Any tips for a week-long car trip with kids?

We’re moving to the Bay Area, CA! We’ll be heading on a 50+ hour car ride across the US and are seeking any tidbits of advice.

Two parents will be travelling with two kids between 6 and 10 years of age (boys, if that matters). Each parent will be driving a vehicle and the kids will likely be with me in a small-ish car (we’ll send our belongings by pod or truck). We will likely travel for about 9–10 days, with a 2-night stop to visit family in Colorado.

We haven’t been on a long car ride since we moved to FL about 5 years ago. To make things pleasant, I am planning on 6–8 hour driving days, with a long-ish stops and activities around lunchtime.

We’re leaving in late May, so I don’t know what the COVID situation will be like (e.g. vaccine availability, lockdown rules, feeling “safe” being around others, use of masks, etc.). We have all been working/learning from home for over a year with little interaction with others and are unlikely to be fully vaccinated before departure.

We also have food issues (multiple food sensitivities and various dietary needs). I plan on bringing what we need for 2 meals a day + snacks, researching local restaurants/menus and eating out once a day.

Likely states we will travel through: Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, California.

Concerns: COVID, boredom, costs, must-see stops?, my plant collection

What advice do you have for us?