Loading up the car with the kids and hitting the open road may sound daunting. Yet, traveling by car makes sense when you want to save a few dollars, travel at your own pace, and see the countryside up close and personal. Try these ideas for having a safe journey and making the time pass by quicker on those long stretches of highway.

Know Your Child's Limits

Parents try to be too ambitious with kids by covering too many miles and putting off meals. The result? Cranky kids. "If the kids are unhappy, the parents are going to be unhappy too," says Justin McNaull, American Automobile Association (AAA) spokeperson in Washington, D.C. "Adults might appreciate buckling down and doing 14 hours of non-stop driving to get to your destination, but kids need to get out to stretch their legs every few hours." Try to keep the little ones on some semblance of a routine and fill their bodies with some healthy foods. "That can mean packing a lunch or snacks," says McNaull. "Stop at a rest area for a picnic to clear your heads. Pack a Frisbee in case you find some open grass safely away from the road."

Make Your Car a Safe Haven

The safest place for children to ride is in the back seat. All infants should ride in a rear-facing car seat until they reach their first birthday and weigh at least 20 pounds. Children one year of age and at least 20 pounds can ride in a forward-facing safety seat. Booster seat requirements vary from state to state, says McNaull but older kids need to ride in one until an adult seat belt fits them properly. For more info on car seat safety, log on to the American Academy of Pediatrics. "Bring small soft toys in the car," suggests McNaull. "If not strapped down, a portable DVD player or TV could fly out of a child's hands in an accident and do some serious harm to someone."

Lay Down the Law

Before you mark that first mile, talk to the kids about staying safe. "It's important that they don't get out of the car until it's stopped and that they're aware of traffic," says McNaull. "Parking lots at rest areas, amusement parks, and hotels, are areas where parents need to be keenly aware of where your kids are when unpacking the car and trying to get the dog out safely. It's important for everyone to stay vigilant."

Choose Kid-Friendly Pit Stops

Use paper maps to get the kids involved in choosing stops along the way, suggests McNaull. While mom and dad might turn up their noses at the thought of pulling over at well-known pit stops, such as kitschy Wall Drug en route to Yellowstone or other popular stops, such as South of the Border — a collection of souvenir, trinket shops, and fast food options on I-95 on the drive from the northeast to Florida — kids will revel in a quick visit to these quirky locales.

Have Fun on Wheels

The road trip is the perfect time to resurrect the family sing-along or a game of I-Spy. Mom and dad can take turns sitting in the back seat with the kids to play games or look at books. To keep the kids busy for hours, check out Road Trip Trivia: A Big Book of Backseat Brainteasers and Hit the Road: A Nickelodeon Travel Deck. Or, try these mazes, coloring pages and word searches.

Other entertainment must-haves, depending on the age of your kids, include children's CDs and books on tape. If you've got a portable DVD player for your car (that's safely secured), the kids will enjoy watching Harry Potter movies, a classic like E.T. or if they're a little older, maybe even National Lampoon's Vacation while on the road. Don't forget a disposable camera so the kids can create their own trip diary; they'll record family memories that you'll be laughing about for years.

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