Road trip to Denver with kids ages 4, 7, and 10 - logistics question

Dec 11 min read

Doing a 14-hour drive from Kansas City next month. Never attempted anything this long with all three. Our usual strategy is leaving early and just powering through, but I'm wondering if that's still feasible or if we should break it up into two days. The four-year-old will be the real wildcard. Does stopping in Colorado Springs help or does that just stretch it out too much? What's your actual experience been with long drives, not the Pinterest-perfect version?

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Comments(12)

DDale A.Regular1d ago

Did the KC to Denver drive in one shot with kids your ages last year. The 10yo was mostly fine, the 7yo got antsy around hour 10, but yeah the 4yo absolutely lost it. We stopped at a rest area playground for 30 mins and that helped reset. Would still recommend splitting it though - kids sleep better, less stress on everyone.

SSteve Q.Regular13h ago

Audiobooks honestly saved us. Got all 3 kids into Percy Jackson and they were obsessed - forgot they were in the car. Might be worth trying before you go?

KKenny W.Regularjust now

What snacks are you planning? We made a HUGE difference by prepping little containers of stuff - goldfish, fruit snacks, crackers, gummy bears - and revealed them strategically rather than just having a bag they could go through in hour 3. Made them last longer.

LLuca P.Regular10h ago

14 hours straight with a 4yo is genuinely ambitious. We tried that once from KC to Denver and it was rough - the 4yo got car sick around hour 8 and then we spent 3 hours dealing with that. Honestly break it into two days, maybe stop in Limon or something and do a hotel night. Your sanity is worth the extra $100.

RRaj P.Regular2h ago

Is splitting it up even possible logistics-wise for you guys? Like do you have somewhere to stay overnight? Because if not then yeah you might have to power through, but honestly I'd rather drive 7 hours, stay in a motel, then drive 7 more hours than deal with a meltdown situation.

JJason K.New Dadjust now

What's your current plan for the 4yo specifically? Like are you talking tablet time the whole way, or actual activities? Because that changes whether you can realistically do it in one shot. We found audiobooks + snack rotation kept ours occupied for maybe 6 hours max.

MMarvin T.Regularjust now

Lmaooo good luck. Just kidding but also not. The early morning strategy is legit though - my 4yo was basically unconscious until Salina and we got like 500 miles easy.

TTodd N.Regularjust now

Honestly the 7 and 10yo will be fine but yeah the 4yo is the variable. Invest in a cheap $20 lap desk or tray table, bring surprise toys he hasn't seen before (dollar store stuff works), and have realistic expectations about bathroom breaks. Two days is the move.

PPete Y.Regularjust now

The 4-year-old is the real issue yeah. My strategy: leave at like 5am so the little one sleeps first 3-4 hours. Pack way more snacks than you think you need (not sugar, like cheese and fruit). New dollar store toys every 2 hours. And honestly? A movie they've never seen works miracles.

SShane K.New Dadjust now

14 hours straight with a 4yo is asking for trouble honestly. We did KC to Denver with similar ages and broke it into two days in Nebraska. Game changer. Plus gives everyone (especially the 4yo) a chance to actually sleep instead of screaming at mile 8.

LLiam S.Regular11h ago

We actually powered through a 13-hour drive last summer and I wouldn't recommend it. Not because it was impossible but because everyone arrived exhausted and cranky, including us. The two-day trip to Denver the next year? Kids were actually happy when we got there.

WWyatt C.Regularjust now

The 'power through' strategy works great until it doesn't lol. One of our kids got car sick around hour 10 and it was downhill from there. Two days lets you stop when they actually need it instead of white-knuckling it.