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

[Shir Kahn]

have a safe and a nice drive!!!

Thanks very much!

Remember to note your mileage from home to WDW (and your round-trip mileage) since you will be establishing a 2,000+ Mile Round-trip Drivers record.
[See the current records on page 186; #2788; posted 6/29/11]

All the best.

Ooh, I didn't know about that, I'll definitely keep track!

 

[Donald is #1]

Only 2 days to go now before we leave on our 32 hour drive to WDW! Monday after I'm done work, we're on our way!

Good luck & have fun!

 

[Goofygirl17]

I can't wait! 13 days until we leave! Right now the plan is to leave around 4 a.m. on Saturday August 6th and stop somewhere in NC. The farther we get the better. Then check-in on Sunday the 7th.

I need to start my packing list and clean out the car

 

[ThreeKMom]

Anyone have any thoughts or advice on whether we should try to avoid the DC area or just go straight through?

 

[nono]

Anyone have any thoughts or advice on whether we should try to avoid the DC area or just go straight through?

Well, if you are far enough north in NJ that you can shoot over and do the "alternate" route to avoid upper I-95, that's probably a great idea if you would be anywhere DC during the rush hours. Otherwise, if you are towards the central or southern end of the state, you should really watch your estimated time of passing through the area. And, isn't a bad idea either.

 

[3smithboys]

Hi everyone! We have driven to WDW 2x, and it went pretty well, but I am hoping that I can get some advice to see if we can make the drive even better. We are going on a Disney cruise in a few weeks, and we are leaving for the drive on a Wednesday from the Philly area. We can leave any time after 4pm. In the past we normally have left around 8pm. One time we hit horrible traffic in the DC area and one time none! (I know, it can be the luck of the draw!) We have always travelled the I95 route...

I also heard there is another route? What might that be? I heard that it is longer, but there is less traffic... what are the issues with it?

Another question I have is that if we do take either route (especially I95) what time is the "best" time to leave from the Philly area? We would like to get in really no later than dinner time if possible...

Thanks for your help!

 

[Goofygirl17]

Anyone have any thoughts or advice on whether we should try to avoid the DC area or just go straight through?

I think it depends what day and time you're going through. We're going through on a Saturday morning. I'm hoping we'll be there around 10 a.m. so should be okay. I considered doing the inland route but since we're leaving CT around 4 a.m. on a Saturday I think we'll just stick to 95.

I appreciate any advice or opinions too though

 

[disneymam]

We are leaving from central PA and doing route 81. Can anyone that has driven these routes in the last year give me advice or pros/cons of doing 220/73/74 or 77/26...both of which meet up with 95. Thanks!

 

[dvczerfs]

We are leaving from central PA and doing route 81. Can anyone that has driven these routes in the last year give me advice or pros/cons of doing 220/73/74 or 77/26...both of which meet up with 95. Thanks!

i just drove 81-77-26 last month. on a sat. heading south and a sunday heading north. i didnt hit anything, except the govenor on the van. there was a bit of construction but nothing to hold you up. i did hit charolette around 7am so i didnt hit any traffic at all.

 

[Curious & Curiouser]

3 weeks from today I pack the van.. 3 weeks from tomorrow we drive!

it's getting closer n closer you must be so excited ! Be Safe & can't wait to hear all about it ! Tell "The Mouse" we said hi

 

[dvczerfs]

Hi everyone! We have driven to WDW 2x, and it went pretty well, but I am hoping that I can get some advice to see if we can make the drive even better. We are going on a Disney cruise in a few weeks, and we are leaving for the drive on a Wednesday from the Philly area. We can leave any time after 4pm. In the past we normally have left around 8pm. One time we hit horrible traffic in the DC area and one time none! (I know, it can be the luck of the draw!) We have always travelled the I95 route...

I also heard there is another route? What might that be? I heard that it is longer, but there is less traffic... what are the issues with it?

Another question I have is that if we do take either route (especially I95) what time is the "best" time to leave from the Philly area? We would like to get in really no later than dinner time if possible...

Thanks for your help!

i take i78-i81-i77-i26-i95. im in nazareth, im north of philly so for me hitting 81 is no big deal. i think some people from the philly area will come up the turnpike to hit i81 but im not sure. i know sharadoc has come up from that area already, she should be along soon. i also take i81-i66-17-i95. you will hit i95 just north of richmond which, pending what time you will hit that, can be intresting. alot depends on when,where and what time of year and what day of the week.

 

[PrincessMom4]

it's getting closer n closer you must be so excited ! Be Safe & can't wait to hear all about it ! Tell "The Mouse" we said hi

justakrazymom, we will be somewhere close behind. We pack the night before, which is driving me insane not packing now. Kids are going to be surprised a little as told we can't go this year we are getting a new van (let's hope our van comes this week) and will be right on schedule.

 

[Ksquared]

Hi everyone! We have driven to WDW 2x, and it went pretty well, but I am hoping that I can get some advice to see if we can make the drive even better. We are going on a Disney cruise in a few weeks, and we are leaving for the drive on a Wednesday from the Philly area. We can leave any time after 4pm. In the past we normally have left around 8pm. One time we hit horrible traffic in the DC area and one time none! (I know, it can be the luck of the draw!) We have always travelled the I95 route...

I also heard there is another route? What might that be? I heard that it is longer, but there is less traffic... what are the issues with it?

Another question I have is that if we do take either route (especially I95) what time is the "best" time to leave from the Philly area? We would like to get in really no later than dinner time if possible...

Thanks for your help!

I'm not sure I would drive from Philly to take 81 but it looks like some people have done that.

We leave from the Cherry Hill, NJ area which is pretty much just over Ben Franklin or Walt Whitman bridges and we've had good luck leaving around 2 or 3 am although you won't make it down there by dinner time.

If you leave around 10:00 pm you should get in around dinner time and avoid lots of traffic in DC area.

 

[ospopo5]

T-25 Days until our first road trip! We are leaving a day earlier and made my hotel reservations for the stop over and for the extra day. We can't wait! Planning a fun breakfast stop along the way as well.

So much to do, so little time.

Any Chicagoland drivers have any recent trip updates?

 

[sharadoc]

i take i78-i81-i77-i26-i95. im in nazareth, im north of philly so for me hitting 81 is no big deal. i think some people from the philly area will come up the turnpike to hit i81 but im not sure. i know sharadoc has come up from that area already, she should be along soon. i also take i81-i66-17-i95. you will hit i95 just north of richmond which, pending what time you will hit that, can be intresting. alot depends on when,where and what time of year and what day of the week.

My herald precedes me! DVCZerfs is really the expert on that mountain way.

Depending on where you are leaving from, you can do the Schuylkill to the turnpike out to Harrisburg then pick up 81 S. It feels "straighter". From our house, we have considered going the back way out 23 to Lancaster, then continuing on to Harrisburg from there some dipsy-doodly way.

If you're actually in Philly, I would recommend hitting the turnpike at the Mid-County/Plymouth Meeting way or save a dollar or two and go out to King of Prussia.

As far as time - are you driving straight through or stopping to sleep?

I don't think you'd miss much if any time going the mountain way. We have considered it almost every trip, but chicken out and stick with 95 because we have it memorized Summer Saturdays are brutal from Washington to Richmond and we've gotten stuck more than once, first time from poor planning, second time from not checking info ACK!

There are a few posters who have discussed the 81-77-95 or just the 81-95 route on this thread, and even a few separate threads about it. Take some time and scroll through and you'll find a TON of info about that route. Then you can hopefully make an educated decision!!

Good luck and let us know how we can help.

 

[PrincessMom4]

Hey Sharadoc and dvczerfs,

we usually take the 81-66-17-95 on our way down especially if leaving a weekday. We drove once over night but our kids like seeing things during the day so we'll keep it that way as long as everyone is content.

 

[ThreeKMom]

Well, if you are far enough north in NJ that you can shoot over and do the "alternate" route to avoid upper I-95, that's probably a great idea if you would be anywhere DC during the rush hours. Otherwise, if you are towards the central or southern end of the state, you should really watch your estimated time of passing through the area. And, isn't a bad idea either.

We are leaving from Monmouth Co. so central coastal Jersey!
We will take rt. 18 to I95. We are leaving on a Thursday night after dinner (about 5:00 - 5:30) so we should hit the DC area around 9:00 - 9:30, I think.

As I previously mentioned I got directions from Bing Maps and there is only a slight difference in drive time depending on if you go through DC via the Inner Loop or around DC. Is one route an easier drive than the other?

 

[Goofygirl17]

As far as time - are you driving straight through or stopping to sleep?

I don't think you'd miss much if any time going the mountain way. We have considered it almost every trip, but chicken out and stick with 95 because we have it memorized Summer Saturdays are brutal from Washington to Richmond and we've gotten stuck more than once, first time from poor planning, second time from not checking info ACK!

There are a few posters who have discussed the 81-77-95 or just the 81-95 route on this thread, and even a few separate threads about it. Take some time and scroll through and you'll find a TON of info about that route. Then you can hopefully make an educated decision!!

Good luck and let us know how we can help.

We're heading down from CT on Saturday August 6th- leaving CT at 4 a.m. I was hoping we'd miss DC traffic because it's Saturday. We should be through there by 10 or 10:30. Does that sound okay?

 

[dvczerfs]

I'm not sure I would drive from Philly to take 81 but it looks like some people have done that.

We leave from the Cherry Hill, NJ area which is pretty much just over Ben Franklin or Walt Whitman bridges and we've had good luck leaving around 2 or 3 am although you won't make it down there by dinner time.

If you leave around 10:00 pm you should get in around dinner time and avoid lots of traffic in DC area.

this is actually the conversation how sharadoc and myself got talking. it is almost a waste for the philly area people to drive that far north to hit 81-77. your going a long way out of your way to avoid the cities. you would be better off leaving at night and get past richmond before rush hours lke you have done.

 

[dvczerfs]

We are leaving from Monmouth Co. so central coastal Jersey!
We will take rt. 18 to I95. We are leaving on a Thursday night after dinner (about 5:00 - 5:30) so we should hit the DC area around 9:00 - 9:30, I think.

As I previously mentioned I got directions from Bing Maps and there is only a slight difference in drive time depending on if you go through DC via the Inner Loop or around DC. Is one route an easier drive than the other?

sharadoc just drove that in jume and i think one of them has construction. she should be around soon.