Rest Areas/Playgrounds

[camac517]

Any ideas how I can find playgrounds (or rest areas that have playgrounds) that are on our way? Driving 14 hours in 2 cars with 5 boys between the ages of 1 and 5! They'll definitely need to run around and blow off some steam!

 

[Hannathy]

We used to find McDonalds or Burger Kings that had play areas when ours were young. They could play and we would eat and then a lot of the time we would get their food to go and they would eat in the car, This maximized the play time for them and minimized the down time.( not driving time).

Or if it wasn't a meal time, we could just sit and relax a bit with coffee or a drink while they played.

 

[camac517]

That is exactly what my husband and I did last September and it worked out great! For some reason I feel like our friends' kids will need more room to run. Probably not though. We'll be driving through the night so hopefully they will sleep the majority of the time!

 

[nono]

What is your planned route? Are there no regular rest stops along the way?

 

[camac517]

We are coming from southern Indiana so it's basically I-24 and I-75. There are regular rest stops along the way but honestly we've never stopped at one so I don't know if any or all have a playground. I'd like them to have a playground but just having a wide open space will be nice too.

 

[Wadecool]

We are coming from southern Indiana so it's basically I-24 and I-75. There are regular rest stops along the way but honestly we've never stopped at one so I don't know if any or all have a playground. I'd like them to have a playground but just having a wide open space will be nice too.

I have never personally been to a rest area on the interstate with playgrounds. It is typically just restrooms and a picnic area. There may be a little open area for your kids to run around in, but be advised that the same area is also used for doggy potty breaks so beware of "land mines."

On McDonalds website, you can search for locations with Playlands, so you could try that. I think just about every Chick fil A has a play area do keep an eye out for them as well.

 

[nono]

So here's what we do for rest stops. We drop two ropes a decent ways apart from one another and have some races. Whoever wins gets a delayed start for the subesquent race, etc. So all ages can participate. We do this for about 8-10 min and are back on the road, without any major detour to get off the highway. The next stop a few hours later, we take a mini-football out and toss it around for about 10 minutes. And maybe have a short cartwheel contest. Again, we don't have to get off the highway.

Contrary to Wadecool's experience, we've found enough room separate from the dog walking areas to not have a problem. And, most folks seem to keep their pets in the dog walk area vs. all over.

Now, when my ds was younger (he's 5 now), we would plan one off-highway break per day, and we found that outlet malls were pretty good distractions, and usually had a playground as a bonus. The promise of new sneakers on a trip used to delight him. Don't ask me, I'm just his Mother! Maybe someone will know if you'll be heading by an outlet center along your route.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I have never personally been to a rest area on the interstate with playgrounds.

Pretty much all the ones in IL have 'em, though that's obviously no help for anyone in KY or IN who's headed to Orlando. From Paducah on, we typically hit a McDonalds if we're looking for a place for the kids to burn energy.

 

[lovebug21]

We like to take a beach ball (so it can be deflated), a frisbee and bubbles. I think my 6 year old will take his glove and a ball this year. We also use the playlands, but sometimes I like them to get out and run around in the fresh air, they tend to fall asleep quicker when you get back in the car.

 

[LadyBeBop]

I think just about every Chick fil A has a play area do keep an eye out for them as well.

They do, and their food is much better than McDonald's. However, it's no help when you're travelling on a Sunday when they are all closed.

Pretty much all the ones in IL have 'em, though that's obviously no help for anyone in KY or IN who's headed to Orlando.

Yeah, I know. It's probably a liability issue. I know when they built our neighborhood park, the biggest expense was insurance for the playground. Up until a few weeks ago, I didn't even known the IL rest areas had playgrounds. Of course I wish we had them throughout the KY-FL route, but...

A few weeks ago, someone posted about wanting to find playgrounds along I-95, within about ten minutes from the exits. Very few responses to that. I would think there should be playgrounds in the towns right off the interstates. I'm willing to pack a picnic lunch and travel about five miles off the interstate to a playground. Maybe we could make a list of playgrounds close to the major interstates (I-95, I-75, I-24 etc). I can do the playgrounds on I-75 just south of Cincinnati.