What's your strategy with a 14 month old? We are debating just leaving in the am and seeing how far we get; leaving super early, like 3am, and hoping she stays asleep through normal wake up time; or trying for the all night driving fest.
We are heading to Montana. It is normally an 8 hr drive but we are expecting to spread it out over two days and stop whenever K decides car seats are evil. K does okay in the car, but lately two hours seems to be her limit and then she needs to get out and move. This time there will be someone in the back seat with her so maybe that distraction will help stretch it out.
Re: Roadtrippers!
If it is normally an 8 hour drive you can easily do it one day. (I did 15 hours in a day with an almost 12 month old.)
If you are morning people (or who ever is driving is) then just leave early in the morning and plan to drive until breakfast time. Then give yourselves at least an hour out of the car. Then drive for 2 more and take at least a 30 minute break (walk around a Target or something.) Then drive for another hour or two and have lunch then take at least an hour to eat and then find someplace to play (grab some bubbles at the morning Target stop). Then after you tire the kids out you can usually get 2-3 hours during nap time. Then you might need to stop one more time...or maybe not.
If who ever is driving is a night owl then leave after dinner.
If neither applies just drive when ever you are ready in the morning. Use the same philosophy as above. Just have PJs ready so after dinner you can put PJs on and drive and through until you arrive.
I actually find that if I break up driving into multiple days they know what is in store on day 2 and they start hating the car right away.
8 hour is really not too bad. If I can do 15 hours (in 2 days) alone with my 3 kids (the youngest was 6 months at the time) then I am sure it will be a lot easier than you think it will be.
We're going to Philipsburg, just south of Hamilton. We'll actually drive through Hamilton I believe. I've only been once, DH's mom grew up on a ranch there and her brother still runs it.
Thanks for all the tips, maybe we can push this through in a day as long as we accept the breaks in advance. All your stories are making me feel braver!
We drove from northern Alabama to northwest Arkansas with our two girls about two months ago when Hayden was 13 months. I honestly thought the driving was easier than the plane rides to either location. Both of our girls do well in a car normally and are good nappers in the car. We left about 9am and did not make our first stop until lunch time in Memphis. They had a bit of a meltdown somewhere around the Tennessee border, but got over it within about 10 minutes so we did not stop. We made a few stops in Memphis and then drove another few hours to Little Rock where we stopped for about an hour to switch rental cars. After that it was another 90 minutes or so until we go to the hotel where we were staying.
The DVD was essential for us. It was more for Jillian, but admittedly Hayden is a pretty good TV watcher too. I don't think a DVD would have been as successful with Jillian at the same age because she was not as used to the TV.
Good luck!!!
Jen - Mom to Jillian (10/2008) and Hayden (4/2010)
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If you go through Spokane, there is a huge park downtown called Riverfront Park that would make a great stop - it's only about 5 minutes from I-90. There is a goat sculpture that "eats" your garbage with a vacuum in its mouth, a nice little playground with a giant red wagon slide, and a carousel that I bet K would love riding.
While E is pretty good in the car, we've had our best success leaving about an hour before bedtime; she falls asleep a little early and then sleeps through most of the trip. Our aunt/uncle always leave around 3 or 4 a.m. with their little crew (2, 5, & 9); the kids usually fall back asleep for a few hours, and then they can keep them entertained in the car after they wake up with breakfast and movies/toys.
I have family up near Flathead and we do it in one day in the summertime. It takes forever because we stop for snacks and fresh diapers every 3 hours but its only one day. In the winter we stop in Coer dAlene. I think its the Best Western (or is it Red Lion?) with a pizza joint a block away for a family friendly dinner.
I can't believe all the Silver Dollar love. St. Regis is the best Tourist Trap evah!