How to Successfully Entertain Yourself on a Road Trip

The Great American Road Trip sounds fun; however, sitting in a cramped car for several hours does not. If your family vacation is in California and you live in New York and your only option is to drive, well you are going to need to find something to do for the 40-plus hours.

Planning ahead will make the car ride more enjoyable. Dress comfortably and be sure to charge electronics the day before — you don’t need your laptop battery to die mid-movie. Pack magazines or books in an on-the-road entertainment bag to keep near you because you don’t want to keep reaching in the trunk for necessary items.

Pack the right foods. Try to pack a healthy snack and something that won’t upset your stomach. If possible, don’t bring chocolate or candy that will melt and cause issues. Avoid salty foods because you will then become more thirsty and more likely to drink water, eventually having to use the restroom frequently.

Bring Mad-Libs, a crossword puzzle, word search or other games to help pass the time. If you’re up for some adventure, make up your own road games. Play 21 Questions or count how many times you see a certain word on a billboard.

Find the world’s largest everything. Include fun places to stop and stretch your legs.

Bring a real map and a Sharpie. Yes, you can use Google Maps, but it’s not as fun. Trace your route on the map as you go.

Get a gas card. You’ll be purchasing a lot of fuel and with many gas card options you will receive free fuel points, cash back on hotels and maybe discounted groceries.

Make a killer playlist. There is nothing that says road trip more than some good tunes and if you get stuck, put on Pandora to mix it up.

Happy road tripping!