Tips for Road Tripping with 2 Kids Under Two.

Super Mom! Brave! Adventurer!  These are just a few of the comments I got when I posted a photo of my two kids and I packed up in our rental car as we headed out of our driveway in Lehi, Utah to begin our 12 hour drive to Sacramento, California. Yes, I packed up my kids and drove TWELVE HOURS, by MYSELF, across the desert to visit my family. I decided last minute that I needed to get out of the house and figured it was the PERFECT time for another visit home.  I have made the drive A MILLION times over my lifetime so that part didn't scare me since I know that route like the back of my hand. The part that scared me was that I would be traveling hundreds of miles with a two month old and a 21 month old... Alone!  Crazy. Insane. Nuts. Those are more correct terms for what I was feeling as I loaded up my car that morning and waived goodbye to my husband. 
By request, I have decided to share how I prepared for and survived this long road trip with two small children. 
When I made the plan to take this trip home, I immediately knew I would need ideas to keep my toddler entertained. Hunter is at the age where he needs to have something to do every minute his eyes are open!  I found this blog post from another mom who traveled with a toddler and used her ideas for my main game plan. I loved all her ideas.
Trip Prep: -The First Thing I did was make lists.  Grocery List, Packing Lists, and To-Do Lists including things to get done around the house before I left.  -Make a drive plan. Where to stop for gas, where to stop and eat, where to stop and stretch our legs etc. With little ones I planned to stop every 2-3ish hours in bigger towns like Wendover, Elko, Winnemucca and Reno for diaper changes and feedings. -Next I pulled out my suitcases so I could get a head start on packing. I only decided to go on this trip 4 days before I left which didn't give me too much time to plan ahead, however I did start filling them with diapers, wipes, clothes and other essential vacation needs. I usually have a hard time packing items that I may need to use a few days before I leave so I made sure to pack clothes and essentials that I wouldn't HAVE to use before my trip. This definitely relieve some of that 'night before' rush to pack stress!  -I rented a car this trip so I didn't have to check the oil, fill it with gas or any other maintenance to prep the car, but that is definitely suggested if you are driving your own car! 
Packing and Organizing The Car: The blog post suggested keeping things organized and accessible in the car so you aren't distracted searching under seats and behind chairs while you are driving. This was one of my FAVORITE tips. I used two flexible buckets for Hunters things which SAVED me during this trip for the several times I had to reach behind help him. The buckets were so easy to grab and pick up with one hand that I never felt too distracted. 

I kept our perishables in an ice cooler on the seat next to me along side a basket full of snacks. 

I also had enough diapers and wipes for the day in a container in the backseat so I could grab one for each kid at any stops we made.

This was easier then digging through luggage/diaper bags for all our diaper change needs. I also set up a small trash bag with paper towels and toilet paper in case we had any accidents while on the drive.  Each child also had an extra outfit on standby. Everyone knows that toddlers make messes and babies spit up or have diaper blowouts so I knew that an extra outfit might be needed.

Since we got a rental car for this trip I couldn't load the car the night before, so I had everything laid out in the living room so we could load up quickly the morning we left.

The Kids:  For Hunter (21 months) I filled those flexible buckets with some of Hunters favorite toys and books.

I had his snacks divided up into three small plastic containers so I could give him one every few hours.  We also had his sippy cup of water close at his finger tips so he could stay hydrated. We packed his favorite Mickey Mouse and Dog stuffed animal along with his two blankies. I also had an old iPhone that we loaded with tons of toddler apps. Some of Hunters Favorites Are: Fisher-Price Storybooks 1, 2 and 3, FP Baby Lets Count and Animals and FB Giggle Gang. We also had a link to a YouTube Channel that plays tons of nursery rhymes.  For Hayden (2 months) There isn't much a two month old can do in the car so, I made sure the baby mirror was positioned so I could watch her and made sure her pacifier was in a position that, if needed, I could reach back and pop in her mouth. (Hayden's car seat was positioned directly behind my drivers seat since I knew she would be sleeping most of the trip and Hunter would be the one who needed my attention) 
Extra Essentials: -I was sure to bring an iPod Aux cable so I could play music for Hunter and a book on tape for myself. (I downloaded the audio file for the book on tape directly from my city public library to my phone.) -I made sure to have my car charger so I didn't get stuck with a dead phone if I got stranded in the middle of the desert. -A few "new toys" for Hunter that I had packed up front with me for when he got bored of all his old toys.  (The blog post actually suggested going to the dollar store and buying a few fun toys and wrapping them up for the toddler to open during the drive. She also suggested to hide some of their favorite toys from home a few days before you leave so they are excited about them when they re-appear during the trip) -I also made sure to lay out everyones clothes the night before to help make our morning run a little smoother as we headed out the door.

-If you're feeling really confident and prepared you can even leave those you are leaving behind a nice little surprise. My surprise included a HoneyDoList, reminders for the week and 7 days worth of surprise love notes from the kids and I.

How The Trip Actually Went. We were on our way at 9:30am Monday morning. Within the first half hour both kids were fast asleep.

Great I thought, morning naps this early?!? Hopefully they'll be tired enough to take naps again later in the afternoon. Both kids slept for 3+ hours and so I sailed through Wendover, my first planned stop, and arrived in Elko, NV just as both kids started to get fussy (about 4 hours into our trip.) In Elko we stopped by the McDonald's for lunch, diaper changes and to fill up on gas. 

This ended up being almost an HOUR long stop!  The line was RIDICULOUSLY long inside for food, Hayden was taking FOREVER to drink her milk, the bathroom didn't have a changing station so I had to change the kids diapers in the front seat of the car and another line at the gas pumps. I was feeling a little defeated at this point since I had been making awesome time thus far. We got back on the road and almost immediately Hayden started to fuss.  I probably pulled over 4 times on those tiny, no mans land exits to pop her binky back in her mouth. Hunter did great for a long time staying entertained with all his toys and books! 

We continued to tear up the pavement through Nevada and with both kids asleep again made it past Winnemuca around 5. By 6 both kids were going nuts again.

In the little town of Lovelock we pulled over to a park where I proceeded to feed Hayden again while Hunter ran wild around the playground.

Diapers changed, snacks and drinks replenished and back on the road.

This is when Hunter started whining, A LOT, because the setting sun was beating down on him through his window.

This was the best he would let me do. A stop in Fernley to pick up all of Hunter's toys he had thrown on the ground completely out of BOTH of our reach and stick the binkie back in Hayden's mouth. By RENO Hayden was going NUTS!  We pulled into a gas station and parked where I quickly fed her again. We made it through the Sierra Mountains and just as we were coming out of them Hayden was freaking out again. So close to home, in Colfax, I pulled over in another parking lot to feed my newborn. Around 9pm, PST, we pulled into my parents driveway. It was the longest day of my life but the kids and I all arrived in Sacramento healthy, fairly happy and ready for sleep. I know that drive could have absolutely been a lot worse if either kid had gotten sick or had a diaper accident or we had a flat tire etc... I am so grateful that our car functioned properly, that my kids were, for the most part, great little travelers and that I was able to stay awake for 12 hours of staring at the road. It was all worth it for the next 6 days we got to spend with my parents and younger sisters! 

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What I Would Do Differently: -I would have stuck to my original plan of stopping more frequently.  The first half of the trip to Elko the kids did great while they were sleeping but skipping a planned stop while they were awake was a BAD IDEA.  Those few stops may have saved me from having a randomly hungry newborn and a stir crazy toddler.  (On the drive back to Utah I had my mom and it made a WORLD of difference even though we only stopped twice. SuperGrandma!) -The books were a good idea for Hunter since he LOVES to read but he only wanted to read them each once and then was done with them. At one point he played with his snack container taking the lid off and on for a half an hour. 

Remember that toddlers are easily entertained and not to stress if you don't have room or want to pack their whole toy/book collection!  -Download songs to your iPhone before the trip. The blog post I mimicked my plan around said she used Pandora so I didn't think to download more music for Hunter before we left. Problem was, across the desert the service is so spotty that Pandora would buffer and the music didn't really work out. (You can download an album of 150+ nursery rhymes from the iTunes Store for around $10) -Make sure to have window shades for the kids.  It never occurred to me that the sun would bother Hunter even though it ALWAYS annoys me on those long drives.  Most of the drive it was fine but for that hour that we played peek a boo with the sun behind mountains, it was MISERABLE... for ALL of us. -An OBVIOUS "next time" change would to bring an iPad or small DVD player for Hunter. The books and toys etc were great but for a kid so young, I think he would have been better entertained with episodes of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse or Jake and The Neverland Pirates. -Try and map out places where you plan to stop where the kids can run around and you can stretch your legs.  I was so grateful for that park in Lovelock and even though we stopped for a half an hour, another park or grassy area at another stop sooner would have been great!  -Don't be on no soda/sugar kick when driving 12 hours alone with two kids. I would have KILLED to have a Dr. Pepper and some Dove Chocolates to keep me sane on that drive. Sure I didn't have to pee often and I "felt" better eating my healthy snacks but goodness my my patience was short! 
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Hope this post helps. The most important thing I can say is that when traveling alone with two little ones is BE ORGANIZED.  I think it makes the world of difference to have as much of the trip planned out, prepared and organized as possible. Happy Road Tripping.

Any tips/tricks you have for Road Tripping with small kids?  Share your thoughts in the comments below.