Driving from Mass (Driving through the night? Good idea?)

[clarkgriswold]

We're heading south this summer. I've read some posts here over the past couple of years extolling the virtues of leaving the Northeast in the early evening, and driving through the night to avoid most all rush hour traffic in the I-95 corridor.

Anyone have first hand expereince? Would you do it that way again?

Many thanks,

 

[Bill From PA]

I drive the family from north east PA to Myrtle Beach SC in one 11 + hour haul. Sometimes we'll leave about 6 pm and get there early morning, last year we left just before midnight and arrived before noon. I've driven home in the daylight and the difference in traffic is huge, much better to go at night. Be aware though that even in the wee hours of the night/morning I95 from Phila. to south of Richmond is a solid stream of 70 + mph traffic. If you're foolish enough to actually obey the speed limit, you'll be holding up traffic. There's still plenty of while-knuckle driving. I495, the DC loop, is particularly intense at times.



Bill From PA

 

[toystorymom]

We're driving from MA this summer too and have decided not to do it straight through. We just don't want to be completely exhausted when we arrive at Disney. We also have 3 kids in the car and I think they will definitely need the break. Our plan is to leave during the night and do the bulk of the driving on the first day, hopefully getting to SC. Then we would leave the SC hotel in the very early AM to be at WDW by lunch. At least that is the plan, who knows what will really happen.

Our major travel day is a Sunday, so I'm hoping that will mean less traffic. Anyone comment on that?

 

[clarkgriswold]

Sunday should be a better day. The only real traffic issues, from my expereince have been on the Northern half of the trip. Once you get SOuth of Richmond, you pretty much OK regardless of day or time.

One question for all the "nigfht drivers:" How do you stay awake?

 

[Bill From PA]

Regarding staying awake, in years past I had a stressful job and would take Friday off and sleep in, then catch a nap in the after noon. This worked fine. Last year I changed jobs from the private sector to a small college in rural PA which is VERY laid back. Last June I put in a full day, caught a brief nap and hit the road just before midnight. That's the plan for this year. Your body will 'power down' about 2:30 am or so regardless if how rested you are. You'll actually feel colder. I used to drive a full sized Ford Bronco with a huge gas tank and I'd make it into N. Carolina before having to gas up. This was usually at my low point so I'd stop for gas and coffee and be ok. If you can get over the counter ephedrine that might help, but I use it as a last resort as it tends to make me vibrate in place.


Bill From PA

 

[MinnieMe2]

We've driven down from MA a few times with our four kids. We usually rested from about 5:00 to 10:00 p.m. (Our kids, by the way were older, teens and pre-teens). Then it was up and at 'em! We'd leave our house in Central MA by 11:00 or so, and by the time daybreak rolled around we were in good shape, having gotten thru NYC and the DC area before rush-hour traffic. We'd pull over for breakfast and a nice stretch, drive some more and stop around 3:30, wherever we happened to be. The kids could have a nice, relaxing swim, we'd have dinner, watch a little t.v., and go to sleep. The next day involved a lot more driving, but the further south you go, the less heavy traffic you hit. We brought a cooler with lunch, cold drinks, and snacks, too. We like to spread the drive over a couple of days, for our sake as much as the kids'. A couple of times we left around 2:00 a.m., and our breakfast stop was the National Zoo in Washington....

 

[MinnieMe2]

We've driven down from MA a few times with our four kids. We usually rested from about 5:00 to 10:00 p.m. (Our kids, by the way were older, teens and pre-teens). Then it was up and at 'em! We'd leave our house in Central MA by 11:00 or so, and by the time daybreak rolled around we were in good shape, having gotten thru NYC and the DC area before rush-hour traffic. We'd pull over for breakfast and a nice stretch, drive some more and stop around 3:30, wherever we happened to be. The kids could have a nice, relaxing swim, we'd have dinner, watch a little t.v., and go to sleep. The next day involved a lot more driving, but the further south you go, the less heavy traffic you hit. We brought a cooler with lunch, cold drinks, and snacks, too. We like to spread the drive over a couple of days, for our sake as much as the kids'. A couple of times we left around 2:00 a.m., and our breakfast stop was the National Zoo in Washington....

 

[JohnnyOldBoy]

The secret to staying alert at night is pistachio nuts. When starting to feel drowsy, grab a few. The effort required to crack them open keeps the brain from going numb. Sounds crazy but it works!

 

[jenny2]

We've driven from Mass several times and the last 2 times drove straight through. We usually leave around dinner time, switching on and off through the night as needed. The nice thing about leaving Mass in the evening and starting your drive in the night is a) you're still excited about driving to FL so the trip is new... helps keep you awake b) the roads in the NE are varied and better lit than when you get to the southern states and most important c) just when you're starting to get tired, the sun comes up! (which again, helps keep you awake) Once you hit Virginia the roads are relatively flat and dark. One time when we left Mass around lunch time I remember driving through Virginia at around 11pm. The road had absolutely no variation to it... just straight and dark. I couldn't stay awake and had to pull into a rest area to sleep!

So... I'd highly recommend leaving in the afternoon/evening (if you're planning on driving straight through).

 

[snugglebug]

We've driven from Maine straight through to Atlanta several times on our way to Houston. Dh and I switch off about every 2-3 hours. Have lots of snacks handy and a coke or two. Opening your window just a little helps as well. I love driving at night, it so much less hectic, the kids are sleeping and not fighting and the truckers are actually pretty nice then too.

 

[msdis]

Last I knew it was pulled from the otc market. It had some serious side effects which need to be monitored by an MD, and the drug seeking market had found a new use for this product so it was pulled. But you can still get no-doze (caffeine) and vivarin (caffeine). Also they say apples have a better pick me up than caffeine. I suppose the sugar and carbs.

 

[Uncleromulus]

I think you'll be fine. You just want to avoid DC anytime nearmorning or evening rush hour.
Also note that DC on Sat and Sunday (during the popular drive times) at the "mixing bowl" is just as horrendous as any weekday. Tons of "I-95" traveler's trying desperately to get into the correct lanes, etc etc--a real mess. Once saw a 12 mile backup there at 4:00 on a Sunday afternoon--and there was NO accident..

 

[momm2four]

Just a word of caution from a "wet blanket". Please make sure to get plenty of sleep the day you drive. I was driving from eastern NC to Southeast TN (about a 10 hr drive), and I decided to just drive all night. BIG MISTAKE b/c I hadn't slept well the night before and took no naps the day we left. Well, about 1:30 AM, I became sooo sleepy. I did everything I could to stay awake...I was stopping the car on the side of the interstate and getting out to walk around a few seconds, I rolled down the window (in late Nov), listened to music, drank coffee, ate...everything. However, at 3:30, my brain decided I had been awake long enough b/c the next thing I remember was waking up finding myself driving down the median of the interstate. I would have been fine probably, and could have eventually slowed down and stopped there in the grass, but I hit a concrete culvert there in the median. So I'm stranded in Statesville, NC at 3:30 in the AM. Exactly halfway between my mom's house and my house in CHattanooga. This was sooo miserable, although I'm grateful to still be here to tell the story.

Sorry to be a downer, but I think that sometimes if your brain/body decides it's sleep time, there's not much you can do to stop it.

Lori P.

 

[clarkgriswold]

Well now, There's a SOBERING thought, if I ever heard one.

 

[jenny2]

Of course it should go without saying that if you're that tired that getting out of your car and walking around doesn't wake you up, STOP AND SLEEP! There comes a point where no matter what you do, or what you're doing, you're body is going to shut down. When I drive long distances and I get to the point where stopping the car, getting out and walking around only revives me for 1/2 hour before I feel like I need to stop again I know my shutting down point is approaching and we'll stop to sleep. Even a nap for a couple of hours will do you wonders.

Be careful out there!!

 

[MeanLaureen]

Clark... dude... didn't you learn anything from your trip to WallyWorld???

 

[clarkgriswold]

I know we made great time, but most of that trip is still just a blur.