Driving from NJ-WDW - another question :)

[plove53]

We are driving to All-Star Music from the garden state (north/east part of NJ). We (my DG and I) wanted to know where is the best place to stop off of I-95 to rest our tired heads for the night? I hear it is an ~20 hour trip sooo if NOT tired we will forge ahead to WDW and stay one night in Orlando…. But I think, and for safety reasons we should stop a little north on I-95. Sooo… if that is the case where is the best reasonably priced (nothing fancy-prefer cheap-super 8, etc) place to stop and rest for the night.

We want to pull into All-Star music around 3pm and we want to be well rested because we will be going to EPCOT that night for the food and wine festival.

Thank you for any information. I have asked many questions and you guys are the best! And now we are just finalizing things.



-phil

 

[Olaf]

I'd say to really push it on the first day and try and make it to South Carolina. We like Florence, but anywhere in South Carolina will make day two much easier. Whatever you do, make sure you don't hit the DC area during rush hour, especially on a Friday.

 

[JoeCathyAngelina]

We drove from my office in downtown Boston to WDW, Orange Lake Country Club, stopping only for gas and bathroom breaks.

After the first 3-4 hours in the car driving the rest of the way to WDW isn't that bad; more like a series of short trips.

Our Trip to WDW started Friday the 13th of April 2007, at 3:45 pm:

Destination, Miles, Total Miles from Boston, Time

Leaving, Boston to Walt Disney World: Friday, 4/13/07, 3:45pm
1, Boston to New Jersey 208 208 7:49 PM
2, N J to Laurel MD 219 427 11:44 PM
3, MD to Rocky Mt NC 250 677 3:36 AM
4, NC to Manning SC 219 896 7:00 AM
5, SC to Kingsland GA 226 1,122 10:30 AM
Arrived, GA to WDW 203 1,325 2:00 PM

Started, Friday, 4/13/07 3:45 PM
Finished, Saturday, 4/14/07 2:00 pm
A 22 hr trip with 5 stops along the way down
63 gallons of gas, $175 for the gas, 21 mpg


The Trip Home started at 9:45 AM, Saturday, April 21,2007
Destination, Miles, Total Miles from WDW, Time

Leaving Walt Disney World to Boston: Saturday, April 21st 9:45 AM
1, WDW to Kingsland Ga 194 194 12:44 PM
2, GA to Manning SC 226 420 4:16 PM
3, SC to Rocky Mt. NC 218 638 7:42 PM
4, NC to Aberdeen MD 292 930 12:26 AM
5, MD to Newark NJ 170 1,100 3:27 AM
Arrived, NJ to Boston, MA 246 1,346 7:30 AM

Started, Saturday, 4/21 9:45 AM 0 Miles
Finished, Sunday, 4/22 7:30 AM 1346 miles
A 22 hr trip with 5 stops on the way home
62 gallons of gas $175 for the gas 21 mpg

Total miles 2,671, about 21 mpg, about 70 mph
Total gas 125gallons $350
Total Tolls $50

Good Luck All,
Joe

 

[plove53]

Thanks all!

We were originaly going to stop in Florence, SC, but I think (if we are up to it) drive another few hours to near Savannah, GA... so the next day it will take around 4.5 hours to get to WDW

-p

 

[HugsForEeyore]

I drive from Northern New Jersey (Morris County), and my favorite overnight stop is right near Savannah in Richmond Hill, Georigia (exit 87 off I-95, I think). There's a Hampton Inn there (with those super soft white beds!) that I like. There is also a newish Comfort Suites next door. It's about a 14-15 hour drive to get there from NJ, as I am no speed demon - I go pretty close to the limit. The following day, it's about a 4 and a half hour drive to Disney.

Have a GREAT time!! It's a long drive, but so worth it to get to the Mouse!!

 

[jennypenny]

We are probably driving down in February from Bucks county PA. There is a new spring hill suites near savannah I'm looking at. Marriott has some good specials online (we'll actually be using points) and they all serve breakfast which is nice when you want to hit the road.

If you haven't driven it before I have one tip. Gas stations are few and far between on some of the ride between NC and Savannah, and are not always open all hours of the night. Where we both live, you can't throw a rock without hitting a gas station so I don't ever *plan* on getting gas. But the first time we drove we got nervous during the night when the first two places we stopped were closed. We made it to a station without running out, but it felt weird not being able to get gas easily.

 

[jobie61]

Gas stations are few and far between on some of the ride between NC and Savannah, and are not always open all hours of the night.

Just fill up at South of the Border, or at one of the exits in Lumberton, NC. and you will be fine. They have 24 hr service.

Say hi to Pedro for me.

 

[luckytobeme88]

We live in Rochester, NY area. So the drive to WDW is around 1250 miles for us. We usually stay overnight @ Florence, SC. We normally take off about 3:30 in the morning to beat the traffic in and around the DC/VA areas. Last year we arrived Florence, SC appx. 4:00pm. There were no congestions on 95 at all. In two weeks, we are going to WDW again. This time we are staying @ Microtel Inn @ Florence, SC. The room is about $50+/- per night. NOT BAD for 2 Queens room w/WiFi and breakfast too. The next day, we intend to leave SC ~ 4 am to tackle the last 6.5 hrs. Again, no problem with traffic during that time frame.

 

[NJRRK]

I drive from Northern New Jersey (Morris County), and my favorite overnight stop is right near Savannah in Richmond Hill, Georigia (exit 87 off I-95, I think). There's a Hampton Inn there (with those super soft white beds!) that I like. There is also a newish Comfort Suites next door. It's about a 14-15 hour drive to get there from NJ, as I am no speed demon - I go pretty close to the limit. The following day, it's about a 4 and a half hour drive to Disney.

Have a GREAT time!! It's a long drive, but so worth it to get to the Mouse!!

We're also Morris countians (Morristown) and we'll be leaving the day you arrive. The kids have to get back to school. We're taking the Auto Train, first time in 11 years.

Have fun we plan on it.

 

[plove53]

I drive from Northern New Jersey (Morris County), and my favorite overnight stop is right near Savannah in Richmond Hill, Georigia (exit 87 off I-95, I think). There's a Hampton Inn there (with those super soft white beds!) that I like. There is also a newish Comfort Suites next door. It's about a 14-15 hour drive to get there from NJ, as I am no speed demon - I go pretty close to the limit. The following day, it's about a 4 and a half hour drive to Disney.

Have a GREAT time!! It's a long drive, but so worth it to get to the Mouse!!

GREAT!!! This is where I was going to stay!
OH... and I'm not far from you (Passaic Co)... Please PM me with your driving tips (if you want).


Ohhh BTW My DGF said it’s NOT the food and wine festival we are going to the day we pull in… it is the Halloween Party. When we get there I’m following her!

As you can see she is making the WDW schedule (she did a GREAT job last year!) and my only job is getting us there, and getting us back… I lucked out!

-p

 

[theterms]

We used to drive all the time from NW NJ. We'd leave around 10-11 pm and drive straight thru (yes, with kids and sometimes the dog). We actually love driving (dh and I) but the kids are now 15 and almost 12, so they want to fly and "get there".

I'm a big planner. That's one of the best parts of a vacation for me! A great site that has everything you need to know is the I-95 website http://www.usastar.com/i95/homepage.htm - it has everything by state and exit off I-95... food, lodging, gas, construction. It's great!

Traci

 

[CPT Tripss]

Pick up those motel coupon booklets at the rest stops. You can see what is available "down the road." We usually call to double check that they still have rooms and honor the coupon when we are about 1/2 hour from stopping.

 

[ducklite]

We've done that drive (from Tpk exit 9) many times before moving down here. DH still does the drive every other month, as he still has to be at his NJ office half the month.

He leaves at 4:00 am from the Bridgewater area, and arrives here between 8:00 and 9:00 pm most of the time. He makes very few stops, and has experience as an over the road truck driver, so he's more used to the long drive then many would be. I can't make that drive.

When I do the drive alone, I like to stop in either Florence, SC or Richmond Hill, GA. There are very clean and comfortable Hampton Inn's in both locations. I prefer those Hamptons as they ahve interior corridors, and for safety I'd rather know that I've got an advance reservation, and know that I've got an interior corridor, even if the Hampton's are $20 a night more expensive than motels in the area.

Anne

 

[kileybeth]

ooohh! have fun! I will actually miss the drive a little this year as we are flying with great rates but push for Savanah, you won't be sorry on day two! And savanah is just a pretty place!

do get an early start tho or DC will bog you down for hours. Plan on being through that area before 5:30am if at all possbile. When we go we usually hit it at 4:30am but have gotten through okay (a bit of traffic just starting to pile up ) as late as 5:30-6am.

Hmapton Inn is worth every penny, especially breakfast and beds!

Have a not so scary Magical Boo adventure!

 

[Harley-Mouse]

We drive to hilton head island and thats about 13 hr from exit 14 A bayonne NJ. I do all the driving we hit the road at 10:00 pm and the kids sleep most of the time. You should try for the sout end of SC so you have a short drive on day 2. one day in the car is not to bad but 2 long days is no good.

 

[Mulan82]

while i don't live in Northern/Eastern NJ, i live off of ext 4, literally a block and a river from Center City, Philadelphia. i drive to the Outer Banks, NC every year. i leave at 6am and can make it to Corolla, NC by 2PM. so i say that Georgia is very feasible. Savannah is very nice. be sure to visit Paula Dean while you are down there!

 

[momoftwins]

You may already have one if you are from NJ, but get an EZPass. Although you can only use it through Virginia, well worth it. We went to NC a few weeks ago from PA, and it was so nice not to have to wait in long toll lines.

http://www.ezpass.com/index.html

 

[ducklite]

You may already have one if you are from NJ, but get an EZPass. Although you can only use it through Virginia, well worth it. We went to NC a few weeks ago from PA, and it was so nice not to have to wait in long toll lines.

http://www.ezpass.com/index.html

Unless you are going to KSC or the airport in Orlando, once you get into VA there are no further tolls on the way to WDW.

Anne