Video: FamilyCarAdvice: Road Trip!

Here are our top five tips to ensure this year's family adventure goes as smoothly and safely as possible. First things first, make sure you're up-to-date on your cars regular maintenance before you hit the road. Check your cars oil level, tire inflation and condition, and windshield wiper fluid. Also make sure you've got an emergency roadside kit with a flashlight, extra batteries, drinking water, food, battery booster cables, and a first aid kit. Pack or download some music the whole family can agree on, that might be the wiggles or Michael Jackson's greatest hits. If you're going to be in the car for hours, make the best of it with a sing along. If you've got older kids, an age appropriate mystery or thriller audio book will keep everyone, even the adults, quiet and engaged while the miles tick by. Whether it's eye spy for the little ones or even the license plate game for the older ones, find an easy game that everyone in the family can enjoy and feel part of the fun. If your kids are anything like mine, you'll start to hear "I'm hungry" 15 minutes after you pull out of the driveway, bring a wide variety of car friendly, easy to vacuum up later snacks to keep hunger and a little boredom at bay. Make sure to pack your kids' favorite crackers, but also keep a few packs of something new in your back pocket to surprise them when tempers fray. Linger a little longer over lunch by stopping at a restaurant with a play area for kids, or find an area playground for both the kids and the adults to burn off some energy. A soccer ball or Frisbee tucked into the trunk can't hurt either. Most importantly, pack a little extra patience and enjoy the time with your kids. Before you know it, they'll be out of the house and reminiscing about those legendary Griswold like family road trips. For more information on road trip tips, family vehicle reviews, and more, please visit us at cars.com/family.