I'm trying to prepare for a road trip mid-May when E will be 12 months old. It's a 6 hour trip from here to my hometown but last time it took us 10 hours with all the stops. Please give me your best young toddler car travel pointers!

We will be on a tollway with plenty of rest stops. Last time we had multiple unscheduled (and time consuming) stops for bathroom breaks, baby feeding, and baby fussiness. Because of DH's disability I can't make him wait too long when he says he needs a bathroom break.

I am planning to start our trip around the time of E's morning nap, then stop for lunch about 2 hours later. I was thinking maybe we could go to a McDonalds with a playplace so E can get his energy out. I imagine he'll be walking a little by then and he's already a climbing, cruising maniac

After lunch I'm hoping we can get another long stretch of driving in, but I'm sure there will be pit stops needed. Should I let him out of the car as much as possible (when he' s not napping) so he doesn't get bored? Besides an iPad, what other toys can I take in the car (that won't end up thrown on the floor)? DH will sit in the back but he can't really hold a book with his one good hand. What else could he do? Puppet show? LOL!

Any tips for toddler-proofing a hotel room?

TIA!