Car Rental Road Trip Boredom Busters

Don't forget the old road-trip standbys of 20 Questions, The License Plate Game, or I Spy. Try the Alphabet Game, where everyone picks a category and comes up with a word for each letter. Attach rewards like small treats or extra staying-up-late minutes. For less game-inclined kids, have them create journals of their road trip experiences—describing things they've seen, cutting pictures from magazines, or jotting down names of places you pass through.

The main key to beating road trip boredom is being creative and willing to open your mind to what kids find fun. Engaging your children in fun, creative activities keeps them entertained with the added bonus of developing their brains along the way. There are plenty of resources online—just search for road trip boredom busters for a wealth of ideas.

While you might not see how one could lose focus with a car full of kids, it is deceptively easy to focus more on the children than on the road. Some studies have shown that a drowsy driver can be as dangerous as a drunk driver. If you're feeling tired, there's no shame in pulling over and napping.

• Stay hydrated
• Have a passenger regularly talk to you
• Use an electronic device to warn you if you start to nod off
• Make frequent, short stops to rest and stretch
• Stock up on audio media to stay entertained
• Bring along road-friendly snacks to munch on