An inevitable part of the typical family vacation is a long car trip to wherever you may be going. This can be difficult with young and older children alike. It helps to be prepared for all possible emergencies that could arise while out with your family.

First things first, forget any notion you may have had of following an exact and precise schedule. Allow extra time for bathroom stops, food, etc. Look for stores, restaurants, and other places where you can make stops and let your children stretch their legs and run around for a bit.

Pack lots of snacks and drinks that you know your family likes. Nothing curbs crankiness like some juice and cookies. You can also save time and money by packing small meals instead of stopping at restaurants along the way.

Take DVDs along on your vacation to play in the car during the trip. If you dont have a DVD player in your car, but take trips on a regular basis, you might want to consider purchasing a DVD player for your car. A good idea is to buy a new DVD for the road, but come prepared with some tried and true favorites just in case they dont like the new DVD.

Older children can play games such as eye spy or word games. Bring along books, magazines and toys for your children. Make the toys accessible so you can easily swap them out.