The drive to Eilat with kids can easily become the most challenging part of the vacation: Hours in the car, heavy heat, and the constant question "Are we there yet?" But with the right stops, you can turn the drive itself into an experience. Along the way, there are several stops that every child will love - places that will help relieve tension and release energy. Of course, you do not have to stop at every station - and everything depends on the route you take - but one significant stop, or two short ones, can completely change the atmosphere throughout the drive.
First stop: Air-conditioned activity in Beersheba
For families who prefer to start the trip with a long, air-conditioned stop, the FunkyWorld complex at Cinema City Beersheba offers a solution that feels more like an outing in its own right than a break along the way.
The indoor park features a two-story ninja complex, a 110-meter zip line, ice skating, bowling, bumper cars, amusement park rides, a ball pit, a mirror maze, and additional activities. For families with young children, there is also a dedicated complex for toddlers up to three years old.
The main advantage is that you can consolidate activity, food, and rest from the heat in one place. Cinema City also features cafes and restaurants, so parents can plan a stop of one to two hours, eat, and continue south only after the kids have burned off some of the energy accumulated in the car.
Especially suitable for: Families looking for an air-conditioned activity and kids who find it hard to sit for hours in the car.
How much time to allocate: Between half an hour and an hour and a half, depending on the number of activities chosen.
Important to know: Entrance to the Cinema City complex itself is free, while activities involve a fee.
Second stop: Picnic by the lake
After hours of roads and desert scenery, Yeruham Lake provides a surprising change of atmosphere: A large expanse of water surrounded by vegetation, trees, and open spaces. You can hold a picnic at the site, eat food brought from home, and let the kids wander around a bit before returning to the car.
Those who want to extend the stop can set out on a basic trail around the lake. According to KKL-JNF, the full trail is about three kilometers long and takes about an hour or two, but families looking only for refreshment can settle for a short walk around the park area.
This is a particularly good stop for those who do not want to enter an organized attraction or stick to a schedule. You arrive, lay out a mat, eat, and continue when the kids are ready for the next leg of the drive.
Especially suitable for: Families who enjoy picnics and prefer a flexible, non-binding stop.
How much time to allocate: About 45 minutes for a short picnic, or longer if combining a walk.
Important to know: In the summer, it is recommended to arrive in the morning or when it is cooler, and to bring plenty of water.
Third stop: The short trail at Ein Ovdat
If you set out early in the morning and are already prepared to swap the air conditioning for a short walk, you can stop at Ein Ovdat National Park, where the desert canyon walls and spring create a view entirely different from what you see through the car window.
You can set out on a short trail of about 800 meters to the spring and back. The estimated walking time is about an hour to an hour and a half, making it an option suitable for an intermediate stop and not just a full-day hike. However, note that you should set out in the early morning hours when it is not too hot.
Kids get an opportunity to walk, observe the cliffs, and experience the desert up close instead of just passing by it. However, in the middle of summer, this stop requires proper planning: Do not set out on the trail in heavy heat, arrive with hats and water, and check the visit conditions and opening hours in advance on the official website.
Especially suitable for: Children accustomed to walking and families looking for a short, uncomplicated trail.
How much time to allocate: About an hour and a half, alongside preparation time.
Important to remember: This is a desert trail, and during the summer months, it is recommended to arrive in the morning hours only and avoid walking during midday.
Discovering how a crater is formed: Makhtesh Ramon Visitors Center
Not every educational stop has to feel like a lesson. The visitors center in Mitzpe Ramon allows children to get to know one of Israel's most famous natural sites through story, displays, and an impressive viewpoint overlooking the crater.
The tour at the center deals with Makhtesh Ramon, the landscape, geology, and desert nature, while also integrating the story of astronaut Ilan Ramon. Visitors pass through carved spaces and a memorial hall, and can receive information on-site about additional trails and sites in the region.
Especially suitable for: Schoolchildren interested in space, science, and nature.
How much time to allocate: About an hour to an hour and a half.
Important to know: You must coordinate the visit in advance and check the updated activity format.
Ending with ice cream and chocolate milk: Yotvata Inn and Park
As the drive nears its end and the kids can already feel Eilat on the horizon, one of the stops most identified with the road south arrives: Yotvata. The inn features an air-conditioned complex with seating areas, dairy and meat meals, and an ice cream stand. Alongside it is an open area featuring rope facilities and games for children, seating areas, and a view of the Edom Mountains.
This is not necessarily a stop where you need to spend hours. Sometimes ice cream, a cold drink, and a few minutes of play before the final stretch to Eilat are enough. Precisely because it comes at the end of the drive, the stop can give the kids a final boost of energy and give parents a few minutes of quiet before entering the city.
Especially suitable for: Almost any age, especially families looking for food and refreshment without a significant detour from the route.
How much time to allocate: About half an hour to an hour.
It is important to remember that you do not have to turn the road to Eilat into a full day trip. Even one well-planned stop can change the mood of the entire family and turn the hours in the car into the beginning of the vacation - and not just the road to it.
