Driving from Ontario

[minnie mum]

I posted a similar question on the transportation board, but maybe I'll have better luck here. We're driving to The World in late Sept. Since we live near Trenton, we'll go via Syracuse then south on the I77 rte. We hope to be able to do it in 2 days. Last time we drove in Jan. 2010 and took 3 days to avoid night driving. My question is: does anyone know of a good place to stop for our first night? The half way point looks to be somewhere around Roanoake.
Something in a safe area with restaurants close by? Thanks for any advice.

 

[ccudmore]

When we drive from Ottawa, we usually stop in Roanoke Rapids NC on the way down and around Richmond, VA on the way back. In both places there's lots of hotels and places to eat right along the highway. We've never bothered to make reservations - we've always been able to get a room at our first or second stop. Or we call ahead from the cell phone a few hours ahead of time once we know for sure that's where we want to stop.

 

[minnie mum]

Thanks so much for the info. Good to know that we don't have to worry about reservations. We'll be travelling over Friday and Saturday nights, but it won't be a holiday weekend.

 

[North7]

Just wanted to point out that Richmond and Roanoke Rapids won't be an option for you if you plan on the I77 route. Both of these are on the 81-66-17-95-4 route (or a similiar route connecting to 95 north of Richmond).

We always try and get over half way the first day when doing the trip in 2 days and found that somewhere around Statesville, NC works for us. It looks to be around 14 hrs drive time (not including any stops) for you from Trenton. That leaves about a 9 hr drive to WDW the next day. It's a long drive the first day but certainly makes the 2nd day a lot nicer. We will get about 5 hours sleep (8:00 bed time) the night before we leave and then leave between 1 am and 2 am.

We don't make any reservations ahead of time and therefore if we feel like stopping earlier or driving later, we can. We have never had a problem finding a place to stay or eat.

 

[OntFamily]

Also, if you want to take the I-77 route, you shouldn't go near Syracuse (if your starting point is Toronto).

Here's the route I use (from Mississauga):

http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&sour...23047&sspn=9.522516,19.709473&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=5

 

[ccudmore]

I think it was the Syracuse thing that got me confused in my previous post - if you go I-77 route, you shouldn't go through Syracuse (unless you want to add several hours to your trip).

 

[A&CsMom]

According to Mapquest your quickest route is to head to Toronto and end up taking the same route we take from the Burlington area. If you stop your first night in Wytheville, Virginia, it would be just under 13 hours and would leave about 10 hours the next day. We just did the drive and there are quite a few hotels between Wytheville and Charlotte if you decided to go further. If you are picky about your hotels I would book ahead but otherwise I'm sure you can find something.

 

[iluveeyore]

And we always stop at the Welcome Center for whatever state we'll be staying in and get a coupon book, which will direct you to some of the nearest hotel/motels to the interstate with a discount for a one-night stay. We always stop in Statesville/Charlotte NC area so our next day isn't as long. So if it's a 12 hour drive for us, we leave by 5 or 6 am to be in our hotel by 6pm, get some dinner and relax for the evening so we can get up early and get to WDW by check in time!

 

[who's ur daddy?]

I salute all of you who do the drive back and forth.

I could never do that long a drive. I'm not a very good long distance driver, but more importantly I would probably bust an aorta trying to get the two young boys in the back under control past the three hour mark. I get stressed just thinking about it...lol.

 

[BigTikiDaddy]

Also, if you want to take the I-77 route, you shouldn't go near Syracuse (if your starting point is Toronto).

Here's the route I use (from Mississauga):

http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&sour...23047&sspn=9.522516,19.709473&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=5

That pretty much looks like the route we took back in '03, with the exception that we ended up going through Charleston WV for some odd reason. I enen found the old triptick from back then and could not figure out why we detoured.

 

[minnie mum]

I want to thank everyone for their input. I think the reason we headed via Syracuse rather than Buffalo, was that we are so far east of Toronto to start with, that it was shorter and faster to enter the states. Then the 81 and 77 to Columbia (to bypass DC and Richmond). This adds about 45 minutes vs the Buffalo rte according to Google. Frankly the fewer large cities we have to drive thru, the better off my nerves will be. Statesville looks like a good place to stop for the night.

 

[BigTikiDaddy]

I want to thank everyone for their input. I think the reason we headed via Syracuse rather than Buffalo, was that we are so far east of Toronto to start with, that it was shorter and faster to enter the states. Then the 81 and 77 to Columbia (to bypass DC and Richmond). This adds about 45 minutes vs the Buffalo rte according to Google. Frankly the fewer large cities we have to drive thru, the better off my nerves will be. Statesville looks like a good place to stop for the night.

If I recall correctly (it's been 7 years now), we rarely went through any major cities, the only one that seemed a little "tense" was Pittsburgh, and the traffic was not very bad even then (mind you it was Good Friday). Because of the odd detour to Charleston, we stayed there, and it was quite beautiful there.

I agree with iluveeyore about the welcome centers. We stop at each one regardless and pick up the coupon books, the deals are quite reasonable. It's also a great place to strech your legs.

 

[Nahanni]

I want to thank everyone for their input. I think the reason we headed via Syracuse rather than Buffalo, was that we are so far east of Toronto to start with, that it was shorter and faster to enter the states. Then the 81 and 77 to Columbia (to bypass DC and Richmond). This adds about 45 minutes vs the Buffalo rte according to Google. Frankly the fewer large cities we have to drive thru, the better off my nerves will be. Statesville looks like a good place to stop for the night.

I can't comment on 1-81 route but if you go Buffalo way the worst traffic is going through Toronto (unless it's before 6am) and most of the way to the border!

 

[North7]

minnie mum, you'll enjoy driving the 81-77 route. There is a lot less traffic on this route, compared to 95 between Washington and Richmond, and it takes you through the mountains which is very scenic.

Have a great trip

 

[nepean]

Driving from Ottawa we cross at Ivy Lea which is the closest crossing for you. We take 81 then 66 and 95. We leave early in the morning and do not go near Washington except south of it at Fredericksburg VA. We find that due to timing we never run into traffic at Richmond or Jacksonville. The most traffic is at Fredericksburg since it is usually dinner time and people are still going home from work. We stop for a quick bite and the traffic clears. If we stop we do it in NC just over the border, usually Weldon. Usually we drive straight through and have done so since DD was 3. She slept through the night, Now she and he DBF help with the driving. The route is quiet usually and if there is a storm they do have equipment to deal with it. Not as good as here at home but we have snow tires and the locals get off the roads so it is usually just Cdns. and some NY and PA drivers.

Nepean

 

[minnie mum]

I hear ya about storms in the south and their ability to handle them(NOT)! In early Feb 2010 we were in Panama City, FL when a freak snowstorm came through the south. 5 inches of snow in Montgomery Ala. had everyone panicking. We of course had our snow tires etc, but decided that discretion was the better part of valour and delayed our departure for another day. We knew we were ok to drive, but definitely were not going to trust the locals!

Talked over our 3 route choices with DH last night. He doesnt want to have the hassle of driving through TO and Buffalo on a Friday, so I guess that one's out.
He is also a little hesitant about the more easterly route; only because the I95 is so very busy, and he'd like to postpone getting on it as long as possible. He says he prefers the 81/77 route because it is quieter, and he really wants to see the mountains in the summer time. Yeah, I know: by Canadian standard you'd be hard pressed to call them more than big hills, but still.... Last year they were mostly snow covered.

I think I may try to persuade him to stay on the 95 as far as DC on the return trip. Just as a change of pace and to see more of the east coast. Maybe a bribe of golf in Myrtle Beach will to the trick