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

disneysteve · Oct 6, 2015

I guess it's time to start following this thread again. We hit the road 4 weeks from today. Driving from southern NJ. We've made the drive many times. The only thing new and different this trip will be that it will just be DW and I. DD is in college now. The two of us drove once back in the early 90s but every drive since then has been 3 of us.

I'm considering taking a little more time on the road, stopping for somewhat better meals, and maybe actually hitting some attraction/destination on the way for a few hours, possibly St. Augustine.

If anyone has any recommendations for restaurants that are a step above fast food but still quick to get in and out of along the 95 corridor, I'd love to hear them. Not looking for fancy or expensive. Not necessarily even sit down, though that's fine, too. Last trip we found a little Italian place which I honestly don't even remember where we were but it was a nice change from fast food. We're open to pretty much anything but seafood (DW is allergic) and enjoy "hole in the wall" joints where the locals eat rather than the big national chains.

Mom2JPL · Oct 6, 2015

Hi all, t-minus 66 days until our first driving trip to Disney (we've flown our previous trips)from NEPA! I've read through this whole thread and am wondering about the difference in routes I've seen posted here. I'm considering either the 81/77/26/95 way or the 81/64/288/95 route. Can anyone who has done either route tell me which is better and why? Gas buddy is no help because it takes me basically 81 to 95 and I'm pretty sure I don't want to drive that lol! I've done it previously on a family trip to a NC beach and DC was a pain in my **** so am definitely trying to avoid it. Thanks for any help/tips/advice!

OKW Lover · Oct 6, 2015

disneysteve said:
I'm considering taking a little more time on the road, stopping for somewhat better meals, and maybe actually hitting some attraction/destination on the way for a few hours, possibly St. Augustine.

We considered that on one of our trips from MA before we moved to FL. Decided that once we were that close to Disney we just wanted to get there. :car:

However, we did stop in Savannah on a couple of trips. Really enjoyed that city.

disneysteve · Oct 6, 2015

OKW Lover said:
However, we did stop in Savannah on a couple of trips. Really enjoyed that city.

That's the other recommendation I've been hearing a lot. It will partly depend on timing and where we are when.

OKW Lover · Oct 6, 2015

Mom2JPL said:
Hi all, t-minus 66 days until our first driving trip to Disney (we've flown our previous trips)from NEPA! I've read through this whole thread and am wondering about the difference in routes I've seen posted here. I'm considering either the 81/77/26/95 way or the 81/64/288/95 route. Can anyone who has done either route tell me which is better and why? Gas buddy is no help because it takes me basically 81 to 95 and I'm pretty sure I don't want to drive that lol! I've done it previously on a family trip to a NC beach and DC was a pain in my **** so am definitely trying to avoid it. Thanks for any help/tips/advice!

We've done both routes to/from SE Mass. For somebody starting in NEPA, there isn't any question in my mind that the "inland" route is preferable. Just avoiding the big cities make this a much more relaxing drive. I doubt there is a huge difference in time from the NEPA area.

OKW Lover · Oct 6, 2015

disneysteve said:
That's the other recommendation I've been hearing a lot. It will partly depend on timing and where we are when.

Hi Steve.

Didn't even notice it was you when I posted my suggestion. Val & I have spent a couple of nights in Savannah during a couple of our trips to FL. If you can spare the extra time, a day in Savannah is easy to fill. Also suggest dining at the Olde Pink House, which I reviewed for FoodieTales. http://foodietales.com/2013/04/the-olde-pink-house-savannah-ga/

disneysteve · Oct 6, 2015

Thanks, Jeff. I did notice it was you when you replied. Say hi to Val.

cranbiz · Oct 6, 2015

Off Topic alert unless you like New England seafood and don't know where to get it in FL. HINT: Not at the Cape May Cafe buffet!!!

I looked at you review of the Olde Pink Lady and then stumbled across your review of the Lobster Hut. I like Lobster Hut and think somewhere in my NC house I still have a menu but always liked Woods better. Anyway, where you need to try now that you live in FL is Boston's Fish House in New Smyrna Beach. It's on South Atlantic Ave. It's the absolute closest to a clam shack you will find in FL. The owner is a New Hampshire transplant and the seafood is flown in from Boston.

Same ordering system as the Lobster Hut. Go in, know what you want and order at the register. Find a table or tell them take out and they will let you know when it's ready. Decent clam chowder and the fishermans platter is like any clam shack up north. Clams (whole or strips), shrimp, scallops and fish with slaw and fries. Once I found this place, it was constant damage to my wallet.

OKW Lover · Oct 6, 2015

cranbiz said:
I like Lobster Hut and think somewhere in my NC house I still have a menu but always liked Woods better.

Funny, when I was working my way through college (close to 50 years ago) I worked for Woods competitor, Mayflower Seafoods. I was in the fish market though, not the restaurant.

Thanks for the suggestion about the Boston Fish House!!! I will definitely check it out. We were just in MA a couple of weeks ago but on the North Shore. Got a chance to eat good seafood in Gloucester right on the wharf. That should hold me for a month or so.

nono · Oct 6, 2015

cranbiz said:
HINT: Not at the Cape May Cafe buffet!!!

It's a pretty poor representation of the Cape May area, too. :sail:

<---Just really an excuse to use this smilie!

cranbiz · Oct 6, 2015

OKW Lover said:
Funny, when I was working my way through college (close to 50 years ago) I worked for Woods competitor, Mayflower Seafoods. I was in the fish market though, not the restaurant.

Thanks for the suggestion about the Boston Fish House!!! I will definitely check it out. We were just in MA a couple of weeks ago but on the North Shore. Got a chance to eat good seafood in Gloucester right on the wharf. That should hold me for a month or so.

There is supposed to be one in Winter Park but I had heard that it was a copycat and had seen bad reviews. The one in NSB is easy to get to, just a bit of a drive from Celebration. I4 to SR44 to the beach. From my house in Deltona it was about 20 minutes but that's way closer than where you landed.

I also remember the days when Mayflower Seafoods did food and the fish market. I just ate there, never worked there.

BC1836 · Oct 7, 2015

An October 6, 2015 evening Associated Press report noted the following:

South Carolina officials have reopened part of Interstate 95 for local traffic, but people driving through on the main highway along the East Coast are still being sent on a 168-mile detour.

The interstate has been closed for three days because of flooding. The state Emergency Management Division said Tuesday afternoon that a 13-mile stretch of I-95 in Clarendon County will remain closed because inspectors don't think it is safe enough yet for traffic on the bridges over the Black and Pocotaligo rivers.

Authorities plan to inspect those bridges again Wednesday afternoon or Thursday morning.

All the best! :thumbsup2

pepe of ohio · Oct 7, 2015

Mom2JPL said:
Hi all, t-minus 66 days until our first driving trip to Disney (we've flown our previous trips)from NEPA! I've read through this whole thread and am wondering about the difference in routes I've seen posted here. I'm considering either the 81/77/26/95 way or the 81/64/288/95 route. Can anyone who has done either route tell me which is better and why? Gas buddy is no help because it takes me basically 81 to 95 and I'm pretty sure I don't want to drive that lol! I've done it previously on a family trip to a NC beach and DC was a pain in my **** so am definitely trying to avoid it. Thanks for any help/tips/advice!

We're from northeast Ohio, 7 miles from Pa border and our route has been 376.. 79...19...77..26..95...4.... Throw in possibly the by pass around Charlotte and Jacksonville ( depends on when we hit those areas. )

We used to leave home early mornings and made Florida border around midnight , which made blowing right thru Jacksonville a breeze...but last 2 trips, we've left at 3 pm and peak traffic meant using the by passes...so much easier and less stress....it's 1049 miles one way for us and mapquest and GPS say 17+ hours...don't believe it....takes us close to 20 hours and we only stop to potty and gas up, but we don't exceed the speed limits either...

Them mountains in the Virginias are the killers for us......it's always been the 77...26...95...4... Route and different ways to get to 77....we like the 79 to 19 and getting 77 in Beckley for a break and gas stop at Tamarack the best...

disneysteve · Oct 7, 2015

BC1836 said:
South Carolina officials have reopened part of Interstate 95 for local traffic, but people driving through on the main highway along the East Coast are still being sent on a 168-mile detour.

I hadn't heard about this (probably because I don't watch the news). I hope things get back to normal down there soon.

BC1836 · Oct 7, 2015

I-95 still has flooding/architectural stability concerns in SC.

Take care, South Carolinians.

All the best! :thumbsup2

amcnj · Oct 8, 2015

Uh oh, gas prices started creeping back up again. One station was up 4 cents on Wednesday and another 3 cents today. They sure didn't drop that quickly at that station. They had just finally reached the lower levels other stations had been at for months.

ForeverDisney6793 · Oct 8, 2015

Road trip #8 from south Jersey in December to celebrate my sister's 50th birthday. Hopefully the weather will be good. I have only driven to Disney in the warmers months.

amcnj · Oct 8, 2015

ForeverDisney6793 said:
Road trip #8 from south Jersey in December to celebrate my sister's 50th birthday. Hopefully the weather will be good. I have only driven to Disney in the warmers months.

Hopefully winter will be late for us this year. And in FL too! Have a good trip.

OKW Lover · Oct 8, 2015

amcnj said:
Uh oh, gas prices started creeping back up again.

Gas prices around Disney jumped 20-25 cents over the past couple of days.

Iamthequeen · Oct 8, 2015

Percy and Willie's restaurant in Florence SC - right off I-95, next to the Quality Inn on Dunbarton Road. My brother recommends it. Its a steak house.

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

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