Driving NJ to FL: Stop overnight or straight through?

[DVCinderella]

Next month we are planning to drive from NJ to WDW with our 2 1/2 year old twins. We're trying to decide whether to drive straight through, or stop in NC/SC/GA. The decision will determine what time we get on the road.

I'm a bit of a night owl, so I think I would be Ok to drive at night, while DH tries to sleep. I was thinking maybe we could get on the road around 9-10pm, and I could probably drive until 3-4am, and ask him to take over. I like the idea of doing most of the drive while the kids are sleeping. I'm concerned that if we stop in an I-95 hotel, the kids will take a long time to settle in for the night, and may not sleep that well anyway. So if I'm going to have a restless night in a hotel, I might as well be on the road and get to WDW faster.

I need advice...will we be over-extending ourselves by pushing straight through? What time should we get on the road? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[pyrxtc]

I think if they're good in the car and you are planning to stop on times just so they can run around for a bit, then you could drive right through.

I have plans to drive down from NH in April and was planning on going right thru but my sister bought a house and wants us all to see it, so we'll stop going down and let her and her DH watch the kids while we get some rest to drive the rest of the way. We'll go straight thru on the way back.

 

[parmtoo]

When my children were small, I drove strait through from Ga, to NJ all the time. The trip was easy b/c I left late at night, and they would sleep. BUT, when we got to NJ, I was exausted! If you and DH can split the driving and each get enough rest, then go for it. Other wise, your first day will not be pleasant if your both to tired to enjoy WDW.

 

[sticker231]

we just drove from Jersey in October. We did the nighttime departure on the way down and the morning departure on the way home. It took 16 1/2 hours both ways. We went straight through both times. I drove the whole time and let DW take care of the kids needs. We had the car packed with dvds and plenty of diversions.

Any questions feel free to ask or pm.

 

[tmatthews]

We drove two times straight through! One time was great (no problems) but the second time my son got sick in VA!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We would do it again if time allowed for it. We always drove through the night. I would go to the dollar store and load up on cheap gifts and when someone was getting rammy......I would reach under my seat and surprise!!!!!!!! We also kept a cooler of juices and food close by with a stackful of DVDs. It can be done especially if you can share the duty of driving! have fun!

 

[momtoBrandon&Jacob]

I would rather not go at all than have to drive from Jersey to Orlando. I've done the math and it is not that much more to fly and when you factor in the convenience of flying rather than driving - I'd put out another $100 or so. Not sure where you are in Jersey, but Continental has some great rates from Newark.

 

[sticker231]

For folks in south Jersey, Spirit also has great deals without having to go through the hassle of Newark. We flew Spirit and were through the inspection in less than five minutes. Last trip we decided to try the drive and had no problems. Everyone has their own reasons.

 

[2002Disneybride]

I am contemplating driving down in April also. I have two kiddos-one 3 and one almost 1 year old. Airfare ranges from 2800 to 1500-so I am not sure what to do about flying yet...I found cheaper airfare (about 1000 from PHL and 1500 from Atlantic City) from Philly flying into Tampa...but then you have to drive from Tampa to Orlando...do-able-but not sure yet...

Still researching...

 

[postalcop]

we drove down sraight through a few years ago. it was me, dh, my sister, ds 2, dd 4 months. we left about midnight, and got to pop about 8 pm. it was a nightmare. not because of the kids,from what i remember, they were no problem. we were just so exhausted. so on the ride home we did stop over night.
so now when we drive down, we now stop in savannah on the way down. and emproia,va. on the way home. we feel more refreshed that way!
good luck with whatever you do.

 

[Dawn68PA]

We live near Harrisburg, PA and have driven this twice. We drive overnight on the way down and usually leave in the morning to drive back. DH takes an extra day off the day we're leaving and sleeps so he can drive most of the night while the rest of us sleep. DH is afraid to fly so there's no other option for us.

It's been fine both times and I really enjoy the interaction with the family during the times we're awake. It's always a real pleasure and I'm not sure I would fly if we could.

 

[DVCinderella]

Thanks for all the great responses!

sticker231:
16 1/2 hours each way...that's great time! I see you are "down the shore". How far are you from the DE Memorial Bridge? We are in Bergen County, so it takes us about 2 hours to get to DE. I was estimating at least 18 hours for our drive. What time did you leave at night? I had been wondering what to do on the trip back...since check-out is in the morning, there's really no choice but to do a daytime drive back. But the thought of all day in the car with the kids awake

tmatthews:
When you say sick, do you mean car sick? I'm worried about this, because last week I had to pick up my brother at the airport, and I brought the kids with me, and DD got car sick. It could've been one of two things...we hit traffic on the turnpike on the way to Newark, so I put on a DVD, and maybe that made her woozy; or, my brother called me that he had landed just as I was getting off the exit for the airport, so I decided not to park, and circle until he came out. It took about 6-7 loops around the airport. Maybe driving in a circle, however big, made her car sick. Either way, I'm now worried about her during the drive to FL.

momtoBrandon&Jacob:
I've been checking rates regularly from EWR, and I know they are very good for the dates we need, and that's killing me. However, we've flown with the kids 4 times in the past 2 years, and particularly after the last flight (very turbulent NJ-to-FL, and 2 hour delay FL-to-NJ), I swore I'd never fly again. Since becoming a Mom, I have become such a nervous flier. I get myself so worked up before we go...so worried I'm going to forget something; so worried I don't have enough to keep them occupied; so worried the other passengers are going to think my kids are the worst-behaved. At this age, they are very hard to control in the airport, so even by the time I get on the flight, I'm exhausted...and I still have 3 more hours of constant entertaining. So after our last trip in May, DH and I decided we would drive next time. True, the biggest thing we are sacrificing is time. But we are saving a lot of money. At $150 r/t, that's $600 total airfare, plus we always rent a car, so that's about $200. If we drive straight through both ways, I'm estimating $300-$400 for gas.

postalcop:
With a 4 month old, I would imagine you had to stop a lot for feedings. We drove to VA when our twins were 12 months, and there were a lot of stops...and not quick stops either, because it took time to do diaper changes and feedings and time to let them run around. We quickly realized that our days of 5min rest stops were over! Thanks for the ideas on where to stop. I've read good reviews on the Dis for Country Inn & Suites, and I marked off 4 of them between NC/SC/GA, in case we have to stop. But I didn't know where to stop on the way back...thanks for recommending Emporia.

Dawn68PA:
I agree with your DH...I've become a very nervous flier, and I like to drive, so I don't mind giving it at least one shot to drive to FL. At least then I can compare it to flying with the kids, and see which works out better.

 

[cranbiz]

Done the drive from MA to FL many times, straight thru every time. Several times by myself.

I have done it twice with small kids. We took our nieces aged 1 and three one time and then the next year when they were 2 and 4.

The biggest problem that we had were the extra potty stops (or lack of them at times)

The girls were fine and we planned it so we left about 7pm so that most of the driving was at night and they were sleeping. Our travel time was between 20 and 22 hours. Bring DVD's and finger snacks (we did chex mix, baggies of cereal, goldfish, etc.)

 

[tmatthews]

DVCinderella:
My DS was sickly anyways....long story but we have it finally figured out...asthma!!! He was always couging which would bring about I don't think he was car sick. But pulling over on I95 was a bit hairy!!!! Not to mention the rest of the ride was "icky"!!!!!! So guess lesson learned here....bring bags!!!

We bought a Yukon XL purposely because we were planning this drive. Even with that big car I think we spent about $300 and gas was about the same as it is now.

As far as driving in the AM after checkout I was nervous too. We travel at holiday time soooo everyone is going back on around the same time. Georgia was a little tough driving because it seems to bottle up going from 4 to 3 to 2lanes but I think everyone is soooo tired from the parks and such they can sleep even in the daytime.

 

[A&CsMom]

Last April we drove straight through from Ontario (about 20 hours one way). It was our third time driving as a family, but our first time straight through. We will never do it again. We left around 2:30 pm on a Friday afternoon, and arrived in Florida at about 1:30 pm the next day. My DH and I shared driving, but between 2 am and 5:30 am, we were struggling, switching drivers every 45 minutes or so. I suggested stopping for a while at a rest stop, but DH wasn't sure that would be safe, so we continued on. We were so exhausted when we arrived, and it took us a day or two to recover.

 

[Harvestmooner]

Last April we drove straight through from Ontario (about 20 hours one way). It was our third time driving as a family, but our first time straight through. We will never do it again. We left around 2:30 pm on a Friday afternoon, and arrived in Florida at about 1:30 pm the next day. My DH and I shared driving, but between 2 am and 5:30 am, we were struggling, switching drivers every 45 minutes or so. I suggested stopping for a while at a rest stop, but DH wasn't sure that would be safe, so we continued on. We were so exhausted when we arrived, and it took us a day or two to recover.

We have driven from NH 3 times. DH always wants to drive straight through-we leave about 3pm-but just as the person above said it gets hard in the middle of the night, and we have actually stopped at a rest area and slept for 2 hours. On the way home we always get one hotel room and it makes it soooooooooo much better for everyone!!! It is alot cheaper-we are trying to decide right now whether to fly or drive ( I am willing to take amtrak-but DH isn't having it) for our January trip.
DVD players for the car are soooo worth the money for the kids. Stop one night each way if you can!!!
Have a great trip!!!!

 

[sticker231]

Thanks for all the great responses!

sticker231:
16 1/2 hours each way...that's great time! I see you are "down the shore". How far are you from the DE Memorial Bridge? We are in Bergen County, so it takes us about 2 hours to get to DE. I was estimating at least 18 hours for our drive. What time did you leave at night? I had been wondering what to do on the trip back...since check-out is in the morning, there's really no choice but to do a daytime drive back. But the thought of all day in the car with the kids awake

I live by LBI. I work in Hackensack and it takes me 1 1/2 hours to get to and from every day so 18 hours would probably be right. We left around 7:30 at night to get down and 5 am to come home. DVDs are a blessing for the kids. We bought some new ones, so they were totally interested in watching something new. We also bought the crayola books with the magic pens, the type that the colors and pictures appear when they are drawn over-this saves a big mess in the car from regular markers and crayons. My older son sometimes gets carsick during short rides if he is not distracted, with all the things we brought along he was fine.


Hope this helps.

 

[LisaNJ25]

I live by LBI. I work in Hackensack and it takes me 1 1/2 hours to get to and from every day so 18 hours would probably be right. We left around 7:30 at night to get down and 5 am to come home. DVDs are a blessing for the kids. We bought some new ones, so they were totally interested in watching something new. We also bought the crayola books with the magic pens, the type that the colors and pictures appear when they are drawn over-this saves a big mess in the car from regular markers and crayons. My older son sometimes gets carsick during short rides if he is not distracted, with all the things we brought along he was fine.


Hope this helps.

Make sure you dont get those books wet.... everything turns blue We had a huge mess on out trip home with them.