long car ride with 2-year old

Jenny952

I will be taking my 2 1/2 year old on a 500-mile car ride next week.  DD is a really good girl but she needs a lot of attention.  We have made this drive before with DH so one of us was able to distract her.  I haven't done it before by myself and I'm a little worried.  Any advice or suggestions on how to safely entertain a toddler while driving?  TIA!

sunnyday016

Fun music, new toys, snacks, lots of stops, and plan to go during nap time. That's all I've got.

JENandJEH

Do you have a DVD player?  I used to make 9 hour drives with my oldest by myself quite often and I would take books, small toys, snacks and then when those got boring, I'd break out the DVD player.  I usually tried to stop at somewhere with a play place for lunch and let him burn off some steam before nap.  He always slept great in the car at that age so I could usually count on 1.5-2 hours of him sleeping.  My youngest loves drawing on a Magna Doodle so we have a few of the little travel size ones that we keep in the car.  I always made/make sure to have their favorite blankets with us in the car, too.    

Cherryblossoms07

I have done a few multi day car trips alone with my kids. I also highly recommend a portable DVD player or tablet loaded with cartoons. Toddler apps on our tablet are also a good distraction. Color Wonder travel packs are great. The markers can't ruin anything in the car and the hard plastic case is meant to color on. When I travel alone I make sure to have a toddler music CD in my radio in case the kids act up while in traffic- it works like a charm to calm my children down long enough to get out of traffic. I also keep a cooler with clean, easy snacks on the passenger seat so I can easily hand them back if needed. I also keep the bag of toys on the passenger seat so I can hand new things back when needed.
I hate McDonalds food, but their playlands are great for wearing off energy while on the road. I put a small ball in our car when we travel during the summer in case we stop at a rest stop, it gives the kids something to run around after if there is no playground. We also play "I spy games." I ask them to find different colored cars, semis, etc.

sarahandeddiejune212008

We are doing a 14hr drive and plan on leaving about 7pm so the girls will sleep most of the way.

QuinlansPhoto

If she knows any of her letters yet, do the "I spy" game with letters on road signs. My brother and I did that every time. (I think he planned it to where I'd get stuck for three hours on a "J" or "q")