Focus On: Road Trip Tips  

• Fill'er up - To ensure there are no surprises when it comes to how much gas you will need, visit fuelcostcalculator.com .This website will provide you with an estimate of how much gas you will be using based on where you start and end your trip as well as your car's make, model and year.


• Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst - Be sure to get the Breakdown Lane app from Car Talk, if you have an iPhone. It will instantly locate the nearest consumer-recommended mechanic, no matter where you are.


• Bring your high tech - Your must-haves must include a universal electronics charger that plugs into the car's cigarette lighter, easily found at walmart.com. You can use its USB port to power up smartphones, laptops, cameras, and any other gadgets you have. It's best to get one with two ports, so you can charge more than one device at a time.


• And your no tech - For all those "no service" areas, which will keep MapQuest or Siri from getting you where you need to go, don't forget to bring an old-fashioned paper map.


• Keep the peace (in the backseat) - Bring a headphone splitter so two can share the audio of a DVD. You can find splitters at staples.com. You can also bring along a Stashcord from stashcord.com, to keep those earbuds tangle-free.