7hr road trip with 2 kids.

[lilac05]

In my experience, driving is MUCH easier than flying! Don't let the kids sense your anxiety about the road trip...they're like sharks and will attack you if they sense fear! Talk it up...make it sound like a great adventure. (We drive through crazy boring Midwest and still call it a great adventure! Haha!) I just bought Tshirts at The Children's Place that say "Family Road Trip" on them. DS1 is SUPER excited to get to wear it on our next road trip. (We take a 6+ hour trip about every other month, on average...sometimes back to back weekends!)

I always sit up in the front, unless we're eating something that DS2 could possibly choke on. Then I move to the back for eating only and they think they've died and gone to heaven. I pack a variety of toys and books (new and old). They get one toy at a time. I start with their least preferred toy and let them play with it until they're bored with it, then give them their next favorite. I save their very favorites for last, when we're all ready to be done! There's nothing worse than getting to the end of the drive and they don't like any of their toy options! If I give them access to all of the toys, they've gone through them within 30 minutes and want something new. I always have the iPad or DS packed, but have never actually had to use them! (I'm not opposed at all...but I'm saving them for when I'm desperate!)

We take turns listening to adult and kids' music, and throw in a round of "Going on a Picnic" (alphabet game) or "let's see how many blue trucks we can see!" Throughout the trip.

DS1 would eat the ENTIRE drive if I let him. I started setting the timer on my phone. He can have a little snack every 30 minutes (or more, depending on what he has already eaten).

Some of my favorite memories as a child were the 12 hour road trips we took to see my grandparents. It's a little work for the parents, but road trips can be a lot of fun! I hope you are pleasantly surprised!

[CurlyQ284]

I agree with lilac05. No fear!

When SDs were little we showed no fear and they grew up used to long car drives. Once when SD was about 7 said "oh 5 hours? That's not bad!"

[McGavin]

Nov 24, 2014 13:02:02 GMT -5 CurlyQ284 said:

Nov 24, 2014 13:00:54 GMT -5 McGavin said:

You don't drink anything. It's science.

H and I used to be able to do this before we started making the trip with kids.

but...thirsty and stuff.
I don't get it. There are rest stops. It literally takes 2 minutes.

Northern Ontario is pretty sparse, there aren't a lot of rest stops.  And I've been told by a urologist that I have an huge bladder, I guess that helps.

[eddy]

I actually find less is more and structure is important. I like the idea of snacks every hour and setting a timer. Otherwise they will just be asking for stuff to ask for it and you will not get to relax at all.

I had friends, who have this amazing ability to be really strict with their kids, who just had books for a 20 hour drive. They gave their 4 year old a gummy worm every hour as a treat. That was it. No tv, no new toys. Just a gummy worm.

It made me rethink how i approach travel. I now pack less stuff and set the tone early that they need to deal. We turn the ipad onto a movie that I have picked and they only have a choice to be happy with it.

I also think kids are more demanding when you are in back with them.

[8675309]

I've received some great advice in here. I like the idea of timed snacks, toys, games etc. Thanks everyone for the tips! Hopefully the 7hrs flies by!

[dragonfly08]

For us it's a combination of the DVD player and movies the girls have chosen, a back pack for each girl that she packs either herself or with my help filled with books/toys/coloring stuff/whatever else fits in there, PLENTY of favorite snacks including treats as bribes, and stopping as necessary to use the restroom and stretch even if I'm dying inside at the delay. The trip to my parents is 3 1/2 hours, and it's 4 1/2 to my ILs and it's only in the last couple of years (my girls are 8 and 11 now) that I'm back to actually being able to make it in that time frame since up until then there were lots of stops to pee, change the DVD, unpack and dole out lunches, whatever. I always tacked on an extra 30-60 minutes for those things alone, the longer the trip the more extra time I expected to need.

[nahoku]

You can do it! Agree with the others. Fun snacks/treats. Movies. Coloring books and stickers. My kids like to play "I spy" while we drive. Try to hold off on the electronics as long as you can. My kids made it I think around 8 hours on a drive w/o them and it shocked me (they were 3 and 6 at the time). I kept them out of sight until they asked for them. Make a fun playlist of songs you all like.

We've done the drive from MN to CO and back two summers in a row and survived. We stop for a night on the way out there but drive straight through on the way home. Plan on the trip being longer than you think it will be by a couple of hours. It just will be (not sure if your youngest is in diapers still) so be mentally prepared instead of stressing about how long it is taking.

[liverandonions]

Where in NorCal?

[8675309]

Nov 24, 2014 14:20:39 GMT -5 liverandonions said:

Where in NorCal?

Meadow Vista

[liverandonions]

Nov 24, 2014 14:26:22 GMT -5 8675309 said:

Nov 24, 2014 14:20:39 GMT -5 liverandonions said:

Where in NorCal?

Meadow Vista

That's not far from me! Too bad it's the holiday week or we could have planned to GTG!

[8675309]

Nov 24, 2014 14:31:09 GMT -5 liverandonions said:

Nov 24, 2014 14:26:22 GMT -5 8675309 said:

Meadow Vista

That's not far from me! Too bad it's the holiday week or we could have planned to GTG!

Ohhh that would have been AWESOME!

Speaking of, what's the weather been like up there? We're having warm temps during the day in So Cal. Not sure what to expect since the area we are going is pretty mountain-like.

[beefcheeks]

Food and movies work best for us. There are some really great ideas in here though!

[UnderProtest]

Just another person chiming in to say that car rides go much better than plane rides for my kids.

[polarbearfans]

Nov 24, 2014 13:51:19 GMT -5 eddy said:

I actually find less is more and structure is important. I like the idea of snacks every hour and setting a timer. Otherwise they will just be asking for stuff to ask for it and you will not get to relax at all.

I had friends, who have this amazing ability to be really strict with their kids, who just had books for a 20 hour drive. They gave their 4 year old a gummy worm every hour as a treat. That was it. No tv, no new toys. Just a gummy worm.

It made me rethink how i approach travel. I now pack less stuff and set the tone early that they need to deal. We turn the ipad onto a movie that I have picked and they only have a choice to be happy with it.

I also think kids are more demanding when you are in back with them.

We took long trips several times a year growing up with very few stops. I learned early on how to entertain myself. We would sometimes sing songs or talk, but it was mainly 15 hours of polka/gospel music lol

Luckily the routes were scenic. I used my imagination. Created stories. Once I could read I had my books.

[liverandonions]

Nov 24, 2014 14:33:46 GMT -5 8675309 said:

Nov 24, 2014 14:31:09 GMT -5 liverandonions said:

That's not far from me! Too bad it's the holiday week or we could have planned to GTG!

Ohhh that would have been AWESOME!

Speaking of, what's the weather been like up there? We're having warm temps during the day in So Cal. Not sure what to expect since the area we are going is pretty mountain-like.

Cold, but it's been sunny. Looks like starting friday it's supposed to get quite a bit colder/cloudier. And with the mountain temps I would guess it's quite a bit colder.

[starlily]

Nov 24, 2014 12:54:00 GMT -5 8675309 said:

Nov 24, 2014 12:52:44 GMT -5 starlily said:

We just did this drive with DDs. DD1 occupied herself with dolls and singing to herself. DD2 slept most of the way through.

We did make two stops along the way. I don't think I'd attempt it without at least one stop.

You're from my area right? What stops did you make? Anything exciting along the 99? Or did you do the 5?

We take the 5. Nothing too exciting other than the standard gas station/fast food hubs. There are a few areas of nothingness to be aware of though, in case the kids show any inkling of needing a restroom: the Grapevine until you reach Gorman, a long stretch after Kettleman City until the 152 split, and another long stretch between Patterson and Livermore.

[8675309]

Nov 24, 2014 17:22:14 GMT -5 starlily said:

Nov 24, 2014 12:54:00 GMT -5 8675309 said:

You're from my area right? What stops did you make? Anything exciting along the 99? Or did you do the 5?

We take the 5. Nothing too exciting other than the standard gas station/fast food hubs. There are a few areas of nothingness to be aware of though, in case the kids show any inkling of needing a restroom: the Grapevine until you reach Gorman, a long stretch after Kettleman City until the 152 split, and another long stretch between Patterson and Livermore.

Thanks for the heads up. The stretch after Kettleman City will actually work. We plan to stop at Bravo Farms (which is right there) so they'll get nice and tired before the next stretch. That farm looks really awesome from the website and it even has a dog park for my little pup.

[curtains]

Audible.com has a free trial membership right now. You get one free book on tape to sign up.
This is more for you than the kids, they will be watching their movies in the back and you can keep the sound on your front speakers. I travelled a ton with my dd when she was little and it was a nice diversion during the long drive.

[mich1]

Am I missing anything?


Alcohol for you?

[katfco]

We generally take 2-3 11-14 hour drives a year.
--Take a ball they can kick around at rest stops.
--Take a cookie sheet (something with a lip around it) for little cars, magnets, coloring. They're great for holding in the kids' laps to help them keep from losing whatever little toy they've got.
--When Abby got to the age of your oldest, she really started to enjoy books on CD. We got some from the library and she was able to listen to books being read to her, even if we weren't actually reading.
--Plastic cups to hold snacks, and expect them to be dropped in unreachable places, to have spares.
--Make sure you take enough drinks.
--If you're not anti-McD's, look for play places where you can stop for lunch. You can save time by having the kids play while you eat, and then they can eat in the car.
--Don't forget napkins or a roll of paper towels. We rarely need them when we take them, but we often need them that one time we forget.
--to stay organized in the car, I often will put all one kids' toys in a basket/bag and the other kids' in a separate one. If your car is set up right, you can put them next to their seats and they can get their own toys.

[starlily]

Nov 24, 2014 17:24:58 GMT -5 8675309 said:

Nov 24, 2014 17:22:14 GMT -5 starlily said:

We take the 5. Nothing too exciting other than the standard gas station/fast food hubs. There are a few areas of nothingness to be aware of though, in case the kids show any inkling of needing a restroom: the Grapevine until you reach Gorman, a long stretch after Kettleman City until the 152 split, and another long stretch between Patterson and Livermore.

Thanks for the heads up. The stretch after Kettleman City will actually work. We plan to stop at Bravo Farms (which is right there) so they'll get nice and tired before the next stretch. That farm looks really awesome from the website and it even has a dog park for my little pup.

Oh, I didn't realize it had opened! I'll have to check it out next time.

[DotAndBuzz]

- pipe cleaners. Kids will entertain themselves forever with pipe cleaners. I always buy a pack for each kid before trips.

- I bought little doodle pads for them with ideas/inspiration on each page (at Learning Express, they're Usborne brand) so they don't have to come up with the idea to doodle.

- Crayons in a plastic cup w/ lid between them, in the cup holder. That way they can still color, but not have markers all over.

- car/highway bingo. Also at Learning Express for like $1/card.

I do a LOT of road trips, so I pack a little entertainment bag for each of them. I would drive 1000 miles w/ kids (and have) before flying with kids if it was completely up to me. I hate flying w/ kids.

Also - perspective for you: don't approach it as a race against the clock. Just accept that your drive time will take longer than it should. It's just the nature of the beast. There's no such thing as a quick bathroom stop, traffic happens, etc. Plan on a 7 hour drive taking close to 10, and be pleasantly surprised if it takes less.

[8675309]

Nov 24, 2014 17:40:32 GMT -5 DotAndBuzz said:

-

Also - perspective for you: don't approach it as a race against the clock. Just accept that your drive time will take longer than it should. It's just the nature of the beast. There's no such thing as a quick bathroom stop, traffic happens, etc. Plan on a 7 hour drive taking close to 10, and be pleasantly surprised if it takes less.

Reading this makes me think we should probably leave at 3am instead. You're right, I don't want to be stressed out about the time.

[starlily]

Nov 24, 2014 17:48:43 GMT -5 8675309 said:

Nov 24, 2014 17:40:32 GMT -5 DotAndBuzz said:

-

Also - perspective for you: don't approach it as a race against the clock. Just accept that your drive time will take longer than it should. It's just the nature of the beast. There's no such thing as a quick bathroom stop, traffic happens, etc. Plan on a 7 hour drive taking close to 10, and be pleasantly surprised if it takes less.

Reading this makes me think we should probably leave at 3am instead. You're right, I don't want to be stressed out about the time.

What time do you need to be at your destination? Kids turned a 6.5 hour trip into an 8 hour trip for me, barring traffic issues.

Are you driving back Sunday? THAT might be closer to a 10hr trip because of traffic and bigger crowds at stops.

Finally, check the weather before you head out through the Grapevine. There were a couple times I had to reroute using 101 because of freak snow.

[8675309]

Nov 24, 2014 17:57:45 GMT -5 starlily said:

Nov 24, 2014 17:48:43 GMT -5 8675309 said:

Reading this makes me think we should probably leave at 3am instead. You're right, I don't want to be stressed out about the time.

What time do you need to be at your destination? Kids turned a 6.5 hour trip into an 8 hour trip for me, barring traffic issues.

Are you driving back Sunday? THAT might be closer to a 10hr trip because of traffic and bigger crowds at stops.

Finally, check the weather before you head out through the Grapevine. There were a couple times I had to reroute using 101 because of freak snow.

Ideally, I'd like to get there by noon. Which was why we planned to leave at 4am. I figured 8 hours for a 7hr destination was plenty? I am rethinking that now though. And thanks for the heads up about the grapevine. I do not want to deal with Snow!