Road Trip

So we decided last minute to take a road trip next week to Myrtle Beach

We are excited, but we are traveling with our 4 yr old and 2 yr old and I'm thinking this could end badly if we don't have them occupied enough and plan the right stops.

For anyone that has done the trip with young kids, Did you go while they were sleeping at night and get through alot of the trip that way, or first thing in the AM? Also, where did you stay over (Wash DC, Maryland etc)?

TIA!!

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We have been going to Hatteras, NC since my youngest was 1 1/2. We leave around 6 am and they do fine. They usually fall asleep after we stop for lunch and that works out perfectly. Our trip is about 11 hours.

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Road Trip

Longest we ever did was 3 hours.

The first time, we went right before naptime and it was a disaster. He didn't sleep and was super-cranky the entire time.

The second time, we went right before bedtime (we did the usual routine at home and then left). He fell asleep in the car and it was wonderful. On the way home, he was exhausted (we did a lot while there) so we went pre-naptime and he actually fell asleep in the car.

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we drove in my to FL with DD 3 and DS 5 months (both sick but that's a whole another story )

we leave at night between 10-12 at night so they sleep most of the way there. we don't stop over night and just switch up who drives. we have a DVD Player and we had coloring things and some toys for DD.

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We drove it in April and it wasn't nearly as bad as we were expecting. We left right after dinner at home. The kids watched a movie then fell asleep. We had planned on stopping about half way, but with the kids sleeping, we decided to drive straight through. On the way back we left at about noon. It was a little tougher with more complaints, but there was a brief afternoon nap and then they fell asleep for the last few hours.
Driving overnight was definitely better. Just make sure you can check in early, because you will need to rest/nap.

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Longest trips we make are 5 hours. We always leave at night. Kids sleep til we hit our destination. Its great lol

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thanks for all the feedback! I'm going to take your advice and leave at night around bedtime. Wish me luck!

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We went last year and left in the middle of the night. By the time DS woke we were halfway there. Then we had movies for the car. He was still crying the last 30 minutes but, we made it.

He was 4.

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DS is 3.5 years.... my parents have a vacation house in Hatteras, NC so we've done the drive a couple times with him. its about 10 hours from us ( in NJ)
we always leave SUPER early in the AM- like 3/4 AM. we basically just throw him in the car asleep and go. so he usually stays asleep for the first few hours. then we'll stop for breakfast, etc. then he has his LeapPad with some videos/games on it, he likes his MElissa and Doug reusable sticker pad to play with, LeapReader Pen thing, Etch-A-Sketch, playdough.... snacks are a huge help keeping him busy. then he'll usually fall asleep for an hour or so in the afternoon, too.... and by that time, we're usually pretty close to getting there. so it really isn't TOO bad.
the way home is a little tougher bc we usually leave a little bit later.... but we make it through. have fun!!