When to drive with 2 little kids... morning or night?

We have a VA vacation coming up where the drive is about 7 hours. My kids are 3 1/2 and 1 1/2. Would you drive first thing in morning while they are awake or late at night (around bedtime) and hope they sleep most of the way??

My 3 1/2 year old is good in the car although the longest she has done is 4 hours and that seemed to be her limit. I am more worried about my 1 1/2 year old bc she is at the "I want to get up and walk around so get me out of this seat" stage

But Im worried if we go at night, they might not even end up sleeping so well in the car and then we have 2 very tired cranky kids driving

What has worked for you?

Thanks!

Re: When to drive with 2 little kids... morning or night?

I'd leave at like 9 at night with those ages so they sleep the entire way.

I've left at 3 am for a trip and my kids stayed up the entire time.

Message edited 5/1/2013 2:09:07 PM.

Re: When to drive with 2 little kids... morning or night?

I only have one DC, but whenever we need to make a long drive we leave in the evening and she usually sleeps the entire time.

It's very peaceful.

Re: When to drive with 2 little kids... morning or night?

I'd leave at 3am.

Re: When to drive with 2 little kids... morning or night?

Re: When to drive with 2 little kids... morning or night?

My boys are 3.5 & 2.5, we are constantly visiting my family in Maine which is a 7 hr trip. I always leave around 7pm this way they fall asleep in the car. Most times I'm successful transferring them upon arrival & if not, they only wake to say hello & then back to sleep.

I find the drive ay night allows the driver a full night sleep & you can function better the next day.

Re: When to drive with 2 little kids... morning or night?

Re: When to drive with 2 little kids... morning or night?

I'd do what poster above said, leave at 7pm and let them sleep the whole way. I could stay up till 2 am, but I don't think I could handle getting up for the day at 3 am, do a 7 hour drive and then be functional enough to enjoy the first day there.

We have been known break up a long drive into two days. Leave at 7-8pm and go as far as we want to to get off the island and then get a room and break up the trip because I do not do well with sleep deprivation at all.

Re: When to drive with 2 little kids... morning or night?

We drove during the night one way for an 8 hour trip. It was great, kids slept the whole time. Problem was we were beat the whole next day since they were raring to go early in the morning and we were ready for bed.

On the way back we drove during the day. Took rest stop breaks about every 2 hours and let them run around. Still a great trip, only took us less than an hour longer and everyone was happy the whole time.

I think the next trip were going in the day also.

When to drive with 2 little kids... morning or night?

I vote for leaving around 7pm too. But my concern would be the driver getting tired. Isn't it dangerous? I, personally, know I'd be at risk for falling asleep, but I'm sure my husband could do it just fine. I only raise that concern because we're weighing the same options for our trip to Boston next month.

When to drive with 2 little kids... morning or night?

We're leaving around 10pm for a trip to NC. My DH drives a lot for work, so it doesn't phase him.

When to drive with 2 little kids... morning or night?

My kids are the same exact ages as your kids, with the same temperment. Our 3.5 Year old is OK with car rides, while the 1.5 yr old will get cranky after awhile. We are a huge roadtrip family. On the way to the destination, I leave early morning, by 7am or 8am. The kids usually nap from 10am till lunch time, and then stay awake until our destination. Be sure to take frequent stops.. maybe once every two hours to get out and stretch. On the way back, I leave at 9pm and the kids usually sleep all the way home.

Re: When to drive with 2 little kids... morning or night?

I say in the evening. When we drive to South Carolina about 11 hour drive we leave around my DS normal bed time. That way he falls asleep quick.

Re: When to drive with 2 little kids... morning or night?

We drove 11 hours to North Carolina when DS was 2 years 3 months. We left at 4am.. he fell back to sleep within an hour of being in the car... woke up around 7-8am. Took his reg 12-2 nap. I would suggest that. It was a breeze!

Re: When to drive with 2 little kids... morning or night?

Too many drunks, huge trucks and crazier drivers overnight IMO, so we always get up early morning and drive. I also would never be able to function the next day if I stayed up all night driving.

Message edited 5/2/2013 11:09:15 AM.

Re: When to drive with 2 little kids... morning or night?

I actually like leaving in the afternoon. If you leave after lunch, you can entertain the kids for a bit and then they will probably nap- I know my kids would. Then you have a couple of hours of quiet. Then you can stop for dinner so everyone can stretch out. And then it's only a couple more hours and everyone can sleep in a bed at night.

Re: When to drive with 2 little kids... morning or night?