For 2,000+ Mile Round-Trip Drivers Only! (II)

[Tink-aholic]

We are taking the autotrain tomorrow but today I really looked at the directions and it suggests we go I-495 around DC. When I checked Google Maps Traffic today around the same time (figure 11am) I-495 still had some sluggish traffic from rush hour earlier (I checked) but going east and staying on I-95 was green.

On a weekday, has someone driven around DC at this time or is it best to stay on I-95 than scoot around on I-495?

On Monday July 26, we did 95N through DC at about 11AM. No problems at all...until we hit NYC at 4:30! Didn't get out of THAT traffic until almost 7PM.

 

[chipper10]

I think DH and I must have just been slow with the last trip we took. We may have eaten at more sit down places, while this trip we plan to stop at McDonald's to let DS play and then quickly get back on the road.
I made a list of possible hotels to stay in last night. I think I'm going to make a reservation for one in Lake City, but cancel it if we can't make it that far.

10 days until we leave!!!

 

[michael's mom]

what you guys think of a 8pm start on friday from NYC? Planning to drive straight through.

I'd like to know too! We're planning on leaving the Boston area around 4pm which would put us near NYC at 8pm. I'm thinking you'd be good to go though from what I've seen. You'd be through DC long before rush hour and I think the rest would be smooth sailing on 95 right into FL.

 

[pattibehan]

We are here !!! It took us 21 hours and 30 minutes to drive from Albany NY..

We left at 2:20pm on Sunday, August 1st
traffic was HORRIBLE...no reasons, just bad drivers!!

NY/NJ border at 4:30pm
Traffic was pretty slow..or "congestion ahead" as they say in NJ

Delaware Memorial Bridge at 7:05
this tiny state was a parking lot....

Maryland/Delaware border 7:47
got gas in MD..$2.67 a gallon

Chesapeak Bay Tunnel at 8:56pm

D/C Virginia border 9:50pm
got gas in Virginia at $2.59

Virginia/North Carolina border at 12:39am
very sleepy, DH and I almost stopped, but soldiered on

NC/SC border 3:37am
yawn !!!

SC/ Georgia border 6:22am
Stopped at a Cracker Barrel for our traditional breakfast!!

FLORIDA !!!! 8:55am


Arrived in Disney at 11:55am

in the pool at noon!!

Hope this helps !!

 

[Marshay]

We are taking the autotrain tomorrow but today I really looked at the directions and it suggests we go I-495 around DC. When I checked Google Maps Traffic today around the same time (figure 11am) I-495 still had some sluggish traffic from rush hour earlier (I checked) but going east and staying on I-95 was green.

On a weekday, has someone driven around DC at this time or is it best to stay on I-95 than scoot around on I-495?

I'm from suburbs of DC and the best advice I can tell you is to listen to traffic on the 8's prior to making a decision point of 495 vs 95. WTOP (107.7 is their main signal but you can look up the others on-line) or check out your GPS or Google traffic.

At 11am, both should be pretty good unless there is construction or accident.

We just took the AT back from WDW in July (drove down but train on return) -- loved it and booked it again for Nov!

 

[ibcnu]

I'm from suburbs of DC and the best advice I can tell you is to listen to traffic on the 8's prior to making a decision point of 495 vs 95. WTOP (107.7 is their main signal but you can look up the others on-line) or check out your GPS or Google traffic.

At 11am, both should be pretty good unless there is construction or accident.

We just took the AT back from WDW in July (drove down but train on return) -- loved it and booked it again for Nov!

Thank you! Will do! This is the first time for us on the autotrain and the furthest I've driven was Baltimore so I know what I'm dealing with traffic-wise out of NJ. Getting around Washington DC will be a first.

 

[cburek]

Thank you! Will do! This is the first time for us on the autotrain and the furthest I've driven was Baltimore so I know what I'm dealing with traffic-wise out of NJ. Getting around Washington DC will be a first.

Enjoy the auto train. We have never gone SB just NB. We have always enjoyed it

 

[crzy4dsny]

what you guys think of a 8pm start on friday from NYC? Planning to drive straight through.

I have done the trip from Long Island 3 times, my 4th coming up in 3 weeks. I had a friend who "coached" me in driving to Disney. He had done the trip over 30 times and now lives in Florida. He says the best time to leave is 7 pm. Which would put us in NYC around 8pm, the time you want to leave. So according to someone I would consider an expert you are leaving at the perfect time. Although I don't leave at 7pm because I don't want to drive thru the night. I leave at his second best departure time which is 2am.

 

[Tina]

I'm in northern Virginia and don't drive the beltway often so someone please correct me if I'm wrong: I don't believe the signs you'll see as your travel south from Baltimore on 95 will read 95 vs 495. The beltway is a circle and the whole thing is called 495. What you will see are signs for Richmond (east side) or Rockville (west side). I'm surprised the western route was recommended as I believe it's much longer. Not to mention, bogged down with Hot Lane and Metro construction near Tysons. I recommend staying to the East side, following the signs toward Richmond until you reach Lorton (station).

 

[crzy4dsny]

I'm in northern Virginia and don't drive the beltway often so someone please correct me if I'm wrong: I don't believe the signs you'll see as your travel south from Baltimore on 95 will read 95 vs 495. The beltway is a circle and the whole thing is called 495. What you will see are signs for Richmond (east side) or Rockville (west side). I'm surprised the western route was recommended as I believe it's much longer. Not to mention, bogged down with Hot Lane and Metro construction near Tysons. I recommend staying to the East side, following the signs toward Richmond until you reach Lorton (station).

I vote for the eastern option too. I've always been told not to go west.

 

[ibcnu]

I vote for the eastern option too. I've always been told not to go west.

Ok thank you both. I'm going to look at the east route now. Thank you so much, especially about the construction!

 

[mcasiano]

I have done the trip from Long Island 3 times, my 4th coming up in 3 weeks. I had a friend who "coached" me in driving to Disney. He had done the trip over 30 times and now lives in Florida. He says the best time to leave is 7 pm. Which would put us in NYC around 8pm, the time you want to leave. So according to someone I would consider an expert you are leaving at the perfect time. Although I don't leave at 7pm because I don't want to drive thru the night. I leave at his second best departure time which is 2am.

Thanks for the info. I'm heading out on Aug 27 for 8 days. Can't wait to get there.

 

[BC1836]

Indeed. The key to any long-distance drive to WDW is avoiding notorious rush-hour traffic areas along the way.

All the best.

 

[cruisingkat]

I'm looking for some feedback on GPS systems. We always drive to Florida for Disney. We also drive to Michigan a few times a years, so we're on the road fairly often. I'm thinking of getting a dash-mounted GPS system.

What do you have? What do you like/dislike about it?

Amazon has the Magellan RoadMate 1424-LM 4.3-Inch GPS Navigator with Lifetime Map Updates on the Deal of the Day today for $119. Anyone have this model or another Magellan with comments? I thought the lifetime map updates sounded great (heard they can be expensive).

We have a Garmin Nuvi (got it about 3 or 4 years ago. We like it because it has a large screen. When we were shopping for our GPS , one of the things that we looked for were large buttons on the onscreen keyboard -a definite plus in a moving car. The Tom-tom and magellan had very tiny buttons at the time - too easy to enter the wrong info.
Our garmin can be set for Car or pedestrian - a big plus when using it when walking around various locations. It also has an SD card slot, so we can take an SD card full of music and play that. Hubby also downloads audio books and we use that to download walking tours. When we were in Italy, he downloaded a bunch of touring books for the cities we were seeing, set the Nuvi on pedestrian, and followed the tour instructions. Much easier than taking a travel book and trying to figure out directions on a map. We also program in our hotel - a definite plus in Europe with their small and hard to find street signs and their twisting and interconnecting streets

 

[Fastpaks]

I was a little confused too, until I checked how many miles more we actually had. I had originally assumed that STL,MO was further to FL than PA to FL and then you threw in the 1 hour time difference which already causes me confusion when we travel......and now I am more confused than ever....

Just did a mapquest from STL, MO and was surprised at what I found. They said 994.43 miles and 15h 37m. I was picturing St. Louis, MO as being fmuch urther north than it is.

That sounds about right. I live about 35 miles west of that.

I'm looking for some feedback on GPS systems. We always drive to Florida for Disney. We also drive to Michigan a few times a years, so we're on the road fairly often. I'm thinking of getting a dash-mounted GPS system.

What do you have? What do you like/dislike about it?

Amazon has the Magellan RoadMate 1424-LM 4.3-Inch GPS Navigator with Lifetime Map Updates on the Deal of the Day today for $119. Anyone have this model or another Magellan with comments? I thought the lifetime map updates sounded great (heard they can be expensive).

Personally, I use my cell. I have an Android phone with Google Maps, so the Gps kinda comes with it and is pretty accurate. That being said, I would love my phone to have the voices for Tom Tom like this..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ljFfL-mL70 <--- at least give it a watch. Its good funny stuff.

sorry fastpaks, i was just refering to the other pa person.) i sorta stepped on your post.) sorry again.

Its all good!

 

[mamapajama]

Thanks for the info. I'm heading out on Aug 27 for 8 days. Can't wait to get there.

We're leaving on the 28th from Nassau County! I'm hoping to be in the car no later than 4 am. We're going to try to make it to Savannah.

 

[nytimez]

We're leaving on the 28th from Nassau County! I'm hoping to be in the car no later than 4 am. We're going to try to make it to Savannah.

That's a long day, but that sounds doable.

 

[cksmm5]

We are driving from NJ to Disney on August 18 and relying on our Tom-Tom. Has anyone used Tom-Tom for the trip and is it accurate?

 

[Tweevil]

Hi Everyone~!
I am getting ready to head out Saturday am from NJ to WDW - check in on Sunday.

I figure if I drive 12 or so hours it should put me at the edge of SC or top of GA. Anybody have a good place to stay in mind? How about if I decided to go for it and just go to FL. Think I could find someplace to stay near Disney without a ressie? Should I make a couple?

I usually drive straight but this time work has beat me up so I think I am going to have to stop. Any suggestions when you want to stop but don't know where? LOL

 

[chipper10]

Hi Everyone~!
I am getting ready to head out Saturday am from NJ to WDW - check in on Sunday.

I figure if I drive 12 or so hours it should put me at the edge of SC or top of GA. Anybody have a good place to stay in mind? How about if I decided to go for it and just go to FL. Think I could find someplace to stay near Disney without a ressie? Should I make a couple?

I usually drive straight but this time work has beat me up so I think I am going to have to stop. Any suggestions when you want to stop but don't know where? LOL

We are coming from St. Louis. I made a list of hotels that I would be willing to stop at past Atlanta. Mainly I picked Hampton Inns in Macon, Tifton, Valdosta, Adele, Lake City and Ocala (I think). I figure once we get past Atlanta we will have a better idea of where to stop. At that point, I will call and make a reservation or book one on the laptop.