Driving from the Northeast

[capecoddisneyfamily]

We are considering driving in Sept. from Cape Cod. Any suggestions? We figure with one hotel in between we can save around $400.00.

 

[OKW Lover]

Sure, you can save money. But can you afford the time? From Cape Cod to WDW is ~24 hours on the road each way. If you do 2 twelve hour days, you are loosing 4 days of your vacation.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I don't know how airfares are from your area but we have gone during Sept in 06 and 07 and never paid more than $49 each way from Philly. This is ultra slow season in Orlando. Not only does driving take a lot of time but it's a lot of mileage and wear/tear on your vehicle. Not to mention the worry of driving sleepy, breaking down, flat tires, heavy traffic in various city's rush hours, pouring rain, construction, etc. all adds to driving time. Add in 2 nts. hotel costs and meals over several days that could be spent in FL. Personally I wouldn't drive even if it saved $1000 yet some prefer it. To each his own. JMHO.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

O! the pain! I remember doing this as a kid. What a horror show! And you know, traffic wasn't as bad back in the olden days.
If you can get $79 oneway rates from JetBlue, I'd suggest that. Unless you have more than 4 or 5 in your family, I can't see the savings being all that great.

 

[cranbiz]

It will cost you about $300 to $350 in gas, $50 in tolls (R/T) and takes about 19 to 22 hours (each way) from Cape Cod to WDW (I did Wareham to Deltona about 2 years ago in 19.5 hours with my 2 Y/O and 4 Y/O nieces).

Halfway point from the Cape is Roanoke Rapids, NC. There are many decent places to stay along I95. A Hotel room is another $50 or so a night.

Are you the type of person who can drive straight thru? If so Leave around 4 to 6pm. You will miss most if not all the traffic and you will get in to WDW in the afternoon. (I have done the straight thru many times, both by myself and with DW and kids)

If you get lucky, Southwest can be gotten for $62 each way from Providence. How many in the family, If 4 or less and you don't care about going off site, I'd fly and use ME as the costs are now about the same as driving. If more that 4 or you cannot get the cheap SW fare, go ahead and drive. It's not as bad as some make it out to be.

 

[muffinman71xx]

I would think it is easier to fly down. driving takes about 20-24 hours. if you take the quickest route, right down the coast (95south). With one driver, the halfway point is on the western end of North Carolina, maybe Raleigh, Durham.

with gas around $3 a gallon, the mileage, the tolls, food, a hotel room coming and going, the time, wear and tear on your car and people, I don't see this as a bargain.

book flights early and get a good rate. if you are on the cape, fly out of TF Green in Providence. you are down in 3 1/2 hours max, and the cost per person is comparable to driving.

take a look at paragon tours in swansea, mass. they have incredible packages!

 

[CPT Tripss]

snip
If you get lucky, Southwest can be gotten for $62 each way from Providence. How many in the family, If 4 or less and you don't care about going off site, I'd fly and use ME as the costs are now about the same as driving. If more that 4 or you cannot get the cheap SW fare, go ahead and drive. It's not as bad as some make it out to be.

Sounds like a trained professional writing .

 

[4Seasons]

I don't know how airfares are from your area but we have gone during Sept in 06 and 07 and never paid more than $49 each way from Philly. This is ultra slow season in Orlando. Not only does driving take a lot of time but it's a lot of mileage and wear/tear on your vehicle. Not to mention the worry of driving sleepy, breaking down, flat tires, heavy traffic in various city's rush hours, pouring rain, construction, etc. all adds to driving time. Add in 2 nts. hotel costs and meals over several days that could be spent in FL. Personally I wouldn't drive even if it saved $1000 yet some prefer it. To each his own. JMHO.

I totally agree!!
It *could* make the difference between an OK vacation and a great one.
Plus (for me), my 40-something body can no longer take being cramped in the car for such long periods of time! LOL

 

[megan2346]

Hi, another Cape Codder here. We have driven from the Cape twice. Both times we have had 2 children with us. I have to be honest it is a long trip but can be done. We usually take 3 days on the way down just to break up the trip but on the way back we have always done it in 2 days. I try to do a long day the first day while everyone can handle the car ride a little better than the second day. We also try and leave on a weekend because RI CT and NY traffic can be a real problem. Also take in consideration DC you don't want to hit that during rush hour.
I have to agree with the other posters about Southwest it is a lot easier. Have you heard about Skybus. I booked round trip tickets for April they cost $10 each way. I don't know much about the airline so I can't give you a review but for $10 if it gets us there I'm all for it. The only problem with them is they are out of Portsmouth NH and they fly into St. Augustine. It still is a shorter drive than from the Cape.
Hope this helps,
Megan

 

[hsmamato2]

always factor in the 'cost' of taking the extra days off of work,how much income would you make each day you have to add for driving time? that always seals it for us,as the airfare cost is less than losing extra days at work-this depends on family size too.
personally,I could drive down,but wouldn't want to. Not unless airfares increase dramatically....

 

[capecoddisneyfamily]

Thanks for talking me out of it. We just got back and flew jetblue was a nice easy trip. Don't know why we were even considering driving?

 

[darkroom]

That was, um, fast?

Board error?