driving from Jersey - overnight question

[kimbac3]

We will be driving down in Dec 05 - leaving on 12/4. My question is has anyone else done the drive this time of year and if so did you make reservations for your stop over night? I've been hearing bad things about South Carolina hotels so I'd like to make it to Georgia,but I'm not sure how far into Georgia we will get. Anyone have any tips or suggestions?
Thanks,
Kimba

 

[Kim&Chris]

Hi to a fellow South Jersey resident!

We drove to Disney from South Jersey in the beginning of December, back in 2002.

I did ALOT of research before chosing a place to stay overnight, and finally chose the Clarion Inn & Suites, off of exit 94 in Savannah, GA.

It was very clean, appeared to be somewhat new, had an indoor pool, and you could not reach any rooms via the outside (entire hotel had indoor corridors), and each standard room had two queen beds. I was very pleased with my choice.

I would highly recommend this place to anyone making the drive to WDW!

 

[Kim&Chris]

By the way, we reached Savannah in about 12 hours. We would have made better time, but there was extensive waits near Washington DC which put us about 1 1/2 hours behind.

 

[melanie18]

While we haven't driven in Dec, we have done the drive in Jan & Feb. My vote is to stay in Savannah, GA. It's about a 12 hr drive (we live in central NJ).

It was a good stopping point because the next day's drive was not bad at all.

 

[ducklite]

We have tried two places and been happy with both. Both Hampton Inns, one Richmond Hill, GA, the other Fayetteville--Civic Center location.

Anne

 

[Uncleromulus]

To all of which I'd just add that you SHOULD make a reservation.

 

[jel0511]

We also drive from Central NJ and stop in Savannah, GA. We ALWAYS have a reservation, and I've seen MANY families with little kids turned away late at night. We usually leave our house around 3:30AM and depending on traffic make it to Savannah between 4:30 and 6:00. We make 2 one hour stops, one for breakfast and one for dinner, we also fill up at these times.

 

[mickeymousefan]

We left at 8:00 pm on Dec 3rd last year. It was very cold and rainy through the northern states and chilly even into south carolina. We drove straight through which was a big mistake because 1) DH and I were too excited to get any sleep that afternoon and by 2 or 3 am DH had to stop at every rest area to get out and walk around to avoid falling asleep and 2) we have 2 little girls, ages 20 months and almost 3 at the time, who did not sleep through the ride and were fidgety, crying etc. This trip we will leave at 3 or 4 am Jan 1st and stop at the last exit in GA.

We did come to a very nice rest area in northern Fla were we changed into shorts and freshened up. The temp was only about low 70's but a lot nicer than southern NJ.

Its a long ride. Keep plenty of snacks and entertainment handy!!!

 

[DeeCeeSW]

If you are willing to drive just a little further than Savannah (about 20-30 more minutes), the Hampton Inn in Darien, GA, is quite nice. The hotel has an interior corridor and the staff is very accomodating. If by some chance you belong to Hilton Honors, this hotel is only 10,000 points for one night.

 

[sssteele]

Don't know the exit # but we had a horrible experience at a Comfort Inn just off I-95 exit for Savannah. We had stayed twice before at the Comfort Inn in Darien, but waited too long to get a ressie. The one in Darien is very nice, but avoid the one in Savannah. Another poster mentioned it as well. They refused to stay, and drove straight through instead.

 

[kimbac3]

I will make reservation for a hotel in Georgia (not sure where - I get a 20% discount at Choice hotels, so I'll be looking for them).

My next question is about the drive back...where do you end up at night? I'm think Virginia. Am I over-estimating how far we'll get?

I'm guessing we will leave around 9:00 - no rush to go home.

Also- has anyone been to the Chick Fil A in South Carolina - I believe near Florence? Any other suggestions for a quick dinner?

Thanks,
Kimba

 

[MinnieGi]

We're from DE and also drive to Savannah exit 94. We always make a reservation at the Hampton Inn. Definelty make a reservation as most of the hotels around the Savannah exits are booked.

Is Quality Inn a part of Choice? I'm thinking it is and they have one at exit 94 but I wouldn't stay there again. We stayed there on our first driving trip down when we were not sure of how far we would get. The Quality Inn was the only hotel with rooms left (so that should tell you something right there). From now on we always make a reservation at the Hampton Inn.

As far as driving back - we always drive straight through. By the time we get to VA we can almost "feel" home and are anxious to get there!! But since you have a little further than us I would say anthing at the top of NC into VA would be a great first days drive and make a short second day.

 

[jel0511]

Originally posted by kimbac3
I will make reservation for a hotel in Georgia (not sure where - I get a 20% discount at Choice hotels, so I'll be looking for them).

My next question is about the drive back...where do you end up at night? I'm think Virginia. Am I over-estimating how far we'll get?

I'm guessing we will leave around 9:00 - no rush to go home.

Also- has anyone been to the Chick Fil A in South Carolina - I believe near Florence? Any other suggestions for a quick dinner?

Thanks,
Kimba

We left WDW at 8:30 and reached our planned stop for the night at 6:30. We stopped at exit 121 in NC, Wilson. We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express, and it was nice. You have to remember that you don't want to get too close to DC, or you'll either have to get up and through DC before 7AM, or hit DC after 10AM. So, we stop in Wilson, about an hour from the VA boarder. This way, we get up around 6 or so, eat breakfast at the hotel, and are on the road between 7 and 7:30, depending on how fast we move. That way, we hit DC around 10:30, and there is low traffic. You have to plan around DC both ways!!!!!

 

[Harley-Mouse]

We just drove to hilton head island Disney resort. from Bayonne NJ exit 14 A. The ride down should take 13 hr in all so we stoped in Florence SC hit trafic all the way took 14 hr to get to Florence we left at 7:30 am on a Sat . The next day was a brezz. I would try to make Ga at least Drive at night when the kids go to sleep say 10:00 pm My brother did this to HHI and made the trip in 12hr. Also on the way home we had no room booked when we stoped in NC last 20 miles or so before VA we coudn"t get a room had to drive in to Va somthing like Empora Va not shore abot 6 exits in. Driving to Disney in Feb so let us now how you did I hope to drive all night and get a room in GA for the short trip to Disney the next day.