driving from PA?

[quadzn1]

Hi. we just moved to northeastern pa (pike county). we're goimg to be driving to disney with 5 little ones. 4 year old quadruplets (tuning 5 in disney) and their 2 1/2 year old brother. any advise on which directions to take? we've made the trip in the past when the kids were younger but werent living in PA at the time. how long will it take? miles? hours? every website tells me a different way. just wondering if any of you have actually driven from this area. thanks!

 

[gritzel4]

We lived in Sussex County, NJ for many years and drove to WDW from there. We went: Route 206 South through Princeton, NJ, hop on to Rt 95 North/Rt 295 South in Lawrenceville, NJ - Take Rt 295 South over DE Memorial Bridge and get on Rt 95 South all the way to FL then take Rt 4 west to WDW.

Depending where you live in Pike County - you may want to investigate taking Rt 81 South - I'm not sure.

Good Luck with your vacation planning.

 

[fac]

gritzel4

I live in Union County, and am interested to drive in the future.
How many days did you take ? From what I have read so far, most people in NY area take about 2 days. Do you take 2 days? is the drive tough?

thanks
felicia

 

[gritzel4]

Felicia -

We have driven straight through with many stops (16 - 18 hours) depending on traffic, speed and length of stops.

We have also stopped overnight. Going south stopping around Florence, SC. Coming home stopping in Emporia, VA.

We base the decision on driving when we can't get decent airfare (less than $200 per person). The drive south isn't as bad as the drive home.

We have 2 children 4 & 6 years old and they are great in the car. They get along 90% of the time, we bring a tv/vcr and they don't get car sick. We also switch drivers every 4-5 hours and try to time not being in DC around rush hour.

 

[fac]

gritzle4,

thanks a lot.
It helps to know the experience from someone close by.
Now it is the time to persuade DH to try the drive next year.

felicia

 

[NALA 24]

Welcome to PA!! Last year we drove to WDW with our two DDs ages 8 and 11. It really was fun. We left home at about 3:30 am and stopped outside of Savannah at about 7:00 pm. (We do stop often and change drivers about every two hours.)The next day, we had a short 4 1/2 hour drive to WDW. (Don't forget to stop at the Florida Welcome Center for some free juice and discount coupon books.) We traveled down using 1-81/66/17/95/4 and returned using the I-81/77/26/95/4 route. When we travel, we always stop for a breakfast and lunch picnic at a rest area. The kids love this and it saves both time and money. We also get a chance to stretch their legs.(Once we stopped for breakfast at a Bob Evans and it took us over an 1 1/2 to get back on the road.) On the way home we stopped in Florence, SC for our overnight.
The mileage using either route was about 1100 and I very strongly recommend the TV/VCR or DVD for the kids. I also give another vote for Rainex on the windows. The only major delays we had last year were heavy downpours.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Most folks take the I-95 route as it is the most direct. But you have to time it carefully so as to avoid rush hour traffic in Baltimore but most especially DC.
The other route I notice is the one Nala uses down I-81 and then over to I-95 at some other point. I've not done that myself, but those who have seem to like it. For me, getting over to I-81 takes me almost due west and adds another hour or so travelling in the wrong direction. BUt if you can access I-81 w/o going too far out of your way, it sounds good.

 

[dalt01]

the 81 to 66 to 17 to 95 to 4 is the best way because you avoid DC and the traffic tie ups you will always run into there. we also stop in florence overnite and get into WDW about 5pm the next day. most of the time however we take this route, 3d st to airport road, a dash 8 to philly, a 747 to MCO, a town car to WDW about 5pm the "same" day. have fun

 

[baileybelle]

NALA 24 or dalt01: We plan on taking the 81-66-17-95 route the last two weeks in October. We had planned on taking 81-77-26 but there is a nascar race in Charlotte, NC the day we would have been on 77. How"s the truck traffic on 66-17? We plan on driving straight thru from Maine on the way down because we have 3 drivers and all adults. We plan on leaving Maine early Sat. morning around 7am and reaching wdw by noon on Sunday. Where would be some safe places to stop and take a breather along the way? Best exits along 84-81-66-17-95-4? Good food and quick service? Thanks ahead of time for any help. :thewave:

 

[NALA 24]

There is less truck traffic on 66 and 17. While driving on 17, watch for the route signs because there are a few turns. Also on 17, there are a few lights and places to stop for gas and to eat.
There is a great exit guide for 95 on this website. (Go to the disboard homepage and click on transportation.) Does anyone know if there is an exit guide for I-81? I know that there are a lot of restaurants along 1-81, but there are also long stretches without exits.

 

[quadzn1]

nala 24
we now live in bushkill. which area are you from? is it easier to go the way you went or take the pa thruway from this area? we are traveling with our almost 5 year old quadruplets (turning 5 in disney) and our almost 3 year old. they are all pretty good in the car since airfare is no longer an option with so many little ones, lol, they got used to liong trips in the car! thanks in advanced.

 

[NALA 24]

I'm from the WB/Scranton Area and I would not recommend taking the PA Turnpike, because this involves picking up 95 near Philadelphia, then hitting the Baltimore and DC traffic. If I was planning on driving mostly 95, I would pick it up, near Fredricksburg, VA using the 81/66/17/95 route. We have many relatives that are "snowbirds" and this is the route they regularly use.