Consider buying a radar detector, if you don't already have one. Nothing can ruin a good road trip, not to mention your mood, than a speeding ticket. Of course, your choice will depend on how much you're willing to spend, but many consumer experts recommend the $400 Valentine One Radar Locator, which provides "coverage" with a front-end antenna and a rear-end antenna. Among the top-rate radar detectors for under $200 are the Whistler 1788 Cordless Radar Detector, which you can find for under $150, and the Beltronics Vector 955 Radar Detector, which costs about $180.
If you're taking a road trip with young children and believe that the "license plate game" will keep them occupied for more than 30 minutes, good luck. The rest of us would appreciate some help in the form of a good portable DVD player and a stash of DVDs. Amazon's many lists rank several portable DVD players among the best, including the Sony DVPFX810 8" Portable DVD Player, listed there at $129.99. For a larger screen, you could upgrade to the Audiovox D2017 10" Portable DVD Player, available on Amazon for about $175. Don't forget to purchase headphones for each backseat viewer, or you'll be in trouble.
An alternative to the portable DVD player, of course, is the laptop computer. Laptops can entertain the kids when you play DVDs, keep you connected to the Web from your hotel room or the local coffee shop, play music, and even permit you to make video calls using Skype. If you don't already have a laptop, look for brands that have spill-proof keyboards and can withstand a bit of abuse. Also, in this day and age, choose a laptop with built-in wireless capability.
Most road-trip aficionados swear by GPS devices for any long, or short, drive. Outside Online recommends the pricey Magellan Crossover GPS (at $549) for a smooth, error-free road trip. The Magellan also provides GPS services on boats. For a more affordable alternative, cNet recommends the Garmin Nüvi 350, which is about the size of a deck of cards but includes travel tools, entertainment features, and solid performance. Prices on the Garmin range from $225 all the way up to $500, depending on the add-ons you choose.
Avoid needless stops for snacks by packing a battery-operated car cooler with drinks and food for the ride. There are literally hundreds of 12-volt car coolers on the market right now, which plug directly into your cigarette lighter for power. Koolatron makes a variety of coolers and warmers for your car, RV or truck, and they range in price from $139 up to $200, based on size.
Bring a wireless router with you on your trip, especially if everyone in the family is bringing their laptops. These routers, like the pocket-sized Linksys Travel Router with SpeedBooster, can take a single Ethernet connection in your hotel room and turn it into a wireless network everyone can enjoy. You can also use it to share a wireless hotspot connection. The Linksys costs about $80.
Spend the big bucks if you can't live without TV on the road, with the $2,995 TracVision A7, an exterior "dish" that mounts to the top of your vehicle and feeds all 185 of DirecTV's channels to your TV. For less money, you can pay about $1,500 the Sat-Go from DirecTV, which integrates a 17-inch screen and a satellite receiver in one product.
Power up your electric shaver, charge your iPod, or even plug in your laptop (if you're the passenger) with the help of the Kensington Portable Power Inverter, which plugs into your car cigarette lighter, but has a regular 75-watt electrical plug on the other end. Even a hairdryer would work, but we wouldn't recommend it. This handy device sells for about $40.
Be sure to purchase an FM transmitter for your iPod, if you want to listen to your favorite playlists on the trip. Apple recommends the Monster iCarPlay Plus FM Transmitter and Car Charger, which plugs into your cigarette lighter. You tune it into the recommended FM frequency, plug the other end into your iPod, and voila -- your favorite tunes play through the radio while charging your iPod at the same time. The Monster transmitter sells for $79.99.
