Camping on the way to the Fort from Northeast Ohio

[barbz56]

My time off has been approved, our reservation has been made at the Fort for 10-1/10-8. Any suggestions where to camp on the way. This is our first time coming to Disney for the week. We are taking 3 days down and three days back. Can't drive it straight thru anymore.

 

[tiggerdad]

Hey, welcome aboard. I come in from deep, dark Mississippi so I won't be a lot of help on your travel plans but this bunch will be able to help you out.

Again, welcome to the camping forum.

 

[bama_ed]

What part of Northeast Ohio, barbz?

I was born and raised in Akron/Summit County, also lived in Mantua/Portage County, and had family up near Chardon/Geauga County.

I camped at Salt Fork State Park this past fall near where I70/I77 cross.

You'll love camping at the Fort. Fall is a nice time there.

Bama Ed

PS - did I already ask you that? Can't remember. I know I asked somebody that recently.

 

[barbz56]

I was raised in Barberton, live in Wadsworth Twp. now. Need ideas where to camp on our way down to Disney.

 

[PaHunter]

Guess our first question is going to be by which routes do you plan on driving down ?? Once we know where you are going, we can recommend a few places on the way down for sure.

 

[bama_ed]

Chris is right. (of course)

The most direct route is I77 down into the Carolinas and then pick up I95 to I4.

Most people go 500-600 miles (or longer) before stopping which depends on what time you plan to leave home that morning. Also, depending, we encourage people to push past an obstacle if it is known. For example, anybody who's planned route takes them down I75 and stops short of Atlanta, I would encourage them to push through and get to the south side of town before stopping.

So people will offer advice but they need a few more details. You are travelling 7 months from now so we have time but that's the kind of info we ask for to help us help you.

Bama Ed

 

[PaHunter]

We will be traveling down 81 to 77 to 26 to 95 to the Beeline to WDW this trip. Our first day is 13 hours and 700 plus miles. This puts us in Walterboro, SC. We will stay there at New Green Acres, it is a nice small overnight campground right off 95.

Coming back we will be stopping in GA and in VA at Fort Chiswell, so watch the trip report for a review there.
Sure you will get many more suggestions before your trip.

 

[barbz56]

We will be coming down 77 to 26 to 95 to 4. I have already checked out a campground in Fort Chiswell the first day. Leaving home by 7am

 

[peg110]

Okay... A different view from me. I come from NE PA. Typically I will leave a night after work to get down below the DC Beltway then pull over. Then drive almost all the way the next day, pull over for the night and then pull into the Fort the next morning. I typically don't stay in campgrounds along the way. I use Truck stops or Rest Stops because my stops are relatively short (6 hours or so). Others have stated concerns about crimes at rest stops or legal concerns as far as how long you can stay at a particular rest stop. As of yet, I have not had any issues personally with my travels. From what I have read most states (LEOs) will generally leave you alone unless they feel that you are boon-docking. If however, you are just sleeping to drive your next leg safely, it seems like they will leave you alone.

It's your choice. Many feel much safer pulling into a campground. For me, I hate to reserve a campground when I get to that point and I might have the energy to drive another 2 hours, or vice versa, I get too tired before I get to the planned stop. While the cost of the campground for 5 - 8 hours is an issue as well, it's only a small issue. If, however, you are taking a more leisurely trip, then I would recommend stopping at campgrounds and enjoying the sites on the way. (We typically don't have that much extra time).

 

[tiggerdad]

I also prefer rest areas to campgrounds when going to Disney. Like Peg110, my stops are usually short (4-6 hours). Truck stops are an option, but in the middle of the night are almost always full and those guys are trying to make a living so I feel kinda bad if I put them out of a spot there. There is a rest area in Ocala that has become my new stop / launching point. It has three parking lots, one for big rigs, one for passenger vehicles, and a 3rd for RV / trailers. It has 24 hour security. The guard was riding around when I pulled in and I told him I was going to let the girls continue sleeping in the truck with the A/C while I stretched out in the camper. He said no problem he would keep a close watch on them. It was exactly an hour from there to the gates of Fort Wilderness.

Now I know not all rest areas are this nice, but by looking ahead you can determine which ones have security, restrooms, etc. Also, be sure to note if any of them are closed for renovation as this has caused us some trouble in the past.

 

[daemom]

We will be traveling down 81 to 77 to 26 to 95 to the Beeline to WDW this trip. Our first day is 13 hours and 700 plus miles. This puts us in Walterboro, SC. We will stay there at New Green Acres, it is a nice small overnight campground right off 95.

Coming back we will be stopping in GA and in VA at Fort Chiswell, so watch the trip report for a review there.
Sure you will get many more suggestions before your trip.

We're coming from West Virginia and take this exact route. We also stop at New Green Acres. We stopped at a KOA in North Carolina on the way back--right off of the interstate. Never again. We were parked on a hillside! LOL

 

[Clifton Tesh]

I use to drive from Winston salem, NC to Youngstown to stow and back to Winston every weekend. Not exactly sure where Wadsworth is. But if you plan on stopping in NC, there's a nice little camp ground in Mt Airy (Mayberry) called Homeplace.

I've never camped there personally but I have a lot of friends who park their campers there during the summer and they love it.

ETA- I just googled fort chiswell and it's only an hour from homeplace, so you probably won't want to stop there this trip, but it might be something you'd like to do the next time around.

 

[FtW Mike]

Like you the wife and I take 3 days for trip to and from THE FORT. We like to stop at campgrounds for the night as well and try to choose campgrounds that are close to I95 for easy access.
Our 2 dogs do limit how long we can travel They seem to think that every 2 hours Daddy needs to take them for a walk. So as we prefer to arrive wile it is still daylight we look for places that are 350 to 400 miles apart. For us that means a stop in NC normally around Ft Bragg. We found Fayetteville RV Resort and campground a good option and there is Cracker Barrel 20 miles south we like to stop at for breakfast.
We tend to push it a bit on day two and go to Flamingo Lake on the western edge of Jacksonville Fla. . Day 3 is now just a 3-4 run to THE FORT

 

[mtnminnie]

bump...b/c I want to make a few notes before it gets buried.

 

[MommieMara]

We are driving from Cincinnati and planning to take 2 days to drive it. We are still pondering the where to stay question. We are leaning towards a rest stop and just leave the camper hooked up get in the camper, sleep then hit the road in the morning. Traveling with 3 kids but they are older 15, 12 and 9. Our hope is to arrive at the Fort at about check in time. Never stayed at the fort so this is an adventure lol. As for security at a rest stop, My husband always has his gun and is an Army Vet. So I feel pretty safe with him

 

[CDNCruiser]

New Green Acres at Walterboro SC is terrific, long pull-thru's under tall pines. Easy in and out, close to the Interstate and not too expensive. We stay there regularly.

At Fort Chiswell we always stay at Wytheville KOA. It's a bit off the highway, but a very nice place for an overnight stop.

 

[ruthies12]

We are driving from Cincinnati and planning to take 2 days to drive it. We are still pondering the where to stay question. We are leaning towards a rest stop and just leave the camper hooked up get in the camper, sleep then hit the road in the morning. Traveling with 3 kids but they are older 15, 12 and 9. Our hope is to arrive at the Fort at about check in time. Never stayed at the fort so this is an adventure lol. As for security at a rest stop, My husband always has his gun and is an Army Vet. So I feel pretty safe with him

Howdy neighbor! I live in NKY not far from Florence. We made the drive down to the Fort last November and it was just under 14 hours. We made it all in one day but it was a loooong day that's for sure. I assume you are going down 75, if you come up with good place to stop I'd appreciate you coming back and posting or pming me. We are doing the drive again next October and I think we may try to split it up next time.

 

[piglet1979]

We typically drive straight through from the Cleveland Area. We usually leave around 2 in the afternoon and get to Disney around 9 or 10. We do stop at rest stops when my husband gets tired at night. We usually only stay for maybe an hour and then start back up again. Certain rest stops I feel more comfortable at. Savannah is very nice and has had cops patrolling at night.

 

[PaHunter]

We are driving from Cincinnati and planning to take 2 days to drive it. We are still pondering the where to stay question. We are leaning towards a rest stop and just leave the camper hooked up get in the camper, sleep then hit the road in the morning. Traveling with 3 kids but they are older 15, 12 and 9. Our hope is to arrive at the Fort at about check in time. Never stayed at the fort so this is an adventure lol. As for security at a rest stop, My husband always has his gun and is an Army Vet. So I feel pretty safe with him

Be aware of concealed carry laws in states you are passing thru, would be bad to end up in jail because of a speeding ticket. And also be aware of Disney's no weapons policy, and this does extend to the Resorts, including the Fort. Just an FYI.

 

[hgarnes]

What part of Northeast Ohio, barbz?

I was born and raised in Akron/Summit County, also lived in Mantua/Portage County, and had family up near Chardon/Geauga County.

I camped at Salt Fork State Park this past fall near where I70/I77 cross.

You'll love camping at the Fort. Fall is a nice time there.

Bama Ed

PS - did I already ask you that? Can't remember. I know I asked somebody that recently.

Really Ed? I'm born and raised in Hartville/North Canton, Stark County. My cousin and her family have lived in Mantua the last 20 years or so.

Small World (pun intended).

Salt Fork is a great place to camp, although the last time I did it was 25+ years ago, so I'm not much help on the drive down.

Bert