Getting toddler to take nap in the car? 🥴

We are driving 2 hours away for a weekend trip and since we can’t check into our hotel until 3pm, our plan is to leave a little before nap time (12:00) and possibly go to the zoo and check into the hotel afterwards. If he doesn’t nap at all, we will probably have to try to check into the hotel around 2 if our room is ready and put him down asap in his pack & play.

My son hasn’t slept in the car in a while, but the last few times we hoped he would we think our dogs kinda kept him awake. This time the doggos will be home.

Any tips to encourage him sleeping in the car? I have a portable sound machine and know to kind of keep with the same routine as we usually do for nap. I will stay up front unless he gets super crazy at some point.

And, if your LO has occasionally missed their nap, how did the rest of the day go? Did you try a couple hours later or just do a much earlier bed time? Were they super cranky if they just skipped it?