Disers from SC

[luvdisney00]

I live in NJ but will be driving to WDW from Greenville SC where we will be visiting family. When I first planned this trip, a TA from AAA (who I didn't end up using) told me it was "about 6 hrs" and it was stupid of me not to check into this info until now (leaving in 2 weeks) but according to mapquest it's 8.5 hrs. which throws off my plans a bit. Somehow that extra 2.5 hrs seems to make the drive sooooo much longer!!!! Anyway, the milage is what it is, I can't change that, but my questions for anyone who drives from this area is what route do you take? How long does it actually take? and also are there any areas of the drive that can present traffic problems that we need to anticipate? We will be driving on a Sat. and plan to leave Greenville around 6am. Is it reasonable to expect to get to POR around 3:30 if we keep stops to a minimum?

Thank you in advance!

 

[GranddadTom]

We did almost the same trip as you early in July. Left Charlotte around 10 am on a Saturday. You'll be coming down Rt. 26 which we joined in Columbia. We both had about the same distance to get to Columbia. We had absolutely no traffic problems. I thought Rt 26 might be a problem with traffic heading to their beaches but that was not the case. We drove pretty hard - quick stops for gas and in-and-out at McDonalds - and it took us just about 8 hours. Compared to driving in the northeast, this was an easy 8 hour drive.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

The route is fairly simple. I-26 over to I-95, and then straight on down to I-4 in Daytona. You'll probably get it done in about 8 hours, maybe less. Just be aware of possible traffic delays in Jacksonville depending on what time of day you are passing through.

 

[Sanchez]

Not sure where you start in Greenville but I estimated 150 miles on I 26 to I 95:

I-385/I-26 150 est
I-95 (SC) 86
I-95 (GA) 113
I-95 (FL) 123
I-4 W (to Exit 68) 64

TOTAL 536 miles

You are leaving on a Saturday so you will avoid significant traffic problems around Jacksonville and Orlando. I 26 gets busy on Saturday mornings due to Charleston traffic so leave early. There is some construction in GA between miles 60 and 30 on I 95 but it is mostly cleared up. The speed limit for most of the trip is 70 mph - slows a bit through GA construction areas, Columbia, Jax and Orlando. If you average 70 mph (easily doable) your drive time is about 7:40. Add 30 minutes for stops and you should arrive by 2:15.

 

[luvdisney00]

Not sure where you start in Greenville but I estimated 150 miles on I 26 to I 95:

I-385/I-26 150 est
I-95 (SC) 86
I-95 (GA) 113
I-95 (FL) 123
I-4 W (to Exit 68) 64

TOTAL 536 miles

You are leaving on a Saturday so you will avoid significant traffic problems around Jacksonville and Orlando. I 26 gets busy on Saturday mornings due to Charleston traffic so leave early. There is some construction in GA between miles 60 and 30 on I 95 but it is mostly cleared up. The speed limit for most of the trip is 70 mph - slows a bit through GA construction areas, Columbia, Jax and Orlando. If you average 70 mph (easily doable) your drive time is about 7:40. Add 30 minutes for stops and you should arrive by 2:15.

Thanks! We are actually leaving from Simpsonvile, but that should be close enough. On the drive home We are leaving Orlando (Epcot actually) around dinner time and driving back to Simpsonville, but we are thinking if we are tired we may stop about halfway. I was thinking of Brunswick GA, there seem to be a lot of chain hotels there fairly close to 95. Any other suggestions? I want clean and relatively inexpensive to just sleep and get up and out to finish the drive Sat. morning.

Appreciate any suggestions

 

[Sanchez]

Brunswick is about 3.5 hours from Orlando and seems to have a number of hotel options. Savannah (about 4.5 hours from Orlando) is the next major population area. Unfortunately, I do not have any personal experiences with hotels along I 95 in those areas.

Have a good trip.