driving from the pa area

[Lynne M]

Moving to the Transportation board.

 

[tine413]

The drive down is not bad but the drive back is bad. The reason is, if you leave by 8am you hit DC around 12noon which is ok but on the drive back (assuming you do each way over two days) you will hit DC around 5pm and it is a bad drive from Alexandra to Baltimore....

Fuel wise it is not too bad. The prices are right around NJ prices or 20 cents less then PA prices. Get the flyingJ/Pilot frequently travelers card. It is free but gives you a cent or two discount plus you get the cash price using a credit card.

Here is what we do... NE Extension to the blue route to I95 south. I take the beltway around Baltimore (I495 i think) because i like driving along the Delaware River. We take the tunnel though Baltimore. The outer beltway around DC and then the beltway around Richmond. Doing it this way we hit nearly no traffic until we hit Orlando. We stop the first night in Florence SC and then stay a second night in Kissimmee. Not really necessary to stay outside the second night other then we like to check into Disney early (8am) on the check in day. You will hit Disney around 5 or 6pm so you could go right to Disney the second night. Once you get below Va the speed limit jumps to 70mph so it is a descent drive. Pay attention to your speed, each state had a bus load of police out giving tickets. In SC alone we counted 33 police...

Fuel stops.... Carmel Church, VA --- Latta, SC --- Kingsland GA (raceway) --- Walmart on Vineland Rd Kissimmee (cheapest of the lot if you use a gift card from the store - gives you the cash price). I can't tell you the prices as we use Diesel and i honestly never really look at the price...I stopped looking once we leaped over $2.25 /gal.

We do this twice a year so if you have any specific questions, feel free to ask.

Great info thank you

 

[atwmommy]

Don't forget, the autotrain in an option too. Just book far enough in advance for the price to be reasonable.

 

[rock_doctor]

We have done the route and it is much faster than the I95 corridor - no worries about traffic around Baltimore or DC.

Yea Rotlex's post caught my eye... I loathe that drive from DC to Baltimore.... I don't mind it on the way to disney as we hit DC around noon and that is easy but on the way back we hit is right at 5pm....

 

[dvczerfs]

Been driving from the Allentown area for the last 5 years. Just got sick of paying nearly as much to fly as our trips were costing. (Hence extending our trips by quite a few days, LOL).

Really though. We average around $500 total travel costs which includes 2 hotel nights. We drive all the way to Orlando in one shot, and stay at a Hampton right outside of DTD the first night. For the return trip, we drive up to North Carolina, stay overnight, and head home the next day.

We travel via 81, to 77, to 26 to 94 to I4. It's my wife and I and two kids. (Currently 11 and 5). What turned out as a way to get to Disney cheaper, has turned into a HUGE part of our vacation. We love the road trip. The drive down gets us in "I'm no longer in work mode", and the drive back is a way to get back to reality, but not to quickly.

hi steve!! I was just down in may to drop briana off for the college program. we also were down for a 9 nights two weeks ago and we are going to be leaving in 63 more days for another 9 nights to spend time with kid. pm me before you leave and ill tell you were she will be working in the magic kingdom while you are there and stop to say hi to her. she loves seeing people from pa.!! (we don't think she is coming home again )

 

[rotlex]

hi steve!! I was just down in may to drop briana off for the college program. we also were down for a 9 nights two weeks ago and we are going to be leaving in 63 more days for another 9 nights to spend time with kid. pm me before you leave and ill tell you were she will be working in the magic kingdom while you are there and stop to say hi to her. she loves seeing people from pa.!! (we don't think she is coming home again )

Howdy!

Were heading down again in August, 16th through the 26th! First time down with the new van, Honda Odyssey, so I'm dying to take the drive. Were doing a test run next week, leaving Sunday, for a few days in Virginia. Hitting Busch Gardens and Virginia Beach for a little pre Disney trip vacation.

P.S. I'll PM ya if I remember. I don't think I'd wanna come home either.

 

[richmo]

A few thoughts on driving:

I-95 is OK if you hit it right. I'd try to time it so you don't hit Baltimore/DC at rush hour. Sometimes the worst stretch of 95 is actually just south of Washington, between DC and Dumfries, VA. That's the section where they reverse the middle lanes depending upon the time of day. Once you're thru that, you're in good shape. (You could take DE 1, US 301 or I-97 to US 301 out of Baltimore to avoid this and come out on I-95 a little north of Richmond if you think you're hitting DC area at a bad time). I-295 around Richmond is also a good idea. The I-81 way mentioned isn't bad, but it does add some distance, especially from Philly burbs. It makes more sense for those from a little further west in PA. Also, my very unofficial observation is there seems to be more trucks on I-81, and it has a lot more hills, so its a little tricky at times.

It probably wouldn't work out, but it might not hurt to check out car rental rates in the Philly area or at least PHL. Sometimes its worth not putting 2000+ miles on your own car.

I wouldn't recommend the drive for trips much shorter than a week. If you're up around 10-14 days, it makes a lot more sense.

You could also consider the AutoTrain, but it doesn't financially make sense unless your trip is long (probably at least 2 weeks)

Figure about 17 hours, including light and quick stops. Whether you decide to do it in one or two days is entirely up to you.

Naturally, the drive down is a lot more fun than the ride home. You'll need far more activities for the return trip. The anticipation is gone...

 

[RK13]

A few thoughts on driving:

I-95 is OK if you hit it right. I'd try to time it so you don't hit Baltimore/DC at rush hour. Sometimes the worst stretch of 95 is actually just south of Washington, between DC and Dumfries, VA. That's the section where they reverse the middle lanes depending upon the time of day. Once you're thru that, you're in good shape. (You could take DE 1, US 301 or I-97 to US 301 out of Baltimore to avoid this and come out on I-95 a little north of Richmond if you think you're hitting DC area at a bad time). I-295 around Richmond is also a good idea. The I-81 way mentioned isn't bad, but it does add some distance, especially from Philly burbs. It makes more sense for those from a little further west in PA. Also, my very unofficial observation is there seems to be more trucks on I-81, and it has a lot more hills, so its a little tricky at times..

Have you ever driven down US 301? I was looking at that road as an option. Is it a straight 2 lane hwy or does it have lights?
Driving down next month, last year we took 95. Left Sat morning at 3:30am, was fine until the Dumfries area. Made the mistake of not getting in the HOV lane. Little stop and go, but finally stopped in Ashland, VA for breakfast around 10am. After that, smooth drive to Florence, SC.
This year plan to leave at 2:30am Fri morning, hoping to avoid the DC/VA traffic.

 

[flafan]

We thought we would miss a lot leaving at 4:30 but hit everything possible terrible rain, construction, accidents and rush hour traffic
We finally got off of 95 just because my husband couldn't take it anymore
We r now on rte 115 in CT somewhere GPS says we will be home by 10:38
We e four hours behind schedule
Worst trip ever
I will plan better next time
Thanks again for your suggestions

 

[flafan]

Sorry for the above post it was meant for another thread

 

[richmo]

Have you ever driven down US 301? I was looking at that road as an option. Is it a straight 2 lane hwy or does it have lights?

Both. If I recall, if you choose to get off I-95 in Delaware and pick up DE 896, that turns into US 301, there's several lights in Delaware. If you go down DE 1, which is a toll road, you can avoid many of them. You'd cut back over to US 301 on DE 299 near Middletown. Probably a few lights there, but overall savings, timewise. Once you're in Maryland and Virginia, many parts of US 301 are actually four lane divided highways. Not many lights, but I believe there may be several around Waldorf. When you get into Va., I'd cut over on VA 207 to get back to I-95. You come in well below the Dumfries mess, a little south of Fredericksburg.

Actually, if you're going early morning, that merge wouldn't be an issue since the extra lanes will be pointed north...it seems that is worst in the PM rush and afterwards.

 

[stitchlovestink]

Have you ever driven down US 301? I was looking at that road as an option. Is it a straight 2 lane hwy or does it have lights?
Driving down next month, last year we took 95. Left Sat morning at 3:30am, was fine until the Dumfries area. Made the mistake of not getting in the HOV lane. Little stop and go, but finally stopped in Ashland, VA for breakfast around 10am. After that, smooth drive to Florence, SC.
This year plan to leave at 2:30am Fri morning, hoping to avoid the DC/VA traffic.

I HATE 301 and if it is a fri/sat/sun you could have to contend with those going to all the beaches on the eastern shore if it is summertime or early fall and its a special event weekend. I would much rather deal with the rolling back up (which WE did NOT encounter on our way to WDW btw...LOL!) Than the lights and lower speed limits on 301 and there much easier places for speed traps on 301!!! The speed limit is never over 55 and the lights get OLD fast IMO! But to each his her own. Plus you will have to contend with the bay bridge and if there are any problems there!! Well.... Again, to each, his/her own! Good Luck with your decision!

 

[RK13]

Thanks for the input. Will stick with 95. Plan on leaving b/w 2-2:30am

Been checking google maps live traffic and it usually shows green for the time I expect to arrive in the Northern VA area. I'll keep my fingers crossed.