Best advice that I have for you all is simple: do not do it!
Traveling with an infant can be fun and full of adventure, until the tears come because the baby has had enough and the only way they can tell you that they have had enough is by crying (loudly.)
I would like to share a few things that happened during our trip from Colorado to Michigan.
1. Expect to be late
A 18 to 19 hour drive turned into a never ending 26 hour drive. There is a reason why when I was growing up, my parents packed us all in the vehicle at 8:00pm and drove through the night. Because we were asleep, there wasn't a constant need or reason to stop except for gas and maybe a monster or two to wake you up.
2. Carry cash for tolls
First time we made this trip, we failed to carry cash with us, because hey, everyone should be up on the times and accept cards. Pssshhh nope! In Indiana, we learned the hard way, and also learned that "I Owe You's" are still a thing.
3. Corn
Get ready to see nothing but corn for miles and miles and oh wait a small little town then miles and miles of corn. For some reason, Iowa, Nebraska, and Illinois take forever to get through! I am sick of corn, my friends.
4. Priceless moments
The innocent looks on your family while they are asleep, while you are drive. While you may have a few moments where you just wanna stop and sleep, look over and glance at your loved ones and look at their faces. It'll warm your heart and give you a second wind to keep driving and get through it.
5. Crying
While the night is the prime, time to get the bulk of the driving done with. It's the day where you start to hit the snags in the road. When you have an infant, they will cry and you hope that it is for a surprise in the diaper or hungry or something. The answer will be none of the above. It will be simply "I need attention, I am bored back here." While it's nice to stretch your legs, it stinks when you realize how much time you have left to do.
While it was a long trip across the country, it was worth it in the end. Will it stink when we drive back? Yes, but we have to drive home. There are moments that you won't forget during the trip as well aside from seeing them sleeping, though annoying the stops that we took are memorable. Such as stopping just to stretch our legs and let Norine roll around in the grass to sitting in the car with her on our lap and watching Norine giggle as she watched cars and trucks drive by. Call me a half glass full kind of guy, but I remember these moments and smile and am glad that we went through them together.
