Anybody drive to FL from NYS?

[TupperMom7]

We are driving down to FL this coming April with 5 kids in the car. Husband thinks we can make it if we drive through. I don't know if I can stay awake to drive that long especially since I won't sleep the night before worrying about what I forgot to pack


If anyone drives down from NY or even neighboring states, do you break it up into two days? Where do you stay on the way down? We were thinking southern GA would be good, then we wouldn't have far to drive, but I don't want to stay where it is not safe and I know nothing about GA.

Any helpful hints would be appreciated!

 

[MomE@Home]

On our first trip to FL. it took about 2 1/2 days for us to get there.

On our first day we stayed in Staunton VA and the next just south of Greenville SC (we stayed at my SIL's house).


My DH does all the driving so we do not drive all the way through.

 

[momxx5]

We drive straight through(with 5 kiddies) from NC. It is almost a 12 hr drive, including potty stops. Sometimes we make it a two day trip down - because it is a vacation and we want to enjoy our time. I also pack a separate overnight bag to take into the hotel so we don't have to unload the whole van. Lately we have been driving straight through because the kids are good travelers and we cannot wait for the fun to begin.

I don't think it would be worth it to drive straight through from NY. I think it would be exhausting once we got there.

 

[KristinU]

We drove straight through from CT once, prior to parenthood. We've often talked about how we'd change the timing and strategy if we were to do it again (like leave around 4:00 or 5:00 a.m., eat more healthy and less road-trip junk food, plan for trade off driving and sleeping times, etc). I don't know that I'd want to do it with kids, but I remember taking lots of road trips with my parents and driving straight through to places...I remember thinking how much fun it was to have the back seat as my bedroom.

Good Luck!

 

[soccercruiser87]

we drive straight down from new hampshire and it takes us about 25-27 hours, depending on traffic. we also drive all night.

 

[Franne]

We drive down every year, we are a family of 5, 3 children. What we do is we leave right after school and drive to about DC or VA then stop for dinner. Everyone gets in PJs in the minivan and then we drive through the night. When they wake up, we are usually in Georgia or Florida and then stop for breakfast. We usually get to Orlando around 10 or 11 AM. It's great, because then you feel like you have an extra day. Usually the hotel lets us get a room early. Just once this didn't work out but we got to use the amenities of the hotel so that was fine till our room was ready.
My husband and myself take turns driving. We also take a small tv with a vcr just in case anyone has trouble sleeping. It's worked well for us and have been doing it since they were babies. Also, I'd rather get to the magic quicker and not stop along the way!
Franne

 

[Franne]

One other thing, there's less traffic at night so you can really get there quicker. Usually takes us 16-18 hours and we are in Central Jersey, but it was about the same when we lived in Staten Island.
Franne

 

[Stimpy]

We used to drive down a few times before kids. 2 trips we went straight through and we were exhausted when we got there. The arrival day seemed like a wasted day to me since we were so tired. Other times we've stopped in Fayetteville which worked out nicely.

Honestly, we don't drive anymore. The airfare is usually cheap enough to justify the cost (BUT we only have 2 kids) Plus after a 4 1/2 hour drive down to Dewey Beach DE and back this summer has turned us off long road trips for awhile!

 

[Schmeck]

The well-known chain hotels (like Best Western, etc) are all pretty well maintained/secure, so I don't know exactly what you mean by GA not being safe?

We drive from north eastern MA in about 22 hours, except when we detour around hurricanes...

Leaving very early in the morning makes it easier to get through the dreaded DC/Richmond traffic (why such a nasty back up there on Saturday mornings?) and there are plenty of hotels all the way down I95. We usually make it to South of the Border territory (NC/SC border) the first night. That gets us into Orlando the next day around check-in time. Hubby does the first day driving. I get to drive through SC and GA, and sometimes down to Daytona Beach.

 

[Rapunsel]

We have driven to Orlando 2 times now. What we usually do is my Dh works a half day and then we drive to Maryland and stay with Family. So about an 8 hour trip. Then we drive to Greenville North Carolina and stay with a fraternity brother, and then arrive in Orlando the next day. So it takes us about 2.5 days, But when we have done it our Ds was 14 months and then 26 months. It works out well and then when we arrive in Orlando we stay with family and then start out at 8am the next day to begin our adventure.

The last time we flew as we only had about 10 days vs. 15. And our DS had to have a special rice milk that I could only find in WNY. ALso the toys and the pac and play and all that stuff.

But then again we love to go on road trips... We just did a 4,000 mile one to Colorado and back in 17 days... ( I was also 3 mos. pregnant with 24 hour morning sickness, that wasn't planned)
I'd say that it depends on how well you like to go on road trips and if it is cost effective for you. For us it is as we have people to stay with, but when we did fly we met my mom there and the rental car and all that added up. Also finding a rental car to hold the stroller, car seat, luggage, ice chest and all that was not easy.. Thankfully we have cousins who live in Orlando so we were able to make 2 trips, with our stuff. Otherwise we will usually drive.

HTH...

 

[Amirah95]

We live 15-20mins away from NYC and we drive down the FL every year. We don't stop anywhere to sleep...we gun it, make it there and then relax. If you choose to do it...good luck and enjoy the road!

 

[2Disneybuggs]

We're in NYC and last year we drove straight through. We had 4 adults and 2 kids in the car. So DH and my dad were able to share driving. This trip it's just me Dh and the two kids. He wants to do a straight through drive but I'm convincing him to stop. There is no way I can stay awake enough to drive.

 

[mjmcca]

I drive all the time from Brooklyn. I have driven alone with 2 babies that trip took 3 days since i had to keep stopping to feed the 2 month old and i have a lot of diaper changes with the 2 of them. Just got back and it took 2 days. I would recommend stopping.

 

[Karalea]

We've driven numerous times from Elmira, NY to St.Pete Beach with 3 kids and find that its necessary to stop for the night around Florence SC. It seems to be about the half way point for us.

We've done it straight through before only stopping for short naps at rest areas (not to safe, I know). We've arrrived in Florida exhausted and needed a day or 2 to recover.

Would not do it again without stopping for the night.

 

[7thdwarf/dopey]

We are a family of six, and always drive. We break it up into two days. First day we drive to exit 49 Fayetteville, then the next day we drive to exit 318 St. Augustine. Then t he following morning we just have a relaxing two hour drive to the world.

 

[kerry34]

We drive from Ma. with 5 kids. We always break it up into two days, usually leaving around 4am and drive until around just over the S.C. line, (Usually stop around Dillon).We usually leave from there around 7am or so, and it we get into the orlando area around 4pm, depending on traffic.

 

[TupperMom7]

We are trying to come up with a plan that will allow us to arrive in the afternoon and would like to know of a safe clean hotel/motel to stay for one night with 5 kids. So many of the hotels don't allow more than 5 people in a room and I hate to spend the money on two rooms.
Do you stay in a hotel in Dillon, SC?
Thanks!

 

[mjmcca]

You can ususally get really good rates on rooms on 95 i mean CHEAP! Pick up an exit guide at one of the rest stops it will have coupons for discounted hotel rooms.

 

[Disneyolic]

We have never even considered this. I am wondering...is it worth it to drive if you only have a week? My husband's job does not enable him to take any extra days other than the "standard" week. I can't imagine driving down (we have 3 young children) without stopping at least once on the way down and the way back. What would be the best way to do this? I'm am very curious now as this may be the way to afford to go to WDW in the spring.

~DawnMaree

 

[kerry34]

When we got off the highway in Dillon, there were several hotel chains on the street, I believe the one we stayed at was a marriot express, decent hotel, clean, with continental breakfast, so that was great for the kids. There were other hotels as well. The area seemed okay to me, there really wasnt much else on the street besides hotels, gas stations, and a couple of restaurants. We have always stayed in two rooms because my mom travels with us, so she gets a room too.