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

[Vickis3js]

if it was me and wanted to spend time with the family on the 25th, leave at 11am or so, the 25th is not a heavy long distance travel day. go till about 7-8pm. get up the 26th and hit the road by 3am, kids will sleep the rest of the way in and you will get there around 10-10:30am a head of the traffic.

That is what I would do. I would plan to drive until you got as far south in GA as you could. When we left WDW the 26th last year we didn't leave until around 10 am and we didn't notice the traffic until we hit GA. So you left earlier in the morning from GA on the 26th you should be good!

I've never done a check in around 3am so I have no clue how that works. Maybe try calling the hotels and see how it works.

I know from my house in Cape May county they say it should take 13hrs to get to Brunswick, GA so if you hit the road at 11am depending on exactly where you are you should hit GA by 11pm. Its about 5 hours from Savannah to WDW so even if you get on the road by 6am I think you should be alright. Most people will leave the 26th so you already have a very good head start on them.

 

[BC1836]

September has arrived...which means next month is drive time!

All the best.

 

[amcnj]

Jamesfam, we are in NJ also and now live about an hour and 10 minutes from the DE Memorial Bridge. We leave around 2:30 am and arrive in the Orlando area anywhere from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm that same day. The three big factors affecting arrival time are of course, traffic, stops and weather. It seems to take about 15 hours of actual driving time. Typical times for trips are:


The ranges near the end are because from SC on some trips we opt to stop for lunch or even dinner before arriving in Orlando area, thus adding a couple hours on to the total time.

Leave NJ 2:30 am
Hit Delaware 3:40
MD 3:55
VA 5:25
NC 8:00
SC 11
GA 2-3 pm
FL 4 to 6 pm
Orlando area 6:30 to 8:30 pm

 

[dzalice]

We will be driving down next month from Illinois. Since we are about 30 miles south of Chicago, right on the Indiana border, we will be taking the I65-I24-I75 route. We did this last March (2009) leaving early in the afternoon on Friday. We made it down to Louisville and may I say, never, never try to find a hotel room on a Friday night in Louisville in March. Talk about March Madness. Saturday we got all the way to Lake City Florida, and then on Sunday we coasted into the Beach Club about 11am. We found that there weren’t many accommodation options between Valdosta and Lake City. This year we are only taking 2 days to drive. We plan on leaving about 3am on a Saturday and stopping between Atlanta and Macon (probably McDonough), then leaving early on Sunday and getting to Caribbean Beach between 3 and 4pm. After reading the posts here, we’ve decided to make a reservation around McDonough for Saturday night (especially after our problems finding on room in Louisville). We don’t really push while driving, but this way if we encounter any delays (weather, traffic, etc) we know we will have a place to stay that night. So thanks for the tip.

 

[cemeb4dk]

We will be driving down next month from Illinois. Since we are about 30 miles south of Chicago, right on the Indiana border, we will be taking the I65-I24-I75 route. We did this last March (2009) leaving early in the afternoon on Friday. We made it down to Louisville and may I say, never, never try to find a hotel room on a Friday night in Louisville in March. Talk about March Madness. Saturday we got all the way to Lake City Florida, and then on Sunday we coasted into the Beach Club about 11am. We found that there weren’t many accommodation options between Valdosta and Lake City. This year we are only taking 2 days to drive. We plan on leaving about 3am on a Saturday and stopping between Atlanta and Macon (probably McDonough), then leaving early on Sunday and getting to Caribbean Beach between 3 and 4pm. After reading the posts here, we’ve decided to make a reservation around McDonough for Saturday night (especially after our problems finding on room in Louisville). We don’t really push while driving, but this way if we encounter any delays (weather, traffic, etc) we know we will have a place to stay that night. So thanks for the tip.

I give you credit, your more patient than I. I need to go go go. I would never be able to just drive 4-5 hours and pull over for the night. Sometimes I wish I could, but its just spending that money for a hotel when I know I wont sleep and I could be driving, I guess thats why we always go striaght thru.

Safe travels, we leave right after you sound like we leave midnight the 24th.

 

[CharliNye]

We head out this friday morning, crazy early at 4. We've never driven anywhere further then michigan with the kids(or together) so this will be interesting.

Originally we were going to take 57 but changed our minds and we're taking the 65 route. We're going to hit macon late afternoon/early evening and stay there. We can't check into our resort til saturday late afternoon so we're taking our time sleeping in,showering and then finishing off the drive.

I'm excited but wary, I hate being in the car long hours. That and I think I burnt out planning and packing. ugh.

We decided on the way back to stay overnight in bowling green, KY. My husband likes to drive long distances the first day, sleep in a little then have shorter drives the rest of the way.

If anyone who's gone down this route has any advice that would be swell, getting nervous. Can't believe the trip is already here! Seems like we just started planning it.

 

[cemeb4dk]

We head out this friday morning, crazy early at 4. We've never driven anywhere further then michigan with the kids(or together) so this will be interesting.

Originally we were going to take 57 but changed our minds and we're taking the 65 route. We're going to hit macon late afternoon/early evening and stay there. We can't check into our resort til saturday late afternoon so we're taking our time sleeping in,showering and then finishing off the drive.

I'm excited but wary, I hate being in the car long hours. That and I think I burnt out planning and packing. ugh.

We decided on the way back to stay overnight in bowling green, KY. My husband likes to drive long distances the first day, sleep in a little then have shorter drives the rest of the way.

If anyone who's gone down this route has any advice that would be swell, getting nervous. Can't believe the trip is already here! Seems like we just started planning it.

If I can make a suggestion, I would leave a bit earlier. I am close to you in North Aurora, and Atlanta is about 11 hours 12 hours on the clock, so if you leave at 4, that gets you into ATL, at 5 or so in the middle of rush hour. You should want to avoid this especially a Friday night. Plus if there is a Braves game going on. We leave in 52 days and we are leaving at midnight so we can hit ATL around noon or so.

Either way safe travels and enjoy your trip

 

[Becky2005]

Stay far far far away from America's Best Value Inn in Chattanooga TN! Gross!!!

The Hamptons are so nice and CLEAN!

Good to know. We are doing the drive again next year and the hotel we stopped at on the way down in 2005 doesn't seem to be there anymore (or it probably just changed hands). For some odd reason, it took us a billion times longer to get there than I expected that year too. I specifically picked a place with a pool so the kids could go swimming after the long drive and we got there so late at night the pool was closed! We weren't even sure we would be able to get dinner but we found a pizza place opened late. It was something around 11 pm or Midnight but I think we had the time change factor that I hadn't thought about. We left at about 4 AM (maybe 5). It wasn't traffic issues but I think we just ended up making a billion stops we weren't planning on. The kids are older now & we just did a trip to CT this summer which is about the same distance, so we should be better and I'm not going to worry about the pool!

I need to figure out where we are going to stop because I know for a fact we have to stop before Atlanta...we are old and just can't drive that far. We drove home from the speedway there one year and DH's first words out of his mouth after pulling into the driveway was "Never let me do that again" and that was BEFORE we had the younger 2 kids we were BOTH falling asleep at the wheel...it was awful. I definitely want to make reservations though and not do a "hope we find something" because we have a larger family so it makes it trickier as we need either 2 rooms or a suite. We have had good luck with Holiday Inns.

I think we are doing the Rt. 47 - 74 - 57 - 24 - 75 route I think...I don't know yet. I keep thinking there has to be a better way (DH is convinced 47 to 74 is the fastest way since it's a straight shot & skip Chicago traffic), especially with 355 going all the way to 80 now.

 

[cemeb4dk]

I like the 47 route except unless you get stuck behind a truck or farm vehicle. If it was 2 lanes each way it would be a great route but I avoid now due to it being one lane each way and usually alot of semis on it.

 

[amtag]

We are back! I wanted to post updates from the road, but a little hard to do from my blackberry and I FORGOT my laptop

We left NJ about 2:30am on Sat. August 21st. We ended up staying on 95 all the way down and we made a couple pit stops for bathroom breaks, we stopped in Manassas, VA for breakfast and spent about 40 minutes at South of the Border. We arrived at the Comfort Suites in the POURING rain at 6:30pm. The last hour was horrible with the rain, you couldn't even see! All in all, it wasn't that bad, but if I could fly next time, I would!

We left Sunday morning for Ocala and had no problem getting there in about 2 hours. We left early Wednesday the 25th for Orlando and from there is was great - low crowds at Disney, although hot, it was all manageable.

We took 2 days to come home, we stopped in Jacksonville the first night and Richmond the 2nd night and drove about 5 1/2 hours from Richmond to home the last day.

We used easy pass until Florida, where there are tolls every 5 minutes it seemed like All in all, a great trip - I'd be happy to answer any questions if I can!

 

[Tina]

How did you end up in Manassas from I-95?

 

[patclairesmom]

We left NJ about 2:30am on Sat. August 21st. We ended up staying on 95 all the way down and we made a couple pit stops for bathroom breaks, we stopped in Manassas, VA for breakfast and spent about 40 minutes at South of the Border. We arrived at the Comfort Suites in the POURING rain at 6:30pm.

You made great time!

 

[amtag]

How did you end up in Manassas from I-95?

well, I thought it was Manassas, that was the last sign I saw before we pulled off, so maybe it wasn't, it was after we saw the sign entering Virginia, so perhaps it was just a sign for how far it was, we ate at a Craker Barrell for breakfast right off of 95 after we entered Virginia - sorry

 

[PrincessMom4]

Man I am exhausted and 4 very excited yet bored kids (more bored because "are we leaving now"??>>LOL).

 

[BC1836]

We used easy pass until Florida, where there are tolls every 5 minutes it seemed like All in all, a great trip - I'd be happy to answer any questions if I can!

Florida tolls? Did you deviate from the I-95 and I-4 route in the Sunshine State?

 

[amtag]

Florida tolls? Did you deviate from the I-95 and I-4 route in the Sunshine State?

We had to drop my aunt off at the airport and pick up my cousin, so we had to go there first, I think it was 528?? Wherever the GPS took us!

 

[Vickis3js]

We left NJ about 2:30am on Sat. August 21st. We ended up staying on 95 all the way down and we made a couple pit stops for bathroom breaks, we stopped in Manassas, VA for breakfast and spent about 40 minutes at South of the Border. We arrived at the Comfort Suites in the POURING rain at 6:30pm. The last hour was horrible with the rain, you couldn't even see! All in all, it wasn't that bad, but if I could fly next time, I would!

Can you tell me where the comfort suites was and how it was? We booked a comfort suites in Brunswick, Ga and I am a tad nervous about it. Its only one night so its not that big a deal but I am used to staying in Savannah at a Marriott chain but the price was so good I couldn't pass it up.

 

[pwdebbie]

Florida tolls? Did you deviate from the I-95 and I-4 route in the Sunshine State?

I'll bet it was 417. That road was crazy with tolls. And the drivers on it were a little crazy too. We took it on our first drive down because "I read it on the DIS" -- it was supposed to be better than I-4. It was horrible. When we came home we took I-4 and wondered what all the complaints were about. It was a breeze.

 

[Tina]

well, I thought it was Manassas, that was the last sign I saw before we pulled off, so maybe it wasn't, it was after we saw the sign entering Virginia, so perhaps it was just a sign for how far it was, we ate at a Craker Barrell for breakfast right off of 95 after we entered Virginia - sorry

No need to be sorry. I was just curious, thinking you'd wandered too far off 95 or went on an adventure. You were probably in the Dale City/Woodbridge area.

 

[CharliNye]

Ok, my last post for a while. We're off at 4 am. Car is packed, I'm exhausted. Ready to just get this trip going and get there safely. I'm freaking paranoid about the drive.

ok, that's it, signing off-for Disney World~