Traveling long distances with a toddler can feel daunting, but with some careful planning and the right tools, it’s absolutely doable—and dare I say, even enjoyable! Our recent 16-hour car ride with our toddler, broken into two days, taught us so much about how to make a long road trip manageable for everyone involved.
Here’s how we made it a long car ride with a toddler work and a detailed breakdown of the toys and activities we brought along to keep our little one entertained.
Tips for Long Car Rides with a Toddler
Nap Time Departure
We hit the road in the afternoon to align with her nap schedule. Timing your departure with a toddler’s nap can make all the difference. She slept for about two hours, which gave us a good head start on the drive.
After her nap, we stopped for a meal and let her stretch her legs. A 30-minute play session outside the car gave her a chance to reset before buckling back in for another couple of hours on the road.
Regular Stops to Reset
The second day was the real challenge: eight hours of driving. To keep everyone happy, we stopped every three hours unless she was sleeping (because let’s be honest, you don’t mess with a sleeping toddler!). These stops gave her time to run around, reset, and keep the meltdowns at bay.
Our Entertainment Arsenal: What Worked (and What Didn’t)
The key to surviving long drives with a toddler is variety. I packed a bag of toys, books, and activities and rotated them throughout the trip. Here’s the full breakdown of what we brought, how long it entertained her, and my honest reviews:
Bluey Reusable Sticker Book
- Playtime: ~10 minutes, with lots of mom interaction.
- Review: This was a hit but required active involvement from me to keep her interested. Perfect for short bursts of play.
Target Giggle Space Fidget Box
- Playtime: 30+ minutes (total lifesaver!)
- Review: This box contained multiple sensory toys, and she kept coming back to it. Definitely a must-have for toddlers who love to explore textures and movements.
Target Giggle Space Frog Seek & Find
- Playtime: Less than 5 minutes.
- Review: This was a miss. She was probably too young for this one, and it didn’t hold her attention.
Tonie
- Playtime: Hours!
- Review: The true MVP of this trip. The Toniebox played her favorite songs and stories, giving us long stretches of peaceful driving. If you don’t have one, I highly recommend it for road trips!
Activity Books
- Playtime: ~20 minutes.
- Review: These were great for shorter bursts but didn’t hold her attention for very long.
Poke-a-Dot Melissa & Doug Book
- Playtime: 15 minutes.
- Review: She loved the popping sounds, but once she went through it a couple of times, the novelty wore off.
Target Giggle Space Dot Connection Book
- Playtime: 0 minutes.
- Review: This was too advanced for her, so it stayed in the bag the entire trip. Lesson learned: always double-check age recommendations!
Random Books
- Playtime: ~5 minutes per book (if that).
- Review: She flipped through a couple of books but didn’t stay engaged for long. I’d recommend sticking to interactive or favorite storybooks for road trips.
Other Road Trip Tips
- Snacks on Snacks on Snacks: A variety of toddler friendly snacks kept her happy and distracted between activities. Think easy-to-clean options like puffs, dried fruit, and veggie sticks.
- Flexible Stops: Stopping every few hours gave her time to reset. When we could, we found parks or open spaces to let her run around.
- Pack Extra Patience: Toddlers are unpredictable, and not everything will go as planned. Give yourself grace, and remember, the journey is just as important as the destination.
Final Thoughts
Long car rides with a toddler aren’t easy, but they are totally doable with some prep work and the right tools. For us, breaking up the trip into two days and packing a variety of activities made all the difference.
So, if you’re planning a long road trip soon, take a deep breath, pack wisely, and remember: the memories you’ll make are worth every fussy moment. Happy travels!
