1. Create a List of Items that you will carry
List down what is in your pocket, or what will go in your suitcase. I usually have 3 categories or subheadings that I make before leaving home;
a) Things that I have in my Suitcase
b) Things that I have in my Pocket
c) Things that I have in my Laptop Bag

Doing this will help you be less stressed since everything is written on paper or on your mobile phone, and you will be less likely to forget something.

2. Charge your Electronics
Even if you have a car charger, it will be easier to sit back with your phone than being tangled with a cord. Keep your power bank also charged, because your friends or family in the back seat might need it as car chargers are most probably in the front dashboard of the cars.

You may even want to keep your headphones and GPS devices or Torch charged, as these are some of the devices that come in handy during emergencies.

3. Talk to people going on the trip beforehand
If you have people going with you on the trip, make sure you have everything planned out. Set a time for rest stops and when to switch turns in driving. Especially if you are traveling with your children, ensure that you decide what should be your ideal destination in case you are not able to cover the distance in advance. This will save you from a lot of hassle because you are already planning about contingencies. After all, with kids you usually have to take extended stops.

4. Ensure that you have booked your hotel in advance
Having booked a hotel keeps you tension-free, and that is because after a long car trip, you usually are not in a condition to search for hotels, hotels also usually charge higher prices when they see a traveler coming in after a long drive because they know there are fewer options for him or her.

Plus, always go for a 5-star hotel in any location you go. I know sometimes it is not possible because of budget, but trust me, it is always better to extend your budget a bit than adjust in a hotel with fungus and unclean bathrooms.

And when you are traveling with family and kids, you have one less tension to deal with if you have booked a 5-star hotel in advance.

5. Pack your suitcase a few days before the trip
This gives you time to think about adding things in or taking out and will generally make you less stressed before the trip. 

6. Prepare your snacks
Although I like eating food out on Dhabas and Tapris, having some snacks with you makes your life easier and also less expensive. 

If you have some fruits, juices, or chips with you, you can easily find some space around some farm while traveling and eat your food in the shade of a tree. I have done it a lot and when going out with family, we usually have our lunch packed, and then we find a beautiful spot, and eat outside, and that makes it more adventurous, just like having a picnic with family or friends.

7. Pack emergency supplies
In the case of a breakdown, accident, or someone who falls sick, you should carry a basic first-aid kit, drinking water, and extra snacks.

Medicines like Paracetamol, something for vomiting, or indigestion, a cream for cuts or burns like soframycin, some band-aids, and other general medicines should always be with you when you are on a car trip.

8. Wear comfortable clothing for travel
Under your regular clothes, wear something comfortable (maybe a pair of trousers). Wear a pair of sweatpants, a light T-shirt, and a hoodie. You don't want to be uncomfortable for the entire length of a long car trip.

9. Check everything one last time before you leave
Make sure everyone has used the bathroom, that you have money for gas, that there is entertainment in the car, and that nothing was left on in your house.

10. Don't forget to take pictures in your long car trip
Making memories is one of the most awesome part of long car trips, so if you have a good camera, bring it along and start recording your trip. You can later add it on youtube or can also preserve it and show it to your family or friends.