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

[Salrx95]

From CT 9 which part) how long was the drive? We are in W.mass and do 95 usually but i'm still considering the interior route.

We are in the Danbury area of CT and in Feb, 2011, it took me 20 hours to get home, leaving Saturday at 8am. Took 95 the whole way and drove straight through with limited stops for gas/potty only. We snacked all day on the leftover food from the week.

 

[justakrazymom]

We are in the Danbury area of CT and in Feb, 2011, it took me 20 hours to get home, leaving Saturday at 8am. Took 95 the whole way and drove straight through with limited stops for gas/potty only. We snacked all day on the leftover food from the week.

yeah we know the 95 route and time.. i'm curious the time to take the interior route verses 95. We have never run into any major traffic on the 95 route ( except the time we went INTO DC)..and we'vve done the round trip via it for 4 years. I'm willing to try interior just for something different but not if it adds more time!

 

[McBane]

I am not sure if you are thinking a hard or soft carrier, but if you are thinking soft I would highly recommend roofbag.com, in particular the Cross Country model. We have the larger model and have used it for multiple trips to Florida from Wisconsin and it has worked great. It is relatively compact and easy to store, waterproof (short of driving into a lake I don't think you can get water into it), and easy to load / unload.

If you have any specific questions please let me know - I would be happy to answer them.

We also have a roofbag and it was fantastic. I also recommend it.

For those of you with a roofbag, do you recommend getting the protective mat? My wife is concerned it will scratch the roof. Thanks!!

 

[2002Disneybride]

We are driving to WDW this summer again! We are looking at roof carriers also, thanks for the poster who recommended roofbag.com!
My husband delusionally thinks we can make it from Ocean County NJ to FL with 3 kids overnight...not happening! Last time I think we stopped in Walterboro...I am thinking we can make it to Brunswick this time!

 

[WIDisneyFan]

For those of you with a roofbag, do you recommend getting the protective mat? My wife is concerned it will scratch the roof. Thanks!!

We have the mat and use it but I am not sure if it really does all that much. As I remember it does not cost all that much so if she is concerned I would buy it just to satisfy her.

The one thing I would recommend is getting an extra set of straps. We have the large roof bag and the extra straps are nice when it is not full to keep it from flapping in the wind.

 

[ginny_lynn]

We leave in 26 days for our first trip! We are driving from Nova Scotia, any tips are greatly appriciated!

 

[cindy17]

yeah we know the 95 route and time.. i'm curious the time to take the interior route verses 95. We have never run into any major traffic on the 95 route ( except the time we went INTO DC)..and we'vve done the round trip via it for 4 years. I'm willing to try interior just for something different but not if it adds more time!

We're from central Jersey and drove the first time 3 years ago. Took 95 straight down and the interior route on the way home. Much more scenic and relaxing IMHO. No tolls, either! From Orlando to Central Jersey - not a single toll!! However, for this trip coming up in August I actually wanted to figure out the difference in mileage. For us, its about 50 miles longer taking the interior route. It's a crapshoot - the whole thing about DC/Baltimore traffic. We're doing the same thing this trip, though. 95 down, interior home. Just for a change in scenery.

 

[sharadoc]

We're from central Jersey and drove the first time 3 years ago. Took 95 straight down and the interior route on the way home. Much more scenic and relaxing IMHO. No tolls, either! From Orlando to Central Jersey - not a single toll!! However, for this trip coming up in August I actually wanted to figure out the difference in mileage. For us, its about 50 miles longer taking the interior route. It's a crapshoot - the whole thing about DC/Baltimore traffic. We're doing the same thing this trip, though. 95 down, interior home. Just for a change in scenery.

I agree that it's a crapshoot. Even though certain members here swear by the inland route, it also adds at least an hour or more to our travel time. So, sitting in traffic is still shorter. What we can't figure out is the aggravation factor. Sitting in traffic is really annoying, so is it worth the time to drive blissfully through the mountains??

So far, we've stuck with 95. We're timing ourselves to hit DC between 11 and noon on a Monday and hoping for the best.

 

[Goofygirl17]

From CT 9 which part) how long was the drive? We are in W.mass and do 95 usually but i'm still considering the interior route.

We live about 1/2 north of New Haven. The first time we drove we went 95 down. Total of 21 1/2 hours on the road.

Last year we went the inland route. 19 1/2 hours on the road.

This year we went the inland route. About 20 hours on the road.

I really like the inland route better although the kids don't like being in the middle of nowhere for hours at a time but it cuts down on pit stops

 

[pmdeve]

We are headed down from South, NJ. We prefer to use 95 and yes, the traffic can be a problem. The last couple of times we left home at 8:30. Thats gets us into Baltimore and Washington after the morning rush and before the night rush. The only time we had problems with this route is when there was an accident in the tunnel, other than that its been smooth sailing (or should I say driving). We used to take the inland route but hate the trucks on 81.

Have a safe trip!

 

[justakrazymom]

We live about 1/2 north of New Haven. The first time we drove we went 95 down. Total of 21 1/2 hours on the road.

Last year we went the inland route. 19 1/2 hours on the road.

This year we went the inland route. About 20 hours on the road.

I really like the inland route better although the kids don't like being in the middle of nowhere for hours at a time but it cuts down on pit stops

The middle of no where there is an issue. We only stop for gas ( 3 stops usually) BUT I have 1 that gets car sick so i like knowing a store is a mere rest stop/exit away..

 

[BC1836]

Soon...another 2,000+ mile round trip...via someone else's wheels, etc.

All the best.

 

[emksmama]

Trying to prepare for our trip home tomorrow. :-(
1094 miles and hope to be on the road by 11 at the latest. So sad to see it end!

 

[emksmama]

Prayers...our 2000 minivan may have blown a transmission line at Cartersville GA, 500 miles from home. Waiting for a tow truck. Thank God my parents were just 10 miles ahead of us and they took our girls to the hotel and Dad is coming back for us. I have a job interview Monday at 840am and NEED to get home!!!

 

[robin09]

Prayers being said...thankfully noone is hurt, and cellphones are amazing... what did we do without them?

 

[emksmama]

Amen!!! Hubby had to lay into a bystander when we pulled off at the gas station to see why it was smoking...this stranger started yelling that we had to get out and it was on fire!! The girls freaked, convinced their lovies and all our stuff was going up in flames.

 

[pwdebbie]

I'm sorry to hear about your car troubles but it sure was great that your parents were so close. I hope you make it home in time for that job interview.

 

[nono]

Amen!!! Hubby had to lay into a bystander when we pulled off at the gas station to see why it was smoking...this stranger started yelling that we had to get out and it was on fire!! The girls freaked, convinced their lovies and all our stuff was going up in flames.

Oh for goodness sakes. How helpful. NOT!

Hope it all works out quickly for you.

 

[emksmama]

We are about 150 miles from home. Ended up leaving our van in Cartersville, and my fabulous best friend of 30 years loaded her husband and DD and they drove 500 miles to come get us!!! They are the best.
We completely cleaned out the van and are about 90% sure we're not going back for it. It's 12 years old, 144000 miles, and we have a pickup I can drive for now. At this point it would cost us roughly $500 just in gas to go back, pick it up and then drive two cars back home...before paying for any repairs!!!
Still had an amazing time and now enjoying a fun drive home with our friends.

 

[angwill]

We are about 150 miles from home. Ended up leaving our van in Cartersville, and my fabulous best friend of 30 years loaded her husband and DD and they drove 500 miles to come get us!!! They are the best.
We completely cleaned out the van and are about 90% sure we're not going back for it. It's 12 years old, 144000 miles, and we have a pickup I can drive for now. At this point it would cost us roughly $500 just in gas to go back, pick it up and then drive two cars back home...before paying for any repairs!!!
Still had an amazing time and now enjoying a fun drive home with our friends.

Wow it is great that there are still friends like yours in the world. Glad you will be home safe soon.