Thinking of driving to Pittsburgh with two year old twins this summer....is that crazy?

[Anonymous]

This is not a very long drive. If you want to go, go. I don't see why this requires much deliberation.

[Anonymous]

I've been driving to/from Pburgh for 30 years. I've never didn't take the turnpike. Drive 2 hours, take a break if necessary, drive 2 hours. If I had to stop with 2 year old twins I'd probably choose the Wendy's or McDs in Breezewood. These are both standalone places, fairly well contained and not overrun with people. (So not a big deal if one twin tries an escape.) Once in the burgh, they're will be lots of fun places to go. We love the Childrens Museum, the science center and the aviary. Check out the Blue Slide park!

[Anonymous]

This is totally doable. For me, it wouldn't be the drive that I'd worry about, but what I'd do with 2 toddlers when I got there - but you have help when you get there.

So no worries, other than planning around traffic and maybe bringing a few toys, small snacks and music that the kids like.

[Anonymous]

I've made that drive several times with little kids but not 2yo twins, but you could do it. Just try to travel outside rush hour timeframe!

[Anonymous]

I bought a portable DVD with two screens that Velcro to the seats in front of the kids. Best $80 I ever spent.

[Anonymous]

Fwiw, I only have one toddler (20 months) but I drive her solo to PA (but not Pittsburgh) every other month or so. It's a 3-hour drive to our destination. Because I don't like driving at night, and am afraid I'll fall asleep (!), I feed her lunch and then hit the road with the hopes that she'll sleep. Sometimes she does, sometimes she doesn't. I don't stop, but I'm driving her solo to NJ on what should be a 4-hour trip this weekend and thinking I'll probably need to stop somewhere along the way. Safe travels!

[Anonymous]

I have almost 3 yo twins and last year when they were just shy of 2, my wife went on a trip to Charlottesville. She went on Monday and the twins and I went down on Friday and we all came back on Sunday. Normally the trip would take about 3 hours (about an hour shorter than Pittsburgh). That afternoon it took me over 5 hours between a combination of traffic and needing to make 2 extra stops for the twins. Probably about an hour to hour and a half extra because of the twins (potty stops took longer with only me instead of both of us), but it was manageable. Just plan for extra time to make 2-3 stops instead of just one. For me, that means probably 2 hours longer than for just adults to make the trip and about 1 hour longer than if there were 2 adults for the twins. But you know your kids better so YMMV.

Having made the trip past Pittsburgh many times over the last 10 years, a few tips on places to stop:
-On I-70 the South Mountain rest area is about a half hour west of Frederick has a lot of space to run around and a nice placeground with play structure. Rest area was recently rebuilt (a couple of years ago) and is still pretty new and clean

If you head north to the PA turnpike, stop at the Gateway in Breezewood. plenty of space indoors to run around to work off excess energy. We sometimes walk up the stairs and go visit the arcade where the twins can sit in the race car arcade game and play with the steering wheel and are fascinated by the race demo. Also plenty of hallways to run around both upstairs and downstairs as long as you can keep them together (when I had them by myself, I brought the puppy backpack/harnesses just in case, but didn't end up needing them) The other benefit is that if you need to stop for food, there is a small food court in the back where you can get the kids food/snack relatively easily. And if you need fruit you can get some in the Gateway convenience store.

If you go on the turnpike, there are three rest areas between Breezewood (exit 161) and Monroeville (exit 57). There are rest areas at mm 147, 112 and 77 westbound. Each of these is an okay place to stop and let your kids run around to work out some energy. Limited outdoor space, but there are sidewalks/patios and some indoor space to run around provided that it isn't too crowded, but at two, sometimes just being able to get out of the car seat and walk to the building, walk around is enough.

If you head west on I-68, about 10 minutes past Hancock (where you would follow 70 north to Breezewood), there is the Sideling Hill rest area. When we head this way, we usually stop here to have a snack break on the hill overlooking the spectacular valley view of Western, MD. Then we climb the stairs and get on the walkway that goes over the highway. There is a concrete bridge with chain link cover that keeps anyone from jumping over and there are wonderful little peep holes at toddler level that allows the kids to look out and see the cars and trucks coming up the hill and then driving under the bridge. The kids love to watch trucks drive underneath them and to talk about the colors and cars and trucks that come up the hill and go under them.

[Anonymous]

We did it with a 4yo over Memorial Day weekend, and it was great. Drove from 8 pm-ish on, no stopping, and arrived pretty late, but without traffic. Way easier than I expected.

[Anonymous]

It's not a bad drive. BUT, near Pittsburgh, there's construction on the turnpike with both shoulders closed. I am terrified of passing any trucks along that portion (it's only 2 lanes). It's only 6 miles, so I have no qualms about going slowly behind the trucks. DH though....he's much braver than I am.

[Anonymous]

Put the front passenger seat down so the kids can see a bit more out of the window.

[Anonymous]

Hey everyone,
Thanks a lot for all the encouragement and helpful hints! Hopefully we will survive this adventure!

[Anonymous]

I'm from Pgh. It's super easy. Stop in breeze wood so they can run around, get food. Movie in car will make it a cinch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I bought a portable DVD with two screens that Velcro to the seats in front of the kids. Best $80 I ever spent.

Link? Thx