500 miles with 20-month-old twins?

A friend of ours has a house in the Outer Banks for a week in mid-September, and invited us down for as much time as we can spend, at zero cost to us. They have a 23-month-old daughter, who we've never met, and vice-versa (they live in Richmond, VA, we live in the NYC suburbs). We are seriously considering the trip, but thinking about the perils of that long a drive with the ladies is giving me hives. Can I hear some words of wisdom from those who've BTDT? How did it go? What did you do that worked/didn't work? Thanks!

 

We went from OKC to San Antonio with no problems but we have a dvd player. I suggest lots of stops plus toys and books. You aren't crazy

 

QUOTE(TwinxesMom @ Aug 17 2007, 01:04 AM) [snapback]370956[/snapback]
We went from OKC to San Antonio with no problems but we have a dvd player. I suggest lots of stops plus toys and books. You aren't crazy


Hehe, do you know me well enough to say that for sure?

We have a portable DVD player, but not the kind in the car - which wouldn't work anyway because they are still rear-facing (they don't mind it - which surprises me every day). I'm thinking if we put the middle seat back in (honda odyssey) one of us could hold the DVD player on their lap. Is that nuts?

Did you drive during the day? Some people have told me they drove all night - that seems insane, right?

 

We just took a trip last week that was 450 miles each way....it's possible, just be prepared!


We left around 3:00 in the afternoon b/c that was the earliest dh got off work. I just had a little box with various toys, books, snacks, etc, that I would rotate when they started getting bored. I bought 2 small Magna Doodles, so they had something new for the trip. They actually did better than I thought they would! Daytime was better than at night, though, which surprised me. I thought they'd do better at night b/c they'd be sleeping......but by the time it got dark they were getting pretty cranky & tired and DS had a super hard time staying asleep b/c the freeway lights that kept flashing from driving by would wake him up.

So, it's possible. Just plan for several stops for diaper changes & let them stretch their legs.....some new toys, or some they haven't played with in awhile are awesome.

 

We drove from MD to Myrtle Beach SC in July. It wasn't too bad, but it wasn't great either. We broke the trip up the first day and stayed over night in NC, we have done this even before we had the twins, but the way home we drive the whole way and it took us 12 hours, it's about an 8 hour trip and that's without really stopping. We hit traffic from an accident for an hour and then stopping for lunch and dinner takes about an hour once you eat and let them walk around a bit and change diapers. The ride home was not fun, but I would do it again, because we always have so much fun in Myrtle Beach.

We have a DVD player in the car and just took a lot of toys and snacks. They really didn't sleep too long, and I was hoping they would. It can be done. I say go for it, you will have blast once you get there.

Another thing, I'm assuming you will be coming down I-95 and there is alway always traffic in VA on 95, that is where we always get hit with traffic.

 

We traveled from Northern NJ to Georgia when the girls were six months old. We never attempted a trip that long at you girls age. When we went we made sure that the third row was empty so one of us could sit back there to entertain or pacify them while the other was driving. We also made frequent stops at rest stops. It helped to let them out, change them and stretch out for a while. It made the trip a little longer but it was well worth it. Also bring a rotation of toys with you. When they get tired of one move onto something else.

Another thing to think about is when you'd be traveling. Of course, being from LI you know when to avoid the LIE and Cross Bronx like the plague (my mom lives in Holtsville LI so I know) and also the DC area gets pretty crazy too. The trip itself shouldn't be that bad. There are lots of rest stops on the NJ Turnpike and you're in and out of Delaware in 20 minutes. MD is nice with lots of nice rest stops too.

Good luck with your trip... I say go for it!!

 

QUOTE(summerfun @ Aug 17 2007, 01:40 AM) [snapback]371014[/snapback]
Another thing, I'm assuming you will be coming down I-95 and there is alway always traffic in VA on 95, that is where we always get hit with traffic.


Actually, I think we'd go down Route 13 on the delmarva peninsula. Less traffic, even though there are points during which you have to slow down to go through towns. More scenic and better places to stop, I think. Mapquest and Google maps seem to agree.

QUOTE(MichelleS @ Aug 17 2007, 01:40 AM) [snapback]371016[/snapback]
Another thing to think about is when you'd be traveling. Of course, being from LI you know when to avoid the LIE and Cross Bronx like the plague (my mom lives in Holtsville LI so I know) and also the DC area gets pretty crazy too. The trip itself shouldn't be that bad. There are lots of rest stops on the NJ Turnpike and you're in and out of Delaware in 20 minutes. MD is nice with lots of nice rest stops too.

Good luck with your trip... I say go for it!!


Yeah, I've been basing a lot around when the **** to leave LI so we don't get stuck at the bridges. Ugh. I wish there were a ferry from the south shore of LI to somewhere in southern NJ!

 

QUOTE(betseeee @ Aug 16 2007, 10:25 PM) [snapback]371101[/snapback]
Actually, I think we'd go down Route 13 on the delmarva peninsula. Less traffic, even though there are points during which you have to slow down to go through towns. More scenic and better places to stop, I think. Mapquest and Google maps seem to agree.



That would probably be a good idea. Because I-95 in VA is where we always hit our traffic, it never fails and it doesn't seem to matter what time of the day it is. We hit traffic there going to MB at noon on Friday, when everyone should have been at work.

On the way home we did get off and take an alternate route like you may be doing, and it made it so much nice, might have been a bit longer though, but no trafffic.

Good luck!!!

 

That's the age where we got a DVD player. The girls got it for Christmas and I wasn't sure they'd be very interested in it but it made the 8 hour trip we took at 19 months a breeze. We do a lot of car trips (we'll be going to N. Colorado this week) and the DVD player is wonderful. I hate driving through the night but leaving at about 3 or 4 am always seems to work out really well for us since it allows us to get a few hours of driving under our belts before the girls wake up. Take lots of snacks to keep the kids busy and tons of small toys that they can manipulate themselves. The trip probably won't be that difficult. Good luck and have fun!

 

QUOTE(betseeee @ Aug 16 2007, 09:08 PM) [snapback]370964[/snapback]
Some people have told me they drove all night - that seems insane, right?


When we moved (MA to MD, also approx 500 miles) we drove at night. This was when they were 8 months old. We left at 7pm, their bedtime, and just drove. Ainsley only woke once, Bea slept the whole way. When we got to my parents' house, they did wake briefly, but we got them back to sleep. The worst part was being tired the next day, but other than that, it was fine. Of course we had to take turns going to the bathroom when we did make a stop, and *nothing* is open for food that late, just FYI.

We have made 3-4 hr trips with them at 15 and at 23 months, and those really were not fun. I mean, we survived, and when we were at the destination it was fine, but the time in the car was not exactly fun.

 

I just did 400 mile road trip two weeks ago with 15-month old twin. We left home at 9:00 am. and we got there at 5:30 pm. We stucked 2 hours in traffic due to accident in freeway and we stoped two times. On the way home, we left at 10:00 am and got home at 7:00 pm. We also stucked 2 hours in traffic due to accident in freeway and stoped three times. They did not sleep a lot, about 2 to 3 hours for the whole trip.

The trip was really tired but we did have a lot of fun, so I guess it is worth it.