Driving from Massachusetts

[IdriveI95]

Hi everyone. . .this is my first post. . .we've driven to Orlando from New Hampshire at least 10 times. . .Our expenses from the last trip included
$215.00Gas w/ 11 stops and 1 car wash
approx 120.00 2 nights Hotel, Residence Inn, Rocky
Mount, NC. $55.00 per nite + tax

200.00 Food for family of 5, 4 days in car,
down and back
approx 30.00 Tolls - We used the Fast Lane/EZ pass
saved us time!

Total 565.00

We left at 5 am on a Wednesday morning and went thru NYC about 8:30, thru D.C. around 1:30, and arrived at Rocky Mount NC around 6pm. This was 2 days after the President's Day storm so we did hit a few delays. The second day we left at 5 am and arrived at HIFS around 2:45. Hope this helps!

 

[goofyforwdw]

We are from Melrose and for the last 2 years have flown but when the kids were small and money was tight we drove down many times. We had a conversion van and that made all the difference. With 3 kids each had their own seat and we would lay the back bed down and 2 could sleep on that during the night and one in the reclining chair. During the day the would watch movies or play on the bed in the back We packed lots of snacks and drinks and we really did have fun. There would be the moments that jumping out of the van into traffic sounded better than another ten minutes in the van with the darlings but they would pass. We did find that leaving after school 3)worked est for us cause we would drive for like 3 hrs stop for dinner(6) then drive another 3 stop for a break kids (9)would fall asleep stop again around midnight and then hubby would drive through till 4 or 5 am stop for a quick break drive till 8 stop for breakfest stop again in 3 hrs for lunch and then next stop was check in at about 2-3 depening on traffic. We would also not go rt 95 the whole way we go rt 90 to 84 to 81 to 66 to 17 to 95 it adds about 50 miles but is the same time and much nicer road and bathrooms. I would do it agin if I had to but I do think flying is much eaiser and faster now that I am more mature. I still drive down to HH every summer. The only bad part about driving is driving home boy that is hard as you are tired and nothing to look forward too.
Good luck and have fun


__________________

 

[TIGGERSMOM]

We leave Tuesday. I will keep as detailed a log and post when we get back.

Never realized how many folk did the drive. Makes me feel better.

All I could picture is a serial killer running us off the road, guess I watch too many bad movies!

 

[wdwnutze]

Have a great time Tiggersmom. I will look forward to the information you provide when you get back.

 

[JustHolly]

Just bumping this up for any of you who are getting back. Please be detailed! We may do the drive this summer and I need to know EVERYTHING. We will be moving, and I will drive one car, while my fiance will drive his. We will have 2 cats in each car as well. We are looking to stop somewhere in NC to get some sleep.... How often do you stop, where do you stop, and how do you stay awake??

Holly

 

[kylara]

Well I do the drive in reverse...I drive from FL to MA. I don't take I-95 all the way anymore just because I hate the traffic. But to answer the questions about gas credit card, I have found that mobile or citgo are the two I see a lot of. There aren't any shell stations around here so if you wanted to gas up before you left for the trip back, you would have to use another card or cash.

 

[Bob NC]

It's best to avoid 95 at all costs. I drove from NC to MA last week, took 95 all the way to 91 and north to Springfield. We were stuck in traffic in DC for over an hour, (NOT rush hour), and stuck on 95 in CT, taking an hour and a half to go 20 miles. It took us 13 and a half hours. On the way back I took 84 out of Hartford to South on 81. Took 11 hours on the nose with NO traffic anywhere, NO tolls anywhere, and a much more relaxing ride.

Take 84 TO 81 TO 77 TO 26 TO 95, you'll hit 95 near Charleston, SC. Much more relaxing, no slow downs, trust me.

 

[MinniMama]

Just back Plaistow NH to POR ! We took 22 hours both ways and drove 95 except around DC did 295 and 495 we use map quest and it plans the trip. We stopped several times and spent 120. on the way down and 150. on the way back we pack a meal for the way down. Each Fast food meal was about 20.00 and gas was 87.00 on the way down. 5 of us in the car kids slept 9-7 I drove 8-4 on the way down and 8-4 on the way back. DH drove the rest.

 

[shelanaoaktree]

I am from Haverhill, MA. We are also going to Disney this Summer.

At first we were going to drive but with 4 kids, but then decided that is too long of a drive with 4 kids and 2 adults.

We are flying Delta Express in July--leaving Boston on a Tuesday morning and leaving MCO on a Friday evening-for the 6 of us with tax I paid $1,380.

I figure it's worth it, instead of having to rent a larger car for comfort, tolls, gas, eating on the road and of course the most important part---Starting Vacation as soon as possible!!!!

I hope this helped.

 

[Jenzebelle]

I've done the drive from Attleboro, MA (exit 5 off 95- near the RI border) to Tampa about 12 times.

The longest it has ever taken me was 27hrs and that's because of major construction in CT. Usually it takes about 21-22hrs to get to Orlando.

It cost us about $180/RT for gas. Seems to be mostly Citgos, Hess, and Mobil stations
I seem to have the best luck leaving about 4am. That normally puts in in SC in the evening, with some stops for gas, snacks, leg stretching.
Tolls cost about $26 if I remember correctly. I had 3 rolls of quarters and there was some money left over.

It's a long drive (especially VA, NC and SC), so be sure to bring lots of music with you.

 

[toystorymom]

We drove from MA last summer with 3 young children and it wasn't bad at all. No question we would do it again. Of course, the ride home was rougher but if it is a question of going to Disney or staying home, we'd drive any day (the kids agree completely and are always asking when they are going back).

As to whether it is worth it, it depends. Financially speaking, it saves us tons of money. We travelled round trip for about $300. Flying would include not only the price of tickets but transportation to and from the airport in Boston and the same in Orlando, or renting a car. There is just no way. If it were just DH and I going, flying would probably be the way to go.

As to surviving the drive, remember it's possible to have a nightmare drive just as it is a flight. But with good planning the drive can not only be managed but even enjoyed. The best things about driving are getting to go at your own pace and packing whatever you want!

 

[disneydebi]

I also am driving from MA this summer. We have 2 families going down. Inlaws in one car and us and the kids in another. I'm trying to figure out the best place to stop overnight on the way down. The "Plan" is to leave around 3:30 am on a Friday and get as far as we can by dinner. I see a lot of people picking Rocky Mount as their stopping place. Is that the best place, or should we look at other options? Is that as far as we will likely get on day 1? I was thinking about trying to get into SC, but I'm wondering if that's realistic, and if so where there?

Thanks.

 

[MinniMama]

We leave at 3:00 on Fridays and don't hit SC until 5:30 Am our whole trip take 22 hours an average of 60 miles an hour. Virginia is 11 hours and may be a better bet.