy. But with a few simple circuits and a few free weights if available, a good hotel workout it can be done.

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I’m just now arriving home from a week long road trip to/from Niagara Falls.

Sounds like a lot of run, right? Seeing the country… driving the way we did when we were kids… stopping at little road side attractions to take in the sights. God Bless America.

Here’s the problem — SPRING DIDN’T GET THE MEMO!

My blood is thin. I know. I’ve lived only in warm sunny southern states my whole life. But for the love of all that’s good and holy in this lifetime. It’s April. Battling snow and ice should NOT be an issue on a spring break trip.

My poor kids. (I say poor in that “not really” way. These guys own more electronics than I had at my desk of my first job. So they really do have plenty to keep themselves occupied when we travel.)

But I hate that their whole spring break was basically spent trying to avoid cold, blustery weather. (There is a reason we live in the south. We don’t do well when we need more than a light sweater).

The trip hasn’t been all bad. I don’t mind reaching around to pat myself on the back for my co-pilot skills of finding good places to eat. You can say we’re all too buried in our electronics, but give me a city and TripAdvisor and I’m gonna find somewhere to eat some special donut or burger or stack of pancakes that locals rave about.

From a personal standpoint, I managed to make this spring break not suck so bad by keeping up a *little* bit of a workout routine on the road. Honestly, it was less about being swimsuit ready and more about staying sane.

I get restless, fidgety and just out of sorts if I don’t get some sort of movement in after a few days. Originally, our trip was supposed to involve some hikes and long walks. Sub-freezing temps, ice and snow have an amazing way of ruining a long walk.

So instead, I opted for a hotel workout every few days and one in room workout. I’ve posted them below. I’ve also been posting these on Instagram in my stories periodically as I travel. You’ll see that some requirement equipment, some don’t. They’re all different — some are more total body, some are more heavily weighted, one is little more cardio, one even mimics my favorite workout, BodyPump and one is a quick in room circuit that you can do while your kids are asleep (assuming of course your room is big enough to accommodate that.)

If you want to hear more ideas of how to stay fit on the road, you’ll enjoy the episode I recorded of the podcast with my friend and fitness guru Amie Hoff: 

And if you have fave workouts you do when traveling, let me know. I’m always looking for more great ideas… and warmer weather. ~Regan

Getting in a workout while taking a road trip with family isn't always easy. But with a few simple circuits and a few free weights if available, a good hotel workout it can be done.

Getting in a workout while taking a road trip with family isn't always easy. But with a few simple circuits and a few free weights if available, a good hotel workout it can be done.

Getting in a workout while taking a road trip with family isn't always easy. But with a few simple circuits and a few free weights if available, a good hotel workout it can be done.

Getting in a workout while taking a road trip with family isn't always easy. But with a few simple circuits and a few free weights if available, a good hotel workout it can be done.

Getting in a workout while taking a road trip with family isn't always easy. But with a few simple circuits and a few free weights if available, a good hotel workout it can be done.

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