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

[BC1836]

we are heading home on sunday morning at 3am.
on our way to the every trip pounding my credit card takes at dtd today, we stopped and got gas at the hess station outside of the mk. reg. unleaded was $3.43.
ill talk to you guys when we get home! have a nice weekend!!



TICKER CHECK!!!!!

Why the super early departure from WDW?

Or is this a straight drive home (crossing into GA by around 6 a.m. and SC by 8 a.m.) in order to make it by sunset on Sunday?


All the best.

 

[happily single]

If you leave after dinner, you'll make it by then, barring unusual happenings on the road. I just posted on our return that our 2011 T & C got 29 mpg total, which I was thrilled with, considering we take the Cape May-Lewes ferry over and drive a bit of stop and go until we get to Emporia and get on I-95.

So, really silly question-Would the Cape May-Lewes Ferry cut down on driving from the north to FL?

 

[nono]

So, really silly question-Would the Cape May-Lewes Ferry cut down on driving from the north to FL?

Well, it can cut down on the frustration factor, depending on the time of year/day of the week. The problem is you trade in I-95 through Balt/Wash. for the Garden State Parkway shore traffic if you aren't careful. And coming from New England, I am not sure it would cut your total travel time, but it would sure give you a nice 1 1/4 hour rest while still moving (albeit slower). Let me play around on Streets & Trips to see what I come up with for differentials for starting in RI.

My standard disclaimers about the ferry apply: It's not cheap. It works best for those of us in southern Cape May County. But, I have wondered in the past if there's a point where it makes sense for folks coming from up north. I'll report back what the calculator says and what I think, based upon real schedules.

 

[disneymarie]

we are heading home on sunday morning at 3am.
on our way to the every trip pounding my credit card takes at dtd today, we stopped and got gas at the hess station outside of the mk. reg. unleaded was $3.43.
ill talk to you guys when we get home! have a nice weekend!!



TICKER CHECK!!!!!

Safe travels, that is great news about the gas cost. Hope you miss the rain in VA area. We leave in 3 weeks for our round trip. First one of driving both ways, no Auto train to fall back on.
Enjoy your last day.
di

 

[happily single]

Well, it can cut down on the frustration factor, depending on the time of year/day of the week. The problem is you trade in I-95 through Balt/Wash. for the Garden State Parkway shore traffic if you aren't careful. And coming from New England, I am not sure it would cut your total travel time, but it would sure give you a nice 1 1/4 hour rest while still moving (albeit slower). Let me play around on Streets & Trips to see what I come up with for differentials for starting in RI.

My standard disclaimers about the ferry apply: It's not cheap. It works best for those of us in southern Cape May County. But, I have wondered in the past if there's a point where it makes sense for folks coming from up north. I'll report back what the calculator says and what I think, based upon real schedules.

Thank you very much. We don't have a trip planned yet but I'm always thinking and planning. I agree that 1 1/4 hour rest probably isn't a great short-cut, especially if I have to wait for the ferry. But its a cool idea to break things up

 

[nono]

Thank you very much. We don't have a trip planned yet but I'm always thinking and planning. I agree that 1 1/4 hour rest probably isn't a great short-cut, especially if I have to wait for the ferry. But its a cool idea to break things up

OK, so here's the problem I come up with for you -- the best time for you to do this would be to hit the early morning ferry...but that means leaving at 1:25 AM from North Kingston, and because you wouldn't hit traffic in NY/MD/VA, it would end up taking you about 2+ hours longer. So, no dice.

The better scenario is to do it on the way back home, in the summer when there's lots of ferry service. Being able to drive non-interstate but still moving at 55 mph for a few hours (very few lights) is pretty darn relaxing. The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel is pretty neat too. Then, when you get to the ferry, they have a good grill/casual restaurant there. (Off-season, there's plenty of restaurants in Rehoboth/Lewes to keep it easy.) Cross the Delaware, and up the Garden State Parkway...no I-95/NJ Turnpike for the first 90 min after the ferry. That's probably a better bet. Heading to FL, not a good deal to be had as everyone wants to get there. But, coming home it will still take you longer, maybe by just a little if you factor in traffic. Maybe overnight in VA Beach and continue up to extend your vacation an extra night? Fun to think about...

 

[TinkPirateMom]

If you leave after dinner, you'll make it by then, barring unusual happenings on the road. I just posted on our return that our 2011 T & C got 29 mpg total, which I was thrilled with, considering we take the Cape May-Lewes ferry over and drive a bit of stop and go until we get to Emporia and get on I-95. Remember when packing that you can use the Stow & Go compartment to put bags in, and don't forget smaller bags for the kids to use as footrests so they don't get back fatigue from sitting in their chairs.

ETA: Oops, I also meant to say that one calculator I used says it'll take roughly 17 hours 15 min. to get from Williamstown, NJ (I think that's in Gloucester!) to the MK. That includes 15 min. stops every 2-3 hours. So if you left around 7:30 p.m., you'd arrive at the MK around 12:15 at the earliest. HTH.

Thank you soo much for all of the tips and info. I appreciate all of your help. Oh and I am only a few miles away from Williamstown so that info is perfect. I love the tip about the footrests!

This is great! I am getting very excited.

 

[cruisingkat]

Getting ready for our trip at the end of this month. We will be driving over 2000 miles to Disney as we will be stopping in Houston first for our grandson's graduation and Eagle Scout ceremony. Then onto Disney. Much more economical to combine the trips - saves us one leg's gas and hotel - and the combined trip is a total of 3300 miles instead of 4600 miles doing the trips separately.

 

[happily single]

OK, so here's the problem I come up with for you -- the best time for you to do this would be to hit the early morning ferry...but that means leaving at 1:25 AM from North Kingston, and because you wouldn't hit traffic in NY/MD/VA, it would end up taking you about 2+ hours longer. So, no dice.

The better scenario is to do it on the way back home, in the summer when there's lots of ferry service. Being able to drive non-interstate but still moving at 55 mph for a few hours (very few lights) is pretty darn relaxing. The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel is pretty neat too. Then, when you get to the ferry, they have a good grill/casual restaurant there. (Off-season, there's plenty of restaurants in Rehoboth/Lewes to keep it easy.) Cross the Delaware, and up the Garden State Parkway...no I-95/NJ Turnpike for the first 90 min after the ferry. That's probably a better bet. Heading to FL, not a good deal to be had as everyone wants to get there. But, coming home it will still take you longer, maybe by just a little if you factor in traffic. Maybe overnight in VA Beach and continue up to extend your vacation an extra night? Fun to think about...

Thanks so much for figuring that all out for me! Unfortunately if we drive again it will be in December as I've always wanted to see Disney at Xmas time

 

[pas130]

we are heading home on sunday morning at 3am.
on our way to the every trip pounding my credit card takes at dtd today, we stopped and got gas at the hess station outside of the mk. reg. unleaded was $3.43.

This is great news about the gas...we leave for Florida Wednesday night!!!!!

Safe travels home

 

[sticker231]

Just got home last night and now I am looking forward to our October trip. The good news gas wasn't too expensive. We made good time coming home and going down. We did hit an accident in NC on 95 going down, but did a little creative off roading and took local roads to get a few exits down to avoid the back up from the accident. Coming home was uneventful and smooth cruising. We got going a little later than usual, but after gas and Dunkin Donuts for coffee we were finally on the road around 7:30 am. We got into town, hit WAWA for quick supplies and were in the door around 10:30pm.

 

[sticker231]

So to those that drive from the South Jersey/Philly area, what time do you think we should leave our house (in Gloucester Co. NJ)? We are leaving on a Friday in November, driving straight through but stopping for food, potty, and sanity breaks. We would like to arrive in WDW by mid-afternoon on Saturday.
DD is supposed to have school on theat Frid. and can be picked up at 2:15pm and we can leave right from there, but I'm afraid that we will hit rush hour in major cities. So maybe I should pick her up from school early or we should leave a little later (but not too late)? IDK!
Thanks for any input

We always leave around 7pm going down. We eat dinner, pack up the last minute things then head out. It works best for us because it keeps with the kids natural sleep schedule. Plus all traffic is gone. We drive straight through and only stop for gas. Bathroom breaks are taken while filling up. We pack some snacks and drinks for the kids, but try to limit the beverages, to avoid extra stops.

 

[dvczerfs]

we are home. we departed, sadly, from the poly at 3:15am and pulled up in front of the house at 7:20pm.
we had a great trip!!! briana is already planning her trip next year with us.
the easiest part about leaving this time was knowing i will be back in 114 days!!
traffic was good. just a few slow up spots here in the lehigh valley on the way down. other than that, smooth sailing.
i noticed something this trip i have never noticed before in all the years driving and being on the road for work, the amout of people who drive with there high beams on a major interstate?????
if you are one or know someone who is, can you tell me why??? is there sudden sharp, 90 degree turns in the road???? looking for coins on the highway???? i just cant figure out what there looking for.
dude, the roads in front of you. i bet its some what straight that you can take any bend at 80 plus mph. (im talking i81/i77/i26/i95.)
than, after blowing by them because they are driving like theres black ice on the highway, they leave them on!!! "look at my tail lights, the big red shinny things, they will guide you."
other than that, it was great!!!!

 

[disneymarie]

we are home. we departed, sadly, from the poly at 3:15am and pulled up in front of the house at 7:20pm.
we had a great trip!!! briana is already planning her trip next year with us.
the easiest part about leaving this time was knowing i will be back in 114 days!!
traffic was good. just a few slow up spots here in the lehigh valley on the way down. other than that, smooth sailing.
i noticed something this trip i have never noticed before in all the years driving and being on the road for work, the amout of people who drive with there high beams on a major interstate?????
if you are one or know someone who is, can you tell me why??? is there sudden sharp, 90 degree turns in the road???? looking for coins on the highway???? i just cant figure out what there looking for.
dude, the roads in front of you. i bet its some what straight that you can take any bend at 80 plus mph. (im talking i81/i77/i26/i95.)
than, after blowing by them because they are driving like theres black ice on the highway, they leave them on!!! "look at my tail lights, the big red shinny things, they will guide you."
other than that, it was great!!!!

Glad you are home safe and sound. So share, did Briana drive?

My grandson has markers that draw on glass, you could write a message on your window as a reminder, I brake for High Beams, are yours on?
At least that helps on your side of the hwy. How do you like the infamous Blue beams that always look like they are up.
As I get older, and now with a cateract starting I do not like driving at night.

Start the count down for the next trip.

 

[dvczerfs]

Glad you are home safe and sound. So share, did Briana drive?

My grandson has markers that draw on glass, you could write a message on your window as a reminder, I brake for High Beams, are yours on?
At least that helps on your side of the hwy. How do you like the infamous Blue beams that always look like they are up.
As I get older, and now with a cateract starting I do not like driving at night.

Start the count down for the next trip.

the blue beams dont bug me as much. no, briana didnt drive. i did all the driving going down and tammy drove gorgia and into s.carolina on the way home. i did the rest.
TICKER CHECK!!!!
we are going through everything for the reload. should be done today for the most part.

 

[BC1836]

we are home. we departed, sadly, from the poly at 3:15am and pulled up in front of the house at 7:20pm.
we had a great trip!!!

We're glad you're home, safe and sound (despite the moronic drivers you encountered, especially those who always keep their high beams on!).

Now then, your 52nd 2,000+ mile round-trip drive has been noted. Congratulations! The All-Time Records numbers on page one of this thread have just been updated!

Question: Besides all the drives, did you ever fly to Orlando Int'l and then travel to WDW? Perhaps, you took the car-train? That is, how many trips (no matter what the form of transportation) of over 1,000 miles have you made to Disney Parks?

All the best.

 

[java]

Welcome back! You made great time! So did you hit any pockets of construction on I81?

we are home. we departed, sadly, from the poly at 3:15am and pulled up in front of the house at 7:20pm.
we had a great trip!!! briana is already planning her trip next year with us.
the easiest part about leaving this time was knowing i will be back in 114 days!!
traffic was good. just a few slow up spots here in the lehigh valley on the way down. other than that, smooth sailing.
i noticed something this trip i have never noticed before in all the years driving and being on the road for work, the amout of people who drive with there high beams on a major interstate?????
if you are one or know someone who is, can you tell me why??? is there sudden sharp, 90 degree turns in the road???? looking for coins on the highway???? i just cant figure out what there looking for.
dude, the roads in front of you. i bet its some what straight that you can take any bend at 80 plus mph. (im talking i81/i77/i26/i95.)
than, after blowing by them because they are driving like theres black ice on the highway, they leave them on!!! "look at my tail lights, the big red shinny things, they will guide you."
other than that, it was great!!!!

 

[buckeev]

...... reg. unleaded was $3.43.....

Not too bad....a LOT less than what I had based my math on for a possible (almost) 2000K drive next month!

 

[dvczerfs]

Welcome back! You made great time! So did you hit any pockets of construction on I81?

not really no. the only place was where they are blasting and the next blast date was later this week. nothing slowed us down. the only part i even hit some traffic was charlotte on sunday around 11am. (i still was going 70-75)
i81 near where i64 connects? there was a little traffic there also. other than that, clear!

 

[dvczerfs]

We're glad you're home, safe and sound (despite the moronic drivers you encountered, especially those who always keep their high beams on!).

Now then, your 52nd 2,000+ mile round-trip drive has been noted. Congratulations! The All-Time Records numbers on page one of this thread have just been updated!

Question: Besides all the drives, did you ever fly to Orlando Int'l and then travel to WDW? Perhaps, you took the car-train? That is, how many trips (no matter what the form of transportation) of over 1,000 miles have you made to Disney Parks?

All the best.

me, never flown to florida. chicago, mini, virginia but never orlando.

thanks for updating bc. 113 more days, you will be doing it again. keep your eraser handy!