When would you drive (Thanksgiving Edition)?

[Anonymous]

My husband and I are debating when to tackle the drive from VA to NJ for Thanksgiving. When my son was very young, it didn't rally matter since he slept during any car ride. Now that he is 22 months he isn't the biggest fan of the car. We often do try to time certain trips with his nap but that won't work for Thanksgiving (but will for the ride home). Based on the fact that he is wiggly and can even get out of his car seat at time and the traffic around this holiday, when would you leave? Would you leave late Tuesday night (he goes to bed at 8) with hopes there is no traffic and he will sleep and then successfully go back to sleep (we have never done this) OR leave very early (6 am) on Wednesday morning with hopes he goes back to sleep for an hour or two (won't happen!) and just suck it up and deal with the horrible car ride?

[Anonymous]

I would say late Tuesday night or 5 am on Wednesday. The last time I did that same drive, we left around 6 am on Thursday morning and made it with zero traffic.

[Anonymous]

Honestly, I'd take whatever option is going to mess with his sleep the least. The last thing I'd want going into a long weekend with family is an over tired toddler. Id take a miserable car trip over a miserable weekend in an instant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My husband and I are debating when to tackle the drive from VA to NJ for Thanksgiving. When my son was very young, it didn't rally matter since he slept during any car ride. Now that he is 22 months he isn't the biggest fan of the car. We often do try to time certain trips with his nap but that won't work for Thanksgiving (but will for the ride home). Based on the fact that he is wiggly and can even get out of his car seat at time and the traffic around this holiday, when would you leave? Would you leave late Tuesday night (he goes to bed at 8) with hopes there is no traffic and he will sleep and then successfully go back to sleep (we have never done this) OR leave very early (6 am) on Wednesday morning with hopes he goes back to sleep for an hour or two (won't happen!) and just suck it up and deal with the horrible car ride?

This is a problem and shouldn't be happening.

[Anonymous]

Any possibility of just driving up Thursday morning? The roads are usually pretty clear then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any possibility of just driving up Thursday morning? The roads are usually pretty clear then.

Shhh, that is when we're driving VA to NJ. Don't encourage more cars on the road then.

[Anonymous]

As someone who has made the trek from DC to NJ many, many times to visit DH's family (and is against my better judgement doing it again) there are only a few times I would actually leave. VERY early on Tues, Wed or Thurs (like 5-6am). VERY LATE on Tues or Wed (like 9 or 10). We are leaving at 5am on Wed this year. It's also important to remember that Wilmington, Philly, Trenton, etc all have their regular rush hours on Tu and Wed in addition to holiday travel, so we try to be past them early or wait til later.

If you try to leave at bedtime, you will probably get stuck in traffic, which may be fine w/ you if he's actually sleeping.

If you leave at naptime and the trip takes 6 or 7 hours (our record from pre-kids), then he sleeps for max two hours and you are left to entertain him the rest of the trip.

I remember a trip around this age when the traffic was monstrous and so was my son, and I found a bag of Reese's pieces in my purse and was giving him one every few miles, praying they would last until we got near home!

Sometimes it works to go over the Bay Bridge and take 301 through Delaware to the Delaware Memorial Bridge, (depending on where you are leaving from and where you are going) rather than go through all the choke points in MD. It probably takes as long or a bit longer, but at least you are moving (which can be helpful in keeping little ones asleep rather than jerky stop and go traffic).

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My husband and I are debating when to tackle the drive from VA to NJ for Thanksgiving. When my son was very young, it didn't rally matter since he slept during any car ride. Now that he is 22 months he isn't the biggest fan of the car. We often do try to time certain trips with his nap but that won't work for Thanksgiving (but will for the ride home). Based on the fact that he is wiggly and can even get out of his car seat at time and the traffic around this holiday, when would you leave? Would you leave late Tuesday night (he goes to bed at 8) with hopes there is no traffic and he will sleep and then successfully go back to sleep (we have never done this) OR leave very early (6 am) on Wednesday morning with hopes he goes back to sleep for an hour or two (won't happen!) and just suck it up and deal with the horrible car ride?

This is a problem and shouldn't be happening.

OP here. Oh I know! I sit in the back with him because of this. He can just undo the latches himself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any possibility of just driving up Thursday morning? The roads are usually pretty clear then.

Shhh, that is when we're driving VA to NJ. Don't encourage more cars on the road then.

OP here. Its' ok PP you can have the roads to yourself that day. We like to go up as early as we can in order to help my parents, who are hosting, out and get as much grandparent time in for our son.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My husband and I are debating when to tackle the drive from VA to NJ for Thanksgiving. When my son was very young, it didn't rally matter since he slept during any car ride. Now that he is 22 months he isn't the biggest fan of the car. We often do try to time certain trips with his nap but that won't work for Thanksgiving (but will for the ride home). Based on the fact that he is wiggly and can even get out of his car seat at time and the traffic around this holiday, when would you leave? Would you leave late Tuesday night (he goes to bed at 8) with hopes there is no traffic and he will sleep and then successfully go back to sleep (we have never done this) OR leave very early (6 am) on Wednesday morning with hopes he goes back to sleep for an hour or two (won't happen!) and just suck it up and deal with the horrible car ride?

This is a problem and shouldn't be happening.

OP here. Oh I know! I sit in the back with him because of this. He can just undo the latches himself.

You need a better system than just sitting in back with him. I can barely undo the latches on our Britax Marathon, and my 4yo can't either (although it would be helpful sometimes if she could). What kind of carseat do you have?

[Anonymous]

I would leave at 9:00PM on Wednesday or 5:00AM on Thursday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As someone who has made the trek from DC to NJ many, many times to visit DH's family (and is against my better judgement doing it again) there are only a few times I would actually leave. VERY early on Tues, Wed or Thurs (like 5-6am). VERY LATE on Tues or Wed (like 9 or 10). We are leaving at 5am on Wed this year. It's also important to remember that Wilmington, Philly, Trenton, etc all have their regular rush hours on Tu and Wed in addition to holiday travel, so we try to be past them early or wait til later.

If you try to leave at bedtime, you will probably get stuck in traffic, which may be fine w/ you if he's actually sleeping.

If you leave at naptime and the trip takes 6 or 7 hours (our record from pre-kids), then he sleeps for max two hours and you are left to entertain him the rest of the trip.

I remember a trip around this age when the traffic was monstrous and so was my son, and I found a bag of Reese's pieces in my purse and was giving him one every few miles, praying they would last until we got near home!

Sometimes it works to go over the Bay Bridge and take 301 through Delaware to the Delaware Memorial Bridge, (depending on where you are leaving from and where you are going) rather than go through all the choke points in MD. It probably takes as long or a bit longer, but at least you are moving (which can be helpful in keeping little ones asleep rather than jerky stop and go traffic).

Good luck!

Thanks for the tips. I've been doing this drive (mainly without my son) for years and it really is a crap shoot. Tuesday night has always been our best bet but I've never done a night time drive when my son would typically be asleep.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As someone who has made the trek from DC to NJ many, many times to visit DH's family (and is against my better judgement doing it again) there are only a few times I would actually leave. VERY early on Tues, Wed or Thurs (like 5-6am). VERY LATE on Tues or Wed (like 9 or 10). We are leaving at 5am on Wed this year. It's also important to remember that Wilmington, Philly, Trenton, etc all have their regular rush hours on Tu and Wed in addition to holiday travel, so we try to be past them early or wait til later.

If you try to leave at bedtime, you will probably get stuck in traffic, which may be fine w/ you if he's actually sleeping.

If you leave at naptime and the trip takes 6 or 7 hours (our record from pre-kids), then he sleeps for max two hours and you are left to entertain him the rest of the trip.

I remember a trip around this age when the traffic was monstrous and so was my son, and I found a bag of Reese's pieces in my purse and was giving him one every few miles, praying they would last until we got near home!

Sometimes it works to go over the Bay Bridge and take 301 through Delaware to the Delaware Memorial Bridge, (depending on where you are leaving from and where you are going) rather than go through all the choke points in MD. It probably takes as long or a bit longer, but at least you are moving (which can be helpful in keeping little ones asleep rather than jerky stop and go traffic).

Good luck!

This poster is right on the money. I am sad that others do the 301 route, too, tho. That's mine! Also, expect the trip to take 1.75 times its normal length. whatever you said you'd never do -- junk food, movies in the car -- you will do on this drive.

A few other things to think about: if you do not have easy pass, GET IT NOW. It will save you hours. Next, when are you coming home? We've found Saturday AM to be sane enough (leave NJ by 8 and watch the traffic). If you wait until later than that on Saturday or anytime after 7 am on Sunday, it will take you eight hours to get home. Don't know where you're going in NJ, but be aware of 295 to avoid the Turnpike and the Pennsylvania route to avoid NJ and the DelMemBr disaster entirely on your way home.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As someone who has made the trek from DC to NJ many, many times to visit DH's family (and is against my better judgement doing it again) there are only a few times I would actually leave. VERY early on Tues, Wed or Thurs (like 5-6am). VERY LATE on Tues or Wed (like 9 or 10). We are leaving at 5am on Wed this year. It's also important to remember that Wilmington, Philly, Trenton, etc all have their regular rush hours on Tu and Wed in addition to holiday travel, so we try to be past them early or wait til later.

If you try to leave at bedtime, you will probably get stuck in traffic, which may be fine w/ you if he's actually sleeping.

If you leave at naptime and the trip takes 6 or 7 hours (our record from pre-kids), then he sleeps for max two hours and you are left to entertain him the rest of the trip.

I remember a trip around this age when the traffic was monstrous and so was my son, and I found a bag of Reese's pieces in my purse and was giving him one every few miles, praying they would last until we got near home!

Sometimes it works to go over the Bay Bridge and take 301 through Delaware to the Delaware Memorial Bridge, (depending on where you are leaving from and where you are going) rather than go through all the choke points in MD. It probably takes as long or a bit longer, but at least you are moving (which can be helpful in keeping little ones asleep rather than jerky stop and go traffic).

Good luck!

This poster is right on the money. I am sad that others do the 301 route, too, tho. That's mine! Also, expect the trip to take 1.75 times its normal length. whatever you said you'd never do -- junk food, movies in the car -- you will do on this drive.

A few other things to think about: if you do not have easy pass, GET IT NOW. It will save you hours. Next, when are you coming home? We've found Saturday AM to be sane enough (leave NJ by 8 and watch the traffic). If you wait until later than that on Saturday or anytime after 7 am on Sunday, it will take you eight hours to get home. Don't know where you're going in NJ, but be aware of 295 to avoid the Turnpike and the Pennsylvania route to avoid NJ and the DelMemBr disaster entirely on your way home.

Good luck.

Thanks for all of the tips much appreciated! The longest it ever took me to get home was 7 hours but that was the day after Christmas. I'm hoping for 4ish.

Does the 301 route really make things faster or just have you not sit in traffic. I've been doing this drive for 10 years and have never gone that way. I've gone some other route in recent years based on Waze but not that. I am a true believer in that app and it has never taken me that way.

I'm not a mom that is anti much for my kid. Everything in moderation. I'll bring the snacks that my son gravitates towards and try a movie. He just finally started paying attention to them a bit so maybe it will work. My only concern is that he will throw the ipad into the back of the SUV. He LOVES throwing things!

I totally agree with you that an EZPass is a must. I can't believe everyone doesn't have one. I've had mine since I got my drivers license!

We will be leaving Sunday around noon. We like to leave to mesh up with my son's nap and also maximize time with my family. We haven't had too much trouble getting back. My guess is that it will take about 5 hours. I'm still very curious about the routes you are suggesting. I'd love to know more about them. As I mentioned earlier I use Waze and google maps which both incorporate traffic into their route suggestions and have always had good results with them. They have never steered me in some of the ways you have mentioned. I'm very open and interested in other routes, if they are the fastest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My husband and I are debating when to tackle the drive from VA to NJ for Thanksgiving. When my son was very young, it didn't rally matter since he slept during any car ride. Now that he is 22 months he isn't the biggest fan of the car. We often do try to time certain trips with his nap but that won't work for Thanksgiving (but will for the ride home). Based on the fact that he is wiggly and can even get out of his car seat at time and the traffic around this holiday, when would you leave? Would you leave late Tuesday night (he goes to bed at 8) with hopes there is no traffic and he will sleep and then successfully go back to sleep (we have never done this) OR leave very early (6 am) on Wednesday morning with hopes he goes back to sleep for an hour or two (won't happen!) and just suck it up and deal with the horrible car ride?

This is a problem and shouldn't be happening.

OP here. Oh I know! I sit in the back with him because of this. He can just undo the latches himself.

You need a better system than just sitting in back with him. I can barely undo the latches on our Britax Marathon, and my 4yo can't either (although it would be helpful sometimes if she could). What kind of carseat do you have?

MAxi Cosi Pria 70. He doesn't undo it all the time but he can. Sitting in back with him helps the situation 100%.