Driving from NJ-leaving at noon.

[kapica3]

Ok, I know not the best plan. Unavoidable due to work.

Question, - "wing it" through or around Wash. D.C. probably around rush hour or try for the Cape May/Cape Lewis Ferry to avoid the Capitol? Does any one know if this actually cuts off time?

Also, fellow Jerseyites---- how may hours if you drive straight through (other than pit stops and gas). Some of the posts I read say 16-18 hours. I have never made it in less than 20-22 and my husband drives like a maniac. When I look back we always seem to get stuck in some sort of traffic, be it due to construction at 3:00am in North Carolina, overturned tractor trailer truck on the Jersey Turnpike or Pre-Disneyworld traffic. Have any of you driven straight through (not at RocknRollercoaster speed) and NOT hit traffic? How many hours did you do it in?

(I figure - about four 20-30 minutes stops for gas and bathroom)

[Uncleromulus]

Well--all I can suggest is that IF there is a viable alternate route around DC, you should take it rather than engage DC traffic anywhere near the PM rush. In many ways that's far worse than the AM rush, since you'll find yourself heading S. on 95 with all the locals heading from DC to their homes in VA. A real mess even in good conditions--add an accident or rain--even worse.

[jel0511]

We've never driven straight through as we usually stop overnight in Savannah, GA. But if we did, we'd probably make it in about 18 hours. We live about an hour south of you. Now, we leave home at 3:30AM to avoid all traffic around DC, and usually hit minimal traffic when driving.

[Lizzydoll73]

In 1998 we dove straight through leaving Paramus, NJ at 9 pm. We arrived in Orlando around 3pm so 18 hours. I don't remember hitting too much traffic though and that was without kids. Our next trip we are planning to stop overnight.

[dis4me]

We always leave after dinner around 7-8 pm and drive straight through. It usually takes us 18 hours.

[melanie18]

In our pre-child days, it used to take us 18 hours straight through from central NJ.