Just three important tips to keep your sanity while driving in one of those long-distance holiday trips:

Try to avoid the holiday crowd. Best to plan the traveling so that you don’t spend the holiday on the road stuck with the other motorists because of the monstrous traffic jam! Be observant. There are holidays where most of the people travel days before rather than on the holiday itself (for example Thanksgiving). In this case, better hit the road on the exact day.

Be prepared for anything! Always keep a cache of emergency supplies and ration sin your vehicle. Include blankets, a flashlight, some candles and a box or two of matches, a bandana or tea towel, some paper towels, a first aid kit, fresh batteries, a container of water and some interesting reading materials. Bringing canned items and drinks (no alcohol) is also a good idea. This is in case bad weather strikes and the roads become impassable.

Lastly, take advantage of electronic distractions. Now is the time to bring your laptop, portable DVD player, and MP3 player with you. If you are worried about the amount of batteries you’ll use, get a power inverter. If you get in an area with good wireless service, you can always go online and check for road updates.