Easter weekend travel - when is best to drive 3 hrs?

[Puzzleboard]

We’re planning a trip down south from the north west over Easter. We’ve got 2 DC, 1 and 3. 3 year old is good traveller, 1 year old hit & miss in the car on long journeys. Obvs want to avoid as much traffic as possible so it’s either set off early doors (6/7am) or at bedtime (7pm-ish),

The issue with early doors is 1 year old might struggle for such a long trip without snoozing. The issue with bedtime is they’re both likely wake up when we arrive at our destination (or before) and get tired and cranky. Does anyone have any top tips?! TIA

Where are you coming from and going to?

Manchester to London (north)

What's the problem if you set off early and 1 year old falls asleep? Just adjust later naps? It's literally hours and hours from bedtime.

@Puzzleboard sorry I can't help as I don't travel that way (I'm in the south west).

I'd go early early. My parents are a 4.5 hour drive and we've adjusted when we do it depending on DC age. At that age I would have absolutely everything in the car the night before, including a separate bag with DC clothes and my toothbrush. Get up at 4.45, wee and get dressed, transfer DC to car still asleep and drive off by 5. Drive about 2.5 hours then stop for breakfast where I'd get DC changed and brush my teeth then do the last bit of journey after breakfast.

Another vote for leaving early, with a decent stop. Are you national trust members?

I’m surprised you can do that journey in 3 hours though! I’d aim to get south of Birmingham before stopping for breakfast, and maybe stop again at a National Trust place or similar for a run around and a snack when you’re approx 1 hour from your destination.

The issue with early doors is 1 year old might struggle for such a long trip without snoozing.

Won't they snooze in the car?

I have similar journey to my parents and we have tried both ways. I like leaving at “bedtime” and it’s a very quiet peaceful journey! Everyone sleeps and I only stop for a very quick toilet break. Then transfer to bed when we arrive and all sleep late in the mornkng. I’m not a morning person though. Find it easier to stay up late

We always set off at around 2/3 in the morning. The roads are clear and you get there much faster with 0 traffic.

6am isn't early, you'll still get caught in traffic.

Thanks all! So it’s not 3 hours you’re right - probably 3.5-4 and more with a stop off. Won’t the kiddies just wake up for the day if we leave at 4:45? Or will they nod off again with the rocking motion?! My 1 year old has had journeys of screaming the whole way so I’m feeling apprehensive about it.

the M25 is our last bit so I’m guessing we would hit traffic there even if leaving early.

Are there there usually lots of road closures at night while they do roadworks etc?

@JoanIsNotAwful sorry there isn’t a problem if he naps - it’s just if he doesn’t go back to sleep after an early wake & cries the whole way! But from the sounds of it people who have done it says they end up going back to sleep pretty quickly if transferred straight to the car from bed in PJs

Depends on the child. That young mine would both go back to sleep for at least two hours. We had to switch to the bedtime leave after a few years because they stopped going back to sleep early but would transfer asleep at destination.

Any overnight closures will be planned and available on the highways agency.

Early early. We sometimes go Cardiff to Sussex on holiday weekends and leave at 5am. DS goes back to sleep.

If they won't reliably transfer from car to travel cot late at night (DS was brilliant at this), then go early.