Driving Overnight: Tips & Tricks SVP

[Ham Ham]

HI Folks

DW, 2 DD's and myself will be driving will be leaving GTA around 6:00PM after work & school on Wednesday March 8.

We have reservations at a hotel in Brunswick, GA I-95for the evening of March 9. DW and I plan to swap driving every couple of hours.

Staying in Orlando area March 10-17.

We're planning to drive overnight and arrive in Brunswick, GA some time Thursday afternoon. And then into Orlando the morning of the 10th.

Route:
QEW, I-90, I-79, US 19 ( I know about the speed traps), I-77, I-26 I-95, I-4

Other than the coffee and loud music any suggestions for driving overnight?

If we stopped for a nap at a rest centre will the State Troopers give us grief?

 

[pkitty]

Use the rest centers to nap....at three in the morning they are packed with tired travellers. We always bring a football. Why you are asking?? When you get out at the rest stop to take a break throw it around for 10 - 15 minutes. Works out the kinks, clears out the cobwebs and gets the oxygen to you brain where you need it (it's better than coffee and I love coffee) . You'll feel 100% better I guarantee it. The only reason I say a football is because you get to move your arms around (shoulders and stuff) makes a difference as well. We bring the I-Pod so that the driver can wear it while the other driver sleeps. That way you don't have the radio cranked while the other person is cat napping. Neck pillows look silly but make a differaace if you are trying to catch zzzz's in the car. That way you actually get to sleep without your head bobbing around. Water and snacking help to. Nibbling keeps you busy! wel that's all I've got! Have a safe drive and if your tired.....stop!

 

[iluveeyore]

At least you have someone to swap driving with - I'm leaving on the 10th driving four teenagers by myself - taking the same route, but making it a two day drive so we (or I) can sleep after dark - due to arrive OKW Sun the 12th. We have driven before with my DH and swapped too, and stopped at rest areas for "rest" - they won't give you any grief for a few hours - we slept for at least four or five once. They would rather you were rested than fall asleep at the wheel. All the rest areas going down are really nice, especially the welcome centers at each state, and they all have security officers present. Have a safe trip!
Tracey

 

[striker3636]

We travel a similar way, but on I75. We drive from 8pm until later afternoon the next day so that we only have 5-6 hours until we get to WDW. My dh prefers to do all the driving himself, and although I nod off quite easily I don't sleep well. What we find helps it to have different healthy snacks. We always have "travel candies" of different types (mints, toffees etc), but your body can only take so much sugar. So, we also pack fruit, cheese sticks, granola bars, cold pizza etc. My dh likes to listen to books on CD. If the kids and I are sleeping, he will plug in the headphones/bring along a personal player. I have a reading light so that I don't bother dh while flipping through a mag. I keep a collapsible cooler on the floor between us and freeze water bottles so that later in the trip we still have some cold drinks. Even though we do drink pop, we find water (flavoured or otherwise) works better for us on a big drive.

On the way back we try to drive all the way through, but seem to need a 2 hour power nap after 18-20 hours. We like the Flying J gas stations as they allow "sleepers" and since this is a popular chain for truckers etc there is lots of activity around so you don't have to worry as much about safety. Personally, I'm not too comfortable with a rest area that doesn't seem very full. Gas prices are usually a bit cheaper and the stores have half decent coffee (the chicory content doesn't seem as high) and there's always baked items and sandwiches etc.

I have lots of different kinds of activities and toys for the kids, with a few new things. I also have a few new items with me up front I can pull out if things get desperate. I pack a lot for them and we have a DVD player as well, but I'd rather do that then hear "I'm bored" too many times. We fill up the floor under their feet with pillows and stuff so that the kids' feet aren't hanging - makes them a bit more comfy. If you haven't already check out the kids printable activities on the dis - I make up a folder full of Disney related pages to get them even more in the magical mood. Have fun!

 

[Disneyof3]

hamham were leaving 4hrs before you going QEW to 90 to 79 to 77 to Georgia I75 to Florida. We've never taken this route, usually I75. I hope the stops along the way are good, clean and safe too. My husband suggested to find a police station and nap there (safe place). We are heading straight to Mooresville NC then napping for 3 hrs then doing the touring thing at Nascar city. I hear the weather can be bad but the weather so far looks pretty good. We also take food with us to munch on and we make different C/D's that the kids like. We bring junk food and healthy ones. We also bring games that the kids can play with in the car. When we stop for lunch we try to stop at a McDonalds so the kids can play a little and get rid of energy. The drive all in all isn't bad and actually it's less busy on the road at night and it's nice and relaxing to drive seeing the road ahead and the kids are sleeping and not fighting.

Have a great trip

 

[CharlesTD]

HI Folks

DW, 2 DD's and myself will be driving will be leaving GTA around 6:00PM after work & school on Wednesday March 8.

We have reservations at a hotel in Brunswick, GA I-95for the evening of March 9. DW and I plan to swap driving every couple of hours.

Staying in Orlando area March 10-17.

We're planning to drive overnight and arrive in Brunswick, GA some time Thursday afternoon. And then into Orlando the morning of the 10th.

Route:
QEW, I-90, I-79, US 19 ( I know about the speed traps), I-77, I-26 I-95, I-4

Other than the coffee and loud music any suggestions for driving overnight?

If we stopped for a nap at a rest centre will the State Troopers give us grief?

What we do is have one person take the day off work. I usually do this as I am the night time driver. I go to bed about 4 AM then sleep during the day that way I am wide awake all night for the drive then I sleep for a couple hours teh next day while DW drives then take over the driving duties again. I drovve the entire night shift this time after working all day switched shifts so we could leave after dinner. I did it but was up for over 24 hours by the time my time came to let DW drive. I was ok after about 3 hours of sleep and drove the rest myself. I find having some gum to chew seems to work for me if I feel myself getting drowsy not sure why this is but hey it works so who am I to argue.

 

[mejaie]

Try to plan your stops every two hours as you said. We like to fill up the van at each stop so you are never low. Also figure out your next stop before you start again, this way it seems to go by much faster than thinking of the final destination. Make sure the passengers have blankets so the driver can control the heat or air. I find coffee helps but keep waters handy.

 

[Bonnie40]

We've done what you're about to do a number of times and it works out great! Just be very aware of deer along the side of the road along that route. My husband has actually decided that he prefers driving I75 through the night because he doesn't have to worry about the animals on the road. Fog can be a real problem too depending on the weather. We've never had a problem at the rest areas and usually stop for an hour or so on the trip home because we drive straight through. Lots of snacks like everyone has said.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[RoyalCanadian]

If the kids and I are sleeping, he will plug in the headphones/bring along a personal player.

Please tell me that your DH doesn't actually have both headphones covering his ears -- am I the only one who finds this practice to be rather dangerous and even potentiallly illegal?

 

[CharlesTD]

Please tell me that your DH doesn't actually have both headphones covering his ears -- am I the only one who finds this practice to be rather dangerous and even potentiallly illegal?

I find it to be fine one or both ears as long as the volume isn't loud enough to impair his hearing completley then it is just fine. No worse than having your hands free earbud stuffed in your ear from your phone. People get far more involved in phonecalls than they do listening to music.