??? driving from philly - route + stop over suggestions??

[PrincessMom98]

We are planning our first camping trip to FW for the week after Thanksgiving!!! I've got lots of last minute questions. We plan to leave on 11/26 or 27 and check in on the 28th. We are driving a ford crew cab with a 28ft fifth wheel. DH does the driving and I entertain DH 1 and DD 6. Can someone recommend a place to stay on the trip down and back? What is South of the Border like now? I also remember seeing some suggestions for a state park about 1/2 way but I can't find the link.
We have driven down 95 but have never towed to Fla before. Are there any sections we should avoid? Is there a good alternitive to I4 in Florida?

Thanks for any suggestions!!!

 

[donac]

The last time we stopped at South of the Border we said we would never stop there again. The food was lousy and we thought it was just a tourist trap.

We have never driven down and camped on the way down because we tent camp. I don't know of any places but would be interested for a friend who is driving down this summer.

Dona

 

[CLynnJones]

Hi, We are driving from the Philly area and leaving on 11/26. We always stop at the Pt South, SC KOA. It is very nice, it has a hot tub and a pool and a small lake. It is about a 12 hour drive for us the 1st day and a 5-6 hour drive to Ft Wilderness the next day. I'm not sure if you want to drive that far the 1st day or not. If you have any questions, let me know.

Cheryl

 

[rapriebe]

We always stopped at the Point South KOA when we lived in Northern Maryland and traveled south. The hot tub is great after a day in a vehicle. We now live in NC but we still stop at Point South since we start driving after we get off work. So we get 4 hours under our belts the first day and then only have about 5-6 hours the next day. If you hit the road at 6am, you get there in time to setup and still have time to go to the parks.

Just beware there is a sign warning about aligators in the small lake/pond. Something about eating small dogs?? We never go near it because I do have a small dog.

 

[loriandmatt]

we drive down from philly as well, but since we tow a pop up, our stop overs have always been at a hotel. (no use setting up for a quick place to lay down.) We generally stop in North or South Carllina - any exit that bosts having logding on their sign.

We have stopped at South of the Border once - at the insistance of our son. We stoped - we saw it, filled up on gas, looked at the dreck, took some pics of DS with a few of those cement statues of Pedro and his friends, laughed at the tackynes of it all and left. no need to return. A nice little leg stretch and it satisfied my son's curiosity.

We always stick to 95 and then I4. the only time we ever deviated was when there was construction on I4 - can't for the life of me recall the route we spied on the map that would take us around the construction and spill us back out on I4 much closer to WDW.

Good luck to you on your drive. I know i am a freak in that i love the trip down almost as much as i love the vacation itself. I love a road trip!!!!


- lori

 

[CLynnJones]

Hi loriandmatt, I thought I was the only freak who liked the trip down!! My DB and SIL went this past June/July with us-followed in there camper and they HATED the road trip. They thought I was nuts!!!!!!!

 

[FWCamper]

Hi , we drive down from NJ. We always stay in the rest area amongst the truckers. We usually pull over at 2 am so it is easier to stay in a rest area but alot of times they are full and we ended up turning around and hitting it on the opposite side, of course we only travel during holidays so that could be the problem. I do not like south of the border. One time we stopped at the campground for propane and they couldn't shut off the valve, we had to evacuate the rv, we have never stopped since. I also thought the food was gross. My DH doesn't take 95 all the way, i believe we use 295 or something like that but we do use I4.

 

[wildernessfamily]

We also stop at Point South SC KOA. Please be aware that Washington DC traffic can be a bear especially going over the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. Try to hit the DC beltway before 6 am or after 9 am. or in the evening after 8pm. I have heard you can't take propane through either tunnel in Baltimore. Don't know if that is true? someone else may be able to advise on this.
When we went down last summer there was some construction on I 4 but don't know if that is going on still. Try not to push too much especially with your little ones. Have a safe trip and enjoy Fort Wilderness it will be the start to many happy family memories.

 

[DisneyForLife]

True fact about tunnels in Baltimore. There are signs posted. You just go around them, not far out of the way.