Driving from Ma for the first time, some ????

[goofy4tink]

We are seriously considering driving for our next visit. Maybe even stopping in D.C. and/or Williamsburg. Do any of you, who have done this, have any advice, suggestions? If we decide not to stop and sight-see along the way, we would still be stopping for the night someplace. Do any of you have favorite spots around the half way mark for one night? We are in Central Ma, by Worcester. With only one child, who is a terrific traveler, we're hoping it won't be too stressful.

 

[Steve Hurley]

goofy4tink

We have driven down twice fron north of Boston. Both times we left at 4:00AM and drove thru to Pheasant Hill, GA (just south of Savannah) arriving about 10:00PM (18 hours). That's with 2 people sharing the drive. We had hotel reservations ahead of time. Liked this way as we got main part of trip out of way and got a good nights sleep, good breakfastand then a short drive to DW. Left GA both times around 8:30AM and arrived at CBR just before noon.

Would also suggest using AAA trip-tix if you belong.

I would recommend stopping on the way back as the trip back isn't as exciting as the way down. We stopped in Virginai Beach the second time and had a blast for 3 days. Relaxed on the beach, very clean, beautifull beach, went to Busch Gardens one day. If you stop there check out the Hilton Hotel as it is horseshoe shaped, all rooms w/ocean view, balcony and pool in middle. Great hotel.

Good Luck

 

[CamColt]

Weve done it 3 times in the past 2 years, but we go straight through.
Once it was DH & I and our 2 DSs, once it was us 4 and my mother, and just last month we did it with our neighbors following us down. I have to say the kids do very well on the ride. We have found the biggest lifesaver is the tv/vcr. That can keep them occupied for hours on end. Lots of their favorite snacks help a lot too. Plus they end up sleeping for a good 10 hours of the trip, so it really isnt too bad.
I agree with Steve, the AAA Trip Tix are a great help.
Good luck!

 

[Snowysmom]

Using the AAA trip triptik is a good idea. We followed this in July and had no problems. We left Mass at 4:00 am and got to Rocky Mount, NC around 6:00 pm. We did hit a traffic jam in Northern Virginia. We left Rocky Mount the next morning at 6:30 am but we stopped in Saint Augustine for the night because we wanted to do some sightseeing. On the way back we again stopped at Rocky Mount, NC but wished we had travelled a little further north. We left Rocky Mount at 6:30 am and got to Mass around 6:30 pm including time in a traffic jam just off the Tappan Zee Bridge. The kids had a DVD/video game player to keep them occupied so they didn't mind the trip. My older son helped with the driving and did a really good job. We had such a good trip that we want to drive on the next trip (4 years) too. We stopped every 2-3 hours for breaks but no long stops for meals, just grabbed fast food.

Candy

 

[Jynohn]

Hi there-

We're driving down from MA this December and stopping in D.C., the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, N.C. and at the World of Coke Museum in Atlanta, GA. We've done this before and it was a wonderful trip, almost like having two vacations in one! We're taking three days to drive down, and will be driving straight through on the way home.

On the last trip we drove down without stopping. It took about 22 hours from where we live, southeast of Boston. I wouldn't recommend driving straight through on the way down. We were really tired and it took us a few days to recover from the trip when we got there. On the way home is a different story...

My husband and I stopped in Colonial Williamsburg one year on our way down, and he really loved it! He wanted to stop again this year but we didn't know what the interest level would be with our two kids (11 and 3). I don't know how old your child is, but if you think he would be interested, it's a great day trip!

Have fun...

 

[goofy4tink]

Thanks everyone. My dd is 9 so there seem to be a lot of things she would enjoy doing en route. Looks like we'll travel all of one day down, sleep and continue to WDW. On the way back we'll stop in Williamsburg and D.C. I'm really looking forward to trying this. With my dh and I both driving it shouldn't be so bad.