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

[dvczerfs]

I just realized we only have 19 days until we leave! I'm getting pretty excited. (who am I kidding...I've been excited since we booked!)

My son goes away to camp (Camp Cadet) this coming Sunday and will be back on Friday. Then we have a week until we leave. It should go pretty quickly.

I told my family about the license plate game for the ride and ever since then, they've been playing it! I tried telling them we didn't leave for WDW yet, ut they don't seem to mind!

if i dont talk to you before you go, have a good trip!! and dont forget to swing by and pick me up on the way!!!

 

[angelat]

if i dont talk to you before you go, have a good trip!! and dont forget to swing by and pick me up on the way!!!

Thank you!
And thank you so much for all of the great advice! I'm so looking forward to our drive thanks to you and all the other great people on this board!

We'll be waving hello as we drive past...

 

[Cdnmommy]

The Disney store is at the Prime Outlet Mall at exit 318. Take Belz Blvd.

There is also a Premium Outlet Mall at the same exit (other side of the interstate). This is where I got most of my non-Disney stuff.
Here's a link to the I95 exit guide:http://www.i95exitguide.com/outletmalls/florida/index.php

We had planned to stop for only an hour or 2 around lunch time. 4 hours later we decided we really had to get back on the road. But we were still in Orlando in time for a late dinner.

LOL, that sounds like me! Thanks for the info, I'll have to check it out for sure!

 

[sharadoc]

This thread just celebrated its first anniversary!


posted on 7/12/10: For 2,000+ Mile Round-Trip Drivers Only! (II)

Welcome to "For 2,000+ Mile Round-Trip Drivers Only! (II)", a continuation of the original thread which debuted on Dec. 6, 2007 and closed (with 251 pages of 3,755 posts and 210,793 views!) on July 14, 2010.

All the best.

Best thread and best people on the DIS!

 

[sharadoc]

Since we're already at page 200, this thread won't last 3 1/2 years as the last one did.

At the rate everyone is going, it probably won't last until the end of summer.

And I still have another 2 years plus until our next trip.

Don't worry - we'll still be here for you when you're ready to leave on your next trip.

 

[Curious & Curiouser]

Hello my family n i are planning our next wdw vacation and this time we are DRIVING !! 1st time we have driven so u was wondering if there is anyone else who drives from MA that can help me out alil...i'm really kinda lost as to maping out a road trip. never done it and i wanna get it right so any tips i can use?? we are thinking about leaving ma @ 2am and driving till VA to stop for the night then off to St. Augustine for a night and then to Pop Century that morning .... but i dont know if that even maes sense lol

HELP ME
HELP ME
HELP ME​

 

[BC1836]

Hello my family n i are planning our next wdw vacation and this time we are DRIVING !! 1st time we have driven so u was wondering if there is anyone else who drives from MA that can help me out alil...i'm really kinda lost as to maping out a road trip. never done it and i wanna get it right so any tips i can use?? we are thinking about leaving ma @ 2am and driving till VA to stop for the night then off to St. Augustine for a night and then to Pop Century that morning

There are a number of 2,000+ mile round-trip drivers who reside in NE, to say nothing of those from eastern Canada, so you are in good company.

A few suggestions to consider:

1) Leave early enough to avoid major traffic jams (metro rush hours during the week, weekend/beach getaways, etc.).

2) Try to maximize the mileage on your first day of driving.

3) If your goal is VA, make it Emporia, VA. Even Rocky Mount, NC would be better. The drive from the VA/NC border to the FL border is about 7 1/2 to 8 hours, and then you have another three hours behind the wheel until WDW.

All the best.

 

[Curious & Curiouser]

There are a number of 2,000+ mile round-trip drivers who reside in NE, to say nothing of those from eastern Canada, so you are in good company.

A few suggestions to consider:

1) Leave early enough to avoid major traffic jams (metro rush hours during the week, weekend/beach getaways, etc.).

2) Try to maximize the mileage on your first day of driving.

3) If your goal is VA, make it Emporia, VA. Even Rocky Mount, NC would be better. The drive from the VA/NC border to the FL border is about 7 1/2 to 8 hours, and then you have another three hours behind the wheel until WDW.

All the best.

Thank you so much

 

[nytimez]

Hello my family n i are planning our next wdw vacation and this time we are DRIVING !! 1st time we have driven so u was wondering if there is anyone else who drives from MA that can help me out alil...i'm really kinda lost as to maping out a road trip. never done it and i wanna get it right so any tips i can use?? we are thinking about leaving ma @ 2am and driving till VA to stop for the night then off to St. Augustine for a night and then to Pop Century that morning .... but i dont know if that even maes sense lol

I'd suggest making it past VA and into NC, then try to make it right to Orlando the next day unless there's a reason you want to stay in St. Augustine.

 

[dvczerfs]

There are a number of 2,000+ mile round-trip drivers who reside in NE, to say nothing of those from eastern Canada, so you are in good company.

A few suggestions to consider:

1) Leave early enough to avoid major traffic jams (metro rush hours during the week, weekend/beach getaways, etc.).

2) Try to maximize the mileage on your first day of driving.

3) If your goal is VA, make it Emporia, VA. Even Rocky Mount, NC would be better. The drive from the VA/NC border to the FL border is about 7 1/2 to 8 hours, and then you have another three hours behind the wheel until WDW.

All the best.

I'd suggest making it past VA and into NC, then try to make it right to Orlando the next day unless there's a reason you want to stay in St. Augustine.

 

[Curious & Curiouser]

I'd suggest making it past VA and into NC, then try to make it right to Orlando the next day unless there's a reason you want to stay in St. Augustine.

well we wanna hit the Disney Outlet and we got 10 nights with a 10 day park pass so im trying to find a way to not be to tired to hit the parks or something the 1st day we get there......or i can just check into adding 1 more night and keeping the 10 day park passes

other then that there is no real reason for stoping anywhere lol

like i said we have always flyed b4 but i think driving and seeing the other states would be great for the kiddies. DH wants to just "wing" it but iam a planner lol he wants to just drive n find a hotel when we feel like it but is that best??

are there any good web site that i can map it out and figure out about what time we will reach diff states?? i dont have AAA so i cant use that site others have mentioned

and driving for the 1st time we plan on keeping it simple and just taking 95 the whole way even though i know traffic may be an issue ... thats why we plan on leaving around 2 or 1 am

ugh just feel so lost

 

[Marc A.]

Tomorrow is our day to leave on our adventure!!! It will be interesting with Grandma in the car with us....probably bellyaching the whole way!!! YIKES....I'm driving the entire time so it's a little unnerving but I can do this. I drove the 1st half last time we went and we are stopping earlier this time around.

We are planning on leaving about here about 4:30 AM and picking Grandma up around 5ish (although it probably won't take us 30 minutes to get to Grandma's).

Let's see what we end up forgetting this year - there always seems to be something you forget. As long as it's nothing major we will be fine.

Let us know how it went....Fellow Chicagolanders here making the drive in 3 weeks.
Thanks

 

[dvczerfs]

well we wanna hit the Disney Outlet and we got 10 nights with a 10 day park pass so im trying to find a way to not be to tired to hit the parks or something the 1st day we get there......or i can just check into adding 1 more night and keeping the 10 day park passes

other then that there is no real reason for stoping anywhere lol

like i said we have always flyed b4 but i think driving and seeing the other states would be great for the kiddies. DH wants to just "wing" it but iam a planner lol he wants to just drive n find a hotel when we feel like it but is that best??

are there any good web site that i can map it out and figure out about what time we will reach diff states?? i dont have AAA so i cant use that site others have mentioned

and driving for the 1st time we plan on keeping it simple and just taking 95 the whole way even though i know traffic may be an issue ... thats why we plan on leaving around 2 or 1 am

ugh just feel so lost

you may want to make a resi. for your over night stay. pending time of year or what convention is in town were you pull off, you may have a hard time finding a room. just check the cancellation policy of the hotel when you make your resi.(i had a hard time finding a room all ready the first week of december.)
driving down 95 isnt simple or easy. youll hit every east coast city there is. theres belt ways around washington dc and baltimore which can be fun. you may want to look into other ways of going. all the map quest programs etc.. will take you down 95 but its assuming your going to hit each city at 2am when theres no traffic time wise. there are other ways that maybe longer,100 miles longer but trust me, (and most of us here) you will get there faster and not ready to have a nerv. breakdown when you get there.were here to help!!

 

[nytimez]

well we wanna hit the Disney Outlet and we got 10 nights with a 10 day park pass so im trying to find a way to not be to tired to hit the parks or something the 1st day we get there......or i can just check into adding 1 more night and keeping the 10 day park passes

other then that there is no real reason for stoping anywhere lol

like i said we have always flyed b4 but i think driving and seeing the other states would be great for the kiddies. DH wants to just "wing" it but iam a planner lol he wants to just drive n find a hotel when we feel like it but is that best??

are there any good web site that i can map it out and figure out about what time we will reach diff states?? i dont have AAA so i cant use that site others have mentioned

and driving for the 1st time we plan on keeping it simple and just taking 95 the whole way even though i know traffic may be an issue ... thats why we plan on leaving around 2 or 1 am

ugh just feel so lost

there are two Disney outlets near WDW that carry theme park merchandise, so if that's the only reason to stop in St. Augustine, you do have other options.

If you can leave on a Saturday or Sunday, you will avoid rush hour traffic in the Northeast Corridor but you could still hit beach traffic, construction traffic and weekender traffic along the way... all of which can be just as bad (or worse).

The good news is, once you pass northern Virginia, the sailing tends to be pretty smooth until you hit I-4 (although you can hit traffic in Jacksonville and Daytona it won't be anything like what you'll get in NY, Jersey, Baltimore and DC).

I think Google maps can make estimates of time with traffic and also estimate the road conditions for preselected times, it's in the pulldown "more" menu on the map or whatever it's called.

 

[chepic]

and driving for the 1st time we plan on keeping it simple and just taking 95 the whole way even though i know traffic may be an issue ... thats why we plan on leaving around 2 or 1 am

ugh just feel so lost

We have left at 3 am on Saturday, drive all day stopping every 2-2.5 hours for a quick break. We bring our own cooler of food and drink, and the boys pack fun toys to pass the time. We always go straight 95 and rarely have issues. It is fun to go through some of the bigger cities (for the kids at least) and we point out all the buildings and such. We stop somewhere south of SC (either in SC or right over the border in GA) and are in bed by 9:00pm. Next morning back on the road by 9 am gets you in Disney by noon.
We have done this all times of the year, including summer and really have never had an issue.

I suggest picking up a Speed Pass for the tolls, that helps. We now can get them for the Newport Bridge, so it makes it easier.

Also, just use Mapquest....but to be honest, as long as you stay 95 south until you get into Florida, you can't get lost.

good luck and have fun.

cheryl

 

[Curious & Curiouser]

Thank You All So VERY VERY Much

 

[kidd_freeper]

Background:
We travelled roundtrip using our Ford Windstar minivan (Hartford-Kissimmee). There were 6 of us (me, DW, DD18, DS11, DS10, DS9). We left July 2 and returned on July 17. This was our second trip driving to WDW (took the other one in July 2010).

The Trip There:
July 2: Hartford-Jacksonville. Left at midnight on July 2.

Took 84-684-Tappan Zee Bridge-87-287-78-81-77-26-95

The Tappan Zee bridge is far better than taking the George Washington Bridge. I-81 is a beautiful road and the speed limit is 70 mph most of the way. Saw lots of patrol cars (perhaps 100 - between Tappan Zee Bridge and Charlotte NC); I tried to stay 5 mph over the limit and never got pulled over. The kids slept until 9:30 am and we had breakfast just south of Christiansburg, VA. The construction just north of Christiansburg was very minor and really didn't impact travel at all. The truck traffic on I-81 wasn't an issue at all, but we were done with I-81 in the early morning before most of the trucks were on the road.

Hit heavy traffic in Charlotte, which turned into stop-and-go-traffic just north of Columbia, SC, which turned into stopped traffic just south of Columbia. Traffic was light once we made it to I-95. Made it to south of Jacksonville about 8pm.

July 4: Jacksonville-Kissimmeee. Left at 4pm after visiting relatives. No issues.

The Trip Back:
July 16: Kissimmeee - Wilson, NC. Left at 9:30am with a planned stop in Wilson, NC. Last year we "winged it" for our overnight stop - big mistake. it is much better to have a planned stop.

Took I4-I95. No issues with traffic/construction/police. However DS10 had the stomach flu, with the first barf coming an hour after we left. Made stops every couple of hours. Stayed at the Hoilday Inn Express in Wilson, NC. I highly recommend it. DS10 kept barfing through the night, so I didn't sleep well.

July 17: Wilson, NC - Hartford.
DW stayed with DS10 while we went to early church. Left at 10am.

Left I95 at Emporia, VA to take the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. DS10 felt completely better after some applesauce and crackers, so everyone really enjoyed going over the bridge. Travelled up the Delmarva peninsula. On the advice of this board, we took the eastern route (Route 113) to avoid speed traps. However, there are a LOT of traffic lights this way and it probably would have saved time to stay on Route 13 and simply go 5 mph under the speed limit.

When we got to NYC, I ignored the advice of my GPS and took the George Washington Bridge Big mistake. Waited an hour to get over the bridge. Made it home by midnight.

Summary
I-81 is a great road. However Charlotte-Columbia (I-77 and I-26) traffic was very heavy. There are side roads that may avoid this...be ready to take them. I'm not convinced that I-81/I-77 through VA/NC is better than I-95 through VA/NC...the traffic encountered around Columbia, SC was almost as bad as the I-95 traffic...thus the extra travel distance that is required to take the 81/77 instead of 95 may or may not be worth it.

Wilson, NC is a good midway planned stop. Lots of new clean hotels, restaurants and it is easy to access. The Holiday Inn was immaculate.

If you take the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel (which adds 45 minutes to the trip over going through Washington DC), consider taking route 13 instead of 113 through Delaware...just drive well under the speed limit.

Avoid the George Washington Bridge. The Tappan Zee is a better alternative in every respect.

Be prepared for a sick child on the trip. Have plastic bags, paper towels, ice, crackers, applesauce, bottled water. We had all of these and I don't know what we would have done without them.

Have you car thoroughly checked out before you travel. We did and our minivan has 136,000 miles on it and we had no car problems at all.

 

[RutgersAlum]

What a fantastic travel report, kidd_freeper, for those of us yet to venture down to WDW this summer!

I am so sorry to hear your ds10 got the stomach flu on the drive, ugh, ugh, poor kid!

We love I-81, a little longer but so much more civil. We are driving from North Jersey to WDW end of August and had planned to take 81 as well. However, we have decided to pick up our child from daycamp and just depart on a Thurs around 3pm. In the original plan, we were to leave at 5 am and were planning on 287 > 78 > 81 down, but we've gotten to thinking...now that we are leaving at 3 pm, wondering if 95 (which would shave two hrs off the drive in a perfect, traffic-less world) would be do-able.

My thinking is that we would hit Wash DC around 7pm, post rush-hour. And that nasty Richmond stretch (so stressful), around 9:30pm or so--do you folks think that would be bearable at those hours?

Thanks again, kidd_freeper for the excellent report! Safe travels, everyone!

 

[dvczerfs]

Background:
We travelled roundtrip using our Ford Windstar minivan (Hartford-Kissimmee). There were 6 of us (me, DW, DD18, DS11, DS10, DS9). We left July 2 and returned on July 17. This was our second trip driving to WDW (took the other one in July 2010).

The Trip There:
July 2: Hartford-Jacksonville. Left at midnight on July 2.

Took 84-684-Tappan Zee Bridge-87-287-78-81-77-26-95

The Tappan Zee bridge is far better than taking the George Washington Bridge. I-81 is a beautiful road and the speed limit is 70 mph most of the way. Saw lots of patrol cars (perhaps 100 - between Tappan Zee Bridge and Charlotte NC); I tried to stay 5 mph over the limit and never got pulled over. The kids slept until 9:30 am and we had breakfast just south of Christiansburg, VA. The construction just north of Christiansburg was very minor and really didn't impact travel at all. The truck traffic on I-81 wasn't an issue at all, but we were done with I-81 in the early morning before most of the trucks were on the road.

Hit heavy traffic in Charlotte, which turned into stop-and-go-traffic just north of Columbia, SC, which turned into stopped traffic just south of Columbia. Traffic was light once we made it to I-95. Made it to south of Jacksonville about 8pm.

July 4: Jacksonville-Kissimmeee. Left at 4pm after visiting relatives. No issues.

The Trip Back:
July 16: Kissimmeee - Wilson, NC. Left at 9:30am with a planned stop in Wilson, NC. Last year we "winged it" for our overnight stop - big mistake. it is much better to have a planned stop.

Took I4-I95. No issues with traffic/construction/police. However DS10 had the stomach flu, with the first barf coming an hour after we left. Made stops every couple of hours. Stayed at the Hoilday Inn Express in Wilson, NC. I highly recommend it. DS10 kept barfing through the night, so I didn't sleep well.

July 17: Wilson, NC - Hartford.
DW stayed with DS10 while we went to early church. Left at 10am.

Left I95 at Emporia, VA to take the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. DS10 felt completely better after some applesauce and crackers, so everyone really enjoyed going over the bridge. Travelled up the Delmarva peninsula. On the advice of this board, we took the eastern route (Route 113) to avoid speed traps. However, there are a LOT of traffic lights this way and it probably would have saved time to stay on Route 13 and simply go 5 mph under the speed limit.

When we got to NYC, I ignored the advice of my GPS and took the George Washington Bridge Big mistake. Waited an hour to get over the bridge. Made it home by midnight.

Summary
I-81 is a great road. However Charlotte-Columbia (I-77 and I-26) traffic was very heavy. There are side roads that may avoid this...be ready to take them. I'm not convinced that I-81/I-77 through VA/NC is better than I-95 through VA/NC...the traffic encountered around Columbia, SC was almost as bad as the I-95 traffic...thus the extra travel distance that is required to take the 81/77 instead of 95 may or may not be worth it.

Wilson, NC is a good midway planned stop. Lots of new clean hotels, restaurants and it is easy to access. The Holiday Inn was immaculate.

If you take the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel (which adds 45 minutes to the trip over going through Washington DC), consider taking route 13 instead of 113 through Delaware...just drive well under the speed limit.

Avoid the George Washington Bridge. The Tappan Zee is a better alternative in every respect.

Be prepared for a sick child on the trip. Have plastic bags, paper towels, ice, crackers, applesauce, bottled water. We had all of these and I don't know what we would have done without them.

Have you car thoroughly checked out before you travel. We did and our minivan has 136,000 miles on it and we had no car problems at all.

What a fantastic travel report, kidd_freeper, for those of us yet to venture down to WDW this summer!

I am so sorry to hear your ds10 got the stomach flu on the drive, ugh, ugh, poor kid!

We love I-81, a little longer but so much more civil. We are driving from North Jersey to WDW end of August and had planned to take 81 as well. However, we have decided to pick up our child from daycamp and just depart on a Thurs around 3pm. In the original plan, we were to leave at 5 am and were planning on 287 > 78 > 81 down, but we've gotten to thinking...now that we are leaving at 3 pm, wondering if 95 (which would shave two hrs off the drive in a perfect, traffic-less world) would be do-able.

My thinking is that we would hit Wash DC around 7pm, post rush-hour. And that nasty Richmond stretch (so stressful), around 9:30pm or so--do you folks think that would be bearable at those hours?

Thanks again, kidd_freeper for the excellent report! Safe travels, everyone!

alot of it is just luck. we left on june 17th, 78-81 stopped in harrisonberg va. we left at 3am took 81-77-26 and didnt hit anything, not even a slow down. ive already hit richmond on 95 at 5pm and didnt hit the breaks. other times ive crawled from exit 133 till i hit the other side of richmond at 3pm with no wreck to be found. thats what makes driving fun. ive been lucky over the years,(knock on wood) the only time ive ever lost more than 20 min. is on i95 from philly to richmond. for some,stop and go traffic for 20 min. is no big deal for others its a pain and the worst. you can hit anything at anytime but i try to minimize my chances of getting stuck in traffic and avoid the northeast coast as much as i can. alot of facotors figure in to it, time of day,day of week,season,weather. this past trip i hit charlotte on a sat. morning at 7am. i could count on one hand the cars that i seen on the road. have fun planning and becarefull!!!

 

[loveysbydesign]

Hi everyone!
Planning for our drive in October! Last time we stayed in Statesville, NC for the drive home. I'm looking for a nice, cheap place about 1 hour north of Statesville NC this time as we are beginning our drive home from Ormond Beach/Palm Coast/St. Augustine area.(we are staying over there 1 night after our cruise, so we don't have to drive for a long stretch after we get off the ship.) Seems like maybe I should look in the Christiansburg, VA area. Any suggestions???