Even if your patience is as expansive as the Grand Canyon, every family road trip will have its trying moments. It's best to be prepared with a survival kit.

Stash and Carry

Nothing drives a driver more insane than being asked "How much longer?" and "Are we there yet?" When left to their own devices (e.g., Walkmans and Game Boys), teenagers are as quiet as imaginary friends. Younger kids, however, require constant stimulation, in the form of art, toys, activities, and snacks.

Pack activity kits (one kit per kid) by yourself and your kids will be surprised to see them once they're buckled in. And be sure to keep a few toys and snacks up front so you can mete out fresh reserves when the troops get cranky.

Art

Sketchbook, with a few washable markers or colored pencils.

Postcards Get the prestamped blank kind at the post office (the kids provide the art), or buy them on the road and have the kids write to friends, relatives, and pets.

Doodling Doodads Dry-erase board, Etch a Sketch, Magna Doodle.

Crafts Pipe cleaners, easy origami, and other scissorless crafts.

Activities

Tape Recorder Let the kids produce a vacation broadcast, or just let them record and listen to one another's voices — it's hysterically funny for some reason. Sony's Microcassette voice recorder ($60, www.sonystyle.com) looks like a TV reporter's microphone and fits in small hands.

Tapes Give each child an inexpensive headset for music. Or the whole family can listen to books on tape, such as The Chronicles of Narnia, the Harry Potter series, Charlotte's Web, and other child- and adult-friendly literature. The site www.booksontape.com has them for sale or rent.

Toys A new toy or one hidden since last year's trip will buy you quiet time. Wrap the toys (think inexpensive trinkets) with lots of tissue paper (no need for tape) or bubble wrap. It will take your child a little while to unwrap the present, and she'll love the birthdaylike feel. Don't buy toys with essential tiny parts that can get lost in between seats or states.

Sing-Alongs Music tames the whiny beast, so sing (even though you risk looking like the Partridges). It's a time-tested way to pass the miles. But by no means should your child start "99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall." You will lose your mind.

Card Games, Mad Libs, Trivial Pursuit Cards.

Scrapbook Envelope Entrust your child with the responsibility of collecting postcards, ticket stubs, and brochures for a scrapbook.

Maps and Atlases Preferably laminated. Workman Publishing puts out the Fandex Family Field Guides, handheld, die-cut, bound information cards. Try 50 States, Explorers, or Civil War.

Handheld Travel Games Like magnetic checkers, electronic Yahtzee, and travel Bingo.

Games

The license-plate game, the alphabet game, and counting cows are all classics, but for new ideas consult 52 Fun Things to Do in the Car, by Lynn Gordon, $7, www.amazon.com. You can also make up your own. For example:

Family Trivia Write up questions about family facts (e.g., What did Mom eat the night you were born?).

Cell-Phone "Postcards" Let your child call a friend to give a vacation update.

Next Steps

9 Clever Organizing Products to Cut Car Clutter
Before You Go on a Road Trip
Pre-Vacation Checklist