I am making my nephew a spongebob character cake with buttercream for his 8th birthday but he lives 3 hours away. Is there something I can do to help the cake travel well? I would like to make it in advance and store it in the fridge or refridgerator. If I do that do I cover it? I have a wilton's ultimate 3 in 1 caddy to take it in so it messing up is not the problem. I just don't want it to melt from being in the car for so long or get stiff or dry from being in the fridge...?

The last two times I've travelled with cakes this summer in my cake caddy- for 1.5 hours they have melted by the time I arrived.
So, I decided I should use a cooler for my next cake/car experience! And it worked! I put ice packs underneath the board and since my cake would not fit in the cooler, I had to tip it sideways and it turned out fine.. it was only a 45min drive and I didn't use a/c.
I would recommend using a/c lol and a cooler. It worked for me.. and I also kept the cake in the fridge for a day before I transported it.

The only part that usually melts (for me) when I didn't use a cooler is the bottom border and any design on the side of the cake. If you could decorate it there (if a border) I think you'll be ok! Good luck

Are you using a crusting BC?

Not knowing where you live or what the climate is like, I've traveled 4 hours with a BC wedding cake with no problems, using my icing. The cakes were in cake boxes, which prevented the sun from getting to them,but also allowed some air flow, something a plastic container wouldnt' do.

I never refrigerate my cakes. I dont' use perishable fillings. My icing doesnt' not need refrigerated. Therefore the cakes dont' form any condensation on them when removed from a cold environment to a warm environment. I rarely use the A/C in my vehicle when delivering, either. It has to be really really hot for me to turn my A/C on.