Families love road trips. Before you go, make a plan: In addition to basic research on routes and destinations, traveling with your kids requires a few extra considerations to help avoid those “I’m bored!” meltdowns on the freeway.

Fortunately, it only takes a little bit of prep to help smooth out road trip wrinkles ahead of time. Give a look at these nine safety tips and check for any travel restrictions along your route. Then follow these suggestions to make your next journey easier and more fun for everyone.

It’s virtually impossible to take a road trip without some sort of delay popping up, like unexpected construction or bad weather. By leaving plenty of time for your journey, you won’t be stressed about rushing to reach your destination. So when the kids spot something interesting out of the car window or you just need to take a breather, you’ll know you have time to stop.

You’re used to the added peace of mind of having OnStar* in your personal vehicle. But if you’re renting a non-GM vehicle for your road trip, you can still bring OnStar safety services with you. Simply download the OnStar Guardian^® app,* which provides access to features like Mobile Crash Response and Roadside Assistance* right from your smartphone. Better yet — you can still use the safety features if you’re away from your vehicle, such as when you stop off for a hike or a picnic. Learn more about how to get the Guardian app and how it can help you.

One of the easiest ways to fight boredom is by pulling over for breaks. Maybe it’s to see a quirky roadside attraction or an educational stop like a president’s birthplace. Or perhaps you need to quickly find a rest stop for the kids. Either way, OnStar Turn-by-Turn Navigation* can help guide you to a destination from our database of more than 14 million points of interest.

“Hangry” — a blend of being hungry and angry — is real, and it affects children just as much as adults. Fend it off by packing snacks that won’t make too much of a mess in the car. Think about things like trail mix, pre-cut fruits and veggies, juice boxes and granola bars. Avoid messier items like yogurt, chips and cookies.

Make sure your kids have something to read, coloring books, word puzzles or similar activities to keep them occupied. If you have the Connected Vehicle plan* your kids can play games on a tablet or laptop or stream some of their favorite shows and videos in HD* from Hulu* and YouTube*. In fact, properly equipped Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac vehicles have an available in-vehicle Wi-Fi Hotspot* so you and the family can connect up to seven devices at once! Learn more about what the plan offers.

Learning doesn’t have to stop because you’re on the road. Have the kids follow your trip route on a map to identify landmarks and see if they can figure out how much distance is left. In other words, have them answer “Are we there yet?”

If you’re planning a lunch stop along the way, find a park or playground and take a picnic. For starters, you’ll save money and guarantee everyone has a healthy, nutritious lunch. But more important, running around outside might tire out the kids enough that they’ll fall asleep in the car, giving you some peace and quiet for a few miles.

Most likely, if you need assistance from OnStar, you can take care of pushing the blue OnStar button or red Emergency button.* But it’s a good idea to make sure your kids understand how OnStar Advisors can help them in certain situations. Before setting out on a long journey, take some time to show your kids how OnStar works.