Driving from Upstate NY

[disneyagain]

Whenever we drive down to Florida (since I was a kid), we've always gone down 81 to Winchester, VA, across 17 to I-95 in Fredericksburg down to I-4 in FL across to WDW. I-95 is great, if traffic is moving, but we all know what happens if there's an accident, you could be stuck for hours.

Here's my question, I'm looking at going all the way down 81 to rt 77 through Charlotte and Columbia and coming onto I-95 down in SC near the GA border. The mileage looks about the same or close enough, but will that route take us more time?

We'll be going in August, so we won't have to worry about the "winter" weather in the mountains.

Anyone driven both ways, what's your opinion?

Of course, I'm still hoping for an unbelievable cheap airfare for the 4 of us so we won't have to drive

TIA!

 

[grinningghost]

When we drive from upstate NY (Buffalo area) we usually go I-95, but we have taken I-75 too. I know it's not 77, and I'm not sure we've ever gone 77, but we might have - sometimes I get fuzzy if I'm not the driver.

But to be honest, I-95 has always been the best way, even when we've tried other "backroads" to avoid traffic, we always say "shoulda stayed on 95".

Have a good trip!

 

[hobogary]

We've done both routes. about the same distance and time. You have to go thru Charlotte, but everything else is not crowded,but very hilly. In summer, not a bad way to go. Plan your stops because much less at the exits than on I 95.

 

[We Love the Mouse!]

This summer will be our 3rd summer in a row that we have driven. We live about an hour south of Rochester. We take 15 to 81 to 77 to 26 to 95. We don't get on 95 until middle of SC. We really like this route. We are always frustated when we hit 95 because the road isn't as good and that's when we hit traffic. We usually leave at about 3:00 or 3:30pm and drive straight through, stopping for food, gas and bathroom breaks. With the kids we really like driving through the night. Last year we had breakfast in Jacksonville and were at Disney by around 11:30 or so.

 

[NALA 24]

We have driven both ways and definitely prefer the I-77 Route. Just make sure you time the Charlotte (Lake Norman) area correctly. On the weekends, we have sat in traffic there for a while.