This section is designed to provide information about preparing for long car trips and to make them as enjoyable and safe as possible.  When taking a long trip by car, make sure you have the basics like a vehicle roadside safety kit, proper clothes for all the climates you’ll be driving through and a charged phone.  Be extra careful when driving in areas you are unfamiliar with and remember, you can always turn around (so there’s no need to dash across 3 lanes of traffic to make an exit).  The GPS systems available today make directions easy and are not expensive, so buy one or ask to borrow a friend’s.  To find out which car GPS system might be right for you check out eHow’s site.

Maps/DirectionsWith Google Maps and GPS systems directions should not be a big deal.  Take the time to program them in to your GPS system or print them off the web.

Road Construction and Closures If it’s all about getting from point A to point B as fast as possible, then you’ll need to check with the US Department of Tranportation’s Traffic and Road Closures  site.  It’s not easy to use, but it is the most reliable.  You can also access road conditions by using the USDOT’s 511 information line.  Much like 911, 511 was created a decade ago to allow anyone in the US to access road conditions.  To date this system has not rolled out across the entire US.

Mileage Tips Save some money and give your car the once over to make sure you’re not wasting gas.  If you want to budget your cost for fuel AAA’s Daily Fuel Gauge Report lists average prices by state. It’s also a good idea to carry a can of the of the instant fix a flat tire stuff.

Mom’s Minivan MomsMinivan.com is just what it says.  If you’re going on a long car trip (or just taking a short flight) with kids  it would probably be worth your while to check this site out.

Roadside America RoadsideAmerica.com is the resource for looking for attractions (from the interesting to the bizzarre) along your route.  Use the “Maps” tab and all you need to do is put in the state you’ll be traveling across.

Grandparents.com Don’t let the name freak you out, this site is one of the best  for ideas about what to do on vacations.   Everything from factory tours to vacation themes, and searching using your destination will more than likely provide you with something you’ll be interested in.

Road SafetyWe looked all over and could not find a site that contained any tips and advice on roadside safety…So, we got it started with what we’ve learned.  Check out the blog and feel free to add any morsels that you think might make it safer for people.

Bored in a car? Start thinking of lists everyone can participate in putting together and see how far you can get (the fifty states, the state capitals, all the major league teams, NCAA Football conference teams, the periodic table of elements, etc) the time will fly by and it’s fun.

Save some money and pack a cooler with drinks, food and snacks.  It will save you time, it will save you money, it becomes much easier to eat healthy and with one ice pack food will stay good for over a day.

With the way air travel is these days driving makes a lot of sense and provides the best way to see the incredible sights this country has to offer.  If you currently lease a car and are worried about the miles or have a compact and want more room…then rent a car.  Check out the sites below and see just how affordable it is.