Driving from NorthEast to Disney

[tmaxwell]

Hello!

We are leaving for Disney on August 12th (8pm) and don't have to check in till August 14th which gives us plenty of driving time to get down there.

What is the best driving route? We plan on stopping about an hour or so outside of Orlando August 13th to stay the night and rest in order to be well rested for the 10 days we have ahead at the parks.

Thanks!!

 

[PSUGuy]

From North East Pa we took I-81 to Winchester Va., to Fredericksburg Va then I-95 most of the rest of the way, probably hit I-4 from 95, don't remember. We drive to Myrtle Beach yearly and find I-95 below the 495 beltway to be horrible so we skirt that are.

Bill From PA

 

[tmaxwell]

We are from Western CT and hoping if when we leave at 8pm that night that when we get to that 495 beltway it would be dead. My brother told me last night that there was construction going on in that area and was just curious to see if that was truly the case or if there was a better way.

 

[rwdavis2]

We are from Western CT and hoping if when we leave at 8pm that night that when we get to that 495 beltway it would be dead. My brother told me last night that there was construction going on in that area and was just curious to see if that was truly the case or if there was a better way.

There are 3 way around DC: east side of beltway, west side of beltway, and almost down the middle on I-295. I would check to see where the construction is and avoid that. Going by DC is the quickest way and the middle of the night will have you avoiding traffic.

 

[Anal Annie]

We live in MD just north of DC and in the past have driven around the beltway and taken I-95 both directions. HOOOOOGE mistake every time. Last time we tried really hard to avoid the bad traffic on I-495 / I-95 (we live here - we know how bad it can be) but we still got stuck - AND we paid a high price on the VA EasyPass HOV toll lanes as it went up after we got in them (the price fluctuates based on traffic conditions - it was like $3 when we jumped in but shot up to $17 before we exited!) We're driving again this June and this time we're taking I-81 thru Roanoke, VA to I-77 towards Charlotte to I-26 thru Columbia, SC and will eventually pick up I-95 just prior to Savannah, GA. From what I have read / researched this route is approx. 78 miles further for us BUT it avoids sooooo much of the headaches & traffic from the No. VA I-95 mess it's worth it. Supposed to be more scenic too. We're leaving early on a Friday morning and will drive 10-12 hours then stop for the night and finish up on Saturday morning. I am hoping to be within 3 hours of Orlando before stopping for the night. I know traffic WILL BE heavier on Saturday morning than on Friday so I want to get as far as we can before my guys scream to stop!!

 

[Anal Annie]

We are from Western CT and hoping if when we leave at 8pm that night that when we get to that 495 beltway it would be dead. My brother told me last night that there was construction going on in that area and was just curious to see if that was truly the case or if there was a better way.

There is ALWAYS construction in the DC area. Always. Guaranteed. Avoid it at any cost if you can.

 

[rwdavis2]

We live in MD just north of DC and in the past have driven around the beltway and taken I-95 both directions. HOOOOOGE mistake every time. Last time we tried really hard to avoid the bad traffic on I-495 / I-95 (we live here - we know how bad it can be) but we still got stuck - AND we paid a high price on the VA EasyPass HOV toll lanes as it went up after we got in them (the price fluctuates based on traffic conditions - it was like $3 when we jumped in but shot up to $17 before we exited!) We're driving again this June and this time we're taking I-81 thru Roanoke, VA to I-77 towards Charlotte to I-26 thru Columbia, SC and will eventually pick up I-95 just prior to Savannah, GA. From what I have read / researched this route is approx. 78 miles further for us BUT it avoids sooooo much of the headaches & traffic from the No. VA I-95 mess it's worth it. Supposed to be more scenic too. We're leaving early on a Friday morning and will drive 10-12 hours then stop for the night and finish up on Saturday morning. I am hoping to be within 3 hours of Orlando before stopping for the night. I know traffic WILL BE heavier on Saturday morning than on Friday so I want to get as far as we can before my guys scream to stop!!

This seems to be the preferred alternate route. Yeah, traffic around here is a nightmare. I drove into DC this morning down Connecticut and it took an hour to near Dupont Circle. This was leaving Columbia at 9:20 am.

 

[Anal Annie]

This seems to be the preferred alternate route. Yeah, traffic around here is a nightmare. I drove into DC this morning down Connecticut and it took an hour to near Dupont Circle. This was leaving Columbia at 9:20 am.

HA - I used to work on Connecticut Ave in Ch. Chase then on Wisconsin Ave in Bethesda - at one point I drove down from Frederick and eventually then from upper Montg. Co. It's insane. Now my times fluctuate and my destinations vary. But I HATE IT whenever I have to be in Bethesda by 8:00 am or something. It's just so hard to time it.

 

[Goofygirl17]

We drive from southern CT and take the inland route. It's longer in miles but in my experience it's much shorter in time and definitely less stressful than 95.

 

[ParrotBill]

Big fan if I-81 instead of I-95. I-95 has such a high amount of traffic delays, accidents and constructions - I've always ended up in delays of at least an hour sitting in traffic. I-81 is a bit longer but with the much lower chance of accident or construction delays, lower traffic, and higher average speeds you will do at least at well in time and maybe faster going inland.