For 2,000+ Mile Round-Trip Drivers Only! (III)

[dvczerfs]

What kind of car do you take for your drive? I am thinking about taking my Nissan Versa for our drive. It will be myself, DH and our two sons. We usually take the van (Chrysler Town and Country), but I was thinking we could save even more by taking my Versa. DH is worried the car will be too small for the trip though.

this is what we drive down in:

we just bought this:

its to replace this:

 

[dvczerfs]

I'd rather over estimate for food and come home with money in my pocket. I figured, for round trip, 2 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 2 dinners. And yes it's just the two of us can't do non-stop driving because my partner doesn't drive.

not being a wise guy, but, what do you eat when you fly? you still have to eat if you fly or drive? non-stop is tuff with only one driver. i can do it going down. thats leaving at 3:30am and pulling into okw at 7pm. coming home is another story. i need help for about two hours.
theres alot of us who drive for other reason then cost. for us, its cheaper to eat driving then flying. we pack food in a cooler and we dont have to "eat out".
i do have to disclose, i spend alot of time on the road for work. i put 50k on my company car this year so driving to me comes a bit easier then to some people.

 

[bdoyledimou]

I actually sat down and figured out the cost. This is for us in northeast NJ.
All costs approximate.

Hotel (2 nights) - $150
Gasoline - $230
Tolls - $70
Food - $180

Total $630

As long as I can find airfare under $600, I'll fly.

Your prices are higher than what cost me to drive for 6 people (3 adults 3 kids) in a mini van, from Toronto.

Your toll charge may vary, but we paid about $20 each way, we ate at Cracker Barrel for ~10 a person -- 3 times .

 

[NJRRK]

Your prices are higher than what cost me to drive for 6 people (3 adults 3 kids) in a mini van, from Toronto.

Your toll charge may vary, but we paid about $20 each way, we ate at Cracker Barrel for ~10 a person -- 3 times .

Ok, the tolls are only $55, but I stick with my gas and food budget, hotel might be a bit high, but again if I budget $70, + tax, each way and I pay less I'm happy.

 

[BC1836]

'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house,
we're hoping to drive yet again to the Mouse!"


All the best.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

 

[AaronInWI]

We would have a 1,423 mile trip (21 hours) and we've always flown. We have started staying longer in October (Food and Wine), so we keep discussing driving as opposed to renting a car (we like having a car), but we get hung up on the fact that we think we would be okay driving down (with an ovenight stop) but we're afraid the trip home could be grueling.

What has been your experience? There's just the 2 of us (empty nesters) and we would definitely take some time on the way down to see some sights.
Advice is welcome.

That was my worry too, that the drive home would feel like it took FOREVER since we just wanted to be home. But honestly, at least in my experience, it wasn't too terrible. It is just the wife and I, too. We reminisced about the trip, talked about what we wanted to do once we got home, and enjoyed the scenery along the way. And really, for me personally, I just looked at it as another part of the adventure of driving cross country, which is really what I enjoyed the most. I loved the sense of adventure of exploring the country and going places I'd never been before. Give it a try. What's the worst that can happen? You hate the drive and never want to do it again. As long as it doesn't detract from the fun you had on your trip, at least you can say you did it. Right?

 

[sharadoc]

this is what we drive down in:

we just bought this:

its to replace this:

What happened????

 

[faindrops27]

Hi all, I need help deciding what to do. It will be our first time driving from Long Island to Disney Sept 13'. Dh, is accustomed to driving from Long Island to South Carolina with no problems he has made countless trips to visit family.

It will be DH & I, ds 18, ds 11, dd9. We will be driving our minivan down
We do not check into POR until the 24th. So, I began to think why not make this trip/drive an adventure. We would leave 6-7 p.m. on either the 20th, or the 21st to do a pre mini trip to see some sights on the way down (fun things for a family to do, amusement parks, etc.) Or, just drive the whole way down to do a pre trip to either Universal(we've been several times) or Tampa Busch Gardens(never been here.) a few nights before checking in at Disney.

Can someone please give me suggestions on what to do? The best route, tolls, if we should stop or should we just breeze straight through to Florida. If we should stop, the best places to stay for our family of five. I keep thinking about this but cannot make a final decision on what would be best. Thanks in advance!

 

[marius97]

We would have a 1,423 mile trip (21 hours) and we've always flown. We have started staying longer in October (Food and Wine), so we keep discussing driving as opposed to renting a car (we like having a car), but we get hung up on the fact that we think we would be okay driving down (with an ovenight stop) but we're afraid the trip home could be grueling.

What has been your experience? There's just the 2 of us (empty nesters) and we would definitely take some time on the way down to see some sights.
Advice is welcome.

I guess I'm a bit weird...The drive home generally doesn't feel that bad. Yes, we are excited on the drive down, but sometimes that excitement makes it seem like we'll never get there. Coming home from any long drive for us always seems to go faster. The part that gets me is the drive from the highway to our house. Visiting family, we have 20+ minutes which drives me crazy. Coming from WDW, we have a three hour drive from getting off the highway to home.

 

[marius97]

What kind of car do you take for your drive? I am thinking about taking my Nissan Versa for our drive. It will be myself, DH and our two sons. We usually take the van (Chrysler Town and Country), but I was thinking we could save even more by taking my Versa. DH is worried the car will be too small for the trip though.

Go to gasbuddy.com and use their trip calculator to see how much gas would cost you. I threw in some guesses to which versions of cars you have and the T&C only comes out to being $60 more for you to drive. So the question is...Is your comfort worth $60? For my family yes it is so we would take the minivan. But for others, that $60 could mean a nice dinner out.

 

[chipper10]

Good point. $60 really isn't worth it to me either. I know the boys will be more comfortable in the minivan. Older DS will have his Video games and DVD player. I am still worried about what younger DS will do on the drive down. He will be 24 months when we go in May. I am hoping he grows out of the crying-after-30 minutes- in the car stage.

 

[dvczerfs]

What happened????

tammy got a seven pointer!!!!!
it was totaled. it was 2001 but it only had 60k on it. garage kept. she was very lucky, the car was a rag top and she just caught his rear end. if she would have hit him square, it wouldnt of been good. she was fine, shake'n up, but fine. so, we had to buy another car. oh well, i didnt ever want to retire anyway.

 

[patclairesmom]

Hi all, I need help deciding what to do. It will be our first time driving from Long Island to Disney Sept 13'. Dh, is accustomed to driving from Long Island to South Carolina with no problems he has made countless trips to visit family.

It will be DH & I, ds 18, ds 11, dd9. We will be driving our minivan down
We do not check into POR until the 24th. So, I began to think why not make this trip/drive an adventure. We would leave 6-7 p.m. on either the 20th, or the 21st to do a pre mini trip to see some sights on the way down (fun things for a family to do, amusement parks, etc.) Or, just drive the whole way down to do a pre trip to either Universal(we've been several times) or Tampa Busch Gardens(never been here.) a few nights before checking in at Disney.

Can someone please give me suggestions on what to do? The best route, tolls, if we should stop or should we just breeze straight through to Florida. If we should stop, the best places to stay for our family of five. I keep thinking about this but cannot make a final decision on what would be best. Thanks in advance!

Personally I would drive down and maybe do Universal. I know my family is anxious to get to Disney. You could even explore the tourist attrations around Disney like Ripley's, Titanic, or just drive International Drive which is an attraction itself.

 

[SondraC]

We are getting ready to hit the road! Finishing packing the van, and then we are on our way!!

 

[SondraC]

You need to watch the weather and make your decision on that. I've heard a storm is coming from the west on Tuesday night (when my dd and family will be traveling 10 hours west to visit the Indiana in-laws) and another later in the week. You might want to avoid mountains as much as possible. But from east of Pittsburgh, you will have to go over mountains to get to DC. Mountains no matter which way you travel.

That's true! Mountains either way. We are getting ready to leave soon. We are going to try down through WV.

 

[SondraC]

Left my house around 7. Just crossed the border in Virginia..

 

[SondraC]

Just crossed the border into North Carolina!

 

[BC1836]

Just crossed the border into North Carolina!

JR's signs coming up, to saying nothing of those South of the Border billboards!

Drive safely.

All the best.

 

[SondraC]

JR's signs coming up, to saying nothing of those South of the Border billboards!

Drive safely.

All the best.

We are cracking up over those JR signs!! We are now looking for somewhere to eat.

 

[disneymarie]

tammy got a seven pointer!!!!!
it was totaled. it was 2001 but it only had 60k on it. garage kept. she was very lucky, the car was a rag top and she just caught his rear end. if she would have hit him square, it wouldnt of been good. she was fine, shake'n up, but fine. so, we had to buy another car. oh well, i didnt ever want to retire anyway.

Ugh, I am glad Tammy was okay, but sorry to hear about the loss of the car. I have had several insurance claims since Thanksgiving for deer hits. Crazy deer should watch for those crossings and wait for the right of way.

Retirement has not been all it's cracked up to be, we both are still working. 401k never ended up to be all it was promised.

Heading down I think in March,but the $55 flights out of the local airport are too good. More time for short trip. Maybe in June the drive again.