Car Travel Tips for Families

Price-conscious parents have been opting to skip flying and drive to their holiday destinations. Car travel with kids can be a pleasure with the right preparation. Use these car travel tips to make your road trip a success.

According to a new survey from Jiffy Lube International, 88% of people surveyed say they plan on taking a summer vacation. That's a 4% increase from 2008. Forget about planes. We are driving. 71% of travelers plan car trips.

My first tip is to invest in a easypass prepaid card. This card goes on your dashboard and allows you to fly through the toll booths and have the fees sent right to your credit card.

Now it is time to check on the car's condition and make sure the family truckster is ready to take on the interstates.

Here are the top things you'll want to check on your car:

Check your engine oil & filter. Don't put off the basics-having your car in top condition is a must.Wiper blades. Old, cracked blades won't clean the windshield properly. Poor visibility could be very dangerous on the rain or dark.

Keep your tires pumped. Check out the owner's manual on your car and make sure you've got the right amount of tire pressure.

Check the condition of your spare.

Make sure your air conditioning works and has plenty of coolant.

Now it is time to start loading up. Prepare an emergency kit for the car with first aid supplies, bottled water, flashlight, flares and blankets. Stash an extra cell-phone battery and a few granola bars in there too.

Bring a travel inverter for the car (about $20). This allows you to charge cellphones, iPods and games right in the car-making sure that the entertainment doesn't run out before you reach your destination.

Get the coolers out. The savings are huge if you bring along your own supplies. Buying organic milk at a tourist destination could bankrupt a family of four! Map out spots for picnic lunches in areas with parks so the kids can run around and stretch their legs.

When it comes to entertainment, have the tunes ready to go. Mix a kids friendly iPod playlist and belt out the tunes when you hit traffic on I-95. Books on CD are also a great diversion.

Pack toys that work well in the car. Etch a sketch, and other hand held toys are ideal. It's also fun to create a highway treasure hunt. Prepare little books for the kids and place stickers in the books when the kids find things such as an Alaskan license plate, a sign with a cowboy on it, a purple car, etc.

Dress everyone comfortably. Let the kids kick their shoes off and put them in loose comfortable clothing. Make sure the car seats are properly secured an adjusted to the right height level.

While you may rely on your GPS system for navigation, print out a map to share with the kids of the trip. Highlight the route and tell the kids where you'll be stopping. Including them in the process just might cut doesn't on the "Are we there yet?"