Driving question.

[Csaks]

We are heading down in a few weeks and my wife's clients have made her nervous about the route through the "mountains" at that time of year (Nov/Dec). The mountains I know are out west and are breathtaking and huge.
I do not want to go all the way west to I75 and do not think a storm would be a big deal on the Buffalo route, I90 or I 95, I think. I have a full size 4x4 and plow snow so any weather should not be a problem driving in it.
The question is there a chance of weather being that bad at that time of year and is it any worse than a bad storm up here in the winter? Apparently four extra hours is riding on the answer .

 

[hockey mom]

The fog is a huge problem with the I-90 route.

 

[F4disneyfan]

I have heard that the fog and snow on that route can be worse than up here. The Buffalo area and the mountains on that route can and often do get much more snow than we ever do now. We are basically smack in the middle of either way and always take the I75 route in Dec when we go just to eliminate any potential problems/delays.

 

[MegaWoman]

We took the I-90/I79/I77/I26/I95 route. There was some "weather", and we did slow down a bit because it was slippery. I don't think it added 5 hours onto our trip though. We still managed to arrive in Orlando at 2pm the next day.
We're even thinking of driving with our 4-season tires instead of using the snow/ice tires we used last time.
We're both experinced winter drivers (I grew up in Montreal), and it didn't seem that bad. But - if you are unaccustomed to driving in mountains or snow (ie: you never leave the GTA), then maybe taking the I75 would be a better idea. (It sounds like you know what you're doing though)
I'll warn you, the drive is BORING through the mountains, except for the tunnels. My kids watched too many movies in the car (nothing to look at - or play I Spy with!), and the co-pilot just played around with the GPS for something to do!

HTH

Stephanie

 

[Jackie Psarianos]

Driving Routes:

We've driven to Orlando via Interstate 75 in the winter and found it to be relatively flat and direct with lots of places to stop at along the way.

Last summer we drove on Interstates 90 and 95 on the way to Myrtle Beach and were very thankful the weather was good. You're going to drive through some very hilly roads that twist and turn. There are a lot of places to stop at along the way and a lot of rest stations. Keep in mind that you will pass through a few main cities which can congest with traffic depending on the time of day.

I highly recommend Interstate 75 at that time of the year.

 

[nokidz]

We have travelled both routes numerous times in late December. As long as you are careful and are mindfull of the conditions, either route is fine. The fog on the I-90 route can be awful. Watch and listen to the weather reports.

 

[Bonnie40]

Are you driving through the night? As much as we love that route, my husband finds it far more stressful driving it at night because he's always mindful of deer on the road. Hit a deer and your trip's pooched!

Yes, fog can be a factor, but if you're leaving in a few weeks, I doubt that heavy snow will factor into the drive. It is a much prettier drive than 75 and it is a faster route. Just be cautious with speed on 19 (I think it's 19) that cuts through to Beckley WV. Speed traps everywhere!

 

[Disneydaddycanada]

Just a follow up. I drove down to myrtle beach a couple of years ago and we got caught in a storm. The drive was bad. i don't think the time of the year that you will be driving is a worry.

about the speed traps... CAA does not recommend you drive hwy19 due to the speed traps. On our return from myrtle beach we got caught speeding... the cop was goes south. we were going north.. (lots of traps).

The route saves about 45 minutes.. just put your vehicle in cruise control.

 

[nokidz]

Just be cautious with speed on 19 (I think it's 19) that cuts through to Beckley WV. Speed traps everywhere!

you are sooo right. last time we travelled that route, mid July, the cop started after us then someone, going north past us going even faster than us, so the cop did an about face and nabbed them. whew, lucky for me. Tho I wasnt going very much over the limit.

 

[cottontail]

Hi: What we do is check, check the weathernetwork for the two routes a day or two ahead and then make a decision on an "open window" of good weather for at least a days drive from here.

We are from Hamilton and have driven down the second week of december. We took I75 in december. We got caught in a terrific ice storm one year in ohio on the way home, and left early from wdw a day early because of ice storms in georgia.
Saying that my hubby loves the i90/77/79/95 route any other time except winter.

The town is Summersville wv, we actually had the cop pacing us as we drove thru their little town, we made sure we were a couple of miles BELOW the speed limit. We stayed in Beckley wv and were told at a motel that in Summersville, no one pays property taxes as they make so much money from tourists speeding thru their area.

Deb.

 

[Ham Ham]

I'm a big fan of the I-90, I-79, US-19, I-77, I-26, I-95, I-4 route. As previously posted follow the speed limit on US -19. http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/07/786.asp

I-75 drive is great and so is heading down I-81.
The first route listed is the least amount of km's.

Check the weather several the day before you leave, any route that is impacted by snow or freezing rain is no fun. State D.O.T websites provide good insight into road conditions. Accuweather also can provide you with local forecasts and radar. http://www.accuweather.com/

Even taking I-75 southern Kentucky, Tennessee and northern Georgia are in the mountains.

Do not just rely on map quest or google maps.

CAA or any trip planning service is invaluable.They can provide insight into local traffic conditions and road repairs.
Avoid any large US city during rush hour.
Have a local map of every state you go thorough. If a road is closed you will be able to find alternates. Reserve several motels along the route so if you want to stop earlier or drive further, accommodations won't be an issue.

If you plan on calling back to Canada frequently look into your service providers plan for US minutes.

Drive safe

 

[Sandy22]

I drove back last January and there was lots of near zero visibility fog at night in the mountains on the 81. No snow though.

 

[nosnobunny2006]

One thing I've noticed is that everyone has advice and horror stories about US travel. We have children and grandkids that live in Florida, so we travel down there often. The funny thing about a lot of the "advice" that I get comes from people who have never gone or if they have, it's been once or twice.

Each route has areas that are prone to dense fog. I-75 has it in TN and I-79 has it in the mountains south of Beckley WV. I would go the I-79 route if that's your preference. You shouldn't have any problems at that time of the year. Our next door neighbours drive to Vero Beach each Christmas and have never had anything that delayed them for very long even when they do hit some snow. Either way - have a great trip!

Beth

 

[cottontail]

Hi: The I77/79 route. My husband loves the highways thru that route. You have I think two lanes each way, but in between the two highways (going south/north) is a huge wide grassy/treed area that does not allow the opposing headlights get into your eyes. Yes pennsylvania seems to have alot of deer on the side of the highway.

We also hit the rest stations that are in the welcome centres at the beginning of each state you enter, because they are the ones with staff in them during the day, not sure about at night. Or we will pull off to hit a wendys/mcdonalds for bathroom stops and a snack to go.

We always leave early and drive til after supper, but I have a motel booked ahead for our trip.

Deb.

 

[F4disneyfan]

One thing I've noticed is that everyone has advice and horror stories about US travel. We have children and grandkids that live in Florida, so we travel down there often. The funny thing about a lot of the "advice" that I get comes from people who have never gone or if they have, it's been once or twice.

Each route has areas that are prone to dense fog. I-75 has it in TN and I-79 has it in the mountains south of Beckley WV. I would go the I-79 route if that's your preference. You shouldn't have any problems at that time of the year. Our next door neighbours drive to Vero Beach each Christmas and have never had anything that delayed them for very long even when they do hit some snow. Either way - have a great trip!

Beth

We drive to Disney ever Dec for atleast 2 weeks and have been doing so since 96. We have only once had any sort of weather delay on teh I75 and that was a rain storm that turned to ice on some of the bridges in Ohio. Once past Ohio it was fine the rest of the drive. My father drove the other route along with my sister and her hubby and they were delayed over 16 hours by weather.

 

[cottontail]

Hi: Found this on the internet, for the beckley wv area, scroll down to your highway of choice:

http://www.wvdot.com/14_roadconditions/14_roadcond.cfm

Deb.

 

[perfectparanoia]

We drove through a bad storm in the mountains and toughed it out like any good canadian. No one else was on the roads but we were going along just fine.

We actually made it to the world earlier than expected.

 

[nosnobunny2006]

We drove through a bad storm in the mountains and toughed it out like any good canadian. No one else was on the roads but we were going along just fine.

We actually made it to the world earlier than expected.

One time many years ago DH and I were heading down I-75 just south of Lexington KY when it started to snow. It kept getting worse and worse til finally we were driving in the tracks of a truck that had gone before us. By Fancy Gap, we'd had enough and decided to pull off and find a hotel for the night. A state trooper stopped us on the exit ramp and asked where we had come from. Canada! - we said. That was when he told us the interstate had been closed over two hours previously. Wussies! Nothing stops a true canuck.

Beth

 

[Csaks]

Nosnobuny,
That sounds like a trip my parents had coming home from my uncles in Boston. They came home one time during a bad snow storm, stopped for gas along the way and the locals said they were nuts and then found out they were from the Great White North and said something along the lines of no wonder they are out, they drive in that stuff all the time.

Thank you for all the advice everyone, still trying to decide which route to take. Man the trip is coming up fast.