November snow? In France? Bonkers. We left Paris wrapped in a snowy wonderland and ended our day in Roche-la-Molière under clear skies. But let me tell you, the journey in between? Equal parts chaotic and hilarious.
November is supposed to be all about crisp autumn leaves and cozy scarves, right? Not for us. As we drove out of Paris, snow started falling like we were in a winter postcard. At first, it was magical—Dotty clapped every time snowflakes hit the window, and Georgia declared, “This is the BEST road trip ever!”
That enthusiasm didn’t last long.
The roads became slick, visibility dropped, and our car’s tires worked very hard to cooperate. The GPS kept recalculating, Ali took on the role of chief motivator (“We’ll laugh about this later!”), and Georgia yelled, “We’re in a snow race!” as if it were all a game.
The first flakes fell as we left Paris, and at first, it felt magical. Georgia pressing her face to the window, Ali declared, “This is going to be fun!” Spoiler alert: It wasn’t. The snow slowed us to a crawl, with every turn feeling like a game of “Will we make it?”
After a few hours as we got closer to Roche-la-Molière, the snow slowly cleared. It felt like stepping out of Narnia back into the real world—no more ice, no more sliding, just open roads and clear skies. I was thrilled to see the sun, and the fresh air was the perfect antidote to hours of tense driving. Even though the snow was stressful, it gave us stories to laugh about over dinner—and a few tips for anyone attempting a snowy road trip in November (which we didn’t even know was a thing!)
And finally our 4.5 hour trip, took nearly 6.5 hours and we were all exhausted by the end of it, but we survived and have some great stories now too!
Driving through France in winter? Be prepared for the unexpected!
My Tips for Surviving A Unexpected Snowy Road Trip with Kids.
• Pack Essentials: Bring snacks, water, blankets, and entertainment for the kids. A few extra snacks can work wonders during delays!
• Winter-Proof Your Car: Ensure your tires are suitable for winter conditions, wipers are working well, and you have enough screenwash. Carry a scraper and de-icer just in case.
• Take It Slow: Icy roads mean less grip, so reduce your speed and increase your following distance to stay safe.
• Don’t Rely Fully on GPS: Snow can disrupt routes. Carry a physical map or download offline maps as a backup.
• Break the Journey Into Sections: Plan rest stops to let everyone stretch their legs and keep spirits high.
• Keep Kids Engaged: Bring games, music, or even a road trip scavenger hunt to keep the little ones entertained.
• Stay Flexible: Expect delays and adjust your plans. Arriving safely is far more important than being on time.
• Capture the Chaos: These moments, however frustrating, make for the best stories later—don’t forget to snap some photos!
• Laugh When You Can: When the going gets tough, a little humor goes a long way in keeping the family mood light.
Have your own road trip chaos story? Share it with us in the comments—we’d love to hear how you survived!