7 Things to Set Up Before Your Drive-Through Christmas Lights Tour

The best drive-through Christmas lights tip is simple: get your phone, route and music fully set before the car moves. Mount the phone, load navigation, start the soundtrack and silence notifications while you're still parked. Then keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the lights.

Here's a practical checklist to make your holiday light drive easier for everyone in the car.

Why set everything up before you roll in?

Drive-through light shows are slow, stop-and-go and full of distractions. That's the fun part. Kids point, passengers gasp, and there's something new around every bend.

But that also makes it the wrong moment to search for a radio station or fix a map that froze. When everything is ready before you shift into drive, the driver can just drive. Everyone else can just enjoy the show.

What should be on your pre-drive checklist?

Run through this list in your driveway or in the parking area before you join the line.

1. Charge your phone and pack a cable

Long lines and a running map can drain a battery. Start with a full charge and plug in a car charger with a cable long enough to reach your phone's spot without stretching across the cabin.

2. Mount your phone where you can see it at a glance

Pick one spot for your phone and put it there before you start. A low, stable mount keeps the screen visible without blocking your windshield, which matters when the whole point is looking out the windows.

The Cell Phone Seat sits in your cup holder and fits all phones, vertically or horizontally, with or without a case. Not sure about your cup holders? Use the fit checker before you buy.

3. Load your route there and back

Set navigation to the event entrance before you leave home. Many light shows have a separate entrance for the line, so check the event's website for the exact address or directions.

If the show is in a park, fairground or rural area, download the map area for offline use in case your signal drops. While you're at it, save your route home so it's one tap away when you're parked at the end.

4. Queue up the music

Some drive-through shows sync their lights to a soundtrack played on a local radio station. If yours does, look up the station on the event's website and tune in before you reach the entrance.

If there's no broadcast, build a holiday playlist long enough to cover the wait and the drive. Start it playing before you pull out, and set the volume while you're stopped.

5. Turn on Do Not Disturb or driving focus

Texts and alerts can wait. Switch on your phone's driving or Do Not Disturb mode so calls and notifications stay quiet. It also keeps the screen clean for your map.

6. Settle the back seat

Hand out snacks, drinks and blankets before you move. Put cups in cup holders, not laps. A small towel or cloth for foggy windows is handy too, since little faces pressed to the glass add up fast.

Turn on your defroster early so the windows are clear when the first display appears.

7. Plan your photo stops

Everyone wants a picture, but photos belong to stopped moments. Check whether the event has a parking area or gift stop at the exit, and plan to take photos there with the car in park.

Where should your phone sit during a holiday light drive?

Think about sightlines. A phone stuck high on the windshield can block a slice of the view you came to see. A cup holder spot keeps the screen low and out of the way, so your windows stay open for the lights.

Horizontal works well for a wide map view. Vertical works well if you just want the route at a glance. The Cell Phone Seat handles both, and the largest phones in thick cases fit horizontally. If yours is too snug, soften the base in hot water following the included instructions. Too loose? Email info@cellphoneseat.com for a free foam kit.

What else makes a holiday light drive easier?

A few small things help a lot:

• Fill up the tank first. Slow lines mean lots of idling.
• Clean the inside of the windshield. Haze shows up more with bright lights outside.
• Make a bathroom stop before you join the line. Once you're in, you're in.
• Read the event's own guidance. Each show posts its own tips for things like lights, pets and admission.

Shopping for the family's holiday light driver?

If someone in your life plans the light tour every year, car gifts are an easy win. Think an insulated travel mug, a cozy fleece car blanket, an ice scraper with a brush or a car charger with a long cable.

The Cell Phone Seat is made in the USA and comes in Black Satin, Tan Satin and Wolf Gray for $29.99, or Hot Pink and Royal Purple for $24.99. Over 100,000 sold. Orders typically ship the next business day and arrive 3–5 days later via USPS. Order by December 14 for Christmas delivery.

FAQ

How do I get the music for a drive-through light show?

Check the event's website before you go. If the show plays its soundtrack on a radio station, tune in while you're parked or before you reach the entrance. If not, start a holiday playlist before you pull out.

Can I take pictures during a drive-through Christmas lights tour?

Plan photos for moments when the car is stopped and in park, like a parking area at the exit. That keeps the driver focused and still gets you the shots.

What's the best way to keep kids happy in the line?

Set them up before you move: snacks, drinks in cup holders, blankets and a cloth for foggy windows. A playlist of their favorite holiday songs helps the wait go faster.

Should I use navigation if I know the way?

It's still worth loading. Light shows often use a special entrance for the line, and having the route home ready means less fiddling when you're tired at the end of the night.