First timer?: driving plan and hours w/trailer

[mobrien207]

Hi,
I've driven to WDW many times (car and adults only) from MA. However, for the first time I'm towing a trailer and driving from NJ to WDW, pretty much Rt. 95 all the way. I'm just wondering how you've found it best to do the driving with kids? We have a 4-door truck and were thinking of leaving around 4AM, one overnight and arrival the next day. I have no clue how far south we can get on the first day...any thoughts?

Also, I keep hearing about overnighting in K-Mart or Wal-Mart? If you've ever done that on the way down do you have any recommendations?

I'm figureing if we leave at 4AM, we'll arrive the next day, but don't know how to estimate a time. Am I too ambitious? I made reservations for the arrival day for a 6:30 dinner.

Thanks in advance for your advice and help.

mob

 

[CCIntrigue]

We towed our TT to FW many times with three kids along. First in a Suburban, then in a 4-door truck. We usually left at 3-4am. You didn't mention how old your kids are. It's a rough trip if they are very young, but getting there makes it all worthwhile.

Many of the WMs on 95 in SC, GA, FL do not allow overnighting. However, there are Flying J's on 95 that are comfortable places to stay. We just got back from Port St Lucie, a couple of hours south of Orlando, and stopped over both ways at the FJ in Brunswick, GA.

As a side note, buy gas in SC if possible. Diesel there was 262.9. In GA it was 274.9. In FL it was around 300.9!

 

[mecamper]

We also like to use Flying J's for stopping over night. We drive as late at night as we can then stop at a Flying J's for a few hours sleep. I believe they have a web site where you can find their locations. There is a Flying J's near Florence, S.C. that we have stayed at. One time we stayed there until 4:00 am. and got to F.W. around 2:00that afternoon. There is a lot of noise from all of the trucks, but I feel pretty safe there.

 

[elastigirlfan]

Hi...we're similar to you in that we are coming from Pa. We just got back a week ago from our trip to FW. It takes us about 19 hrs to get there - wehaven't done an overnight trip yet. We usually go as far as we can the
1st day - usually to Ga. Ga doesn't take too long to get thru and then it's aobut 3 hours from the FL line. We also stayed at a Flying J and were comfortable there, as well. We were so tired nothing kept us awake - they have a separate area for RV'ers so you're not sandwiched between trucks or anything. I printed out the locations of them before our trip. Have a great trip. FW is definetly worth the trip down!!

 

[cyberdeb]

Hi,
I've driven to WDW many times (car and adults only) from MA. However, for the first time I'm towing a trailer and driving from NJ to WDW, pretty much Rt. 95 all the way. I'm just wondering how you've found it best to do the driving with kids? We have a 4-door truck and were thinking of leaving around 4AM, one overnight and arrival the next day. I have no clue how far south we can get on the first day...any thoughts?

Also, I keep hearing about overnighting in K-Mart or Wal-Mart? If you've ever done that on the way down do you have any recommendations?

I'm figureing if we leave at 4AM, we'll arrive the next day, but don't know how to estimate a time. Am I too ambitious? I made reservations for the arrival day for a 6:30 dinner.

Thanks in advance for your advice and help.

mob

I am just north of Philadelphia and the exact half way point for us is Fayetteville, NC. However we never stop there as we usually stop and spend night with family on VA/NC border just off 95. We then usually stop again above or below Jacksonville and then a short drive the next morning to FW.

 

[lawnspecialties]

Here are a few mandatories:

1: If you can make it all the way to Ga., you are about 5+ hours from the Fort the next day. It's about 7-8 hours from NC/SC line.
2: Get the latest copy of The Next Exit. This is a must! If you travel any kind of distance with an RV, it's worth it's weight in gold.
3: Consider staying at a campground right on I-95. They are everywhere. Look up some in the The Next Exit book and give them a call. We stayed at a very nice, quiet, and safe campground at Exit 58 in Ga. last year for $18. This was full hook-up including cable. The next morning we pulled out right at 8:00am and were at the Fort gate at 12:38. Wal-Marts are OK but it's sort of hard letting the kids unwind on their bikes in a Wal-Mart parking lot.
4: Go to Best Buy or Wal-Mart and get a $99 portable DVD player for each kid. If I had 10 kids, I'd still get 10 DVD players! Fortunately we only have two. I drive a crew cab F-250 and I'll bet the boys hardly said 20 words and they never ever fought. The Andy Griffith Show, Gilligan's Island, and Gomer Pyle. They love'em just like me.

Until I hear of a better idea, we'll be doing it just like this everytime we head down.