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

[loveysbydesign]

Also I need a place to stay on the way down...we're leaving around 8:00 on Sat. morning going down 78 to 81...should we shoot for south of Charlotte? Looking to have our shorter day to be our arrival day.
Last time we drove we left at 3:00 in the afternoon and only made it to Christiansburg after 8 hours of driving.

 

[nytimez]

If you're leaving at 8 am on a Saturday and want an earlier arrival the next day, I'd aim further south -- if you can make it to SC, you'll be in good shape and it's not an unreasonable drive from PA.

 

[loveysbydesign]

If you're leaving at 8 am on a Saturday and want an earlier arrival the next day, I'd aim further south -- if you can make it to SC, you'll be in good shape and it's not an unreasonable drive from PA.

Whereabouts in SC?? Rock Hill maybe...or further south. Looking for 10-11 hours of driving at the most!

 

[dvczerfs]

Whereabouts in SC?? Rock Hill maybe...or further south. Looking for 10-11 hours of driving at the most!

we stopped in walterboro sc a few times. sharadoc likes stopping there also.

 

[Goofygirl17]

We're going to Disney in two weeks Just booked our timeshare- checking in on August 7th heading home on August 21st! Now I need to figure out when to leave and our route.

We're leaving from the New Haven, CT area and I'm the only driver (DH has to work and DDs are 8 and 12). So... I have to decide if we should take 2 or 3 days to drive down. Last summer we took 3 but we stayed at a friend's house in MD on the way down and then a hotel in Savannah. On the way home we stayed at a friend of a friend's condo in Myrtle Beach and then a hotel in Delaware.

I'm thinking that 2 days would be better because it'll be cheaper to only have to pay for 1 hotel each way.

Any advice?

 

[BC1836]

We're going to Disney in two weeks Just booked our timeshare- checking in on August 7th heading home on August 21st! Now I need to figure out when to leave and our route.

We're leaving from the New Haven, CT area and I'm the only driver (DH has to work and DDs are 8 and 12). So... I have to decide if we should take 2 or 3 days to drive down. Last summer we took 3 but we stayed at a friend's house in MD on the way down and then a hotel in Savannah. On the way home we stayed at a friend of a friend's condo in Myrtle Beach and then a hotel in Delaware.

I'm thinking that 2 days would be better because it'll be cheaper to only have to pay for 1 hotel each way.

Any advice?

Depart very, very early and you'll beat the I-95 rush hour traffic in NY and NJ; however, expect late morning residual rush hour traffic from Philly to DC. If you can manage to make it to southern VA (Emporia, for example) or northern NC (Rocky Mount, for example) by your nighttime stayover you'll be able to make it to Lake Buena Vista before nightfall on the second day.

All the best.

 

[Goofygirl17]

So what time is very, very early? I'd love to get through NY and NJ before rush hour but I'm not sure when I'd have to leave. I know to take the tappan zee bridge instead of the GW.

Thanks!

 

[nono]

So what time is very, very early? I'd love to get through NY and NJ before rush hour but I'm not sure when I'd have to leave. I know to take the tappan zee bridge instead of the GW.

Thanks!

Yours is tricky. If you left at 4 a.m., you'll miss the bulk of the NY/NJ commute, but pick up the end of Balt/Wash. traffic, as you'd be hitting Delaware around 7-7:15 a.m., assuming no major traffic delays. Maybe if you put in a breakfast stop in DE? Then continue on...and you could stop for a 1 pm lunch around Emporia, VA. Another rest, since you are solo.

You can then pick your end point on how much farther you would want to drive in that day.

 

[caitlinsdad]

We're going to Disney in two weeks Just booked our timeshare- checking in on August 7th heading home on August 21st! Now I need to figure out when to leave and our route.

We're leaving from the New Haven, CT area and I'm the only driver (DH has to work and DDs are 8 and 12). So... I have to decide if we should take 2 or 3 days to drive down. Last summer we took 3 but we stayed at a friend's house in MD on the way down and then a hotel in Savannah. On the way home we stayed at a friend of a friend's condo in Myrtle Beach and then a hotel in Delaware.

I'm thinking that 2 days would be better because it'll be cheaper to only have to pay for 1 hotel each way.

Any advice?

I live in Westport Ct, When we depart, it normaly takes 3 days. but I take my time and see the sights.

Leaving at 9 am, I can reach Richmond VA by 6:30 pm or a little earlier.
2nd day Savanna GA, by about 5:30 pm

Third day WDW by 3pm.

Am the only driver and I try to limit it to 8 -9 hrs a day on the road.

Could make it in two if I left earlier and did 12 hrs first day.
It is about 20 - 21 hrs on road from CT.

That is taking i-95 until I4 in Fl
But a more scenic route is Make you way to I-84, then I-81, to I-77, I-26, to I95 to I4.

First day you can reach Haggerstown MD, then Santee Sc or Orangerburg Sc.

You are then about 8 Hrs from wdw on third day.

Being a solo driver unless you want to push yourself and leave at 3 or 4 in the morning, this works out well.

Have a great trip

Ed

 

[pwdebbie]

Whereabouts in SC?? Rock Hill maybe...or further south. Looking for 10-11 hours of driving at the most!

We leave from southcentral PA around 1:00 in the afternoon. On our second trip we stopped at Orangeburg, SC for the night, probably got there around 10:00 p.m. There is an Orangeburg exit (145A, St. Matthews Rd.) that has at least six hotels -- Holiday Inn Ex, Sleep Inn (we stayed there), Quality Inn, Travelers Inn, Country Inns and Suites, and Best Western. Just a little further down St. Matthews Rd. are a few more. Easy off and easy on for I26. If we go this way again, we will shoot for Orangeburg again.

 

[dvczerfs]

Yours is tricky. If you left at 4 a.m., you'll miss the bulk of the NY/NJ commute, but pick up the end of Balt/Wash. traffic, as you'd be hitting Delaware around 7-7:15 a.m., assuming no major traffic delays. Maybe if you put in a breakfast stop in DE? Then continue on...and you could stop for a 1 pm lunch around Emporia, VA. Another rest, since you are solo.

You can then pick your end point on how much farther you would want to drive in that day.

that is a tuff one. you will get to see the sights in philly also. your gonna slam into philly rush hour traffic. you will most likely start slowing in new york and be in it till you pass dc and balt. one good thing about sitting in all that traffic, richmond should clear.

 

[Goofygirl17]

So I looked up mapquest and AAA maps. I also renewed my AAA membership this morning so I got a triptik too. It shows 95S to Tappan Zee bridge to Garden state parkway to Nj tpke, then beltway around DC (not sure what route that's called, 495?) and then 95 down.

I could probably leave around 4 but would that get me through NY? I wish there was a map that showed approx travel times en route not just the total time.

Thanks everyone! Love the input!

 

[nono]

that is a tuff one. you will get to see the sights in philly also..

I think we're picturing two different routes.

Taking the Garden State Parkway to the NJ Turnpike, there's no view of Phila., and being on the NJ side traveling south towards the DE Memorial Bridge isn't where rush hour traffic is flowing. Rush hour (at 6:30 a.m.) is moving generally East to West through southern NJ towards Philadelphia.

But without an hour's stop for breakfast somewhere around DE, the driver will catch up to Baltimore/Washington traffic for sure. And, even then, none of this is foolproof!

Goofygirl, I thought you said you wanted to take the Tappan Zee? You will be there in roughly 1 hour to 1 hr 10 minutes...so by about 5:15 a.m. By the time you are off the Tappan Zee, you are basically out of New York State. Then you head to the Garden State Parkway interchange which is about 8? miles West on I-287. You take the Parkway south through NJ to the NJ Turnpike, which will take you right to DE and hook you up with I-95 South. That should take you 2 hrs. 15 min. to 2 hrs. 30 min., roughly.

Hope that helps. Try bing.com/maps. Type in your address to Tappan Zee Bridge. Then add another waypoint being Delaware Memorial Bridge. It'll provide time and mileage for each segment. I have to think google maps would run the same way. But you will need to provide your waypoints.

 

[Curious & Curiouser]

hello

i was just wondering if anyone could tell me how much do you put aside for the driving part of your vacation??

i like to section out my money, tips, spending, mousekeeping, ect, ect.
And having never driven before i have no clue how much money do i need to put a side for gas, meals, one night hotel stop, TOLLS ugh no clue how much tolls are, and fun little trinkets along the way.

If anyone could give me any tips or ideas on what they put aside it would be great OHHH Duh we will be driving from MA lol

Thank Guys

 

[sharadoc]

we stopped in walterboro sc a few times. sharadoc likes stopping there also.

Yep, nice (Decent) Microtel there. We get the "suite" which is a bed, then a kitchen-y area separating the room in half, then a table and sofa. One TV in the center so you can see if from the sofa or the bed.

Great place for dinner - Duke's Barbecue!! The most authentic, real, Southern style Carolina barbecue. Stryfoam plates, plastic utensils, loaf of Sunbeam bread and roll of paper towels on the table. Huge open trash cans to throw away your plate and go get more. Less than $10 for adults each. Awesome!

With DVCZerfs support, we now drive straight through so we don't stop any more.

 

[sharadoc]

I think we're picturing two different routes.

Taking the Garden State Parkway to the NJ Turnpike, there's no view of Phila., and being on the NJ side traveling south towards the DE Memorial Bridge isn't where rush hour traffic is flowing. Rush hour (at 6:30 a.m.) is moving generally East to West through southern NJ towards Philadelphia.

But without an hour's stop for breakfast somewhere around DE, the driver will catch up to Baltimore/Washington traffic for sure. And, even then, none of this is foolproof!

Goofygirl, I thought you said you wanted to take the Tappan Zee? You will be there in roughly 1 hour to 1 hr 10 minutes...so by about 5:15 a.m. By the time you are off the Tappan Zee, you are basically out of New York State. Then you head to the Garden State Parkway interchange which is about 8? miles West on I-287. You take the Parkway south through NJ to the NJ Turnpike, which will take you right to DE and hook you up with I-95 South. That should take you 2 hrs. 15 min. to 2 hrs. 30 min., roughly.

Hope that helps. Try bing.com/maps. Type in your address to Tappan Zee Bridge. Then add another waypoint being Delaware Memorial Bridge. It'll provide time and mileage for each segment. I have to think google maps would run the same way. But you will need to provide your waypoints.

Yes, "95" in that part of the world is really 295 for interstate drivers. It takes you over at the Commodore Barry Bridge in Delaware.

 

[loveysbydesign]

Yep, nice (Decent) Microtel there. We get the "suite" which is a bed, then a kitchen-y area separating the room in half, then a table and sofa. One TV in the center so you can see if from the sofa or the bed.

Great place for dinner - Duke's Barbecue!! The most authentic, real, Southern style Carolina barbecue. Stryfoam plates, plastic utensils, loaf of Sunbeam bread and roll of paper towels on the table. Huge open trash cans to throw away your plate and go get more. Less than $10 for adults each. Awesome!

With DVCZerfs support, we now drive straight through so we don't stop any more.

Which Dukes? the one in Aiken or Ridgeland or Blackville or Orangeburg? I searched and found a few!

 

[loveysbydesign]

Nevermind, I see it's the one in Walterboro..who knew there were so many???
http://dukesbarbq.com/about/about.html

 

[dvczerfs]

Yes, "95" in that part of the world is really 295 for interstate drivers. It takes you over at the Commodore Barry Bridge in Delaware.

SHAAARRROOOONNNNN!!!! where have you been hiding!!! tammys has to go to the dentist today at 4:30, she has a problem. hope eveything worked out ok. were down to 67 days hopefully. were praying everything works out with her mri in september. i dont know if i told you, last wednesday down at jefferson, they did an mri and her tumor on her optic nerve has shrank more!!! the drs. didnt think it would shrink that much. but, theres always a but, theres a small "spot" on the front lobe of her brain. they said its from the radiation treatment. both drs looked at it and they both said its from the radiation and is common. shes having no problems. we are leaving for wdw on a tuesday, 3am the wednesday before we go, i have to take her back to jeff. for another mri just to verify thats all it is. so hopefully we will get real good news. tammys looking for a macaroni grill, is there one down by you? if so maybe we can get together next month sometime? keep in touch!

 

[minnie mum]

hello

i was just wondering if anyone could tell me how much do you put aside for the driving part of your vacation??

i like to section out my money, tips, spending, mousekeeping, ect, ect.
And having never driven before i have no clue how much money do i need to put a side for gas, meals, one night hotel stop, TOLLS ugh no clue how much tolls are, and fun little trinkets along the way.

If anyone could give me any tips or ideas on what they put aside it would be great OHHH Duh we will be driving from MA lol

Thank Guys

Budgeting is so much fun, isn't it? NOT!

For gas: go to the trip cost calculator at gas buddy.com- it will help figure cost based on distance and type of car. You'll also get a good idea of how often you'll need to stop to fill the tank.

Meals and hotel costs totally is up to you. Do you pack meals in your cooler and only stop for gas/pee breaks, or will you stop to eat as well? As for hotels: are you a Motel 6 or a Marriott type of family? If you're going I95 the whole way, I think there's a website that lists services and hotels at the different exits.

TOLLS: Totally depends on which route you're on. Sorry, can't help here, as we never have to pay tolls on our route.