driving from hamilton

[ticats2008]

Hey everyone planning for the end of April every map I google says to take the qew-190-90-79-26-95-14 route,Ive noticed that some of you toss in the 290? is there something im overlooking or is this just a personal preference just like some take I75 instead.Also Im thinking of doind a marathon the first day somewhere around rock hill SC is this too much with 3 kids under 7.............Thanks

 

[disneyfan2]

i haven't done the searches yet, but we are planning to go across the peace bridge, but when i put the maps in, it only gives me the options across the queenston which i don't want. Does anyone know how to use google with alternate directions, in this case Peace bridge, instead of Queenston/Lewiston

 

[Ham Ham]

Hey everyone planning for the end of April every map I google says to take the qew-190-90-79-26-95-14 route,Ive noticed that some of you toss in the 290? is there something im overlooking or is this just a personal preference just like some take I75 instead.Also Im thinking of doind a marathon the first day somewhere around rock hill SC is this too much with 3 kids under 7.............Thanks

You only use I-290 if you cross at the Queenston/Lewiston bridge or at Niarara Falls Rainbow Bridge, North of Buffalo and South of Grand Isalnd

Interstate numbering convention.
Ends in even number- East/West Route
Ends in odd Number- North/South Route

Lower number start in the south and increase as you go north for east west routes.I-10 Southern US. I-90 Northern US
Lower numbers start in the west and increase as you go head east for north/south routes. I-5 West Coast. I-95 East Coast

3 digit number that starts with an odd number 1XX spur that leads into the city.
3 digit number stars with an even number 2XX by pass or ring roads.

i haven't done the searches yet, but we are planning to go across the peace bridge, but when i put the maps in, it only gives me the options across the queenston which i don't want. Does anyone know how to use google with alternate directions, in this case Peace bridge, instead of Queenston/Lewiston

Here you go.

http://maps.google.com/maps?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hl=en&tab=wl

 

[disneyfan2]

Ham Ham, you are awesome!

 

[eeyoremum]

I have never driven to Florida but have done Hamilton to Winnipeg, which is roughly the same distance. We marathoned it with 2 kids 5 and 10. We bought a little tv/vcr unit and told them we could get there quickly or slowly it depended on them and their behaviour. They did great we were in about 24 hours almost straight driving.

We are planning to drive to WDW next time we go and will do the same thing. Pack snacks and movies and just take turn driving/sleeping.

Good luck.

 

[Ham Ham]

Ham Ham, you are awesome!

Please let my DW know.

Thanks for the kind words.

 

[iluveeyore]

We drive this route every time we drive down, and will be doing it again this May-June. We always drive for 12 hours and end up in Charlotte, NC for the night. This trip we have added incentive to stop since we are going to the Coca Cola 600 Nascar race at Lowe's on the way down. Will leave about 9 hours to get to Disney.
Best tip is to leave at night (around midnight) if you are able to have a nap and share driving with your spouse. This is the best way to make it a short trip for the kids as they are sleeping for the first 7 or 8 hours - puts you in North Carolina by noon.
Use all the Welcome centers and rest stops every couple of hours - kids fare much better if they can get out and run around for a few minutes.
Have a great time!

 

[dancin Disney style]

I've done many-a-road trip with small kids. We always have tried to get as much driving done as possible while they slept. My kids are now 18 and 9 so it's not such a big deal. I'm worse in the car than they are.

Last summer we drove to WDW and left home around 3:15am. My DH went to bed at 9pm while I finished tying up the loose ends. I got him up at 3am and he put the cooler in the car then we woke the kids and hit the road. I stayed awake until I got him on the Interstate heading for Erie, PA. I then got about 4 hours sleep and we drove until around 9:30pm. We stopped an hour north of Savannah, GA. We had hoped to make it to Savannah, which we would have but it was a Friday and we got stuck in the afternoon rush hour. The next day we only had 6 hours left to drive.

We might do the drive again this year. If we do, we will follow the same plan. I don't think I can survive it any other way. DH would drive straight through if I would let him but I just don't think it's worth it from a safety point of view.

 

[ticats2008]

the 600 cool,im looking forward to the bud shootout staurday go Jr!!!

 

[SherryG]

We did this drive in November and left our house at 4:00 am (near Oakville) & stopped that night at 6:30 pm in Rock Hill, SC. (with our 6 & 8 yr. old's) It was a long day but made the next day that much shorter. (only 8 hours!) Use a DVD player and take lots of snacks!! Have fun!

 

[Hug the Mouse]

Rock Hill is a good point to aim for 1st day. You are past Charlotte so you don't have to worry about morning rush. Leaves a manageable 8 hour drive for day 2.

We stayed at the Super 8 in Rock Hill. Cheap, clean and safe, free breakfast.

 

[A&CsMom]

We are from the Hamilton area and have done that route 3 times with our children, first time they were almost 3 and 6.

We were going to drive down this year and I had chosen Rock Hill, S.C. as our stopping spot on the first night. I checked tripadvisor and booked the Hilton Garden Inn right off the I77. We have made it to Charlotte before but couldn't get a hotel room, so I knew we could do it. I always book our stopover rooms ahead of time now, because we travel on the weekends and there always seems to be some big basketball tournament or something booking up all the rooms.

On the way back we book the Country Inn & Suites in Beckley, WV. It is an easy drive home from there, we usually leave between 6-7 am and get home before 5 pm.

Like a pp said, have a DVD player and we usually buy/borrow movies the kids haven't seen yet but want to see to make it more interesting, plus bring some of their favourites. We also got (at the Disney store) these lap desk things and we buy those Crayola twistables crayons and bring lots of plain paper and some colouring books. Finally, we also bring some Disney music for a singalong. We find stopping for washroom breaks at the rest areas are faster, because its easy on, easy off, and the rule is everyone has to try when we stop.