First Road Trip to WDW: How is this driving plan?

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

We're coming from MD, just north of DC, leaving on Friday, Dec. 2

Day 1:
Depart: 7:00
Breakfast: 8:00-9:00, Fredericksburg, VA
Break: 11:00-11:30, Skippers, VA
Lunch: 1:30-3:00, Fayetteville, NC
Break: 5:00-5:30, Manning, SC
Dinner at hotel, 7:30, Savannah, GA

Day 2:
Depart hotel after breakfast: 7:30
Break: 9:45-10:15, Jacksonville, FL
Arrive at Typhoon Lagoon for lunch, 12:30

Dec 3 is the last day TL is open before closing for refurb.

Comments, suggestions?

TIA!

 

[msmayor]

I guess if you're looking for a leisurely drive its fine...or if you have young kids that will need frequent stops.

When my family does road trips we plan on only one full food stop. If we were leaving at 7am, we'd pack breakfast sandwiches for the road and not stop until lunch. We try to plan bathroom breaks with gas stops, but of course if someone's gotta go, we stop!

During our routine trips to Savannah we take about 9 hours to drive between DC area and Savannah....that's with stops.

 

[nono]

I'd have breakfast near/at home and then depart to avoid DC rush altogether...

Have fun planning!

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

Thanks for the input!

Yes, we have young kids so we need the breaks. I don't think they can make it only stopping for meals.

As for departure, our idea was to leave before the rush hour (7 am should accomplish this, as we'll be past DC by 7:30), and then have breakfast after we clear DC.

 

[GranddadTom]

You don't say exactly where you are coming from (which makes a big difference as far as Beltway traffic). I drive the Beltway every day to work. I come down Rt 270 and get off the Beltway at New Hampshire Ave. It's normally clear at 6:00 am and definitely slow by 7:00 am. The traffic going the other way (from Rt 95 west on the Beltway) is stop and go at 6:00 am. South of Washington the heaviest traffic is going north. I know it's difficult with little ones but if you could leave a little earlier, you be better off. Leaving at 7:00 am you will not beat the rush hour - not by a long shot.

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

You don't say exactly where you are coming from (which makes a big difference as far as Beltway traffic). I drive the Beltway every day to work. I come down Rt 270 and get off the Beltway at New Hampshire Ave. It's normally clear at 6:00 am and definitely slow by 7:00 am. The traffic going the other way (from Rt 95 west on the Beltway) is stop and go at 6:00 am. South of Washington the heaviest traffic is going north. I know it's difficult with little ones but if you could leave a little earlier, you be better off. Leaving at 7:00 am you will not beat the rush hour - not by a long shot.

I'll be coming down 270, and then south on 495.

 

[GrnMtnMan]

We're coming from MD, just north of DC, leaving on Friday, Dec. 2

Day 1:
Depart: 7:00
Breakfast: 8:00-9:00, Fredericksburg, VA
Break: 11:00-11:30, Skippers, VA
Lunch: 1:30-3:00, Fayetteville, NC
Break: 5:00-5:30, Manning, SC
Dinner at hotel, 7:30, Savannah, GA

Day 2:
Depart hotel after breakfast: 7:30
Break: 9:45-10:15, Jacksonville, FL
Arrive at Typhoon Lagoon for lunch, 12:30

Dec 3 is the last day TL is open before closing for refurb.

Comments, suggestions?

TIA!

Leave an hour earlier to be safe from DC rush hour traffic. And I don't think you'll need that many stops.

I just returned home from the Savannah area yesterday. We drove with our one and four year olds. On both legs, we stopped after 200 miles or so, which mean stopping twice. The speed limit most of the way is 70, so you can do this distance in around three hours. Both of the kids did well with this time/distance.

 

[mikehn]

If you are coming down 270, you are not going to make it for breakfast in Fredericksburg by 8am, aint no way no how.