Driving from Toronto questions

[Terapin]

We're heading down to the World in March, before the March break. Can I have your advice about route and timing?

We are thinking of leaving west Toronto around 1400 and driving until 2100 or so. Where would this get us approximately and would we be hitting any rushhour hotspots around 5pm?

We are thinking of making the next day a big driving day, getting to somewhere around south of Savannah. I think that would make our second day about a 10-11 hour driving day. Probably being on the road by 0800 and off by 2000-2100 (after a sit-down dinner).

We'd like to arrive at our Disney hotel by noonish.

Our other option was to drive from 0300 from Toronto, and try to drive for about 18 hours, leaving us with a short trip the next day. I am used to driving when tired, as is DP, and we have driven long distances before, but not quite this long (however we were towing a trailer so those 13 hours were pretty intense and we were not experienced trailer-towers then).

I am torn about how to make this trip. I don't want to spend a lot on hotels and food, and worry that 3 days of driving will be too much for the kids, even if they are shorter days than a 2 day drive would be (they will be 10, 9 and almost 2).

Thoughts? Ideas? Advice?

Thanks!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Whenever my family and I drive to WDW we usually leave our house at 2:00 AM and drive all the way to Cleveland, Tennessee. The next morning we would drive to Valdosta, Georgia and spend the night there. I realize we could make it to WDW that day, however we don't want to arrive there in the evening. So by staying in Valdosta we can arrive to WDW the next day sometime in the afternoon.

 

[Ham Ham]

Depends on which you you plan to take. But since you're planning to stay in Savannah I'm guessing you taking the 79/77 route

There's

401/I-75/Florida's Turnpike/SR429
Longer route from GTA , easier on directions
Big cities, Detroit, Dayton/Cincinnati/Atlanta

7 Hours in will put you some where near Dayton, Ohio

Or my preferred route of

QEW/I-190/I-90/I-79/US19/I-77/I-26/I-95/I-4
Shortest route from GTA. Speed trap on US 19 in Summersville WV
Buffalo/Charlotte/Jacksonville

7 hours in will put you in northern WV around Clarksburg

Some folks preferred the I-75 route during the winter because you go through mountains further south. A bad storm is a bad storm no matter which route you take.
The most prudent thing to do is check the weather the day you leave and see what's going to develop on your route.

 

[Terapin]

Thanks - I appreciate the response. I might come back just before we go and get your weather-appropriate recommendations.

I'd love to hear others' experiences of the drive, too. I have been reading the archives.

 

[Bushmills]

I would humbly echo Ham Ham's comments about the drive. We're in Hamilton, and have done the treck many, many times. We usually leave around 3:00 in the afternoon. This allows us to miss most rush hour traffic, and drive through the night (nice to have the highway all to your self). Taking the 79/77/95 route that Ham describes, typically puts us at our Fla destination within 19 hours (stopping only for gas). Not sure if your schedule permits, but if need be, you can make it in one fell swoop. Also, take a look at the I19 to connect 79 & 77 - shaves a few minutes off the drive (as Ham has outlined). In summary, if you don't like staying over (we don't - would rather just get down there), you can make it in less than 22 hours. Hope this helps a bit.
Cheers,
Bushmills

 

[aanderson5]

We also prefer the Buffalo/Charlotte/Jacksonville route. We leave early in the AM 3:30-4:00. This way DS falls back asleep for several hours. It can take him around and hour to get back to sleep but then he is good till 8-8:30. The last two years we took 3 days to go down but only 2 coming home. The first year we thought two 10+ hr days would be too much for a one year old and the second year we were traveling with friends and that's they way they wanted to do it. This year we are doing it in 2 days both ways.

We find that travelling on the weekend works best. No rush hours to deal with and they don't seem to do construction on the weekend. We had lots of spots listed as construction zones on our Trip Tik but most were not being worked on as we passed.

We try not to stop too much. We stop when DS wakes up for diaper (hopefully potty) break, and then try to only stop a couple more times for bathroom breaks and driver change. We bring lots of snacks/lunch in the car to minimize stops. DS stays entertained with a DVD player, books, stickers, small toys and he has a nap. We have done many 5+ hr trips as well as a trip to Vermont and 2 to Florida. We usually get to the hotel around 3:00 and have time to relax and go out to eat. I don't remember the towns we stopped in but I did do a trip plan on CAA website and had scouted out a few different towns at our aproximate planned stop distance.

I really like driving. Saves money, can carry lots of gear, plenty of room to bring back outlet stuff and I acctually enjoy the ride. The drive is hardest on DH who has some back issues. But he suffers through even if it means a few trips to the chiropracter when we get back.

Have a great trip.

 

[dancin Disney style]

I really do not like car trips but we have driven down the last 2 years in a row.

The only way that I can tollerate the drive is by leaving home between 2 and 3am. Then driving until approx 9pm. It makes for only 1 long day. We pack a cooler with drinks and snacks as well we pack breakfast and lunch. Then we stop for a quick dinner. Usually McDs or something similar. We decided that it was not worth wasting time sitting in a restaurant for a served meal.

We stop at a hotel that includes breakfast. By doing the first day marathon we are able to sleep in a bit get breakfast and then hit the road. We then can arrive at WDW for lunch.

This year we left home at 2:30am and stopped in Savannah GA at around 9:15pm. We only had 3.5 hours left for the next day. It was perfect.

 

[Hockeychic]

We have driven both routes and I really don't like the I75 route....very long and boring.

The other route described...I always get the HWY order wrong but 90/77/79 something like that. In the past we have left mid afternoon to avoid traffic and driven straight through to US 19. Beckley or something like that ...sorry haven't driven it in a while. Anyways there are lots of hotels on US 19 we stop there around 10PM get up early the next day and have arrived in Disney early afternoon.

Although I hate flying, I much prefer to be there in 2.5 hours!!!!! So I now fly but it can be a nice drive.

If you do I75, buy the book, Along I75 it has a lot of great info on hotels, restaurants , rest stops ext.

 

[OntFamily]

We're heading down to the World in March, before the March break. Can I have your advice about route and timing?

We are thinking of leaving west Toronto around 1400 and driving until 2100 or so. Where would this get us approximately and would we be hitting any rushhour hotspots around 5pm?

We are thinking of making the next day a big driving day, getting to somewhere around south of Savannah. I think that would make our second day about a 10-11 hour driving day. Probably being on the road by 0800 and off by 2000-2100 (after a sit-down dinner).

We'd like to arrive at our Disney hotel by noonish.

Our other option was to drive from 0300 from Toronto, and try to drive for about 18 hours, leaving us with a short trip the next day. I am used to driving when tired, as is DP, and we have driven long distances before, but not quite this long (however we were towing a trailer so those 13 hours were pretty intense and we were not experienced trailer-towers then).

I am torn about how to make this trip. I don't want to spend a lot on hotels and food, and worry that 3 days of driving will be too much for the kids, even if they are shorter days than a 2 day drive would be (they will be 10, 9 and almost 2).

Thoughts? Ideas? Advice?

Thanks!

We'll be doing the drive in March as well (it'll be a long convoy of drivers for March Break). 7 driving hours out of TO will get you to about Clarksburg, WV (I stayed there a few years ago - nice Comfort Inn). If 7 hours of driving is to much, you can make Morgantown, WV in 6. It's an easy 10 hour drive to Savannah, the next day. This timing/routing will avoid any rush hours (though if you can survive Toronto, not to much will faze you).

Essential items for the trip:
portable DVD player
GPS

not essential, but helpful
EZ Pass

 

[nokidz]

we leave about 8am and drive straight through to St. Augustine. With two drivers, we take 4 to 5 hour shifts. We always go the 400/407/QEW/I-190/I-90/I-79/US19/I-77/I-26/I-95/I-4 route.
as always, check the weather channel, often, before you depart and adjust times accordingly.

 

[joiev98]

We are leaving next Fri. Dec. 12 from T.O. area at around 12:30 p.m. Do you think this is a bad idea? And how bad is the drive through the mountains? Would it be dangerous to drive through them at night?

 

[Ham Ham]

We are leaving next Fri. Dec. 12 from T.O. area at around 12:30 p.m. Do you think this is a bad idea? And how bad is the drive through the mountains? Would it be dangerous to drive through them at night?

It will be dark by the time you get to I-79 just west of Pittsburgh. I would drive to Summersville, WV and get a hotel for the night.

WDW is about a 14 hour drive the next day.

As for it being a bad idea it depends on your comfort level.
I wouldn't want to be on the road it there's a storm or a chance of freezing rain. Mountains, plains(great for white outs) it doesn't make a difference bad weather is bad weather.

 

[nokidz]

It will be dark by the time you get to I-79 just west of Pittsburgh. I've drive to Summersville and get a hotel for the night.

WDW is about a 14 hour drive the next day.

As for it being a bad idea it depends on your comfort level.
I wouldn't want to be on the road it there's a storm or a chance of freezing rain. Mountains, plains(great for white outs) it doesn't make a difference bad weather is bad weather.

Ham Ham is right, depends on your comfort level and the weather conditions. we drive straight through every time. But, we are prepared to take a room at anytime. When driving at night, always be on the look out for the wildlife.

 

[DonaldDC]

We'll be doing the drive in March as well (it'll be a long convoy of drivers for March Break). 7 driving hours out of TO will get you to about Clarksburg, WV (I stayed there a few years ago - nice Comfort Inn). If 7 hours of driving is to much, you can make Morgantown, WV in 6. It's an easy 10 hour drive to Savannah, the next day. This timing/routing will avoid any rush hours (though if you can survive Toronto, not to much will faze you).

Essential items for the trip:
portable DVD player
GPS

not essential, but helpful
EZ Pass

Can you (or anyone else) recommend a good hotel to stay at in Morgantown?