Best route from Charlotte to WDW

[nicoleezk]

Hi everyone! Just getting moving on my trip planning for September 2012, and I wanted to get some suggestions from those of you out there that drive to Disney. My DH and I will be driving down with our 2 kids, ages 4 & 2. We were either thinking of picking them up from preschool an heading on an "adventure" (they have no idea we're going) or having dinner and then driving down later that night. I just wanted to see which routes people usually take, where they stop for the night, and when the best time would be to head out. TIA!

 

[theostwalts]

We are just North of Charlotte and have made the drive several times. It is really an easy drive with Jacksonville and Orlando the 2 places where you might get into pretty heavy traffic depending on the time of day.

The best route from Charlotte is I-77 South to I-26 East to I-95 South to I-4 West to Orlando. With stops, you are probably looking at a 9 hour drive. Less if you minimize the stops. I usually like to head out at about 2:00 am because there is so much less traffic. DW and dds sleep usually until we get to Savannah GA, where we stop for breakfast and fuel.

Either way, it really is not a bad drive from where you are.

Hope that helps!!

 

[nicoleezk]

That information helps a lot, theoswalts. Do you usually do the drive in one day or stop and spend the night somewhere? Any recommendations on places to stop and eat, rest, sleep, or let the kids run out their crazies? TIA!

 

[theostwalts]

We usually drive all the way through. I do have a nephew in Jacksonville and we have stopped there at times. But I usually like to just drive straight through.

South Carolina is the state that takes the most time go get through. After that, Georgia is not bad at all and when you hit the Florida State line the kids get really excited!!

It really just depends on what time you get on the road. I would figure 9-10 hours if you stop to eat and take a couple of 15 min stops for snacks and to get out of the car.

We usually stop around Savannah, there are several exits there with plenty of places to pull in. If you search I-95 on here you will find several posts with exits listed. Also, look at the Sticky for Popular Transportation Links at the top of this thread and you can find a lot of I-95 info as well.

 

[plutolovr]

We live in Rock Hill, SC (just over the border) and it usually takes us 7 1/2 hours with 1 or 2 short stops (bathroom and gas). If we need to get there in the morning we will leave the night before and stay just south of Savannah (about 1/2 way).

 

[okw19]

I'm from NC too (Piedmont Triad) and we normally tackle the whole drive down at once.
Savannah is a great stopping point if you want to break the trip up. We stop there for a night on the way back! Historic Savannah is beautiful and you should be able to find enough stuff to keep everyone satisfied there for a night.

 

[Robert P]

I'm from NC too (Piedmont Triad) and we normally tackle the whole drive down at once.
Savannah is a great stopping point if you want to break the trip up. We stop there for a night on the way back! Historic Savannah is beautiful and you should be able to find enough stuff to keep everyone satisfied there for a night.

Agreed. From just West of Winston-Salem, taking I-40 West to get to I-77 South to start the 77-26-95-4 route, the SC/GA line (Savannah area) is almost exactly 1/2 way to WDW.
For us, the drive is usually in the 8.5 hour range, with no major stops for sit down meals.

Just FYI: from the NC/SC line below Charlotte on I-77 to WDW is 532 miles.

 

[nicoleezk]

Thank you for the responses...now I just need to decide whether we want to drive it all in one day or make a stop and keep going in the morning. My parents are planning on meeting us there, but are flying out from California, so I guess, depending on what we decide, they can either meet us in Jacksonville or Orlando. Time to research what would be the best price.

 

[theostwalts]

Thank you for the responses...now I just need to decide whether we want to drive it all in one day or make a stop and keep going in the morning. My parents are planning on meeting us there, but are flying out from California, so I guess, depending on what we decide, they can either meet us in Jacksonville or Orlando. Time to research what would be the best price.

So you are all doing a family vacation at WDW? If so, since your parents are flying in, they can take Disney's Magical Express service from the Orlando Airport to WDW. It is a free bus service from the airport to WDW. It will take them and their bags from the airport to their resort.

 

[nicoleezk]

We are doing a family trip, but since there are 5 of us who need some space, we decided to rent a townhouse in Windsor Hills. No WDW Resort this trip...maybe next time!