We are considering going on a road trip with our 2.5 year old. It would take us approx 20 hours to reach our destination. We would likely drive at least 10-12 hours a day, spend about 2 or 3 days at our destination, and then drive back.
Are we completely crazy to even consider this? She is definitely not a fan of her car seat and the longest she's ever been in a car is 4 hours, and we stopped for breaks every 2 hours so she could walk, stretch her legs.
Anyone ever done this (successfully)?? 
blogger / coconut / 8306 posts
I wouldn't drive 40 hours for a 3 day trip. I get tired driving 4 hours to DC!
We went to the outer banks in April and due to traffic, our drive took 15.5 hours. Chloe was an angel, so I'd do it again.... But I wouldn't have the stamina for that kind of driving for a three day vacation!
bananas / 9973 posts
I wouldn't do it. 
We do road trips often enough and they are never as short as we hope. 5-6 hours end up be 7-8. Last time we had what would normally be an 8 hour drive, we split it into 2 days, with a break in between.
nectarine / 2180 posts
Hmm, we did something similar although we didn't go quite as far. We drove 13 hours to visit DH's grandparents at Christmas. It took maybe 15 hours on the way down including stops. And we did the drive in one day. I sat in the backseat with our daughter (who was 2.5 at the time) for most of our trip. We were there for 3 days and then we drove back. The drive back was much more difficult, TBH. We were just tired of being in the car and we were just plan tired period. But it was worth it to visit LO's great grandparents and her great great grandmother. So I would factor in what you're going for, for sure!
blogger / pomelo / 5361 posts
Only at gunpoint. But to be fair, my kids suck at traveling, and I"m a wimp. 
kiwi / 649 posts
For 2-3 days that is not worth it to me. I'd pick somewhere closer that way I could actually enjoy spending time with my family on vacation.
grapefruit / 4997 posts
No, that's too long of a drive. I would fly instead. We can go on 8 hour road trips but that's our max.
cantaloupe / 6751 posts
@Mrs. Blue: LOL @ gunpoint.
Yeeeeah... I don't think this will happen
grapefruit / 4903 posts
I would do (and have done) drives that long with my LO, but it wouldn't be worth it to me for that little time there. If I'm driving that long, I want to be wherever we're going for at least a week. I wouldn't want to be in the car for longer than I was at the destination.
pomegranate / 3383 posts
No way! But I wouldn't do a road trip like that without a child either. Flying is a better option....if it's an option!
hostess / wonderful apple seed / 16729 posts
@pinkcupcake: 20 hours!! Where you going? The east coast? Haha. (We actually want do a roadtrip from Seattle to the east coast when we move east.)
I don't have any advice but here in WA, the DH and I have driven from Seattle to Glacier National Park and that was a 9 hour drive.
We like long road trips. We went to Glacier for a long weekend. Some people thought we were nuts for a long trip. We don't mind it.
Though, we don't have kids yet, so I'll wonder how our road trips will be affected by kids.
cantaloupe / 6751 posts
@bluestriped bee: We were thinking of driving to LA - we love road trips and thought it would be a fun way to see the OR coast. Just not sure of the logistics with a toddler who cannot sit still... We actually did the drive over from the east coast when we moved here a few years ago It was so much fun! We took our time and enjoyed all the sights so it took us over 3 weeks. We spent a few days in Chicago, saw lots of corn fields, and enjoyed several days at Yellowstone. I always look back so fondly at that trip
clementine / 990 posts
Well, we go to my in-laws' cabin all the time, which is a solid 8 hour drive, for a 4day weekend (like, drive Friday, stay Saturday and Sunday, drive Monday) all the time. Like 3-4 times a year. BUT we are road trip people. And we do it all the time so it's down to a science for us. Our LO is almost 2.5. We went at Easter, last.
We take lots of snacks and stuff to keep her entertained (read iPad). Last time I sat in the back with her because we went with my FiL and he rode in the front seat. We only stopped once, but there were lots of bribery snacks, and towards the end she got antsy. She always does.
We grew up taking looooong road trips, so I never thought twice about it. We would often leave VERY early in the morning, like at 3 or 4, so my parents could drive for several hours before we woke up and got antsy. We always had stuff to do in the car and snacks and treats. And we never expected to be allowed to whine. When the car stopped, you got out to pee. That was all. We didn't EVER stop so we kids could stretch our legs. And we started doing these crazy trips when I was a baby (two more kids after me).
I think it can be done AND can be fun! Good luck!
nectarine / 2641 posts
We're about to drive 12 hours (one-way) with our 19 month-old to Oregon and back. I'm familiar with long trips (I used to drive back and forth from Idaho to New Hampshire every fall/spring for college), but am sort of dreading this. But we will be there for a week with grandparents. If we were just looking for a trip for the three of us...yeah, no.
We bought a portable DVD player and I'm going to go to the Dollar Store before we go and then wrap up toys to give him every 30-ish minutes. Plus also, stickers. This kid will do pretty much anything for stickers.
cherry / 124 posts
We are doing a 15 hour drive in a week with two babes under two and two big dogs! I am dreading it if I am honest with you and myself! I haven't made the decision on whether we are going g to start the drive at night or leave in the morning.
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