Driving from VA to WDW

[JEWLSVERN]

We are planning to leave on a Friday about 2-3pm. It is about a 12 hour drive to WDW. Last time we drove to Disney we stopped in Savannah Ga. It was just to far a drive for the second day and we got in very late. So now we want to drive further on the first day to give us a 3-5 hour max drive. We want to arrive at disney no later than 2 pm on Saturday.

Where should we stop for the night? We don't mind driving really late on Friday. Even midnight is fine for us since the kids will sleep in the car.

 

[bigbabyblues]

We drive from Ohio. Normally, leave late afternoon and drive straight through. This year, we left a lot earlier in the day but had a lot of delays in WV. We ended up stopping at exit 1 near the ga/fl line, in St. Mary's, GA. We stayed at a Hampton Inn that was clean and inexpensive.

 

[JEWLSVERN]

Anyone else have suggestions?

 

[quietgirll]

Jacksonville or st Augustine are good stopping points...

 

[WDWLODGE]

We used to drive straight through from Pittsburgh to WDW. Now that my in-laws moved an hour south of Tampa we now stop in Jacksonville. We always stay at the Hyatt Place near the Jacksonville Airport. It is a nice hotel and about $90/night.

 

[Robert P]

We are planning to leave on a Friday about 2-3pm. It is about a 12 hour drive to WDW. Last time we drove to Disney we stopped in Savannah Ga. It was just to far a drive for the second day and we got in very late. So now we want to drive further on the first day to give us a 3-5 hour max drive. We want to arrive at disney no later than 2 pm on Saturday.

Where should we stop for the night? We don't mind driving really late on Friday. Even midnight is fine for us since the kids will sleep in the car.

From the Savannah area, where we used to stop (just South of the SC/GA line), it's 300 miles to WDW. Assuming 75 mph running with traffic, for us that's 4 hours w/o stops. Now, we prefer to push further South, and stay in Jacksonville. Once you cross the bridge downtown on I-95, you have 160 miles to WDW. (Just as a random point of information, the FL/GA line to WDW is 190 miles). We get to sleep a little later the next day, and still make WDW before Noon.

 

[eangel12]

From the Savannah area, where we used to stop (just South of the SC/GA line), it's 300 miles to WDW. Assuming 75 mph running with traffic, for us that's 4 hours w/o stops. Now, we prefer to push further South, and stay in Jacksonville. Once you cross the bridge downtown on I-95, you have 160 miles to WDW. (Just as a random point of information, the FL/GA line to WDW is 190 miles). We get to sleep a little later the next day, and still make WDW before Noon.

Where do you stay in Jacksonville? We are looking at Hampton Inn on 95.

 

[JEWLSVERN]

From the Savannah area, where we used to stop (just South of the SC/GA line), it's 300 miles to WDW. Assuming 75 mph running with traffic, for us that's 4 hours w/o stops. Now, we prefer to push further South, and stay in Jacksonville. Once you cross the bridge downtown on I-95, you have 160 miles to WDW. (Just as a random point of information, the FL/GA line to WDW is 190 miles). We get to sleep a little later the next day, and still make WDW before Noon.

When we stayed in savannah we left around 9am but didn't get to WDW until 4pm. We had to call and push our ADR later or we would have missed it. Too much traffic and too many miles. We do have 3 young kids so the shorter that drive in the daytime the better.

 

[Robert P]

Where do you stay in Jacksonville? We are looking at Hampton Inn on 95.

Since we try to stay where we use or earn spg (Starwoods) points, we have been staying at the Sheraton Jacksonville. It's one road off of Butler Blvd (202), kind of a main drag expressway a couple of miles South of the I-95 bridge downtown. Easy access to 95 or the 295 East bypass. Clean, quiet, feels safe. No complaints at all. I'd estimate 154 miles to WDW property the next morning, and you start off South of most of Jacksonville traffic, so leaving on a weekday morning isn't bad either.