Driving from Philadelphia

[honeymo78]

While we probably won't be driving down for our next trip, I am curious as to the logistics. From those who have driven it, how long does it really take? Could two people drive straight through? (I know, not ideal.) How much in tolls? Other experiences with this drive in general?

Thanks!

 

[Hendoendo]

Yahoo Maps says it is 1011 miles and 15 hours 44 minutes. But that is given perfect conditions(no construction or traffic). If you leave around Midnight you can bypass the DC and Richmond traffic(midweek) and save a lot of time. If you go to i95exitguide.com you can get a listing of all the gas stations, food, etc at each exit. My dad and I drove from Pittsburgh to Orlando when I was in high school. We left at 11 pm and arrived about 6 pm. But the route from Pittsburgh isn't a direct shot like you have and the Speed limit was still 55 then. I summary I say go for it but only if you can sleep in a car

 

[hmansure]

We've done the drive (from S. Jersey) on a few occasions. Straight through isn't usually an option though with our crew! We usually spend a night somewhere in Georgia.

16 hours seems about right if you leave at the right time and avoid some of the traffic (e.g. Springfield, VA). We went down to Hilton Head in December and spent HOURS sitting in traffic in Virginia because we left at the wrong time!

Only two tolls - DE Turnpike and the Baltimore tunnel on the way down. There is a northbound toll on I-95 in Maryland as well. I did read in the paper about a week or so ago where VA is looking to put tolls in place along the NC border.

 

[Donut23]

We just drove from Maryland a few weeks ago.

Our last few trips have expanded beyond WDW because there is just too many other cool things along the way. This time we stopped in Beaufort, SC (about 9.5 hours day one). Next day we drove into Savannah for lunch at the Lady and Sons......few ocean-front state parks along the way and arrived at AKV about 10 pm on day 2.

This was our first driving trip and I have to admit - we LOVED the flexibility! We rented a comfortable car (didn't want to add the miles to my little Saturn and we have free car rentals with our Holiday Inn Rewards).

A few tips.....

I stopped at our Library and picked up a few books on CD. The time FLEW by.

I picked up a few napping pillows - came in handy as we took turns napping.

Geepers (our GPS) has a traffic function so we actually were able to avoid 3 big backups on 95.

We save $$ on Disney's food costs by having only one meal in the parks. We stayed in a 2 bedroom villa at AKV so with the rental car we were able to bring plenty of food and drink. TIP - good folding coolers can be folded on your return to save space for all your disney purchases. ALSO - I freeze a block of ice in a plastic container.....put this on the bottom of the cooler....then layer the "blue freezer packs" half way up in the cooler. EVERYTHING was still cool at 10 pm on our second day of travel!


It was an easy-easy drive. We enjoyed our side trips on the way down and are seriously considering a drive for our December trip.

 

[bookwormde]

16 hours is a good number with a reasonable number of stops and cruising at 6-8 over. Just do not go through the big cities around rush hour.

bookwormde

 

[nono]

Could two people drive straight through? (I know, not ideal.)

Yes, we just did it in each direction from Cape May County NJ with our two kids. On the way down, we took the 4:30 pm ferry and arrived at 10:15 am, with some waiting time for our second car to catch up. So, that was 18 hrs down with some waiting and resting.

On the return, we left at 4:15 am and arrived home a bit before midnight. We stopped for a sit down breakfast, sit down lunch, and a shopping stop at the outlets. With that and the other stops it was about 19 1/2 hrs for the return. We didn't have any pressure goals of reaching either end in a certain time frame, and that definitely helped.

 

[Missytara]

Two friends of mine did it from Dover, DE. They are in their mid 20's. They left late at night, took a great deal of food and sodas.

They did avoid the DC/Richmond thing by taking the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel instead.

They made it in 16 hours going down and coming back; only stopping twice for a few minutes.

 

[Uncleromulus]

When we used to drive, we drove straight thru several times. By the time we got to WDW we were too exausted to do anything except sleep!!

 

[sarehm]

We drive from York PA. Leave around 2am with only stops for fuel and food. DH drives the ENTIRE way Takes about 14 hours.

 

[wizzzzzard]

We drove down in 2003, and 2005. Now, we broke it up, becuase, well, the wife and I don't travel well in the car together. When we planned it out, we figured it was about 16 hours for us, by using I-95.

In 03, I remember we got caught up in traffic in Baltimore, and again on the far side of DC. But that was all construction related. In 05, we had none of these problems.

We also travelled with young kids. In 03, DD wasn't even 1, and DS was 4. In 05, DD was 2.5 and DS was 6. We had to make pee stops/diaper changes, as well as food stops. We ended up both times, stopping in Florence, SC. I recall a lot of motels in that area, so it worked out well for us.

On our way back, I know we stopped in North Carolina somewhere, but don't remember where, as I think it was different places for each trip.

 

[honeymo78]

Well as of now it looks like we are actually going to give driving a try. Our new mariner should be in in about two weeks, if its as comfy as we expect we will be in good shape. The current plan is to leave at 4 pm friday, hopefully reaching the dc area at the end of rush hour traffic. At this point hitting baltimore around 6 is my only concern - the drive through de at that time will be no problem. Eating dinner somewhere south of dc and hopefully finding a waffle house in the middle of the night.

 

[bookwormde]

Be ware you are going to hit lots of traffic as you leave phily, and go through Wilmington and Baltimore.

I would suggest eating dinner before you leave to delay you trip and spend less time in the traffic.

bookwormde

 

[honeymo78]

We drive the delaware stretch several weeknights a month during that time and have never had a problem. We visit a waffle house just over the md border and have only hit traffic on weekends. What time does baltimore traffic thin out? Maybe stopping for dinner there would work, eating up another half hour or more.

 

[nono]

We drive the delaware stretch several weeknights a month during that time and have never had a problem. We visit a waffle house just over the md border and have only hit traffic on weekends. What time does baltimore traffic thin out? Maybe stopping for dinner there would work, eating up another half hour or more.

Are you factoring in Friday beach traffic to the DE beaches? (I'm guessing this is for your first trip listed on your ticker). It can get mighty thick around the Rt. 7 exit.

Another data point. My sister's car left basically the DE/MD border at 6:45 pm on Friday May 7, and they were fine through DC, but caught the end of rush hour heading down to Richmond and really lost some time through that section.

Good luck with your final planning!

 

[honeymo78]

Ugh we didn't think there would still be beach traffic at the end of september. We will definitely have to consider leaving at 6 instead of 4. That would put us in the baltimore area just before 8. I think dh will want to just get on the road rather than twiddle our thumbs at home waiting for some perfect time to leave.

If we are armed with rush hour times, we can weigh sitting in some traffic against sitting at home.

 

[dblr]

What weekend are you going in Sept. don't forget there is a Nascar race in Dover in Sept.so that will add to the traffic on 95 the exit for Rt1 will have a large back up.

 

[honeymo78]

Yep, that friday starts a race weekend. I think we just have to accept that we will hit traffic since we are firm in leaving friday evening. Hopefully radio classics will have a good schedule that night.

 

[bookwormde]

If you get on 95 about 5:30 you should be OK as you go by the mall (RT 7/RT1) exit in Delaware and Balt adn DC should be no problem, have a fun.

bookwormde

 

[Luckymommyx2]

I don't know how long the toll construction will be going on at the De/Md line either. Just stay in the far left lane until you pass the last De exit (896) and you should be fine. Good luck!!

BTW, 495 is a little slower right now because of the bridge construction as it meets with 295 and 95. It has been backing up a little earlier because they keep switching lanes. I would hope that they have that done by the time you would be going through there. You can always check the traffic cams for a few days or weeks to see what the normal flow is like.