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

[amcnj]

Thanks for the info Fibercut. I should have asked this before but thought of it just after I submitted my reply! Where exactly are you getting off of and back onto 95? Do you (heading south) get on 895 where it spilts from 95 just before Baltimore, and then take the harbor tunnel, staying on 895 till it hits 295 then take 295 till it ends at 95? And you do the reverse heading north?

Thanks again!

 

[justakrazymom]

Gerally our GPS takes us back road routes when we hit "shortest route" but takes us on expresways when we hit "fastest route".

it's set to fastest..hence why we were throw off when this occurred at 4am ..I'm going to have to find written directions and hope she recalculates...lol

 

[Gumbo4x4]

kbeth, are you coming down I 95? If so, Atlanta would be a bit of a detour, but there's a few things to do in Savannah if you are going near there.

Whoops, sorry 'bout that!

 

[sharadoc]

I have a question. Last year our new gps ( garmin) took us in back woods new Jersey to get to 95 ( from W. Mass).. the 2 years before our old gps did not do this. We hit rain, it was dark and we almost hit a guardrail.. I would like to NOT repeat this. Anyone have a good way to have my GPS not take us this route??

The New Jersey portion of 95 is actually 295 - it avoids going through center City Philadelphia. Look at Google maps, I'm not sure where you have to "exit" to stay on 95. If it's not rush hour, you'll be fine going through Philadelphia, it's not a terrible road.

Maybe BC can chime in with particulars.

 

[tripplanner2]

So I am coming straight to the pros for this question. We are traveling from Long Island to Corolla, NC and then traveling on to Orlando. I thought that most of the trip would be behind us when we left NC but it seems that we will still have a 13 hour drive from NC to Orlando. I don't see my kids making that long of a ride. Where would you stay to break up the trip. I don't have a problem stopping and doing something fun for the early evening and then resting and getting it going again in the morning. Google maps appears to be taking us out of the way because they want us to take 95 all the way down. If we adjust our driving route, maybe we can shorten our trip. Not sure though so I figured I would come here. Looking forward to hearing all of your wonderful suggestions.

 

[dvczerfs]

So I am coming straight to the pros for this question. We are traveling from Long Island to Corolla, NC and then traveling on to Orlando. I thought that most of the trip would be behind us when we left NC but it seems that we will still have a 13 hour drive from NC to Orlando. I don't see my kids making that long of a ride. Where would you stay to break up the trip. I don't have a problem stopping and doing something fun for the early evening and then resting and getting it going again in the morning. Google maps appears to be taking us out of the way because they want us to take 95 all the way down. If we adjust our driving route, maybe we can shorten our trip. Not sure though so I figured I would come here. Looking forward to hearing all of your wonderful suggestions.

im not sure what part of north carolina corrolla is in but 13 hours from nc. to orlando seems a bit long. from the nc and the sc state line on i95, it takes me seven hours to get to wdw.

 

[amcnj]

I think what happens in NJ is that the Turnpike ends and merges with 295 right before the DE MEM bridge. Otherwise they are two distinct roads within the state. What I am not sure about is how 95 ends up running along the PA side of the Delaware and then merges again with 295 after the bridge. Up in north Jersey the Tpk is 95. Then the 95 from PA crosses into NJ, does a big loop and seems to disappear, while the Tpk then magically becomes 95. Was this due to some connector road never having been built? And there are several "95" named roads around that area, 195, 295, 95!

 

[dvczerfs]

I think what happens in NJ is that the Turnpike ends and merges with 295 right before the DE MEM bridge. Otherwise they are two distinct roads within the state. What I am not sure about is how 95 ends up running along the PA side of the Delaware and then merges again with 295 after the bridge. Up in north Jersey the Tpk is 95. Then the 95 from PA crosses into NJ, does a big loop and seems to disappear, while the Tpk then magically becomes 95. Was this due to some connector road never having been built? And there are several "95" named roads around that area, 195, 295, 95!

78/81/77/26/95/4. 16 hours

 

[tripplanner2]

im not sure what part of north carolina corrolla is in but 13 hours from nc. to orlando seems a bit long. from the nc and the sc state line on i95, it takes me seven hours to get to wdw.

Corolla is on the Outer Banks.

 

[patclairesmom]

78/81/77/26/95/4. 16 hours

That's what we are doing Wed morning. Do you stop on the way down? I was hoping to make it to St George SC since there is a FATZ restaurant there(my DD loves their chicken).

 

[dvczerfs]

That's what we are doing Wed morning. Do you stop on the way down? I was hoping to make it to St George SC since there is a FATZ restaurant there(my DD loves their chicken).

when dw and i go in september, we drive straight through. we leave on a tuesday morning at 3am and i pull into okw at 7pm.
when we go in may, we leave on a friday at 2pm and drive to harrisonburg va
its about 5 hours from home. we hit the road sat. morning around 3am and pull in (if no traffic tie-ups) by 2 - 2:30pm on sat.
i live only a few miles from the nj/pa state line ( near phillipsburg nj).
my boss worked in the dc area for years. for years he has been arguing with me how its so much easier to go down 95. well, i talked him into going 78/81/77/26/95/4 and now he tells me its the only way he will go anymore. now, if you live south of i78, philly area or shore area, it may not be worth heading north to pick up 78 or 81. i live 5 miles north of i78 so for me its no big deal.to look at it on the map, it looks like your going way out of your way. mapquest tells me its 100 miles longer going 78/81/77 but, im going 75mph ( ok, maybe faster.) and im not fighting the beltway traffic.

 

[patclairesmom]

We live in northern Monmouth County. We're driving with my father who loves to drive. I tried to talk him into doing just 95 down, but he said no way. He likes the scenic route.

 

[Disneygirl 792]

We live in northern Monmouth County. We're driving with my father who loves to drive. I tried to talk him into doing just 95 down, but he said no way. He likes the scenic route.

Hi, we're from Southern Ocean County. This will be out first time driving. DH says taking 95 down is just about the best way to go. I was thinking of leaving about 12 noon counting in a stop or two for bathroom breaks and food...does that sound ok? What do you think?

 

[kmayer91]

 

[letthewookiewin]

In 61 days we will leave for our WDW trip. Our DSs think we are headed for Cocoa Beach. Depending on finances, we may add extra time to do other things after the Disney portion of our trip. We will drive about 2,372 miles just the drive from our house to WDW. The main thing I am worried about is having enough money for tolls. I have 2 mini-M&M's full of quarters, so right at $28, in the minivan. I hope that is more than enough.

 

[MinnieTink]

78/81/77/26/95/4. 16 hours

Ok. In August, we will be doing our 6th drive to WDW from Northern NJ. We have always done 95 all the way down. Can you tell me a little more about the route above? How do the roads differ from 95? Where to you pick up 95? Maybe we will try it. Thanks!

 

[BC1836]

Alas...tis time for final packing. In about two hours we will be on the road home: drive #26 since 2002. [But we'll never catch dvczerf's all-time record!]

All the best.

 

[nono]

Hi, we're from Southern Ocean County. This will be out first time driving. DH says taking 95 down is just about the best way to go. I was thinking of leaving about 12 noon counting in a stop or two for bathroom breaks and food...does that sound ok? What do you think?

From where you are I95 is about the best bet.

Now as for what time to leave...where are you hoping to get to? If you want to drive for about 8 hours with stops, that would get you to Dunn, NC (where we've statyed at a very clean Hampton Inn). If you are trying to drive straight through, that will get you to WDW about 5-6 a.m. the next morning. All of this assumes no major traffic ties ups, and no excessive dawdling at rest areas.

 

[dvczerfs]

Ok. In August, we will be doing our 6th drive to WDW from Northern NJ. We have always done 95 all the way down. Can you tell me a little more about the route above? How do the roads differ from 95? Where to you pick up 95? Maybe we will try it. Thanks!

pending on where in northern nj you are. closer to i78 or i80?
78/81/77/26 is all major interstates. again, you can hit a wreck anyway you go that will slow you down. 81 will take you out the shenandoah mtns. the speed limit for most of it is 70mph. there are two citys you dont want to hit at a rush hour. charl, nc and columbia sc. i see your going in august, the is NO SHORE TRAFFIC. its more open driving. you pick up i95 in sc. i also have gone 78/81/66/17/95. which is also a good way but 17 is not an interstate and if your not sure where your going, it can be tricky. trust me, i want to get there and back as fast as i can. if i95 was easier, i would take it. the only thing i would say is try it. you wont lose anytime all things considered.

 

[patclairesmom]

Hi, we're from Southern Ocean County. This will be out first time driving. DH says taking 95 down is just about the best way to go. I was thinking of leaving about 12 noon counting in a stop or two for bathroom breaks and food...does that sound ok? What do you think?

What time will you hit DC?