A family vacation is an exciting time to embark on adventures with your loved ones. This is the perfect chance to make precious memories that your children will tell their kids about on their own family trips. However, traveling for the holidays can easily feel like a chore if you don’t fully prepare.

Tensions can run high after spending long hours crammed in a car together. Take some time to plan your perfect road trip with these five car travel tips for your family holiday.

Perform Maintenance Before You Leave

There is nothing worse than breaking down in an unfamiliar area with a car full of people. Avoid this problem by doing some maintenance on your vehicle before you hit the road. Don’t wait until you’re stuck on the side of the highway to check on your car’s essential features like:

• • • Tire pressure
    • Oil
    • Gas

Study Your Route

The next car travel tip for your family holiday involves becoming acquainted with your map. GPS technology has made it simple to find your way from point A to point B, but you should still know your way around without it.

What happens if your device loses charge and can’t guide you? What if you drive through an area with weak Wi-Fi? Familiarize yourself with your route so you can still arrive on time no matter what problems come your way.

Prioritize Safety

Even though you aren’t moving your body, sitting in a car on a long drive can be exhausting! Your passengers will probably want to unbuckle and lie down to snooze at some point along the way. While it’s understandable, you shouldn’t sacrifice car safety for comfort.

Make sure that you are following safety guidelines regarding car seats and seatbelts at all times. To help combat any discomfort, bring along neck pillows, blankets, and eye masks so that everyone can cozy up during their naps.

Plan a Few Pitstops

It’s important to set aside time for everyone to stretch their legs during a long road trip. Kids get restless, especially after a good car nap. It’s a good idea to let them release some of that pent-up energy outdoors.

Look for some fun outdoor areas for everyone to get some fresh air, like a park or a playground. Be sure to factor these stops into your schedule so you can still make it to your vacation spot on time.

Bring Plenty of Distractions

Finding ways to stay entertained is probably the most challenging part of traveling by car. Unoccupied minds and hands are prone to trouble, especially in children. Get ahead of the problem by planning plenty of activities to distract your passengers.

There are many ways to divert attention from the dull, open road. Make a playlist, play some games, and eat snacks to keep everyone happy. If you’re bringing along toys and other distraction supplies, invest in some storage for your car so that you can easily reach everything.

Family holidays should be a time to bond with your loved ones. With these tips, your family will have the best time traveling to your holiday destination.