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

[dvczerfs]

Hello all!!! Just got done loading the pick up truck Got everything done I came down to do. I will be hitting the road early tomorrow morning. Make my way up i4 and hit earl of sandwich for breakfast. Then over to the magic kingdom. Most
Likely will hit the road for home around two or so. I'll drive till I get tired and stop for the night. I should be home Monday. It is going to be odd going to the mk and not seeing my favorite cast member. Lol. Post when I get home. Have a nice weekend!!!

 

[chepic]

Hello all!!! Just got done loading the pick up truck Got everything done I came down to do. I will be hitting the road early tomorrow morning. Make my way up i4 and hit earl of sandwich for breakfast. Then over to the magic kingdom. Most Likely will hit the road for home around two or so. I'll drive till I get tired and stop for the night. I should be home Monday. It is going to be odd going to the mk and not seeing my favorite cast member. Lol. Post when I get home. Have a nice weekend!!!

Safe driving!

 

[BC1836]

Just wondering. We will be driving from the Niagara region in Ontario Canada. I know the route to Florida has a couple of tolls. Where can I go to calculate what the toll fares will be ahead of time. We cross at the peace bridge (fort Erie/buffalo)

What is the better route (fastest?). We will be driving over night straight through.

And lastly where can I go to see if there is construction on the way. We will be going at the end of September.

Thanks for the help "Pros"

Some of your fellow Canadians can provide a much better response, but in the meantime....

You can criss-cross New York state and link up with I-95 for a "direct" way or you can head south and link up via I-99 and I-81, before getting on I-95. Check out I-95 wiki for general information. Tolls (south of NYC): NJ Turnpike, DE Memorial Bridge, DE toll and MD tolls. After the toll for the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel, you're safe on I-95 and I-4 until WDW!

All the best.

 

[soontobewed07]

Making the trip from MA is July with our DS7 DD2 and ds 8 weeks I am a bit nervous traveling with an 8 weeks old but he's too young for the plane and this trip has been planned for 2 years.

Has anyone traveled with an 8 weeks old that far

 

[JVL1018]

We're driving down in mid August from Bergen County, NJ.

We just came back from a trip to Hilton Head-and as in the last 3 or so years, crazy traffic in NoVa-even at off times..so we're thinking of avoiding that whole mess of 95 and just taking 78-81-77.

Originally we were planning on leaving Thursday evening, driving about 5 hours and staying in Fredericksburg, VA, then driving the rest of the way to Orlando on Friday.

If we leave Thursday evening(we're about 15 minutes from the George Washington Bridge for reference) and take that route, where would that put us at about the 5 hour mark?
Are there areas with a bunch of hotels you can stop at with no need for reservations, like 95 has?
Rest areas on the way?

Thanks!

 

[BC1836]

We're driving down in mid August from Bergen County, NJ.

We just came back from a trip to Hilton Head-and as in the last 3 or so years, crazy traffic in NoVa-even at off times..so we're thinking of avoiding that whole mess of 95 and just taking 78-81-77.

Originally we were planning on leaving Thursday evening, driving about 5 hours and staying in Fredericksburg, VA, then driving the rest of the way to Orlando on Friday.

If we leave Thursday evening(we're about 15 minutes from the George Washington Bridge for reference) and take that route, where would that put us at about the 5 hour mark?
Are there areas with a bunch of hotels you can stop at with no need for reservations, like 95 has?
Rest areas on the way?

Thanks!

A Bergen County departure in the evening (and assuming you are taking the Turnpike to the DE Memorial Bridge) should get you to southern Maryland.

Certain places along I-95 like Fredericksburg, VA and Rocky Mount, NC have numerous hotels/motels. However, nearly every exit along I-95 features at least one or more hotels/motels.

Rest areas punctuate the entire route, and usually each rest area sign states the distance to the next one.

All the best.

 

[Alexis772]

I moved from Wilmington, NC to Chicago with an 11 day old (she was our first child too). We just stopped to feed her and for us to sleep. Take your time . Hopefully he sleeps most of the way. Good luck and have a magical trip!!

 

[JVL1018]

A Bergen County departure in the evening (and assuming you are taking the Turnpike to the DE Memorial Bridge) should get you to southern Maryland. Certain places along I-95 like Fredericksburg, VA and Rocky Mount, NC have numerous hotels/motels. However, nearly every exit along I-95 features at least one or more hotels/motels. Rest areas punctuate the entire route, and usually each rest area sign states the distance to the next one. All the best.

Oh, I know the 95 areas, we drive to Hilton Head every year.

Baltimore is 3 hours, DC is 4 hours, and 5 hours from here is Fredericksburg..but I was thinking of NOT taking the turnpike/95, rather 78-81-77. Having never taken that route, I'm wondering where 5 hours from Bergen County would put me, so I'd know where we were stopping for the night.

 

[LadyBeBop]

Making our second drive from Wisconsin end of July. Last time we stopped for the night in Lookout Mountain area, but can not find the information of where we stayed. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Do you specifically mean Lookout Mountain or the Chattanooga area. There's a ton of motels on I-75 at the last exit before Georgia (can't remember if it's Exit 1 or Exit 2). Never stayed right by Lookout Mountain though.

Making the trip from MA is July with our DS7 DD2 and ds 8 weeks I am a bit nervous traveling with an 8 weeks old but he's too young for the plane and this trip has been planned for 2 years.

Has anyone traveled with an 8 weeks old that far

Not that far, but I have traveled with infants for fairly long distances.

Trust me, you're going to have more problems with the two-year old than the eight-week old.

Your infant will sleep most of the way, only waking up to be fed and cuddled. Infants love the rocking motion of the car. In fact, parents ill take their cranky babies on car rides to calm them down and get them to sleep.

BTW, an eight-week old isn't too young to fly. I almost flew with a four-week old. However, she ended up riding home with her mother and grandfather (I'm Grandma, and I did end up flying).

 

[BC1836]

Oh, I know the 95 areas, we drive to Hilton Head every year.

Baltimore is 3 hours, DC is 4 hours, and 5 hours from here is Fredericksburg..but I was thinking of NOT taking the turnpike/95, rather 78-81-77. Having never taken that route, I'm wondering where 5 hours from Bergen County would put me, so I'd know where we were stopping for the night.

Ah! Lots of PA drivers here who enjoy that 81-77 route. Perhaps they can provide more appropriate info for you.

Interesting that the drives' times you mentioned are almost identical to ours. We are near Barnegat Bay and have to cross the state to Cherry Hill in order to link us up with I-295, which takes us to the DE Memorial Bridge. You make pretty good time from Bergen County!

All the best.

 

[ddluvsdisney]

Well we got home today
The drive home was smooth sailing. We did not drive straight through this time. We did our usual- left FL Sat. at 6 am drove to Fredericksburg VA arrived 6pm. Left VA at 6am today and arrived home in MA at 2pm. The only traffic we encountered was a little slow traffic in NY ( but not that bad ) and the dreaded CT. We HATE driving in CT. sorry to any CT DISers.
So 20 hours altogether. That included quite a few stops. We made really good time this trip. I think the best one so far.
We'll be doing it again the last weekend in June, 2 days after the last day of school. Can't wait!!!!

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[DIS kid at heart]

Leaving tomorrow around 7pm from Burlington County, NJ 295 to 95 to 4. Will update when I can!!!

 

[ddluvsdisney]

I forgot to say that the gas prices must have gone up the day after we left. I filled up on 4/17 at $3.41. It was $3.63 in FL. it's never more than home.
I think the cheapest I saw on the way home was 3.45.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[BC1836]

Leaving tomorrow around 7pm from Burlington County, NJ 295 to 95 to 4. Will update when I can!!!

Hold on, just a minute! We're the next county east of you. Pick us up and we'll pay for tolls and gas!

All the best.

 

[DIS kid at heart]

Hold on, just a minute! We're the next county east of you. Pick us up and we'll pay for tolls and gas! All the best.

Lol deal! As long as we get to do the same on your next trip!!

Thanks!

 

[neodisneyfan]

So I am driving for the first time by myself with just my DD 12 and my DN 19 (who just has her temps and doesn't drive). We always go down with at least 7 of us and my Dad usually does most of the driving but I am the co-pilot and do not sleep during any portion of the ride. I am just not that good at sleeping in the car. I am nervous because I have never driven this far at one time by myself. My daughter's cheer team won a bid to The Summit cheer competition on May 3rd and flying is so expensive plus none of us really enjoy flying at all. Actually we hate it! I was originally leaving after school on Thursday but we have decided that life is short after the passing of my Father in law so we are leaving Thursday morning. I am hoping to get 12 hours of driving in on Thursday so we can get to the parks at a decent time on Friday. Does driving by myself for 12 hours seem reasonable? I am just going to drive until I get tired but am hoping for at least the 12 hours. Also I was not going to make a reservation at a hotel since I don't know where we will end up but does that seem like a risk? Should I pick a stopping point and make a resi or do you think I will be ok finding a room at random when we decide to stop?

 

[WIDisneyFan]

Making our second drive from Wisconsin end of July. Last time we stopped for the night in Lookout Mountain area, but can not find the information of where we stayed. Does anyone have any suggestions?

We drive from the Milwaukee area to Florida (both for the Mouse and to visit family) at least twice a year. We have found Dalton GA to be a great place to stop for the night. It is just a bit south of Chattanooga and has a good selection of both hotels and restaurants. If you have any questions please let me know I am more than happy to share what our experience has been.

 

[Jajone]

We drive from the Milwaukee area to Florida (both for the Mouse and to visit family) at least twice a year. We have found Dalton GA to be a great place to stop for the night. It is just a bit south of Chattanooga and has a good selection of both hotels and restaurants. If you have any questions please let me know I am more than happy to share what our experience has been.

How much farther south? We are trying to stay close to 14 hours driving which brings us to The Chattanooga area. I would be interested in your recommendations though for Georgia.

 

[dvczerfs]

hello everyone!!!!! got home this afternoon. just got done unloading, putting away and throwing in the laundry. (before the women have a fit, the laundry is my job around the house. yes, i fabric soften, don't mix whites and colors, hang and fold ) (dishwasher is my job too )
good trip. a lot of driving for a few days but I had to get a few things done before the summer kicked in.
traffic wasn't bad. I now remember why I leave wdw around 2am and not wait till the afternoon.
Im on my way to change my signature. add a trip and a day.
now to get ready for September trip. cant wait!!!!
have a good evening!!!!

 

[WIDisneyFan]

How much farther south? We are trying to stay close to 14 hours driving which brings us to The Chattanooga area. I would be interested in your recommendations though for Georgia.

Dalton is about 20 miles south of the Tennessee / Georgia line. We have stayed at both the Hampton Inn and the Holiday Inn express that are at exit 333 off of I-75. I believe there is also a Courtyard, a La Quinta and a Days Inn. The other nice part is there is a good selection of restaurants everything from fast food to Chili's and Outback.

As for drive time, from the far north side of Milwaukee we usually make it to Dalton in about 11 hours depending on traffic in the larger cities.