Actual Driving Time From NJ/Philly Area To WDW.......

[scanne]

I've been getting conflicting answers on this. How long does it take to drive from Philly/NJ via I-95 with stops only to eat and go to the bathroom?

Our plan is to drive from this area to Savannah, GA on 12/22. Then wake up early on 12/23 and finish the trip to WDW. But I just want to know how long it all takes!!!!!!! Thanks!

 

[manemagic]

I am also interested in driving times...only DH and I are coming down from Maine...we had hoped to get as far as VA before we had to stop sleep, but maybe that is too unrealistic. It is just the two of us and our first time driving out of New England. So I guess we will both wait for some seasoned travelers to clue us in, huh?? We are going the last of April 2002. Nancy

 

[scanne]

Nancy,

I used to live in Boston. I don't know how far north in Maine you are, but I could make it to Philly from Boston in 5-6 hours. From Philly to VA is about 4 1/2 hrs. Hope that gives you some idea of what to expect! Have a great trip!!!

Anne

 

[TinkerbellRules]

Check www.freetrip.com We've used it and it pretty accurate.

 

[DisDee]

We drove down in July 2000. We left just after midnight, stopped for a leisurely breakfast and a couple of potty breaks and made it to Hardeeville, SC around 2-3 pm (14-15 Hrs.). Went swimming, had a dinner a Denney's and went to bed around 7, to get up early the next morning and continue the trip. If I remember correctly, it took another 6 hrs. or so. By the way, Hardeeville is just north of the Ga. border. We drove from the Erial-Blackwood area on Rt. 295 from Woodbury to Del Mem. Bridge. Our drive on the second day was thru a down-pour for about 2 hrs., so I'm sure we could have made better time in clear weather. We also hit 2 delays on the first day due to road construction, but you always run into that. Hope this helps and have a gret trip!

 

[cindala]

Left North Jersey at 5:30pm on a Thursday in July, driving straight thru, only stops for the bathroom and food, we stopped at Savannah, Georgia for breakfast at 6:40am the next morning. This was 825 miles, and 13 hours. From there about another 300 miles or 5 hours.

 

[DeeP]

18 hours from North NJ is right on the money. We are from South Jersey and can make it in about 16 1/2 hours.

 

[OKW91]

We drove from Marlton NJ to Tampa in 17 1/2 hours ( little over 1000 miles), so I would estimate that it would take about 16 1/2 hours to WDW. We stopped for lunch about 1/2 hour and of course to gas up, did the speed limit or a couple miles per hour above it, after DC the ride is a piece of cake, long but a piece of cake!!!

 

[poohraedopey]

Wow If my mom hadnt gotten our airfare I'd almost considering driving from NY! LOL! Maybe next time when we go with kids! I'd love to take 2 weeks and rent a camper or something and just go!

 

[Disneydenise]

We drove once from Mount Laurel to WDW. It took us 17 hours and we started at around 5-6 PM during the week. Rush hour added time I am sure. DH has a lead foot and so do I but we drive straight thru on the way down, we are excited. We do stop for a nice breakfast around 7 AM. I think that adds about and hour to the trip. We only make gas and Potty stops the rest of the trip. Good Luck. We are talking about doing this during Christmas week. I just don't think I can make the trip home. Ugh!!!!

 

[sueg]

We drove down at the end of Oct., which was excellent driving weather. (When we drive to HH in summer, we always hit at least one heavy downpour, which really slows us down.) We left northern Jersey about 2:30 PM and drove to Manassas for dinner at the Macaroni Grille, then drove alittle while longer, to sleep in Richmond, VA. Next morning, Richmond (on I 295) to WDW for late dinner at Spoodles. On the way up, left AK after lunch and drove to Florence SC to sleep. We had stopped for dinner at Santee (Clark's --yummy) Next day, we drove Florence to Secaucus, NJ for late dinner at home. Mapquest says about 18 hrs. total, w/o stops. We only stopped for meals and gas. Love those gas prices in GA and VA

 

[jfranklyn]

We drove from Wayne (Northern NJ) to WDW last May and plan to do it again in January. We drove about 10 hours the first day, which got us to Fayetteville, NC. The second day was about 9 hours and we were in Orlando. We drive pretty fast and take short breaks, but hit bad traffic at Washington DC.

 

[DaveH]

Be careful not to hit DC at any rush hour. That could add 2 or more hours to your drive.

 

[scanne]

Well we're leaving at about 7am (6am if I can convince everyone!) on Saturday 12/22. I figure we'd be around the DC area by 10:30am.......hopefully because it's a Saturday, we'll be good to go. But it is the Saturday before Christmas.......yikes!!!!!!!! Hope we have good weather and nooooooooooooooooooo traffic........

Thanks for the replies!!!!!!

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

We drove from Reading (northwest of Phila) Friday night before Thanksgiving and planned on driving overnight to avoid traffic. We left around 4:30pm, I think. We had a number of stops along the way- first to visit an elderly grandparent and for dinner at McDonald's and filled up the gas tank (see notes below). We drove "straight-through", stopping at the first rest area in each state to use the restroom and stretch.
DH drove the whole way down, so we had to stop in NC for him to sleep for a few hours. It was cool to see the sun wake up the morning sky . We stopped at South of the Border to fill the gas tank again and we also stopped for lunch in Savannah, GA. We hit Florida and detoured over to St. Augustine for about an hour to tour the lighthouse and shop for last minute supplies at Kmart. We hit a pile of traffic in Orlando (football game), and that held us up for nearly an hour.

Some notes:
Spring City, PA stop for gas 5:16pm
Delaware Turnpike 7:19pm
Fort McHenry Tunnel (I-95, MD) 8:21pm
Richmond, VA for gas (also heaviest traffic since it's a metro area)
Raliegh ?, NC stopped for few hours to nap 1:30am-5:30am (I think )
*DH couldn't stay awake any onger and I had not slept (I was too excited (and nervous) to sleep
South of the Border (NC/SC) 9:49am
* SC is the longest leg of the journey IMO
Savannah, GA 12:12pm
southern GA for gas 2:33pm
St. Augustine Lighthouse, FL 3:46pm
St. Augustine Kmart 4:26pm
Disney's ASMovies Resort sometime between 6-7pm

Total time from home to resort was over 24 hours, less stops- about 18 total drive time. A fellow coworker of mine does the same trip nearly every spring to Sanford (an hour east of Orlando) and it takes her 17 hours from the Pottstown area.

Good Luck and safe driving

 

[Caskbill]

FWIW, my mapping software shows Philly to WDW is 1007 miles and will take 18:09 to drive it.

 

[Mark P.]

From Southern NJ, it takes us around 13-14 hours to get to northern GA, where we stop overnight. The next day, it's about another 5 or so hours to get to WDW.