Am I crazy for considering a 42-hr train ride with a 5-yr-old and a 2.5-yr-old

[Anonymous]

We'd ride from 5:45 p.m. to 8:45 the next morning, then we have 6.5 hr in Chicago, then we ride from 2:45 p.m. to 5:47 the next night. We're going to MT, and I think we could take the train for 1/3 the price (about $550 total, not including meals) as plane tickets ($1500).

[Anonymous]

As long as you have a sleeper cabin and your kids generally sleep in non home locations - go for it. You get to the see the country and that would be interesting to the 5 yr old. You will have two full nights so that takes 24 hours sleep out of your total time + six hours off the train. The rest of it is broken up between an evening, a morning, an afternoon and a day so the last day is your only long stretch. Seeing as you can walk around on trains, go get food, etc... have a room, it is manageable. Like being on a small cruise ship!

[Anonymous]

Thanks! I was thinking that they also might like to be able to play legos or whatever on the bed of the sleeper car, so they could have some stretch-out time. I didn't see sleeper cars as an option when I looked into tickets, though... hm...

[Anonymous]

If it is that big of a discount, then I would definitely go for it. I once rode from D.C. to Kansas via Chicago. The part to Chicago was great, and we had time to sight-see a little in Chicago before the next leg. The leg to Kansas was torturous though... I was just so done with the train. If you go on the train, I would have special toys/games/books hidden so that you can get out something new and exciting for the kids to do every 2 hours or whenever they get bored. Just come up with a list of diversions. Especially save the best toys/games for the second leg of the trip!!

[Anonymous]

....I figured out how to add the sleeper car, and that brings it up to $1100, not that big of a discount.

[Anonymous]

Don't even think about it if you can't do a sleeper.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't even think about it if you can't do a sleeper.

+1. For that age, I think it's iffy even with sleepers (just to Chicago would be plenty). Without sleepers would be a nightmare and with sleepers isn't much of a savings.

That said, you can only spend money you have. So if this is how you can afford to get there, you'll make it work somehow. There is a nice camaraderie that develops among long-range train passengers. The kids and you will probably make new friends and have someone to play with. I think it's gotta be way better than the bus, as you can get up and walk around so much more.

[Anonymous]

Yes

[Anonymous]

The problem without the sleep car is that while the kids may still sleep stretched out on you or your seats, you won't. You will be exhausted and frazzled.

[Anonymous]

Yes you are crazy for considering this. Sleeper cars aren't going to matter when your 2.5 yr old wants to run around. The cars are tiny.

[Anonymous]

That's two days in a train ONE WAY. How long are you going for? I

[Anonymous]

.. would fly!

[Anonymous]

I've done the overnight to Chicago, with a sleeping car. A lot of fun and very pleasant. But not with kids this age, that will need to be entertained during a 6.5 hour layover then get put back on for another go 'round. You know these particular kids, wouldn't do it with mine.

[Anonymous]

Other ideas: look into plane flights somewhere close-ish, then train the rest of the way. Also look into possible connections and buy only 1 way tickets (if you can travel without checking luggage - you could always ship some clothes.)

But yes, 42 hrs with kids that age and no sleeper sounds like hell on earth. Mine that age are 2 girls and even just hte train up to CT stresses me out, I can't imagine multiplying that by 8.

[Anonymous]

42 hours in train seats with no sleeper cars sounds like grounds for divorce in my book. I'd rather rent a car and drive, strap the kids into their seats and set up a portable DVD player on the arm rest facing them.