Driving from TX (Lord help us all...)

[VickiVM]

We did this drive a few years ago from San Antonio and we stopped both ways to spend the night. I'm trying to talk DH into driving straight through (I'll help) since it seems to me that we kill so much time finding a motel along the way, checking in, packing up the next morning, checking out and getting back on the road. We are planning on leaving in the evening on a Friday when the kids get out of school and I'm thinking that they'll be out for the majority of the trip and this would also be less stressful. Am I crazy?? Has anyone else driven the 1170.2 mi (one way) straight through and lived to regret it? We have a 4, 6 and 8 yr old and we're not the most disciplined family around when it comes to traveling. Love to hear other's experiences.

 

[Chuck S]

I've driven straight through once, but I usually prefer to leave Seguin about 3am (to avoid the heavy traffic in Houston) and stop for the night in Marianna FL. there is a nice Hampton Inn there. Then we'll leave Marianna about 8 or 8:30 and get to WDW in the late morning/early afternoon. You'll have to make more stops along the way with kids, probably at almost every rest area, and it will take time. By the time you do that, you may as well stop for the night. Why arrive at WDW already exhausted?

 

[MMCD]

We drove from Dallas. I think it took us 23 hours. Boys 9, 8 (friend), and 1.5 years slept and/or watched DVDs. I would do 3 kids in a minvan or 2 in an SUV or car. DH and I split driving time 50/50 going there and 60/40 coming back. We'd stop just to get gas or to relieve ourselves. With 3 kids it's hard to stop for 10 minutes. Our average stop was 20 minutes with one stop being at McDonalds for 45 minutes. I always pack sandwiches, drinks, snacks and breakfast. I usually do the grave yard shift because DH can't sleep in the car during daylight.

Going to WDW is by far the longest (straight through) driving I've personnally (SP?) ever done. We always drive to CO to ski which is only 16 hours or we go to the midwest: St. Louis (10 hours), Indy (15 hours), and Chi (18 hours). So we are "conditioned" straight through drivers.

You can do it!!

MMCD

 

[Simba's Mom]

DS took a bus straight through-high school band trip from the Rio Grande Valley. Left Tuesday after school and arrived Wednesday by supper time. However, the bus even had it's own toilet facilities.