Should I drive straight through?

[KrazeeK120]

I'm in the early planning stages for a trip for next May.

My family consists of me, my husband, an my son, who will be 18 months old at the time of the trip. We live in central Illinois, which is about a 16 hour drive, not including stops. My husband and I did the drive twice in our pre-child days, and we stopped near Atlanta to stay overnight. We also ate on-the-go.

We are trying to decide what to do for our upcoming trip. My son is 7 months old right now, but he seems to like the car...he often falls asleep in his car seat. We could do what we've done in the past (drive all day the first day, stop for the night, and then drive the rest of the way the 2nd day), or we could leave in the evening and drive through the night, and arrive around lunch time the next day.

Pros to driving through:
-Would likely be significantly faster due to stopping for less meals
-Cheaper - no need for a hotel
-Potentially less disruptive to the toddler's schedule?

Cons to driving through:
-Will we have enough stamina to make it?
-Will the toddler sleep OK all night in the car seat?

I feel like I kind of have a fear of the unknown. It's possible it could work out great, and it's also possible it could be a complete disaster, and I don't have a magical crystal ball to tell me which one will actually happen.

Has anyone been in a similar situation? What would you do?

 

[mom2rtk]

What is your plan for when you arrive tired from driving all night and your toddler is well rested and ready to go?

Also, keep in mind that what your baby seems to like at 7 months might not be what he likes at 17 months.

 

[maxiesmom]

I would never drive thru the night. But then I have been in the car at night where the driver fell asleep at the wheel and almost wrecked us.

I would plan on stopping for at least one night. And also plan on stopping a lot, should your son decide to become not so fond of his car seat. He will probably need a few stops to get out and run around a bit.

 

[msmayor]

I think listing "less disruptive to the toddler's schedule" as a pro is a misguided statement.

We drove from NJ with a 2 1/2 year old and a 10 month old...and we found that stopping allowed us to maintain far more of their 'normal' schedule. After all, its not 'normal' to sleep long periods of time sitting up in a car seat...better laying down in a bed/crib.

We learned this quickly after spending about 7.5 hours on the road. We stopped for dinner around 5:30 and the kids seemed to be in fine spirits, so we pushed on figuring we could go another couple of hours into NC. 30 minutes after getting back on the road they were both cranky and annoyed and just wanted out. We stopped at the very first decent looking hotel right off I-95 and within 10 minutes of getting them into the room, in pjs and settled, they were happy...and asleep within 30 minutes.

Our lesson learned (and followed for many years after) was that young children dictate the itinerary and pace of the trip for the sake of family happiness and a good experience for all. If that meant missing certain things we adults wanted to do, we missed them...knowing that someday we'd come back and experience them when the kids were older. This made for multiple happy smooth trips to WDW and meant that every trip, as the kids got older, held a new experience for them as they saw something they'd never seen or tried before.

 

[KrazeeK120]

I think listing "less disruptive to the toddler's schedule" as a pro is a misguided statement.

We drove from NJ with a 2 1/2 year old and a 10 month old...and we found that stopping allowed us to maintain far more of their 'normal' schedule. After all, its not 'normal' to sleep long periods of time sitting up in a car seat...better laying down in a bed/crib.

We learned this quickly after spending about 7.5 hours on the road. We stopped for dinner around 5:30 and the kids seemed to be in fine spirits, so we pushed on figuring we could go another couple of hours into NC. 30 minutes after getting back on the road they were both cranky and annoyed and just wanted out. We stopped at the very first decent looking hotel right off I-95 and within 10 minutes of getting them into the room, in pjs and settled, they were happy...and asleep within 30 minutes.

Our lesson learned (and followed for many years after) was that young children dictate the itinerary and pace of the trip for the sake of family happiness and a good experience for all. If that meant missing certain things we adults wanted to do, we missed them...knowing that someday we'd come back and experience them when the kids were older. This made for multiple happy smooth trips to WDW and meant that every trip, as the kids got older, held a new experience for them as they saw something they'd never seen or tried before.

Oh yeah, I totally agree with your last paragraph, for sure. As I mentioned, I've been to Disney many times. There is nothing there I "need" to do. I fully plan on letting the little guy let me know what he needs or wants to do. He really has been a dream baby...eats well, sleeps through the night, is generally very happy and loves going places. Otherwise, I probably wouldn't even attempt a trip until he's in pre-school. This was actually the basis for my initial question - I am trying to figure out what will be best for him.

 

[FigmentSpark]

We've driven with our kids since the youngest was 18 months old. The worst was when our oldest was 3 and exhausted, but wouldn't sleep. He talks nonstop when he's tired and he just wouldn't be quiet. All of a sudden, there was silence. He'd fallen asleep, finally. We didn't dare stop for gas or anything until he'd finally had a good nap.

Anyway, we kept our kids busy (even the 18 month old one) with videos that were age appropriate. Dora, Blues Clues, etc. It was before ipads, but my older one had a Leapster to play. We also stopped about every 2 hours and just got out at rest stops to go to the bathroom and let the kids run around for a few minutes. It really wasn't that long, so it didn't add too much time. We like to stop for lunch, as DH's back needs a change, but even if you just stop, get out and buy your food to eat on the road, it's a change for the little ones.

As long as you can find some way to keep your son happy, you'll be fine. Oh. You (or whomever's not driving) could sit in the back with him and read books or play with him. It's not a great way to rest for your turn driving, but it will keep him happy. Definitely stop for the night. You'll all need it.

 

[DisneyArie]

I had the same decision. Orlando is a 16 hour drive for my family. When I started planning, I had every intention of driving, but early May, I decided to fly instead. Flights were over 3x the cost of a SUV rental, BUT it was worth it for my family because we won't lose out on vacation time due to driving. We also won't be exhausted when we arrive. My kiddos are excited about the flights. It's only 2.5 hours, and my youngest has never flown so it would be a good experience for him.

Happy planning!

 

[AntimonyER]

We made a 22 hour straight through trip with a 3 year old and 18 mo. old once. Definitely be more worried about driver fatigue vs. how well the kid(s) will take it. Also I would plan on a VERY low key 1st day after that drive. Kids will not have slept as good as in a bed, and drivers will be sleep deprived too.

 

[Happyinwonerland]

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/11/24/disney-world-family-killed/19472375/

Stories like this are any I won't try to drive straight through overnight. It only takes one split second of highway hypnosis to cause a tragedy. We have a 12 hour drive to disney. We usually leave early (5 am), stop at 3 hour intervals for a good leg stretch, and at the halfway point stop for a visit to a zoo or aquarium or park, just to get DD some activity so she doesn't feel cooped up all day long.

I would not attempt that long of an overnight drive, especially with your most precious cargo in the backseat.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Cons.... it's better to arrive alive?

Seriously every time I read this idea I cringe. If you came on here and posted, "is it OK to drink a lot and then drive to Orlando" people would be up in arms about the "danger" you are putting you and others in. But if it's "let's not sleep for a day and drive" then it seems to be OK

http://drowsydriving.org/about/

"Sleepiness and driving is a dangerous combination. Most people are aware of the dangers of drinking and driving but don’t realize that drowsy driving can be just as fatal. Like alcohol, sleepiness slows reaction time, decreases awareness, impairs judgment and increases your risk of crashing."


(pulling on my fire proof suit for the flame throwers who will now all claim that their facts are different. I have a friend whose family used to think that, until they lost several relatives in a drowsy driving crash... )

 

[Aliceacc]

At 18 months, your child will be walking, talking, and deep into the "terrible twos." (Don't trust the name-- they start at about 18 months and end...well, some say at marriage.)

Sixteen hours in a car is a LLLLOOOONNNNGGGG time for anyone, but particularly someone strapped into a car seat-- there's really no room to shift position at all. I think your child will be miserable.

I will NOT drive from NY to FL; if we don't have the money to fly then we can't afford the trip. I love to drive, but that drive home-- tired, exhausted, and with no vacation to anticipate-- would simply be too long.

 

[JodyTG]

We drive straight through from Texas. My husband and I switch off driving when we stop for gas. This way we stay rested.