Trip with a 9 year old.

Agreed, not much help in the trip area, but pack snacks, there will be frequent bathroom stops, especially right after you stop and get back on the road, lol. Dvds, or downloads a must, rain gear for the kido, and make sure your first aid kit is updated. Kids by definition will scrape something and need a bandaid that has some animal on it. Otherwise have fun, and I second the idea of a campgeound with a pool/ lake, even for a one nighter. Also, make sure the kido is cool showering in the confert stations. Mine at 9 and 10 just started using them. Before that she would never go shower in the confert station. Another, good idea, is battery powered glow sticks, for nighttime.