Anyone else drive over 1,000 miles???

[JessTwilight]

This is our first trip and I think it is about 1550 miles to WDW. We are going to leave in the early afternoon, drive to late dinner, get kiddos ready for bed and let them sleep all night in the truck with blankies and pillows. We might drive straight through or stop some where in GA or N. FL.
On the way home we decided to take the loong way and go to Kennedy Space Center and then up the coast to Washington DC. We have left as much as 6 days to drive home if needed. I figured the drive there probably won't be too bad 'cuz of the exitement, but the drive home will stink.

 

[allshookup]

Originally posted by mmiller711
We always drive. DH is Not a flyer!! Sometimes we drive straight through. (about 23 hours).
This time:
Thursday: Michigan to Cleveland (pick up Grandson)
Friday: Cleveland to Fla. (visit relatives)
Sat: Lady Lake Fla. to Orlando (about 1 1/2 hours)

I am getting so excited! Gotta get going on some stuff here now...

I just had to comment on your post because we are also driving and stopping in Lady Lake to pick up my mother before heading to Disney. My mother lives in The Villages and we stop there first every time we drive down.

Almost every August we drive 1300 miles from North of Boston. We stay away from 95 and all the major cities, except for Hartford, avoiding a lot of traffic. We have tried driving at night, not stopping, etc. We now find that we are better driving in daylight so we leave at 5:00 am stop around dinner, eat, rest and hit the road again at 5:00 am. It's different for everybody but this works best for us.

 

[grinningghost]

We do! Actually, I enjoy driving. It's got it's bad points, but mostly it's alot of fun. It's especially good on the way home. When we fly, we're home in 2 hours - from the Magic to Reality just like that. When you drive, you get to EASE into reality, so by the time you get home it's not so much of a shock.

 

[Dodie]

We have often driven from central Indiana (about 1,050 miles door-to-door). We try to stay as far south of Atlanta as we can reasonably get on day one so the day two trip isn't that bad.

 

[taylor1293]

We are in Southwest Illinois, down by St. Louis, so it is about a 1000 mile drive for us.

We have made the drive twice in the last year and will be doing it again in January.

We prefer driving straight through and getting the drive over with. We find it takes approximately 16 hours. However, this next trip we are planning on 2 day drives due to the time of year we are traveling.

It really isn't as awful as it seems .

Oh, and I am originally from West Central Illinois (Quincy)

Teresa

 

[Snowysmom]

In answer to Padre Disney, my son has been driving for almost 2 years including his learner's permit. He is almost 18. He has had his license for 15 months. We let him drive on 95 where it is less travelled such as North Carolina and South Carolina. Although, he did drive through a long traffic jam in Southern Virginia and did very well. We let him drive for 1 1/2 - 2 hours at a time, no more. We have a younger son with us so we try to be very careful. DH or I sit up front and watch the road very carefully. Like you, I don't trust the crazy drivers out there and there are alot of them! He took the responsibility seriously and did very well.

 

[Mjasp]

I thought I would never drive, but after flying in January and March of this year, when Easter week came we couldn't even touch airfare. So for the first time in 26 years we decided to drive. Our kids are 11 and 7, they were perfect and didn't even fight. Didn't even realize they were in the car. I have to say after saying never, never, never. It really wasn't bad. I enjoyed the trip more when I was driving vs. being a passenger as it gave you something to do. It was great having your own car there. We are going again in 5 days and I am a little sad we aren't driving, as it extends your vacation a little. The only problem with driving is it is more dangerous than flying as you have people who do it straight through and I met one woman in the restroom line (isn't there always a line) who was really walking the fine line of dozing and not being as alert as someone who had a full nights sleep, there is a thin line.

 

[mike80124]

We drive from colorado 1857 miles each way . My wife does not like to fly . we take 2 1/2 days to get there and 2 days home it is not that bad kids don't mind the drive we do have a built in tv/dvd in our town and country . We did try driving straight thru but we won't do that again ..

 

[manning]

Do it in two days if only one is driving. And be well rested before you leave. Do to a snow storm, I was behind the wheel for over 20 hours. Because of the snow banks caused by the plows I am writing this. I fell asleep and bounced off the bank. it kept me on the road.

Guess what! You don't know when you fall asleep. One minute I'm driving, the next I wake up to this loud sound. Luckily it was a glancing blow and nobody around me. I used both lanes (interstate) to regain control.

 

[OKW91]

We use to fly down, before we retired! Now we drive down twice a year, it's about 1100 miles from where we live in NJ. It takes us two days to make the drive, it's not bad once we get past the DC area! I think that if I still had small children I would fly, it's a boring ride for the kids, there is not much to see on the interstates! I know that airfare can be costly for a family, but the drive down with kids can certainly frazzle the nerves! Good luck!!

 

[pstepka]

We drive just a tad over 1,000 miles from Cleveland. We usually stop for the night in GA, but I think this year we're attempting straight through. We also usually stop at a restaurant for dinner in lieu of fast food. However, this year my plan is to really save money by driving so we'll do Wendy's drive through (love their $0.99 menu) and try to do it w/o spending the night. I figure if I have to drive, I'm going to make it worth saving more than just a few hundred dollars!!!

Pam

 

[dennis99ss]

From Hou, Tx--We drive sometimes and fly sometimes. I like them both. I grew up driving on vacations with the parents, so, I kind of feel the need to pay all that pain forward to my kids. Kind of like Chevy Chase in vacation. But, tv/vcr combo is a lifesaver. We usually stop around tallahassee on the way down, and finish up the next am.

On the return though, we have just been blowing straight through. Near the end, its just time to get home. I usually drive the whole way. It cuts down on the fights with the wife about her driving

 

[nuthut]

Let see how the dollars ad up: 1200 each way miles at .34 each is $816 plus two hotel nights at $60 each and meals on the road let say $50 day times four for a total of $1136 and then the loss of 4 work days at $100 each makes driving cost $1536. I can buy my family of six tickets for about $200 each and then hire a towncar company to pick us up for $100. I am still ahead by flying. Now when I fly I can accept an airline bump about 50% of the time and pick up $400 each person in vouchers which in turn buys each person two more tickets. Also with airline miles every tenth trip is free. I can not afford to drive, no way no how. Why spend two days when I can fly and leave my house at 6 am and be at the Boardwalk by Noon swimming?

 

[clkelley]

I always have my sons drive for us on road trips. I would much rather they get the experience while we are in the car than having their first road trip by themselves at 20 something going off to school or whatever.

This way we can advise them how to handle situations, and pull off and drive ourselves if necessary. If they make their first road trips alone, there is no one to help them out.

Then once they are on their own, they have more experience.

Carol