Driving to Florida with 2 year old

My husband and I need to go to Florida for a wedding. We decided we will stay a week. We will be driving down. My older daughter will be staying with my sister for the week but my younger one (almost 2) we never left yet and I'm more inclined to take him with us. My daughter will have a fun week spending time with her aunt and it would be easier having just my son with us.

My question is: is it CRAZY to drive to Florida with a two year old? He is just turning two in a few weeks and we would go in August.

Anyone done this or similar distance?

Message edited 5/25/2015 10:00:59 AM.

Re: Driving to Florida with 2 year old

We've done it a bunch of times. We prefer driving to flying with kids. We do it in 2 days because we usually have the time, but we go as far as Savannah, Georgia the first day, so it's really not that much further! We've done it since our kids were little, and most recently did it with an 18 month old, 6, and 7 year olds.

Driving to Florida with 2 year old

we are considering doing the same thing so i'm interested to see the replies to this!

Driving to Florida with 2 year old

We are going to Atlanta with a two year old and a 12 week old in September... Im super nervous as well. We will be spacing the trip out so that we arent doing anymore than 4-5 hours of driving per day.

Re: Driving to Florida with 2 year old

Driving to Florida with 2 year old

My parent drive down with 5 kids. Sometimes, they had two under two and everyone survived. We always stopped overnight on the way down.

Re: Driving to Florida with 2 year old

Not crazy. When you figure in all the details needed for plane travel with a 2yo I like the freedom of choice with driving.

Driving to Florida with 2 year old

I did it on Wed as we were stranded in GA and dd was such a trooper. If I was organized and it wasn't a spur of a moment it wouldn't have been bad.

Re: Driving to Florida with 2 year old

I did it when DD was 5 months again when she was 3 and DS was 5 months the second time around was rough cause the both got hit with the stomach virus before we left. we are plan on doing it again this year DD will be 4 and DS will be :almost 2. We don't stop overnight.

Re: Driving to Florida with 2 year old

Posted by blu6385

I did it when DD was 5 months again when she was 3 and DS was 5 months the second time around was rough cause the both got hit with the stomach virus before we left. we are plan on doing it again this year DD will be 4 and DS will be :almost 2. We don't stop overnight.

Driving to Florida with 2 year old

I drove with my 20 month old in December. It was ok. I think she did better that some of the adults. I would suggest stopping half way just to let them run and stretch, we didn't and I regret it.

Re: Driving to Florida with 2 year old

I jut got back yesterday after driving 15 hours straight (except for bathroom and lunch breaks) to and from Chicago with my 3 year old triplet boys for a family wedding. It was tough, but I was super organized and we managed. To keep the kids peaceful and keep the driver (my husband) sane, I endulged the kids a lot. We have a DVD player in the car and I stocked up on new DVDs. I also downloaded a bunch of apps on their kindles that they can use offline and purchased a freedom pop so we could get wifi - totally worth it. Also stocked up on cheap toys from the dollar store, stickers, crayons, etc, And finally lots of snacks. Again, not the stuff I would usually give them, but special treats to buy their silence and stave off a meltdown. It was tough but we made it! And saved probably $2600. Good luck.

Re: Driving to Florida with 2 year old

Posted by MrsGr81

Posted by blu6385

I did it when DD was 5 months again when she was 3 and DS was 5 months the second time around was rough cause the both got hit with the stomach virus before we left. we are plan on doing it again this year DD will be 4 and DS will be :almost 2. We don't stop overnight.

Wow!!! How did you do it all in one trip? Even driving to Atlanta we stopped on the way! How long did it take? What part of Florida?

Re: Driving to Florida with 2 year old

We drive down to florida once or twice a year with 3 kids.
This past trip my ds was 2 and myntwins were 4.
It was sooo easy! My dh and I joked and said it was the easiest day we had in a long time. Everyone was strapped in and no one could fight, I read about 5 months of magazine lol

They watch a lot of DVDs.
I made each kid a bag full of activities and toys
Someone on here suggested cookie sheets. My ds used magnets on them and my twins used them as "tables" to draw. They were perfect

We limit our stops and do one stop that evrryone gets out and runs around a bit. The other stops are quick and the kids mostly use the potty in the car when we stop because it is quicker

Driving to Florida with 2 year old

Just did this drive 2 weeks ago with my then 17 months old. Plenty of toys, her little DVD player, snacks, drinks and stops very 3 hours. we drove the bulk of the trip the first day and did 13hrs with 3 stops. Stayed over night in North Carolina and finsihed it the second day. It was a great trip and LO was a perfect angel. Just take your time and make lots of stops.

Driving to Florida with 2 year old

We drove to Florida when DD was 18 months and South Carolina when she was 2.
We tried to do most of the driving while she was sleeping. During the day, our stops were much longer to let DD eat and move around.

Re: Driving to Florida with 2 year old

We have driven to FL four times in the past two years. The first time DD was just 2 and DS was still 3. We prefer driving over flying. Flying is just too stressful for me and way too many unknowns and things out of my control. We find it is best to drive through the night and do the bulk of the driving while they are asleep. We also hit minimal traffic overnight as well which helps expedite the trip. Good luck!

Re: Driving to Florida with 2 year old

So nice to read positive experiences. Is the best way to leave at night? My son is not at all a good sleeper and never has been but he sleeps great in the CAR day or night

Driving to Florida with 2 year old

We've taken two long (round trip) car trips with our kids. We drove from NY-TX and back when my kids were 3 months and 2yrs. We stopped in two hotels. We left for that trip at night, but seriously it as a 38 hr car trip which is a whole other ball game. We did it because our dog needed surgery and my FIL is a vet.

The other trip was from NY-FL and back we didn't stop overnight on the way there. We actually left at 7pm. stopped at 9pm to read a book and get cozy. They slept until 7am and we got to Jacksonville around lunch time. On the way home we were down a driver my husband flew home so my mom and I stopped twice.

Both were actually pretty fun/fine! It was worth it for us to have our cars there!

Like everyone else said just let it be fun! DVD's, sticker books, small new toys, books, crayons, SNACKS!

We try to do most of our driving when they sleep. Stopping when they are at their most awake, like the morning and before dinner time. Driving when they sleep, at night and during naps.

We packed a picnic blanket and stopped at road stops instead of restaurants to eat which helped because they could run around instead of being couped up again at a table. We loved the pull over road stops that had tables and space to run around and either packed sandwich stuff of picked up some fast food at the exit before the road stop.