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

[blondietink]

We went around DC both in August and October. Went the west side in August and the east side in October. We much prefer the west side which is contrary to the way AAA always sends us. When going the east side, you always have the possibility of the George Washington Bridge being up and traffic will come to a standstill. We just made better time going on the west side, both of which were around noonish on a Saturday. Just MHO.

 

[BC1836]

So what's the current word on passing through DC -- 95/495 to the east side or to the west side when going south?

I'll be heading down tomorrow -- plan to stop for breakfast before reaching DC, then passing through after the morning rush (it will be impossible for me to beat the morning rush).

So...did you make it through without too much traffic? Fridays can be, well, quite bad in that area.

All the best.

 

[cemeb4dk]

Just back( Friday) from a 10 night stay.

We live 45 minutes west of Chicago.

Left Sat 10/23 at 9:30 pm. Got to Ruby Falls at 8 am Eastern time ate at the cracker barrell, then did the tour at the falls. Spent a total of 3 hours or so there. It was a good half wayish point to stop and stretch the legs. Then back in car, stopped in Downtown Atlanta at Varisty Dogs, and being from Chicago, you know how I like my hot dogs and this was an experience and I can at least say I did it. Arrived at our hotel at about 8:30 pm at the Hampton Inn just outside of Downtown Disney for the night. An excellent hotel to stay at for a night before you check into your Disney hotel if you arrive early, or even if you stay offsite. So a total of 22 hours in car, and we all did great. I did all the driving myself. My wife and 4 1/2 year old daughter did great traveling.

On the way back. Left Thursday 11/4 at 11:30 am and went straight thru again arriving home just before 6am. Straight thru again. We had some overnight construction in Chatanooga and Nashville but nothing to bad either way.

My wifes 2003 trailblazer with 125K miles on it with a sears travel bubble averaged 16mpg and I would guess the average we paid per gallon was about 2.69 or so

 

[sharadoc]

Posting from Ormond Beach, FL. Left our home Sunday at 11:45 am and drove to Florence, SC. Stayed in a Country Inns and Suites. We had NO trouble around DC or I-95. Smooth sailing all the way, easiest drive we've had (this is #3). Arrived in Ormond Beach this afternoon, had some nice beach time, and we're ready for WDW tomorrow morning.

We're thinking of staying there next drive. How was it? What type of room did you stay in? How was the staff and the breakfast?

 

[hibricc]

(cross-posted from the Driving sticky, in hopes of responses from road warriors!)

Last year, we left MA on Sunday Dec27 via I95 - and got caught in the biggest mess of traffic in New Jersey and Delaware. (We were surprised at how clear NYC was, thought we were home free, but then...) Seems like all of the northeast was heading south that day!

So this year, we're leaving on Sunday again (can't change the day), but thinking about the I84-81 route and picking up I95 at DC. Google says it's only an additional 45 minutes, but should we be concerned about icy/snowy roads out on I81?

TIA

 

[pwdebbie]

We're thinking of staying there next drive. How was it? What type of room did you stay in? How was the staff and the breakfast?

I assume you mean the Country Inns and Suites in Florence? It was fine, fairly clean (specs of white hard stuff on the carpet, cleaning crystals maybe), fairly quiet, no problems. King bed room. Staff was nice. No eggs at breakfast though, just sausage and sausage gravy for the "hot" part, and of course the ever-present waffle maker. If you meant SunDeck in Ormond Beach, then check TripAdvisor in about five days for my review.

 

[pwdebbie]

(cross-posted from the Driving sticky, in hopes of responses from road warriors!)

Last year, we left MA on Sunday Dec27 via I95 - and got caught in the biggest mess of traffic in New Jersey and Delaware. (We were surprised at how clear NYC was, thought we were home free, but then...) Seems like all of the northeast was heading south that day!

So this year, we're leaving on Sunday again (can't change the day), but thinking about the I84-81 route and picking up I95 at DC. Google says it's only an additional 45 minutes, but should we be concerned about icy/snowy roads out on I81?

TIA

Yep, from Thanksgiving on there is always the chance of snow and ice on I-81 in the southcentral PA region. Where are you planning to get off I-81?

 

[sharadoc]

I assume you mean the Country Inns and Suites in Florence? It was fine, fairly clean (specs of white hard stuff on the carpet, cleaning crystals maybe), fairly quiet, no problems. King bed room. Staff was nice. No eggs at breakfast though, just sausage and sausage gravy for the "hot" part, and of course the ever-present waffle maker. If you meant SunDeck in Ormond Beach, then check TripAdvisor in about five days for my review.

Thanks, yes I meant the Country Inn. I hate it when there's no eggs - even hard boiled works good for us. The carbo load in the morning doesn't make for a pleasant drive with a rock in your stomach! My DD loves to makes the waffles and they are tasty, but too much work when I'm tired in the morning. We've stayed at some Country Inns that have scrambled eggs, sausage patties and breakfast sandwiches. I'm okay with the sausage gravy and biscuits, its become a tradition on driving trips only!

 

[hibricc]

Yep, from Thanksgiving on there is always the chance of snow and ice on I-81 in the southcentral PA region. Where are you planning to get off I-81?

No formal route plan just yet (probably get an old fashioned TripTik from AAA), but Google says Exit 70 to I83 at Harrisburg....

 

[lck33]

Leaving from the catskills of New York on Friday the 19th and would love some input on the route we should take, when to leave and where to stay. I am scared to death of the thought of bed bugs. So any recent good experiences would be great. We would like to try to drive about 14 hours the first day, and leave early in the am.

Thanks so much. I will be taveling with my FIL and DD10.

 

[pwdebbie]

No formal route plan just yet (probably get an old fashioned TripTik from AAA), but Google says Exit 70 to I83 at Harrisburg....

If you take 83, then you will be off of 81 before reaching my area. 83 ends in Baltimore so I guess you will be getting on the Baltimore beltway, taking the highway down to DC (I want to say 295 but it has been too many years since I lived in Baltimore) and then around the DC beltway. Or taking the Baltimore beltway to 95. Personally, these are not routes I would take.

 

[pwdebbie]

Leaving from the catskills of New York on Friday the 19th and would love some input on the route we should take, when to leave and where to stay. I am scared to death of the thought of bed bugs. So any recent good experiences would be great. We would like to try to drive about 14 hours the first day, and leave early in the am.

Thanks so much. I will be taveling with my FIL and DD10.

Stayed two nights on the road and didn't see bedbugs. None in our POFQ room right now either.

 

[dvczerfs]

If you take 83, then you will be off of 81 before reaching my area. 83 ends in Baltimore so I guess you will be getting on the Baltimore beltway, taking the highway down to DC (I want to say 295 but it has been too many years since I lived in Baltimore) and then around the DC beltway. Or taking the Baltimore beltway to 95. Personally, these are not routes I would take.

i take 81 to 66 to 17 to 95. 17 takes you through opal, warrenton and you dont hit all that mess. 17 is a 4 lane road but you hit a few lights. i also wouldnt hit that area at rush hour. its alot faster, less traffic. most tourist wont take it because its not an interstate. 17 will drop you off on 95 at exit 133 which is just north of richmond. i would never take it either but i followed someone in 1996 and couldnt believe how faster it was. 17 is well marked, just follow the 95 south signs.

 

[BC1836]

Question to the veteran drivers: You've just completed your 1,000+ mile drive to WDW. What next form of transportation best describes the "Ah-we've-made-it-and-this-is-so-relaxing" moment?

For us, it's the launch that connects the GF and the Poly to the MK.

And your WDW transportation moment?

All the best.

 

[rak5701]

Good thing it's 2am and I can't sleep as usual!! I should be good and tired at
4pm and drift off to sleep before we leave at midnight for our trip. Plan right now is to leave at midnight and drive straight through to Orlando. Since this is our first time doing this and we will have 2 small kids....we'll see how far we get. I have reservations at hotels in GA, Jacksonville, FL and Orlando.
Would love to get to Orlando...we have a reservation at Buena Vista Suites for only $89 plus tax....much better than my other ressies other places. We don't check into our timeshare until Saturday.

Wish us luck traveling with the kids!!!

 

[sharadoc]

Question to the veteran drivers: You've just completed your 1,000+ mile drive to WDW. What next form of transportation best describes the "Ah-we've-made-it-and-this-is-so-relaxing" moment?

For us, it's the launch that connects the GF and the Poly to the MK.

And your WDW transportation moment?

All the best.

I'll play, but it's a hard question to answer. Mostly because we usually drive around Disney World, too. I'd say for us, it's probably the tram at MK if we drive there first. Otherwise, I'd say the Boat at the Boardwalk!

 

[nono]

Good thing it's 2am and I can't sleep as usual!! I should be good and tired at
4pm and drift off to sleep before we leave at midnight for our trip. Plan right now is to leave at midnight and drive straight through to Orlando. Since this is our first time doing this and we will have 2 small kids....we'll see how far we get. I have reservations at hotels in GA, Jacksonville, FL and Orlando.
Would love to get to Orlando...we have a reservation at Buena Vista Suites for only $89 plus tax....much better than my other ressies other places. We don't check into our timeshare until Saturday.

Wish us luck traveling with the kids!!!

Good luck!

 

[diseverestfan]

Hello all,

We've driven from our home in Lancaster county PA to Disney nearly a dozen times over the years, every time going I95. We are thinking about doing I81 on our next trip, but we're just not sure. We leave 3 weeks from today, (A Friday) and if we went I95 again, we'd be in the D.C. area around 1 - 1:30pm. Any thoughts? It is a bit out of the way for us to work our way over to I81, we can access I83 in about 20 minutes, and be on our way south toward Baltimore and 695 west.

Thanks!

 

[disneyfan55]

Hello all,

We've driven from our home in Lancaster county PA to Disney nearly a dozen times over the years, every time going I95. We are thinking about doing I81 on our next trip, but we're just not sure. We leave 3 weeks from today, (A Friday) and if we went I95 again, we'd be in the D.C. area around 1 - 1:30pm. Any thoughts? It is a bit out of the way for us to work our way over to I81, we can access I83 in about 20 minutes, and be on our way south toward Baltimore and 695 west.

Thanks!

I think if I lived where you do I would surely do that. I81 is such a nicer ride and view!!We are in central NJ and it's somewhat out of the way for us, we did do this route when leaving from the Scranton PA area as well as when we were visiting relatives near Atlanta on the way down!

 

[diseverestfan]

I think if I lived where you do I would surely do that. I81 is such a nicer ride and view!!We are in central NJ and it's somewhat out of the way for us, we did do this route when leaving from the Scranton PA area as well as when we were visiting relatives near Atlanta on the way down!

Thank you for your advice. I will certainly take that into consideration.

For those that go down 81 from this area, do most of you take 81/77/26/95?