A little forward planning can go a long way to making the journey almost as memorable as the destination. Here are some tips on how to stay sane on your next family road trip.

Map it out

Resist the temptation to get the drive over with as quickly as possible. Work out how long it would have taken without kids, then add on at least half again… and accept your fate.

When planning the trip, think about your departure time. You don’t have to leave in the morning – it may be easier to drive through the night, or to set off after lunch and stop over. This will obviously depend on your family, the ages of your children and their routines.

Break it up

No matter when you start, divide the journey up into chunks no longer than three hours, for both your sake and that of your passengers. Schedule stops at places with playgrounds or parks where the kids can run off some energy.

Musical chairs

Mixing up the seating arrangements and swapping seats regularly throughout the journey makes things less tedious for everyone. The adult who isn’t driving can also take a turn in the back.

Food for thought

If there is one time to relax the rules on healthy eating and resort to treats, this is it. Pack a cooler bag with a variety of foods and drinks that cater to everyone’s tastes, (they can even help cook it themselves!) Children struggle to whinge and eat at the same time so have a lolly stash handy, but keep them out of sight and produce them as distractions when all else fails.

Electronic aids

It might be important to limit kids’ access to iPads, DVD players and game consoles when at home, but as with treats you should consider bending the rules on the road. Don’t bring them out too early, however – save them for when things get really dire. Be sure to charge them the day before you leave, and load a few new kids’ apps on your phone just in case.

Games

It’s amazing how time flies when everyone is enjoying a game together. Run through all the old favourites, such as "20 Questions", "Rock, paper scissors", "I spy" or "Number-plate bingo". Check out some great lists of car games on the internet.

Activity bag

Essentials in the activity bag include books, crayons, pens and paper. Throw in your kids’ favourite toys and buy a few new ones ahead of the trip to pull out in moments of crisis. Books for you to read aloud or audio books come in handy too.

Rubbish bags & baby wipes

It’s a messy business caring for kids in the car. Have a few supermarket bags handy to use for rubbish, and heaps of wet wipes and tissues.

Back-up bag

Pack changes of clothes, extra nappies and a spare dummy in a bag that’s loaded last and easy to access.

Cushions, pillows and blankets

With any luck the kids will get sleepy at some stage, so have some comfy bedding handy to speed the process along. Blankets can also be tucked into the passenger windows to block out strong sunlight.

Consider using these tips, and you’ll find your next car trip to be a (relative!) breeze.