Road Trip Survival Guide USA Weekend

Your GPS is programmed for the family’s summer vacation. But detours and distractions abound. Can everyone arrive at the destination with a smile? These tips lead to a great getaway.

Don't leave home without ...

• Enough snacks so a missed meal won’t cause a tailspin.
• Chargers for all electronics.
• A garbage bag for trash and zip-seal bags to stash wet bathing suits, protect e-readers and keep bottles of wine from leaking all over your suitcase.
• Headphones for everyone to allow individual listening.
• Earplugs.
• Clipboard and paper.
“Our girls use them to draw and to make quizzes about our trip,” says Jenny Rosenstrach, author of Dinner: A Love Story . “It keeps them busy and is a nice keepsake.” Don’t forget old standbys like joke books and Mad-Libs.

If there's a road trip with kiddies on your summer calendar, this link's for you.

USA Weekend's Road Trip Survival Guide