5 hour drive with 5 month old

[Awoooga]

Hi all!
We’re due to visit family who live what is normally a 5 hour drive away. We’ll be staying in a hotel.
Our baby will be 5 months old, usual bedtime is 1930 & 3 naps a day but usually as and when rather than to a schedule.
I know we’ll need to stop frequently to get him out of the car seat, fed & changed. So unless there’s any accidents or diversions, we’re probably looking at at least 7 hours door to door (I think, after looking at Google maps).
In your opinion, what’s the best time of day for us to leave? Or does it not really matter?
Thank you!

Depends on your starting point. If you are likely to hit morning rush hour traffic, then leave when it's likely to have died down. If not, the earlier you leave, then it's easier to take a proper break mid journey which you will all need.

The earlier the better we have gone camping every year since before our second was born.Get everything ready you car everything then wake them up feed them put them strait in the car,i find they settle for a long drive when they are still sleepy.Roads are clearer early and with the amounts of stops you need to make it means the drive does not eat into the day to much .We usually aim to get for were ever were going by lunch .

We did similar when our LO was 4 months old and then again at 7 months old. I aimed to leave our house just after a feed and when due a nap then stopped for a break when she woke up from that nap (around 1.5hours to 2 hours) then had a good rest and walk around the services (about an hour) and repeated the process. It wasn't that bad and my LO slept most of the way in the car both going and returning. She is nearly 2 now and there's no way she'd be as good on a long drive.

Thanks both 😘

I agree. Get everything ready the night before. Do breakfast/feed/change and get in your way