Driving from Massachusetts to WDW

[AshClan]

MagicalMom's recommendation is a great site, and I got some super hotel tips from it. Also got lots of help from the DIS driving board and AAA. We decided to leave Thursday evening instead of Fri. AM so we wouldn't have to worry about rush hour in NY. We're going to Elizabeth, NJ on Thurs. nite, then to SC on Friday (I'd love to hear how long from NY to DC, too). We're checking in for one night at the AS Sports on Saturday, hopefully at about 4:00 p.m. Then to the BWV on Sunday! All the hotels I booked were recommended on the boards cited above. We are staying predominately (down and back) at Country Inn & Suites, with a Wingate Inn thrown in, as both of these chains got consistently good reviews.

Have fun, and drive safely!!

 

[AshClan]

I THINK. I just checked my "Drive I-95" book (yes, I bought that, too!), and it appears to be about 160 miles from the Tappan Zee bridge in NY to the MD border. Hope that helps!

 

[sapdaddy]

I am leaving NH on Friday the 6th in the after noon after DS gets out of school. Will stop just inside Penn for the night and be on our way early am
If you pass a Sportsman Travel Trailer being pulled by a blue avalanch wave as you go by.

 

[areno79]

I am leaving NH on Friday the 6th in the after noon after DS gets out of school. Will stop just inside Penn for the night and be on our way early am
If you pass a Sportsman Travel Trailer being pulled by a blue avalanch wave as you go by.

We'll be coming back on May 7, sapdaddy And we're neighbors...I live in Dover!

 

[Hadjii]

I am leaving NH on Friday the 6th in the after noon after DS gets out of school. Will stop just inside Penn for the night and be on our way early am
If you pass a Sportsman Travel Trailer being pulled by a blue avalanch wave as you go by.

How cool would that be? We'll be looking out for ya. Hey, if you see three crazy women driving in a gold Toyota Camry with Mass plates (you'll recognize us cuz we'll all be drinking from Dunkin Donuts cups lol) give us a yell. We'll have our lime green ribbon tied to our antenna!! - Have a safe and magical trip. - Nancy

 

[jess98ac]

We ALWAYS drove to FL from Western MA with my family when I was little and my sister and I even did it just the 2 of us a few years back. We always try to stop in Petersburg, VA, at least one way and stay at the Days Inn. Pumpkin's Restaurant is right next door...really good dinners and breakfasts especially. It became a tradition for us!!

 

[Mykelogan]

Hope that you have a blast driving down with your friends Hadjii!!

I think I fall in the middle between the drive it or fly it crew. I get claustrophobic in planes, have taken the train once to FL, and drove it in a packed rented mini-van with 4 friends two trips back. I love the speed of flying. The drive down was exciting, everything was new. The drive back was nauseating, we'd seen it all and just wanted to get home! hehe

The train though was quite the experience. FUnniest train moment came when we stopped somewhere around North Carolina at about 3am, but not at a station. I think we were waiting for another train to clear the connecting track. I was seated at the time next to my 4 year old sister. I was awoken when I felt her climb past me into the aisle. When the train stopped the doors automatically opened, so I was quick to check and see if she was just going across the aisle to my parents or headed elsewhere. Imagine my surprise when I look into the aisle and her running after a deer that had come on to the train when we stopped. I got up and grabbed her just as she neared the end of the car and the deer exited. As we went back to our seats she was rambling on about "Bambi" coming to see her. My stepmom woke up as we sat back down and asked what was going on, and my sister proceeded to tell her all about Bambi coming on the train and how Bambi wanted her to follow him. My stepmom's response, "That's nice honey, Mike don't let her wander around again" and she went back to sleep. In the morning no one would believe us that a deer actually came on the train. hehehe

Though after that train ride, we always flew! hehe

Mike

 

[kpk89]

We'll be coming back on May 7, sapdaddy And we're neighbors...I live in Dover!

Sapdaddy --- we're leaving on the 6th, too, from Deerfield!

:lol: Last year, driving to Hilton Head, we actually met some friends on the highway, and we had NO idea they were on vacation too! Just noticed their NH plate, then commented on the bumper stickers they had, then "Hey that guy looks kinda like Kevin,.." then we couldn't resist calling him on the cell phone and then we all met up for a gas/snack stop in SC!!

Anyway, to the OP -- we have found that Fayetteville or Lumberton, NC are both convenient places to stop. Lots of different choices for hotels, and right off the highway. Have a great trip!

 

[KilleriMac17]

I have done it once, my in laws do it quit often in their camper.. a weird place to stay is south of the boarder in south carolina I think. my in laws are driving down in a few weeks(I however, prefer to fly).

 

[cranbiz]

I drive frequently from SE MA to Deltona ( and Disney ) It takes between 18 and 22 hours depending on traffic and whose is with us. I drive straight thru. I normally leave between 4 and 6pm and get thru NYC with no problems and miss the headaches in DC. If I leave at 5pm I'm usually in Dillon around 8am and into Deltona by 2-3pm.

There are many reasons to drive, it's not all that bad of a drive and the break even point is about 2 people. Unless you can get great air fare, you are normally looking at about $160 pp for air and $150 / wk for a car.

We normally drive a minimum of 3 to a max of 5 people. When it's just me or DW and I then we will fly.

However, I'm driving down this Friday with DS and I'm flying back 4/26. DS starts school at AMI in Daytona Beach on the 22nd and we are driving his car down.

 

[terribm]

Why not stop and spend the night in Wilson, NC. Why? It is my home town. Wilson is south of Roanoke Rapids and Rocky Mount and north of Fayetteville and Lumberton. The 95 exit in Wilson is all new development (within the last 5 yrs or so). All the hotels and restaurants are new!! Have fun!!