Talk to me about road trips with the little ones

We are driving to Cincinnati next Thursday with our kids (5.5, 3.5, and 17 months). The drive is about 11/12 hours straight. We're leaving Thursday after school, driving until late (obviously stopping for dinner), then getting a hotel and finishing out the drive the next morning. We've never done a road trip of this length with the kids. We have a DVD player in the car, which they've only watched a handful of times, so we're definitely bringing a few DVDs. Aside from planning frequent stops, anyone have any other helpful tips or advice? TIA!

Re: Talk to me about road trips with the little ones

Lots of small snacks of all varieties to keep them distracted.
Small toys and games
NEW movies that they have never seen before

Talk to me about road trips with the little ones

My 3yo is great, a few folks out action figures keep her occupied or she just lines looking out the window. The youngest would be my concern. I've realized when my 10 month old starts losing it a short break doesn't help at all. Toys and snack give me a few minutes but in the end a long break is the only thing that makes a big difference. We stop at a store, mall, restaurant, whatever for an hour and it's so worth it.

Talk to me about road trips with the little ones

A cookie sheet and Melissa and Doug magnets were the best purchase we ever made for our road trip to Hilton Head when DS was 2 (15 hours straight).

Re: Talk to me about road trips with the little ones

I would honestly suggest driving straight through if the kids fall asleep in the car. We drove to Myrtle Beach and planned to drive about half way, most likely a little more then half way, and stop overnight. We wound up hitting so much traffic just getting through NY and NJ that after 6 hours we weren't even close to being half way through the ride. But at that point the kids were asleep so we said F it. Let's just bang it out. It wasn't that bad and we took a nap when we got there and just went about our day.

Re: Talk to me about road trips with the little ones

Re: Talk to me about road trips with the little ones

Talk to me about road trips with the little ones

We've been doing the 12 hour drive to NC the past few years with my now 4.5 year old twins and my now 3 year old. For the most part it goes very smoothly. We have a DVD player in the van so we get some new movies and bring a few of their favorites. We pack a backpack with some of their favorite toys and their tablets. We have plenty of snacks and for the most part they are happy in the car. We leave at 4am and get there anywhere between 5:30pm and 8pm depending on traffic. We stop for breakfast and lunch and sometimes dinner depending on where we are at that time. Then we usually make 2 more pit stops to go to the bathroom and stretch our legs. We have a potty in the van incase the kids have to go to the bathroom and we aren't scheduled to stop yet. We pull over at a rest stop, they go potty and no one has to get out of the van so we get right back on the road.

Message edited 9/28/2015 10:17:18 AM.

Re: Talk to me about road trips with the little ones

speaking from personal experience, make sure you have enough food, snacks, drinks, diapers etc to last if you get stuck somewhere

Talk to me about road trips with the little ones

Thanks for all the ideas!