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

[shafke]

We just returned a couple of days ago from our trip. Total mileage including a side trip over to The Villages ~2600 miles.

Southbound we took I95 all the way.

We left LI shortly after 10pm and hit our only traffic for the trip down at 10:30pm. The Belt Parkway is a mess with constuction. Avoid this at all costs. After this it was smooth sailing to Savannah.

The Baltimore tunnel at 2:50am


Quick stop at South of the Border around 11:00 am


Arrived in Savannah around 2pm

On the road the next day around 7:30am

A quick stop at the Florida welcome center around 9:00am for juice and DD to admire the local wildlife


Around Jacksonville 9:40am


Here's out exit 11:50am


A most welcome sight


And finally we pull in to the FW resort at exactly 12 noon


For the trip home we left from The Villages around 8:00am and took 95-26-77-81 with a stop at Natural Bridge, VA

Traffice was heavy on I26 but moving. The only stop and go traffic we hit was on I77 north of Charlotte. We hit this area around 5pm or so on the Fri for labor day weekend. It took about 45 minutes to go about 10 miles. Other than that we had no problems.

 

[rotlex]

Just back this past Friday from our 10 night stay, and 2200 mile round trip drive!

All went very well; we used our usually 81-77-26-95 route from the Lehigh Valley area, and had absolutely no traffic issues down or back. For reference, we left the Allentown area around 2am on Sunday morning, the 22nd, and arrived at our La Quinta in Savannah around 3:30pm that same day. This was with a few stops for food, as well as gas and potty breaks with the kids. (We have an 8 and a 2 year old). We left the next morning from Savannah around 6am, and hit the AKL parking lot by 11, including a quick breakfast stop. Our room was ready by noon, and we were ready for 11 days of adventure!

Our trip home was equally uneventful, and took roughly the same amount of time, with the same stops.

As an FYI. For the first time in numerous driving trips to WDW, we got a flat on Disney property, while returning from Epcot one night. It REALLY stank to have this happen! The worst part was, that after changing the tire, our car would not start! Yeah, me, being an idiot, turned on the flasher, but never shut off the headlights, or the GPS that was plugged into the cig lighter. I guess this was just enough to kill the battery in the 30 or so minutes it took to change the tire. I figured I'd call the AKL main desk, and see if they could offer any assistance, and much to my surprise, and delight, they dispatched a security vehicle to our location, and they promptly jump started our vehicle without any issues! I was told by the security guy that came out, it's all part of their job, and they were glad to provide the services. BIG KUDOS to Disney for doing this, and for the guy that helped us out. It is really nice to k now I did not have to deal with any outside\offsite service for this issue.

Anway, that's it! Already looking forward to next years trip!!!!

 

[dvczerfs]

Just back this past Friday from our 10 night stay, and 2200 mile round trip drive!

All went very well; we used our usually 81-77-26-95 route from the Lehigh Valley area, and had absolutely no traffic issues down or back. For reference, we left the Allentown area around 2am on Sunday morning, the 22nd, and arrived at our La Quinta in Savannah around 3:30pm that same day. This was with a few stops for food, as well as gas and potty breaks with the kids. (We have an 8 and a 2 year old). We left the next morning from Savannah around 6am, and hit the AKL parking lot by 11, including a quick breakfast stop. Our room was ready by noon, and we were ready for 11 days of adventure!

Our trip home was equally uneventful, and took roughly the same amount of time, with the same stops.

As an FYI. For the first time in numerous driving trips to WDW, we got a flat on Disney property, while returning from Epcot one night. It REALLY stank to have this happen! The worst part was, that after changing the tire, our car would not start! Yeah, me, being an idiot, turned on the flasher, but never shut off the headlights, or the GPS that was plugged into the cig lighter. I guess this was just enough to kill the battery in the 30 or so minutes it took to change the tire. I figured I'd call the AKL main desk, and see if they could offer any assistance, and much to my surprise, and delight, they dispatched a security vehicle to our location, and they promptly jump started our vehicle without any issues! I was told by the security guy that came out, it's all part of their job, and they were glad to provide the services. BIG KUDOS to Disney for doing this, and for the guy that helped us out. It is really nice to k now I did not have to deal with any outside\offsite service for this issue.

Anway, that's it! Already looking forward to next years trip!!!!

welcome back steve!! our june trip ill be doing 81-77-26. were leaving on a friday early afternoon and i dont want to sit in 95 shore traffic on friday night. two years ago i got for christmas a black and decker electromate 400. its as big as a car battery, it has a few functions. it will jump your car,alternator tester, air compressor and has a 120 volt plug on it. it even has a light on it. i never leave home with outit anymore.

 

[rotlex]

welcome back steve!! our june trip ill be doing 81-77-26. were leaving on a friday early afternoon and i dont want to sit in 95 shore traffic on friday night. two years ago i got for christmas a black and decker electromate 400. its as big as a car battery, it has a few functions. it will jump your car,alternator tester, air compressor and has a 120 volt plug on it. it even has a light on it. i never leave home with outit anymore.

Hehe, thanks for the welcome back! I have actually been thinking of picking up a unit like you are describing. Of course, I will now, and will probably never need it, but hey, the secure feeling will be a good one, LOL.

 

[sharadoc]

Hehe, thanks for the welcome back! I have actually been thinking of picking up a unit like you are describing. Of course, I will now, and will probably never need it, but hey, the secure feeling will be a good one, LOL.

We have one and love it. It's great for an extra secure feeling on a trip. We have used it in the past on another vehicle to jump start, and it worked great.

 

[Disneyholic]

We will be leaving on Sunday morning the 12th and coming back the next Sunday the 18th. I looked up the baseball schedules for both weekends. The Washington Nationals are at home this weekend & the Baltimore Orioles are at home next weekend. I am seriously thinking about avoiding 95 & taking the 81 route instead. We got in Orioles traffic a few years ago. Not fun.

 

[crzy4dsny]

That gives me a lot of hope for our trip! Thank you. We were thinking we'd pack lots of snacks and some things we could eat on the go. I think we'll probably stop the following morning for breakfast to stretch our legs and let our little guy move around for a little bit. We're going to find a Cracker Barrel probably in SC if we leave here around 4. Did you switch off driving at specific intervals or when you felt like you needed to?

I did all the driving, I always do. I have never felt the need to let my wife drive. Except on our first trip when I started to fall asleep in New jersey about 1.5 hours into the trip I'm not a coffee drinker so I stopped and got a Mountain Dew and I was good for the rest of the trip. You will see signs for Cracker Barrel on billboards along the way telling you where they are. The first time we drove I think my kids were like 3,5 and 6. They handled the trip fine back then too.

 

[crzy4dsny]

Hey shafke, I like those pictures, some looked real fimiliar!

 

[crzy4dsny]

Saturday night when I left VA for the last leg of my trip home I some how by accident wound up on the western loop, 495?, around DC. I'll place the blame on my wife, it was all her fault But anyway I found that it didn't seem longer going this way, but the road was a little tricky to navigate. It was real curvy in some areas where the eastern loop is pretty straight. I think there may have been some construction going on too. I like the eastern better and will continue to take that route, unless my wife messes me up again

 

[dvczerfs]

We will be leaving on Sunday morning the 12th and coming back the next Sunday the 18th. I looked up the baseball schedules for both weekends. The Washington Nationals are at home this weekend & the Baltimore Orioles are at home next weekend. I am seriously thinking about avoiding 95 & taking the 81 route instead. We got in Orioles traffic a few years ago. Not fun.

take 81 to int66. get off at17, (you will see a sign, 95 south via 17 south) follow the "to 95 signs and it will drop you on 95, south of the wash and balt and just above richmond. from catty, you will hit richmond in 41/2- 5 hours. its well marked and it cuts out wash and balt. its about 1 hour faster than going 81-77-26.

 

[2busy4life]

Ok...I know that I am a newbie to this whole driving to Florida/Disney thing but after reading all of your posts I really am a newbie at this.

We are crossing over at Port Huron and connecting with the I75 since we are traveling in late December. We thought this was our safest route not necessarily our fastest route. We will spend one night in Knoxville, TN on our way down then stay one night in Lexington KY on our drive back. For those veterans out there does this sound like a good plan?

 

[michael's mom]

I did all the driving, I always do. I have never felt the need to let my wife drive. Except on our first trip when I started to fall asleep in New jersey about 1.5 hours into the trip I'm not a coffee drinker so I stopped and got a Mountain Dew and I was good for the rest of the trip. You will see signs for Cracker Barrel on billboards along the way telling you where they are. The first time we drove I think my kids were like 3,5 and 6. They handled the trip fine back then too.

Thanks so much! I'm becoming more and more confident about this after reading your posts and, It's nice to know that the timeline I'm thinking about seems to be on target.

 

[dvczerfs]

Ok...I know that I am a newbie to this whole driving to Florida/Disney thing but after reading all of your posts I really am a newbie at this.

We are crossing over at Port Huron and connecting with the I75 since we are traveling in late December. We thought this was our safest route not necessarily our fastest route. We will spend one night in Knoxville, TN on our way down then stay one night in Lexington KY on our drive back. For those veterans out there does this sound like a good plan?

sounds doable to me... just watch the snow. oh ya, your use to driving in the snow. we will be driving home when your driving down.

 

[Ken_Breadbox]

Ok...I know that I am a newbie to this whole driving to Florida/Disney thing but after reading all of your posts I really am a newbie at this.

We are crossing over at Port Huron and connecting with the I75 since we are traveling in late December. We thought this was our safest route not necessarily our fastest route. We will spend one night in Knoxville, TN on our way down then stay one night in Lexington KY on our drive back. For those veterans out there does this sound like a good plan?

Safest, yes, at that time of year. And you're only sacrificing MAYBE 90 minutes. The first day's drive (in both cases) is a tad gruelling--about 12 hours, give or take. But I figure it's better to do the big run first, you're closer to home for the second leg.

You might be a bit better off taking the 401 to Windsor and getting on I-75 in Detroit. The 402 can get ugly in winter and I think Port Huron is a bit out of your way.

Either way, I CAN NOT RECOMMEND "ALONG I-75" by Dave Hunter HIGHLY ENOUGH. This travelogue ought to be mandatory reading for anyone taking this route, especially a first-timer. It's packed with so much useful and entertaining information. It really does make the trip go by faster, and could very well pay for itself and save you money besides.

Have a great trip!

 

[Disneyholic]

take 81 to int66. get off at17, (you will see a sign, 95 south via 17 south) follow the "to 95 signs and it will drop you on 95, south of the wash and balt and just above richmond. from catty, you will hit richmond in 41/2- 5 hours. its well marked and it cuts out wash and balt. its about 1 hour faster than going 81-77-26.

Thanks, I printed off your directions & we will try them. Just don't feel like hitting the traffic with all those "crazy" baseball fans. Go Pigs!

 

[Donald is #1]

Don't you already have a transponder if you had one to go to Port Canaveral?

I've never done the trip, but I've been told from some who have that using EZ pass saves you more time than you'd think so I'd definitely do that. We're planning on ordering ours soon.

Yes, I have the EZPass which I agree is a must if you are traveling the main path from northeast down to FL.

However, once you get south of DC, there aren't any tolls on I-95 to Port Canaveral.

If you take 95 to 4 into Disney there are no tolls south of DC.

Awesome thanks!

 

[angwill]

I was told that EZ pass does not work in Florida that it is a Sun pass, I think. Is this not still true?

 

[BC1836]

Here's out exit 11:50am
QUOTE]

The key photo in the first phase of any 2,000+ mile round trip: EXIT #67!

Cool. Thanks for sharing.

All the best.

 

[Donald is #1]

I was told that EZ pass does not work in Florida that it is a Sun pass, I think. Is this not still true?

Yes it is still true. I was referring to EZ Pass above for the NY, NJ & Maryland part of the trip. Sorry if I confused you.

 

[sharadoc]

That gives me a lot of hope for our trip! Thank you. We were thinking we'd pack lots of snacks and some things we could eat on the go. I think we'll probably stop the following morning for breakfast to stretch our legs and let our little guy move around for a little bit. We're going to find a Cracker Barrel probably in SC if we leave here around 4. Did you switch off driving at specific intervals or when you felt like you needed to?

Hi. Our plan for switching drivers is 3 hour shifts. We drive 12 hours the first day, so that means two shifts each. Then on the second day, it's one shift each. VERY easy!

For food on the go, we bring cheese sticks, peeled hard boiled eggs, premade tuna and chicken salad with crackers, Go-gurt, granola bars and juice or water to drink. Much better than McDonald's drive-through.

On our last trip, we went to a local barbecue restaurant for dinner on our first night. Good, home cooked buffet - cost $30 for four of us and we had unlimited ribs, fried chicken, pork barbecue, greens, mac & cheese, banana pudding and homemade sweet tea! Awesome - if you're willing to be adventurous, eating local is great. We feel we can get Cracker Barrel anywhere.