Advice on drive from VA to WDW

[kittylady1972]

We are also in Northern VA and drive down every year. We typically drive the whole way in one day but start out around 3AM allowing the kids to stay in their PJs as they fall right back to sleep and we get in several hours of driving before we need to stop for our first break. That works for us... the best thing to do is just figure out what works best for you and your family. Have FUN!

We've done the drive a few times from a little further north...Maryland. Typically we try to leave before 6am or so and just get there late.

Our plan of attack for our next trip...in two weeks...is to try to leave around 2:30am! We figure we can split the drive and kids can try to sleep but it will be nice to arrive in Disney around dinnertime instead of afterwards. Kids are already making plans to hit a park that night, but I'm wondering if just relaxing by the pool will be better. Not sure yet but hoping this new plan works out well for us.

For the drive back, we have a stop planned to visit family in the North Myrtle Beach area so that will be a little easier since we'll do 9+ hours the first leg, stay a few nights, then do another 8 or so hours to home a few days later.

 

[xrayvision]

Two ideas. You could stop for a day or two at HHI Resort on the way. Florence has a lot of good hotels there to stay and continue on the next day. We live in Providence Forge, Va. We usually fly because it is a pretty good deal out of RIC-MCO. Richmond airport is easy in and easy out!!! Southwest or JetBlue have direct flights.

 

[jgdsoarin]

It's not a bad drive from Richmond. We usually like to get to either Kingsland, Georgia or Jacksonville on the way down. Then, it's an easy drive the next day. We also have stopped several times at Disney Hilton Head on the way down--makes it seem like another vacation day rather than just a random stop on 95. Another fun place is the KOA in Savannah. Get a cabin for the night. Kids get bunk beds and the grownups have a separate room. Coming home, we usually do the drive in one day...about 11-12 hours depending on traffic. At that point we are just eager to get home. It's really a very easy drive--straight down 95!

 

[kittylady1972]

We leave ONE week from today...driving from MD to Florida, planning a 2:30am departure time so we get there early. Plus we learned last night we have a caravan now. My MIL, FIL and nephew are also making the trip and will drive down following us. We may end up losing them in Florida though, since we have a Sunpass now and they don't!

Our drive home includes a stop in NC to visit family for a few days so won't be as long. Kids are looking forward to it...as are we!

 

[disneymagic316]

We live in NYC and always drive. We usually stop at a Fairfield Inn in Lumberton, NC. You can walk to Cracker Barrell from the hotel. It's right across the parking lot. It's 20 miles from the SC border.

 

[edk35]

We live in MD and have been driving our last few trips. We like to DRIVE as far as possible the first day so we have only 4-5 hours the next day. In March of this year we got on the road at 10:00 a.m. and we made it to Savannah. It was great. The next day we had less than 5 hours to go. Once we left at midnight and THAT WAS THE WORST drive ever. We were tired from already being up and working all day. We took turns driving but I GOT SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO SLEEPY driving in NC it was dangerous. I will never do that again EVER.

 

[mac_tlc]

We leave ONE week from today...driving from MD to Florida, planning a 2:30am departure time so we get there early. Plus we learned last night we have a caravan now. My MIL, FIL and nephew are also making the trip and will drive down following us. We may end up losing them in Florida though, since we have a Sunpass now and they don't!

Our drive home includes a stop in NC to visit family for a few days so won't be as long. Kids are looking forward to it...as are we!

I-95 to I-4 to WDW is toll free -- at least until they complete the I-4 Ultimate Project north of Orlando -- That will give you the option to pay for express lanes on I-4.

 

[Judique]

I-95 to I-4 to WDW is toll free -- at least until they complete the I-4 Ultimate Project north of Orlando -- That will give you the option to pay for express lanes on I-4.

Yes it is but depending on traffic, time of day, etc, some of us will get on 417 in Sanford and use Sunpass.

I live in Maryland and have driven maybe 60 times.

I like to get to Jacksonville if I leave by 5am. If I leave at 5pm, I'm grateful to make it to Florence if possible. After working all day it is easier to tire and I want to get off the road.

Leaving early morning is usually the best for us. We always stop for the night. I try to use rewards programs to pay for rooms, and have used HI Express, Country Inn and Suites, Sheraton, and Aloft in Jax. So free or some combo of cash and points.

 

[ForeverAlice]

We drive down from MD. We leave around 6:45 am and stop in NC for lunch then stop again for the night in Savannah, get dinner and arrive right at check in time. We get up and eat breakfast at 6am the next morning and then head to WDW. We have driven straight through as well leaving at 9:45 pm- stopping in the morning for breakfast in Savannah and then to WDW. DH likes the stop for the night in Savannah better than straight through and we were able to really enjoy the day/evening at MK after arrival without being so tired. We normally eat at the cracker barrel or chick fil a on our trip and have yet to have bad food or service. We try to eat early rather than late as well and that helps.
Pm me if you want to know anything else.

 

[mac_tlc]

Yes it is but depending on traffic, time of day, etc, some of us will get on 417 in Sanford and use Sunpass.

I live in Maryland and have driven maybe 60 times.

I like to get to Jacksonville if I leave by 5am. If I leave at 5pm, I'm grateful to make it to Florence if possible. After working all day it is easier to tire and I want to get off the road.

Leaving early morning is usually the best for us. We always stop for the night. I try to use rewards programs to pay for rooms, and have used HI Express, Country Inn and Suites, Sheraton, and Aloft in Jax. So free or some combo of cash and points.

That's a good option. Very familiar with it, as we have a house off of Exit 22 on 417. Tolls are about $7.25 cash from Sanford to WDW -- less with Sunpass.

We have driven from CT a dozen times or so, usually leave at 3am and get to Hardeeville SC/Savannah GA on day 1, then 5-6 hours on day 2.