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

[Taylor'sMom]

Hey neighbor!
We are leaving on the 28th and our route is as follows:
87 to 287 to 78 to 81 to 77 to 26 to 95 (bingo ). We usually to our overnight stay in Dobson, NC which is just half way for us. Hope that makes sense to you.

Thanks for sharing your route. Just wondering... have you taken this route before? Seems to me I'd like to get on 81 sooner (further north) and avoid traffic near NYC/Jersey? Is there a reason you plan to go so close to the city and THEN cut over to pick up 81?
I did a bit of reasearch on here and it seems like a general concensus (to avoid DC and some other city traffic) is the 88-81-77-26-95 route (pick up 95 between Columbia and Charleston, SC). I think that's what I'm planning on right now...

 

[nono]

On our way home this trip we are planning on going from Disney to Myrtle beach, SC for 2 nights then on to Pittsburgh for a quick stop at a friends, then to Mansfield,Ohio to my brothers and back home to Minnesota (20 hour drive from Ohio).

So, Disney World to Myrtle Beach in good traffic is roughly 8 hours (without stops). I'm guessing for that it would be just quick breaks so that you can get there and enjoy yourself. I can't think of any place in particular to avoid -- perhaps others will chime in with something to avoid.

Myrtle Beach to Pittsburgh is 11 hours maybe with quick stops...how were you thinking of getting there? Through WV? Or did you have another idea? Mansfield from Pittsburgh is 2 1/2 - 3 hrs more. I don't know that area well enough to suggest anything. To me, the East Coast ends on the far side of I-95. (I'm about 1 1/2 blocks from the end of the country). I hope this will give your questions a bit of a bump though so you might get some better answers!

 

[dort]

Thanks for sharing your route. Just wondering... have you taken this route before? Seems to me I'd like to get on 81 sooner (further north) and avoid traffic near NYC/Jersey? Is there a reason you plan to go so close to the city and THEN cut over to pick up 81?
I did a bit of reasearch on here and it seems like a general concensus (to avoid DC and some other city traffic) is the 88-81-77-26-95 route (pick up 95 between Columbia and Charleston, SC). I think that's what I'm planning on right now...

Yes, we have taken that route before and have also taken the 88 route you mention. DH prefers the first route because its about 20 miles shorter and a much smoother road. We came home on 88 last year and it was a terrible ride. You could also go to Newburgh and take 84 to 81, we've never done that way.
Have fun!!

 

[sharadoc]

What the heck, we're on the second page!!! That's not acceptable!

 

[lovemygrowingfamily]

So, Disney World to Myrtle Beach in good traffic is roughly 8 hours (without stops). I'm guessing for that it would be just quick breaks so that you can get there and enjoy yourself. I can't think of any place in particular to avoid -- perhaps others will chime in with something to avoid.

Myrtle Beach to Pittsburgh is 11 hours maybe with quick stops...how were you thinking of getting there? Through WV? Or did you have another idea? Mansfield from Pittsburgh is 2 1/2 - 3 hrs more. I don't know that area well enough to suggest anything. To me, the East Coast ends on the far side of I-95. (I'm about 1 1/2 blocks from the end of the country). I hope this will give your questions a bit of a bump though so you might get some better answers!

Thank You for answering nono. We have no idea what route would be best we put it on mapquest and it did take us through west virginia.I have 3 kids who would love to drive through Wash DC. I can get 2 hotel rooms in DC for the price of 1 in Pittsburgh for the night. I don't know if that would be a wise decision for firsttimers driving up the eastern side of the US. I have GPS but i prefer my huge 50 state atlas and on our 1st trip to Florida i just went with what looked like a nice way. Well going through the ozarks just after a nasty ice storm driving 20 mph though beautiful was not too fun. This time since we would like to see mountains i would like to be prepared a little bit.

 

[honeymo78]

Stopping back in as we get closer to our next drive in just under a month. Planning on a straight through, overnight drive again. Just hoping our return trip on the Friday of memorial day weekend won't be too rough.

 

[nono]

Thank You for answering nono. We have no idea what route would be best we put it on mapquest and it did take us through west virginia.I have 3 kids who would love to drive through Wash DC. I can get 2 hotel rooms in DC for the price of 1 in Pittsburgh for the night. I don't know if that would be a wise decision for firsttimers driving up the eastern side of the US. I have GPS but i prefer my huge 50 state atlas and on our 1st trip to Florida i just went with what looked like a nice way. Well going through the ozarks just after a nasty ice storm driving 20 mph though beautiful was not too fun. This time since we would like to see mountains i would like to be prepared a little bit.

OK, here's what I would do, because I love planning trips I have no intention of taking! Go to Myrtle Beach from WDW. GREAT IDEA to add in DC! I'd stay on the VA side of things. That would be an 8 -9 hr trip if everything goes well. Then, when you head to Pittsburgh, it can be your mid-day stop -- as it is about 4 hours to the general area. You can have your visit and still end your day in OH!

 

[lovemygrowingfamily]

OK, here's what I would do, because I love planning trips I have no intention of taking! Go to Myrtle Beach from WDW. GREAT IDEA to add in DC! I'd stay on the VA side of things. That would be an 8 -9 hr trip if everything goes well. Then, when you head to Pittsburgh, it can be your mid-day stop -- as it is about 4 hours to the general area. You can have your visit and still end your day in OH!

Go ahead plan away! I'd rather hear from someone that has done the drive than go in blind.It sounds like that route would work! My husband found a hotel a block or 2 from the smithsonian for a good rate. Too crazy to drive into DC? After 10 nights at Disney we are in no immediate rush to get home.In Pittsburgh we will be going to the zoo. No clue where that is either. Any interstates or terrible roads that we should avoid. My kids travel well and are used to sitting for 6 hours at a time in the car straight.

 

[nono]

Go ahead plan away! I'd rather hear from someone that has done the drive than go in blind.It sounds like that route would work! My husband found a hotel a block or 2 from the smithsonian for a good rate. Too crazy to drive into DC? After 10 nights at Disney we are in no immediate rush to get home.In Pittsburgh we will be going to the zoo. No clue where that is either. Any interstates or terrible roads that we should avoid. My kids travel well and are used to sitting for 6 hours at a time in the car straight.

DC is really not bad, just avoid morning rush if at all possible. The highways around DC are fine, just too much traffic at commuting times. You may find them tight and insane. Generally everything about our driving on the East Coast is tighter and not as predictable as driving elsewhere. We simply have to get creative to shoehorn in exits and such to existing areas!

If you really want an East Coast driving thrill though, you'll have to try the Saw Mill River Parkway as a starting point and end on the West Side Highway (NYC) sometime. Now, that's an adventure!

 

[sharadoc]

DC is really not bad, just avoid morning rush if at all possible. The highways around DC are fine, just too much traffic at commuting times. You may find them tight and insane.

Just don't use 495 West around DC no matter what time of day. You need to DC at 10am and be done by 2pm. Otherwise, it's all rush hour.

 

[Goofygirl17]

We were at the bottom of the page!
71 days until we leave

 

[BC1836]

We were at the bottom of the page!
71 days until we leave

Indeed!

Inactivity will not be permitted...unless you are driving to and from WDW.

All the best.

 

[disneymarie]

Yes, we have taken that route before and have also taken the 88 route you mention. DH prefers the first route because its about 20 miles shorter and a much smoother road. We came home on 88 last year and it was a terrible ride. You could also go to Newburgh and take 84 to 81, we've never done that way.
Have fun!!

I travel I 81 to I 84 Into Newburg (From where the I 81 I 80 North split is) often for Insurance claims and it is really the easiest ride for me. Never traffic, until you get to Scranton, that is just busy as long as no accidents. But, the ride is real nice. I much rather travel that way then a work assignment in Phila area.

The way we go to Niagara Falls, most direct is I 81 to I 90, love all the available rest stops in NY, more then just a machine and flush.

 

[dvczerfs]

guess where i will be in three weeks from today?

 

[Goofygirl17]

guess where i will be in three weeks from today?

 

[BC1836]

guess where i will be in three weeks from today?

Very cool, indeed!

And we'll be flying back from Disneyland a day before you depart.

All the best.

 

[honeymo78]

guess where i will be in three weeks from today?

We'll be just around the monorail track from you about halfway into your trip. Have a great time! It can't get here fast enough.

 

[dvczerfs]

We'll be just around the monorail track from you about halfway into your trip. Have a great time! It can't get here fast enough.

we were at wdw at the same time last october.

 

[honeymo78]

we were at wdw at the same time last october.

Great minds think alike

 

[PA Princess]

We are planning a drive to WDW this summer. We have gone back and forth on flying or driving. I think we have finally decided to drive to WDW and take the auto train home.

We have done the drive in the past when kids were younger and we preferred to do the through the night drive. Now all of our kids are 7 and up and two are drivers, so a day time drive seems more doable. I am wondering if the time line I am thinking is realistic.

We are about an hour outside of Philly, we have no problem driving DC beltway, and we are departing on Sunday, August 12. Our plan is to leave by 5am, drive for 5 hours (should be in VA), stop for brunch, drive 6 hours, stop for dinner, and then drive the final 5 hours to the hotel.

I know this will be tiring, but I am hoping adrenalin and having 4 drivers will get us through the long day. We have no plans the following day, so we can recuperate.

Any tips or cautions?