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

[bookwormde]

Our log

Left home 7:57
Md line @95 8:21
Va Line 10:21
Nc line 12:38
Fueled 15 minutes
Sc line 3:21
Ga line 6:05
Breafast 30 minutes
Fl line 8:10
Pit stop 10 minutes
WDW BLT 11:05
In our room 11:40

A little congested around Baltimore
no problems around Datona (race day)
Good weather except some fog in Sc & Ga

bookwormde

 

[dvczerfs]

Our log

Left home 7:57
Md line @95 8:21
Va Line 10:21
Nc line 12:38
Fueled 15 minutes
Sc line 3:21
Ga line 6:05
Breafast 30 minutes
Fl line 8:10
Pit stop 10 minutes
WDW BLT 11:05
In our room 11:40

A little congested around Baltimore
no problems around Datona (race day)
Good weather except some fog in Sc & Ga

bookwormde

 

[2002Disneybride]

I have made it through not even half of this thread! Our drive is 1072 miles one way...My husband and I have driven to WDW pre-kids...now I have 3 (ages 7,4,1) we re driving as flying is just too expensive.
I am thinking that a stop on the way down is inevitable, though I would rather just drive straight through. I am looking at maybe stopping in Savannah or Brunswick...but I can't seem to find a hotel-I am just nervous to book!
I am going to read through the rest of the pages but any recommendations?
Thanks!
jenn

 

[patclairesmom]

I have made it through not even half of this thread! Our drive is 1072 miles one way...My husband and I have driven to WDW pre-kids...now I have 3 (ages 7,4,1) we re driving as flying is just too expensive.
I am thinking that a stop on the way down is inevitable, though I would rather just drive straight through. I am looking at maybe stopping in Savannah or Brunswick...but I can't seem to find a hotel-I am just nervous to book!
I am going to read through the rest of the pages but any recommendations?
Thanks!
jenn

If you can, try a little further to Kingsland, GA. It's just north of the Florida border. We stayed at the Comfort Suites and they have an indoor pool. Rates aren't too bad either.

 

[feezle]

Due to our oldest having turned two, we are contemplating renting a van and driving from Ohio to wdw. The problem is that we can't find a company that will give us unlimited miles outside the surroundng states. Are there any ways to get around this? A promo code or anything? We are leaning towards Enterprize. We are looking at about 1000 miles each way. 12-13 day stay. 150 free miles a day, 25 cents per mile after that. That would add up way too fast. Our local office is closed until Tuesday, I tried calling to see if they offer any alternatives.

 

[2002Disneybride]

If you can, try a little further to Kingsland, GA. It's just north of the Florida border. We stayed at the Comfort Suites and they have an indoor pool. Rates aren't too bad either.

Thank you! I am going to check it out...

 

[PrincessMom4]

I have made it through not even half of this thread! Our drive is 1072 miles one way...My husband and I have driven to WDW pre-kids...now I have 3 (ages 7,4,1) we re driving as flying is just too expensive.
I am thinking that a stop on the way down is inevitable, though I would rather just drive straight through. I am looking at maybe stopping in Savannah or Brunswick...but I can't seem to find a hotel-I am just nervous to book!
I am going to read through the rest of the pages but any recommendations?
Thanks!
jenn

Brunswick has a Microtel. Kingland, GA has a Microtel and they are always super clean

 

[2002Disneybride]

Brunswick has a Microtel. Kingland, GA has a Microtel and they are always super clean

Thank you! It doesn't seem they have rooms for 5 guests, only 4...I could leave the baby off I guess but Comfort Suites seems reasonable...

 

[PrincessMom4]

You can add a 5th child or baby can be added.

 

[dntd]

I'm almost ready to go on my first long distance drive My tom-tom is ready, van is getting an oil change soon,packing list is made. The only things left to do is get a trip tik and figure out were we areon camping. IDK if I should just wing it with caping sites or actually book them ahead of time, my only worry is that we won't make it that far. I'm leaving on a Saturday and arriving on Monday which will give me plenty of time but I will need to camp for 2 nights, the last we are hoping to stop near Savannah GA to site see a bit.

 

[Julie521]

My fiance and I will be taking our honeymoon to Disney World next September and yes WE ARE DRIVING I am really excited about it. I have made the drive to florida once already.`This will be his first time going. We have a 2741 mile trip!! Just a question for those driving experts. The map quest directions says take 95 the whole way, along with the GPS saying the same. We will be leaving on a Saturday and driving straight through to check in on Sunday. Does anyone suggest another route? I am sure traffic will be not so fun on a Saturday

 

[marius97]

After four trips to Florida, I think that I've finally found the best way for my family to make the trip down from MI.
Year 1: Fly with three kids
Year 2: Leave at 1:00 pm, drive through night and get there next morning.
Year 3: Leave after dinner and get there late afternoon next day.
Year 4: Leave 6:00 am and arrive before 2:00 am.

Even though we had to move from driving my Pacifica to DW's Escape due to emergency engine repairs, the drive was a breeze. Ate breakfast and lunch in the car and then stopped for dinner at a Burger King. Kids each took a nap while driving and then were out by 10:00. I'd do that again in a heartbeat.

 

[dvczerfs]

After four trips to Florida, I think that I've finally found the best way for my family to make the trip down from MI.
Year 1: Fly with three kids
Year 2: Leave at 1:00 pm, drive through night and get there next morning.
Year 3: Leave after dinner and get there late afternoon next day.
Year 4: Leave 6:00 am and arrive before 2:00 am.

Even though we had to move from driving my Pacifica to DW's Escape due to emergency engine repairs, the drive was a breeze. Ate breakfast and lunch in the car and then stopped for dinner at a Burger King. Kids each took a nap while driving and then were out by 10:00. I'd do that again in a heartbeat.

glad you had a good trip!

 

[dvczerfs]

My fiance and I will be taking our honeymoon to Disney World next September and yes WE ARE DRIVING I am really excited about it. I have made the drive to florida once already.`This will be his first time going. We have a 2741 mile trip!! Just a question for those driving experts. The map quest directions says take 95 the whole way, along with the GPS saying the same. We will be leaving on a Saturday and driving straight through to check in on Sunday. Does anyone suggest another route? I am sure traffic will be not so fun on a Saturday

hang in there julie, someone from your area should be around soon to help you out. if you can get to i81, i would take i81 to i77 to i26 to i95 to i4! even in september, i would stay away from i95 straight through. your gonna hit alot of citys and city traffic going that way.

 

[Tanooki]

Sharadoc, I'd also like to read more about your experience with the Virgin mobile Mifi as we are seriously considering getting one for our trip in August (hopefully, still waiting for the confirmation from dh's job) but I've been reading comments that make me uncertain. Is the connection stable? I've been reading about problems with the connection dropping quite frequently
Tell us more, we want to know! The good, the bad and the ugly!
Thanks!

Bumping my message for Sharadoc as it got burried and I really want to get your input on this!

 

[dvczerfs]

Bumping my message for Sharadoc as it got burried and I really want to get your input on this!

tanooki, i would pm her to make sure she gets it. if she text me, ill let her know. she was telling me what it was but im not to tech savy.

 

[Julie521]

hang in there julie, someone from your area should be around soon to help you out. if you can get to i81, i would take i81 to i77 to i26 to i95 to i4! even in september, i would stay away from i95 straight through. your gonna hit alot of citys and city traffic going that way.

Thank you I know there are ways to chose different routes on my GPS too, so hopefully we can! I know last time we went was with my family and we took 95 the whole way and got stuck in new york and jersey traffic.

 

[pwdebbie]

My fiance and I will be taking our honeymoon to Disney World next September and yes WE ARE DRIVING I am really excited about it. I have made the drive to florida once already.`This will be his first time going. We have a 2741 mile trip!! Just a question for those driving experts. The map quest directions says take 95 the whole way, along with the GPS saying the same. We will be leaving on a Saturday and driving straight through to check in on Sunday. Does anyone suggest another route? I am sure traffic will be not so fun on a Saturday

Are you planning to leave after the wedding ceremony and reception? You will be exhausted, I can promise you that -- and I mean before you even get on the road. You''ll be even more exhausted when you reach WDW. Perhaps you should rethink your trip and drive a few hours then get a room for a good night's sleep and a fresh start on the road early Sunday morning. I'd go with the 81 route instead of 95 all the way. Congrats on your upcoming marriage!

 

[Julie521]

Are you planning to leave after the wedding ceremony and reception? You will be exhausted, I can promise you that -- and I mean before you even get on the road. You''ll be even more exhausted when you reach WDW. Perhaps you should rethink your trip and drive a few hours then get a room for a good night's sleep and a fresh start on the road early Sunday morning. I'd go with the 81 route instead of 95 all the way. Congrats on your upcoming marriage!

oh no!! we actually thought about this and when we would travel for a while so we decided to wait! we are getting married in june and going the first week of september. gives us plenty of time to do final planning, relax right before we leave, and save during those months for the trip so we are not worrying about the wedding and honeymoon at the same time!!! We are just going to make an hour drive up to weirs beach for a few nights after the wedding. And thank you for the tip on which way to go

 

[kidd_freeper]

Travel Report (random notes mainly)

Juy 1 - I got home from work and went to bed. I woke up at 10:45pm and showered. We left Hartford at 12 midnight exactly on July 2

Took 84-684-Tappan Zee Bridge-78-81-77-26-95

Had a wonderful drive all the way to Charlotte. Light traffic, few trucks, good weather. Everyone slept until 9:30 am. I got a little tired around 7am, so I pulled into a rest stop and closed my eyes for 15 minutes and it did wonders.

I-81 is a beautiful road (view, road condition, traffic level, services, everything).

The construction near Christianburg, VA was really minor.

We stopped just south of Christianburg at 9:30am for breakfast. DW drove for 90 minutes while I slept.

Traffic heavy in Charlotte. Turned into stop and go traffic south of Charotte. Took a detour that took us south of Columbia, SC (rte 321). Got on I-26. Very heavy traffic that stopped about 10 miles outside of Columbia to rubberneck an accident on the other side of the highway. This added 30 minutes to our travel time.

We made it to Jacksonville at 8:30 pm. 20-1/2 hours of driving, which included 1/2 hour traffic delay and two 1-hour meal stops.

Lots and lots and lots of highway patrol cars. Also saw brush fires in Georgia. Boy, gas sure is a lot less expensive in SC (3.13/gal vs 3.79 in CT).

Made it to Windsor Hills in Kissimmee last night.