Driving I-95

[TiggerPiglet]

We really want to stay at the Poly this August, but it seems the only way we can do it is to drive from NJ. We're thinking about taking three days to drive, we're hoping this way it won't seem like torture. From looking at the map we were thinking about stopping first at Rocky Mt., NC and then Savannah, GA. Does anyone know anything about Rocky Mt., NC? Can we expect to find a nice clean hotel there? Is it kid friendly? Or can someone recommend another city close by that might be better. We really don't want to go too far off of 95. I've heard good things about Savannah. Did I hear right or should we avoid Savannah?
Coming home we might try to do it in two days. Can anyone recommend a good midpoint? Sorry about all the questions. I'm sort of nervous. I hate staying in places where I have no idea about them. Thanks for any help anyone can give me.

 

[TREEFROG00]

I just spoke with a friend of mine. She is from Penn. and had traveled many times to Florida, where she lives now. She states that Rocky Mount, NC is about 8 hours from here, Amelia Island, Florida. We are just across the state line. We are also only 3 to 3 1/2 hours from Disney.

You may want to consider staying here. We have a beautiful town.

 

[Ratpack]

Rocky Mount is a decent sized city so you should have no traouble finding a good clean place to stay. Can't really recommend a specific place though.

Savanah is a great place to visit. If I remember correctly, there are lots of hotels at that exit off I-95. Just remember Savanah is a tourist town also. Prices may be a little higher and crowded. You may want to go a little further down. In fact from Rocky Mount, NC you should be able to get to Disney in about 10 hours if that is not too far for one days drive.

 

[Saffron]

PandyPaws posted THIS SITE awhile back and I found it to be very helpful. Maybe you will too. It's about driving I-95 and the hotels along the way.

I've heard really good things about Savannah. We're stopping there on our way home. I can't wait.

 

[Cindy B]

We drive straight through.. no stopping.. from PA suburbs/now Jersey suburbs... down I 95.

Its not bad at all... We do it inbetween 16-20 hours driving..

 

[CamColt]

Im with Cindy! We drive straight through from MA, and its about a 24 hour ride. I was dead set against driving until we were scheduled to fly out 9/24/01. The driving seemed like our easiest option instead of getting stuck in an airport for God knows how long. Well, we did it, and I found out it wasnt bad at all. We have since driven it again, and plan to do so again in August. Just think, if you dont stop along the way, theres more Disney time.

 

[SuiteDisney]

We also drive straight through - from S.E. PA. In fact, we're leaving Friday at 8:00 pm and should get there around noon.

 

[Dream]

We drive straight thru from Va. now, but we did it in 2 days when the kids were little. We would get as far as St Augustine and spend the night there...only a couple more hours the next day.
Savannah is a beautiful city...but touristy and VERY busy in the summer...make your ressies early if you are staying there. MANY nice hotels right off the interstate...you can't go wrong really...but just a few minutes more would take you into historic Savannah with lots of cool stuff within walking distance!
Nothing special about Rocky Mount but it is decent sized so you should be able to find a nice room fairly easily. Research it though...it does have its fair share of "dives".

 

[Lorix2]

We drove from NH at 4:30AM til 5:30PM or so and got off I-95, exit 173 in Roanoke Rapids, NC (is that before or after Rocky Mount, can't remember)...anyway.... There was a Sleep Inn and a Hampton Inn side by side.

We chose the Sleep Inn because it had an indoor pool for the kids to swim and unwind in.

Across the street were plenty of gas stations, a Cracker Barrel, a Texas Steakhouse, convenient stores and a Walmart near by.

We found this place very clean, safe, friendly staff and very conveniently located right off the highway. In fact, we stayed there again on our return trip home.

HTH!

 

[TiggerPiglet]

Thanks everyone for the quick and helpful responses.
Saffron, thank you so much for the great site. I'll definately be looking it over.
For those of you who drive straight through, do you have small children? We have two ages 3 (will be 4 at the time we go) and 7. We just thought it would be a nightmare driving straight through. We thought three days would be good, because it wouldn't be so much time in the car, but after reading your posts I'm thinking maybe we could try doing it in two days.
Thanks again for all the responses, it was a great help.

 

[Cindy B]

Yes, I have smallish kids... the first trip we took back in 1999 was my DD was two and a few months, and my son was just about five...

We left at 4 pm... made a stop at 900 pm, ate, got them dressed in PJ's and they slept until about 2 or 3 am.


There we stopped again (South of the Border), they woke up, took them potty, and then continued on the journey.

It was tricky in some ways, because DD was potty training. We just gave her pull ups then.

2nd trip.. same thing.

This past August I had a four almost five (my DD) and a seven year old. Same thing, but after South of the Border my son (the seven year old) decided to stay up and talk and talk and talk!

 

[BWVDenise]

Went from NJ to Hilton Head, SC this past June. We left at 4:00 to miss the D.C. traffic and got to SC around 4:30 in the afternoon. This June we are going to WDW and will stop in Savannah. I think it helps to get the bulk of the driving done the first day if you can. Just leave super early!

 

[primax]

Hello, I'm from Gloucester County NJ. My parents(Gloucester County also) who are up in age live the winters in Naples Florida (approximately 3- 4 hours from Orlando). The drive down in two days and the return trip is 2 days. I know they stay in GA right off I-95 (not sure what city). You should really consider a 2 drive so you don't loose a day of disney. I really would encourage this option considering my parents are very spoiled and when they can do it and not complain so can anyone else from NJ.

 

[BWVDenise]

I'm in Gloucester County, too! Just wanted to say HI!!

 

[PandyPaws]

I JUST completed the return trip and arrived home here at 5:30

PLEASE...re-think stopping twice. I did that exactly one time, thinking it would make the drive easier...it didnt!! It made the road trip seem relentlessly loooong, ugh! Never, never, never again. It's also much easier with kids to say we'll be in Disney "tomorrow", when you first start out.

On the way down I try to drive about two-thirds of the way the first day, and the last third the second day. I usually stop in SC or even GA. I do the trip all the time though, and never stop in the same place....I just go until I am tired. There are hundreds of hotel chains along the way, never a problem finding one. I kind of like the Hampton Inns....the last couple of trips I've just taken the 800 number along and called when I was ready to stop....asking "is there a room available in such-and-such town"....when I get off the highway, my key is ready at the desk

Coming home yesterday and today...I left WDW at 2:30pm...and called the Hampton Inn in Emporia, VA....I made it there by 11:15 last night. Today I drove from 9:45 and arrived home at 5:30 in CT with a one-hour stop in Maryland. Travel time was real good this time....I'd say I average about 18 hours

 

[Mark P.]

We drove from Southern NJ (Cumberland Co.), and did it in 2 easy days. We did that with an 8yr. old and 9 month old.

The trick (imo) from NJ area is to leave real early, around 3 or 4'ish in the a.m., to avoid the DC rush. Then just make sure to take 295 around Richmond, VA, and at Jacksonville when you reach it the next day.

By doing the above, we easily reached the southern portion of SC the first day, making for a 5-6 hour ride to WDW the next morning

 

[primax]

Originally posted by BWVDenise
I'm in Gloucester County, too! Just wanted to say HI!!

Hey Hey,

WAVE! Nice to see others from the area(DGF DD and I live in West Deptford)!

 

[Disney Doll]

It would seem to me that from New Jersey, you should be able to do the drive with one overnight. I'd do two 11 hour days of driving, with the overnight between them.