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

[mousebymarriage]

congrats on the dc trip sharon!!! i hate teaser trips!! i forgot to mention, the wife/mother of the other couple,came off the magical express with no coat on.it was about 45 degrees that day. her daughter and her self got sick while the plane landed in dc. it was windy that day and the plane got bounced around. she said i didnt know what to do, there were no "barf bags" so i took my coat off, used it, and when we got off the plane i threw it away. she said, i may be on your bumper again in june! we have a blast driving together. the husband of the other couple wanted to eat at a shoneys in n.carolina on one of our trips down. he got this huge plate of mash potatos with gravy. HE ATE IT!!!i told him, we aint stopping in the morning till s. carolina welcoming center. well, ill spare you the details on the phone heading down i95 at 4am but, we pulled in the parking lot, there suv didnt even come to a stop, he jumped out of the back seat and ran to the rest room!! not trot, ran!! i had to see this, ya ya im a guy,we live for this stuff. i should of had the camcorder.ran into the restroom, tried three stalls, no paper!!!!! final the forth one had a roll of paper in it and i left. he was in there for 30 mins. we still laugh about it today! we all ways ask him, hey kevin, want to stop at shoneys for some mash potatos??? oh the good times!!

Oh how that brings back memories for me. It was July 1995 on the drive home from a family trip(we went to see DH's Aunt and Uncle) to Georgia. Waffle House is what did me in, I swear I never ran so fast with my "cheeks" clenched.
Gotta love those little road trip surprises!

 

[sharadoc]

Oh how that brings back memories for me. It was July 1995 on the drive home from a family trip(we went to see DH's Aunt and Uncle) to Georgia. Waffle House is what did me in, I swear I never ran so fast with my "cheeks" clenched.
Gotta love those little road trip surprises!

The amount of grease just lubes up your system Huddle House got us once - not bad, but enough to tell us to never go there again. How did we manage to eat at a Huddle House??? Believe it or not, Waffle House was full and we absolutely refused to wait for a seat in a Waffle House. Seriously?? So instead we had grease burgers, with grease fries. I had a grease omelette with grease home fries. Oh, and toast!

 

[pamkev]

Ok speaking of places to eat along the way, what local gems have you found along the way to eat at on your way to Disney. My DH is one to stop at those awful chains on our way to Myrtle Beach that have been mentioned above not gonna do that this trip. We will be leaving from the Harrisburg area and most likely doing the 15 to 17 to 95 route or the 15 to 270 to 495 to 95 route. So give us newbies driving to Disney your great finds

 

[dvczerfs]

Ok speaking of places to eat along the way, what local gems have you found along the way to eat at on your way to Disney. My DH is one to stop at those awful chains on our way to Myrtle Beach that have been mentioned above not gonna do that this trip. We will be leaving from the Harrisburg area and most likely doing the 15 to 17 to 95 route or the 15 to 270 to 495 to 95 route. So give us newbies driving to Disney your great finds

sharons a good one to answer you on this one. she likes the family owned type places to eat. i dont realy eat much on the road. i snack all day. few reasons, one, when i was about 10, one of our trip to wdw, we stopped at a howard johnsons. for you younger people, ho jos in the 70s were like cracker barrels today, they were at every exit. anyway, we stopped around 9pm so my dad could get a coffee and just get off the road. i decided i was hungry and ate spagetti and meatballs and washed it down with a milk shake. i was sicker than a dog sitting in the back of the plymouth. you can ask my wife, i dont eat much on the road. the other reason is if i sit down, eat and get back on the road, i get tired, start yawning and just not good being behind the wheel like that. so, i just snack, cheese its, munchos,iced tea. ill have a sandwhich when we get there or if we stay over, ill eat a sandwhich when we get to the hotel.

 

[dvczerfs]

Oh how that brings back memories for me. It was July 1995 on the drive home from a family trip(we went to see DH's Aunt and Uncle) to Georgia. Waffle House is what did me in, I swear I never ran so fast with my "cheeks" clenched.
Gotta love those little road trip surprises!

just smethings you never forget!

 

[sharadoc]

Ok speaking of places to eat along the way, what local gems have you found along the way to eat at on your way to Disney. My DH is one to stop at those awful chains on our way to Myrtle Beach that have been mentioned above not gonna do that this trip. We will be leaving from the Harrisburg area and most likely doing the 15 to 17 to 95 route or the 15 to 270 to 495 to 95 route. So give us newbies driving to Disney your great finds

It took us a few trips to get up the courage to walk into local restaurants. We felt like we would stick out like a sore thumb as "out of towners" but we've never felt unwelcome. Any restaurant is happy for your business!

Here's my top two, off the top of my head. My binder's at home:

1. Steffens in Kingsland GA. You get off 95 and drive about 10-15 minutes into a neighborhood, then onto a busier road. It's considered a "diner" but it's really just a restaurant. They have homemade food and old-fashioned decor. Old signs, cabinets, kitsch-y things hanging on the wall. We had homemade turkey salad on toast, homemade chicken soup, awesome handmade french fries. Fantastic sweet tea and just a really nice homey place to stop and eat.

2. Duke's Barbecue, Walterboro SC. Because this is a great overnight stop for us, we have fallen in love with this place. It couldn't be more "real". I wish I had taken photos. It's a mish-mash of leftover tables and chairs so there's no decor. You go to the front counter and pay first, then proceed to the buffet which is connected to the register. Pick up your styrofoam plate and plastic utensils and help yourself! Pork barbecue with 6 different sauces in bottles, ribs, fried chicken, mac & cheese, greens, fried okra, green and lima beans, corn, homemade banana pudding! Styrofoam cups to get your own drinks, including homemade sweet tea. On your table, a roll of paper towels, a loaf of Sunbeam bread and condiments. When you're done, drop your plate into the giant open trash cans spread around the room and go back for seconds! The food was so good my DH has declared it the best meal he has had on vacation - that includes all of Disney restaurants, not just road food. Here's a trip advisor page on it:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaura...uke_s_Barbeque-Walterboro_South_Carolina.html

Honestly, we love it. We're not stopping overnight in June, but we'll probably stop here for dinner on the way, just try not to "overload" since we'll drive another 5-6 hours after we eat.

If I can dig it all out, I'll post a few more.

 

[loveysbydesign]

It took us a few trips to get up the courage to walk into local restaurants. We felt like we would stick out like a sore thumb as "out of towners" but we've never felt unwelcome. Any restaurant is happy for your business!

Here's my top two, off the top of my head. My binder's at home:

1. Steffens in Kingsland GA. You get off 95 and drive about 10-15 minutes into a neighborhood, then onto a busier road. It's considered a "diner" but it's really just a restaurant. They have homemade food and old-fashioned decor. Old signs, cabinets, kitsch-y things hanging on the wall. We had homemade turkey salad on toast, homemade chicken soup, awesome handmade french fries. Fantastic sweet tea and just a really nice homey place to stop and eat.

2. Duke's Barbecue, Walterboro SC. Because this is a great overnight stop for us, we have fallen in love with this place. It couldn't be more "real". I wish I had taken photos. It's a mish-mash of leftover tables and chairs so there's no decor. You go to the front counter and pay first, then proceed to the buffet which is connected to the register. Pick up your styrofoam plate and plastic utensils and help yourself! Pork barbecue with 6 different sauces in bottles, ribs, fried chicken, mac & cheese, greens, fried okra, green and lima beans, corn, homemade banana pudding! Styrofoam cups to get your own drinks, including homemade sweet tea. On your table, a roll of paper towels, a loaf of Sunbeam bread and condiments. When you're done, drop your plate into the giant open trash cans spread around the room and go back for seconds! The food was so good my DH has declared it the best meal he has had on vacation - that includes all of Disney restaurants, not just road food. Here's a trip advisor page on it:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaura...uke_s_Barbeque-Walterboro_South_Carolina.html

Honestly, we love it. We're not stopping overnight in June, but we'll probably stop here for dinner on the way, just try not to "overload" since we'll drive another 5-6 hours after we eat.

If I can dig it all out, I'll post a few more.

Just wondering how far of a drive is Dukes from PA and from WDW? Just trying to think how we can make that a stop for us!!!

 

[sharadoc]

Just wondering how far of a drive is Dukes from PA and from WDW? Just trying to think how we can make that a stop for us!!!

Walterboro is around 11-12 hours for us, so if we leave by 6 am, we're there by dinnertime. It's another 5-6 hours to WDW the next day, which is perfect for getting there at check-in time.

 

[dvczerfs]

Just wondering how far of a drive is Dukes from PA and from WDW? Just trying to think how we can make that a stop for us!!!

i hit walterboro in about 11 hours from nazareth.

 

[loveysbydesign]

Walterboro is around 11-12 hours for us, so if we leave by 6 am, we're there by dinnertime. It's another 5-6 hours to WDW the next day, which is perfect for getting there at check-in time.

Hmmm...maybe we'll plan to eat lunch there on the way home from Florida. It wouldn't work for us on the way down this time as we are planning to stop at Skyline caverns on the way to Florida in Virginia and I don't want to have to get the troops up at 4 a.m.-

 

[jerseyboy00]

How is Duke's for lunch?

 

[PrincessMom4]

Anyone else doing the happy day??

 

[pamkev]

It took us a few trips to get up the courage to walk into local restaurants. We felt like we would stick out like a sore thumb as "out of towners" but we've never felt unwelcome. Any restaurant is happy for your business!

Here's my top two, off the top of my head. My binder's at home:

1. Steffens in Kingsland GA. You get off 95 and drive about 10-15 minutes into a neighborhood, then onto a busier road. It's considered a "diner" but it's really just a restaurant. They have homemade food and old-fashioned decor. Old signs, cabinets, kitsch-y things hanging on the wall. We had homemade turkey salad on toast, homemade chicken soup, awesome handmade french fries. Fantastic sweet tea and just a really nice homey place to stop and eat.

2. Duke's Barbecue, Walterboro SC. Because this is a great overnight stop for us, we have fallen in love with this place. It couldn't be more "real". I wish I had taken photos. It's a mish-mash of leftover tables and chairs so there's no decor. You go to the front counter and pay first, then proceed to the buffet which is connected to the register. Pick up your styrofoam plate and plastic utensils and help yourself! Pork barbecue with 6 different sauces in bottles, ribs, fried chicken, mac & cheese, greens, fried okra, green and lima beans, corn, homemade banana pudding! Styrofoam cups to get your own drinks, including homemade sweet tea. On your table, a roll of paper towels, a loaf of Sunbeam bread and condiments. When you're done, drop your plate into the giant open trash cans spread around the room and go back for seconds! The food was so good my DH has declared it the best meal he has had on vacation - that includes all of Disney restaurants, not just road food. Here's a trip advisor page on it:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaura...uke_s_Barbeque-Walterboro_South_Carolina.html

Honestly, we love it. We're not stopping overnight in June, but we'll probably stop here for dinner on the way, just try not to "overload" since we'll drive another 5-6 hours after we eat.

If I can dig it all out, I'll post a few more.

Thanks and Duke's sounds like my kind of place

 

[wdwfamilyinIL]

For those driving from IL/IN, do you book a room in advance or just try to find a place once you are tired? My son's graduation got moved up to thursday, so we are thinking of leaving early early fri am, and staying somewhere friday night then getting up sat am and driving to the port. I am the sole driver, dh can't stay awake. If you do book what are some good places.

Also if needed, is it legal to nap at a rest area. I know this sounds dumb, but you never know.

 

[angwill]

For those driving from IL/IN, do you book a room in advance or just try to find a place once you are tired? My son's graduation got moved up to thursday, so we are thinking of leaving early early fri am, and staying somewhere friday night then getting up sat am and driving to the port. I am the sole driver, dh can't stay awake. If you do book what are some good places.

Also if needed, is it legal to nap at a rest area. I know this sounds dumb, but you never know.

I would not suggest napping at a rest area they get bad at night. Last year we stopped at the first rest area in GA after dark just to pee and as soon as we got out of the car a man with a state prison shirt stopped my 15 year old asking him for money. I won't make that mistake again although I scared the hell out of the guy.

I do not make reservations ahead and in the past just got the hotel coupon books or looked them up online and had an idea of where we would stop. Where are you leaving from and how many hours will you drive and maybe we can figure out about where you will be.

They just opened up some new La Quintas in Macon, Warner Robbins, and Valdosta and they are all getting top ratings on Travelocity. They just revamped all their hotels and we loved the one we stayed at last year. The cost is low and the beds are comfy. I am considering making reservations this year at one of those. They give AAA discount and Sams club.

HTH

 

[nono]

We will be driving from RI in 3 1/2 weeks and I am so nervous! We will be traveling with 3 small kids! So far we will be stopping in NJ to drop our dogs off and then continue on...

Any other tips?

Prep the kids in advance. Discuss with them that it will be a long trip. Set up your rules.

In our car, we set a time when the DVD can come out, and not before. (Usually, the kids get to watch the last 3 hrs of our drive per day). The morning starts with just conversation and games (Hey, look at that guy, in that car....what do you think his story is?) And, don't be in a rush. My kids are 7 & 4, and they can make 1 guy's story last up to 20 min., if the adults don't rush! We also play "Find the color combo" which is a 2 or 3 color combo that we have to look out for...we just pass around the "calling" of the color. Not a whole lot of rules to that one!

Then, we'll listen to an audio book for about 1 hr.

Then, it'll be sculpture time with colorful pipe cleaners. That can easily take an hour + in our car.

A rest break will be in there, and we do races at the rest areas. No more than 10 min, but it gets everyone's blood flowing.

Crayons and lapdesks are usually late morning, followed by some storybook reading by whomever is in the passenger seat. We try to bring along books with some "wow factor" illustrations that get passed to the back seat. Remember, this isn't a sprint, it's a marathon. Anything that can be savored is good!

Oh, and the best piece of advice I've read is to make sure to "build" footrests from your bags for the littles. It definitely makes a world of difference on their comfort for a long haul. That and the rest area races seem to make everything go smoothly.

 

[BirdsLightyear]

tammy sits in the passanger seat while im driving, slow down, move over, watch that truck, do you know how fast your going,hes moving over,while we are driving around here. when we go to florida, she dont say a word.as you know chris, she lost the vision in her left eye so she dont drive to much anymore. she drives to work and back and will drive on the highway in the day light and not in alot of traffic.but when she did have sight in both eyes, the one year i feel asleep in the back of the van. we just got into s.carolina. i woke up in an about an hour. i looked at the mile marker and we traveled 80 miles. she said, boy this thing flys!! back than the speed limit was 65. ever since than, she dont say to much.

that is so funny, claire did the same thing slow down slow down, you don't know where the cops hide...on the way home she drove through the carolina's and I swear to you she had to be doing 90 all the way. I looked over and keep saying look at your speed .

 

[disneylovin24]

Hello all

We have drive to WDW 11 times now most recently being last Fenruary. It's about 2000 miles exactly round trip, so about 20 hours each way total. I personally love the trip but this past December we flew down because it just got alittle much. Swore we were never going to drive down again after last February actually but now we might in December again!

 

[disneylovin24]

For those driving from IL/IN, do you book a room in advance or just try to find a place once you are tired? My son's graduation got moved up to thursday, so we are thinking of leaving early early fri am, and staying somewhere friday night then getting up sat am and driving to the port. I am the sole driver, dh can't stay awake. If you do book what are some good places.

Also if needed, is it legal to nap at a rest area. I know this sounds dumb, but you never know.

Do not drive from IL but have found that booking a room in advance never works out. The few times we have done it we have ended up cancling because weather changes the plans or we get farther then expected. I do not think finding rooms is ever a huge problem no matter where you are on a highway so I think it's better off to not book because you never know where you will end up!

 

[spfldfan]

We drive from IL and book a reservation somewhere south of Atlanta(usually Macon on south). We book it at a place that has a 4:00 or after same day cancellation. If we are not going to make it or can make it farther we call hotels(hotel books are available at the rest area as you enter GA) and then we cancel the reserved hotel.