Tips for a long distance solo drive?

Yeah, I have a few tips, but they’re all illegal. And nothing I would do with kids or anyone else in the car. :)

Take regular breaks. Boredom can be a killer and microsleeps are real.It’s summer where you are but open the window rather than using the air conditioning constantly. I find the fresh air helps keep me alert. I’ll think some more.

Stop ever two hours or less. Plan when to eat and make it a nice lunch in a restaurant where you will be waited on and can relax. I look at the map ahead if time and figure out two places within 45 minutes of each other to eat and pick the one while driving that works out for when I am hungry, and I try to estimate that there will be a good place to stop an 45 min- an hour later, because I will surely need a bathroom break after having lunch. Just those plans usually eats up the first 5 hours of the trip easily.

Although, you have that ferry ride as a nice break. Hopefully, the weather will be good and you can enjoy the boat ride and just relax watching the view.

Anyway, I find having points along the way as kind of mile markers that another section of the trip is completed helps. Whether it be lunch, crossing a border, passing a city, etc.

Stop fairly frequently. Get out and walk around.

If you get tired, drink water and eat a little something.

If mid-afternoon, I would have some judicious caffeine.

Spend some time with the kids singing.

Be sure to have a large and wide variety of tunes for the stereo. Take an extra pair of sunglasses. Have the car thoroughly checked out before leaving, including tire condition and pressure. How is the spare? Is the jack and all tools in the trunk? Do you have a flashlight and flare kit? First aid kit?

When you get tired, stop your car and sleep.
Purchase sufficient amounts of sedatives for your children.
A couple of large empty plastic bottle for when you have to urinate and there is no rest area/transport cafe/petrol station in range.

I was very tired and falling asleep at the wheel on one long-distance solo drive, and stopped, rested a bit, then found a coffee stand that made me a mocha milk shake! Caffein + sugar boost got me home wide awake.

Suppress the urge to kill when the kids ask for the millionth time, “are we there yet”

How old are your girls?

When I travel by land, I like to forego maps and just head for the hills on some winding two lane blacktop in the general direction of my destination. I enjoy the possibility of getting lost and having an unexpected adventure. But I’m not crazy. In my trunk were all paraphernalia in case I really did get lost: extra clothing, thermal pup tent, thermal blanket, and energy food. But this won’t do with children.

Make sure all objects in your car are secured; battened down. Flying objects such as books, vanity cases, etc., cause serious injuries during relatively simple collisions.

Never, ever substitute caffeine for sleep.

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Water is best.

Have some hard candy handy for when the kids’ sugar levels drop, usually in the afternoon. Otherwise, you may experience unnecessary drama which will sap your energy.

AAA Trip Tiks are an amazing invention. They are map books especially tailored for your individual trip with up-to-date info on road construction and conditions, parks, hotels, motels, restaurants, gas stations, rest areas, etc., opening and closing times, and if they actually still exist or not. Mileage and travel times are noted as well. You don’t have to be a member of AAA to get this service. Check the site. I’ve not used them for a few years, but I would imagine they are able to do all this online in realtime via your laptop these days. Better and more reliable than your car’s GPS.

Try to get the kids out for a nature walk, or some interesting physical activity at least once a day while on the road.

Four to five smallish, healthy meals—not snacks. A sandwich, a soup, a salad. Fruit, cheeses and nuts for snacks. This is especially important for the driver. A heavy meal, especially after four or more hours between meals, can make you dangerously somnolent.

Sleep and hydrate before the trip and make sure to get at least six hours of sleep every 24 hours on the road.

Enjoy yourselves.

Audio books

If you can feel yourself becoming less alert, chew gum. Preferably something spicy. This is not an alternative to breaks and sleep, but it may help tide you over until it’s safe to stop. Taking a sip of water and holding it in your mouth works, too.

Got me through law school lectures.

Be safe!

Thanks for the tips so far. I made a categorized list (well, I am a librarian…)
BEFORE:
sleep well
service the car
PHYSICAL:
regular breaks
exercise
fresh air
drink water
have caffeine
eat small meals
sunglasses
chew gum
spicey food
ENTERTAINMENT:
sing
play music
listen to audio books
Mark off waypoints

@ibstubro my girls are 8 and 14. They both tend to watch DVDs most of the time. The older one might sit in front with me and might talk to me. It seems a bit unlikely!

If they are that old you could play a game for an hour in there. Play geography.

Ooh, what is the geography game @JLeslie? I like games.

I think I might lock the DVD players in the trunk until the ferry ride and pack some games you can all play together. If you get along with that continue after the ferry ride. If the only thing that keeps you awake the first leg of the trip is fighting with the girls, give into the DVD.

If nothing else they’ll be starved for the DVD players and allow you to have some rest during the ferry ride, @Stinley.

You name pretty much anything in geography, a city, state, province, country, continent, ocean, mountain range, etc. Then the next person uses the last letter of the word that was just named.

For instance: I say England, then you use the D. You say Denmark, I say Kentucky, you say Ypsalanti, I say India, Atlantic Ocean, and so on.

When someone can’t think of an answer and the next person can, then the person who couldn’t come up with something is out. Last person standing wins.

You have to set a rule at the beginning that you can only use English (or whatever language you choose) so for instance you can say Rome not Roma, and when naming oceans and mountains you need to decide weather you include the word ocean or sea. For instance will Atlantic Ocean cause the next word to be C or N. Will Rocky Mountains be Y or S. Or, you can just be loose with that and make it whatever the person wants.

@ibstubro I think that I should not buy them any new DVDs for the journey, as I usually do, to force them to entertain me!
@JLeslie cool game. I have played a similar one but with famous people. So I will remember it.

Any more games anyone??

I’d start the trip off that way, @Stinley, but stash some in case it’s unbearable for you. I’d let them watch during the ferry trip so you can rest.

That is one long trip with two children in the car. Here is a link for Car Travel Games for Kids plus some other tips. Some might be worth considering.

Some other items to have on hand that haven’t been mentioned are: tissues, paper towels, wet wipes, a trash bag, pillows, blankets, umbrellas. If the children plan to use electronic equipment, extra batteries might come in handy. Don’t forget to pack the cell phone charger(s). Have Euro money, including change on hand for when in France. Do you know the French emergency # to call if something should happen?

Maybe involve the girls with the map reading. I was always the navigator in my family once I was old enough.

@JLeslie Yeah, that was mentioned in the link I provided. I think it is a good idea as well. It’s a form of teaching. Better yet if the map is gone over with the children before taking off. Involving them in understanding the journey will build skills that will be useful throughout life.

I consider it a given that you go over a map before leaving on a long trip, so I agree with you involving the kids in the driving plan and maps ahead of the trip is best. Although, I’m old school. Probably a lot if people just venture out with their GPS programmed. I don’t feel comfortable doing that.

Lots of lovely ideas in that link, thank you @Pied_Pfeffer.

I will see if I can get a cheap map of France and they can mark the big cities along the route. I like the map reading idea as I also don’t like to only rely on a sat nav.

I will add to my preparation check list: breakdown service, insurance and other documents. I have some euros and can use my bank card as well.