jlaur21
Gold
Posts: 907 Likes: 1,960 
|
Post by jlaur21 on May 31, 2017 12:31:35 GMT -6
Hi! I am going on a road trip to the Outer Banks in about a month and from where we are it's about a 9-10 hour drive not including stops. I'm looking for advice on what's necessary or helpful to survive this adventure!
Some important information:
-There will be two adults, definitely a 3.5 year old, and possibly an almost 4 year old.
- We are doing the trip in one day, no over nights
- Any tips for the drive or when we are there would be great! (Once there, we will be in a house with 24 people)
Thanks so much in advance!
|
|
|
|
Post by chickenonsunday on May 31, 2017 12:36:04 GMT -6
Alcohol (not for driving)
See the horses before Trump has them killed.
Is anyone in your travel party local or driving a large vehicle with plenty of space? Have them pack the beach chairs, umbrellas, beach towels, and beach toys if your rental house doesn't come equipped.
|
|
|
|
Post by heybulldog on May 31, 2017 12:40:09 GMT -6
Shit ton of snacks, smart phone or tablet with shows pre-downloaded... that's what we relied on when we drove 6 hours from NC to D.C. We were lucky bc DS slept for a good chunk of time so we didn't worry too much about having to amuse him.
Eta: holy typos. Damn fat fingers
|
|
|
|
Post by sudokufan on May 31, 2017 12:40:58 GMT -6
I did a 6 hour road trip with my 3yo last year. Things that worked for me:
*Bag of dollar store "surprises" to haul out when things got rough
*Easy to eat car snacks in a container on the passenger seat (I was the only adult, this way I could reach them to hand them back)
*Lots of extra grocery bags for collecting garbage
*Lots of wet wipes
*I built a foot rest for him out of the soft sided luggage and a few pillows that I was taking anyhow. That way his feet didn't dangle; it was kinda like an easy boy recliner.
*Portable DVD player on the back of passenger head rest. Not the safest thing ever, in event of a crash, but the whining would have put me over the edge without it.
*We took turnpikes when possible, because the regularly spaced, predictable rest stops are SO convenient. And the promise of a quarter to play some game of choice was a good bribe.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on May 31, 2017 12:46:20 GMT -6
+28374 on a tablet with movies that you can mount on the headrest so they're not touching it. Headphones.
We make DD entertain herself for the first couple of hours until she gets unbearable before we decide the kindle is done "charging" and she can watch it. We tend to stop every 3ish hours for potty/gas/food, etc.
Also, depending on how well PT'd your kid is, a potette in case your kid needs to pee but you're not by a bathroom and peeing on a roadside isn't their jam.
We don't eat in the car, ever. If you're fine with snacks, your life will be easier, but if you're not, it's totally doable.
|
|
jlaur21
Gold
Posts: 907 Likes: 1,960
|
Post by jlaur21 on May 31, 2017 13:03:00 GMT -6
Alcohol (not for driving) See the horses before Trump has them killed. Is anyone in your travel party local or driving a large vehicle with plenty of space? Have them pack the beach chairs, umbrellas, beach towels, and beach toys if your rental house doesn't come equipped. I actually have one of the larger vehicles, I'll find out what we need as far as beach stuff goes, thanks! |
|
jlaur21
Gold
Posts: 907 Likes: 1,960
|
Post by jlaur21 on May 31, 2017 13:04:28 GMT -6
+28374 on a tablet with movies that you can mount on the headrest so they're not touching it. Headphones. We make DD entertain herself for the first couple of hours until she gets unbearable before we decide the kindle is done "charging" and she can watch it. We tend to stop every 3ish hours for potty/gas/food, etc. Also, depending on how well PT'd your kid is, a potette in case your kid needs to pee but you're not by a bathroom and peeing on a roadside isn't their jam. We don't eat in the car, ever. If you're fine with snacks, your life will be easier, but if you're not, it's totally doable. I never even thought to bring the potette since he's been PT'd for about a year and is a camel, but definitely a smart idea just in case. Thanks, I've been worried about the bathroom situation! |
|
brux
Diamond
Posts: 35,305 Likes: 282,199
|
Post by brux on May 31, 2017 13:11:10 GMT -6
I would load a tablet with movies and games.
Find a playground half way and pencil in a 30 minute stop to burn some energy. Find a couple other playground options a couple hours in either direction along the way in case the kid(s) are sleeping at the halfway point.
|
|
jlaur21
Gold
Posts: 907 Likes: 1,960
|
Post by jlaur21 on May 31, 2017 13:15:43 GMT -6
I would load a tablet with movies and games. Find a playground half way and pencil in a 30 minute stop to burn some energy. Find a couple other playground options a couple hours in either direction along the way in case the kid(s) are sleeping at the halfway point. Great idea, thanks! |
|
|
|
Post by heybulldog on May 31, 2017 13:18:02 GMT -6
**quoted myself... oops**
|
|
|
|
Post by allthedrinks on May 31, 2017 13:19:03 GMT -6
We go to OBX every year. I've driven there from OH which was about 10 hours w/o stops. You've gotten great advice on how to handle the drive.
Depending on what day you get there and where you're staying, it could over an hour to get to your house once you're on "island". There's only one main road and everyone checks in on Saturday. It can be painful.
|
|
|
|
Post by SweetPotato on May 31, 2017 13:22:56 GMT -6
We did a 7hr trip last year and it went well. It took us 9 instead of 7 in the way there and 8 on the way back.
We timed stops for lunch and getting groceries around a hopeful car nap.
Definitely a tablet
We also did stickers, wiki stix, some new books, and tons of snacks
It went surprisingly well - I hope you guys get the same!
|
|
|
|
Post by AnnPerkins on May 31, 2017 13:23:38 GMT -6
I've found that I often over-prepare for long trips with my kids. They never really care for coloring stuff or surprise toys. We make long trips at least a few times a year and they always do really well.
Lots of snacks, tablets with preloaded movies, bags for garbage, and easily accessible extra clothes (just in case).
We like to plan our stops around Chick FIL A's because they usually have a play area and are the cleanest of all fast food places. We stop for food when we need gas and do bathrooms as needed, but the kids are usually fine to wait for gas stops.
|
|
|
|
Post by cinnamonlatte on May 31, 2017 13:45:30 GMT -6
I second stops at chick-FIL-a and wiki sticks for the car. My kids like new dollar store toys as well.
|
|
|
|
Post by swivelchair5 on May 31, 2017 13:58:39 GMT -6
We go to OBX every year. I've driven there from OH which was about 10 hours w/o stops. You've gotten great advice on how to handle the drive. Depending on what day you get there and where you're staying, it could over an hour to get to your house once you're on "island". There's only one main road and everyone checks in on Saturday. It can be painful. Yes, we always go on Friday and stay in a hotel for a night because the Saturday traffic is so terrible. After you get off the interstate, you can almost walk faster than the traffic is moving. |
|
jlaur21
Gold
Posts: 907 Likes: 1,960
|
Post by jlaur21 on May 31, 2017 16:21:17 GMT -6
We go to OBX every year. I've driven there from OH which was about 10 hours w/o stops. You've gotten great advice on how to handle the drive. Depending on what day you get there and where you're staying, it could over an hour to get to your house once you're on "island". There's only one main road and everyone checks in on Saturday. It can be painful. Thanksfully we are Sunday, hopefully it won't be as bad! |
|
|
|
Post by boozeplease on May 31, 2017 16:25:26 GMT -6
We live 8 hours from family so dd has gotten kinda used to long drives. She's usually good with snacks and some small toys. They might sleep some of the drive too. Depending on how long they can go without potty breaks will determine how often you have to stop. Make frequent stops if needed but some kids do really well with less. Hope you have a fun trip.
|
|
|
|
Post by Uncaripswife on May 31, 2017 16:33:03 GMT -6
Bring a roll of paper towels to clean up potential car sickness, pee accidents, or other spills; plus garbage bags to wrap up and stinky trash.
|
|
regal
Sapphire
Posts: 3,506 Likes: 9,638
|
Post by regal on May 31, 2017 16:50:14 GMT -6
One tip I learned was to eat meals in the car, that way at rest stops the kids can run around and burn off energy.
I don't pack surprises, we eat at fast food places and they get a toy there.
We don't do technology in the car, but did have some story C.D.s that we listened to.
|
|
NamasteBirches
Global Moderator 
Echelon ♥️, Family LIfe
yo
Posts: 7,622
Likes: 18,030
|
Post by NamasteBirches on Jun 1, 2017 4:14:38 GMT -6
We did a huge 18hrish roadtrip with DS in the winter of 2015 to southwest FL. We stopped a few times along the way the sightsee though. I know you said you won't be stopping but our first leg of the trip was close to yours. We had his leappad, our tablet, portable DVD player, tons of snacks, books, his favorite small toys, & a magnadoodle IIRC. I remember him falling asleep when we'd put music on which was funny. He was 4.
|
|
jlaur21
Gold
Posts: 907 Likes: 1,960
|
Post by jlaur21 on Jun 1, 2017 4:49:08 GMT -6
You ladies are all amazing, thank you so much! My son is a relatively awesome traveler on long airplane travel days, but cars have always been more difficult so I'm nervous...these suggestions are so helpful, thank you!
|
|
jlaur21
Gold
Posts: 907 Likes: 1,960
|
Post by jlaur21 on Jun 1, 2017 5:42:20 GMT -6
My kids do great on long rides with a variety of snacks and treats I wouldn't normally buy them. My preschoolers love their magnadoodle on trips. We also play games like count the red trucks, first one to spot a cow, etc. Movies for sure! As for the 4mo old, there's not much you can do except bring lots of toys and probably sit next to him or her. I spent a good portion of our ride to Florida leaning over the carseat with my boob. If you prefer sanity and peace over sleep, have you considered leaving at their bedtime and arriving when they are likely to wake up? Have fun! The other child possibly going is almost 4 years 😊 And if we could, we'd leave the night before and drive at bedtime - unfortunately we have a wedding to go to the night before, so we'll be nice and tired for our trip haha. |
|
|
|
Post by mcktymck on Jun 1, 2017 9:48:29 GMT -6
I agree with the Dollar Tree "treats". Get several little trinkets (toys, puzzles, games, etc) and pull out a new one every so often. I saw an idea somewhere of using a tray with a pillow underneath for kids to use for activities in their car seats. Something like this: www.twosisterscrafting.com/diy-road-trip-travel-tray/ |
|
pumpkin
Sapphire
Posts: 3,338 Likes: 6,927
|
Post by pumpkin on Jun 1, 2017 11:05:23 GMT -6
Lots of snacks!
Ipad/Tablet/DVD player- some form of visual entertainment
Printable road trip games (tons free on Pinterest). My son was 2.5 when we drove 18 hours to Disney one year- he loved a scavenger hunt printable we gave him. It had pictures instead of words, so he could play along with little help from us (find a stop light, stop sign, McDonalds sign, cow, semi, etc).
Baby wipes- so many baby wipes. They clean up all the things.
Cup strap for car seat- you won't have to reach back and pick their cup up errytimme they drop it.
Let them pick a few of their favorite toys to play with on the ride.
Pillow/Blanket for naps
Books/Coloring Books (you can't go wrong with Color Wonder markers to keep it mess free).
|
|
|
|
Post by oreobitsy on Jun 1, 2017 17:19:34 GMT -6
So many good suggestions! We got our boys these Boogie Board lcd things, like a newer tech version of a tablet.
Download Amazon prime shows or Netflix on tablet if possible.
Also, we usually find a hotel and use the lobby bathroom for potty breaks (really just poop breaks for my older son). The staff there doesn't really know/doesn't care that you are not staying there, and no one ever uses them because they all go to their rooms. Much cleaner than gas station bathrooms and easily accessed off exits.
|
|
pumpkin
Sapphire
Posts: 3,338 Likes: 6,927
|
Post by pumpkin on Jun 1, 2017 21:27:06 GMT -6
The bathroom talk made me remember this: We traveled with a potty chair on our last road trip! You just never know when you might not be near a bathroom and have a little one that needs to go RIGHT MEOW!
|
|
|
|
Post by leslieknope on Jun 19, 2017 21:20:31 GMT -6
Buy a whole bunch of very small, entertaining, new toys. Ex: Color with water books; poly pocket toy, wooden beads for stringing, hot wheels cars. Pull out a new toy every 30 minutes - 1hr.
Start driving before the kids are awake, at like 5am if you can handle it. That way you'll get a lot of drive time in before anyone is bored or needs to use the bathroom. Once the kids are awake see if you can schedule some "fun" stops. For instance, find a park you can stop at about an hour before nap time (if your 3.5 yr old takes a nap still), eat a picnic lunch and get some energy out running around. The advice to take a little potty in the trunk is very wise.
Road trips are also the only time I allow technology in the car. I also allow my son to watch shows he's never allowed at home like Micky Mouse or Paw Patrol. We alternate watching TV shows with reading books allowed and playing with toys.
Another thing: My child is obsessed with a "Between the Lions" CD that my mom handed-down to him. I don't know if you remember the show, it's about 20 years old, but the CD is sort of a toddler version of a book on tape. It alternates songs and short stories. If you can find something like this it might be a hit.
Good luck!!
|
|
