Long Road Trip with 2 Kids...

Hi E.,

My husband and I take our kids on the very same road trip you are planning every summer. I have a 11 year old boy, and twins that are 5. We have made this trip since the 11 year old was one. So, speaking from experience this is what we do. The dvd is great but since your little one can't handle the headphones you will have to put it thru your radio and listen to Barney and other shows to keep sane. You will have to do this until they are about 3 or 4 but its worth it. Also, lots of snacks some healthy and some that are crunchy like goldfish, cheezits etc. Water bottles, sippy cups work well. Stop about every 2 and a half hours to stretch your legs and let them run around. We find rest areas are perfect to get some energy out. We do McDonalds for almost all meals just for convenience and we know what we are getting.
We also play lots of I spy. We also say find the animals in farm country.
My husband and I keep track of other states license plates. We write them down on a paper and see how many we see on I-35. We trade drivers every stop to keep from getting overtired.
We go I-35 to Wichita, KS. Toll road to Emporia, KS. Go around Kansas City on I-435 as I-35 is a nightmare in city center to drive. Drive to Hwy 152 to get on I-35 again and that is a much better drive. Continue on I-35 until you get to Minneapolis.
We leave July 8. We have stayed in Wichita, Emporia and Olathe KS, Cameron, Missouri. Depending on what time you start out depends on where to spend the night.
We aren't getting an early start so we probably will be staying our first night around Wichita, KS. When we do get a morning start we try to get to Cameron, Missouri.

Hope this helps and you have a good trip. If you have any questions don't hesitate to contact me.
C.

E.,

Hi! You can do it! I have 3 girls now ages 6, 7 and 9, but we take trips all the time and have since they were very little. (With all 3 we drove to Rocky Mountain National Park when the girls were 4 months, 18 months, and 3 and 1/2) We travel every summer and over each Christmas holiday with our shortest trip being 6 hours, but our longest is usually 13-15. Here is something my mom did for us when we were little and I have used it for my girls....fill a brown paper lunch bag (one per child)with a couple of small items for the road trip and have them pull out a new toy (pencils and coloring book, etch n sketch, threading game, flash cards, stuffed animal, etc) each morning and towards the end of the day when the trip is getting tough. Also, when we travel we always pack an overnight bag so that we aren't unloading the whole car if you are stopping at a hotel on your way. Just the necessecities for the night and clothes for the next day.

Good luck.

B. S.

Hi E.,
I have three boys who are now 3, 6 and 8. We drive to Colorado about 4 times a year which is 15 hours each way. The DVD player will definitely help. When they are little like your daughter it will sometimes occupy her even without the sound, but I often would sit in the back and read books or sing songs, etc. to help pass the time. I also planned on snacking all day. I would have snacks in the car that I would pull out every hour or so. ANYtime you see a place that the kids can play pull over and spend 10 minutes. It will be worth it in the long run!

There is a good article on Burb Mom about free downloadable activity sheets from the internet and other car trip ideas: http://www.burbmom.net/im-leaving-on-a-jet-plane/

There have been several requests recently regarding road trips with young kids. Take a look at all of the great responses that were posted. :-)

We take a 13-hour trip (each way) each summer and we handle it by leaving at 3am. We (adults)get to sleep around 10pm, get 4.5 hours of sleep and then get up, take a quick shower (to wake up), throw sleeping kids in the car, and get on the road. The traffic is super light and you can get a long way before you stop for gas and to-go breakfast. This makes the ride much more manageable with small kids. They eat their b-fast in the car on the road, and then start with their activities that you brought. It cuts down on potty stops too! Good luck!

I spy with my little eye . . .

u can also make up games using the alphabet, like find something OUTSIDE the car that begins with the letter a, now b, etc.

(little kids usually love that stuff)

don't forget the "Who am I?" games! (thank goodness for Disney characters!)

also, it might be helpful to limit the sugar they consume ;)

We have traveled from here to South Dakota with kids and Grandkids many times.
We leave late in the afternoon, we have snacks and drinks with us. We stop at a fast food place at dinner time and let the kids run around.
DVD players are great. We then take turns driving all night and arrive in the morning.

We are tired but the kids get a good nights sleep.