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

[TinkPirateMom]

Nope got worse. Once we got on 15' it took us way out around suburbs, route 4011' Robert Mosley, down to 66 and finally to 95. Where we sat and crawled for HOUR s!

I am not sure if it is first weekend school is out and shore traffic, but if we wern'near stand still, everyone in 3 or 4 lanes was on bombers at 70 mph zigging in and out.

We are in Ephoria, VA, getting up at 7 dgs and son needed sleep. I hope we make better time tomorrow or we will miss the entire day at Disney.
Night all, keeping the shinny side up!
Di

Wishing you better luck tomorrow!!

While I am here:

DH and I discussing the drive and deciding where to stop the first night. We drive down 75 most of the way and last time stopped in Chattanooga, TN. He wants to stop there again and I was hoping a least a little further and getting past Atlanta, but he thinks the hours in the car will be hard with 4 kids and my 69 year old mother.

Any thoughts?

I'm new to long distance drives but with 4 kids and mother I would tend to agree with your DH.

 

[dvczerfs]

Gas prices, Wilson, NC $3.33. South ov the boarder at exit 190$3.09
Exit 181B Hess 3.09.
St. George $2.99

are we there yet???????
how much longer?????
i have to pee!!!!!!!
im hungry!!!!!!
you said not much longer!!!!!
im hot!!!
im cold!!!!!
stop looking at me!!!!
stop touching me!!!!
my butt hurts!!!!
can i sit in the front!!!!

help me out, any others you can think of!

fyi, i get these from tammy, not briana! lol

 

[nono]

While I am here:

DH and I discussing the drive and deciding where to stop the first night. We drive down 75 most of the way and last time stopped in Chattanooga, TN. He wants to stop there again and I was hoping a least a little further and getting past Atlanta, but he thinks the hours in the car will be hard with 4 kids and my 69 year old mother.

Any thoughts?

Well, how many hours total driving (without stops) would it be to get past Atlanta? That will help me vote! Also, what would be your starting time?

 

[nono]

Oh dear what alate star! We Arron I-81 in traffic near the exit for Hometown. Going to hit traffic in DC!!! DW. Will not take the route on 81 down to 77 because of thre heavy load, roof carrier and ECV on the tail hitch.
lONG TRIP!

I'm sorry you had such a terrible go of it! What time was "a late start?" I hate to bring up a bad memory, but the information can help the rest of us. THX

 

[Cuddlemama]

Oh goodness, I think we're going to actually pull the trigger on driving down in January 2013. I need all the hints, tips, and encouragment that we're not insane that you guys can offer.

A little background:
We live in Upstate NY (Binghamton Area). We're DVC members who go at least every 18ish months for a longish trip (12-18 days). We've always flown Jet Blue from Rochester because we have three kids and it's just seemed like an insane task. I don't drive, so my husband has to do all of the driving himself. He doesn't drive at night, but does fine during the day.

So, what changed? Well, next trip the kids will be 12, 10, and 8. That just seems so much more manageable in the car than when we had toddlers or preschoolers. My Sister-in-law is a traveling doctor who has worked several jobs in the Orlando area in the past couple of years and has driven it herself multiple times, up and back, and assures us it's possible..~laugh~ Also, this will be our first trip with no dining plan and we have a child with celiac, so the idea of being able to bring a crock pot, rice cooker, and a big old box of her essentials, and then make a trip in our own car to Whole Foods is just so comforting.

Finally, we're seriously contemplating a move to the Orlando area in the future. Like, maybe 1-3 years out, and it might be fun to get a look around the area at different suburbs close to WDW. Right now, we're tracking real estate in Windermere, but we don't know much about where everything is located to look in different developments.

So...anybody have hint or suggestions? Where do you stop if you're driving down this far? Should we go down through Delaware to avoid Philly and DC, or just risk the traffic?

~Leigh

 

[LadyBeBop]

Well, how many hours total driving (without stops) would it be to get past Atlanta? That will help me vote! Also, what would be your starting time?

Also, what days of the week would you be traveling?

Normally, I'd say; travel to just south of Atlanta. However, if your DH doesn't think he can drive beyond Chattanooga, then don't push him. If the following day is either Saturday or Sunday, that's great. No problems with Atlanta rush hour. Even if your following day is a weekday, if you leave Chattanooga late enough (around 7 to 8 AM), you'll still miss Atlanta rush hour. Even if you make Atlanta rush hour, just stay in the far left lane (the carpool lane), and you'll do OK. Slow, but OK.

Just keep in mind, Chattanooga to Orlando is still probably close to nine hours without stops. So you probably won't make it to Disney until late afternoon, at the earliest.

Years ago, we used to take three days from Cincinnati to Florida. First night, in Chattanooga; second night in Lake City and the third night at our destination. We'd never spend more than eight hours in the car. Much of it was before interstate though. You may want to consider three days going down if your DH doesn't want to travel too far each day.

 

[monymony3471]

First I do all the driving because I make a horrible passenger, care sick bleh!

He says though he is going to do the first leg of the drive and I should just try to sleep. Easy to say, not easy for me to do.

We are probably leaving at 3am on August 5, Sunday. Stop in Cincinnatti for a sit down breakfast betwen 7 or 8am. Then try to go as far as we can before we have to stop for lunch. We hope to be done driving by 6pm.
Where ever we end up we will go for a late dinner somewhere.

We have rented a house and check in on the 6th. The 6th is only a travel day so there is no hurry but I do want to get settled and do a walmart run after.

What time is this rush hour in Atlanta? That is the important question I guess.

Personally I just want to get as far as we can the first day.

 

[LadyBeBop]

OK Monica, here's a couple of things.

1) If you want a sit-down breakfast in Cincinnati on a Sunday morning, you have to get there no later than about 8 AM. Sunday morning breakfast at Bob Evans, IHOP or Cracker Barrell is popular. Yesterday, there was already a line at Cracker Barrell at 8:30. We ended up at Frisch's Big Boy (good breakfast bar, but not as good as the others.

2) Honestly, since your first day is a Sunday and second day is a Monday, I'd try to make it to the south side of Atlanta. You wouldn't have to worry about rush hour at all. Unfortunately, you do have Braves game traffic to contend with (1:35 start). If you leave Cincinnati by 8 AM, you'll probably get to Atlanta by about 4 PM (assuming a half hour for breaks and lunch). Most ball games are about 3 hours now, so you shouldn't get much traffic from people leaving the game. Just hope for a medium-length to long game. And if you run into traffic leaving the game, remember the far-left lane (carpool lane) is your friend.

For the time being.

For those in the Atlanta area, have you heard anything about making the I-75 carpool/HOV lane a toll lane? Somebody mentioned, over in the Disney tips forum, that I-85 in Atlanta has already adopted it. That would really be a pain, since we always travel in the far left lane. Wouldn't mind paying the tolls, except there would be no toll booths (you'd have to obtain some sort of Fastpass before driving).

 

[andrews_dad]

Mother in law leaving Harrisburg, PA, at 5 AM tomorrow. We flying via HIA departing 2 PM Thursday to meet her there. Wishing her luck. She only 65 but her hubby is 85 and has dementia. He refuses to wear diapers but needs them! Could be a LONG trip for her! Prayers needed!!

 

[emksmama]

While I am here:

DH and I discussing the drive and deciding where to stop the first night. We drive down 75 most of the way and last time stopped in Chattanooga, TN. He wants to stop there again and I was hoping a least a little further and getting past Atlanta, but he thinks the hours in the car will be hard with 4 kids and my 69 year old mother.

Any thoughts?

Where are you driving from? I saw in your second post that you hope to stop in Cinci about 4 hours into your trip. We are in north central Indiana, about an hour north of Indianapolis, and take 75 from Cincinnati on down. On previous Florida trips (St Augustine & Ft Myers Beach) we've had great luck stopping in Macon GA. Made for a 10 hour day usually, but got us south of Atlanta. Last summer we drove straight through to FMB, 22 hours, and did very well. We are doing the same thing for Disney next month...leaving home at 7pm Saturday night, planning to stop for breakfast around Macon or even Valdosta GA the next morning, and arriving at SoG by 2pm or so.

Also, how old are your kids? How does your mom do sitting for longer periods? If you can make stops every 2-3 hours for 15-20 minutes of walking around, you might find that they can all last a bit longer in the car. Our girls are 8 & 9, and do very well as long as they have their books and mp3 players! We don't have an in car or add on DVD system, so we find our own entertainment.

Good luck!!

 

[monymony3471]

We are leaving from Michigna about 30 mins north of Detroit. My kids are 15, 13, 7, and 4. Two will have birthdays the week we are there. My 13 and 4 year old. Now everyone will get to have a birthday in Disney.

Anyways, my mom is a trooper, this trip is all her idea. I wouldn't mind leaving earlier either. We've left in the middle of the night before with hopes that the kids would just sleep in the car so we could put some miles behind us, but the excitment wouldn't allow for that. Maybe if I let them stay up the whole night and leave at midnight that would work.

Something to think about, thanks!

Getting to Macon would be great!

 

[sorul82?]

Gas prices, Wilson, NC $3.33. South ov the boarder at exit 190$3.09
Exit 181B Hess 3.09.
St. George $2.99

There is one exit for Wilson (hwy 42, exit 116) that is always 20+ cents more than everywhere else. There are only two stations at that exit and nothing else except for a locally owned station, Dean's Oil Co. If you need gas around Wilson, it's best to choose exit 121 or get gas in Selma/Smithfield. Definitely use gas buddy app as prices keep going down around here, sometimes two times a day.

Oh, and that useless I95 exit guide lists all kinds of restaurants for exit 116 in Wilson that simply do not exist.

 

[Goofygirl17]

I posted this on my Tappan Zee Bridge question post too but thought someone here might have some advice. I guess the bridge is unsafe and other people avoid it.

So, since I have no idea how else to go- any advice? We're leaving from the New Haven area of CT and taking the inland route to FL.

Our route is:

95 S
Exit 21 to Tappan Zee bridge/white plains
merge onto 287 west
Exit 15 onto 287
Exit 21B onto 78 west
Merge onto 81 south
Exit 81 merge onto 77 south
keep left at fork- 26 east
Exit 169A onto 95 south

Any suggestions to avoid the bridge? DH said maybe go west to 84 to 287?

Thanks!!

 

[blondietink]

Sometimes I wish I lived in the south where gas is cheap. Here it is still $3.89/gallon.

 

[nono]

I posted this on my Tappan Zee Bridge question post too but thought someone here might have some advice. I guess the bridge is unsafe and other people avoid it.
Any suggestions to avoid the bridge? DH said maybe go west to 84 to 287?

Thanks!!

Generally, you have two choices unless you want to drive farther north first: Tappan Zee or George Washington Bridge. Those were my choices coming from Hartford, so yours aren't better coming from New Haven. I know, it feels like you just lost the lottery. But either is doable depending on the time of day. I'm unfamiliar with the charge of the Tappan Zee being unsafe. Is that more than usual? Because I never got the warm and fuzzies of safety when crossing it in the past. Just wondering if there's a particular reason it's worse now.

ETA: 84 W to 287 is directly to the Tappan Zee. You could head north for a bit (quite a bit from New Haven) and go Rt. 84 W to Rt. 87 (note that's just 87, no preface). Or just go 84 W to 81 S if you want to do the inland route. They more or less connect in PA near Scranton. Not the fastest way, but avoids both NY area bridges....

 

[Allieran3]

Hi all,


So here's my question: We will be traveling from NE Pa to WDW in November. We due to check in on the 29th but are thinking about changing the dates from the 29th to the 28th and leaving on the 6th instead of the 7th to drive home.

We don't want to push ourselves and my husband will more then likely be doing all the driving so where would you all stop to sleep and when do we need to leave to arrive on our check in date by early afternoon no later then 3:00 pm?

Thanks for your help!!

 

[moemt]

I am traveling from MO July 31 and would like any construction /traffic updates that any one has. Plan to get south of Atlanta 1st day and to get through St. Louis before 8 am.

Thanks for any help.

 

[loveysbydesign]

Hi all,


So here's my question: We will be traveling from NE Pa to WDW in November. We due to check in on the 29th but are thinking about changing the dates from the 29th to the 28th and leaving on the 6th instead of the 7th to drive home.

We don't want to push ourselves and my husband will more then likely be doing all the driving so where would you all stop to sleep and when do we need to leave to arrive on our check in date by early afternoon no later then 3:00 pm?

Thanks for your help!!

Hi, Where in NE PA are you, we are 10 minutes west of Allentown and take Rte 78-81-77-26 and pick up 95 in Georgia. We stay in Richburg SC on the way down and Troutville, VA on the way back.
Not sure what time of day you are leaving as that will help determine where you want to stop during your drive.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I am traveling from MO July 31 and would like any construction /traffic updates that any one has. Plan to get south of Atlanta 1st day and to get through St. Louis before 8 am.

Thanks for any help.

We're leaving from MO tomorrow. I'll have an update for ya when we get back on the 25th. But, until then, don't expect to hear anything out of me as I'm on vacation!!!

 

[Allieran3]

Hi, Where in NE PA are you, we are 10 minutes west of Allentown and take Rte 78-81-77-26 and pick up 95 in Georgia. We stay in Richburg SC on the way down and Troutville, VA on the way back.
Not sure what time of day you are leaving as that will help determine where you want to stop during your drive.

We are hoping to leave between 6am-8am... And are looking to drive more then 12 hrs in a day.

Thanks for the help