Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 4: How to Prepare for a Long Car Trip
• Method 2 of 4: Spending time
• Method 3 of 4: How to use modern technology
• Method 4 of 4: How to Enjoy Your Travel
• Tips
• Warnings

Often, family vacations become the main event of the summer, but the journey to the destination itself is a completely different story. Fortunately, there are simple ways to keep yourself busy for a long time so as not to get bored along the way. Make sure you prepare everything you need for the trip, from sandwiches to pillows and comfortable clothes. When everything is ready, use different pastime options to “kill” the time that the road takes.

Steps

Method 1 of 4: How to Prepare for a Long Car Trip

1. 1 Position yourself correctly in the vehicle. Discuss in advance who and where will sit, and then settle in the salon. A window seat will provide a good view, but in the back seat one person can even lie down and take a nap. Switch places from time to time so you don't have to keep looking at the same landscape.
   • Try not to complain about your place. When traveling in a large company, someone will definitely find themselves in the middle between two passengers.
2. 2 Choose clothes that are comfortable. On the day of departure, you should wear light, loose-fitting clothing in which you will be comfortable to spend many hours. A light T-shirt and jeans or sweatpants are good choices. It is also recommended to choose shoes that can be easily removed and put on in a couple of seconds.
   • If the weather is hot, it is better to choose clothes with short sleeves. Likewise, put on a warm jacket in winter in case the car gets chilly.
   • It is important to feel comfortable while traveling, not worry about your appearance, as no one will judge your clothes during rest stops.
3. 3 Leave room for two bags. Most of your luggage (including clothing, electronic gadgets and toiletries) should be folded into the first bag and placed in the trunk, and anything you might need during the trip should be folded into the second bag and taken to the cabin. Then you will always have several entertainment options at your fingertips.
   • Make sure that your "carry-on" is not too bulky and does not take up valuable space under your feet. In most cases, a backpack, messenger bag, or medium-sized shopping bag will suffice.
   • In such a bag you can put books, magazines, a tablet, other portable devices, a diary and small games or trinkets.
4. 4 Take some light meals. Packaged foods are most convenient because they will not deteriorate and do not need to be reheated. Crackers, nutritional bars, assorted nuts, chocolates and bottled water will help you recharge your batteries so you can get through a long car ride without going crazy along the way.
   • If space permits, get a small refrigerator with healthy foods like fresh fruit and yogurt.
   • Do not forget to freeze the worm from time to time so as not to feel hungry and not to stop by every roadside cafe.

Method 2 of 4: Spending time

1. 1 Find a comfortable position. It can be difficult to relax if you are in a cramped car. Try placing a pillow on your lap and leaning forward slightly, or sitting to the side of the headrest and sleeping in the sun. If space permits, you can even stretch your legs or move them to the side and straighten them at the knees.
   • Remember safety: always wear your seat belt, even when you want to get into a comfortable position.
2. 2 Take a nap. A long car ride is a great opportunity to sleep, especially if you leave early. Be sure to bring a pillow with you to comfortably support your head. Sleep - after waking up, you will be several hours closer to your destination.
   • A sleep mask and earplugs will help you fall asleep and not be distracted by bright light and extraneous noise.
3. 3 Read a book. Put at least a couple of books in your backpack and take them out whenever you want to keep yourself busy with something quiet and peaceful. Read to combat boredom and long-term distraction.
   • Buy a bestseller or non-fiction book that doesn't require much attention.
   • Some people get seasick if they read in the car. Take a break if you start to feel sick.
4. 4 Take a notebook. Pack pens or pencils and a notebook in your backpack so you can draw or write down your thoughts when you're bored. Also, during a long car trip, you can do unfinished homework.
   • Share a piece of paper with a friend, brother or sister and play naval battle or tic-tac-toe.
   • Try to get creative: write in a diary, write poetry or a story.
5. 5 Play with words. Invite all passengers to notice license plates from other regions or solve puzzles. Word games are different in that they only require imagination and nothing else to participate. Examples of games:
   • “Spy”- one player describes an object in the cabin or next to the car, and all the others try to guess the object.
   • “20 questions”- players can ask up to 20 questions requiring an answer“ yes ”or“ no ”in order to guess the name of a person, the name of a place or an object.
   • “Difficult choice”- one player offers two different inconvenient situations, and the other player must choose one of them.
   • “The six handshake theory”- one player names a random movie, and the other player has to associate an actor from a series of other films with it until they return to the original actor.
6. 6 Communicate. Use your free time to ask about the news from each other's life or just chat about something irrelevant. You will have to spend some time in a confined space, so imagine that you are at a party or at a table in your favorite cafe.
   • Tell funny jokes or funny life stories one at a time.
   • Write down a few questions that make the other person think. They will come in handy if you run out of conversation topics.

Method 3 of 4: How to use modern technology

1. 1 Listen to music. Sync your favorite songs to your iPod or other mobile player so they are always at hand. You can also use services like Spotify, iTunes or Pandora to listen to nearly endless catalogs of streaming music. Choose only those radio stations that suit all passengers.
   • Be sure to bring your headphones, otherwise your music may fade into the surrounding noise or annoy other passengers.
2. 2 Watch movies or TV shows. Thanks to modern technology, you can watch your favorite movies and TV shows almost anywhere. Use your smartphone or tablet and watch services like Netflix. You can even arrange a private movie show for the passengers in the back seat!
   • If you have one device, then select movies or programs in turn.
   • In case of poor mobile internet signal, buy a portable DVD player and take it with you.
3. 3 Chat with your friends. Send messages to your company and tell them how your journey is shaping up. Stay connected even from a distance.
   • This option is only available with a good cellular signal.
   • Don't forget to bring your portable battery (or car charger) so you don't drain your smartphone ahead of time.
4. 4 Share your trip on social media. Let your followers know how your trip is going. Post to Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Upload pictures every day, write new statuses and reviews for restaurants, museums or famous landmarks. This is a great way to capture the details of your trip and stay in touch with your social circle from a distance.
   • Come up with a unique hashtag for your trip that will combine all your posts for easy search.
   • Also, don't forget to turn on geolocation on your mobile device so that subscribers can see which places you've visited.

Method 4 of 4: How to Enjoy Your Travel

1. 1 Build your dream route. Make a list of the places you want to visit and start making your wishes come true. Choose one or two of the most realistic options. The thoughtfulness of the route will help you to correctly plan your trip.
   • Don't be limited - the ideal trip might include dolphin watching, a local music festival, or climbing to the top of a mountain range.
   • Make plans based on your budget and the length of your trip, as you are unlikely to be able to parasail, go snorkeling, acquire climbing skills and see the entire city in one weekend.
2. 2 Take pictures. Record your trip and impressions. Look out for beautiful landscapes and unusual monuments that make great backdrops for photos. If you are not a photographer, then just take some funny pictures with friends and family, so that later you can laugh together.
   • Aspiring photographers sometimes even buy good cameras to take quality shots during their trip.
   • Make a digital scrapbook of your trip and share your favorite moments with friends and family when you get home.
3. 3 Read the information about the places you visit. If you are traveling to a new place, then you should take the time and gather information about the history, geography and culture of the region. A lot of useful information can be found in guides, maps and brochures. Also, the Internet will always come to the rescue.
   • Make a list of interesting new facts and set up a survey for friends or family.
4. 4 See the sights. Learn about local attractions and make some additional stops to see them. Every corner of the globe is home to incredible geologic formations, spectacular natural phenomena and curious roadside attractions. View them up close to make your trip even more memorable.
   • Check travel guides and maps to find points of interest along the way.
   • Don't make too many stops to stay on track.
5. 5 Take stops to unwind. During intermittent stops, travelers can stretch their legs and go to the restroom. After rest, everyone will feel a surge of energy and will be ready to cover the remaining distance.
   • Stop at gas stations. This way you can buy some food and refuel at the same time, not just go to the toilet.
   • Go to the restroom, even if you don't feel like it. Who knows when the next stop will come?
6. 6 Make the most of your trip. Try to be positive about the situation. Not everyone likes long road trips, but the road will become completely unbearable if all passengers are in a bad mood. Whatever one may say, you had the opportunity to go on a trip with the closest people. What could be better?
   • Don't assume that you need to keep the conversation going. Sometimes, short-term tranquility will benefit all travelers.

Tips

• Try to get a good night's rest before leaving. A short nap in the car is no substitute for a good night's rest.
• Use any opportunity to recharge your electronic devices.
• Do not forget to bring a valid driver's license for your trip.
• If you start to feel sick, try sitting up straight and looking into the distance.
• Always drink plenty of fluids.
• If you feel nauseous, start breathing deeply. If that doesn't work, pick up the bag or ask to stop.
• Download the movies and TV series you want to your tablet in advance so you don't rely on the mobile Internet.
• Grab sandwiches and other snacks so you don't go hungry along the way.
• Try not to chat all the time so that others can sleep. The driver and other passengers do not always want to keep up the conversation.

Warnings

• Try not to bother the driver and other passengers, so as not to ruin their mood.
• Drink moderate amounts of fluids, otherwise you will have to stop often.