Driving from Ottawa to WDW

[Ely]

We are going to drive from ottawa to WDW. We have to be there at Sunday July 31st before or at noon. How early shall will leave Ottawa. What is the best road to take. Any tips for the trip. Best place to break on the Saturday evening. Is there any issue for kids with Birth certicate only as ID at the border?

Thanks al ot.

Ely

 

[nepean]

We drive every year to Orlando from Ottawa. The drive is approximately 26hours. Last year we left at 9:30 a.m. and drove straight through and arrived at 11:15 am. the next day. Usually we break the trip into two days. The first day we drive as far south as we can get. The last time we stopped in South Carolina near Columbia (I think) around midnight, we had left around 6 am. The next day we were in Orlando around 1:30.

We take the 416 to 401 and cross at Thousand Islands and take I-81 to Rte. 66 in Virginia and cross over to I-95 and then straight down to I-4 and over to Orlando. If you are not travelling in rush hour near Syracuse or Richmond go straight over the cities and don't take the by-pass. The same can be said for Jacksonville Florida. We usually save an hour doing this.

Have a great time.

 

[ottawa-newbie]

We drove from Ottawa to Tampa in 2 days. The only tip I can offer is to be careful about what fruit you might bring over the border. They told me at the border that I had to eat my pear before I left New York state Also, if you're looking for a sit down place to stop and eat, we loved the Cracker Barrel

Have a safe and wonderful trip

 

[DisFan2]

Hey (former City of) Nepean,

When you cut across to 95 on 66, do you take 66 all the way over, or do you use 17 and pick up 95 at Fredericksburg? We've always gone 81 to Harrisburg, then 83 to Baltimore where we pick up 95. After hitting crazy fast traffic/drivers in and around Washington in 2000, I swore I would never take that route again. What was your time from Ottawa till you hit 95?

Thanks!

 

[nepean]

HI DisFan 2

We take 66 then 17 to 95. The route is really well marked. Just watched for the Fredericksburg signs. The only odd thing is that the turn onto 66 off 81 is a left and comes up quick. DH is known to miss it and I keep an eye out for it. From Nepean to Fredericksburg is abouto 10 hours including stopping for gas breaks. We pack our cooler and eat as we go. We usually leave Orlando around 9:00 am and arrive in Fredericksburg by 10-11 p.m.

The traffic on 81 is not too bad. 66-17 is really, really quiet and very dark at night. During the day you drive by beautiful horse farms. Also it is on the edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains and it is quite beautiful.

As far as "former Nepean" We here in Nepean will always be Nepean.

Linda

 

[DisFan2]

Thanks (still City of) Nepean!

As a resident of Nepean, I regret to say I was foolish enough to support the notion of amalgamation. What a travesty this has been - I'd now welcome the opportunity to deamalgamate from Ottawa (which isn't to say I don't love Ottawa - it's the fiscal irresponsibility and annual, excessive tax hikes which kill me).

 

[nepean]

Where are you located in Nepean. I am near the Nepean Sportsplex. The one with the broken tiles and dirty corners. Ben Franklin must be rolling in his grave. I resent the tax increases and the way our wonderful facilites are being allowed to fall into ruin. I can't figure out where the money is going. Iam an accountant and I sure would love a detailed listing .

We travel to Disney almost every year in January.


Linda

 

[RedRuby]

We drove from Ottawa to Tampa in 2 days. The only tip I can offer is to be careful about what fruit you might bring over the border. They told me at the border that I had to eat my pear before I left New York state Also, if you're looking for a sit down place to stop and eat, we loved the Cracker Barrel

Have a safe and wonderful trip

re: Cracker Barrel -- their website has a road trip mapping component, where you can plug in your starting point and destination (both within the US), and it will tell you where the Cracker Barrel restaurants are along the route Just use your border crossing as your starting point, and you're set!

(We're driving from Toronto or Oshawa, so will be driving over at Buffalo, and going back via Washington DC -- staying with friends in northern VA; and we were able to get lots of CB listings for all legs of our trip)