We Drove 12 Hours to 30A with 8 Kids (Yes, Really!) — Here's Everything We Learned
If someone had told me a few years ago that we'd voluntarily pack 8 kids into the car for a 12-hour road trip to Florida, I probably would've laughed.
But here we are.
Was it chaotic? Absolutely.
Did everything go according to plan? Not even close.
Were there snacks everywhere, unexpected stops, sibling arguments, forgotten items, and at least a few "Are we there yet?" moments?
Of course.
But somehow... we made it. And honestly? We'd do it again in a heartbeat.
Our destination was 30A, and it completely lived up to the hype. Between the gorgeous beaches, bike rides, incredible food, and family-friendly atmosphere, it quickly became one of our favorite family vacations.
If you're planning a trip (especially with kids!), here's everything we learned.
Our Biggest Road Trip Tip: Drive Overnight
With 8 kids, we knew sitting in the car for 12 straight hours during the day wasn't going to be our best option.
Instead, we planned our drive so that a big portion happened overnight.
It made a huge difference.
The younger kids slept through several hours of the drive, which meant fewer stops, less entertainment needed, and everyone was in a much better mood by morning. Was it perfect? No. But it definitely made the trip feel much more manageable.
If you're traveling with little ones, I highly recommend adjusting your schedule so at least part of the drive happens while they're normally asleep.
Where We Stayed
We stayed with Stay on 30A, and I honestly cannot recommend them enough.
They have so many beautiful vacation properties throughout the area, and everything about our experience was easy. The communication, the help, the amenities, the BEDS! Everything was better than we expected. And that says a lot coming from a mom of 8 who notices everything that might make our trip harder than it should be.
They have so many beautiful properties, and we 10/10 recommend checking them out.
One thing that really stood out was how accommodating they were. We actually arrived much earlier than expected and were able to check in four hours early, which was amazing after a long drive with eight kids.
Then...Before we even left, we had the option to check and see if our trip could be extended as well.
For a family of 10, flexibility like that makes a huge difference. Most of the homes also come with beach bikes waiting for you (but i’ll share more about that below)
If you're looking for a place to stay, definitely check out the @stayson30a Instagram account to see all of their gorgeous properties.
Rent the Bikes. Seriously.
If there's one thing I would tell every family visiting 30A...
It completely changed our trip.
30A is incredibly bike-friendly, and honestly, biking became one of our favorite parts of the vacation. The kids loved it, the adults loved it, and it made getting around so much more fun than constantly loading everyone into the car.
We rented from Good Pedals, and the process was so easy. We didn’t have to do much, because they are already tied in with Stay on 30Abut they gave us the easy options to add more bikes, seats for infants, baskets, helmets and so much more, SO EASILY!
Whether you're heading to breakfast, the beach, grabbing coffee, or going out for dinner, biking around 30A just feels like part of the experience.
They have everything you need for all ages, yes even the baby can happily ride along!
The Best Beaches
One thing we didn't realize before visiting is that many of the beaches along 30A are private.
We spent time at Seacrest Beach (that was where our specific beach house had acess too) , but our absolute favorite beach day happened at Inlet Beach.
It's one of the few public beach accesses in the area, and it was:
absolutely beautiful
much less crowded
easy to access
perfect for families
If you're looking for the public entrance, head to:
202 S. Walton Lakeshore Drive
It ended up being our favorite beach day of the entire trip.
Where We Took Family Pictures
If you're hoping for those dreamy Florida sunset photos... First, here is the sweetest photographer we were so blessed to work with.
Second, go to Grayton Beach State Park.
The scenery is absolutely breathtaking, and it made the perfect backdrop for our family photos. (You can also enjoy the beach if you get there early enough. They only allow a certain amount of cars. Which is great in my opinion!)
Definitely don't skip it.
Where We Ate (And Would Absolutely Go Again)
We tried quite a few restaurants while we were there, but these were our favorites.
Big Bad Breakfast
Great brunch spot! Kid friendly, bike-able but also has parking.
I recommend trying:
First start by ordering FLAPJACKS (the kids snacked while we looked over the menu)
Old School Wrap: Make it A “Gangster Wrap”
HUEVOS RANCHEROS GRIT BOWL
Biscuits & Gravy (some of the best!)
CREOLE OMELET
THE SCREAMIN’ DEMON (chicken sandwich)
Amigos 30a
A great family dinner spot (dress up or dress down). Big portions! Great happy hour menu.
Here’s what we reccomend:
The Chicken Quesadillas are the best ones I’ve had. They are huge too
Birria Tacos (so so so good)
Blackened Mahi tacos were to die for (my fav and i barely like fish)
Ground beef tacos (I was hesitant to order these but they were actually really good if you prefer something you’re more familiar with)
Happy hour is from 3pm-6pm and they ahve soe good specials on drinks and $6 queso with their homemade chips.
Old Florida Fish House
This was definitely our nicest dinner.
A few tips:
You have to make reservations ahead of time.
It is on the pricier side.
It was very, very good.
The food was incredible, and I was honestly blown away by how accommodating and kind the staff were—even with our family of ten. They were so friendly and ridiculously knowledgable. Our drinks were never once empty and the waiter was a young kid who knew every item on the menu. We were very impressed with the service and the food was very fresh.
We reccomend:
TNT sushi roll
Mardi Gras Pasta
Seafood Gumbo
Soup of the Day (usually pretty good!)
Bronzed Red snapper
David's New Orleans Style Cafe
A little out of the way, but the cutest hole in the wall, where you can usually see the owner cooking away. This one is simple, come in your swim suits for a quick delicioius lunch.
We reccomend:
The hot dogs (AMAZING! nothing special but the quality is soo good)
Shrimp po boy
Red Beans and Rice (people travel to get these and they 100% were the best we’ve had)
Hersheys brand ice cream was sooo good!
Sno-cones (made with the best ice!) I took a cup of ice to-go with me, it’s soo good.
Fonville Press
We actually biked here one morning, and it ended up being one of my favorite memories.
The croissants.
The biscuits.
Honestly some of the best I've ever had.
And that's saying a lot. Everything was 1,000x better than i expected. It’s crowded so get their early. And riding the bike just made us feel like we were in a movie scene getting our coffee and pastries and riding down the prettiest street
Must try:
Croissnats (I was in Paris eating these, no lie)
Fried chicken biscuit
Biscuit sandwich (these biscuits are home made and top tier!)
All the pastries, basically try whatever sounds/looks good. It probably will be delicious
The Big Chill
If you're traveling with kids, put this on your list.
The kids had so much room to run around while we relaxed, ate dinner, and enjoyed a drink.
It's one of those places where everyone wins.
Peddlers Pub
Whether you're planning a family night or sneaking away for a date night, this place is such a fun stop.
We rode our bikes there, listened to live music, grabbed drinks, and just enjoyed the atmosphere.
It's centrally located near the Rosemary Beach and Seacrest area, making it really easy to get to.
Our kids were also able to bike thier alone, check out the candy store, coffee shops, and souveneir stores. This might have been the place that made me realize I need to live this lifestyle.
Fresh air, live music, no car needed, safe for the whole family.
Final Thoughts
Traveling with 8 kids isn't always easy.
Things rarely go perfectly.
Someone always forgets something.
Someone inevitably spills a snack.
Plans change.
But those little hiccups become part of the story.
And this trip? It was one we'll remember forever.
Between the beautiful beaches, biking through 30A, incredible food, and quality family time, this vacation filled our cups in the best way.
If you're thinking about visiting 30A with kids, don't let the idea of traveling with a big family scare you away.
Plan part of your drive overnight.
Rent the bikes.
Eat the croissants.
Visit Inlet Beach.
Watch the sunset at Grayton Beach.
And soak up every moment.
Because I have a feeling you'll already be planning your next trip before this one is over.
