Driving from CT???

[megnsamsgrace]

My ebay business I started took off so we have the money to fly if we wanted (6 of us, baby being 2m). But DH said he would like to take 3w vacation (he has 2 1/2 weeks paid, the other 3 days unpaid but not a big deal). We have a condo booked for 10-3 until 10-17 at $475 for the full 2 weeks. Well DH wants to drive down. Now, with the baby nursing we have to stop every 2-3 hours and we are okay with that (our other kids are 6, 4, and 2) and we plan on buying the tv/vcr for the van. We will break it down into 2 days driving, taking turns along the way. If we are driving, I want to stop in VA to meet one of my closest internet friends (of almost 2 years from a baby playgoup)... she is in Richmond. How far of a drive is it from there to Orlando? We wanted to do halfway but if I am going right through I would love to finally get to meet her! Now, which is going to be the best way to go? I am assuming there will still be lots of construction come October? I am great with a map/directions so going 95 or another way isn't much different to me. We plan to stop as the kids need (food, rest, potty and for gas). Since we have a full 3 weeks the travel time isnt as important as a semi relaxing drive. Any tips is greatly appreciated!! ~Steph

 

[Rpsemont]

We have driven to Richmond twice from Western MA. It's about 10 hours with minimal stops. YOu will probably get lots of advice on how to go. The first time, we went straight down I-95. We ended up backed up in stop and go traffic in New jersey for about 1.5 hours. However, we didn't have too much trouble around DC, which alot of people have said can be equally problematic. The second time we drove I-84 to Scranton, to I-81 south to I-66 East (just south of Winchester VA) to 17 South and you join I-95 in Fredericksburg. It was a very easy drive for us. Minimal traffic, minimal trucks, DH loved it. In reality, it probably took about the same amount of time as the other way, but at least we were moving all the time. I don't know how long it take to get from Richmond to Orlando. - Never went that far.

 

[ToyStory Fan]

Driving from White Plains, NY we did Richmond in about 5 1/2 hours...WDW about 13 hours later. (Back in my younger days my BIL and I did it in just a tick over 5 hours on a spring break trip to Ft. Lauderdale)

If you are going to stop every 2-3 hours for about 20-30 min you'll add about 1 hour on the front end to Richmond (plus the time from wherever you are in CT to White Plains), and about 3 hours on the 2nd leg. 16 hours is a long stretch, you may want to think about a stop near Hilton Head. We have done both the straight drive at 18 1/2 hours, and the stopover in Hilton Head which adds about 1 hour (1/2 hour to get to WDW HHI resort from I-95).