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Original poster

Drive 8 hours in a car with 6 and 8 yr old?

61 replies

theroadtohell1 · 19/07/2019 21:37

I have an 8 hour drive to do to visit my parents with my DD8 and DS6. First time I'll do it on my own since separating from DH.

The thought of it fills me with absolute dread. DD is sensible and easily entertained. DS, however, isn't ( he has SEN.) I'm seriously wondering whether it's actually safe to attempt it. They are likely to argue, possibly fisticuffs after a few hours, not to mention the endless "are we there yets?". I'm worried about getting badly distracted on the motorway.

Obviously I can make plenty of stops for the endless fake "I need a poo mummy claims but should I do it in 2 days instead, spending a night in a Travelodge half way to break the journey?

OP posts:
Original poster
theroadtohell1 · 20/07/2019 08:06

Thanks all. I'm a national trust member so that's an idea. Wil just make it into a VERY long day though.....

Does anyone have any ideas of places to stop where the kids can run around off the A/M42 or M1 from midlands up to Sheffield?

I am seriously considering doing it overnight. But as it's just me doing all the driving I'll need regular breaks and would end up having to keep waking them at service stations when I needed a wee or coffeeConfused

OP posts:
Equimum · 20/07/2019 08:12

Are you happy to drive either very early or very late? We did a six hour trip at half term. We got the boys up at 2am, they fell back asleep in the car, and we did a four hour stretch straight off, just stopping for coffees. We then had breakfast, and the kids were only really aware of the last couple of hours.

We are doing a similar length trip in the summer. This time we are going to leave at 7 so the boys sleep.we’ll arrive at our hotel around midnight (having checked all-night reception).

CassianAndor · 20/07/2019 09:07

I honestly wouldn’t do long stops - we once stopped for 2-3 hours at a NT place with a huge adventure playground - great for DD but DH (who was doing all the driving) was exhausted.

We have done this kind of trip often, with no iPads (but no child with SEN either). We pack activity books, sticker books, colouring in, magazines, books, notebooks (DD loves making lists!) small toys and have audio books. DD actually spends a lot of time staring out of the window daydreaming.

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CassianAndor · 20/07/2019 09:09

Head off as early as you can, like 5am. You’ll get a load of miles done before the traffic kicks in. Aim to get to a big service station at about 8 for breakfast and teeth brushing etc.

SudowoodoVoodoo · 20/07/2019 09:15

When we go to Cornwall we stop off just after Bristol for a good run around at NT and our lunch.

Calke Abbey has lovely grounds and is in Ticknall near Melbourne not far off the A42/ A50 area. The house is ticketed times, but the grounds have formal gardens, meadows, the ice house and outhouses with tunnels.

I'd put a child in the front.
I've got a 7 seater... DS1 was having a bad day so he ended up in the boot seat, DS2 in the usual rear and me in the front. Bliss Grin

SudowoodoVoodoo · 20/07/2019 09:16

I can normally get some quiet from new comics and notepads too.

burblife · 20/07/2019 09:30

Hardwick Hall is national trust place just off J29 of M1 near Chesterfield. Also a good family pub nearby for lunch - The Hardwick Inn.

noblegiraffe · 20/07/2019 09:33

I regularly do 5 hour drives (sometimes longer with traffic) with my 6 and 9 year old and they have to read magazines/books for the first couple of hours then allowed on screens (tablet and Nintendo DS) for the rest. They both have headphones so don’t annoy the other and there’s barely a peep from them. There’s also copious snacks for DD but DS isn’t bothered.

Knittedjimmychoos · 20/07/2019 10:19

Have you got national trust membership. Good idea to stop at them on route, give children run around most have good play areas.
There is list of the ones close to motorways.
And or, stop over night in pleasant area on way, premier Inn? Holiday Inn, youth hostel and make journey part of the adventure.

Knittedjimmychoos · 20/07/2019 10:20

Sorry op, I see it's been suggested. Hardwick Hall and the pub is fabulous though!
I'd stop over night though.

sashh · 20/07/2019 10:36

My parents used to drive to cornwall with us i the 70s.

We were got out of bed in the middle of the night (well it felt like it) still in PJs and we would go back to sleep in the car. In reality it was probably early morning.

When we woke up we would stop for the loo and something to eat then carry on.

Sometimes my mum would give us an A4 envelope with lots of little individually wrapped gifts, on the envelope was a list of things, if/when we saw one we could open a packet and tick it off the list.

RainOrSun · 20/07/2019 10:47

Yorkshire sculpture park is just off the M1, but a bit further north than you are after.
Any way you could do it in the train?

QuckTheDuck · 20/07/2019 10:53

We regularly do a five-hour drive with 3 in the back (two sen).

Have 'hour bags'. Each hour throw them a bag that has an activity in it. (depending on age - so colouring, a bag of sweets, a car gam such as eye spy, car cricket, car bingo, laminated games with whiteboard markers). So even if they hate it, it is only an hour until the next distraction.

Those plus movies downloaded on screens! Get a family google account they can all sign into. Buy the movies on google play. That way they each get to choose a movie but have two movies to watch. :)

Ohyesiam · 20/07/2019 10:55

I have driven my kids to Scotland from the SW lots of times.
I start at 4 am , car packed the night before, and snuggle them in with pillows and blankets.
They usually sleep till about 8, by which time we are in the Lake District and stop for breakfast.
I started when they were babies, and am about to do it next week with them as teens. I can’t carry them to the car any more! One of them sits happily on screens, the other gets restless. After a while I sit her on the front and make her navigate. I do have to take a deep breath before we go, but it’s always ok.
But if this doesn’t work for you I don’t see why the travelodge is a bad idea.

ForalltheSaints · 20/07/2019 10:57

Is the train an option, assuming it is a while away and you can book cheap train tickets?

BiscuitDrama · 20/07/2019 10:58

Motorways are safer than single carriageway roads. I would definitely put older one in the front.

MyDcAreMarvel · 20/07/2019 11:03

Don’t put an 8 year old in the front on motorways!
Why not?
Would you really be confident your 8 year old would survive a head on collision at 70 miles an hour with no air bag?
Children under 12 are far safer in the back.

Ilovetolurk · 20/07/2019 11:52

Would you really be confident your 8 year old would survive a head on collision at 70 miles an hour with no air bag

In this scenario the whole family is fucked tbf

skippetyskoo · 20/07/2019 11:53

Why no air bag? You only need to turn off the air bag for rear facing car seats?

namechangeninjaevervigilant · 20/07/2019 11:58

I used to do this a lot and they are very happy memories (although tbf there was no SEN involved). Story cds were my friend, the Just William ones and the Harry Potter stories in particular. We planned two loo/service station breaks a trip and good behaviour on the preceding leg of the journey earned treats at the service station.

Singleandproud · 20/07/2019 12:02

You can also get some coloured board pens or proper glass pens and they can draw on their car windows. White board pens wipe straight off and they will be focussing on their own side. Might not be great if they are likely to get it on the car upholstery though.

Thecatisboss · 20/07/2019 12:22

Another National Trust suggestion Wentworth Castle Gardens has just opened and has a nice playground. It is a little further north as it's close to Barnsley and very nice pub the Stafford Arms close to it.

Original poster
theroadtohell1 · 20/07/2019 12:28

Wow, loads of more fab ideas. My original plan was to stay in a Travelodge halfway, they would love it, but I'm on a bit of a budget and the hotel room plus dinner/ breakfast was going to be an extra £100ish.

I think I'm going to do it in one go, without a long stop, just regular every 2 hours stops. I'm going to aim to leave at 4am and snuggle them in with pillows and blankets as a PP suggested, then try and get 3-4 hours in before we stop for breakfast.

I did it by train last time. Despite booking well in advance and with a family railcard it cost me nearly £300. And the journey was a nightmare, packed trains, although we booked seats the booking system was down on the train so no seats available and we had to stand for hours. Not great with a DC with ADHD. I'm still emotionally scarred from that journey.

OP posts:
SudowoodoVoodoo · 20/07/2019 14:14

I'd rather not be needing the airbags because I have a happy 8yo in the front than battle of the siblings in the back. He's probably in less danger from the passenger airbag than me having to sit close to the steering wheel and pedals to be able to drive.

MyDcAreMarvel · 20/07/2019 15:31

Why no air bag? You only need to turn off the air bag for rear facing car seats?
That’s not true at all , you need to turn them off if they switch off or push seat right back for young children.

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