1) Bring a small tent, sleeping bag and thin-foam mattress, this way the 13 yr. old can get away from dad's snoring if needed. (store on top, tied to roof rack)
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A small tent acts as an additional bedroom, it gives kids their own space, and makes an ideal playroom.
2) Plan on doing thing, seeing things
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Take advantage of opportunities to explore and educate. There are all kinds of possibilities for a quick stop along the road, a planned side trip, or specific destination. Many of the things to explore are free, others charge fees of varying amounts. Historical markers and sites, geological and geographical sites, engineering projects and natural wonders are among the many possibilities. Make a game of it. Add these stops to a log book. Collect pictures or post cards to make an album when you get home.
3) Get a 12v TV/VCR combination.
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Now days there is a growing number of scenic tours that have an accompanying audio tape. Usually you can pick these tapes up at a ranger station at the beginning of a route and turn it in at the end. These tapes usually describe points of interest along the route. They may include historical, geographical, or other information about what you are seeing along the way.
4) Get a motel room every 4 or 5 days
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Growing up traveling in a 16 foot teardrop trailer motels provided an alternative to spit baths. Other favorite stops were any place by a lake, river, or even hot springs. Playing in water not only rinsed off a layer of dirt it was also a good way to expend energy. It was also very refreshing after traveling in a hot car (before airconditioning) all day.
5) Be flexible on plans, don't rush. No one wants to spend all the time riding between places to sleep. Speaking of sleep, don't let the teenager sleep all the time on the road. They'll be "up" all night and you won't get any rest.
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Stop frequently, especially with younger children. Find a place where kids can run, let off steam, yell and whatever and it won't bother anyone else.
Parks, especially one with play ground equipment are great. City or county parks are fairly easy to find and usually there are no fees. They can often be found on maps, web sites, or by other means.
We almost always found such places for lunch stops. While Mom was preparing lunch us kids burned up a lot of energy from the mornings drive.
6) Have kids keep a log book (places visited, unusual thing seen, miles driven, gas purchases, their, and your thoughts and comments on everything).
