I do everything in my power to road trip while my kids are sleeping. Travel during toddler sleep means less road trip games to coordinate and less travel toys to pack.

Check out How To Successfully Take A Road Trip With A Toddler for my favorite road trip hacks on how to realistically make this happen.

Unfortunately, life, logistics, and the length of the trip can get in the way of that idyllic plan, and some road trips with kids just must be done during waking hours.

In order to maintain a hint of sanity during a road trip with your toddler, prepare ahead of time.

Here are my favorite ways to keep toddlers entertained during a family road trip:

• Top 5 Favorite Road Trip Travel Toys

• Top 7 Road Trip Activities For Toddlers

• Top 6 Favorite Ways To Use Music As A Toddler Activity An A Family Road Trip

And as a bonus, save this packing list. It's gold.

Top 4 Road Trip Travel Toys For Kids

Yes, yes, great. You are going to try to drive while your toddler is sleeping. You have stops planned. You have travel snacks and drinks. (If you need help with all of this check out How To Successfully Take A Road Trip With A Toddler).

But how do you actually keep your toddler entertained on your road trip while they are awake? Without losing your mind?

The key: options!

While you may be content listening to a podcast for an entire 11 hour drive, your toddler is likely going to want to do one thing, and then something else, and then something else. All within a half hour.

Expect this. Manage your own expectations.

Speaking of expectations.

Expect your toddler to be tired of sitting in the car. To whine. To cry. To ask when you will be there on repeat.

If you are being honest with yourself, you probably feel the same.

It is ok for your toddler to not love the road trip. It is ok for your toddler to let you know. Your job is to acknowledge. Be empathetic. Let your toddler know you feel the same way. And then distract and redirect.

And to prepare ahead of time, check out my top 4 travel toy ideas.

1 - Surprise With a New Toy

Surprise your toddler with a new toy for the trip!

Give the new toy to your toddler either right before you get in the car or during the drive, depending on when you need him or her to be most entertained.

The new toy should be hand-held and easy to play with in the car.

Not only will this new travel toy be super exciting during the drive, but will entertain your toddler while away from home.

You'd be surprised at how simple of a toy this needs to be to keep your kids attention.

(keep reading for ideas)