For those of us who hate road trips, the idea of getting in a car for over four hours makes us want to crawl into bed forever. We get carsick. We get bored. The people around us get bored. The people around us get carsick. And then there are bathroom breaks, and fast food stops, and the inevitable sugar high from too many Twizzlers and the equally inevitable crash that leaves you feeling sleepy. Road trips make the hours go by so slowly and the destination doesn’t seem worth it by mile 222. But there are ways to make it through without sacrificing your sanity or marriage or family or desire to leave home.

100-mile bags – this is a trick my sister uses with her son, but I think it can work for everyone. Before you go, have everyone on the trip create 100-mile bags for another person on the trip. They can be DVDs or candy or a game, really anything to break up the monotony. These bags help mark the passage of time and miles and inject a little fun into the situation.

The proper medication – I’m not going to suggest you take Nyquil and sleep through the trip. However, if you’re prone to carsickness, you should be prepared. Ginger candy is a great natural combatant of carsickness. In more extreme cases, bring Dramamine. If your tummy feels bad, the trip is going to be terrible, so plan ahead.

Portable DVD player – sure it’s anti-social, but after your third day on the road, do you really want to know your companions any better? It will take the pressure off of everyone to make conversation and just let you zone out. Be sure to bring earphones, just in case your movie selection isn’t to everyone’s taste. Remember, the less conflict the better.

Pit stops – make sure your pit stops include more than gas and running to the bathroom. Take a break for a picnic. Get out of the car a while. Check out the amazing view. Or simply take a little walk. A car can get awfully small as the road gets longer, so make sure you get into the open air and away from each other every once in a while.

Books on cd – not a bad idea if you can agree on a book. Not only will you be seeing the country but you’ll also be getting smarter. It will also give you something to talk about afterward. Pick up the new Harry Potter or some ridiculous book you never thought of reading or even a comedy cd, put it in the stereo and relax.

Try to avoid games that could cause conflict – like truth or dare. You never know what truth you’ll discover, and it’s never good to be trapped in a car with someone who wants to throttle you or vice versa. The license plate game even has the potential for conflict with the very sensitive or stubborn.

Life is a journey. So try to make the most of it. Stock up on your favorite supplies (nothing worse than running out of m & m’s halfway to your next rest stop), take care of each other, and enjoy the ride.