Driving from Canada: Must stops along the way..??

[domesticdiva]

I think we are planning to drive down to WDW on our next trip. What would be the suggested route to drive and where would be the most beautiful places for us to spend a night along the way? We haven't had the pleasure of seein much of America and would love to make the most of our trip down, any suggestions?
TIA

 

[Disney Ontario]

Hi. I would first go buy the I-75 book buy Dave Hunter. he gives millions of tips and neat places to stop on the way. On the way home this past March 1,I HAD to stop in Kentuky, just to see if thier KFC chicken taste any different. Well- nope it didn't. But in the states KFC has alot of choices of side dishes.

 

[A&CsMom]

I would recommend a different way, especially if you are not driving in the winter. We take the QEW Niagara to the end, cross into the US at the Peace Bridge, then I190, I90, I79, US19, I77, I26, I95, I4 into Orlando area. We have a TripTik for this from CAA, and also this route comes up on MapQuest it you put in Toronto to Orlando. It is the shortest timewise (22 hours as opposed to about 24/25 on I75) plus it has beautiful scenery, and best of all, it is not very busy traffic wise (at least when we've done it). I75 is probably the easiest way because once you cross at Windsor/Detroit you stay on the same highway until near Orlando, but it is very busy and congested and goes through some major cities. My co-worker just got back and decided to use I75 for a change because it was still March, and she said never again, it was crazy.

The mountains in and around Beckley, WV, are beautiful and that would be a nice place to stay. Also, you go through Pittsburgh, PA on that route and that area looks interesting. That route also goes through Savannah, Georgia, and that it another interesting area with lots of things to see.

Good luck with your planning!

 

[thejollyfinn]

Do you have a CAA membership? They can assist you on a good travelling schedule. I've used them for other road trips in the past and have found them worth while.

It also depends on where in Canada you're leaving from. For us, we could hop over the Ambassador bridge here in Windsor and take the 1-75 from Detroit stright down to Orlando. A&CsMom is right though. Depending on the time of year, the I-75 can be very congested in areas. (and I found Ohio to be the king state of all speed traps). Yet once you get between Kentucky and Georgia, you'll find some really nice areas to stop and taste "south-of-our-border" cooking, the beautiful Appalachian mountains and some very friendly folk.

Through the Appalachians, you have some great sunsets to take some very vibrant photography. (heck, the pictures I took when I was 13 turned out well!)

Have fun!

 

[Hockeychic]

I didn't know there was anothing between Toronto and WDW Just kidding.

I agree with A&C mom. We usually leave after work and it gets us to US19 around 11 - 12 PM and we stop somewhere in Summersville there are a few hotels and lots of gas stations. Just do not speed on US 19. Apparently they target Ontario plates but we have never had a problem.

Have a great trip

Kim

 

[Mortlives]

Cross at the Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls. It's the prettiest, IMHO. We normally stop in Fort Erie, and then somewhere around South Carolina going down, and Summersville coming back.

 

[balatonbabe]

Do you have a CAA membership? They can assist you on a good travelling schedule. I've used them for other road trips in the past and have found them worth while.
QUOTE]

You can ask CAA for a trip tic, which is a booklet outlining driving distances (so you know when to stop for gas), CAA/AAA hotels along the way, and you can ask for CAA travel guides to browse for sightseeing stuff. Highly recommend it - and with a membership it's free!

 

[domesticdiva]

Do you have a CAA membership? They can assist you on a good travelling schedule. I've used them for other road trips in the past and have found them worth while.
QUOTE]

You can ask CAA for a trip tic, which is a booklet outlining driving distances (so you know when to stop for gas), CAA/AAA hotels along the way, and you can ask for CAA travel guides to browse for sightseeing stuff. Highly recommend it - and with a membership it's free!

I am not a member of CAA, is it possible to get the book and planners without being a member?

 

[candizfan]

Ask a friend to print the trip tik off the internet for you using their account.

 

[Mortlives]

My CAA membership pays for itself several times over every year. I don't know of any hotel chains that don't offer CAA discount, so that will defray your stopovers there and back. There's also discounts available on resorts at WDW.

Also it will give you 10% off almost everything at Universal, if you decide to wander over there (restaurants, shopping, resorts).

It also gives you the security of knowing you have roadside assistance should you need it.

I really think it's worth it.

 

[OntFamily]

Watch yourself driving through Georgia. A university student from Carleton wound up in jail for going through a stop sign:

http://autos.canada.com/news/story.html?id=aab758c0-96f4-4af0-adae-ba919b136dbe

 

[PrincessTrisha]

Just as an FYI,

I got my trip tix from CAA for the non 1-75 route and they gave a little insert stating that they no longer recommend taking US19 because of the ticketing. What they suggested added another 75 km though, so I'm iffy about which to do.

 

[Hockeychic]

They have recommended that for years. We have driven to Disney 3 times and never had a problem on US 19. Only suggestion I would give is not to go 1KM or mile...ooppss over the speed limit. Apparetly they target those Ontario plates speeding through. We have never had a problem, actually never even since a state trooper or anything.

It is a great place to stop for the night, quite a few hotels, restaurants and gas stations. When we drive....we prefer to fly now....we spend the night on the way down in Summersville.

Kim

 

[Mortlives]

Watch yourself driving through Georgia. A university student from Carleton wound up in jail for going through a stop sign:

http://autos.canada.com/news/story.html?id=aab758c0-96f4-4af0-adae-ba919b136dbe

Another reason to get CAA. According to my docs, posting the bond for you is one of the services you get.

 

[bgula]

Another option - from Toronto just drive straight thru. If traffic is OK, you should get there in a little over 20 hours. Switch every fillup with the wife and you save the cost of lodging. We like to leave about 2am which would get us into WDW at ~9 or 10pm. I find that if you have nothing to look forward to on the first day of driving (if you split driving over 2 days), it can get very frustrating. It's nice to think that when the driving day is done, you'll be at WDW!

Should also say, never have had a problem on the 19 either - just keep it at the speed limit.

 

[nosnobunny2006]

I am not a member of CAA, is it possible to get the book and planners without being a member?

You can also plan your route using Google maps and the best part is that it's fee. It will give you the route but you'll have to do your own research in points of interest along the way. There are lots of them. Personally I don't worry about US 19 and have driven it many times. As long as you obey the law and keep your speed down, you won't have any problems. Same thing goes for Georgia.

Beth

 

[Thumper_ehhhhh]

Just as an FYI,

I got my trip tix from CAA for the non 1-75 route and they gave a little insert stating that they no longer recommend taking US19 because of the ticketing. What they suggested added another 75 km though, so I'm iffy about which to do.

Go us19 route and go 5 mph under the posted speed limit through summersville. That will compensate for any differences in your speedo. We always go that way and knock on wood never a problem.

Oh and to answer the original question. We go the senic route. I90, I79, us19,I77,I26, I95 then I4. We leave around 3 am and stop for breakfast lunch and dinner. We end up the first night in Walterboro South Carolina. Well thats the aplan this time anyway. It's a long haul the first day but there are many hotels there. We then will pull into Daytona beach around lunch the next day. This will give us a afternoon to rest on the beach so the next day we can be at disney first thing to check in and head to the parks. If the rooms not ready thats ok they will still give you your passes. That is if your on property.

 

[sympatico]

We drove from NS so I don't know your route from Toronto but when we came back we took the scenic routes through Virginia and Penn. We did stop at the Luray Caverns in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and it was worth it. It's an amazing place. http://www.luraycaverns.com/
Also made stops at Hershey and Lancaster, Pa.