Fly or drive?

michelle615 · February 2014

For those of you that have traveled with your LO's, if you had the option to fly or drive, what would your choice be? We will be traveling this summer and could either fly for around 2 and 1/2 hours each way to our destination, or drive about 12. He will be 2 when we take our trip. I like the idea of flying since it will be the shortest amount of time to keep DS content, but H kind of likes the idea of driving since we can stop anytime we need to. I'm curious to hear what others would choose to do with a toddler. TIA!

michelle615 · February 2014

Nicb13 said:

I usually always choose driving over flying because I'm terrified of flying but a 12 hour drive with a 2 year old sounds like hell on earth. Literally. That 12 hour drive would turn into about 18 hours with all the stops I would have to make for my screaming child who is sick of sitting that long!

This is totally my fear!
:-SS

michelle615 · February 2014

Direct flight. We are going to a family gathering. There are some family members who want to drive and would be willing to haul things for us, so we would only have to fly with essentials.

michelle615 · February 2014

We did a 6 hour drive last year and it was mildly painful. Fortunately, he did a lot of napping one way anyway, but the other way he got restless. I agree with naptime playing a key role in our travel time, with either method really. He's a pretty consistent napper with regards to the time of day. We are generally home for naptime and bedtime, but when we haven't been he usually falls asleep in his seat.

LSU628 · February 2014

I'm ready to jump out the window after being in a car for 3-4 hours so I'd definitely vote flying. Plus, if you are only spending 5 hours vs 24 traveling you'll have more time to visit.

EandIMommy86 · February 2014

Depending on where you are going I would usually say fly. It is easier and your LO's are right there. No need to worry about reaching in the back to give them stuff, them wanting to get out of the carseat to sit with you, etc.

ashiscute · February 2014

If it's a direct flight I'd probably fly. DD has done about a 2 hour flight and it's not so bad but keep in mind that it's still a LONG day flying. You have to drive to the airport, get there early, do security, have your flight, and then when you land you still need to get to your destination. The 2 hour flight took about 6 hours from our house to the destination.

We did a 10 hour drive last summer and will do another this summer. Honestly, it wasn't so bad. It was nice being on our schedule.

LyndseylovesHugh · February 2014

I would 100% fly. My DD hates sitting still so about an hour into that drive she would start getting restless, but on flights she does really well. I think there is enough to distract her on a plane. We have done numerous 2-3 hour flights and they have all gone well, but we did one 7 hour drive and it was the worst experience ever.

fanofanne · February 2014

i've done both, and i would vote flying...especially if its a 2 hour flight vs. a 12 hour drive. one piece of advice that i read on one of the posts that i wished i used with our flight: ask to be boarded last, or towards the end, especially if you have assigned seats. we had priority seating so got seated first, but then had to wait for everyone to board. our little ones got cranky even before we took off and it was not fun. not fun at all.

michelle615 · February 2014

janniep said:

i've done both, and i would vote flying...especially if its a 2 hour flight vs. a 12 hour drive. one piece of advice that i read on one of the posts that i wished i used with our flight: ask to be boarded last, or towards the end, especially if you have assigned seats. we had priority seating so got seated first, but then had to wait for everyone to board. our little ones got cranky even before we took off and it was not fun. not fun at all.

Good idea! I'll have to remember to ask to be boarded towards the end if we decide to fly

jnnfrrose6 · February 2014

theresat858 said:

Flying. Hands down. I'm not sure how this is even a question...

LO doesn't have to sit in the carseat or be contained for as long, and entertaining a kid for 2.5 hours is way easier than entertaining a kid in a carseat for 12 hours.

Same thought here. I don't even know why this is even a question, especially since it's a direct flight.

And boarding last sounds great until you get on board and have no where to put your carry on because everyone is afraid to pay checked bag fees these days so you get screwed and have to check your stuff at the gate. If you're flying with SO too, I'd at least have one of you board early to get your stuff on and the other stay back to the last boarding with the LO.

shannm · February 2014

Fly.

JulesDiane · February 2014

Fly.

emberlee3 · February 2014

I would probably fly. We are planning a 9 hour drive this summer. That is about my limit. Even that, we will probably split into 2 days so we can stop to visit friends on the way.

We are flying to Vegas in March. It's about 4 hours. That's no problem for DS, who is 4. But DD will be 21 months, and she is very high energy. Definitely buying her a seat and bringing her car seat.

traveltheworld · February 2014

We have almost the exact same situation coming up this summer and we are going to drive, but will be stopping overnight at a hotel. It's almost entirely due to the difference in costs. To fly would cost about $1200 (since DS will no longer be a lap baby), plus the cost of renting a car once we get there for a week. It's just too much.

If cost wasn't a consideration, we would absolutely choose flying over driving.

Beth.1212 · February 2014

Fly

Stephorse · February 2014

We have taken a 14 hour drive before with our 17 month old (he was younger though 7 months the first time and 15 months the 2nd time). What really helped was driving over night, which is difficult for us, but at least he slept most of the night through the drive so it wasn't too hard to keep him entertained, but yeah, he did not like being in the car seat that long, but at least a 2 year old would be more understanding of the situation, but if you could I would do an overnight drive then that way your LO could sleep through most of the drive if that is the option you choose.

BLPL101 · February 2014

My daughter starts crying after a few minutes in the car. Seriously. 12 hours is just a joke. You couldn't pay me to do that! We did it when we was a newborn and it was hard, but now would literally be impossible. Fly!

this decaf life · February 2014

Fly.

sunnyday016 · February 2014

I have not flown with my LOs, but there is no way in hell I would do a 12 hour drive with them. We would fly FOR SURE.

brachysira · February 2014

My family (when I was a child) used to do car vacations that were all car--many days of many hours. Apparently we would just take like 100 juice boxes, and that solved everything. I've always been partial to car trips, but I would split 12 hours over 2 days.

singingirl96 · February 2014

janniep said:

i've done both, and i would vote flying...especially if its a 2 hour flight vs. a 12 hour drive. one piece of advice that i read on one of the posts that i wished i used with our flight: ask to be boarded last, or towards the end, especially if you have assigned seats. we had priority seating so got seated first, but then had to wait for everyone to board. our little ones got cranky even before we took off and it was not fun. not fun at all.

Yes, but if you fly southwest where you don't have assigned seating your best bet is to be boarded first. If you have two adults and a toddler you 3 can sit in one row and hope no one sits in between the two of you. If the flight is not completely full, you'll likely end up with a free seat in between you two since no one wants to sit next to a toddler.

Just bring lots of new (dollar store) toys, stickers, drinks and snacks to keep your kid occupied and you'll do just fine. We did a 4 hour flight with our LO and he did great. You just have to come prepared and he'll do great.

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