The $100 Question: Share Your Road Trip Tips With Samara From Simplicity In the Suburbs

Don't do it, if you have to don't take the kids. If you have to take the kids put them in bed in the car and drive through the night before they can protest or get fidgety in the car. If that doesn't work bring all the snacks they can't usually have at home and keep them coming. Low blood sugar in cramped spaces is your worst enemy.

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Life in the Middle East, with craft and spice

Linda Tice

I would wish for equal justice no matter what your social or financial status.

Load up on dramamine and bottled water

Load up on dramamine and bottled water

always worked for us when we were kids.

Take frequent breaks, have plenty of snacks and water. When our daughter was small we found it better to travel at night when she was sleeping. Let your child bring a familiar toy, pillow or blanket from home so he or she will have something familiar. Have plenty of activities for the children. garrettsambo@aol.com

I was taught at a young age to drive at night while the kids are sleeping. Now that I have kids to think about when I drive on long road trips I always manage a baby sitter during the day we planned to leave. They keep the kids busy, active, and hyped for the trip while I take a long relaxing nap in the early evening. I sleep till bedtime for the kids then I'm up, showered, and ready to hit the road by the time the kids are ready to fall asleep. If we have to travel during the day I always make sure to have lots of games and snacks.

My best tip is to stop every little bit (3 hours worked for us) to stretch the legs and let the kids work off some energy.

I've read the other comments and they are very good. My number one tip is to have plenty of room to stretch out. I've traveled in a crowded vehicle with camping gear or suitcases and very little room to move. Everyone (including the driver) gets cranky pretty fast.

Bring your own food and drinks. If you have kids pack a backpack full of toys and activities along with their favorite snacks. When we go on road trips I fry up a big batch of chicken or pizza pockets to snack on.

I would suggest the following:
1. pack a cooler with water and energy drinks
2. pack plenty of snacks
3. plan out resturaunts and pit stops before you go. (very helpful when traveling with a diabetic)
4. keep a pair of coveralls in the car in case of flat, break down, etc.
5. keep basic tools and first aid kit on hand
6. purchase a pre-paid credit card to use for purchasing gas while on the road - no need to use your bank card and risk the info getting stollen and no need to run inside to prepay

We bought an inexpensive Travel Bingo game for the kids. It has things like Fence post, gas station, tractor, etc. You can easily make some game cards of your own using free clip art.

We pack a cooler of drinks and snacks and keep them within reach of the kiddos. We call it their Picnic in the Car and they love it! Stopping to eat on the road can get really expensive and takes up a lot of time.

dvd player,snacks and drinks!

my best tip is to bring things that keep the kids occupied so you dont hear fighting and screaming..travel games,drawing pads,ipods or ear plugs for yourself..lol

try to keep the inside of the car (besides the trunk area) free of stuff so you don't start feeling cramped!

plan interesting stops along the way of things to be excited about stopping to see!

bring along something new (or that hasn't been used in a long time) for the excitement factor!

when you stop to fill up the tank have everyone get out and walk around and stretch for at least a few minutes!

play road games! no pieces or parts to mess up the car (abc game, license plates, etc)

bring pillows and blankets in the car!

Our survival tips are to bring lots of things for the kids to do - magnet boards, snacks to eat, games to play

drive last at night so the kids sleep through the drive (works for us anyways)

make sure your snacks are healthy so you don't have an upset stomach - like grapes and sandwiches, not just chips and cookies and such

bring lots of snacks!

portable dvd player is my best survival tip!!!

Bring along travel board games but don't tell the kids until they are really bored and can't find anything else to do. That makes it a nice surprise for the kids. Travel Etch-a-Sketch's are also fun.

save gas and go the speed limit

plenty of snacks and things to do for the ones who get bored easily, car games, travel games, video games,dvds, headphones, etc.

We have gone on many car trips to visit my family and when our children were young we bought a portable DVD player and played their favorite movies. It really kept them occupied so they didn't ask the Are We There Yet question. We also bought some snacks.

Make sure you always pack a cooler with snacks and drinks. Convenience stores are not the best place to shop if you want to eat healthy or not pay a fortune.

Oh wow..I think I usually take movies, snacks, pillows, blankets, games..and then of course I move kids around as to who isn't fighting with who at the time..

I pack activities for the kids and lots of snacks and water. It helps to keep them quiet and happy on long road trips.

Pack a lot of travel games, music, movies and audio books to keep everyone entertained.

Always take things with you on road trips so you wont become bored.... snacks, games, puzzles and a transistor radio in case the car radio goes out for some reason, you never know

Definitely lots of snacks, music and movies, books and art supplies!

full of drinks and sandwiches and lots of snacks on hand .

are a must for my family on a long road trip.

Pack a cooler with healthy snacks and it eliminates requests for McDonald's. Bring along a puzzle book. Bring music. Give the kids a camera. For some reason they love to take pictures through the window while you are driving.

player and the video games systems

always bring your ipod

The Nintendo DS...an iPod or that portable DVD player are all great things to invest in for the youngsters. Yes, it consumes the minds of your children. But does peace and quiet not sound simply amazing on the road?

We live in Cleveland and two of my sons went to college in Chicago..we made that 5+ hour road trip back and forth many times over the course of 8 years.
Always pack snacks, pillows, blankets and a cooler of drinks. I also bring a DVD player and movies for my daughter.
Each trip I also buy her a disposable camera so she can take pictures..we've made a road trip scrap book so she can remember our journeys.

Soda coffee or energy drinks are a big "No-No" if you want to make good time. They go right through you! (and who likes public bathrooms anyway?)

I guess my best road survival tip is to pack something special for everyone... I would put together a box/bag of things they like including books, games, and snacks. I would also go to Redbox (or pre order at the library) and let them pick out some movies they like and then return them on the other end and get more if you want! Just bring something to occupy them or they will be bored and everyone will suffer!

Besides, fun packs like crayons and coloring books, I let the kids play with the ipod touches they are quiet for hours and hours thanks for the chance to win eaglesforjack@gmail.com

Lots of different audio books on CD for all ages. They're fun to listen to, and pass the time easily.

My road trip survival tip is to make sure everyone has their ipods. That usually gets us at least an hour of just humming.

Depending on where you are and when!

Summer/desert - carry plenty of fluids extra in desert, light colored clothing and sunscreen.

Winter/snow - carry extra clothing/boots, hand warmers and snow shovel/sand.

Spring/Fall - carry extra clothing as temps fall at sundown.

Always carry flashlight, portable radio, phone/signaling device, tools, emergeny survival kit, first aid kit and emergency numbers.

Always know where you are and let others know your route, destination and expected time of arrival.

Oh yeah cary the other things beach floats, sleds, food, etc.

Not only is packing your own snacks for the road more cost-effective (and usually healthier), it's also a lifesaver when the kids get hungry and there are no restaurants or grocery stores in sight!

Many thanks!!