If you travel with other vehicles, RVing in a caravan, overlanding with a group, GMRS is the easiest way to keep everyone in touch without the complexity amateur radio brings and without the range limitations FRS imposes.
Why GMRS fits this use case so well
One license covers your whole family, no exam required, and GMRS’s higher power limits and repeater access give you real range between vehicles, whether that’s convoy chatter on the highway or coordinating camp setup once you’ve arrived. FRS simply doesn’t have the legal power or repeater infrastructure to match it for genuine group travel use.
Mobile radio vs handheld for the lead and trail vehicles
For a caravan, I’d put a properly installed mobile GMRS radio with an external antenna in as many vehicles as practical, since the range and reliability gap between a mobile setup and a handheld is significant, especially at highway speed with terrain and distance between vehicles. Keep a GMRS handheld in each vehicle too, for once you’ve parked and are away from the vehicle, hiking, setting up camp, or splitting up temporarily.
Repeaters extend your range at camp
Once you’re camped, GMRS repeaters, where available, can extend your effective range well beyond simplex, useful for staying in contact with a scouting party or someone who’s gone further afield than direct radio-to-radio range would normally allow. Before a trip, it’s worth checking repeater directories for your destination area, the same way you’d check cell coverage, so you know what’s actually available if you need it.
Related reading: GMRS Scanning and Monitoring · Installing a GMRS Mobile Radio