Driving from NJ

[Tammylyne]

I have not seen this exact question posted so hoping someone can help me. We are in Northern NJ and will be driving in April 2023 to WDW. We are planning on leaving at around 8:30 pm and only stopping for gas potty breaks and was wondering if anyone can tell me approximately how long it may take or what time we may arrive (bearing there are no accidents traffic ect)

 

[Laurieannc]

We drive frequently from Long Island and find it easiest to break the time down by each state and found the following times to be pretty accurate-

Home to VA border about 5 hours-this will likely be much less for you bc you will miss all the traffic getting out of NY

VA-NC border 3 hours--note that during the day this could be longer bc they have been doing a lot of road construction the past few years. We find that using the EZ Pass lane helps significantly depending on the day of week/time of day you travel, but it adds a lot in tolls

NC-SC border 3 hours

SC-GA border 3 hours

GA-FL border 2 hours

FL border to WDW 3 hours

These times factor in gas stops, bathroom breaks, snacks etc. Hope this helps and that you have a great trip!

 

[OKW Lover]

If you go to Google maps and enter your home address and Walt Disney World as your ending address it will provide you a very good estimate of the total drive time. With that you can plan on gas stops based on the average MPG your vehicle gets.

Add some time for food stops along the way depending on your dining style. Doing fast food drive through? Adding an hour per day is probably enough. If you prefer a sit-down restaurant (like Cracker Barrel) then it will take longer.

If possible, try to combine your food stops with refueling and restroom breaks.

 

[RanDIZ]

I do it all the time from Philly. Between 14-16 hrs. Always leave no later then 9p and miss all the rush hour traffic until the I-4 in FL which isn’t too bad. Def not like anything we have in the Northeast. Only stop at Kenly, NC and in GA for gas and bathroom.

 

[Tammylyne]

I do it all the time from Philly. Between 14-16 hrs. Always leave no later then 9p and miss all the rush hour traffic until the I-4 in FL which isn’t too bad. Def not like anything we have in the Northeast. Only stop at Kenly, NC and in GA for gas and bathroom.

This was my next question, we figure with a minivan we may need to stop 3 times. Do you get off 95 for gas and if so how far do you venture

 

[Jimsig]

This was my next question, we figure with a minivan we may need to stop 3 times. Do you get off 95 for gas and if so how far do you venture

Good thing about 95 is almost every exit will have gas/food/lodging and even if one doesn't the next one should as they cater to the trucking industry. Each exit that has one will usually have 2 or 3 gas stations/truck stops. There are no rest stops like the type they have on the NJTP with a restaurant and a gas station. Entering each state there are usually welcome centers that have bathrooms and vending machines. The gas stations/truck stops will be located right off the exits so you won't have to go far, think no more then 1/2 mile at the furthest and usually just a few hundred feet. The exits will have signs for the Gas/Food/Lodging and they usually have the distance off the exit on them. The truck stops also have huge signs with the prices that tower above them so you will see Loves, TA, Pilot Flying J, and others.

 

[OKW Lover]

This was my next question, we figure with a minivan we may need to stop 3 times. Do you get off 95 for gas and if so how far do you venture

I'd suggest you load the iExit app on your phone/tablet before heading out. Its a great resource that shows what is available at every exit along the way. It shows not only the brand of gas but also the price. Restaurants are also listed including how far off the highway.

 

[rwdavis2]

Google maps is your friend.

 

[FCDub]

Yep, it’s incredible how accurate Google Maps is.

 

[Tammylyne]

I'd suggest you load the iExit app on your phone/tablet before heading out. Its a great resource that shows what is available at every exit along the way. It shows not only the brand of gas but also the price. Restaurants are also listed including how far off the highway.

Excellent thank you!

 

[RanDIZ]

This was my next question, we figure with a minivan we may need to stop 3 times. Do you get off 95 for gas and if so how far do you venture

Yes. Kenly is right off 95 as well as the Loves in GA we hit. Kenly has its own website and is a huge visitor center.

 

[shafke]

Good thing about 95 is almost every exit will have gas/food/lodging and even if one doesn't the next one should as they cater to the trucking industry. Each exit that has one will usually have 2 or 3 gas stations/truck stops. There are no rest stops like the type they have on the NJTP with a restaurant and a gas station. Entering each state there are usually welcome centers that have bathrooms and vending machines. The gas stations/truck stops will be located right off the exits so you won't have to go far, think no more then 1/2 mile at the furthest and usually just a few hundred feet. The exits will have signs for the Gas/Food/Lodging and they usually have the distance off the exit on them. The truck stops also have huge signs with the prices that tower above them so you will see Loves, TA, Pilot Flying J, and others.

Actually, DE and MD (Delaware and Maryland house respectively) have decent size stops similar to what you get on NJTP. Once you are past Baltimore you are basically at your normal rest stops with rest rooms and vending machines.

 

[rwdavis2]

Yep, it’s incredible how accurate Google Maps is.

Yep, based on our driving around DC I always do what google maps says.

 

[artesian]

Depending what part of NNJ and the amount of lead in your foot 15-17.5 hours. I've only cracked under 15 once but general average is 16ish

 

[shafke]

Depending what part of NNJ and the amount of lead in your foot 15-17.5 hours. I've only cracked under 15 once but general average is 16ish

Just did a drive from The Villages to JFK... including stops for gas/food/rest room it took us about 17 hours. This also includes a detour Waze told us to take through Savannah that, according to Waze, saved us an hour.

 

[piccolopat]

This was my next question, we figure with a minivan we may need to stop 3 times. Do you get off 95 for gas and if so how far do you venture

We recently drove from the Hudson Valley of NY to WDW. We used an app called iExit and found it really helpful. You can pull up the highway you are on in each state and see what gas stations, restaurants, etc. are at each exit and how far/what direction each is at. We used this to find gas stations and fast food restaurants within a half mile of the exit ramp so we would gas up, make a pit stop and eat at the same exit.

 

[Jimsig]

Actually, DE and MD (Delaware and Maryland house respectively) have decent size stops similar to what you get on NJTP. Once you are past Baltimore you are basically at your normal rest stops with rest rooms and vending machines.

I was figuring they would not need to stop until they got south of DC if they are starting from the Philly area so those ones wouldn't come into play for them

 

[amcnj]

My drives started around 2 am from about an hour and ten minutes from the Delaware Memorial Bridge. I would usually be in the WDW area 15-17 hours later. Of course weather, accidents, long stops (meals, etc) can add to that. I admit to a heavy foot and a tendency to want to stop only when necessary (though am always outvoted!). One time maybe I will have to try it solo and see what time I can do with only gas stops!

 

[sam_gordon]

When estimating ETA, I find out the mileage (google maps is a good way to do that), then divide by 60. Over long trips (generally anything including stops) that's been fairly accurate. Our stops are gas, restroom, and food, ideally at the same place, or a fast food place very close to the gas station. Food to go.

 

[ncc1701]

I was figuring they would not need to stop until they got south of DC if they are starting from the Philly area so those ones wouldn't come into play for them

They are in Northern New Jersey.So they have at least an hour before hitting the Philadelphia area