81-77-26 from Philadelphia?

[skoi]

Has anyone done this route from the city itself? Is it worth it to take the 90 minute drive out to catch 81? Or should we just stick with 95?

All opinions will be helpful. This will be our first drive-- one driver, two kids (10 and 6), one adult non-driver (but I'm learning, so maybe I'll have my license by October when we go ) We usually take the Auto Train, but $$$ are an issue.

Thanks,
Julie

 

[Uncleromulus]

That's at least a 90 minute "detour" just to get to I-81. I live in Glen Rock (just South of York) and it takes me a solid half-hour to get on I-81--if I go due north and pick it up in Harrisburg. If I head west and catch it in Va., it's even longer.
So we bite the bullet and take I-95, leaving at 3:30 AM to be absolutely certain to get by the DC mess before rush hour.

 

[skoi]

That's basically what my husband was saying-- "you want me to drive an extra 105 miles out of the way"... He used to have to drive to Harrisburg from Philly twice a week for work and knows the road all too well.

Thanks,
Julie

 

[Pirate-Jeff]

I'am just south of you at the Delaware line.


I have done both routes. I would use 95 and leave very early in the morning (3am with 2 people driving) it's a 15-16hr drive from here in the car. leaving at 3 am you will be past DC before the traffic gets bad. Arrive at Disney around 7pm

Better yet leave after work and spend the night somewhere around the VA/NC line (about 5 hrs)and finish up the next day. Better option for a solo driver.

A 16 hr drive is very hard with just 1 driver.


Jeff

 

[jiminy14]

We do the drive from South Jersey right across the river from Philly. We take 95S all the way until I4. We usually drive to Savannah the first day (11 hours) and then to WDW on the second day(another 5 hours). We also leave between 3 and 4 in the morning to get through D.C. before rush hour.

 

[mike2u]

When we go we take I-95 also. Were leaving on August 14th at 8:00 pm and will drive straight thru,, Just me driving, DW doesn't drive highways.. I take only gas and potty breaks. I've driven back and fourth from Fla, at least a dozen times and find that the night drive is best.. If you can get behind a big rig, you can almost fly down... Have a safe trip all..

 

[Ishy]

Alternate routes are only worth it if you know there will be long delays due to 'shore traffic' or other traffic snafu's and what time your traveling.... lets say your on your way back from disney and just sat thru 3 days of traffic because a hurricane is heading this way too and they are evac'ing the outter banks and such (we are talking nj/philly area)... most likely the ol blow hard is just going to mess up traffic all the way home - why not head straight up 81 - stop in hershey for the extra night - eat some chocolate - call the boss - check out the amish, do some antiquing... and of course buy some expensive stuff cheap at the VFH outlets - you will arrive home the same as if you stayed on 95 but you saw little more on your vacation!

 

[billwendy]

We have done the drive from Essington (just south of philly and north of delaware) a few times, with and without kids. We have felt that it went the quickest when we leave after work, go thru DC around 8-9 and arrive in WDW around 11 am the next morning. This includes potty breaks and a stop at cracker barrel for breakfast!!! its such a cool feeling to get there by the next am!!!. The kids were so excited, and entertained themselves nicely till around 8:30 when the 2 yo fell asleep, then the older ones (9, 11) were out by 10:30 after whispering, giggling and eating lollipops in the back seat of the van. they slep thru till about 6-7 am when we stopped at cracker barrel, and then we only had a 3-4 hour drive after that and they were so excited to watch for all of the florida and WDW signs it kept them occupied!!! driving through the night broke the drive into 2 shorter ones for them instead of one really long one (when we drive through the day).....have a great trip!!

 

[mep319]

I've done both... parents live in Harrisburg...I live outside Philly... It is not worth the extra time to drive out to I 81...just be sure to leave very early in the morning to avoid shore traffic on weekends or DC traffic during the week. We usually try to be out at about 4am....if you can do this really no reason to go I-81...I cannot justify doing it. And depending on where you are in the Phila area it can be a pain jsut to get out to I 81.

 

[robmpg]

You're best bet is to go straight down 95. Are you leaving on the weekend? If so, I've left my house (Andorra) at 8am on Saturday and didn't have to worry about too much traffic around DC, since it was a weekend.....

 

[skoi]

We're going with 95, unless some major traffic issue comes up. We got stuck in the NASCAR traffic coming back from D.C. once-- never again.

We planned to leave after dinner (around 6-7 PM) and drive to North Carolina, then to Maryville GA the next day (dh is looking at a job in thar area-- send some pixie dust so that comes through, please). Arriving in Orlando the next day. A slow trip, but it'll be our first long distance drive w/kids.

Thanks again. Hopefully I'll have my license by then, if I can just learn to parallel park!

Julie