Driving from Northern New Jersey

[adamandallie]

We are driving to WDW from northern NJ in early November with our two kids (3 and 2). Has anyone ever made this trip before? How long does it take and where is a good place to stay overnight?

Our reservations start on a Saturday so my husband took the Friday before off from work to travel. We are considering leaving Thursday night and staying at his parent's house in Maryland that night. Then on Friday we would pick up rt 301 to Richmond, VA to pick up I95 and drive as long as we can stand it. Then drive the rest of the way to Orlando on Saturday.

 

[WDWisTheBest]

You wouldn't begin to believe how many people have made the trip from your area to WDW.

Assuming that you do make a wise decision and drive to your husband's parents' house on Thursday night, an early start Friday morning would get you to Savannah GA (approx. 10 1/2 hours)or Brunswick GA (approx 12 hours) without much stress on the young kids or you.

There are plenty of good exits to stop for the night at either place.


Have a great trip.

 

[thedisneymom]

If we leave from nyc what is a reasonable place to say we will finish off one day of driving at (with one driver only)? I need to know where to make overnight ressies. thanks.

 

[WDWisTheBest]

The Savannah, GA area could also work. A lot depends on when you leave NYC. The major possible traffic tie-up could be around the DC area, so it depends on when you leave home.

The Hardeeville, SC or Savannah, GA area is approximately 800-825 miles from start. This could take around 14 hours to navigate. There are many good motels from which to choose in those cities. For example, the Days Inn at Exit 5 in SC (Hardeeville, SC) is around $36, and another poster stayed there about 3 weeks ago with no problems. Savannah has a wider variety of motels, you might look at those at the Port Wentworth exit 109.

With one driver, it might not be safe to push it much further than that. There are lots and lots of postings here about how long people drive.

Are there little people traveling with you? That enters into the equation. Whether or not you are rested when you begin enters in as well. Maybe a bit more information on those factors would help others to give their opinions to you.

Good luck, and be safe when you travel.

 

[thedisneymom]

We have teens and only one driver. Someone suggested Florence or Dillon. Does anyone know the area ? Is it nice? Thanks for your help!

 

[WDWisTheBest]

disneymom, here is what SamS reported on 9/8/03 about Florence, SC:
"We drive from Hershey
Summer of 02 we stayed at Comfort Inn, Florence, S.C. There's a Crackel Barrel Restaurant at same exit. It's about exactly halfway - 8 hours. This past June we decided to go further the first day, and drove 12 hours to Darien, GA (Exit 49). We stayed at a nice new Comfort Inn, and got to WDW the next day in about 4 hours."

Here is what Sanchez said on 9/10/03:
"Having gone to school and lived in SC for 17 years, and with parents in Vineland,NJ, I have made the I-95 trip approx 40 times.
I can tell you that from Vineland, NJ to SC/GA border could be done in less than 11 hours. From Central NJ to Savannah (just over the border), you are probably looking at 13 hours with minimal traffic. From Savannah to WDW is approx 4.5 hours.
Be sure to set your start time so that you miss DC rush hour."

Hope this helps a bit.