I know a few people who drive from the Halifax area, and I'm going to attempt it myself in March. We (3 adults who can all drive) are renting a van and driving to Miami for a cruise, then driving to Disney for a few days, then driving home. The plan is to drive straight through without stopping to sleep, switching out drivers and catching naps in the back. The uncertainty is with the weather in March of course. We don't have our route nailed down yet, but roughly we would take the Trans Canada to Houlton Me and drive mostly on the I95 with some deviation around Boston and New York. The reason we're trying this is because the flight prices are very high for this time of year, we're going to need extra luggage and that will drive our flight costs up, and it seemed a more direct way for us to get to all of our destinations. If we were doing only the cruise, or only Disney then I would have insisted on flying. Also I've always wanted to try it.
I'm sure there are others on this board who have done it, and I would love to hear about their experiences, and also their tips and tricks.
I know a few people who drive from the Halifax area, and I'm going to attempt it myself in March. We (3 adults who can all drive) are renting a van and driving to Miami for a cruise, then driving to Disney for a few days, then driving home. The plan is to drive straight through without stopping to sleep, switching out drivers and catching naps in the back. The uncertainty is with the weather in March of course. We don't have our route nailed down yet, but roughly we would take the Trans Canada to Houlton Me and drive mostly on the I95 with some deviation around Boston and New York. The reason we're trying this is because the flight prices are very high for this time of year, we're going to need extra luggage and that will drive our flight costs up, and it seemed a more direct way for us to get to all of our destinations. If we were doing only the cruise, or only Disney then I would have insisted on flying. Also I've always wanted to try it.
I'm sure there are others on this board who have done it, and I would love to hear about their experiences, and also their tips and tricks.
Even in the winter? Google maps says it takes 5 minutes more time but is 55km longer to go via Houlton and people say it's a more reliable road. We're planning to go through that section on a Thursday late morning/early afternoon if that matters.Likely shave some time off by going through St. Stephen/Calais, Me and then to Bangor.
Thanks for this information as we're going to Miami first then Orlando. I'm going to get both of these for sure.we're very happy we got a EZPass transponder for those. We simply ordered it from NY Tolls website. Cost was 20$usd and it came with 20$ in our account. We also have a Sunpass for FL tolls but you don't need it for Orlando unless you want to avoid most of I-4 (worst interstate in the USA imo). If you ever drive to Miami, it's a must since the FL turnpike is Sunpass only (no cash toll available).
Even in the winter? Google maps says it takes 5 minutes more time but is 55km longer to go via Houlton and people say it's a more reliable road. We're planning to go through that section on a Thursday late morning/early afternoon if that matters.
Yeah, I am less than 1.5 hours from Calais and frequently take that route to Bangor. It is not a freeway and is windy up and down a mountain with Transport traffic. Maybe not the best choice during the winter.Even in the winter? Google maps says it takes 5 minutes more time but is 55km longer to go via Houlton and people say it's a more reliable road. We're planning to go through that section on a Thursday late morning/early afternoon if that matters.
Even in the winter? Google maps says it takes 5 minutes more time but is 55km longer to go via Houlton and people say it's a more reliable road. We're planning to go through that section on a Thursday late morning/early afternoon if that matters.
momdad4kids, thanks for the detailed description. I just picked up my TripTik from CAA and they mapped it out for us to take the 84/81 route through Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Hagerstown, then for a short drive on the 66 just south of Winchester Va, to the 17 at Marshall Va, and back to the 95 near Fredericksburg Va. I thought it was quite a bit out of the way around NY/NJ but it is quite similar to the route you described above. It also has us diverting east around Richmond Va, and east around Jacksonville Fl. If the weather is fine we are planning to be at the NY/Conn border about 8pm on a Thursday, and our plan is to switch between two drivers and drive straight through to Savannah Ga, so this NY/NJ/Pa/Ma/Va section would take place roughly from 8pm-8am. Given your experience momdad4kids, does this seem reasonable for a trip in late Feb, reversing the route to come home in mid-March?Now you'll have 2 options after you cross into NY state, you can either run the NY state Thruway , I87 into NJ and on into Allentown on 287 and 78 over to I81 in PA. This route keeps you out of the mountains in Penn. however it can have some traffic on it closer to NYC.
Theres a Cracker Barrel the exit before we normaly stop at for a late lunch. I check the time we're going to leave here and the weather through to Scranton Pa. If its 3pm or before our time or the forecast through the mountains is bad (it can be snow or ice sometimes but no worries they do plow and salt plus most ppl through here can actually drive in winter) Ill take the thruway. otherwise I stay on 84 and hit 81 in Scranton. once your on 81 (or on 78 past Allentown Also we usually call it a day anyplace after here) check out Hershey, its a great way to break up the drive and maybe get a chocolate bar or 2..
If you are going that route you are hooking up to the standard route from Eastern Ontario. I would strongly suggest that you maintain on I-81 through to I-77 and down through Charlotte NC. I know that google maps shows it as 1 hour longer, but you will almost always save that much time avoiding traffic around DC as you swing back towards I-95. I-95 is very busy and congested; comparatively I-81 is a dream to drive - low volumes and no major metropolitan centers. This route is worth several points reduction in my blood pressure as well. We've driven all the routes south from Eastern Ontario, and the I-81 to I-77 is by far our favorite, we only avoid it if there is weather west of the Appalachians.momdad4kids, thanks for the detailed description. I just picked up my TripTik from CAA and they mapped it out for us to take the 84/81 route through Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Hagerstown, then for a short drive on the 66 just south of Winchester Va, to the 17 at Marshall Va, and back to the 95 near Fredericksburg Va. I thought it was quite a bit out of the way around NY/NJ but it is quite similar to the route you described above. It also has us diverting east around Richmond Va, and east around Jacksonville Fl. If the weather is fine we are planning to be at the NY/Conn border about 8pm on a Thursday, and our plan is to switch between two drivers and drive straight through to Savannah Ga, so this NY/NJ/Pa/Ma/Va section would take place roughly from 8pm-8am. Given your experience momdad4kids, does this seem reasonable for a trip in late Feb, reversing the route to come home in mid-March?
Thanks for this! That route bypassing the major metropolitan centres adds 150km and 2 hours to my trip because for those from the Maritimes the bypassing starts before Boston. If the I-95 corridor was as clear as it looks on paper it would be 3452km and 32 hours, but with traffic being so heavy and the I-95 going right through Manhattan across the George Washington Bridge I don't think we're going to chance taking it. But we still have a couple of weeks to decideIf you are going that route you are hooking up to the standard route from Eastern Ontario. I would strongly suggest that you maintain on I-81 through to I-77 and down through Charlotte NC.
This is the route (I -81 using 66/17 to I-95) that TripTik used to provide, and google maps often suggests. Having done this route 3* and the route carrying on along I-81 to I-77 more than 3* I will attest that the second route will actually save you time and a ton of stress. Lately google maps has actually started suggesting this route at times, probably around rush times when the I-95 areas are congested. The only place we have ever experienced congestion on the second route was through Charlotte, and that was probably a 15 minute delay. Highly recommend the alternate route.Going to be doing the NB-Orlando run in early May; planning the 95 most of the way in US Northeast but cutting across top of NYC 287-78-81 through PA to go around Baltimore/Washington getting back on 95 via Rt 66 / 17 south of DC then 295 around Richmond; planning on two stops - Allentown, PA night one and somewhere between Lumberton SC - Florence NC night two (lots of hotels just off 95 in both locations). Did the drive in 2010 was stuck in awful traffic around Washington even taking the route "around" the core of the city - Baltimore traffic was touch and go as well so 78-81 is my choice this time.