Driving from NJ to WDW

[kandb]

We left northern NJ the last time we drove (we fly now) at 3am and got to Savannah around 5pm. The next day was only 4 hours to WDW. We loved leaving and arriving at these times.

 

[amcnj]

amcnj -- I misread your post that you were 10 min from the Del Mem Br...and was thinking, Man, he drives slow! Was trying to figure out how you lost soooo much time by DC! Gotta wear the reading specs...

My fault! I shouldn't have mixed numbers and words in the same time designation. Overall the actual driving time is 14-15 hours. If I added two auxilliary gas tanks and a port a potty I could be there by 4:30 PM!

 

[Sophie's Mom]

Drove down to WDW in June. We live just south of Atlantic City. Left about 8:20am. Stopped at Walterboro SC around 9:00pm. Hit traffic around DC and just north of Richmond. Seems like no matter what time we leave - we hit traffic where 495 and 95 intersect in Virginia.

 

[DisLizBell]

The past few years I left late afternoon to get a jump on the drive but this year we were planning on leaving on a weekday at about 7am...Can I get an idea of what time I want to avoid DC traffic? Isn't there a HOV in the center lane in that area driving south?
Thank you for your replies. And I agree Santee SC was a great place to stop for us too. I would rather stop at dinner time & get dinner & a good nights rest so day 2 is still a comfortable drive. Where does everyone stop on the drive North?

 

[mrsap]

The past few years I left late afternoon to get a jump on the drive but this year we were planning on leaving on a weekday at about 7am...Can I get an idea of what time I want to avoid DC traffic? Isn't there a HOV in the center lane in that area driving south?
Thank you for your replies. And I agree Santee SC was a great place to stop for us too. I would rather stop at dinner time & get dinner & a good nights rest so day 2 is still a comfortable drive. Where does everyone stop on the drive North?

Copying and pasting my response from another post:

Hey! We have been driving from North Jersey to Disney since '04. Last year our rental car was wasn't ready on time ( it was after Sandy), so we ended up leaving at 11 am instead of 8 am. We sat in 2 hours of Washington traffic! It was horrible - the cherry on top of the cake was my 4 yo. daughter crying and screaming in the back that she wants to get out of the car!!! So with that being said, it's smart to try and plan out your timing. I would recommend leaving your house anytime between 6am - 10am (if you are from North Jersey area). Good luck and enjoy!

 

[nono]

Drove down to WDW in June. We live just south of Atlantic City. Left about 8:20am. Stopped at Walterboro SC around 9:00pm. Hit traffic around DC and just north of Richmond. Seems like no matter what time we leave - we hit traffic where 495 and 95 intersect in Virginia.

When we want to be through DC before rush hour, we leave at 2:15 a.m.(southern Cape May county here)...so for you, probably 2:45 a.m....

If you don't want to leave that early, why not consider the ferry and avoid DC and Richmond altogether? Only time I go "up and around" is when the ferry schedule doesn't start early enough. Now with 6:30 a.m. starts, it's becoming a more attractive option again. And, there's no traffic for the beach and such 'cause you're going away from it...down the Delmarva, through VA Beach/Norfolk area, and across the southern part of VA to hook into I-95. It isn't quicker if there's no traffic tie up in VA along I-95, but since you always seem to run into it, it just may turn out to be! It's not a route for everyone, but if you want the exact route we use, let me know and I'll write it up for you. We find it to be an incredibly relaxing drive going that way.

 

[Sophie's Mom]

When we want to be through DC before rush hour, we leave at 2:15 a.m.(southern Cape May county here)...so for you, probably 2:45 a.m....

If you don't want to leave that early, why not consider the ferry and avoid DC and Richmond altogether? Only time I go "up and around" is when the ferry schedule doesn't start early enough. Now with 6:30 a.m. starts, it's becoming a more attractive option again. And, there's no traffic for the beach and such 'cause you're going away from it...down the Delmarva, through VA Beach/Norfolk area, and across the southern part of VA to hook into I-95. It isn't quicker if there's no traffic tie up in VA along I-95, but since you always seem to run into it, it just may turn out to be! It's not a route for everyone, but if you want the exact route we use, let me know and I'll write it up for you. We find it to be an incredibly relaxing drive going that way.

Thank you for the offer! I'll take you up on it! We've tried taking 301 - but that was also a mess through Virginia. My DH always thinks it takes longer to take the ferry - but I think it is probably the way to go! Thanks!

 

[Swissdog2010]

Just throwing this one in. We live about half an hour from the Delaware Water Gap bridge in Morris county, so we'll be going through PA to pick up 81 and go down that way, then decide whether we pick up 95 at Richmond by cutting east or keep going until we hit 77 in North Carolina and pick up 95 in South Carolina. The last time we drove we picked up 83 in Harrisburg, PA and we were south of DC on 95 in just over four hours, leaving at 6 am. But if your already in the 95 corridor thats the way to start off, I guess.

 

[nono]

Thank you for the offer! I'll take you up on it! We've tried taking 301 - but that was also a mess through Virginia. My DH always thinks it takes longer to take the ferry - but I think it is probably the way to go! Thanks!

Oh, man, I did 301 once just trying to get to Richmond.

The ferry way is longer if you can I 95 and have no traffic. So, your dh is right! However, if you like to keep moving while driving, we really find it a fun ride. And, given the number of Quebec, NY and NJ plates we see doing the same thing, we must not be the only ones. Here's the route:

Exit the ferry terminal in Lewes, DE by bearing right (all traffic does) and turn left onto Rt. 9 (comes up fast -- most folks are doing the same thing). Then, turn left onto Rt. 1 towards Rehoboth, and stay in the right lane. Go approx. 1 mile, and turn right onto Rt. 24. You will be heading SW towards Millsboro, DE. The first few miles getting off the ferry can be thick with traffic. Sometimes along Rt. 24, you can find good gas prices. If you see some now, take advantage. Never had better luck with gas prices as we get farther down the Delmarva Peninsula.

Travel Rt. 24 for approx. 15 mi., and look for a left turn for Rt. 113. After turning left onto Rt. 113, you'll be heading south. You will cross into MD at Pocomoke City, and join up with Rt. 13. Take Rt. 13 South across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, which is a pretty cool thing to do. There's even a rest area on the expanse of the Bay Bridge-Tunnel. After crossing, you'll be on Rt. 13 in Va Beach...and there are some traffic lights (and a Wawa on the left!).

From Rt. 13, take I-64 towards Chesapeake/Suffolk. Whatever you do, head towards Suffolk. The roads in this area are confusing, so whoever isn't driving needs to co-pilot to help read the signage and match up with the directions. Keep going past Exit 297 and then follow signs for I664/Rt. 58/Rt. 13/Rt.460/Suffolk. You want Rt. 13 and then Rt. 58, so don't stay on I-664. Follow Rt. 58 West across the "bottom" of Virginia to Emporia, VA, where you'll pick up I-95 South and almost be in NC. It takes roughly 1 hour to get from Suffolk to Emporia.

Notes -- Ferry ride- plan for 2-2.5 hours (wait/embark/crossing/disembark). You can probably plan for closer to 2 hours as you are close enough to be able to time the wait to be minimal (get there right around the 1/2 hour prior to sailing). There are a few lights on Rt. 24 and Rt. 13 each. Speed limits are 50ish all through there, higher on Rt. 113, which is more like a limited access highway (though not). HTH.

 

[nono]

Sometimes along Rt. 24, you can find good gas prices. If you see some now, take advantage. Never had better luck with gas prices as we get farther down the Delmarva Peninsula.

Had to come back and correct myself. Went to Cape Charles over the weekend, and for the first time ever, gas prices were better on Rt. 113 and then Rt. 13 in VA. I think the lowest gas price was right at the MD/VA border on the Delmarva...