Planning our "first" Vacation!!! WHOOP

I have been wanting, dreaming, researching, planning our first trip to LEAF (Lake Eden Art Festival) in the mountains of NC for almost 2 years. They have a bi annual festival full of music, art, families of hippies and a vast array of family activiites from workshops, yoga, art classes, boating, kids only activities, you name it....they nailed it. One of them, in May and one in October (the same weekend as the annual Illinois color drive.) So this year, WE ARE GOING!!!!! I could not be more excited about anything, ever, possibly, no way. Origionally my intent was to fly as tickets are fairly cheap and the festival is Thursday-Sunday....but then along came Mr Wonderful and he has his sister and brother and law and nephew just on the other side of the mountain in TN. So, we've decided to make it a long trip. We'll be going for 11 days, stopping to see my grandma in Illinios along the way and making our way south through Nashville and then on to Knoxville to see his sister before the trip.

We are attempting to make this a very cost effective trip. We are driving all 15 hours both ways, with a 5 year old, camping stuff and regular stuff. (We have to camp all 4 days of the festival). Vaughn has never been in a car for more than 7 hours. So I need all the tips I can get on packing light, creating a FUN memorable road trip with as little hiccups as possible. how do you entertain a 5 year old for 15 hours in the car? Granted, we'll be stopping and doing things along the way but thats a whole heck of a lot of driving!!! Any and all tips would be amazing! 

Here is where we are going....imagine...breathe...ahhhhhh.......cant wait!