"For 2,000+ Mile Round-Trip Drivers Only!" (Part V)

BC1836 · May 4, 2015

cranbiz said:
No, the Ft McHenry Tunnel is on I95. The Baltimore Harbor tunnel is I895. Both are $4.00

Clarification and correction: We were always on I-95 but referred to the Fort McHenry Tunnel as the "Baltimore Harbor Tunnel!"

[....and I used to live in Baltimore!] Go figure. :jester:

All the best. :thumbsup2

disneymom06 · May 5, 2015

Just curious, which route is better? We always take the Fort McHenry Tunnel. Is the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel better? After the GW, we are usually on auto pilot and follow 95.

disneysteve · May 5, 2015

disneymom06 said:
Just curious, which route is better? We always take the Fort McHenry Tunnel. Is the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel better? After the GW, we are usually on auto pilot and follow 95.

I'm the one that mentioned this earlier. We got a tip years ago to take the Harbor Tunnel and go down 301 and we've used that route several times. In fact, I just used it a few weeks ago when I went to the Richmond DIS meet. It is not traffic-free by any means but it is far, far better than going through DC at rush hour, which seems to last from about 2pm to 8pm. I'm not sure how the AM rush hour is.

The other nice thing about 301 is that a good stretch of it is a commercial area with stores, restaurants, and gas stations. It's easy to find a spot to take a break, have dinner, and stretch your legs.

amcnj · May 5, 2015

BC1836 said:
Clarification and correction: We were always on I-95 but referred to the Fort McHenry Tunnel as the "Baltimore Harbor Tunnel!"

[....and I used to live in Baltimore!] Go figure.

All the best.

Too many early morning departure times! It happens to the best of us!!!

Cookiecamilla · May 5, 2015

We are making our first drive from the western chicago suburbs in June. Wondering where a good place to stop is? We plan to leave around 5 am so we can make it as far south as possible.

nono · May 5, 2015

pmdeve said:
What time do we need to leave Philadelphia to avoid DC rush hour?

I'd like to aim for Lorton, VA by 6 a.m. That would be about 2:30 - 2:45 hours from the Philadelphia airport...so...3:30 a.m.?

AaronInWI · May 6, 2015

Cookiecamilla said:
We are making our first drive from the western chicago suburbs in June. Wondering where a good place to stop is? We plan to leave around 5 am so we can make it as far south as possible.

That largely depends on how far you want to drive the first day. We're coming from about two hours north of you in Wisconsin. Our first drive a few years ago, we left around 3:30 Saturday morning and stopped south of Atlanta in Morrow, GA. We chose Morrow because we are partial to Drury Inn, and that one was convenient for us on our route. It was about 13 or so hours from home, and left us with a short 5-6 hour drive the second day. I would say ultimately, try to get south of Atlanta the first day so you have an easy second day.

Cookiecamilla · May 6, 2015

Thanks! We are hoping to get south of Atlanta. I am used to driving from Atlanta since I lived there most of my life. This should be an intersting trip but I know my kids will be troopers because we drove Atlanta to Minneapolis last year and they were fine!

happily single · May 6, 2015

This year we are only driving home (airfare coming back was too expensive). We will be getting off our cruise by 9:30 am. in Port canaveral on May 24th. I would like to get as north as possible before stopping. Is Virginia a reasonable expectation?

cranbiz · May 6, 2015

happily single said:
This year we are only driving home (airfare coming back was too expensive). We will be getting off our cruise by 9:30 am. in Port canaveral on May 24th. I would like to get as north as possible before stopping. Is Virginia a reasonable expectation?

Yes, it is. That is about 11-12 hours from Port Canaveral.

Enchanted Minnie · May 6, 2015

Ok I have been lurking on this post for months! My family and I are driving from Albuquerque, New Mexico to Caribbean Beach Resort. We have a 2012 Chrysler Town and Country. I'm planning on taking I-40 to Amarillo, then I-20 E to I-10 E. So basically Albuquerque to Amarillo to Dallas to Shreveport, La to Jackson, Ms to Mobile, Al to Tallahassee then on down to Orlando. I'm thinking of stopping in Shreveport since that's the half way point. It's about 26 hours one way. My DH and I are able to drive, so 2 drivers.

This is our first long road trip and I'm hoping I have everything covered, new brakes, new tires, check up on the van, etc... Am I forgetting anything? Reading this post makes me feel pretty confident but then talking to everyday people think I'm crazy and I start wondering if I'm forgetting anything! But with airfare, this is more cost effective, plus everyone should go on a long road trip at least once in their life! I think the kids will learn a lot! We leave next Tuesday! Thank you all so much in advance!

BC1836 · May 6, 2015

Enchanted Minnie said:
Ok I have been lurking on this post for months! My family and I are driving from Albuquerque, New Mexico to Caribbean Beach Resort. We have a 2012 Chrysler Town and Country. I'm planning on taking I-40 to Amarillo, then I-20 E to I-10 E. So basically Albuquerque to Amarillo to Dallas to Shreveport, La to Jackson, Ms to Mobile, Al to Tallahassee then on down to Orlando. I'm thinking of stopping in Shreveport since that's the half way point. It's about 26 hours one way. My DH and I are able to drive, so 2 drivers.

This is our first long road trip and I'm hoping I have everything covered, new brakes, new tires, check up on the van, etc... Am I forgetting anything? Reading this post makes me feel pretty confident but then talking to everyday people think I'm crazy and I start wondering if I'm forgetting anything! But with airfare, this is more cost effective, plus everyone should go on a long road trip at least once in their life! I think the kids will learn a lot! We leave next Tuesday! Thank you all so much in advance!

Twenty-six hours is a long one-way drive; it's impact on the body (especially the legs) can be problematic. Also, try and fill up that gas tank at an appropriate time before you get into the post-midnight hours of driving. Be cautious about where and when you stop for gas at night/pre-dawn (we know: we've driven I-10 from Mississippi to Texas). An overnight stay would address both of the aforementioned issues.

In any event, be safe. On I-10, turn right at Jacksonsville!

All the best. :thumbsup2

Enchanted Minnie · May 6, 2015

Oops I should have specified! Of course we will be making stops for gas and stretching! We are probably staying overnight in Shreveport! Yes, 26 hours is a lot for one shot! I-10 in Jacksonville turn right, got it! Thank you so much!

BC1836 · May 7, 2015

Enchanted Minnie said:
Oops I should have specified! Of course we will be making stops for gas and stretching! We are probably staying overnight in Shreveport! Yes, 26 hours is a lot for one shot! I-10 in Jacksonville turn right, got it! Thank you so much!

One tough part of the drive heading west on I-10 was the sun glare at sunset on a cloudless day. Traffic slowed to a crawl. The same thing happens on that one stretch of I-4 leaving Orlando and approaching Lake Buena Vista.

All the best. :thumbsup2

LadyBeBop · May 7, 2015

Enchanted Minnie said:
everyone should go on a long road trip at least once in their life! I think the kids will learn a lot! We leave next Tuesday! Thank you all so much in advance!

Totally agree that everyone should take a road trip at least once in their life. However, you need to take time out to stop. I think 1,800 miles over two days is pushing it. We just did 900 miles over one day, but the second day was less than 50 miles.
If you can, spread the trip out over at least three days. Both ways.
Couple of other things.
1) Have you thought about picking up I-49 out of Shreveport, and head south to I-10? That may be a little quicker. If you go that way, make sure you pick up I-12 out of Baton Rouge. That way, you'll bypass New Orleans. You'll pick up I-10 again east of New Orleans.
2) I know a little bit about Shreveport since my daughter lives there. Nice city, but I'd try to stay on the outskirts if possible. If you can, get a room in Bossier City, which is just east of Shreveport. You'll have to backtrack a few miles (maybe about five miles) if you take the I-49 route. Conversely, you could stay an hour south of Shreveport in Natchitoches. Very nice, historic town. It's the setting for the movie "Steel Magnolias."
3) When going on I-10, turn when you get to Lake City (I-75), not Jacksonville (I-95). Unless you want to add an extra hour or two to your trip.
Good luck.

Enchanted Minnie · May 7, 2015

Thanks Lady BeBop! Yes, my DH and I have been talking about leaving even earlier than I had originally planned so we could take longer and not feel so rushed! I think now that it's getting closer I'm able to think more clearly that the fact it's really happening and to nail down some plans (and not be so stubborn about making good time!)

I haven't ever driven any further than Dallas so I'm not familiar with the roads out in Louisiana! That helps me out a lot! Thank you! I'm adding that to my plans now! Thank you for the tip on hotels in Bossier City! Since it's just for the night we just want clean and safe and don't mind driving a few extra miles to do so!

Thank you so much for the advice! Ah, just got the new tires on, brakes tomorrow! Now let's hope this isn't a Griswold Family Vacation Road Trip!

pwdebbie · May 8, 2015

We came home May 1 - 2. When we left POFQ at 6:15 a.m., we were thinking a straight through drive since GPS said we would be home by 9:15. Then when I decided to take in the inland route instead of GPS's choice of 95 all the way, she added another hour. Then we hit Charlotte at what I thought would not be rush hour but it took forever to go through there. We saw no accidents, no construction, but just sat in traffic forever. I had a tractor trailer behind that felt like a guardian angel -- he kept perfect distance, didn't ride my bumper and didn't let anyone sneak in between us. I told Jim that I actually felt protected by the tractor trailer behind me. When the traffic finally broke free and the tractor trailer went around us, Jim waved to him and the guy waved back, Jim said he felt like there was a connection there, so maybe the guy really was staying behind me on purpose. PA gal in a mom van in traffic in Charlotte, he might have felt compassion toward me!

Getting to 417 was a cinch once I realized that all the signs for the "Florida Greenway" were for 417. Geesh, why don't they put the number on the sign instead of the name of the road???

We ended up staying the night at a HIE in Dublin, VA (wonderful place to stay, great staff, great room, great breakfast) and arrived home Saturday around 11:30.

theyoungs07 · May 8, 2015

Cookiecamilla said:
We are making our first drive from the western chicago suburbs in June. Wondering where a good place to stop is? We plan to leave around 5 am so we can make it as far south as possible.

We're from the Quad Cities (far west side of IL) and we drove to Macon, GA. My main goal was to get us past Atlanta in the first day, Macon is a long boring drive from ATL. I think next time we'll stop closer to ATL in Stockbridge, Forsyth, McDonough. It makes for an easy drive the next day.

Waze and iExit are necessities for the drive. Waze helped me know a cop was sitting ahead in GA, the car in front of me got nabbed and it could have been me if I hadn't slowed with the alert. iExit is fantastic for knowing what is at the coming exits and very important...how far off the interstate they are.

staceychev · May 8, 2015

cranbiz said:
No, the Ft McHenry Tunnel is on I95. The Baltimore Harbor tunnel is I895. Both are $4.00.

Personally, I would just stay on I95 and pick up I495 around DC unless you are there during rush hour. Then all bets are off.

I have frequented the MA to FL routes and as of late, NC to MA and I always do this. Going any other route is much more trouble and has not been worth it IMHO.

Right now (or at least around spring break when we drove to Naples), there was construction on I-95 South, and Google Maps re-routed us on 895 around Baltimore. I'm glad it did. I went to school in DC, and can get from Jersey to DC on autopilot, and never before that trip diverged from I-95.

Cookiecamilla · May 8, 2015

Oh yeah! I know the ATL-Macon drive well...used to live in Atlanta. I think Macon will be my goal for the first day too....now just to get my husband on board! haha! I think he is hoping Nashville!

"For 2,000+ Mile Round-Trip Drivers Only!" (Part V)

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