Am I crazy to think about driving in Feb ??

[chach]

We are planning a trip to Disney for 2 weeks, the last week
of February 2003 and the first week of March 2003. We will be
departing from Southern NH. Has anyone ever driven down at this time of year or is the weather too unpredictable ???
thanks

 

[CindysGusGus]

This is the reason I love these boards, sooner or later someone will eventually think like me. I have been worried about the same thing. Allthough your drive will be from much further north than mine I would still love to see some responses to your questions!

 

[tmli]

We driven from Southern Ontario, numerous times in January. We've only once hit a mild snowstorm in Atlanta. For us it is app. 24hrs of driving time. We've done it driving straight and stopping over night. I would say go for it, if you hit bad weather pull over and get a room, you'll probably still be less expensive then flying.

 

[chach]

CindysGusGus,
I've driven down twice before and I like having
everything at my disposal (car/food/clothes/etc).
The best part is going at my own schedule. My
biggest fear is they I like to drive at night and all
I can think of is "black ice" on the roads at night.
I'm wondering if anyone has attempted this
long drive during the Winter and what the
results were ?

 

[BCV23]

chach...if you ask over on the transportation board I think you'll get lots of advice and it won't slip to the bottom too quickly. I asked about routes from Chicago and got tons of help. It will be about 20 hours from here.

 

[goofyernmost]

OK, you have finally fallen into my area of expertise. I have made the trip from Northern Vermont to WDW during the last week in February to the first week in March approximately 6 times. This is the rule of thumb. Once you have reached Washington, DC you are pretty much home free. The worst of any weather will be from New York City northward. After that it will be rain 99% of the time. That is not to say that it isn't possible to run into snow or freezing rain but it is not likely.

I usually travel during the day and have found the routes with the least amount of traffic over the years but I still spend most of my time on I-95. There is less car traffic at night but the truck traffic then is unbelievable and I have found my self caught in the middle of caravans with mountains of machinary every place I looked. Not always the most calming of experiences. Besides that night is when you are most likely to run into snow or colder temperatures. I have always chosen to divide the trip into three days. I usually leave on saturday morning early and make my first stop in Fredricksburg, Va. That is the longest day. Next I leave around 7 and go as far as the So. Carolina/Georgia border. That leaves a leasurely drive to Orlando the next day arriving early afternoon. I have made it in two days but unless you have more than one driver it is dangerous and very tiring. I found that I couldn't enjoy the first day because I was just to tired to feel good.

If you haven't experienced the other states along the way it is worth the trip by car at least once. My first trip with the kids was very educational for them. Also it is an experience just to read the South of the Border billboards along the way. It does take away from the time at Disney but I always looked at it as part of the adventure. I must admit that the trip back is a lot longer and less exciting.

This was a lot of words to just say, go for it. Just figure if you run into really bad weather you can always stop. Actually, you won't have a lot of choice because no one moves during winter weather in the south. Also remember that what they might consider impossible to drive in may not be the same thing to a northerner. Have a great time.

 

[BCV23]

goofyernmost...I love your name ...so cute!

 

[CindysGusGus]

Chach,
we re leaving at 3:15 in the afternoon from Central VA and hoping to make it to South of the Border, my fear is also driving at night, Ive hit black ice before and its no fun! Best of luck to you!!!

 

[Eeyore2U]

Good Luck.

As another from So. NH I go the last week of Feb. I prefer to fly but will wish you well.

 

[HugsForEeyore]

I drove to WDW last January from New Jersey (a bit south of NH ), and BOY - I regretted it!! On Jan 2nd, I drove to North Carolina with no problems and stayed overnight there with family. But, the next day a freak snowstrom hit (January 3th) and covered the Carolinas and Virginia with over 14 inches of snow!!!! We were stuck for two days (we wanted to leave on Jan 4th), and on January 5th, we set out for WDW. Apparently, they don't plow much there, and the roads were HORRIBLE, there were accidents and abandoned cars everywhere! On an exit ramp, we passed an 18 wheeler which just a minute before jack-knifed into a ditch. Some patches of major highway were total ice. I was a total wreck driving on it! I was so afraid of losing control of the car.

Once we got to southern North Carolina, the roads cleared and it was smooth driving from there to Orlando. We were one day late for our trip - I thought we would be stuck for days! I did fear hitting bad weather on my trip, and I was totally right . I really wished I took the AutoTrain instead!

So .... bad weather can happen - but maybe it will be warmer by end of February, maybe you will be alright. I am 99% sure I will take the train this January!

 

[chach]

Does anyone else have anymore advice or
experiences to share ?
thanks

 

[Kallison]

Driving from New Hampshire at the end of February - no WAY would I do it, but good luck if you decide to make it a go.

 

[sdamico71]

Plan accordingly. Travel interstates, and you shouldn't have a problem. We made the trek from Phila, PA December 2001 and then Oct 2002. Granted the weather is a lot different at these times of the year, however, I was the sole driver (husband doesn't like highway driving) and had 4 kids with me!! We made it from Phila to Savannah, GA area both trips on the first night. Key is starting early and being realistic that you may hit some "road bumps" (no pun intended) to your intinerary.
Good luck and let us know how it works out for you.

 

[dgaston]

We've driven in December, hit ice storm in VA and NC (1999, I think) and left before a snow storm in Feb 2000 pulling a pop-up trailer. I drove the NJ turnpike in snow (DH sleeping) with the trailer and it wasn't really that bad. We tend to drive straight thru, but it takes us longer that what others report (24 to 26 hours). I guess we always hit bad DC traffice. In Dec 2001 it went smoothly. I'm an optimist-- go for it!!!

 

[sunking]

we drove down last feb and had no problems...we drive from the philadelphia area and drive straight thru...we leave at about 2:00am and are in north carolina by the time the sun is all of the way up....we have made this trip about 8 times now and alsways use this formula and always make it to disney for dinner at chef mickeys....
you just need to do a bit of planning...watch the weather and see if something looks like it is moving in...if so, and you are flexible, leave early or later to avoid it....but in all cases...if you get tired or are afraid to drive in one condition or another, pull off and find a room...
have a great trip!!!!
sunking

 

[CamColt]

Thats a tough one for me. We have driven from MA(24 hours straight) 2x, once in Aug & once in Sept. On our way home this past August we had rain(mostly heavy) for most of the ride. I think DH noted it was close to 1000 miles of RAIN! This obviously slowed us down and also made the ride a lot more stressful than it had been before. Because of that experience, I think I would be hesitant to chance it with the possibility of snow. On the other hand, if my choices were to chance it and go, or to not go at all, I may be tempted to chance it.
Im not much help, but just wanted to say good luck if you try...and stop and pick me up on the way please.

 

[chach]

Has anyone driven from New England in February ?

 

[goofyernmost]

Chach, Check post number #6.... I stated that I have driven the route several times from Northern Vermont.

 

[padisneylover]

Hi,
I live in NE Pa about 5-6 hours from your states border. I drove several years ago to Florida in Feb. with my mother following a major snow storm here. In fact the day after 21 inchs fell. The interstates were cleared well and by the time we hit Richmond it was mostly gone.
My advice to you is stick to 95 at that time of the year as much as possible in the north to at least below Richmond so that the temperatures will be warmer and less chance of snow.
Driving at night as everyone has stated increases the risk of black ice which does occur in the Northern sections of Virginia without any warning.
We are driving down next December and have the same concerns but are building in extra times for travel so that it storms are forcasted we can either leave early or stay along the road if necessary.
Besides flying and driving have you considered the train from NY. It really is a neat experience and not that much longer if not the same time as driving.
Have a safe trip and enjoy your stay

 

[buzz5985]

How about from Wakefield MA (12 miles north of Boston). Last February, left the Saturday after Presidents day. Cast - DH, DS (5), Dog - Bonnie aged 11 LOL. Rolled down my driveway 4 AM, we were the only car heading west on the Mass Pike. Went through NYC by 8 AM. Very little traffic through Washington. Stopped in Rocky Mount NC around 6 pm. We averaged stopping every 2 hours for at least 15 minutes or longer if we were eating. We had a great experience. Had some great family time, chatting, listened to Harry Potter Books on Tape, I had wrapped up little gifts for DS that we gave to him each state we entered, at the time Matchbox had cars with state license plates. We didn't hit any bad weather. We left Rocky Mount at I think 5 AM, and arrived at Disney about 2 pm. We would drive again.

Another thing, My Parents drive to Marco Island FL every year, last week of February - they have never had to stop for weather, and they must be going for at least 10 years now. But they stop the first night in Fredricksburg Va, and then they stop in Myrtle Beach and stay a few days.