Tips for Taking your Toddler on a Stress-Free Road Trip

We're having a weekend away and bringing our toddler with. We've been wanting to do this little trip with her for a while, because it involves some tourist attractions we think she will LOVE.

However, the thought of driving three hours in a car with an almost two-year-old who constantly moves, as well as interrupting her normal routines and environment has been a little daunting. As I've planned this trip out, I've spent quite a bit of time working through logistics for making this the smoothest possible experience, and there have been a few things that make me feel much more confident about going for it.

Here's what I'm planning to do to try to maximize fun and minimize meltdowns:

Try to Time Our Travel with Nap Time

The best way to reduce the amount of time you need to keep a toddler occupied in the car is if they are sleeping for at least some of the drive.

Our daughter usually naps for about two hours. We are planning to leave late morning with the hope that there will be enough crossover with her normal nap time for her to get her full nap in while we drive.

The other bonus to getting some sleep in prior to arriving is that there is a better chance she will be happy and ready for adventure right when we get there.

Bring New Toys and Lots of Snacks

For the drive time when she isn't sleeping, having something new to play with could fill some of the time. You don't need to spend a fortune, either! I ran to the Dollar Tree and found a few new books and coloring kits to surprise her with.

I also think having plenty of snacks can be helpful to keep tummies satisfied. I'm planning to bring a balance of hearty, healthy goodies and some sweeter treats she may not always get at home. I'm hoping this will make it special but also keep it filling.

My favorite hack for bringing a variety of snacks on the go is using a "snackle box" with multiple compartments . Here is the one I use and love!

The new toys and snacks are great for the car, but I'm also planning to bring them with us throughout the weekend to prevent hangriness and keep her occupied if we need to wait in lines or at a restaurant.

Try to Create a Consistent Sleep Routine and Environment

Night time sleep is by far my biggest area of concern. We haven't taken her anywhere overnight since she was 8 months old, so she is very much in her routine. Since it's only one night, I know we'll survive no matter what, but there is such a big difference in how Day 2 could go depending on the quality of sleep we got.

She is an amazing sleeper at home, so my goal is to try to recreate as much of her routine and environment that I can.

In my experience, hotel window treatments do the absolute least for keeping the room dark. A hack I saw that I will be trying is to put black garbage bags over the windows using painters tape to block out any light.

Since it is only for one night, we are all staying in the same room, so I'm really hoping we can find a balance that works for everyone!

Mix High- and Low-Stimulation Activities

One thing about toddlers is that they can become overstimulated super easily. We are going to a fast-moving city, so I feel like the chances of it happening are even higher.

To add another layer to the mix, we are going to attempt to nap on the go on Sunday.

As I planned the itinerary for this trip, I tried to mix activities so there we weren't doing high-stimulation things back to back. For example, we are go to an exhibit and then we are going to just hangout at the park for a bit before dinner. I'm thinking the exhibit will have a lot going on, so providing a break and chance to move will be helpful before sitting down in a restaurant.

Don't Forget the Stroller and Extra Clothes

I swear the packing list does not end when it comes to a toddler. I'm sure I put added pressure on myself by not wanting to forget anything, even though we will be in civilization and can purchase literally anything we need (lol).

There are two things, though, that I am determined to remember. One is our stroller. We will be doing a lot of walking, so I know this will be a lifesaver. I also am looking forward to having storage compartments as we're out and about. A stroller is also pretty essential if we want our daughter to nap while we are downtown shopping on Sunday.

The other thing I am probably going to overpack is extra clothes. Since I don't know the true level of adventure we'll be in, I want to be prepared to have outfit changes after every activity (including - and especially - meals). I don't want her to have to go through the day being wet or dirty. Plus, it can be hard to gauge what clothing layers are needed for comfort, so in addition to plenty of extra outfits, I'll probably bring variations of short and long sleeves, sweatshirts, etc. for all of them.

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I'll be sure to report back with a follow up on how this grand plan goes. I'm really crossing my fingers we'll have the getaway of a lifetime! I keep picturing her happy smiles and giggles, and I know her excitement will make all this extra planning worth it.

Do you guys have any tried-and-true toddler tips for traveling? Let me know!