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

[ddluvsdisney]

It's almost 9:20 on a Sunday morning. Relatively early as the sun starts its climb in the sky. It's 11-degrees here at the Jersey Shore and 61-degrees at Disney World. Ah, to be driving right now on World Drive.

All the best.

And 2 ft of snow to boot. UGH!!!

Just 4 more days and I'm on my way!!! Yay!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[Flyerfan]

When we leave we go 81-66-15-17-95 we get on 81 outside of Scranton pa

I think for our very first drive in 96 we took that route. That's good, too.

 

[dvczerfs]

We leave from PA and the route that we like is 81-77-26-95, the same route NJRRK gave you. We prefer that over 95 all the way. The only part that puts me to sleep (I'm not driving) is the 4 hrs we spend in VA on 81.

i use 81/66/17/95 in the winter months and use 81/77/26/95 in the "no chance of snow" months. you get up in the mountains on 81/77 in the winter and it starts to snow, it can get real fun real fast. been there, done that. dw and i spent the night in the car back in the 80s at whites truck stop on 81.
if you take 81/77 in the winter, keep a close ear on the weather.

 

[BC1836]

And 2 ft of snow to boot. UGH!!!

Just 4 more days and I'm on my way!!! Yay!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

And now it's just three days!

All the best.

 

[ddluvsdisney]

And now it's just three days!

All the best.

YES!! Thank you.

 

[ParrotBill]

I'm another fan of the 81/77/26/95 route and always suggest that New Englanders and New Yorkers consider it. Here's Why:

- Avoids the heavy traffic of NYC, Philadelphia, Baltimore and DC.
- Speed limits are higher than I-95
- Overall an easier and more enjoyable drive
- Overall I find I can travel at 75mph safely with all other traffic for much of the route, while on I-95 the average speed drops to 65 at best, and lower in heavy traffic or metro areas.

Example: From Norwalk, CT via Google
Via I-95 1138 miles, 17 hours
Via I-81/77/26 1242 miles, 18.5 hours
but if 12 hours is at 10mph faster you will cut that extra time off. Google does not vary its estimate of speed on Interstates.. I always do way better than Google's time.

At worst it will take the same amount of total time and at best it may
be faster.

 

[dvczerfs]

I'm another fan of the 81/77/26/95 route and always suggest that New Englanders and New Yorkers consider it. Here's Why:

- Avoids the heavy traffic of NYC, Philadelphia, Baltimore and DC.
- Speed limits are higher than I-95
- Overall an easier and more enjoyable drive
- Overall I find I can travel at 75mph safely with all other traffic for much of the route, while on I-95 the average speed drops to 65 at best, and lower in heavy traffic or metro areas.

Example: From Norwalk, CT via Google
Via I-95 1138 miles, 17 hours
Via I-81/77/26 1242 miles, 18.5 hours
but if 12 hours is at 10mph faster you will cut that extra time off. Google does not vary its estimate of speed on Interstates.. I always do way better than Google's time.

At worst it will take the same amount of total time and at best it may
be faster.

it takes me 16 1/2 hours if i take 81/66/17/95/4. it takes me 15 1/2 hours using 81/77/26/95/4. for me it is 24 miles longer going 81/77/26/95/4 but i make it up in less traffic.

 

[feet1]

it takes me 16 1/2 hours if i take 81/66/17/95/4. it takes me 15 1/2 hours using 81/77/26/95/4. for me it is 24 miles longer going 81/77/26/95/4 but i make it up in less traffic.

I am trying to figure out how long it will take is realistically with potty stops and a lunch break. I see you're from the Lehigh Valley area...I'm in Hershey, not far at all...if I look at google maps, it has me going down route 15 to I270 in MD then I295 around DC then I95 the rest of the way. Seems that we miss the whole 95 around Baltimore and DC with where we are staring. And we plan on leaving at 2am. Google maps tells us 14 hrs 36min. So I'm thinking with stops it will before like 16 hours. Does this seem acurate? Would you still recommend 81/77/26/95 over us starting on rt15 to I270/295/95?

It's me and mg husband driving. My mom is going too but doesn't feel comfortable driving our minivan.

 

[pmdeve]

Will be doing 81/77/26/95 route and want to stop overnight in Georgia. We were thinking about stopping in Brunswick, Ga. Any hotel suggestions and is Brunswick a good stopping place or is ther a better place to stop?

 

[amcnj]

Hi feet1.

I am in NJ, not in PA, but my drive is about 1070 miles. I typically leave 2:30 am, and after the first hour and 15 minutes reach the Delaware Memorial Bridge and am on 95 the rest of the way. I have found the actual driving time is 14-15 hours depending on traffic flow and such. Any stops are add ons of course. I have had some longer trips due to accidents, weather delays, etc. But a smooth sailing trip with three gas breaks and a meal break of up to an hour results in reaching the Orlando area 16 hours later, around around 6:30 pm in my case.

Hope this helps.

 

[kjpotter]

ANyone drove from St. Louis? How is the drive?

 

[Gumbo4x4]

ANyone drove from St. Louis? How is the drive?

We're about an hour West of STL. About a day and a half for us with an overnight stop each direction. Stopped South of Macon on the way down, and in Clarksville, TN on the way back. There's a link to my trip report in my signature which includes our travel days. It's pretty wordy, but you might find something of use there

 

[ParrotBill]

Will be doing 81/77/26/95 route and want to stop overnight in Georgia. We were thinking about stopping in Brunswick, Ga. Any hotel suggestions and is Brunswick a good stopping place or is ther a better place to stop?

You didn't say where you are starting from.. but Brunswick is a decent spot with lots of hotels... I would just shop the price and breakfast option you want.

You are also just 45 minutes short of Jacksonville for more options.

 

[chipper10]

ANyone drove from St. Louis? How is the drive?

We are about 45 minutes away from STL. We have done the drive twice and we are doing it again in May.
Last time we did it was August 2010. We left at 3am and stopped in Gainesville around 8:00pm.
We are debating how far we will get on our trip in May, since we will have a 2 year old with us. :/

 

[dvczerfs]

I am trying to figure out how long it will take is realistically with potty stops and a lunch break. I see you're from the Lehigh Valley area...I'm in Hershey, not far at all...if I look at google maps, it has me going down route 15 to I270 in MD then I295 around DC then I95 the rest of the way. Seems that we miss the whole 95 around Baltimore and DC with where we are staring. And we plan on leaving at 2am. Google maps tells us 14 hrs 36min. So I'm thinking with stops it will before like 16 hours. Does this seem acurate? Would you still recommend 81/77/26/95 over us starting on rt15 to I270/295/95?

It's me and mg husband driving. My mom is going too but doesn't feel comfortable driving our minivan.

hi feet1!!! i come across i78 to get to i81 and you are about an hour, hour and a half or so from me. we dont stop for sit dowm meals and we do stop about every two hours for potty breaks. we dont linger, we do what we have to do and hit the road again. i would say 16 hours is a good plan. i also leave at 2:30-3:00am. the only place you dont want to hit at rush hour is char. nc. which is about 8-9 from you. if you leave 2:30am you will be fine.
you can do you what you want, but i have done it a few times a few different ways and if i lived in hershey, i would go 81/77/26/95/4. if your going in the winter, watch the weather!!! you get into those mountains and it gets sporty real fast if it starts snowing.driving down the coast sounds faster, looks faster but you are driving into one of the heaviest traveled area and you dont have to. it wont save you any time.
people who live east and south of you take i95 because it dont save them any time driving up to i81.
ill be in your area on march 9th, dw and i have resis. at the progress grill in harrisburg!!! we are driving to harrisburg for lobster!!!
have a safe trip!

 

[BC1836]

Two months until drive #29! Seems like an eternity....

All the best.

 

[jediranger3]

We are in Kansas City. We usually stop overnight in Chattanooga. So roughly 10 hours drive the first day, and around 9 the second.

 

[stasijane]

ANyone drove from St. Louis? How is the drive?

I live in Jeff City, and will be making the drive next Thursday which will bring me right through St. Louis. It takes us about 18 or 19 hours depending on stops. Its Usually me and the DD13 I drive straight through.

 

[nono]

Two months until drive #29! Seems like an eternity....

All the best.

9 months for us. I think the wait at 2 months is worse!

 

[DSLRuser]

ANyone drove from St. Louis? How is the drive?

16 hours or 1008 miles from st louis west county. have done the drive at least 15 times.

PM me if you have questions.

we leave at 5:00pm and arrive at WDW at around 11:00am with a stop for breakfast.