Driving 15 hours... how to stay awake?

Question

Next week I am driving with my family from North Carolina to New Hamshire. How do you stay awake during long car rides?

Oh yeah, I am with my husband and my 2 year old...

Answer 1

you should sleep early trust me it will work

Answer 2

You'll be driving with your other half - snores like a train coz he's not driving!! - and your two year old - screams like a maniac coz dad's asleep and you're busy - and you wonder how you'll stay awake?!!

Seriously, try keeping your window open a bit or having the A/C on your side onto cool to refresh you.  Maybe put some upbeat music on at a reasonable level (no classical or slow songs).  The old car games are always a winner, even if you have to play them on your own, as they keep your brain awake.  Don't worry sweetie, it'll be fine and if it gets too much for you just threaten to get out unless the situation improves (I'm sure it'll be your other half who will be causing the problems not your little angel). Take care xx.

P.S.  Don't resort to coffee, energy drinks / tablets because the overload of caffeine will give you a massive headache and is a notorious diuretic (makes you wee).

Answer 3

Change drivers regularly. Stop for fresh air, and food. Take some music to keep you going...happy driving! ))

Answer 4

Frequent stops.  Get out and walk around a little.  Coffee only works until your body gets tired.  Stop to eat lunch and dinner........take "pee breaks"......

5 minutes is all it takes to avoid groggy driving.......

Now for traffic....take it from someone familiar with the area.....

You will run into traffic around the capitol.

As for the George Washington Bridge area.......AVOID IT.....you can easily lose an hour or so just trying to get through the toll plaza!!!  

Easy work around:

I-95 north to I-287 north into NY State.....

Take the NY State Thruway  (I-87/I-287...Yes I-287 reverses direction in NY, LOL, but not really....I-87 and I-287 run on the same asphalt for about 20-25 miles) south over the Tappan Zee Bridge

then back onto I-95 North and you will avoid almost ALL the areas that get clogged with traffic.  

You will run into traffic around Bridgeport, CT, but it shouldn't be as painful as the GW Bridge is.

Answer 5

get a good nights sleep-start early in the morning, take turns driving and take breaks. gas, lunch, etc. If necessary spend a night in a motel. I drive from nc to nj alot-takes 9-10 hours by myself. I stop twice and make it without problems.

Answer 6

If it is cold outside, keep the window down.

Answer 7

I am a long haul truck driver.  I like listening to xm radio and eat sunflower seads.  If you drink cranberry juice, you will not need to go to the bathroom as often.  If you are going north on 95, you may run into bad traffic in DC, Baltimore and on the George Washingon Bridge in New York.  Consider taking 13 through Virginia Beach and the bay bridge tunnel up through Delaware.  Once to New York take the Tappen Zee bridge (287) to avoid NYC.  Start Early in the morning and if you are tired, STOP and take a one hour nap.

Answer 8

I would be more worried about keeping the 2 yr old happy sitting in a car seat for 15 hours. I agree with the guy who said to break over night. Your baby is not going to handle 15 hours just sitting there!

Answer 9

I urge you not to risk it. But take frequent breaks, get in conversations with your husband to keep you from getting drowsy.  But you need rest...impossible! Stay over at a motel.

(I knew someone who drove continuously, and he was so drowsy, that he fell asleep driving, and he got in a car accident, where their 6 month child was thrown to the front seat bc of the impact. )

Answer 10

First good conversation between you and hubby goes along way.

Secoond good drinks, coffe, some water and if you like others.

Third some snacks.  Small enough to hold in one hand and not messy.  So cookies and such (not potato chips, too greasy for wheel).

For travelling with a young child I found leaving when they are going to sleep really helps as most of the trip their sleeping.  When they wake up, take a bathroom break, food and fuel etc and stretch.

The act of drinking and eating helps to keep the mind alert and will reduce the drowsy problem behind the wheel.  If you can drive as well it'll help to spell off for 4 hours.

Last night I drove to Ottawa and back  (took 9 hours) to Toronto area.  Left at 2000 and got back around 0500.  not hard to do if you're prepared.  Took cooler with drinks, at first fuelling, bought coffe and snacks and go.  Snacks lasted till now, just finishing off as I type.  Drank most of cooler and took the woman along for conversation which really helped.

Last weekend I went to New Brunswick from Toronto and back, took 25 hours.  Same deal, cooler, snacks, buy hot coffee and conversation.  All help to keep you going.  Got tired, switched drivers.

Answer 11

I drink lots of coffee. I turn up the music, keep a handful of CD's that I like handy. I get out and walk around for a few minutes if start feeling tired.

I don't think a 2 year old in a child seat for 15 hours is going to let anyone sleep much. Or let you run the tank to empty before he has his own tank that needs emptying.

The walk from the parking lot to the bathroom of the truckstop, gas station or highway rest stop should refresh you and allow you your choices of caffeinated beverages. You'll be making it frequently.

Please don't make the mistake a friend of mine did. He bought a field toilet to keep in the Explorer to prevent his son from insisting they pull over every half hour or so. If they hadn't taken the kid with them when they pulled over and bailed out, I would've thought the truck was on fire. I had to back down the shoulder to get to them to see what was wrong.

All told, it was an "ooh, let's not do that again" moment. I would wager that the field toilet is still somewhere along I-30.

Take some turns at the wheel. Take turns catching 20 minute cat naps playing with the tyke at rest areas and the like. And again, caffeine is your friend.

JT

Answer 12

I would suggest to travel 8 hours and find a hotel. You will be happy and your child will be happy to get a good rest in a bed and not in a car seat. If that isn't in the cards then you need to trade off with your husband every 4 hours or so to let the other rest. Just remember it isn't worth potentially getting in a bad car accident because you are tired. I still think getting a hotel / motel room would be best.

Answer 13

That 5 hour energy drink you get at any 7 Eleven, is great. All that B-vitamin stuff it says it has really does waken the body.

Answer 14

Switch on and off driving with your husband.. that way you won't be driving forever because alot of times after you drive for an extended period of time your interest in it goes down, you are less alert, and that increases the chance of an accident.

Answer 15

If you are the one driving make up little games for yourself or try energy drinks done both I drive truck for a living