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

[klmrph]

Hello all, we are leaving next Friday around noon from NW Indiana, about 1150 miles to the World. This is our second drive and last time we drove through the night, but this time since we are leaving during the day, we are going to stop. For those of you who stop, do you book a room ahead of time or just find one on the way? I know we want to make it past Atlanta.

 

[oneprincessjo]

Hello all, we are leaving next Friday around noon from NW Indiana, about 1150 miles to the World. This is our second drive and last time we drove through the night, but this time since we are leaving during the day, we are going to stop. For those of you who stop, do you book a room ahead of time or just find one on the way? I know we want to make it past Atlanta.

I never make a hotel reservation, only once when we left Thanksgiving night and wanted to stop somewhere on Black Friday before finishing our drive to Disney Saturday morning. If you can handle it we usually stop at exit 3 in Georgia, it's the last exit before Florida. It's great because when you continue the drive the following morning you cross the Florida border within a minute or 2.

 

[dvczerfs]

Hello all, we are leaving next Friday around noon from NW Indiana, about 1150 miles to the World. This is our second drive and last time we drove through the night, but this time since we are leaving during the day, we are going to stop. For those of you who stop, do you book a room ahead of time or just find one on the way? I know we want to make it past Atlanta.

If we stop which isn't often I make reservations. We use Hampton inn and I have up to 4pm to cancel or change with no penalty. Couple times over the years I had to try three or four places to get a room. Conventions, weddings, weather etc. I only tried hamptons but there are hotels on every corner it's not to hard to get something.
Our December trip I made a resi. We are leaving at noon, we both are working half days so I know where I want to stop. The following morning we are getting up at one am to hit the road early. With no i95 traffic should get me to wdw by one two o clock.

 

[nono]

OK so my husband and I were talking today, and he was wondering if any of us on this thread have the same "favorites" along the road. It could be anyplace -- just even a place you like to change drivers or catch a snooze...

We always like stopping at Exit 29 in GA (off I 95) -- at the Goasis. We've liked that place since the kids were super-little and they had a very clean family bathroom...now we just like the array of junk food and generally competitive gas prices. And northbound, we like the SC Rest Area at MM 99...we just find it to be a little patch of lovely on I 95.

So what about everyone else? Any favorites big or small that you enjoy along the way?

 

[BC1836]

OK so my husband and I were talking today, and he was wondering if any of us on this thread have the same "favorites" along the road. It could be anyplace -- just even a place you like to change drivers or catch a snooze...

We always like stopping at Exit 29 in GA (off I 95) -- at the Goasis. We've liked that place since the kids were super-little and they had a very clean family bathroom...now we just like the array of junk food and generally competitive gas prices. And northbound, we like the SC Rest Area at MM 99...we just find it to be a little patch of lovely on I 95.

So what about everyone else? Any favorites big or small that you enjoy along the way?

First of all, nono, this weather over the last few days at the Jersey Shore has been, well, you fill in the blank! We are so ready for a WDW drive.

Soon we expect to be passing some of our favorite spots (besides crossing state borders): exiting the Baltimore Harbor tunnel, gazing at JRs, counting the handful of cars at South of the Border, passing over Lake Marion in SC, and entering FL. Of course, exiting I-95 S at 260B onto I-4 is always special.

All the best.

 

[dvczerfs]

OK so my husband and I were talking today, and he was wondering if any of us on this thread have the same "favorites" along the road. It could be anyplace -- just even a place you like to change drivers or catch a snooze...

We always like stopping at Exit 29 in GA (off I 95) -- at the Goasis. We've liked that place since the kids were super-little and they had a very clean family bathroom...now we just like the array of junk food and generally competitive gas prices. And northbound, we like the SC Rest Area at MM 99...we just find it to be a little patch of lovely on I 95.

So what about everyone else? Any favorites big or small that you enjoy along the way?

pending on which way we go, we are always on the look out for the over size paint can, the tractor trailer and limo mounted on the billboard, over sized roller skate and on i4, before you hit Orlando on the left side there is a building, all glass with an arched front that was built years ago and for some reason nobody ever finished it. it looks hollow????
Doppler radar station and exit 68 off of i4. (65 as of tomorrow till we hit the road)

 

[oneprincessjo]

OK so my husband and I were talking today, and he was wondering if any of us on this thread have the same "favorites" along the road. It could be anyplace -- just even a place you like to change drivers or catch a snooze... We always like stopping at Exit 29 in GA (off I 95) -- at the Goasis. We've liked that place since the kids were super-little and they had a very clean family bathroom...now we just like the array of junk food and generally competitive gas prices. And northbound, we like the SC Rest Area at MM 99...we just find it to be a little patch of lovely on I 95. So what about everyone else? Any favorites big or small that you enjoy along the way?

Oooo... On our last trip home we stopped at that Goasis and I still talk about it being the cleanest and safest restroom stop. I love how each bathroom stall is completely enclosed. No one can reach in above or below like a standard stall.

We always laugh at the insane amount of Cafe Risqué billboards there are going down 95 it's just like wow... I don't know... The one time we actually spotted it from a distance and it looked like a scary run down shack, like if you enter you will never be seen again. Creepy.

We ALWAYS make our sleepy time stop at exit 3 in Georgia. Since we leave PA at 7pm we arrive at exit 3 around 8am. We grab breakfast at the Cracker Barrel and spend the day/night at The Hampton next door. I love this stop because when we finish the drive the next morning we cross the Florida border within a couple minutes. Other than this particular stop I don't think we have any must dos. I am going to have to start making notes for the mile markers and rest stop that we like, so I remember for the next time. Haha.

 

[BC1836]

Hello all, we are leaving next Friday around noon from NW Indiana, about 1150 miles to the World.

Hmm.... We may be crossing paths on I-4.

All the best!

 

[C&G'sMama]

So we were going to take a trip in May next year but couldn't wait that long so are going the first week of February! We know driving can be iffy but we have extra time built in on either end if needed. And we've driven through Buffalo in snowstorms and down 15 in PA in storms so now we'll tackle Southwest MI and Indiana for the first time going down! Quick recap: we moved from Rochester NY to SW MI a year and a half ago and this will be our first trip to WDW from MI. Have made the trip many times from New York.

And to the poster that asked about hotels. We rarely book ahead as we usually don't know where we are going to land. We either do a walk up or get on Hotels.com or some other site on the phone or pick up a flyer at a Welcome Center if we think we might be staying somewhere in a particular state that night and call when we get close.

 

[oneprincessjo]

Finally hit the 100 day mark before we start our drive from PA!!!! Woo Hoo!!! I am starting to put together busy bags for my 2 year old dd. So far I have DVD player and DVDs, travel magna doodle, attachable activity/snack tray for the car seat, books... Maybe get those crayola no mess coloring books... Any other "busy" suggestions for a 2 year old would be appreciated!!

 

[FirstTimertoDiz]

I seen it!!! we are leaving Wednesday December 18th and coming home December 29th. I am thinking of going 81/66/17/95/4 instead of 81/77/26/95/4. unless it is going to be above freezing in the mountains.

I do like the inland route better. it is about hour faster for me. we have a resi. near Richmond Wednesday night. we are hitting the road around noon/one on Wednesday. most likely hit Richmond early, sleep and hit the road at 1am. if the weather don't look good, ill cancel the resi and head further south, maybe all the way. we are going to play it by ear.

I was going to bring the Nissan but the benz is a lot better if we hit snow. not that im planning on driving in the snow. I will leave early or late to avoid it but just in case.

Hi there! Another PA traveler- from near Altoona. We are traveling the last week of January, and we were planning the inland route, but your 81/66/17/95/4 has me intrigued. I was actually looking at 81/64/95/4, but haven't tried any of them, so I wasn't sure. I was afraid to go the inland route in case of bad weather- thought it would be safer hitting 95 faster (after bypassing the Baltimore/DC traffic of course!)

We are planning on leaving when the kids get home from school- approx 4 pm on a Friday. Any tips?

 

[klmrph]

So we were going to take a trip in May next year but couldn't wait that long so are going the first week of February! We know driving can be iffy but we have extra time built in on either end if needed. And we've driven through Buffalo in snowstorms and down 15 in PA in storms so now we'll tackle Southwest MI and Indiana for the first time going down! Quick recap: we moved from Rochester NY to SW MI a year and a half ago and this will be our first trip to WDW from MI. Have made the trip many times from New York.

And to the poster that asked about hotels. We rarely book ahead as we usually don't know where we are going to land. We either do a walk up or get on Hotels.com or some other site on the phone or pick up a flyer at a Welcome Center if we think we might be staying somewhere in a particular state that night and call when we get close.

Hopefully we will have another mild winter like last year. I am over at my sister's right now in SW MI, she lives in Stevensville and my mom lives in St. Joe. We went 2 years ago in Feb but flew, I didn't want to chance the weather.

 

[pwdebbie]

pending on which way we go, we are always on the look out for the over size paint can, the tractor trailer and limo mounted on the billboard, over sized roller skate and on i4, before you hit Orlando on the left side there is a building, all glass with an arched front that was built years ago and for some reason nobody ever finished it. it looks hollow????
Doppler radar station and exit 68 off of i4. (65 as of tomorrow till we hit the road)

Passed the paint can twice today --going to and from church.

 

[nono]

First of all, nono, this weather over the last few days at the Jersey Shore has been, well, you fill in the blank! We are so ready for a WDW drive.

No kidding! I drove inland (and across the state line!) just to be certain I'd see some sun! We just got home, and as we were walking the dog, we found one of our outdoor mats from our upstairs porch 1/2 a block away and across the street... Figure you'd understand.

 

[dvczerfs]

Passed the paint can twice today --going to and from church.

 

[dvczerfs]

Hi there! Another PA traveler- from near Altoona. We are traveling the last week of January, and we were planning the inland route, but your 81/66/17/95/4 has me intrigued. I was actually looking at 81/64/95/4, but haven't tried any of them, so I wasn't sure. I was afraid to go the inland route in case of bad weather- thought it would be safer hitting 95 faster (after bypassing the Baltimore/DC traffic of course!)

We are planning on leaving when the kids get home from school- approx 4 pm on a Friday. Any tips?

its a nice ride. i66 is not bad at all. 17 is a four lane road but there are towns and stop lights. pending on what day and time the closer you get to i95 can get a bit congested. when you hit I95, Richmond is just down the road. I wouldn't hit it at rush hour.

im leaving December 18th and I watch the weather a few days before. i will leave early or later in either direction to avoid a storm. i made a resi near Richmond, if the weather gets iffy, i have a room to stop. bring a snow shovel, scrapper and brush in the car with you. make sure you have blankets and food and drinks. (ive been there)

 

[mikek]

Hello all, we are leaving next Friday around noon from NW Indiana, about 1150 miles to the World. This is our second drive and last time we drove through the night, but this time since we are leaving during the day, we are going to stop. For those of you who stop, do you book a room ahead of time or just find one on the way? I know we want to make it past Atlanta.

we used to make reservations but almost always hated it. HAlf the time we wound up so stopped when we felt we could have made a couple more hours. Or worse we bit off more than we could chew and were dying the last hour or two.

With the advent of smartphones, fast wireless internet, and all the hotel websites we just start looking when we get close to being done. (personally we use hotels.com becasue it allows you to get rewards on any brand to use on any brand). Never had a problem getting a room even at midnight or 1am- and we have 5 in our family so we are more hamstrung than most as we need to find a suite to fit us all.

 

[sharadoc]

OK so my husband and I were talking today, and he was wondering if any of us on this thread have the same "favorites" along the road. It could be anyplace -- just even a place you like to change drivers or catch a snooze...

We always like stopping at Exit 29 in GA (off I 95) -- at the Goasis. We've liked that place since the kids were super-little and they had a very clean family bathroom...now we just like the array of junk food and generally competitive gas prices. And northbound, we like the SC Rest Area at MM 99...we just find it to be a little patch of lovely on I 95.

So what about everyone else? Any favorites big or small that you enjoy along the way?

Little Pee-Dee River, the construction equipment place that sets up cool vignettes on their front lawn, South of the Border when it's dark so it looks creepy, the first palm tree. We have little "Yay" moments.

 

[BC1836]

Soon we expect to be passing some of our favorite spots (besides crossing state borders): exiting the Baltimore Harbor tunnel, gazing at JRs, counting the handful of cars at South of the Border, passing over Lake Marion in SC, and entering FL. Of course, exiting I-95 S at 260B onto I-4 is always special.

All the best.

Adding to our I-95/I-4 list: the Domino Sugar plant in Baltimore, the model log cabin homes, the log cabin antique store, passing important historical/film locations, the LPGA overpass, fruit stand billboards, the Jacksonville and Orlando skylines, and the first I-4 Disney road sign.

All the best.

 

[LadyBeBop]

Adding to our I-95/I-4 list: the Domino Sugar plant in Baltimore, the model log cabin homes, the log cabin antique store, passing important historical/film locations, the LPGA overpass, fruit stand billboards, the Jacksonville and Orlando skylines, and the first I-4 Disney road sign.

I'll do a few from I-75/Florida Turnpike....Jellico Mountain, Atlanta skyline, Disney signs as far north as Atlanta, the Macon "Bypass to Florida," the first Spanish moss, the Florida Welcome Station, getting on the Turnpike.

And one that I miss. The first Florida exit off I-75, there used to be a gas station (I think it was Texaco) in red and white stripes. I think it was called 'Candyland," or something like it. The gas station is either gone, or it was painted over.

All the best.

You too. Don't you leave this week?

Keep the parks warm (but not hot) for us. We'll be right behind you.