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You're not crazy, but I would not try and make time. I'd plan to make 2-3 stops at playgrounds along the way. I'd pack food and eat at the park so you won't have to do car snacks

. I'd also plan to travel off hours. We just did a road trip from 3-9am and it was awesome.

I've done similar trips several times with my two, who are 15m and 3y9m now. My youngest has never been great in the car. She's better these days but it's a toss up. Sometimes there's some screaming. Most times I've been able to do it without extra stops, and we just plow through. I'm usually able to hand a few things back even when I'm driving if I'm really careful. I adjust the passenger seat all the way up and the seat she's in is behind it, and I move that one up too. I usually get some dollar store toys and favorite, safe snacks. My almost 4 year old loves listening to kids audiobooks. Once or twice the baby was super fussy and I ended up stopping more, and it took a really long time, but actually still wasn't that bad. We just enjoyed the stops, found some cool playgrounds and didn't worry too much about time. I'd plan on it taking all day so you're not rushed if you do need to do some longer stops to keep everyone sane.

You can do it. I think getting an early start like you said and then just not worry about having to make extra stops. If the 5yo can give the baby things if needed that would be helpful. I’d pack lots of favourite foods and stop at parks to eat rather than an indoor space just so they can burn off some energy.

I hope you go for it and have lots of fun!!

I’ve done 4 hours with my two when I was pregnant. It was ok! I had extra things beside me so that if the 1.5 year old dropped her soother, I had another to pass her.

Plus side of driving, it someone is screaming you can just power through and keep going without upsetting an entire plane of grumpy travellers. Haha

I haven't done this (and currently only have 1 child), but my cousin is either a rock star or insane, I haven't decided which. She has 4 kids (oldest is 10 I think? and the youngest is 3 1/2 now) and last summer she drove from Cali to AZ alone with just her and the kids. So, approximately 8 1/2-9 hours. So...its doable I guess?! Good luck

@SweetiePie: I would do it! I'd just make sure I was super prepared with car activities, iPads, snacks and cold drinks, etc.

@SweetiePie: you aren't crazy! Mine are pretty good in the car (although they are older than your kiddos) and I'm planning on a solo road trip with them in 1.5 weeks--we're going to take 4 days to drive from NYC-central Georgia. I always research and plan fun trip stops, but they are pretty good to go in the car as long as we stop for food/snacks/potty every 2-3 hours.

eta: Last year, I drove NYC-FL with the kids. I flew my mother up so she could drive down with us, and then my DH flew to florida and drove back with us (for me, it was a 3 week round trip, because we had a cruise leaving from FL too), and I realized on the leg with my mother that I didn't really *need* her there. I was still doing all the driving, I planned all the stops and the kids still came to me for questions/bedtime rituals/food stuff so although it was okay having her there, it wasn't as necessary as I'd thought. She didn't even ride in the back with them, she rode up front, so that made me realize I could have easily done it solo--and that's what inspired my solo trip with the kids this summer. I have the whole summer off, so I like to go off and explore with the kids, and then DH (who has less time) can just fly in and meet us at our final destination.

@Anagram: I know when a few of my friends drive overnight they take turns sleeping. So one person will drive 4 hours while the other person sleeps and then they switch. I couldn't do it, I need a bigger chunk of sleep! Plus my DH can't sleep in the car so logistically it would just never work for us.

@SweetiePie: I think you've gotten some really good tips. I've driven shorter distances with my two kids, but even then the older one is so helpful when it comes to his little brother. He is in a booster seat so he can easily lean over and help him out or hand him snacks. I make sure to have all my snacks ready to go and I bring multiple water bottles. One always seems to get dropped on the side of the car seat by the door that no one can reach until we stop. So it's just easier to leave it until the next stop.

My husband has done this multiple times with no problem. My kids are pretty good on road trips, and don't need a tablet. We do limited snacks, because too much snacking leads to carsickness. He doesn't stop much, either.

I just did 5 hours with an almost-3 year old and a 9 month old. Both are rear facing, and i drive a mini van. We are very familiar with the drive, but doing it alone with 2 kids was new for me (my husband was on a separate trip and flying up to meet us at our destination).

I moved both seats as close to the front of the car as I could. I put two bins in the car, one for each kid. I pre-packed snacks into snack cups for each kid (yogurt melts for baby). I had a magnetic drawing board, reusable stickers, and a loaded ipad for the 3 year old. I got a few small, new toys for the baby.

We left as soon as we could, about half an hour before baby was ready for her first nap. She had her morning nap. I had to stop twice for the toddler to pee, i just pulled over and he goes on the side of the road. I knew there was a playground half way, so we stopped there for an hour and had a picnic. Then baby fell asleep again, slept better this time.
Toys and snacks were enough for the baby, along with naps. She did really, really well (she's pretty easy going in general, so I'm lucky here!).

Toddler was hard. Stickers worked but then he would drop them where I Couldn't reach. Magnetic drawing board was a BIG hit. Definitely recommend, especially if its a new toy. Ipad worked, though at first he wasn't into it. BUt once he settled down, that was my best bet. It was hard because he gets stuck or frustrated on games, and can't navigate to a new show by himself. Eventually I figured out that I just had to put shows on, even if he was asking for a game. When it was over he'd tell me, hand it to me, and I'd do that really unsafe thing of putting a new show on while I was driving.

We made it. It was a long day. I drank a big fat margarita upon arrival. But there wasn't any crying or screaming, and I was anticipating WAY WORSE.