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

[dvczerfs]

Anyone have advice on dealing with Richmond's rush hour? (go straight through; go around; avoid altogether?)

We are leaving Northern Virginia at 2-3pm on the Friday before Thanksgiving (wish we could leave sooner but it's not an option right now) which puts us in Richmond right at the beginning of rush hour.

What can we expect?

i always go thru richmond on 95. we leave on a tuesday and hit richmond about 3pm. ive even hit it at 4:30 and didnt have a problem. i get on 95 at exit 133. i stay in the left lane and keep up with the car in front of me. like i said before, 95 on a sat. morning in the summer till you hit richmond its a crawl.construction, no construction , wreck or no wreck, trust me, you wont be going 80mph. holidays in the summer, you will crawl to richmond, get through richmond ok and start crawling again into n. carolina. there is a led sign before the split at richmond, it will tell you if there is a problem on 95. when we go next june, we are leaving on a friday, im going 78/81/77/26/95. for me its only 50 miles longer and no shore traffic and rush hour traffic. the best way to get through that area, hit it during the week at night or non rush hours or just avoid it all together if you can. ive been driving that way all my life and it has been the same since1973. the same way in jacksonville in florida. it has never been not under construction that i can remember. we always go through there on 95 also. again, dont hit it at rush hour. on the way home, if you head up into virginia on a sunday mid afternoon into the early evening, your going to crawl again.

 

[dvczerfs]

I take 295 around Richmond, but not because traffic is bad -- I've never had a problem with Richmond when I've driven through it. But there is a BBQ place I just love that's off 295, Prince George's BBQ.

what exit is that off of ny?

 

[LisaNJ25]

weather has been horrible today. Its been rainly very heavy since santee, sc. Have 80 more miles to get to the hotel n Kingsland Ga. It has been a long day.

 

[sharadoc]

weather has been horrible today. Its been rainly very heavy since santee, sc. Have 80 more miles to get to the hotel n Kingsland Ga. It has been a long day.

I feel for you. You are having the exact same experience we had last year on this exact Saturday. We hit N. Virginia around 10:30, sat in traffic for an hour, stopped and had lunch (MISTAKE!) then went down Route 1 until Richmond. Didn't pass Richmond until 5:30 so what should have taken 3 hours took 7 1/2 We expected to be in our hotel by 6 but instead didn't get there until 11:00 pm. What should have been a 10-11 hour day was a 17 hour day. Exhausting!

We should probably have a sticky about that stretch of 95. It's discussed in our thread on a regular basis - Saturdays and 95 from DC to Richmond stink! Sorry you missed those posts!

Take care and know that you'll soon be at Disney World and you'll forget all about that lousy drive.

 

[Reese]

Thanks LadyBeBop for all the links to Cincinnati attractions. Now to pick just one.

 

[patclairesmom]

weather has been horrible today. Its been rainly very heavy since santee, sc. Have 80 more miles to get to the hotel n Kingsland Ga. It has been a long day.

I feel for you also. Bad weather stinks. When we drove in March, it rained from NJ to the NC border.

 

[michael's mom]

I feel for you also. Bad weather stinks. When we drove in March, it rained from NJ to the NC border.

I see from your sig that you'll be there at the same time that I will. I'm guessing you'll be staying at CBR? We'll be at CBR from 4/14 or 4/15 through the 23rd or Easter, haven't quite established real dates yet. I bet at some point we'll be standing in OPR together and not even know it

 

[ibcnu]

I feel for you also. Bad weather stinks. When we drove in March, it rained from NJ to the NC border.

We drove last Thursday to Lorton, only to find out that there was a derailment and all train service stopped. We were able to get a refund and get our car back. Me, my college daughter (who we were taking to Orlando for school) and my youngest daughter, all packed up in a car headed down 95. HORRIBLE rain and storms. Got the car at 7pm, pushed myself until 10pm and finally pulled over to a lovely Quality Inn in Roanoke Rapids, NC. I just wanted to get through Richmond and at least into NC. Still had 11 more hours to drive so we slept and were back on the road at 3am. SMOOTH sailing all the way down, but that 11 hours was exhausting.

Not only the rain was horrible the first day, but the truck traffic on 95 coupled with the blowout tires strewn all over the road, it was a nightmare.

 

[MinnieTink]

In just a few days we willbe driving from NNJ to WDW for the 4th time. 2 out of the past 3 times we drove straight thru. There have been times when we thought about pulling into a rest area for a short nap but we're not sure if this is safe. Any thoughts or experiences napping on the road?

Thanks!

 

[LisaNJ25]

patclairesmom we had out autotrain cancelled also but the return trip 3 years ago. our trip down we never got in till 5 pm because of delays. we are in florida now woohooo the comfort inn in kingland ga was really nice. we are heading to orange city for two days than off to disney.

 

[nytimez]

what exit is that off of ny?

Exit 3 on 295 -- it's near where 295 and 95 meet at the southern end. You could probably get there easily enough even if you took 95. Here is their Web site (pgbbq.com) -- I generally like pulled pork and ribs, but in this place I recommend the chicken. They have fantastic chicken. They were also very friendly, and the place seemed quite clean.

 

[blondietink]

Update: gas at the Hess station outside Boardwalk went down to $2.61 yesterday.

Saw a great car along GA on Friday the 13th while we were coming in. License plate read "Doombugy" but can't remember what state it was from. Obviously a true Disney fan!

Very hot here this year, more so than same time last summer. Caught the last Summer Nightastic fireworks last night. BAck to Wishes tonight.

 

[patclairesmom]

I see from your sig that you'll be there at the same time that I will. I'm guessing you'll be staying at CBR? We'll be at CBR from 4/14 or 4/15 through the 23rd or Easter, haven't quite established real dates yet. I bet at some point we'll be standing in OPR together and not even know it

I think we will be arriving on the 15th so we might just miss you.

 

[Gowahoowa]

Well, we're here and relaxing at Kidani Village! The drive down was great after we made it through the traffic south of DC. We got a later start than we wanted (530am)- what is one to do?? Anyway, heavy congestion started right after the WW drawbridge 95S and continued for quite some time. I think we lost at least 1 hour maybe a bit more. After it thinned out, no issues at all. We pulled into Savannah a little after 8:00pm. Stayed the night at Springhill Suites Exit 94 Savannah. Very nice, under $100, and good breakfast. The next day arrived in WDW around 2pm. We took our time in the morning and left Savannah 9am. Happy travels everyone!!

Leaving in less than 7 hours! Last minute items in the car and then to bed!! Will try to report back on 95 South!! Safe travels everyone!!

 

[dvczerfs]

Exit 3 on 295 -- it's near where 295 and 95 meet at the southern end. You could probably get there easily enough even if you took 95. Here is their Web site (pgbbq.com) -- I generally like pulled pork and ribs, but in this place I recommend the chicken. They have fantastic chicken. They were also very friendly, and the place seemed quite clean.

ill have to check that out!! thanks ny!

 

[cksmm5]

We are leaving in a few day also -on Wednesday 8/18 from Lopatcong, NJ. When are you leaving and where from? We are planning on driving through the night. Years ago we pulled into a rest stop for a brief nap, but I don't know that I'd advise that these days. I'm just planning on sleeping all day Wednesday and then being ready for leaving about 7pm.

 

[patclairesmom]

patclairesmom we had out autotrain cancelled also but the return trip 3 years ago. our trip down we never got in till 5 pm because of delays. we are in florida now woohooo the comfort inn in kingland ga was really nice. we are heading to orange city for two days than off to disney.

Did you eat dinner in Kingsland? When we stopped over there we ate at the Applebees. My daughter ordered water and the waitress said, "Are you from NJ?" We said, "yes". She then explained that there the drinking water doesn't taste good and the only people who would ever even think to order water are from NJ

 

[Fastpaks]

We left this morning around 3 (I couldn't sleep). We made it to Gainesville, FL around 8pm. I think we made pretty good time. We could have made it all the way if we really wanted to. Traffic was not too bad. We ended up going through Atlanta around 1:45ish and it was not too too crazy. Lots of cops were out in Georgia though. We got gas twice so far. Once in TN for $2.53 and once in Georgia for $2.69. We will need to fill up when we leave in the morning. It looks like we will pay about $2.79 for it here in Gainesville. I give more deetails once we get home. So far, its been good!

Very interesting! Thanks for the information. Did you all stop at all for food? or was it Get and go? I should have warned ya about the cops. Especially around the Valdosta area. I-75 is known for speed traps. Where you able to keep a speed say 70 instead of 65 and not get pulled?

 

[michael's mom]

I think we will be arriving on the 15th so we might just miss you.

Oh no...we are either checking in on the 14th or 15th! Funny. I've never read any threads of someone that would be at the same place as me. Last trip I knew a few people who were in Disney at the same time...but different resorts.

 

[dvczerfs]

gas is still dropping, its trading for $1.92!!!