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

[Gumbo4x4]

Also, between St. Louis and WDW, are there any areas where you go for miles with no available restrooms? I try to stop before if possible

Probably the longest gaps are in Southern IL, but nothing too tremendous. Note: the rest area at Metropolis IL was closed last Summer (may be open now). But, the one in Paducah is nicer anyway and just a few miles further. Gas prices were all over the map between Nashville and Chattanooga. Careful not to pay too much through there.

 

[chipper10]

Chipper10- please report back when you gets chance. We are doing the same drive in three weeks!!!

Also, between St. Louis and WDW, are there any areas where you go for miles with no available restrooms? I try to stop before if possible

The drive went really well. We left at 3am and arrived in Disney's Pop Century around 10:30pm. The original plan was to stop in Gainesville for the night, but DH and I were very awake so we continued on. I ended up calling Disney to get the reservation at Pop around 9:30. We did stop at Cracker Barrel and had a sit down meal with the kids. That stop probably took close to an hour and a half.
We stopped in Paducah at 5:45am for breakfast and Calhoun, GA for lunch around 11:00ish.

Traffic really wasn't too bad coming down, the other direction was scary around Nashville and Chattanooga.
We are at the Animal Kingdom Lodge now for the next 10 night. The boys are having a blast so far.

 

[kjpotter]

Thanks! We are planning on driving St. Louis to Macon, GA and stopping for the night. That should leave 5-6 hours for the morning.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Thanks! We are planning on driving St. Louis to Macon, GA and stopping for the night. That should leave 5-6 hours for the morning.

That's exactly what we did.

 

[BC1836]

Traffic really wasn't too bad coming down, the other direction was scary around Nashville and Chattanooga.
We are at the Animal Kingdom Lodge now for the next 10 night. The boys are having a blast so far.

Once the to-WDW part of the drive is completed, the real fun begins. Have a great time!

All the best.

 

[MIChessGuy]

Probably the longest gaps are in Southern IL, but nothing too tremendous. Note: the rest area at Metropolis IL was closed last Summer (may be open now). But, the one in Paducah is nicer anyway and just a few miles further. Gas prices were all over the map between Nashville and Chattanooga. Careful not to pay too much through there.

According to the State of Illinois website, the Metropolis rest area is now open. I knew Superman wouldn't let this go on indefinitely.

 

[rmgreenesq]

I'd like to drive to WDW, I live 10 miles south of Disneyland. I've got a 2001 Cadillac STS which would make the trip quite nicely. I've got three problems:

1. My wife does not want to drive across the country. She would prefer to fly to WDW.

2. I think I would like driving from SoCal to WDW. I think the 2,100 mile drive home would be a less than magical experience.

3. With just the three of us (myself, my DW and DD), it would appear that flying from LAX to MCO might actually be cheaper than driving.

Rick

 

[OklahomaTourist]

I'd like to drive to WDW, I live 10 miles south of Disneyland. I've got a 2001 Cadillac STS which would make the trip quite nicely. I've got three problems:

1. My wife does not want to drive across the country. She would prefer to fly to WDW.

2. I think I would like driving from SoCal to WDW. I think the 2,100 mile drive home would be a less than magical experience.

3. With just the three of us (myself, my DW and DD), it would appear that flying from LAX to MCO might actually be cheaper than driving.

Rick

For me, its a two-day drive from OKC to WDW (allowing for a night's sleep), and from what I recall its two from OKC to the Anaheim area. As much as I love driving, I don't know that even I would attempt what might add up to be a four-day drive to WDW.

That said, it wouldn't be a particularly difficult drive - get out of the LA area and find I-40, then head east for about 2.5 days until you find Memphis.

If you've got the luxury of the time, and enjoy the sightseeing (which, in all honesty, I probably would), it might be worth a shot. If you were taking ten days off, and had to spend eight of them on the road, ehhh...maybe not.

That big STS would be looking at a 5500-6000 mile round trip, and you'll probably average around $3.50/gal for a 20 mpg vehicle, that's 300 gal ->$1,050 ballpark for fuel.

Ultimately, its a whaddyawannado call. Don't think there's a clear-cut answer either way. If you can and want to make the drive, go for it. But even I, as my own kind of self-proclaimed road warrior, would think long and hard about a trip that big.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I definitely prefer to drive, but CA to FL and back is a really long drive. Not that I wouldn't do it, but I probably wouldn't do it JUST for Disney. I'd have to spend some time along the way in both directions for it to feel "worth it" to me.

 

[MamaJessie]

FOr the fun of it I would consider renting a car, driving out to WDW then flying home. It would definitely require a lot of sight seeing stops though and be more than just a way to get there but a road trip in and of itself.

 

[rmgreenesq]

I hadn't considered the one way rental and flight home. Tha't intriguing. As to the route, it appears to me to be three very brutal days. Interstate 10 to El Paso on day one. El Paso to New Orleans on day 2, and New Orleans to the House of Mouse on Day 3.

Rick

 

[BC1836]

I definitely prefer to drive, but CA to FL and back is a really long drive. Not that I wouldn't do it, but I probably wouldn't do it JUST for Disney. I'd have to spend some time along the way in both directions for it to feel "worth it" to me.

One day, we will probably do a coast-to-coast round-trip drive. It would be cool driving to DL from the Jersey Shore in our own vehicle instead of the rentals we had (after arriving at LAX).

All the best.

 

[livibug]

We bought our 01 ody in 04 with 48k on it.. put 190k of our own on it and traded it in last year for an 09 with 44k on it. the 09 now has 72k on it and is ready to make its second 2000+ mile florida trip next month. both of them were / are great to drive on long trips.

The only word of advice is make sure you get a carfax.. ody's are notorious for bad trannies. 09 and up have been good, but before that was hit and miss. Our 01 was on its 3rd tranny when we got it - but that 3rd one lasted almost 200k

I'm so glad the topic of driving higher mileage cars has come up. I'm shoppin for a used Honda Odyssey and probably getting one with @60-80K miles on it. I can't wait to drive it to Disney this November. The room in the van will be wonderful and I won't have to hear my long legged son whine how he doesn't have enough room.

 

[livibug]

We are stopping in valdosta this year on the way from cincinnati. It will be about 10-12 hours for us on day 1 (depending on the number of stops). The drive from Valdosta to AKL should be around 3 hrs. We had thought about stopping in Macon, but then for 2 more hours worth of driving, it makes us that much closer. Found a brand new Drury Inn in Valdosta for $79 a night.

Thanks! We are planning on driving St. Louis to Macon, GA and stopping for the night. That should leave 5-6 hours for the morning.

 

[patclairesmom]

Well I bought the Honda Odyssey. It's a 2005 with 69K miles on. I love it. There is soooo much room and it drives beautifully. We got a great deal and the dealer included a 1 year powertrain warrenty. My kids are now looking forward to the drive this November. I'll try to post a picture later today.

 

[livibug]

an 05 with only 69k.. thats practically brand new should be a great drive down. I know with ours, everyone is so much more relaxed versus a shorter trip with the sedan.. plus you can pack soooo much crap that you will never need for your trip but you do it because you can

a great site for all things ody - odyclub.com - great forums that will tell you everything you need to know about maintenance, repair and general care.

The best advice I can give is change the tranny fluid every year!

enjoy the trip in november!

Well I bought the Honda Odyssey. It's a 2005 with 69K miles on. I love it. There is soooo much room and it drives beautifully. We got a great deal and the dealer included a 1 year powertrain warrenty. My kids are now looking forward to the drive this November. I'll try to post a picture later today.

 

[pwdebbie]

Driving to FL was very comfortable in my '06 Odyssey. I'm sure you will love yours.

 

[pwdebbie]

Anyone traveling I-81 in the Harrisburg area for the next few days -- 81 will be closed at least through the weekend, if not longer. Here's info from ABC27:


Interstate 81 and one of two overhead bridges damaged by a massive tanker fire will remain closed through the weekend, and a second ramp could remain closed for 2-3 months.

The intense heat caused by the overturned tanker truck severely damaged the concrete deck and the steel beams of the bridge above the crash site, which carries eastbound Route 22/322 over the interstate and into the city, according to PennDOT.

PennDOT Secretary Barry Schoch said Interstate 81 in the vicinity would remain closed through Sunday or Monday while the unstable bridge spans are removed and replaced, and perhaps even longer because of inclement weather in the forecast.

Interstate 81 will remain closed northbound from Route 581 and southbound from the I-83 split until the repairs are completed so that there is no danger to motorists traveling under the bridge.

Damage to the bridge where the crash occurred - the structure that carries I-81 northbound to Route 22/322 westbound - has not yet been determined, but Schoch said the repairs could take at least two months.

Schoch said in order to alleviate traffic congestion in the Harrisburg area, the Pennsylvania Turnpike will waive tolls between the Harrisburg East and Carlisle interchanges.

The toll-free passage, effective only for the point-to-point trip, began at 4 p.m. Thursday and will pertain to all vehicle classes, eastbound or westbound.

PennDOT has also reopened the ramp to Front Street from Interstate 81 North, which had been closed since April 8 for bridge work.

In addition, a bridge repair project slated to begin May 13 on the two Interstate 81 ramps that cross over northbound Front Street in Harrisburg is on hold.

Governor Tom Corbett said the damage caused by the fire is expected to cost tens of millions of dollars. He said the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency is preparing a disaster declaration to request federal aid, which would also allow PennDOT to expedite repairs.

State police said the crash occurred at 6:10 a.m. when the tanker, fully loaded with diesel fuel, overturned and caught fire.

The driver, 52-year-old Thomas Uecker, of Dover, was able to escape the truck with minor burns. He was taken to Harrisburg Hospital, Hicks said.

The truck was coming from Carlisle and is registered to Tameric Enterprises LLC, Hicks said. No other vehicles or people were involved.

The crash is still under investigation.

The tanker was on fire for about 45 minutes and burned so intensely that it melted guide rails and caused the concrete road surface to explode, officials said.

 

[Momof2]

HELP!!!! We are driving from Providence to Charlottesville, VA on Sunday. Our route takes us right through the accident site on 81. We are looking at rerouting and going via 95 instead. My question is this. We will have a car and a 12 foot rental truck. Can we drive this new route with a truck? I thought I just read something about no trucks on the Garden State Parkway. Or maybe we should just stick to our original route and assume there'll be marked detour signs to get us around that area of 81. I'd appreciate any advice. Thanks.

 

[goofyfigment]

I'm hoping by June 81 south will be open.