The first of likely many ridiculous questions

[owenbyd]

I went to the Fort as a child and now Dh and our two boys (4 and 6 years old) are thinking about a trip in May. We have a small Coleman pop up (basic, only ac -- no hot water, shower,slide outs, etc.) that we pull with my 2005 Toyota Sienna van.

Traveling takes a long time for us and this will be our first trip *that* far away (I am in Asheville, NC).

We are considering breaking up the drive and spending a night at a hotel on the way...likely past Jacksonville...any suggestions?

If you want to park your rig, do you just leave it in a parking spot at a hotel? Do you have to call ahead and get permission? what is the best way to lock it up? I mean, our pop up is pretty small but I wanted to make sure

Thank you!

 

[clkelley]

I went to the Fort as a child and now Dh and our two boys (4 and 6 years old) are thinking about a trip in May. We have a small Coleman pop up (basic, only ac -- no hot water, shower,slide outs, etc.) that we pull with my 2005 Toyota Sienna van.

Traveling takes a long time for us and this will be our first trip *that* far away (I am in Asheville, NC).

We are considering breaking up the drive and spending a night at a hotel on the way...likely past Jacksonville...any suggestions?

If you want to park your rig, do you just leave it in a parking spot at a hotel? Do you have to call ahead and get permission? what is the best way to lock it up? I mean, our pop up is pretty small but I wanted to make sure

Thank you!

When we stop overnight at a hotel, we just leave it hooked up to our tow vehicle parked in the hotel parking lot. I usually look for hotels online, then call the hotel directly to confirm that they have a big enough parking lot to park a camper. We then try to make sure we park in such a way that we can loop around and exit without having to back up anywhere.

We usually don't do anything at the hotel except sleep. We have one small bag that we bring in for the stop. We have already eaten dinner somewhere, so no need to disconnect and take the car anywhere after checking in.

 

[DisneySoccerScouts]

Make sure your hitch pin is a locking one, then no one can ever steal the whole camper, we put ours on even when our trailer is just parked anywhere.
Our coleman pop up door locked with a key, so when it was down you really couldn't get inside.

Also, there are no ridiculous questions, so ask away!

We've camped with all of our children since the first was a month old, so I am sure you will love it as Disney in your camper. It is the best way to be there!

 

[campingfam]

Plenty of people travel with trailers when they move. I am sure it wouldn't be a problem anywhere.

 

[BradyBz12]

Just wanted to say

And we love "ridiculous" questions.... as long as you don't mind completely ridiculous answers sometimes too.

 

[Born 2 Fish]

Just wanted to say

And we love "ridiculous" questions.... as long as you don't mind completely ridiculous answers sometimes too.

Ditto,,,,,,,
and don't forget to go fishing.

 

[mouseketeer_mom]

I went to the Fort as a child and now Dh and our two boys (4 and 6 years old) are thinking about a trip in May. We have a small Coleman pop up (basic, only ac -- no hot water, shower,slide outs, etc.) that we pull with my 2005 Toyota Sienna van.

Traveling takes a long time for us and this will be our first trip *that* far away (I am in Asheville, NC).

We are considering breaking up the drive and spending a night at a hotel on the way...likely past Jacksonville...any suggestions?

If you want to park your rig, do you just leave it in a parking spot at a hotel? Do you have to call ahead and get permission? what is the best way to lock it up? I mean, our pop up is pretty small but I wanted to make sure

Thank you!

careful now, you'll get hooked.

this cost us dearly after our first trip, we even bought a new camper with "extended camping trips farther from home" in mind. (read: when we go back to WDW, we're gonna need a bigger camper)

 

[tim5055]

I went to the Fort as a child and now Dh and our two boys (4 and 6 years old) are thinking about a trip in May. We have a small Coleman pop up (basic, only ac -- no hot water, shower,slide outs, etc.) that we pull with my 2005 Toyota Sienna van.

Traveling takes a long time for us and this will be our first trip *that* far away (I am in Asheville, NC).

We are considering breaking up the drive and spending a night at a hotel on the way...likely past Jacksonville...any suggestions?

If you want to park your rig, do you just leave it in a parking spot at a hotel? Do you have to call ahead and get permission? what is the best way to lock it up? I mean, our pop up is pretty small but I wanted to make sure

Thank you!

I agree, lock the pop up to the Sienna and stay in a hotel.

I would double check the route, as you really don't want to go through Jacksonville (not that it's not a nice town, just it is out of your way).

From Asheville I would take:

I-26 to I-85
I-85 to Atlanta (time it to get to Atlanta at not rush hour or on a weekend)
Pick up I-75 in Atlanta
I-75 south to I-475 (around Macon)
I-475 back to I-75
I-75 south to the Florida Turnpike
Turnpike right into Mickey land

 

[CCIntrigue]

Welcome, neighbor! We're in W-S.

 

[SCCamper]

I think you live in one of the most beautiful parts of the country. We are going to plan a trip to the Asheville area sometime next year.

 

[momoffive]

CCIntrigue I'm in W-S too, hey neighbor. We haven't had any trouble going through Jacksonville. Last week we even went through on a Monday and returned on a Friday. Would not have wanted to be stopped in the traffic headed in the opposite directions as we went over the bridge on the loop though.
Welcome to the fun of camping my only negative is not getting to go as often as I would like.
Loretta

 

[Billmel]

Do you know how long this route usually takes....I also live in Asheville (actually Hendersonville) have never taken this route.....

I agree, lock the pop up to the Sienna and stay in a hotel.

I would double check the route, as you really don't want to go through Jacksonville (not that it's not a nice town, just it is out of your way).

From Asheville I would take:

I-26 to I-85
I-85 to Atlanta (time it to get to Atlanta at not rush hour or on a weekend)
Pick up I-75 in Atlanta
I-75 south to I-475 (around Macon)
I-475 back to I-75
I-75 south to the Florida Turnpike
Turnpike right into Mickey land

 

[Shan-man]

I haven't done this route from Asheville, but it sure looks like I-26 to I-95 is better than I-26 to I-85 to I-75 to FL Turnpike. The former is 603 miles (about 9.5 hours) and the latter is 658 (10.75 hours). Times and distances are according to Google Maps. You also avoid Atlanta and the mid-GA construction nightmare and exchange them for Savannah and Jacksonville as your largest cities. Unless I-26 through SC is really bad, I would prefer that route.

 

[CCIntrigue]

CCIntrigue I'm in W-S too, hey neighbor. Loretta

Hey! We're out near Lewisville. What part of town are you in?

I'd prefer the I-26 to I-95 route too. Driven through Atlanta too many times when our son lived there ... would avoid it if at all possible! We also haven't had any trouble going through Jacksonville with the RV. A couple of trips ago we took the alternate route around Jacksonville and will never do that again! Too much traffic and too many more miles.

 

[tim5055]

I haven't done this route from Asheville, but it sure looks like I-26 to I-95 is better than I-26 to I-85 to I-75 to FL Turnpike. The former is 603 miles (about 9.5 hours) and the latter is 658 (10.75 hours). Times and distances are according to Google Maps. You also avoid Atlanta and the mid-GA construction nightmare and exchange them for Savannah and Jacksonville as your largest cities. Unless I-26 through SC is really bad, I would prefer that route.

Thanks-

I never measured it, it just always seems shorter going straight down rather than all the way to the coast and than back to the middle of Florida.

Having lived there for 4 years, I never found Atlanta traffic too bad - You just have to time it correctly as you drive through.

 

[owenbyd]

I haven't done this route from Asheville, but it sure looks like I-26 to I-95 is better than I-26 to I-85 to I-75 to FL Turnpike. The former is 603 miles (about 9.5 hours) and the latter is 658 (10.75 hours). Times and distances are according to Google Maps. You also avoid Atlanta and the mid-GA construction nightmare and exchange them for Savannah and Jacksonville as your largest cities. Unless I-26 through SC is really bad, I would prefer that route.

We have actually done both routes and the one through Atlanta did take quite a bit longer.

I think you live in one of the most beautiful parts of the country. We are going to plan a trip to the Asheville area sometime next year.

Thank you! I think so too! I love it here

And thank you for the warm welcomes and hello's from my 'new' neighbors

 

[tvengineer]

Hey! We're out near Lewisville. What part of town are you in?

I'd prefer the I-26 to I-95 route too. Driven through Atlanta too many times when our son lived there ... would avoid it if at all possible! We also haven't had any trouble going through Jacksonville with the RV. A couple of trips ago we took the alternate route around Jacksonville and will never do that again! Too much traffic and too many more miles.

Hey guys, we are from WS to. The trip from Asheville or nearly anywhere from NC should not be more that about 10 hrs. Depending on how you drive of course. The hustle through Jacksonville is the only part of the drive I dread. I like the town just hate the traffic on 95.

 

[CCIntrigue]

Wow! Three of us here in WS!

 

[Shan-man]

I never measured it, it just always seems shorter going straight down rather than all the way to the coast and than back to the middle of Florida.

Yeah, in my mind it seems like it is straight down too, but really, the section from Spartanburg to Atlanta is more westward than southward, and that accounts for the extra time. That and the time traveling east on the Turnpike.

I used to live in Atlanta too, and I don't dread traveling through as much as some. But Jacksonville is a breeze by comparison, IMO.