Best winter route? 81-77-26-95 or 81-66-17-95?

[Sandy22]

I'm driving down to WDW from Eastern Ontario this winter. This will be my first time driving and I'm worried about getting stuck in bad weather.

I know there's lake effect snow on the 81 around Syracuse - what else should I know about? Are there mountains or hills on either of the routes (81-77-26-95 or 81-66-17-95). Is one route preferable over the other in winter? Which one has more truck traffic?

 

[misslissa]

Hi there,

I work at CAA and we have been advised to tell those going to Florida to go into the States through Windsor and down the I75 most of the way.

This will be the quickest and safest winter route.

If you are a member of CAA by any chance, you can get a "TripTik" of your route all the way there with a week's notice.

Good luck!

 

[FrenchSnowWhite]

I'm driving down to WDW from Eastern Ontario this winter. This will be my first time driving and I'm worried about getting stuck in bad weather.

I know there's lake effect snow on the 81 around Syracuse - what else should I know about? Are there mountains or hills on either of the routes (81-77-26-95 or 81-66-17-95). Is one route preferable over the other in winter? Which one has more truck traffic?

We've done the first routes twice (81-77-26-95) and we'll be doing it again in 43 days Never had anything wrong!! Not a snowflake either!!

 

[Sandy22]

Bumping for more answers. I can't take the 75 - that's way out of my way.

 

[misslissa]

There are only three routes.

I75, very flat, urban all of the way... safest in winter
I77/79, through the mountains, very "country" (2 lane highways), the quickest way... don't take if you have an RV or SUV
I95, very few people take this route, it is further and travels mostly down the east coast, kind of out of the way

 

[Sandy22]

There are only three routes.

I75, very flat, urban all of the way... safest in winter
I77/79, through the mountains, very "country" (2 lane highways), the quickest way... don't take if you have an RV or SUV
I95, very few people take this route, it is further and travels mostly down the east coast, kind of out of the way

I'm in Eastern Ontario - close to Ottawa. The 75 only works for people in the Toronto region. From Eastern Ontario, you drive into the States on the 81.

Is the 77 only 2 lanes the whole way? It looks like a major highway on my map? Is there much snow in those mountains?

 

[Yzma and Kronk]

Is the 77 only 2 lanes the whole way? It looks like a major highway on my map? Is there much snow in those mountains?

We've driven 77/79 many times.

I would say that the I-79 part is much more mountainous and the worst part if you are driving in bad weather. This is where we ran into trouble one December. And you won't be driving on that piece.

You will be joining 77 at I-81, so I'd say you shouldn't have much trouble.
I have never been on I-81 - but it looks as if that part might be just as mountainous as I-79 so hopefully someone can help you out with that part.

A couple days before check the driving conditions on www.weather.com

They are a pretty good indicator.

 

[DisFan2]

We live in Ottawa and take I81 all the way past Harrisburg to Winchester, VA where we hang a left (i.e. head east) picking up I95 just north of Richmond, VA. We generally travel to WDW in the fall, but I've taken this route once in February. You are almost guaranteed to encounter snow squalls between Watertown, NY and Syracuse - we've hit them in October. As you get past Syracuse, the elevation along 81 gets steeper and, if the weather's poor, you run the risk of snow all the way to Harrisburg (PA). We took this route home from Hershey in March of 03 and had snow on the way down and snow most of the way back. Add transport trailers and mountainous roads and you have some white knuckle driving.

Having said that, I know of no other real route options, unless you want to add several hours to your trip and go the Windsor route. Hope for the best weather, but plan for the worst. Once you get into southern PA/northern VA your'e fine.

EDIT TO ADD: For eastern Ontarians, I95 isn't out of the way - it constitutes, pretty much, the most direct route. I actually enjoy travelling through the Carolinas and Georgia before hitting FLA. There's some really good outlet shopping at Smithfield, NC (right on the 95) and again at St. Augustine in Florida (again, right on the 95).