2 year old doesn't travel well

A few times a year head up the coast which is about 3.5 hour drive, and everytime we do, I always vow not to do it anytime again soon!

I am a single Mum and driving with Cooper can be down right scary because he is often whingy and I find it hard to focus on the road because I am always turning around trying to amuse him.

Anyway, I have to go for a very long drive soon (at least 6 hours) and I am so nervous because I don't know how I am going to do it. I did buy a portable dvd player, which is great for about an hour, but I have run out of things to do for him.

Can anyone suggest anything that I can buy him, or what I can do to make the trip easier on us both?

Can you still get those pretend steering wheel/gear stick toys? I remember them from years ago but not sure if they still have them. They used to have a mirror too. Then you can both go driving and talk about how important it is to watch the road.

Can he see out the window? Does he like trucks/cars/diggers? You might get lucky with some road works.

Singing...CDs or music that he likes. 'Shakers' so that he can make music too (plastic bottle with rice or rocks in with lid taped shut).

Food that he can nibble on that you don't have to help with.

Does he like beads? Necklace of big beads on a string.

Can you time the trip so he will nap for some of it?

We drive between Adelaide and Melbourne a few times a year and it takes around 9-10 hours with a couple of stops.

I have a bucket of toys that sit next to the car seats for them to play with. This includes favourite books, mini magnadoodle and favourite toys, cars, ect Also take their kiddy laptops and their My First Leappad (great purchase, they have loved these for ages now). I also make sure I have there favourite teddy and a blanket for them as they like these when they nap in the car.

We also break things up with a playground and also do some singing and window games. For there age it is only really 'what can you see out your window' they respond ie, cow, tree, etc then it is our turn. The CD's come out as a last resort :lol: we dont have a DVD in the car (not yet :lol:)

We also plan it so they have at least one sleep in the car to break it up a bit.

Snacks - My kids dont get many treats (nasty mummy :lol:) so it is a bit of a novelty to get a mini pack of smarties or mini natural jellies in the car. Also pack alot of other food to keep them occupied.

Travelling with young ones can be really stressful. Good luck.

Just adding - when they were younger we used to get up and leave around 4-5 in the morning so they would go back to sleep and we would get a few hours in before they woke up.

I do the same as what 2plus1does. We have a bucket of toys in the middle seat which is in easy reach of Nina. Every couple of hours we stop for a break and have a bit of a run around. Take plenty of books, favourite toys, a long dvd for him to watch etc. I'm forever telling Nina that there's a truck or train coming, or to look at the clouds, then we count the clouds together. Just those sort of things. Also, like 2plus1 suggested, try leaving at a time when he's either ready for a sleep, or you know he'll go back to sleep. At night maybe?

ETA: I should add then when we go away, it usually takes about 2 or 3 days to get there, and we travel about 8-9 hours each day. And these things work a treat. But beware, you will get sick of saying the same things over, and you'll never want to see a truck or train again!