Hula-hooping in downtown Tulsa

Stop every two hours—that’s my No. 1 tip when road tripping with kids. Pull off at a rest stop for a game of tag, park in a small town to grab an ice cream cone, track down an elementary school with a jungle gym—this is the key to keeping children sane in the car. Out in the middle of nothingness? Play a game of "monkey chase the weasel" around the car.

I always pack a few basic toys in the trunk to make our stops more fun. On this trip, we brought a ball, Hula hoop, and jump rope. When we were driving through downtown Tulsa and Paris screamed "Get me out of the car right now!" we pulled over and she swung a Hula hoop around her hips (pictured). In a field of grass in Missouri, the kids got creative with a jump rope. Paris tied the rope around Dante’s belt loop and walked him around like a puppy dog. Does your family take time to stop on long road trips? What are your tricks and tips?