Driving from toronto, what's the best route to take?

[tmcgraw]

Were planning on making the drive to Disney from Toronto in mid-April. What is the best route to take? I'm leaning towards,the I-79 route. We're not driving late, but are breaking the drive up. Leaving Thursday after work to get over the border and then hopefully driving as far as we can on the Friday. Any suggestions would be great!

 

[OntFamily]

We live in Mississauga, and have only driven via I-79 when driving south (though we've driven it about 8 times, including March, April, and Summer). It's an easy drive -- nice scenery, and lots of convenient places to stop.

 

[HappilyEverAfter80]

We took I-75, less scenic but an easier route I think, especially if driving in the winter.

 

[migel]

We always take the 79 route, we leave from the Niagara Region. If splitting up the drive, we usually stop in Columbia SC for an overnight. That makes day 1 about 12 hours (not including breaks), day 2 is a short 6-7 hours.

 

[chartle]

We drive from Pittsburgh and the only real "bad" part is the drive through West Virginia. Its about a third of the trip for us and there really isn't a lot of places to stop.

Its a long windy road up and down the mountains with very few places to stop.

 

[starvenger]

The way I see it, I-75 breaks up nicely over 3 days, whereas from what people say I-79 is best done over two, BUT if you're leaving after work you can probably reach Pittsburgh (or at least Erie) before sleeping. I-79 seems to be the better option though, in spite of the 402-like stretches of nothing.

For I-75, you'd hit the Ambassador Bridge in about 3-4 hours, and then you'd reach Toledo, Findlay, Lima, Dayton and Cincinnati every 45 minutes or so. Probably sleeping in Windsor is your best option there - might as well not get killed by the US dollar before you have to. But if you do that, you're going to hit cross-border traffic on Friday morning, and I'm not sure you'd want that.

 

[suse66]

We took I 75 last March with no trouble at all. We did the drive straight on the way down, taking three hour driving shifts. On the way home we stopped in Atlanta over night then a LONG day on the Saturday. We had no issues with weather and the roads were in terrific shape. If we had more time this year, we'd do it again but with only a week we are flying out of Detroit.

 

[hardis5]

Used to always drive I-75 down and then once did the I-79 route and have not since the other since. I-75 is more leisure and straightforward but we find I-79 more scenic (at least more variety in the scenery). The only downside I find is driving the south end of PA or the mountains at night (we've done a number of straight-thru drives) and deer after dark can be a little unnerving when too close to the road.

If not driving straight-thru, we stop on the way down like a PP in Columbia SC day 1 as that leaves a short drive day 2. We have even left after dinner day 1 when the youngest was really small so we could get the night with him asleep in his car seat and arrived in Columbia late morning and made a day of it around the Columbiana Centre before an early night close by.

 

[GoofyCdn]

We live in Hamilton and have done both I-75 and I-79. My wife does not like driving I-79 as it is very mountainous and there are a few points that she finds very scary at night when the truckers are going through there very fast. We have also do the I-77 route. It is only slightly longer than I-79, basically you head over to Cleveland and then south from there instead of heading south starting in Pennsylvania. The I-77 route only adds about 30 minutes to I-79 route. We like the I-75 route as it is much more leisurely and I find that there are much more truck stops open 24 hours and with bigger washrooms available on the I-75 route than the other two.

 

[Tashsco]

If you take the I-79 route be careful when you take Hwy 19 through Summersville West Virginia. Lots of troopers and radar on this road. Just go right at the speed limit and you will be fine. Limit goes up and down as you go through the different towns, so just be aware and careful

 

[lizzyb]

We went the I79 route last year but will try the I75 this year

 

[Debbie]

Major problems on I75 for the next month. Story HERE.

 

[starvenger]

Rockslides. Yikes.

 

[tmcgraw]

Major problems on I75 for the next month. Story HERE.

Well, that's settled. I-79 it is!! Thanks for posting this

 

[chartle]

Well, that's settled. I-79 it is!! Thanks for posting this

Wave to the left as you pass over the Big Blue bridge that spans the Ohio River . I live a mile or two up the road.

 

[Csaks]

Always take the 79 route. Even went through a snow storm in Dec once. No big deal unless your take Toronto's CityPanic view of snowstorms then you might have a problem. LOL Don't understand the people saying there is nothing along this route for stops. We've never had a problem finding gas, food or hotels. Feels like driving to Kingston on the 401, stuff here and there but not every exit.
I can't remember how 75 is because the last time I went on it I was 12, I guess there must be stuff on every exit.

 

[chartle]

... LOL Don't understand the people saying there is nothing along this route for stops. We've never had a problem finding gas, food or hotels....

Just seems like there are not a lot of stops in the very long West Virginia portion of the trip.

 

[marisabuzz]

Sorry to hijack this thread, but for those of you who have done this drive from the GTA, how often do you fill on gas? Do you drive a car/van/SUV? We are flying this year, but in future trips we plan on driving if it means we will save some $$.

 

[Csaks]

Sorry to hijack this thread, but for those of you who have done this drive from the GTA, how often do you fill on gas? Do you drive a car/van/SUV? We are flying this year, but in future trips we plan on driving if it means we will save some $$.

Try the AAA gas trip calculator, start in Buffalo to Orlando. Gives you a pretty accurate estimate.

 

[Csaks]

Just seems like there are not a lot of stops in the very long West Virginia portion of the trip.

I guess not. Never even noticed but I guess you are right. I'll let you know Monday night when we stop. lol
I take it 75 has way more stoppable exits?