Anyone else driving down on March Break?

[migel]

We're heading down for the week, probably leaving late Friday evening (March 11) or early Saturday morning. Debating whether to drive straight through, or stop overnight in Columbia SC. With the low dollar, driving is the best option for us, by far.

 

[bankr63]

Sure we'll be driving again. Slightly different route for us coming from Eastern Ontario, but we may pass through that way as well. Taking our time so will have two nights on the road each way. Have always stopped for at least 1 night on all our trips. DW isn't much of a road trip warrior like me; I have learned to pace the drive down with stops for breaks. Have never tried to do it in a single go. 22 hours straight is a long time in the car even with driver swaps. I might try non-stop sometime if I had 3 or more drivers (6-8 hours driving each), but in general I've learned to like the more comfortable pace. I also try to stick to the flow of local traffic (not the crazy Ontario plates all blowing by me). I figure the locals know what the acceptable speeds are for enforcement on their roadways. This adds a bit of time over the "go like stink" school of driving.

Rough itinerary for us would be trying for around PA/MD border on Friday (I-81), a full day Saturday probably ending somewhere near SC/GA border. We may take 81-66-17-95 or stay on 81-77-26-95, and hoping to slide into Orlando around noon on Sunday. I like the second route a bit better, although Charlotte can have a bit of traffic. I usually let the weather decide which way to go.

The one thing I would say if you have never done this before. Even if you decide on the driving straight through, don't hesitate to stop overnight if you get too tired. Nobody has a fun trip when they reach their destination inside a pine box; be that yourselves or the others you may harm.

 

[Madame]

We drove straight through last March break from outside Windsor. DH took Fri off & slept & we left after I finished school.

Never again. I was wiped out after getting up at 5:30 & teaching all day & incapable of driving. The kids didn't end up being able to sleep in the van. We took 2 days on the way back.

We're driving again in August, but 2 days each way & we'll be able to leave at a reasonable hour since I'm off.

 

[migel]

I've driven straight through on two occasions, both times coming home. The 2nd time wasn't by choice. Our flight was cancelled, and we would have had to wait to days two days to fly home. I went right back to where we'd just dropped off our rental car, got a 1-way rental to Buffalo airport, and off we went. It was a challenge, but we wanted to get home. I'm good on long hauls, but I agree, it often isn't worth it when you lose an entire day due to exhaustion.

 

[isabellea]

Leaving this Thursday around noon from Montreal and driving straight-tru. I personally find it more exhausting stoppinf for the night. Luckily DH us used at working overnight.

 

[calngavinsmom]

Hi we are driving down for March break too! (leaving on the 11th in the evening) We live in Niagara and the way we like to do the drive is to leave about 10pm drive through to Kingsland Georgia (3 hours to Disney) Have a nice dinner, stock up on any grocery store supplies and grab a hotel for the night. We have a quick breaky at the hotel, get on the road by 7am nice and refreshed and ready for Disney! We have tried driving straight through, splitting the drive more evenly and the way I described above, and that way seems to work best for us being able to feel rested on arrival day.

Have a great trip fellow Canucks!

 

[hcoker1]

Wer'e driving down too, leaving after school Friday, driving for about 6 hours to just north of Dayton. The next day for 11 hours and then 3.5 on the Sunday. I don't want to be exhausted when we get there and we don't have reservations until Sunday so there's no race. Even with two hotel nights going down and one on the way back, it's still much cheaper to drive my Prius V than to fly this year!

 

[mshanson3121]

I'll drive again for sure, but I would never drive for such a short trip. Then again, we're also in NB, too, so it's quite a bit further drive.

 

[Questforthemouse]

DW teaches 2kms from where we live. She's out at 3pm on the 11th, home to change and we're on the road by 3:15pm. We cross at Buffalo. We drive to Bridgeport, WV and stop at 9:30pm for the night. Up early the next day and drive to Walterboro, SC and stop for the night. 5.5 hours the next day to WDW. Can't drive straight through as DW has a health issue and she'd be so tired by the time we got to WDW it would take her a few days to recover.

 

[migel]

We're now taking the Friday off and leaving either late Thursday night or very early Friday morning (3:00 am). I'm still debating on the straight drive or not. I did check hotel prices where we normally stop (South Carolina), and prices are still reasonable, other than the exchange rate. I may reserve a room just in case, then play it by ear. See you at Disney, I'll be looking for your Ontario plates!

 

[mshanson3121]

We're now taking the Friday off and leaving either late Thursday night or very early Friday morning (3:00 am). I'm still debating on the straight drive or not. I did check hotel prices where we normally stop (South Carolina), and prices are still reasonable, other than the exchange rate. I may reserve a room just in case, then play it by ear. See you at Disney, I'll be looking for your Ontario plates!

Use hotelcoupons.com You can get some great deals. We never paid more than $60-65 a night for our hotels on our trip, and they were all clean, comfortable, easily accessed off the highway, had a pool and full hot breakfast included for free.

 

[migel]

FYI, another post has opened up about a detour on HWY 75. I take the 79/77 route, but in case you don't, check the other post, apparently it's a lengthy delay.