Driving straight through from Pittsburgh?

[Lucky'sMom]

The times that we have driven, we have always gone about 9 hours the first day, and then about 7 the next, staying in the Carolinas overnight. I have some friends who always drive straight through, leaving very early in the morning and arriving late evening in Orlando. Some pack coolers full of food and drinks, and then only take bathroom breaks. So...I am thinking of doing this. For those of you that do, what time do you leave? I am thinking of 5am? Figuring a 16 hour drive, plus bathrooms stops, should get us there by 11pm? Any thoughts, tips, experiences with this? Or will I live to regret this idea?!! Thanks!

 

[disneymayz]

We leave from Harrisburg and leave at 7PM. I usually drive through the night and wife drives a couple hours starting around 5-6AM. This way the day is not shot. We still get to check in, check out the resort, and then go to a park for a little bit. Most of the visitor/rest stops have security so worst case for us is we stop there for a quick power nap and go. The kids sleep through most of the trip.

 

[Lucky'sMom]

I wouldn't be able to sleep if we drove all night, because I would be too worried that my husband would drift off... . My kids are old enough to do okay in the car for a long day, so I think I would still prefer that. I was figuring we would have daylight for most of the way, it would only be a dark for a few hours in the morning and a couple of hours at night.

 

[chartle]

I live in the Pgh area and would never think of doing it.

We left my work at around 6 PM Friday. We stopped just after leaving WV 5 hours later. We didn't get up and out as early as I wanted and pulled into the hotel at 11:00 PM after a quick Walmart stop.

I'm thinking if you leave at 5 AM I would say you would be pulling in at 1 AM or later unless you eat while driving and only stop for gas and potty breaks.

 

[disneymayz]

I wouldn't be able to sleep if we drove all night, because I would be too worried that my husband would drift off... . My kids are old enough to do okay in the car for a long day, so I think I would still prefer that. I was figuring we would have daylight for most of the way, it would only be a dark for a few hours in the morning and a couple of hours at night.

Driving through the night is really not for everyone. We did this once and realized how much less traffic there was. But we have to deal with Baltimore and Washington DC. It only took this once to make it "the way for us". Now on the way home we leave Disney around 5AM and drive straight through.

We get about 4 hours before having to fill up. When we do stop everyone gets out and walks around and uses the bathroom. When my brother drives from Ohio they bring a sub (from their favorite place) and stop at a rest stop to eat it.

The great thing about the Interstates is that there are many hotel/motels. I say try it. Worst case you find that you need to stop. If you do stop then start the next morning early again.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Just in case you might not make the drive straight through, I would make a plan "B" and book a hotel room. Figure out where you feel you might need to stop for the night based upon the time you plan to leave and book a room that you could cancel if you don't need the room. Just make sure to take the hotel phone number with you in case you need to cancel.

Walk up rates can be higher than ones booked ahead of time. Plus this guarentees you have a room verses having to drive and find a hotel that has a room available. You would hate to stop in a city when a big event was taking place only to find out every hotel was booked. Better to be prepared than caught off guard.

Plus remember you are traveling during the summer and you might have to deal with stormy weather during your car trip which could slow you down and add more time to your commute.

 

[Sheaboys]

We have driven straight through from Mass. We would leave about 4:30pm., stop for a quick supper, then later, about 8pm, stop put kids in jammies so they would sleep in their carseats (which they did). I did not really sleep, but caught a little shut eye here and there. DH drove most of the way, I drove from about 3am-8am or so. We did stop for gas, bathroom and quick bites to eat. We arrived on the West Coast of FL (is is about a 20 hour drive and directly across the state from DisneyWorld), about 1pm. We slept at my parents, went to bed early like 7pm, kids stayed awake until 9ish, as they were on their right schedule. We left their house the next morning about 10am for DW.

I did drive down, just me and the kids in 2008, (only 4 kids then), and we left at 6:30am, stopped to sleep and eat about 5:30pm in Dunn, NC. I was able to get a room, with a AAA discount, we ate, pool time and in bed by 8pm. Up and out by 7am the next morning. Arrived at my parents about 7pm that night.

I did the same coming home. AAA discount for a room, I did not book a room prior to leaving as I had no clue how far I would get.