Driving home from FL to MD

[laurabelle]

Trying to decide where to stop overnight on the way back. I'm spending the last 2 nights of my trip @ Dolphin, and would much rather spend part of the day there than hitting the road early.
We are going to follow Uncleromulus' route and stop in Brunswick Ga on the way down, but I'm thinking I'd like to get a bit farther than that the first driving day on the trip home. Thanks!

 

[MinnieGi]

Although we stopped in Savannah, GA on the way down, we drove straight through on the way home! (We're in DE) We didn't intend to do that but by the time we got up to VA and stopped to eat we were excited to get home and decided we were going for it. We pulled up at about 1:30 am to our house. It was so nice sleeping in our own beds that night.

However for this coming trip if we drive down we will be hanging around a bit on our departure day so I know we won't make it all the way home. We'll just drive until we can feel it's time to stop. I always have several hotel guides in the car so I know what is coming up and can call and check their availability.

Good luck!

 

[Uncleromulus]

On our trip home we stop in Emporia Va.--either at Hampton Inn, or Best Western. Leaves about a 5 hour (maybe a little less) drive that next day.

 

[JudithM]

We almost always spend a night on the road when traveling to FL. Last week we made a very quick trip to the Orlando area to see a friend - we didn't even go to a WDW park. We tried to stop in Richmond Hills, GA at the Hampton Inn, but there was a no vacancy sign on the door. They are close to Fort Stewart & had lots of military families there. We were able to get a room at the Hampton Inn in Darien, GA.

Sometimes we stop in Santee, SC at Clark's. We usually find a coupon in the booklets at the Welcome Centers.

 

[laurabelle]

Thanks! You guys make planning a breeze! I'm going to follow your route home too Uncleromulus--thanks for paving the way!

My family did a road trip 2 years ago out to the Midwest and we didn't have ressies for a hotel on the road and ended up searching for over an hour when we happened to stop in a town that was having a college sporting even that weekend and EVERYTHING was booked for miles around. I don't want to do that again, so I really want my hotels for the drive lined up ahead of time!

 

[Uncleromulus]

Glad we all could help!!
The way was "paved" thru much trial and error--stop too soon and you give up some valuable drive time and leave too far to go next day. Stop too late and your really tired--and like minniegi, you find yourself saying "why stop at all" lets drive straight thru.

WE do the Brunswick/Emporia thing again in just 3 short weeks-can't wait!!

 

[laurabelle]

What time do you usually leave Disney for the trip home via Emporia? The hotels usually like you there before 6:00pm. I'd like to squeeze out every last minute I can @ Dolphin since it's our 1st stay there!

 

[Uncleromulus]

We usually leave around 6:00 AM or so on Saturday. We're usually in Emporia around 5:30-6:00 in the evening..maybe a bit later if we stop a lot. My wife has a blood clot, so we need to stop every 2 hours so she can get out of the car and walk around.

We usually make reservations for Hampton Inn in Brunswick and best WEstern in Emporia, on-line in, advance. That way we're sure to have a room, and check- in can be most any time. Actually, when we get to the motels when we do, very few rooms are "taken". But by 9:00 10;00 PM, the place is usually packed.

Should add that when we leave Emporia on Sunday morning (a little after 6:30--(they have donuts and coffee there) the trip back isn't too bad traffic wise. Still busy, but we get to the DC area relatively early and there is no "rush" hour on Sunday.

 

[laurabelle]

Uncleromulus,
Bless her heart! My mom has problems with blood clots, has even had a PE, she wouldn't dream of taking a road trip. I'm glad to hear your wife isn't letting that slow her down!
Thanks again for all your help

 

[AspiringCindy]

1 suggestion! When you are ready to leave Fla. calculate where you think you would want to stop judging from your WDW departure time and book something immediately. Last summer, traveling from Fla to NJ, we tried to stop once we entered NC. Every hotel along I95 was sold out through NC and almost all VA. We wound up driving straight through and didn't arrive home until 8:00 am. It was brutal!

 

[Uncleromulus]

Aspiringcindy has a point--get TOO far into Va. and you'll find yourself thinking about going all the way home that nite. A good idea on the face of it, but real tough driving if you've been on the road since 6:00AM.
Mrs. Uncleromulus usually rides in the back seat, so she can lay down and prop her feet up on a pillow from time to time. That, plus our frequent stops, has worked well.
Of course, it does mean that Uncleromulus does all the driving