Driving Question

[DisneyLisa]

Dumb question...but I was wondering if anyone has driven the route from Ottawa to Disney (I81 & I95) )and the route from Toronto (I79, I77 & I95). I'm assuming that's the best route from Toronto...if not, can someone please advise (haven't been to CAA yet).

The reason for this question is that last year I drove to WDW from Ottawa. This year I am taking a friend with me who has just recovered from cancer and has always wanted to see WDW...something I really want to do for her. Well, after everything she's been through, she's scared of flying (can't imagine being scared of anything after surviving cancer but I can appreciate her feelings). Luckily I hadn't finalized our plane reservations so we are now driving. I dread the thought of driving again but really want her to see WDW. I have to pick her up in Toronto, hence the different route this year.

Anyway, I found the drive last year to be very stressful (sooooo many trucks) and was just wondering if I could look forward to more of the same or if there are less trucks on this route.

Last year I took my DM with me. She also drove to Texas this winter & said the truck traffic was not nearly as bad on the Florida route we took...so I'm just curious to see if this route might offer a better drive than the one we had last year.

Thanks for reading this long & boring story but I'm really curious & thought I'd just put it on the Canadian discussion page & see if anyone can help (besides I think we need more discussion on this board). Thanks again.

7 days to go

 

[hobogary]

We have done I 81 -95 as well as 81 -77. 77 was much hillier and more deserted,maybe fewer trucks. To get to 95, we take US 17 in Winchester Va. Also, take 295 around Richmond and Jacksonville. 77 goes right thru Charlotte, and thats pretty busy. Cant help you north of I 81. Any questions, i'd be happy to help. (Gas prices best in VA, SC and GA)

 

[DisneyLisa]

hobogary...what do you mean by "more deserted" and also, just out of curiosity...which route do you prefer to take?

 

[hobogary]

Most of 77 was in rural hill country, not too much trafic, but i much prefer 81 and 95. we've done it a lot. By the way, we are in upstate New York, we pick up I 81 in Binghamton, NY.

 

[DisneyLisa]

why is it you prefer 81 & 95, if you don't mind me asking (everyone says I ask too may questions about everything )

Would it be worth me trying to get on the 81...guess it would make for a much longer drive though.

 

[hobogary]

No prob, glad to chat about it. I guess i dont really like the hills. we go in the winter and it could get really nasty up there. Not sure i'd go out of my way to get to 81. You could take the NYS Thruway to Syracuse ( about 4 hours) But i think id go the other way and take it to 79.

 

[DisneyLisa]

I looked at that on my map...but that would be almost like going full circle. There is a possibility that she can get to Ottawa on Friday (wish I could fly her here but that's why we're driving right) & then we'd leave from Ottawa, but I still dread all that truck traffic...I've never seen so may trucks...& they whip in and out of traffic like they're little VW Beatles...never seen anything like it.

Thanks for your input hobogary.

 

[hobogary]

Yeah, we came back last year and hit the snowstorm in NC and VA. trucks going by like it was nice out. We got off the road because we knew there was gonna be a big wreck, and sure enough, a 150 car one just north of us.Now when we hit snow down south, we will hole up somewhere.

 

[DisneyLisa]

guess I'll just take it easy this time. Last time when we came upon the trucks, I thought "If i can just get by all these trucks, it'll be smooth sailing"...well we obviously never were able to. This time I know what I'm in for so I'll just have to accept it & take my time.

 

[hobogary]

Yep, trucks are everywhere. Relax and have a great trip.

 

[DisFan2]

Hi DisneyLisa,

Haven't posted about this since we last "discussed" the subject last year! We went in late October and returned the first week in November (takng the I81, 83, 95 route). I didn't find the trucks to be that bad, in fact I had commented to my wife that there seemed to be fewer trucks, generally. I wonder if higher fuel costs didn't affect things last year (?), because I know that the trucking industry was one of the most vocal of the high fuel cost protesters out there.

I try to think of the trucks as my "big friends" when I'm on the flatter sections of the trip (i.e. from just a little north of Richmond, VA to Orlando), but I must confess I don't like being around them in the hilly areas (pass them on the ascent, try not to get run over on the descent). I try to get in behind ones that seemed to be doing about the same average speed as we do (usually about 5 mph over the limit), provided their driving safely and courteously (the guys who blink their lights when you flash to let them know they can lane change, who don't cut others off or tailgate to intimidate slower drivers), a little drafting is always nice.

I'd be happy just to be going - look at it as a challenge. Once you hit Richmond you're flying anyway!!!

 

[MikeJ]

This is my third attempt to reply - my browser keeps crashing and I'm getting a little ticked! So I'm composing this in Notepad and will paste it over when I'm done.

I lived in Baltimore, MD, for three years, one of which was the year before we got married. My DW (DF at the time) was living in London, and I was making the drive up every six weeks or so. I tried a variety of routes, and always found this to be the most direct (and quickest). Now, it's been ten years since I've done this route, but the roads were always in good shape back then. There is some mountain driving in PA (which is unavoidable) but for the most part it's on 4-lane divided roads.

1) Cross the border at Queenston/Lewiston. I always found this much a easier crossing than either Niagara Falls or Ft. Erie/Buffalo.

2) Pick up I-190, and once you hit the outskirts of Buffalo, take I-290 east.

3) Follow I-290 to I-90 east (NY State Thruway).

4) Exit the Thruway at Batavia, Highway 63. Take 63 south to just past Geneseo, where you pick up I-390.

5) Take I-390 past Bath, NY. Just outside Corning, take US15 south.

6) Stay on US15 through Mansfield and Williamsport. (Unless the highway's changed, you'll pass right by the Little League stadium in Williamsport.) Just south of Williamsport you'll pick up the Susquehanna River on your left.

7) At Sunbury, take US11 south. (It might be a US11/US15 combined - I can't remember.)

8) Once you hit Camp Hill, across the river from Harrisburg, pick up I-83 south. This is a little tricky as you have to make a couple of quick exits. I can't remember how well marked this is.

9) Follow I-83 through York, and on to Baltimore. Take the beltway (I-695) west around Baltimore and pick up I-95. From there, you're on your own.

I hope I've got all the highway numbers right. I was using a combination of memory and Mapquest, and I'm sure there's not a problem with Mapquest. (The memory? Well....)

Granted, it's not as straightforward as just taking the interstates, but there is some gorgeous scenery, particularly in Pennsylvania. When we drive down for Christmas, this would be our alternate route if we wanted (or needed) to stay off I-75. If you decide to try it, let us know how it goes. I got so I could make the drive from London to Baltimore (about 550 mi on my old odometer, or roughly 900km) in 10 hours. Given that the US limits are (or were) 55mph, I figured that was pretty good.

- Mike

 

[DisneyLisa]

Thanks for your reply DisFan2...can't believe it was last year we were discussing a trip.

Sure wish I was flying (just officially cancelled the plane ressies yesterday) but as I said earlier, if I want my friend to see WDW, I have to drive.

I'm just going to make sure I keep calm. I found it so frustrating being surrounded by all those trucks.. sometimes I was sandwiched in between them as far as the eye could see. I found I couldn't even pass in the hilly areas because some truck was always trying to do the same thing. I'm used to trucks basically staying in the right hand lane (except to pass & that not usually done on an incline) but driving there was a learning experience.

Again, I'm hoping that this route is a little better, but even if it's not, I'm prepared (I hope) and will just accept it. I found the drive down much worse (with heavy truck traffic) than the drive back....maybe it was my bad luck to get caught in it all on the way down.

Leaving in 5 days but on hot, humid days like we had yesterday & are having today I'm saying "what have I done...do I really want to be at WDW in heat like this". As if DD would let me cancel now.

Thanks again...hope you can head down to see the mouse again soon (never thought I'd be going again this year).

 

[DisneyLisa]

Thanks MikeJ...nothing worse than when your browser crashes...

Thanks for your routing idea. I'm going to get out my map & check it out.

As for the hilly areas, I enjoyed them so much on the drive down last year (I kept pointing things out to my daughter (then 12) & she'd say "yeah nice" but I loved it. I remember my Dad saying things like that as we travelled & I responded the same way. Now I appreciate the scenery...a sure sign of aging. ) . I guess you don't make as good time but it sure is beautiful to see. When the kids are finished University, I'd like to drive all through the US with DH (who hates to drive) & take my time & see everything (have been travelling Canada since I was 6 weeks old so have seen it all: NWT to Nfld - Military Brat). Would love to see the Grand Canyon.

I'll let you know if I take your route idea & how it works out...Thanks again

 

[MikeJ]

The one drawback to my route is that you do spend some time driving through towns, instead of around them as you would on the Interstates. The advantage, though, is that the big rigs tend to avoid those routes like the plague, as they tend to be on real tight schedules. My route also takes you somewhat out of the way to the east, but if you're really squeamish about driving through the mountains on the Interstates (with all the truck traffic), mine does offer a way through the Appalachains with fewer trucks.

Whichever route you take, safe driving and have fun.

- Mike

 

[CanadaKid]

Have only driven it once from Toronto:

QEW to Buffalo - I90 - I79 - US19 (West Virginia shortcut) - I77 - I26 - I95 - I4

It was a good route. Stopped at Princeton, WV on the first night and Kingsland, Georgia (FL border) the second. Stayed at roughly the same places on the way back. All nights at Hampton Inns - they were decent quality and price.

Day 1 - 11 hours
Day 2 - about 9 hours (?)
Day 3 - 4 hours

We were not out to break any records, we had 2 weeks off work. The nice scenery was mostly Day 1 - the mountains of West Virginia make for a really nice drive but I would never do it in the winter. Princeton was still in the mountains. After that it's pretty flat by comparison but you make good time.

I'm not sure how this route compares to the more-travelled I75 route south out of Windsor / Detroit as far as distance or time but we liked this way and would do it again.

Have Fun!

CanadaKid

 

[DisneyLisa]

Thanks CanadaKid...the route you described is exactly the one I was thinking of taking...I even figured we'd stop the first night in Princeton (and at the Hampton Inn - found those to be the best on our trip last year)...guess I'm on the right track.

I'm also looking at MikeJ's suggested route...which would basically take me over to the I95 & down the route I took last year. Things I'm considering: 1) willhis route add to the length of my trip & 2) will the traffic be better if I just stay on I77 until I reach I95...have to do some calculations & look at it all.

Welcome any suggestions.

 

[MikeJ]

Lisa,

The answer to your first question is yes, it will add to the length of the trip as I indicated in my previous post.

As to the second, I've never driven I-77 so I don't know what the truck traffic is like on it. My route does get you through the mountains by avoiding the major Interstates. If trucks do avoid the secondary roads and you are concerned about traffic, particularly in the mountains, then that's something else to factor into your decision.

Actually, what we really need to do is to work on developing transporter technology, so all we have to do is say, "four to beam down."

- Mike

 

[DisneyLisa]

sounds good to me MikeJ...wonder if my friend would be scared of that mode of transportation too .

As for adding to the length of the trip...any estimate how much time we're looking at?

 

[hobogary]

At Harrisburg, you can also take I 81 to Winchester Va. then US 17 to Fredricksburg and I-95. That way you miss all the beltway traffic, 17 is mostly 4 lanes.