Drive from NE PA

[DVC Lifer]

DW and 2 DSs are driving down on 10/18 for 12 wonderful days. It's our 16th time down and 4th with our 5 & 2 year old. This year I'm considering renting a GPS. Knock on wood, we've never had any problem but I'm thinking for the price ($120 for 2 weeks) it may be worth it to find an alternate route should we hit a long traffic delay on I-95 or elsewhere. Those who have driven a long distance know how much we rely on getting there when we hope. Has anyone rented a GPS and found it to be worth it? If so, can you share where you got it from? Thanks!

 

[Avalanche]

A few years ago a 18 wheeler flipped on I-95. They were able to get the truck off quickly but took three hours to get his load, that had spilled all over, off of the road. We could have gone to 301, BUT... we were at a dead stop and couldn't even get to the next exit, even though we could see it. Because where we were we couldn't cross the median to turn around, like the many cars behind us. Even though we knew where to go, it didn't do us any good.

I don't think spending the money on a GPS is worth it. Buy a good map book.

Luckily, we have drove to FL at least 50 times and this was the only time we had a problem on I-95. You want to talk traffic problems, PA turnpike, but that's a different story.

 

[diswedwish]

"You want to talk traffic problems, PA turnpike, but that's a different story."

 

[LegoMom3]

You can avoid 95 altogether (and the headaches of DC metro) by taking I-81 right down through Harrisburg and almost to NC! In southern VA you drop down onto I-77 to Columbia, SC, then I-26 back out to 95, not far from GA. We take that route and we're coming all the way from NH. We used to swing over through NY and PA to Harrisburg, then take 83 to Baltimore and I-95, but you still get all the DC traffic. We tried this new route last year and it was GREAT. And it's only 27 miles more than taking 95 all the way from Baltimore - well worth it!

 

[lovethattink]

You can avoid 95 altogether (and the headaches of DC metro) by taking I-81 right down through Harrisburg and almost to NC! In southern VA you drop down onto I-77 to Columbia, SC, then I-26 back out to 95, not far from GA. We take that route and we're coming all the way from NH. We used to swing over through NY and PA to Harrisburg, then take 83 to Baltimore and I-95, but you still get all the DC traffic. We tried this new route last year and it was GREAT. And it's only 27 miles more than taking 95 all the way from Baltimore - well worth it!

That is sort of how we go up north. We take I-4 to I-95. In hopewell, VA we get off 95 and take 2 different roads, until we get on 30 then the pa turnpike. I will have to go check my directions.

 

[NJOYURLIFE]

DVC Lifer,
We drove in August from Wilkes Barre. On the way down, we took 81 most of the way. The problems we ran into taking that route was that we left at 2:00 in the afternoon and ended up driving in the dark on very hilly and very foggy roads. We took I95 home and you could definately tell the difference in traffic. We wished we had taken the 81 route. We usually take 81 to somewhere at the top of VA (I think its 66) and then cut over to 95 through all that horse country. This is how we came home. I can pull the trip tiks out for specific info if you'd like.

Your 5 year old should meet my 5 year old. She has also been to Disney 4 times in her young life.

 

[BankBunny]

If you belong to AAA you can ask them for a TRipTik that avoids some or all of 95. We drove down in Nov. 2003 (from Easton, PA) and didn't pick up 95 until below Washington DC. I really couldn't tell you how we went, I'm really bad with directions --That's what I have my DH for. There was traffic backed up at one point, but we were able to get around it with the maps that AAA provided. They highlight your entire route for you.