It’s time to ready the family truckster and hit the road. And we’ve got some apps to ease your travel angst.

Best Road Trip Ever
The app-eal: It highlights the coolest offbeat spots along your route.
Helpful factor: Among the 7,000+ locations, pit stops like Route 66 landmark Snuffy’s Grill make Mom and Dad the best tour guides ever.
Who’s driving: Front-seat passengers.
Works on: iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad.
Cost: $4

GasBuddy
The app-eal: Find service stations with the cheapest gas for miles.
Helpful factor: Save money. Upgrade to a motel with HBO. Need we say more?
Who’s driving: Front-seat passengers.
Works on: iOS, Android, and Windows devices.
Cost: Free

Family Car Games
The app-eal: One hundred activities entertain on long stretches of interstate.
Helpful factor: The alphabet and license plate games will eventually play out. Arm yourself.
Who’s driving: Backseat passengers.
Works on: iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad.
Cost: $2

Bartleby’s Book of Buttons Vol. 1: the Far Away Island
The app-eal: Buttons, switches, and sliders, oh my.
Fun factor: The interactive puzzles that kids need to solve before moving on with the story are ideal for readers, amusing for everyone.
Who’s driving: Backseat passengers.
Works on: iPad.
Cost: Free

Faces iMake
The app-eal: Choose from hundreds of items like food, utensils, tools, toys, and candy for eyes, nose, mouth, and ears.
Fun factor: Thousands of combinations make it a time-passer of cross-country proportions.
Who’s driving: Backseat passengers.
Works on: iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad.
Cost: $1-$2

Road-Trip-Bingo
The app-eal: Watch for signs, animals, and types of cars to get the heralded five in a row.
Fun factor: Roll down the windows and be prepared to hear squeals of “Bingo!”
Who’s driving: Backseat passengers.
Works on: iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad.
Cost: $1-$2

	Getting there is half the battle. We’ve found games and gear to get little ones from point A to point B — as well as more ideas on where point B should be.

DEVOUR
Killis Melton Ice Cream Crank-off
What: Take a whirl on old-fashioned rides, catch a magic show, and watch folks stir up frozen treats.
Why: Beat the heat and taste a scoop or two.
When: Sat., 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Where: Chestnut Square Historic Village, 315 S. Chestnut St., McKinney. Tickets at 972-562-8790 or online at chestnutsquare.org. Festival admission is free. Crank-off tasting, adults and teens, $10; children 3 and older, $5.

BOP
Secret Agent 23 Skidoo
What: A mash-up of reggae, bluegrass, and G-rated rap for your mini music lover.
Why: It’s hip-hop his ears can handle.
When: Wed., 10:30 a.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Where: The Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts, 100 W. Abram St., Arlington (817-543-4301). Admission is free.

READ
Booksmart Festival
What: A celebration of all things literary with stories, musical performances, and appearances by award-winning authors.
Why: Norton Juster of The Phantom Tollbooth fame drops by.
When: Sat., 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Where: Dallas Museum of Art, 1717 N. Harwood St. (214-922-1818). Admission is free.

Photo: Image Source / Getty Images