For 2,000+ mile round-trip drivers only!

[AStamm]

We drove three times from Central PA. It's not the drive down that bothers me, it's that long ride home!

 

[sandybobandy]

We drove three times from Central PA. It's not the drive down that bothers me, it's that long ride home!

Isn't that the truth! lol

 

[goofyisinphilly]

I completely agree about the long drive home. We drove from NC this fall...not too far only 500 miles. However, we both woke up with sinus infections the day we returned home 500 miles in 75 mile stretches to change drivers is not a fun return trip

 

[njchris]

I just got back last Sunday from my round trip from NJ to Disney.

It's the fourth time I've done it and am getting good at it! I usually leave after work around 4-5pm and stop around midnight to 1am. Get going by 8am and get there in the evening.

I love the driving, although coming home feels so much longer! hehe The Carolinas can be a bit boring. But those South of the Border signs are always fun to see.

I've even stopped and slept in some rest stops on the way instead of a hotel. Not too bad, but would opt for a room when I can.

 

[Got Quattro?]

16 hours and 1,009 miles from my door to disney. We have done it 8-10 times. I like to drive, the wife likes to fly.

We put the kids in their jammies, and have dinner, then leave about 6:00pm. Drive all night while the kids sleep. have breakfast in ocala about 7:00am, then a quick 3 hours to disney.

Drive home we leave about 10:00am, so we get home in time for a late bed the that night.

 

[cobbler]

We drove that 2000+ journey 3 times this year in 2007 and we will do it at least 2x next year in 08.

It's a treck and every time I complain that it takes to long to get there. Hubby has family in Atlanta and Alabama so we make either of those stops are first day stop and finish out the rest of the journey the second day. The Alabama option is only if we plan on spending a couple of days there.

 

[cobbler]

We've driving 8 times and flown once. We're probably going to be driving for spring break because of ticket prices.

1100 miles one way from northern Indiana. We like the I-65 route rather than I-75 through GA.

Living in W Michigan we take I-94 to I-65 to I-24 to I-75 to the turnpike and bingo, we are there.

We are going to invest in Sunpass this next year since we travel so much. Plus at least one of the toll stops they charge 50 cents less if you have Sunpass rather than paying cash Not to mention the ease of it and the toll savings if driving to the port for DCL.

 

[Silly Girl]

We are preparing for our 4th drive to WDW. We drive from Southeast Kansas and it's around 2500 miles rt. We usually split it up and stay the night in Alabama. The kids don't seem to mind too much with DVD player and DS and Gameboy's. We leave on the 18th and cannot wait. I love the drive!

 

[newharmony]

DH and I drive down twice a year from MI (1150 miles one way). We do stop in Chattanooga (both ways) and spend the night. It's not bad now that I have Sirius radio so I can listen to Nascar!

 

[diseverestfan]

I saw this thread and have to share this...
Coming from Lancaster County, PA, it is about 1000 miles each way. We normally drive, but this past January we thought we'd mix it up a little. Since there was 7 of us ( me, wife, 3 kids, plus my parents ), we decided to take the train. So, we drove down 83 south to Baltimore to get the train there. Now, 7 of us in my minivan was a little tight, with all of our luggage, but no big deal. We would only have to be in those conditions for about and hour and a half. Except...
... We arive at the station, unload everything, and I go to park the van. I scurry back to the station, where the other six were waiting for me. Dad and I head up to the counter to check in. I hand over my tickets and immediately had an uneasy feeling. The gentleman behind the counter says, " Sorry sir, but no trains today. There was a derailment between Washington and Richmond". Wow. I had to think quick on my feet, but I'm a little shocked by this turn of developments. We had 3 choices (or so my family thought): we could either 1. go home and try the train the next day (not a good option when you're ready for 10 days at Disney), 2. go to the airport and try and catch a flight (the preferred choice of the family members), or 3. go to the autotrain station and see if we can get on that. After wavering momentarily, I chose option number 4...I told everyone to get their stuff and hop in the van, we're going for a drive. All the way. I wasn't going to win dad, son, or husband of the year awards with that decision, but it all worked out well in the end.
I guess are family's meant to drive. We do like it, and the kids do real well. Oh yeah, one more thing...had we got on the train like we were originally scheduled for, we would have been there at noon the next day. We arrived by car at, you guessed it, noon the next day.

 

[becka]

We drive about 2200 round trip from mid-Missouri. This past trip (just last week ) we drove over 2700 miles since we stopped in Arkansas first to see family for Thanksgiving. We have driven now 3 times and I kind of like it. Our kids travel well and I actually love a road trip.

 

[Sandy22]

We drive over 3000 miles r/t from Canada. I hate flying and can't stand Amtrak's delays so driving it is!

 

[ashleybegins]

Those of you who drive from the NJ area (I noticed a few)... how much do you pay for gas roundtrip? I've never driven to FL, I'm just curious to know prices in comparison to flying.

 

[BC1836]

Again, thanks for all the great and informative replies to our initial question. We've read them all and appreciate every word. However, as 2,000+ mile roundtrippers, we concur with AStamm, sandybobandy, goofyinphilly and njchris: the ride home is, well, terrible, especially the departure from Florida.

The Emporia, VA area is generally our stay-over stop. We don't mind checking into a hotel/motel on the way down because the next wakeup means you know what. It's checking in to the hotel/motel on the way home that is really depressing. To be sure, there's no place like home but that long drive back....

In any event, we're getting ready for the ride down. Ride #3 for 2007. Soon.

 

[BC1836]

Those of you who drive from the NJ area (I noticed a few)... how much do you pay for gas roundtrip? I've never driven to FL, I'm just curious to know prices in comparison to flying.

On Sept. 30 we departed with a full tank of gas in our Honda Civic. Two gas stops to WDW:

Virginia $2.82 gal. $25.00
S. Carolina $2.67 gal $21.50

We purchased gas at WDW Hess $10.00 @ $2.75 gallon; $14.00 @ $2.73
[drives to various parks during our week-long stay]

On Oct. 7 we departed WDW:

S. Carolina $2.67 gal. $25.00
Virginia $2.89 gal. $22.25

Total: $117.75

[+ $8.00 in tolls going to WDW; $11.00 in tolls returning from WDW]

And unless you drive non-stop, you must consider a hotel/motel charge each way.

 

[PhotobearSam]

EACH WAY!!!

We drive from the East Coast of Canada (3 hrs East of the Maine border) and drive 2000 miles on the way down and 2000 miles on the way back.

THANK GOD we go for a month so it's worth it. We have done it twice in one year as well...

 

[SamRoc]

Its 1100 miles one way from NY to our house in Emerald Island Kissimmee. My dh and I first started driving straight through in the late 70s. Then after we had the 2 kids we would leave at 6pm and get there 18 hours later at 12 noon. Now that the kids are older they dont like the drive anymore. My dh and I like it, I take the 3 - 6 am drive and I have my little goals. I love to see the sign for Rocky Mount NC and for South of the Border and all the signs along 95. We take turns 3 hours each and it always worked out fine. But we can get really good prices now from jetblue and the kids like being at Disney in 2 1/2 hours. Lately we have been doing more flying that driving, but for our upcoming January trip, we will probably drive.

 

[BC1836]

EACH WAY!!!

We drive from the East Coast of Canada (3 hrs East of the Maine border) and drive 2000 miles on the way down and 2000 miles on the way back.

THANK GOD we go for a month so it's worth it. We have done it twice in one year as well...

Now THAT'S what we call a "drive!" And twice in one year, no less!

 

[OhioDisneyDad]

Just some food for thought...

If you apply the standard business mileage rate from the IRS (.485 per mile for 2007) which takes in to account wear and tear, maintenance and depreciation costs for a vehicle, the cost of a 2500 mile roundtrip is $1212.50. YIKES! The point being that there's more to the cost of driving than just gas.

 

[Jacklynn]

Well this will be our first time! We live up near Chicago.

BUT we actually are graduating college right before our trip, and we are looking at a job in Bradenton (near clearwater/st. pete) so if we get that job, we will make it a Disney/move trip and it would only be a 1000 mile or so one way trip