When on a long road trip it is important to plan your stops.  This becomes even more crucial as you add children into the equation.  Stopping with one kid isn't so bad, but the more you add, the more difficult a stop becomes.  For example, stopping for us is pretty difficult, because all three kids want to get out and walk about the store and buy everything their eyes come across, especially my son who is always drawn to the model hot rod section of the truck stops.  Emergencies aside, then, it is crucial to minimize your stops in order to make for an efficient and less stressful trip.

One way to cut down on the number of stops is to eliminate one of the most common needs for stopping, namely, food.  To do this, you need only pack a cooler full of delicious snacks and refreshments.  Here are some suggestions to help you do this:

1. Get a cooler that can fit in the car - this is key.  If you have to stop to get the cooler out, you are eliminating half of the need for having one in the first place (though you will still save money). 
2. Pack a mix of snacks, not just a bunch of granola bars.  Include something like Gold Fish and fruit.  Make it fresh fruit though, as anything else gets too messy.  Don't be afraid to have a couple of treats in there that aren't necessarily healthy in mass quantities.  Also, sandwiches are a good way to go as well.  Having a mix will give your kids different snacks to look forward to.  
3. As for drinks, avoid sodas, and have water or some kind of juice.  However, be sure to monitor drink consumption or you could find yourself stopping even more for potty time. 
   
4. Avoid ice (contra the above picture) and opt for cold packs.  Ice gets messy as it melts. 
   

With a well packed cooler you will be able to maximize your road time, which will in turn make for a much smoother, and faster, trip.  The longer you are on the road, the quicker things will go.  Of course stops are not all bad.  I would suggest making regular stops in fact.  But packing a cooler will keep you from making more stops than are necessary.