My family wants me to make a three tier, decorated cake for a family celebration. The problem is that I live 600 miles away. How much should I do in advance and travel with and how much should I do there? I have two kids and when we travel our car is VERY full. But, when we get there, there will be five screaming kids in the house and it's very hard for me to work in those conditions. I could really use some input!

I would not attempt to travel that far with a cake personally.

What you could do is have someone on the other end bake your layers and freeze them for you, and hit the store for whatever else you need.

You pack your tools and premake any fondant/gumpaste/RI deco. Plan on what you're going to do, and keep it simple. Someone take the kids to a movie, and you stay behind to do the cake.

Thanks for your help. That's a good idea.

I have the same situation. I live in WV and my cousin is getting married in July in Chicago. I plan on baking and freezing my cakes, having all of my icing and decorations made up and my cakes will thaw in a cooler on the way up. By the time I get there the cake will be thawed and I can decorate. That's the plan anyway. Hopefully I won't have any major disasters.
Michele B. in WV

Could you transport the three tiers unstacked, then stack & finish decorating on site?

I traveled about 230 miles and I baked all my layers and froze a week ahead of time. Then I made all of my fillings and icing at home and packed in a cooler. Traveled with it all and then actually did everything but the fondant and paint in the hotel and then the next day I finished it at my aunts house
(It is the tiger tiered cake in my photos)

I agree. I would make that trip with my own cake if I waited to stack it and made sure to be there atleast 2 hours before the event to stack and touch-up!

Thank you all so much for your input. Now I have alot of great options to consider.