Anyone Driving from NY? Questions

[fairytinkerbell]

We would drive (for the first time to FL) if we go to WDW this fall. Do any of you feel anxious about driving so far away from home? Also, would the trip be so short and then on the trip knowing you have to drive all the way back?

 

[vicki_c]

Now I drive from MD, but we've done many trips from WNY to central FL and don't think too much of it - it's almost always cheaper than flying for our family, so it's just what we do.

But yes, getting there always seems quicker since you're anticipating your vacation and driving home is much more of a drag.

Neither my husband or I have ever been anxious about driving, no matter the distance.

 

[crzy4dsny]

We have done the drive four times. The first time driving I was worried about the trip back hanging over my head the whole time I was there. I have to say it really didn't. I think the shortest stay on a driving trip was 11 nights, the longest was 14 nights. So it was kind of like I was ready to go toward the end. I don't think I would drive for a 7 night trip though, it would have to be longer.

I'm driving down solo in three weeks towing a trailer while the family flies. I can't wait to go I'm really looking foward to the drive. You just have to know the right time to leave to avoid traffic and know your limits.

 

[Girls1]

We have done the drive four times. The first time driving I was worried about the trip back hanging over my head the whole time I was there. I have to say it really didn't. I think the shortest stay on a driving trip was 11 nights, the longest was 14 nights. So it was kind of like I was ready to go toward the end. I don't think I would drive for a 7 night trip though, it would have to be longer.

I'm driving down solo in three weeks towing a trailer while the family flies. I can't wait to go I'm really looking foward to the drive. You just have to know the right time to leave to avoid traffic and know your limits.

How much would you say you spend driving down there?

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

We drove last month. The trip was a bit unusual as it was my getaway gift from DH and friends following Mom's death (I was her caregiver for 17 months). I did very little planning.

We drove because we had a brand new Sonata, took the dog because Grandma the dog sitter was no longer available :-(. (Best Friends was PERFECT by the way----even though our friends decided my sweet precious looks like......little Pumba!!!!!)

Anyway,

Weather traveling was perfect. We actually stopped for the night down and back. DH was right to keep things easy for me.

We had our car there so no rental needed at WDW.

Drive home was sad as we left but overall not traumatic at all. We had many hours to relive our visit to the place where I could find my smile again.

Oh yes, Shadow....Aka: Little Pumba is a terrific traveler and had a Ball!!!

Oh yes, a PS

With the car we could bring more convenience things. Cooler filled with an iceblock made it all the way with veggie-munchies, yogurt, cheese plenty cold-skipped a trip to the grocery. Lots of room on the backseat floor for all the juice, sodas and water for the group.

Soooo easy to just pop the trunk and grab our suitcase...no worries about weight......my extra long sleeping pillow, fleece throw I use for napping....and all the other goodies we used to fill the trunk that would not squeeze into a suitcase.

I think we may suddenly be fans of driving.

 

[Couchy]

DH and I drive sometimes. We don't think it is so bad. We leave at 3:30 pm and arrive about 9am or so I WDW. When we drive though we go for at least a week, otherwise we fly

 

[BuzzLiteyear]

We drive from WNY. It's approximately 18 hours for us and we drive straight through. Family of 5 (kids ranging from 7 - 15). I start out driving at about 9pm and drive until South Carolina. My wife drives for about 3 hours and then I drive the rest of the way. The good news is that my kids usually don't wake up until we are in NC or SC, so it's a peaceful drive for me. I try not to think of the drive home, but it usually isn't too bad until we get within 5 hours of home.

 

[Nan77]

What would be a good stop around 12 hours in from WNY? I would want to drive past Charlotte. We are thinking of going in Nov. and are also concerned about the weather. Anyone drive from WNY at this time of year? Thanks!

 

[DVC-Don]

What would be a good stop around 12 hours in from WNY? I would want to drive past Charlotte. We are thinking of going in Nov. and are also concerned about the weather. Anyone drive from WNY at this time of year? Thanks!

Try Columbia, SC. That's where we stayed last weekend on our way north.

 

[Nan77]

Thanks so much!

 

[SenecaWolf]

We drive from WNY. It's approximately 18 hours for us and we drive straight through. Family of 5 (kids ranging from 7 - 15). I start out driving at about 9pm and drive until South Carolina. My wife drives for about 3 hours and then I drive the rest of the way. The good news is that my kids usually don't wake up until we are in NC or SC, so it's a peaceful drive for me. I try not to think of the drive home, but it usually isn't too bad until we get within 5 hours of home.

Glad to hear this! I'm used to driving about 18.5 hours all by myself to go visit family in Minnesota. Makes me feel better about our planned trip next year to Disney when I'm driving us down. Gonna try to do it in a straight run down and then 1 stop on the way back.

 

[GranddadTom]

To the OP, you didn't say where in NY you are coming from. If it's down Rt. 95 and on a work day, as a PP said, it's important to avoid the major NE cities (NYC, Baltimore, and Washington) during rush hour. Specifically, try to get south of Washington before 2:30 pm but, if not, wait until at least after 8:00 pm.

 

[crzy4dsny]

How much would you say you spend driving down there?

The first three times we drove gas was still very cheap. We were actually there when hurricane Katrina hit. When we left gas here on Long Island was like $1.73 a gallon. We were in Disney watching the news seeing all these gas stations charging $5 and $6 a gallon.A lot of stations were even closed because they had no gas I don't know if you remember but this was the first time gas got expensive. But we didn't make out too bad on the trip back, I think the most we paid was $3.25.

But anyway, the last time we drove was August 2010. Tolls round trip are about $80. I think we paid about $400 for fuel. So I guess food included it was about $530-$550. Figure out how many miles away you are and the gas mileage
your car actually gets and you could get a good estimate. Don't go by the sticker mileage. That's calculated with no weight in the vehicle and traveling at 55 mph.

 

[BuzzLiteyear]

What would be a good stop around 12 hours in from WNY? I would want to drive past Charlotte. We are thinking of going in Nov. and are also concerned about the weather. Anyone drive from WNY at this time of year? Thanks!

We drove to WDW in December a few years ago and the weather was an issue. Plenty of snow in the mountains which slowed us down, but we made pretty decent time considering the weather.

 

[BuzzLiteyear]

Glad to hear this! I'm used to driving about 18.5 hours all by myself to go visit family in Minnesota. Makes me feel better about our planned trip next year to Disney when I'm driving us down. Gonna try to do it in a straight run down and then 1 stop on the way back.

I really enjoy the drive. The only part I don't like is is Route 19 in WV . I hate that stretch of road.

 

[Megs114]

My father in law does this drive from Central NJ about 2-3 times a year. He really enjoys it. Sometimes he stops right at the border of Florida for the night, but most of the time he drives straight through. I think it usually takes him 18 hours. He just left on Saturday with the puppy and it cost him about $250-300 round trip. Hope this helps!

 

[usd2bmd]

We are also planning on driving down from outside of Buffalo next summer for the first time. I have always wanted to but my husband was never really a big fan of taking the road trip.
I did a cost comparison and even with stopping in a hotel over night it will be cheaper than flying down (there are 3 of us).

I am already getting lists together (I'm a little OCD in that regard)to make the best of this. I can't wait!!! does that make me crazy??!!

 

[SenecaWolf]

We are also planning on driving down from outside of Buffalo next summer for the first time. I have always wanted to but my husband was never really a big fan of taking the road trip.
I did a cost comparison and even with stopping in a hotel over night it will be cheaper than flying down (there are 3 of us).

I am already getting lists together (I'm a little OCD in that regard)to make the best of this. I can't wait!!! does that make me crazy??!!

By seeing your ticker I can see your're going to be there right about when we are! We're going to be there Aug 24-Sept 5!

 

[usd2bmd]

This is normally whenw e go (the end of August. Wehaven't been in a while (forever for me) because the family wanted to do other things. I can't wait.

By seeing your ticker I can see your're going to be there right about when we are! We're going to be there Aug 24-Sept 5!

 

[disneymom06]

We're just north of NYC and have been driving down to Fl for about 10 years with 4 children. We've done this trip about 15 times. For us it is a cost saver as well as a convenience. I don't have to deal with the hassles of flying as well as we can bring what we want. (When the children were smaller, that meant that if a special toy had to come, that it was easy to say yes, now its all the electronic devices that teenagers can't leave home.)

The weather can be an issue during any season. Summer we have hit hurricanes and tropical storms. We were once forced to spend the night in
Georgia. The winter has the north storms. NY may be clear but DC had ice and snow. Then many trips were smooth sailing with no problems.

You have to be flexible and realize your limitations. We never plan to stop and drive straight to Disney. Our best drive time was 18hrs our worst 26. My husband likes to drive and when he is tired, I will drive. I couldn't do the drive like he does. The times that have been traffic free have been when we left before 1pm or at 1am. The kids are troopers and realize that we won't get to Disney until tomorrow. No one asks how long until tomorrow hits, usually the youngest.

I like to drive because we can leave home when we want, go anywhere we want because we have the car when we are in Florida, (we even drive to the parks because that is even quicker), and if we want to stay an extra day, it is doable.

You just have to be prepared and I never have let it bring down the trip that the drive home is tough. No more adrenaline, looking forward, everyone is tired and not looking forward to the long drive home. I always tell my husband that we should consider staying over midway to break up the drive home but he always seems "happy" to be going home (he is not a disney fanatic like I am, just a good sport.)

You just have to know what you are getting into. Flying is nice and quick. They both have their pros and cons.