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

[Disneygirl 792]

What time will you hit DC?

DH estimates about 3pm..if we leave about noon.

 

[Disneygirl 792]

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.

We are going to shoot for leaving at 12 noon and drive straight through.

 

[Goofygirl17]

Just booked our two weeks at Silver Lake for July

Time to start planning our third road trip! Hopefully DH will be coming this time for at least part of the trip. He might have to fly home after the first week depending on how much time off he has left by then.

Time to make a ticker!

 

[Goofygirl17]

Maybe now it'll show up?

 

[pjpoppins]

We are going on our first road trip to WDW in 2 weeks. We usually fly in September but airfare was more than the Disney package for April. It will be myself, DW, DD5, DFiL, and DM in a rented minivan. This should be interesting. We are leaving 4/13 before lunch and are driving straight through with many stops. I've driven to FL twice before, but both in my younger days (~85mph average speed). I'm really torn on taking 95 like I have in the past or trying to shoot across 84 to Scranton and then taking 81 all the way down. I know 95 is the shortest but then I have to worry about NYC and DC. 81 may be less hassle and may save time in the end traffic wise? I've heard 81 is a fairly scenic route, though that main stretch may be at night. Any opinions?

 

[disneymarie]

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.

Good weather, safe drive, no traffic or problems along the way.
Watching for up date that safely home.



Edit to add, I hope that you did not hit that tie up on 95,. as TaraPA says, her parents related a mass exades of seniors whose leases are up the 31st headed back North for Easter...
Imagine how slow that traffic must be moving.
Be safe.

 

[dvczerfs]

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.

have a safe trip home bc!

We are going on our first road trip to WDW in 2 weeks. We usually fly in September but airfare was more than the Disney package for April. It will be myself, DW, DD5, DFiL, and DM in a rented minivan. This should be interesting. We are leaving 4/13 before lunch and are driving straight through with many stops. I've driven to FL twice before, but both in my younger days (~85mph average speed). I'm really torn on taking 95 like I have in the past or trying to shoot across 84 to Scranton and then taking 81 all the way down. I know 95 is the shortest but then I have to worry about NYC and DC. 81 may be less hassle and may save time in the end traffic wise? I've heard 81 is a fairly scenic route, though that main stretch may be at night. Any opinions?

81 at night even better. ill be doing it in 40 days!

 

[nono]

We are going to shoot for leaving at 12 noon and drive straight through.

Well, I hope you guys do an OK job of sleeping in the passenger seat! As long as you do, you can face a full day at WDW when you arrive.

We've done it all in one shot several times, but we arrive closer to Noon by leaving about 6 hours behind you. I find that being able to have a drink at lunch smoothes me out enough to make it through a 1/2 day of the parks after some not so supreme sleep in the car (I do most of the overnight driving).

Our next trip is coming up soon, and we've decided to take the first ferry of the morning*, and stop overnight in Savannah. My kids actually enjoy a full day in the car, so they asked for this schedule...they'd rather not sleep all night in the car, and frankly, I'm ok with that too! I'm not as young as I used to be!

*We're in extreme southern Cape May County.

 

[blondietink]

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!

Don't know about the 78 part, but 81 has a lot less traffic than 95 around Baltimore, Washington, Richmond. There is some traffic on 77 between Statesville, NC and Charlotte until you get into SC. Pick up 26 around Columiba (not much traffic at all) and pick up 95 right before St. George, SC. We take 15 through PA and pick up 81 in Harrisburg rather than going down 79 through Pittsburgh and WVa, which I absolutely HATE. It is also much easier on the car than going through WVa. We are taking this route in 6 more days ..... YIKES I need to start packing.

On the way home, we are taking 95 to just south of Richmond, then taking 64 over to 81, just for some different scenery.

 

[dvczerfs]

Don't know about the 78 part, but 81 has a lot less traffic than 95 around Baltimore, Washington, Richmond. There is some traffic on 77 between Statesville, NC and Charlotte until you get into SC. Pick up 26 around Columiba (not much traffic at all) and pick up 95 right before St. George, SC. We take 15 through PA and pick up 81 in Harrisburg rather than going down 79 through Pittsburgh and WVa, which I absolutely HATE. It is also much easier on the car than going through WVa. We are taking this route in 6 more days ..... YIKES I need to start packing.

On the way home, we are taking 95 to just south of Richmond, then taking 64 over to 81, just for some different scenery.

have you taken 64 before? ive never tried that way. we have always gone to exit 133 and take 17 to i66. let me know how 64 is.

 

[Disneygirl 792]

Well, I hope you guys do an OK job of sleeping in the passenger seat! As long as you do, you can face a full day at WDW when you arrive.

Funny you should say that! We used to live in Hudson County and I have made several trips to Wildwood as a kid with my family and then later with my DH. On several of those trips, I thought DH was taking me to Seaside so I took a nap and when I woke up we were in Wildwood!

 

[Maliki2]

Since we got stuck in the DirectAir debacle...we decided today that we would drive down.

The cheapest flight we could find for 3 of us was approx. $1200. Add the $300 car rental and we can drive down and back for about $400. This is a no brainer. Totally dissapointed since our flight was paid for. This trip is special. My sons 6th b-day. He was born with a disability, and these types of things make me so pissed off. I promised him we would go to Disney World and eat with Mickey on his birthday, I refuse to let this stop me!

We are 10 minutes from the Quebec border. This is going to be one hell of a drive!

 

[nono]

Funny you should say that! We used to live in Hudson County and I have made several trips to Wildwood as a kid with my family and then later with my DH. On several of those trips, I thought DH was taking me to Seaside so I took a nap and when I woke up we were in Wildwood!

I'd be really surprised if you had any problem then! Have a blast!!!

Oh, and one final P.S., if you can leave 1/2 - 1 hour earlier, it may help you avoid the early rush around the DC area. And even though it isn't popular on here, given your time of day of travel, I'd take Rt. 295 around Richmond.

 

[Disneygirl 792]

I'd be really surprised if you had any problem then! Have a blast!!!

Oh, and one final P.S., if you can leave 1/2 - 1 hour earlier, it may help you avoid the early rush around the DC area. And even though it isn't popular on here, given your time of day of travel, I'd take Rt. 295 around Richmond.

Thanks for that tid bit! I am a little worried about DC but will take your advice and hope for the best.

 

[blondietink]

have you taken 64 before? ive never tried that way. we have always gone to exit 133 and take 17 to i66. let me know how 64 is.

We did this last year, because we wanted to go to Monticello and we also did drive some of Skyline Drive up to Front Royal. Seemed nice, not much traffic. Got out TripTik on Saturday from AAA and there is no contruction on 64 except where it crosses Skyline Drive.

 

[dvczerfs]

We did this last year, because we wanted to go to Monticello and we also did drive some of Skyline Drive up to Front Royal. Seemed nice, not much traffic. Got out TripTik on Saturday from AAA and there is no contruction on 64 except where it crosses Skyline Drive.

how about time? did it seem to be feaster?

 

[BC1836]

We safely arrived at home this afternoon at 4:04 P.M. after a 2,248 mile round trip (two brief side trips on the way home: Port Orange, Fl and Chancellorsville, VA).

Sunday

GA border...1:42 p.m.
SC borrder...3:37 p.m.
NC border...6:49 p.m. (Cracker Barrel stop)
VA border...10:20 p.m.


Monday (today)

After a stop at Chancellorsville, we made it to...

MD border...12:23 p.m.
DE border...2:12 p.m.
NJ border...2:36 p.m.
home: 4:04 p.m.

No real traffic problems except for that three-lanes-to-two-lanes merge in nothern GA which, unfortunately, followed a six-car accident.

Hundreds of Canadians returning home!

Thanks for the well wishes.

[Flying to Disneyland next month.]

All the best.

 

[dvczerfs]

We safely arrived at home this afternoon at 4:04 P.M. after a 2,248 mile round trip (two brief side trips on the way home: Port Orange, Fl and Chancellorsville, VA).

Sunday

GA border...1:42 p.m.
SC borrder...3:37 p.m.
NC border...6:49 p.m. (Cracker Barrel stop)
VA border...10:20 p.m.


Monday (today)

After a stop at Chancellorsville, we made it to...

MD border...12:23 p.m.
DE border...2:12 p.m.
NJ border...2:36 p.m.
home: 4:04 p.m.

No real traffic problems except for that three-lanes-to-two-lanes merge in nothern GA which, unfortunately, followed a six-car accident.

Hundreds of Canadians returning home!

Thanks for the well wishes.

[Flying to Disneyland next month.]

All the best.

WELCOME HOME BC!!! HOPE YOU HAD A GOOD TIME.

 

[cruisingkat]

Wish I could start planning our June trip - it will be a triangle trip. We plan on visiting Houston first for our grandson's high school graduation and Eagle Scout presentation, then on to Disney for a few days, then to Ft. Myers to see our granddaughters' dance recital and back up to Disney for a night or two before heading home. Love combining our trips with seeing the grandkids - saves one way when visiting the kids.
The hold-up is waiting for the date of the Eagle ceremony. Once we have that date we can start definite planning.

 

[Disneyholic]

Wish I could start planning our June trip - it will be a triangle trip. We plan on visiting Houston first for our grandson's high school graduation and Eagle Scout presentation, then on to Disney for a few days, then to Ft. Myers to see our granddaughters' dance recital and back up to Disney for a night or two before heading home. Love combining our trips with seeing the grandkids - saves one way when visiting the kids.
The hold-up is waiting for the date of the Eagle ceremony. Once we have that date we can start definite planning.

Congratulations on you Grandson making Eagle. Our DS is an Eagle Scout, too.