Calling all Central New Yorker's Help !

[samsid99]

I am looking to here from fellow CNY Diser's who have recently driven to the world.

What route did you take?

What do you consider the half way point?

Where do you spend the night?

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

I did post this on transportation but not getting any hits.

So I thought I would try here.

We are leaving august 21st. and staying for 9 days! Can't wait.

 

[hobogary]

Hi! We drive down all the time. My usual route is I 81 to Us 17 at Winchester Va to I 95 at Fredricksburg Va, 1240 miles, Halfway is about halfway into NC (Selma is a nice stop, never stayed there). We have stayed in many different locations, depending on our timing. It takes us about 24 hours of drive time including rest stops and food.South of the Border is about 15 hours and we like to stop there (but many people will tell you not to). We also have done Kingsland Ga, for a short hop into WDW the next day. Let me know your driving plans and i'll try to help. You can also do 81 to 77 to 26 to 95. Senic, but I dont like it in the winter, and if your thru at off hours 70 and 270 thru DC is ok but traffic can be murder there.

 

[deltachi8]

I would take 81-17-95-4 with a stop over around Fayetville - about 10 hrs or so.

Watch for construction.

 

[even1]

If you do a search on the Transportation Board, you'll find LOTS of info about NY to WDW drives!!!

We've done it a few times but drove straight through.(2 drivers )

Have a great trip!

 

[strmtroopr96]

Just wanted to say hello from another Central New Yorker.

 

[crs7568]

The route that everyone has described is the one that we take. We have driven straight through but find that the last stretch through Florida is torture that way. We now stop when we are almost through Georgia and find that the drive is much easier that way. The car trip down does not seem bad because everyone is so excited to get to Disney. The drive home feels so much worse.
Have a great trip!

 

[hobogary]

Hi Ilion !! Amazing how many CNY people here when we get one of these threads.

 

[MickeyMonstersMom]

I am looking to here from fellow CNY Diser's who have recently driven to the world.

What route did you take?

What do you consider the half way point?

Where do you spend the night?

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

I did post this on transportation but not getting any hits.

So I thought I would try here.

We are leaving august 21st. and staying for 9 days! Can't wait.

I drove down in late June, back on July 4th (!)

Driving down I went 81 to 64 (Staunton, VA) to 95 (Richmond). Route 64 goes through the mountains and is beautiful but kind of desolate - and it felt like forever getting through VA! Halfway I'd place around Santee - if you tend to be able to go farther you could shoot for Savannah; if you tire more easily try Lumberton, NC. We went to Gettysburg the first day and ended up in Savannah on our second night. We stayed at a Motel 6 just off the southern Savannah exit (forgot the number) that was newly renovated and clean, but was also very damp and musty, and our bedding was ancient. I would not recommend it except as a very cheap place to crash for a few hours.

Driving back I took 95 to 17 (Fredericksburg, VA) to 66 to 81 - much faster, even though 17 is mostly 55 mph and goes through a few towns. If I drive down again, I'll take this way. Halfway seemed to be close to Fredericksburg - I don't remember seeing any hotels between there and Winchester along 17, so plan to stop either before Fredericksburg or after you reach Route 81. I didn't stop, though - left Daytona at 6:30 am and pulled into my Cortland driveway at 12:30 am.

Let me know if you want any other info. I'm jealous - not only are you going to the Happiest Place on Earth, you might also get out of this NY heat!

 

[disgram]

Hello Norwich!! Elmira, here. When we were driving we wouldgo this way. we are a little closer here to the Pa. border so we go 15s to Leesburg Maryland, then pick up 17 till Fredrickberg,Va where we get onto 95s. We usually try to get to Lumberton, NC. It is 30 - 40 miles to SC stateline. Hope this helps.

DH is getting older now and so we fly. He has to make too many stops!!

 

[stahshee]

I have never driven but I will be down the same time ILION NY aw:

 

[Ally&Alec's Mom]

Im from Cortland, and we are driving straight through also. We are leaving Oct. 9th and coming home around the 18th. My parents drive down every year, they own a house in Ocala, and I know they drive down 81 almost the entire length and they avoid 95 because of the traffic...but Im not sure what road they hop onto after 81 ceases in Tenn. They said their new found route avoids all major cities and was faster. I cant wait to go down and hope we can drive straight through!

 

[MickeyMonstersMom]

Wow, another Cortland DISer! You're the second one I've "met" today! Maybe we should all plan a meet here sometime. At any rate, welcome!

 

[Weluvdisny]

Hey Everyone! Glad to see a few "neighbors" on here!!

Last time we drove from Fulton and make it to Florence, SC in 14 hours. Then it was only 6-7 hours the next day.

Have fun on your trip and I'll be looking for a trip report!

 

[hobogary]

Hi all CNY'ers. Disgram, I've always looked at 15, but just stayed in the interstate to 17, but sometime, i'll try it. Ally&Alec'sMom, I've taken 81 to 77, to 26 to 95, , Nice view, but so uncrowded, I consider the route deserted. The only bad city is Charlotte. I usually make the trip in the winter, and it snows a lot more up in the mountains (Not that i mind driving in snow, but not with hundreds of southerner's doing 75mph on my bumper). If you go much further then I 77, You wind up going thru Atlanta, but then 75 takes you right into Ocala. By the way, anyone going in thru 75 to the turnpike, get of on US 27 and come in to WDW on the back side.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

Just curious why you are driving. We usually fly directly out of Newburgh/Stewart Field (SWF) either on Delta with a stop in Cincinatti or on Northwest with a stop in Detroit. We have gotten CHEAP flights sometimes (less than $200 Round Trip per person) and have even seen packages on the Northwest website that includes rental car and hotel room for a great price.

If there is a Central NY DISMeet, let me know!

 

[samsid99]

The closest airport for me to fly out of is Syracuse, NY. There are very rarely cheap flights out of here. And it is still an hour and half way.

If I try to take advantage of cheaper flights that mean Buffalo (almost 5 hours away) or Albany (almost 4 hours away). So factor in those gas miles, parking my car for over week, the tolls, and still having to rent a car while I am in FL. Not cheap.

Yes, I have to have a car. I travel alone with my two girls and my youngest has allergic asthma. Although she has never had a horrible sudden attack. I would not want to be in Florida alone with her and no transportation. So we rent the car.

However this will be the first time I have made the drive. Wasn't planning on a Disney trip this summer, because we spent 10 days last July. But we were able to go for 7nights, 8 day tickets, free rain ponchos, trip insurance and free dining for a whoping $1276.55. I thought that was an excellent price, and just couldn't pass it up!

Thanks for all your input and advice!

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

Have a fun trip! I am sure the kids are excited about going.

 

[MickeyMonstersMom]

I've taken 81 to 77, to 26 to 95, , Nice view, but so uncrowded, I consider the route deserted. The only bad city is Charlotte.

I considered taking this route as the one less traveled, but was talked out of it because it's supposedly a couple hundred extra miles (and with the increased gas prices...), but am still interested in it, especially because it must be quite beautiful. How "deserted" is it? Is it more about the lack of traffic, or are there few exits? I didn't care for 66 because I was concerned about there being so few exits in case of an emergency. And did you find an efficient way around Charlotte?

Just curious why you are driving.

I much prefer flying, especially the nonstop TMA flights out of Syracuse. We'd had a frantic connecting flight experience in April which had soured me on air travel just a bit; plus, I had originally planned to spend an entire month with relatives in FL and drove so that I would have a car without paying for a rental. The drive was do-able and I would do it again if I were staying a long time or had some other compelling reason, but it would take a lot to overcome the advantages of that nonstop (and usually reasonably priced) flight just half an hour from my home.

 

[hobogary]

MMM: that route is just about the same miles,lots of hills, not much traffic, exits are a little spread out, we were coming up thru a little late one night, and looking at the guides, we decided there were no motels for the next couple hours (probably not true but seemed it) so we stopped in Mt Airy, NC (better known as Mayberry from Andy Griffiths). My major objection to it is in the winter, it always seems they get the interstates snowed in and closed for a couple of days. On 95 when its snows, they only close for a couple of hours to clean up the 300 car accidents(300 cars in each accident) that or so popular down there. As far as i can tell the only way thru Charlotte is straight thru, but we did it at 5 pm and it wasn't really bad. All in all, not a bad way to go, at least good weather.

 

[MickeyMonstersMom]

Thanks! I refuse to drive down in the winter - too unpredictable for me, and my contract bans us from "adding" days to a vacation, so if we were stranded due to weather I'd end up having to throw myself upon the mercy of the BOE - not worth the hassle by a long shot! If I drive down next June, though, I think I will try 77 and 26 - I've always wanted to visit Mount Airy (though not because of Andy Griffith - it just sounds pretty).