Any suggestion from those that have traveled with cats in a car?

Current plan includes 2 cats and 1 dog. (Dog is easy)

Not sure how to travel in a car for about a week with 2 cats.

Was told never to let the cats out of the cage (unless you are in the hotel) .... cat litter in the cat crate / cage?

Some cats are great travelers, others are not.  It depends on the cat, but often it is easier if you start them young.   I have traveled many times with cats and never used a cage and never had a problem in the car.   Unfortunately we lost one cat a gas stop because it bolted when the car door opened and never came back.

My suggestion is to take the cats one at at time, then together on some short local trips.  See how they react and judge from there.  Some kitty treats and extra attention will help.  It will be easier if you have at least 2 humans in the car so the cats can get some attention without distracting the driver.  Use the carriers, but consider letting them out one at a time if they travel well.  Put them back in the carriers well ahead of the stops.  Perhaps you could even have a 3rd carrier for a kitty latrine.  They would likely appreciate that courtesy.

No matter how well they travel, secure them well before opening any door (car or hotel).  The temptation to run just might hit them at a bad time.

I have fond memories of my trips to and from college (400 miles each way) with my cat "Junior".   Thanks for bringing back the memories.

Oh, BTW, some cats stress really bad traveling.  If yours freak during the short trips, you vet may have some suggestions.

What he said. Some cats will travel, some won't. The ones that won't, I'd suggest drugs (for the cat, not you). Talk to your vet. Or if you have the room, a very large box for them. The cat carriers are so small that I think they're part of the problem.

The nice thing about having cats in the car, you can toss them out the window and it is no big loss. 

Really, the easiest and most sensible solution: Get everything loaded up, double check all your preperations and then just shoot yourself.

I recall a long drive from LA to San Jose Ca with 2 cats (when I was 5) before there was a I5.

Was not fun.

I plan to bring ear plugs, buy cat cages, check into vet Rx for cats, update the iPad with pet hotels and parks, have my wife do most the driving, buy car air freshener ..

The plan is to drive down this month and back sometime near the near years ... so 6,000 miles total with pets (1 dog 2 cats) in a car.

Wife also suggested buying a used RV ....

"It will be an adventure" ( at least that is what all my women friends say all my guy friends say "you poor sob" )

Go with what the guys said . . . . Women actually like cats because . . . well, women are LIKE cats, except with sharper claws.

I just did 4200 miles in two weeks with three small dogs in the back seat. No problemo. I folded the back seat down and had a lil playground set up for them, along with a place for them to get up on to so they can look out the windows.

As you said, dogs aren't a problem normally...