Driving or flying – What’s best with a toddler?

I’m so ready for a vacation. It’s been a year since I had a complete week off work and way too long since I’ve been more than a few hours from home. I used to fly at least twice a year, so I’m feeling a little stir crazy.

So, we have two trips planned. One is our annual camping trip in July in Michigan. This is a very relaxing trip. Just four hours away and we’ll camp in a pop-up camper. I think most of my family would rather die than go camping, but I really like it. We spend all our time outdoors, a day at the beach, some time in the cute town of Ludington, and our nights are spent around campfires with my husband’s family. And we’re not exactly roughing it these days. Our camper has heat, air conditioning, a king-sized bed, and the campground has a nice new pool and hot tub. However, it would be really nice to go somewhere new, somewhere DIFFERENT.

Hence our other trip we have planned – in North Carolina. Steve’s sister and her family have rented a house and invited anyone to come join them. They did the same thing last year, but I think Steve was working or something so we weren’t able to go. The house is on a beach and it’s nice to go with family when you have a little one. And lately everyone in the Midwest (except us) seems to be jetting off to Florida and coming back all relaxed and tan and making me extremely jealous with their stories of beaches and daiquires.

But, I have to say, I’m getting a little nervous about taking a toddler on a 12-hour drive! We have plenty of time to get there, so we’ll definitely split the drive in two days. But still 2 days of 6-hour drives. Am I crazy? The alternative, of course, is flying. I’m beginning to think it’s not a bad idea. Of course we’d have to take a car seat, possibly a pack-n-play, a stroller … and the list goes on. And then we may need to rent a car. This brings the cost way up and there is something to be said for the car ride and seeing some of the country. I just hope Ella sees it that way.

Oh well, I know people who have done both – traveled far distances by car and plane with their toddlers and they got through it. I’d rather take the risk of some frustration on the road than sit home, too nervous to go anywhere. So, have any of you traveled with a toddler? The ladies at work tell me to get a portable DVD player. Probably a good thing to have just in case. Any other advice?