Road trip with little ones

[frtchr]

We're driving from KY to WDW in March with a 2 year old and a 6 month old. I'm going to order a TripTik from AAA, but I am looking for any other suggestions on good places to stop along I-75 for the 2 year old to play and maybe run around to burn some energy. I thought I had seen an ad one time for a book that had suggestions like this, but, of course, now I can't find it. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[nickelsfamily]

We take road trips out of NC all of the time. Our last was to AK for a family reunion. We will be traveling home to FL (WDW) in a couple of weeks. Being a military family it seems like we have been on the road since my children were born-now 8 & 3.

We have always stopped at rest areas to let them play (bring a ball or something to play with or just a nice walk and picnic). For the car ride bring favorite toys. We play I spy games. I always make sure to have those Crayola sets with the markers that only mark on their paper. I bring books that I can read to the children-we have read many classics (childrens edition) such as Moby Dick, Wizard of Oz, Alice in Wonderland, Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn... Sing along childrens music and don't forget the healthy drinks and snacks!

 

[holly7347]

We haven't done a drive quite that long but done several 5 hour trips. We went to Disney in October from Northern KY and discussed driving. In the end we flew but when we were considering driving we were going to leave after evening rush hour maybe about 7pm and drive thru the night while the kids slept in the car. For our shorter trips we always take a portable DVD player and small toys. When they start getting fussy and the DVD isn't helping anymore we stop at a restaurant with a play area like a McDonald's and let them run and play for a while. The ones with play areas were usually clearly marked before the exit.

 

[Boo Mc]

If your two year old is able to feed herself/himself, then this is what we used to do. We'd stop at a restaurant that had a play area (I think you can search the McDonald's website to find which ones have it). Then, while one of us was feeding the baby, the other could play with the 2 year old in the play area. We'd eat at the same time. Not very relaxing but it was quick! When we got ready to leave, we'd order food for the two year old and let him eat in the car. This way the 2 year old gets maximum play time and is also occupied for the next 20-30 minutes in the car eating. Plus, they get the happy meal toy at the end as motivation to eat their food. My other tip for car travel is to take a blank notebook and as many stickers as you can find (even those free return address labels you get in the mail) and let them peel the stickers off and put them all over the pages. A cheap, quiet and clean activity!!

 

[MnMomW3Boys]

The most important thing for our family is leave at the crack of dawn, we are in the car at 5 am, it seems like the kids do better the first few hours if it is dark and mellow. My kids will wake up for about thrity minutes and drift back to sleep. I drive from MN to atlanta a couple times a year, we always stop at the Man O' War exit in KY but that is probably not far enough for you. I like the Chick Fil A play areas becuase they are usually smaller and geared for smaller kids. My two year old is so good in the car he loves his Micky Mouse Clubhouse DVD's and I take his leapster with us so he can play like his big brothers do. After the stop in KY I can usually make it 350 miles so that puts us around Chattanooga, if I have enough gas I keep going to the Georgia state line gas is usually cheaper there. There is a nice exit a few miles into GA there is a Pilot gas station and several fast food places there incuding a chick fil a . WE usually drive it straigh through, but if you need to stop and you can get to the south side of Atlanta, McDonough is a nice town with some new hotels just off the interstate there are several restaurants too. From McDonough it is just a short 6 (ok 7.5 with the kids)hours straight shot to Orlando. Have a good trip...

 

[SharkyGoddess]

We've always found it best to travel at night when the kids would normally be sleeping. Otherwise, I would suggest having some of her favorite videos to help entertain her long the way if you have a travel DVD system.

Good luck & Have fun!

Sharky