Any New Englanders drive to Florida?

[Jaime4004]

We drive from NH to Orlando about once/year. We are a family of 5 and it saves quite a bit of money. I also hate flying and like having my own car. We usually leave around 4-5pm and drive straight through. That way we arrive about the same time the next day and only have to stay awake a few more hours until we all can go to bed. We usually take the scenic route, and while it is a little longer, it's a much nicer drive with no traffic. The kids (5,7,9) are great, they bring plenty of things to occupy themselves with. They sleep overnight. DH can sleep anywhere, anytime, within a matter of minutes so he does great while i'm driving. I can't sleep in the car so I say exhausted..

 

[kerry34]

We have always driven since we are a family of 7. Flying for us is not an option financially, it's just too expensive. We have never driven straight through on the way down as I don't want to start my trip out exhausted, which I know I would. We usually stay overnight somewhere and have even stayed overnight twice before, leaving after school and driving to West Virginia and then driving to Georgia and making a stop overnight and enjoying places like Jeckyll Island and Savannah before finishing off with a short drive on the last day. We have driven straight through going home though. For our upcoming trip in June we are just staying over one night in North Carolina, leaving around 2 or 3 am. Driving isn't horrible and my family actually enjoy the ride down. The ride home isn't as fun though since my kids are usually depressed we have to go, with the exception they miss the pets. . In any case you will definitely save a bit of money and get some time in with your kids. Sometimes great conversations happen with the kids which is always a plus in my book! Good Luck!

 

[ProudMommyof2]

We were planning on driving from RI to Hilton Head this July. We would need a car no matter what. But, the thought of >18 hours in the car, all the traffic and tolls and the wear/tear on the car was just a huge drag. However, flying anywhere close was >$250 a person and then we would have to rent a car.


So... now we are flying direct to Baltimore for $65(hoping to get that even lower) each way and then renting a car. This way we miss most of the big city traffic and tolls. We still get to see the parts of the east coast we haven't driven before (we have driven to DC x 2) and we will have a car.

On the way back we are going to see the RedSox at Camden Yards!

 

[Julie*]

We have driven 5 times from Northern Vermont to Florida and have plans to do it again next year.
Our kids are getting older now but we've done it since they were 3 and 1.

We make the trip down part of the fun and always stop for a day or 2 in a new place. Our favorite stop was in St. Augustine, Florida for 2 days a couple of years ago.

We think it's worth the savings in money and we like the adventure of the open road.

 

[princesspwrhr]

We have driven all the way down to Florida from NH twice, the first time with 3 toddlers, the 2nd time pulling a camper in a winter storm. Def a lonnnnggg drive!

Our last trip we drove to Lorton, VA and got on the autotrain, and slept overnight in coach. It was about a 9 hour drive from NH to VA, then 17 hours on the train.

(bolding mine)

I suggest you price this out. We're a family of 5 also, but live in VA - It's way to expensive for the 5 of us to fly, so we usually drive. Every trip I price out auto-train. Sometimes it ends up as much as flying so we just drive, sometime, like this time, it ends up as much as driving when you add in everything that driving entails: gas, food, hotel, time.

This time, autotrain ended up costing about $100 more than driving in pure cost, then when you add in the space to roam, the ability for all 6 of us to sleep (bringing a friend), autotrain came out on top so we booked it.

It may or may not be a financial option for you - but it's worth looking into.

 

[mariapicardikenyon]

So, i know the answer to this is yes, but i am wondering about the drive. I am in NH and we usually fly SW which runs about $900-1200 for the four of us. Our next trip is November for a Thanksgiving cruise and I am considering driving. I hate the idea of using up time to drive versus fly, so i know i am answering my own question, but i would love to hear others experiences with the drive. It would save the plane tickets, parking at the airport, transfers in Orlando from the airport or renting a car and i could pack a little different...But that 24 hour drive, OMG

Yes, i know there are a lot of tolls and i would consider breaking up the drive back so that's a hotel stay. I also know there may be weather issues, but what do you think? It would save probably about $750 or more depending on the prices of flights when they are released in May.

I would like to know what makes other people decide to drive versus fly.

thanks!

From NJ and have driven zillions of times. We always figured the money we saved in flights we were able to upgrade our resort.

 

[rachelmarisa]

I'm not from NE either, but my family drove from Indy to Las Vegas with a five year old. Honestly I loved it; it was so much fun. Nowhere seems far to drive anymore!! I think the saving is worth it - plus no baggage fees and liquid rules! We've flown and drove to Disney and both are fine. Driving while longer adds more exploration and memories to the trip IMHO

 

[aleksandr]

We drive down from Southern NH once a year.

The drive isn't too bad with 2 drivers. We will typically leave in the late afternoon and make it as far as we feel like (NJ/DE border or into Maryland) the first "day", then down to SC or GA the next day. On the 3rd day we will typically hit either the beaches near Daytona or Titusville for KSC.

DS9 handles the drive well and has for the past couple of years. We stop when we feel like we need to walk around or grab a bit, we sit and eat meals at places like Dennys or Cracker Barrel. We grab a hotel when we feel like we are starting to nod off in the evening, and we get up and leave when we wake up in the morning (typically later morning).

Even with this relaxed schedule we make it in 2.5 days and aren't exhausted from the trip.