6 Sites to Plan a Summer Road Trip

ROAD TRIP! It's all I can think about as summer approaches. I've got serious wanderlust, and our minivan needs to earn its (too-big) parking spot in front of our house. I happen to live in the Pacific Northwest amidst a wealth of natural beauty, but fun road trips can begin just about anywhere. The trick with kids -- there are several actually, but the BIGGEST trick -- is planning. Know your route, know the stops along the way, bring along some meals and entertainment, and you're ready to go! We at Parent Hacks spend a lot of time sharing family travel tips (including road trips), but here at Life Scoop I'd like to focus on a few free services that can give you a jump start on road trip planning.

AAA TripTik:
I'm not sure if this is the original online trip planning service, but it was my introduction to the idea of a custom-built map. When I was a kid, my mom was always dragging me to the local AAA office for free maps for our various summer road trips. I discovered that, with a little lead time, the AAA staff would put together a custom flip-book style map based on any route we wanted. AAA still does this for its members (FANTASTIC for kids to follow along as you drive), but they've made an online version available to everyone for free. In addition to the online map directions we've all grown to know and love, TripTik can add destination info taken from their well-researched Tour Books. It can also point out lodging, attractions, service stations (and more) along the way. TripTiks keep in mind construction delays and can point out Scenic Byways so you can make intelligent route choices as you drive.

Rand McNally:
The well-known map company charmed me right away because the first question it asks you is: Will you be traveling with kids? I can't say I'm sure what it does with this information, but I still appreciate the acknowledgment that traveling with kids requires different handling than your average Point A-to-Point B road trip. Basic mapping with smart routing based on how much time you have between destinations. While the planner itself provides basic directions, the Rand McNally site is full of ideas for interesting stops, city guides, national park information, and a hotel search.


Yahoo! Trip Planner:
The great thing about Yahoo! Trip Planner is that you can turn the planning into a collaborative effort. This is less about finding the route and more about creating an experience. Maps, research, journal, photo sharing, and social networking all rolled into one. You can even browse other people's trips, including trips to the same locations you're planning to visit.

Google Maps:
Straight-up directions. If all you need is routing between various destinations, Google Maps sets it up with a minimum of fuss.

Road Trip America:
This site has been a haven for road trippers since 1994. The big draw here? Forums! Road trippers love to swap hacker-ish tips and quirky finds, so if you're in the mood to chat, head on over.

Road Trip USA:
If you're ready to dream but not necessarily drive, check out Road Trip USA. This companion site to author Jamie Jensen's books is a paean to America's great highways and long-distance routes. Careful: if you spend a little while here, you might throw your kids, a few pairs of underwear and a few Snickers bars into the car and head off on the adventure of your life.

How do you simplify road trip planning? Any tips for getting the kids involved?

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Asha Dornfest is the founder of Parent Hacks -- where savvy parents swap clever, often unconventional, parenting tips. Here's the practical, real-world stuff you'll never find in an "expert" book. Featured in Real Simple, Parents, and PC Magazine.