First time drivers from PA - what do we do?!? :)

[Pooh's World]

This is strictly an alternative route to bypass all the DC traffic. It has it's own down side but I hated dealing with DC traffic enough to use this route.
We lived in Sykesville MD which is a little west of Baltimore. We would take 100 south to 50 in Annapolis. Jump on 50 to 301s and take that all the way to 95. Traffic was stop and go through Waldorf but again it was worth it to bypass DC and northern VA. 301 turns into 207 ant dumps you out at 95s one exit above Kings Dominion. The Harry Nice bridge over the Potomac is a toll bridge (only from MD to VA, no toll on the return trip). Again, nice country drive through VA. Did it for years in the car, and then we did it in a 45' motorhome towing a vehicle.

That sounds like a really good route, especially if hitting rush hour as it bypasses the 95 Death Star, Fredericksburg, VA.

 

[acebatonfan]

Live in the Delaware area and use 301 (over the bay bridge) to 295 to 95 to get to Disney a few times. DC and Baltimore are hot messes, but once you get into rural Virginia and the Carolinas, the drive is actually really pretty and relaxing. You're going to see a lot of signs for a place called South of the Border, but the place itself is meh from what I've seen driving past. Love's are also scattered around 95 and are really nice gas stations (not as awesome as Wawa, but great for a quick potty and coffee break).

We usually drive more on the first day and rest somewhere in SC, since Georgia and FL tend to be a bit more intense driving-wise (not as bad as DC, but not as calm as the carolinas). We have one driver, so we'd rather take it a bit slower than exhaust him out before even setting foot in Disney. It also gives us more wiggle room for those inevitable accidents on 95 that cause hour-long standstills.

Thinking now, I'm wondering if it would be easier in Philly to take 95S to Route 1 in Delaware and use that to then get onto 301 to avoid 95 in DC/Baltimore, since they have a new extension connecting route 1 and 301 (toll, but so worth it).

 

[WickstarRunner]

Driven it from the Hudson Valley, NY 4 times and found Santee, SC as a good overnight stop as it'll get you within 6 hours of Disney on the SC-GA border. As some have already said, I-95 is not the most stimulating drive so it's easier/better to stick to Rest/Truck stops.

Would also recommend timing the second day's trip to get through Jacksonville before rush hour, that's not an easy area either.