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

[budafam]

We are driving from Manitowoc, WI and are planning on leaving at 9pm on Friday night, driving straight through till we get past Atlanta. I'd like to be 4-6 hours away from Disney on our last day so that we can get there and enjoy the day. So that puts us either at Macon or Tifton (Tifton being closer of course)... anyone have experiences in these places? Any recommendations?

We have ADR at Crystal Palace for 1:15 and was hoping to be able to check in and hopefully enjoy the park a little before eating... leaving at 3am from Georgia doesn't bother us at all as long as we get some sleep in.

 

[dvczerfs]

WJZ (channel 13 in Baltimore) carried a story yesterday about some women that were robbing women in the I-95 rest area restrooms. They would cause a bit of a disturbance and then when the woman was distracted, they would steal her purse. Evidently this was fairly lucrative as they were buying fur coats and diamond jewelry! Any way, just a heads up to all travelers to be alert and aware when you make those bathroom rest stops.

good point pwdebbie!!! our travel day on the road, we look like rag a muffins! i dont even wear a watch,nothing but my wedding ring. i leave eveything in the locked van and dont carry anything in with me to a rest stop. dw and dd look like they just get release from local prison. not only is it more comfortable but it dont draw attention to yourself. this past december a guy in a gas station came up to me and ask me if i had any extra money, he need money to fix his truck. i told him sorry, but the only thing i have in my gas credit card. that was the only encounter i have ever had. allway beaware of whats going on around you and if you dont feel safe, go to the next exit.

 

[A&CsMom]

We drive from Pittsburgh - it takes us about 16 hours. We take the same route but starting with the I79 in PGH. Charlotte, NC is about 8 hours drive from here - so that would make it about 11-14 hours for you. There are tons of hotels and the next day you would be exactly 8 hours from Disney World. If you go too far into South Carolina the hotels become a little sparse until you reach Orangeburg. If you are willing to go a little further on day 1 the second day is not as bad.

I used Mapquest and it says about 12 hours to Charlotte, so you're correct, it's a good place to stop for the night. I ended up booking the Springhill Suites just before Charlotte in Mooresville. It got high ratings on tripadvisor plus the reviewers says it has a nice breakfast included in the price, and an indoor pool. Funny thing was when I punched the address into DH's GPS, it claims we will get there in 10 hours! Of course, that doesn't allow for stops, but neither does Mapquest. Should be interesting! Maybe it has adjusted to the way my husband drives! Thanks!

 

[tinkerbell60]

I used Mapquest and it says about 12 hours to Charlotte, so you're correct, it's a good place to stop for the night. I ended up booking the Springhill Suites just before Charlotte in Mooresville. It got high ratings on tripadvisor plus the reviewers says it has a nice breakfast included in the price, and an indoor pool. Funny thing was when I punched the address into DH's GPS, it claims we will get there in 10 hours! Of course, that doesn't allow for stops, but neither does Mapquest. Should be interesting! Maybe it has adjusted to the way my husband drives! Thanks!

Mooresville is a nice area - I was going to suggest it! We have stayed at the Holiday Inn Express and the Wingate there. There is a huge Walmart, a Cracker Barrel, and a Golden Corral there too. West Virginia is a long boring drive. Be careful coming down out of the mountains in Virginia - once you hit North Carolina it is much more pleasant. That should put you just about 8 hours to Disney the next day and since that will be a Saturday the traffic is usually not as bad.

 

[dvczerfs]

a bit of good news today. gas has dropped 5 cents, down to 2.94. at the highest it was trading for, the end of last week was 3.10. lets hope this is a start of a downward trend. still way to high but atleast it stopped climbing!

 

[loveysbydesign]

a bit of good news today. gas has dropped 5 cents, down to 2.94. at the highest it was trading for, the end of last week was 3.10. lets hope this is a start of a downward trend. still way to high but atleast it stopped climbing!

It's $3.45 at the Wawa in Macungie!

 

[pwdebbie]

Stations off of I-81 in the Chambersburg / Shippensburg area were $3.59.9 last night.

 

[dntd]

I'm planning our long drive We are starting from St.Catharines with me and my 3 kids( 6,8,9) and my sister and her kid(6). We are driving in a dodge caravan so we will have enough room. We are driving on a Sat, camp then continue on the sun, camp and then arrive on the monday. I'm the only driving so I don't want to over do it, I want this trip to be fun Wish I was flying but as it would cost over $2000 we decided it's better we take a longer trip. besides I love Cracker Barrel

 

[A&CsMom]

Mooresville is a nice area - I was going to suggest it! We have stayed at the Holiday Inn Express and the Wingate there. There is a huge Walmart, a Cracker Barrel, and a Golden Corral there too. West Virginia is a long boring drive. Be careful coming down out of the mountains in Virginia - once you hit North Carolina it is much more pleasant. That should put you just about 8 hours to Disney the next day and since that will be a Saturday the traffic is usually not as bad.

Thanks for the information. I was also wondering about the deer along the route we are taking. I've heard there are a lot, and smaller than the ones here in Ontario but in groups larger than 2 or 3. We don't often see deer near the roads, at least around where I live, and I've never seen them in large groups. Do they often wander into the road, and are they mostly by the roads after dark or also during the day? TIA

 

[dntd]

Thanks for the information. I was also wondering about the deer along the route we are taking. I've heard there are a lot, and smaller than the ones here in Ontario but in groups larger than 2 or 3. We don't often see deer near the roads, at least around where I live, and I've never seen them in large groups. Do they often wander into the road, and are they mostly by the roads after dark or also during the day? TIA

When we drove last time the deer were tiny, not much meat I noticed alot of deer killed though, might be something that could be a hazard. Didn't see them during the day though.

 

[shalom]

We drive down from Chicago several times a year - and for us the worst part is Nashville on 24. [CLIP]

After that, Atlanta even with traffic is nothing!

We switch to 24 from 65 in Nashville, and we know the area well (when my parents lived in Tennessee we were going through Nashville twice a year for about a decade), but it was still more of a pain than Atlanta.

And of course coming back last year, we hit Nashville right when the flood did, took an hour to get or so to the next exit (the last one before the floating school building), and spent the next four hours trying road after road and being turned back because you couldn't get through there, either. But usually the weather's no problem; it's the road system and the guys in pickups doing 90 and not paying attention when you're having to slow down for traffic or construction.

 

[tinkerbell60]

Thanks for the information. I was also wondering about the deer along the route we are taking. I've heard there are a lot, and smaller than the ones here in Ontario but in groups larger than 2 or 3. We don't often see deer near the roads, at least around where I live, and I've never seen them in large groups. Do they often wander into the road, and are they mostly by the roads after dark or also during the day? TIA

We have not seen any in our trips. Around home, they come out around dusk, and usually are in groups. I think the highways might keep them away. You are not really on any back roads at all.

 

[dvczerfs]

Thanks for the information. I was also wondering about the deer along the route we are taking. I've heard there are a lot, and smaller than the ones here in Ontario but in groups larger than 2 or 3. We don't often see deer near the roads, at least around where I live, and I've never seen them in large groups. Do they often wander into the road, and are they mostly by the roads after dark or also during the day? TIA

ive really never seen them during the day but at night, i can only speak of i95 in north and south carolina, the deer are out. sometimes you see them next to the road. its funny, my wife would say, did you see that? i never seen them unless she pointed them out to me. i quess im watching the road to hard. ive never seen many laying on the side of the road.also, if your driving on property, there are alot on disney property. theres alot of them on the same road that fort wilderness campground is on. they wonder all the way down towards the mk parking lot booth.

 

[A&CsMom]

Thanks for the information about the deer. We will be driving at dusk and after dusk on our first day and we will keep our eyes open because at that point we will probably (hopefully) be in North Carolina approaching Mooresville/Charlotte where we plan to stop for the night.

 

[angwill]

We switch to 24 from 65 in Nashville, and we know the area well (when my parents lived in Tennessee we were going through Nashville twice a year for about a decade), but it was still more of a pain than Atlanta.

And of course coming back last year, we hit Nashville right when the flood did, took an hour to get or so to the next exit (the last one before the floating school building), and spent the next four hours trying road after road and being turned back because you couldn't get through there, either. But usually the weather's no problem; it's the road system and the guys in pickups doing 90 and not paying attention when you're having to slow down for traffic or construction.

We went through there right after the flood when they had the big sinkhole that took out 24. We got to take a scenic route around it.

 

[angwill]

I live in an area with lots of deer and have seen them running in the median during the day in Florida. They can mostly be found in wooded areas near streams and lakes. Dusk is when they come out to feed in large numbers and are most active as well as at dawn. They are out during the day but in smaller groups and always more than one at a time so if you see one there will be at least another one shortly behind. The fall is when they are most active due to breeding and getting ready for the winter. In the spring they are not around so much because they are having their babies so they stay near their nests. That said don't panic just keep a look out especially around wooded areas. Last year we saw a dead turtle and a dead armadillo down south along with quite a few deer.

 

[wdwfamilyinIL]

With reading about the deer, I was wondering how bad the deer are on our route. We are coming from Indy, and hopefully we will be on the highway the whole way.

 

[angwill]

I drive down from IL often and have never hit a deer nor seen anyone hit a deer. I have only seen them infrequently. I wouldn't worry about it just be aware when in rural areas.

 

[starwood]

Finishing up our packing and getting ready to take the dog to the kennel and then we are on our way.

 

[nono]

Finishing up our packing and getting ready to take the dog to the kennel and then we are on our way.

Have a great time!!! Safe travels.