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

[patclairesmom]

Ok newbie to this thread here! Since airfare has been super crazy we are considering driving for the first time to WDW. We are from South Jersey, just outside Philadelphia.

I would appreciate some advice on the following points:

1. What time do you leave? Middle of the night? Bedtime?

2. Do you drive straight through or do you stop overnight?

3. Is I95 the best route and if so, is there any special info I need to be aware of, like navigating around DC?

4. Any special tips for keeping my family from going crazy?

Thanks in advance for the input!

We're planning on leaving @ 6am. We're in Monmouth county and it takes about an hour to get to the turnpike, getting on at 7a. I think we'll hit DC @10am so we should be good. We plan on stopping for the night in Walterboro, SC. We'll be taking 95 all the way down.

 

[capegirl]

Just a mini road tip report for those driving from New England. Prior to our trip there was much debate over using alternate routes due to traffic/construction, but we decided to go with I 95. We left southeastern MA at 3AM on a Wednesday, and hit NYC at 7am. We were prepared for heavy rush hour traffic, but the traffic was very light, and we had no delays crossing the GWB. We also lucked out in Baltimore and DC; blew right through. There was some construction going on in VA just after DC, but traffic was moving, and there were no real delays in this area. We arrived in Dunn, NC late afternoon, we stayed at the Hampton Inn; very clean hotel, and friendly staff. The Hampton Inn seemed to be the only shinning light in Dunn; other than this hotel, there was not much happening in Dunn. We had a great breakfast, and hit the road around 6:45am. There was some construction in Florida along I 4, but thankfully it was not rush hour, so no delays. We arrived at CSR on Thursday around 3:30pm. Our trip home went very well, and the only delays we encountered on a Saturday were the GWB tolls, and slow traffic on the Cross Bronx Expressway.

 

[NJRRK]

We're planning on leaving @ 6am. We're in Monmouth county and it takes about an hour to get to the turnpike, getting on at 7a. I think we'll hit DC @10am so we should be good. We plan on stopping for the night in Walterboro, SC. We'll be taking 95 all the way down.

Sounds like our usual. One thing I had to ask, where in Monmouth county are you that it takes an hour to get to the turnpike?

 

[Goofygirl17]

We got home to shoreline CT yesterday afternoon around 3:30. Left WDW Sunday and drove to Daytona Beach- stayed for the night and left the next morning around 10:00. Stopped in Harrisonburg VA around 10 that night. Left VA at 8:00 and got home around 3:30. Not a bad ride at all- no traffic on the way home except when I made a mistake getting around NY on the inland route and ended up going through part of the city- bummer- added about 30 min to our ride.

Had a great trip and can't wait to go back! Next time we're adding more beach time into the trip. The waves were great

 

[DisMom1981]

We got home to shoreline CT yesterday afternoon around 3:30. Left WDW Sunday and drove to Daytona Beach- stayed for the night and left the next morning around 10:00. Stopped in Harrisonburg VA around 10 that night. Left VA at 8:00 and got home around 3:30. Not a bad ride at all- no traffic on the way home except when I made a mistake getting around NY on the inland route and ended up going through part of the city- bummer- added about 30 min to our ride.

Had a great trip and can't wait to go back! Next time we're adding more beach time into the trip. The waves were great

Thanks for the report! Can't wait to leave! We decided to go 95 the whole way.

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[ddluvsdisney]

We got home around 4:00 Sunday. Left FL Sat. Morning and stopped in Fredericksburg VA for the night. The drive was fantastic to that point. We had a little traffic over GW bridge in NY but nothing major just slow moving for a little while. It was CT that was the WORST!!! We got home about an hour later b/c of CT traffic and construction. It was the same our last drive in April. I HATE driving through CT. Everyone talks about how bad NY and DC are, we'll CT is worse on the weekend.
Gas prices were all over the place. On the way home- cheapest gas I think was SC. NC was more than VA.( 3.55- 3.39) I thought that was weird.
And boy am I glad I don't live in CT- over 4.00!!!! EEK!
We went 95 all the way both ways.
The places where we hit some traffic on the way down was the construction in the outside of DC area in VA. It was smooth sailing on the way home though at 6:30 am on Sunday



This was our second trip driving down. We had to drive this time to take our dog w/ us. He was great and slept most of the time. He loves going for rides in the truck! . Good think huh?? Lol

We probably won't be driving again until next year. We have 2 more short trips this year. And a week at Christmas. We are flying for all. SW rewards are awesome!!!

I just wanted to say thanks to all the driving experts on this thread. You have all been so helpful!!
See you next year.

I forgot to say we were driving from southeastern MA.

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[bartleby1]

For anyone who has done 95 recently, how was the traffic thru Virginia? We've avoided it for the past few trips by taking 81/77/26 after too many times getting stuck in horrible traffic there but I have heard 77 has some construction right now, so I'm not sure which route to take. We leave next Saturday coming from north jersey. Plan to leave by 4:00am and stopping near walterboro, sc for the night. Anyone have current recommendations?

 

[DisMom1981]

We got home around 4:00 Sunday. Left FL Sat. Morning and stopped in Fredericksburg VA for the night. The drive was fantastic to that point. We had a little traffic over GW bridge in NY but nothing major just slow moving for a little while. It was CT that was the WORST!!! We got home about an hour later b/c of CT traffic and construction. It was the same our last drive in April. I HATE driving through CT. Everyone talks about how bad NY and DC are, we'll CT is worse on the weekend.
Gas prices were all over the place. On the way home- cheapest gas I think was SC. NC was more than VA.( 3.55- 3.39) I thought that was weird.
And boy am I glad I don't live in CT- over 4.00!!!! EEK!
We went 95 all the way both ways.
The places where we hit some traffic on the way down was the construction in the outside of DC area in VA. It was smooth sailing on the way home though at 6:30 am on Sunday

This was our second trip driving down. We had to drive this time to take our dog w/ us. He was great and slept most of the time. He loves going for rides in the truck! . Good think huh?? Lol

We probably won't be driving again until next year. We have 2 more short trips this year. And a week at Christmas. We are flying for all. SW rewards are awesome!!!

I just wanted to say thanks to all the driving experts on this thread. You have all been so helpful!!
See you next year.

I forgot to say we were driving from southeastern MA.

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Thanks for the report! We will be leaving from the dreaded CT on the 13th. Everything is expensive in CT - ugh

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[kbender295]

We are leaving on the 8th from CT also. Making many stops on the way down and will be at Saratoga Springs for one night on the 12th then checking into VWL for the week. Can't wait. Feel like I've been planning this forever! Looking forward to cheap gas! Safe travels everyone.

 

[randbmom]

We just returned this afternoon, 4:45 PM to southeastern MA. Left WDW at 12:30 PM Wednesday, stopped to firefly tour St. Augustine, and stayed in Kingsland, GA. Could have driven much further but we wanted the half day in the world. Uneventful 12 hours on the road Kingsland GA to Aberdeen MD yesterday. We chose to et off 95 at Ruther Glen, VA and take Rt. 301 that becomes I-97 outside Baltimore. Lower speed limits but it was 4:00 PM on a weekday and we knew the Beltway would only get worse.
Today we left Aberdeen MD at 9 AM and the entire ride was a breeze until CT. I hate driving through Connecticut! It added nearly two hours to the trip. We never do GW bridge, always the Tappan Zee bridge to the Merritt Pkwy around NYC, but if you live in southeastern MA, you unfortunately can't avoid I-95 in CT.

Gas prices were actually cheapest in VA at $3.25 per gallon. Highest was CT at $3.85, but I knew enough to fill up in NJ.

Our trip down we stopped in Hopewell, VA and Kingsland, GA.

This was our first driving trip to FL. If we did it again, we would try only one overnight in Fayetteville, NC. I found the website www.i95exitguide.com very useful to know how far to the next rest area. The iPhone map app was invaluable to show traffic slowdowns and alternate routes.

 

[kbender295]

Just curious, where in CT is all the traffic? I-95?

 

[randbmom]

Just curious, where in CT is all the traffic? I-95?

Western CT on I-95 is always awful. I use the Merritt Parkway which runs parallel from Milford (exit 38). New Haven is also always congested in both directions no matter what time of day. East of there on I-95, it's a crapshoot. It's only two lanes in each direction.
Hartford and I-84 is no picnic either. When DS was considering colleges in western CT (and freshmen can't have a car on campus) I was quietly freaking out about four years of frequent trips. Luckily, he ended up elsewhere

 

[randbmom]

Western CT on I-95 is always awful. I use the Merritt Parkway which runs parallel from Milford (exit 38). New Haven is also always congested in both directions no matter what time of day. East of there on I-95, it's a crapshoot. It's only two lanes in each direction.
Hartford and I-84 is no picnic either. When DS was considering colleges in western CT (and freshmen can't have a car on campus) I was quietly freaking out about four years of frequent trips. Luckily, he ended up elsewhere

Should say exit "thirty eight" for Milford. The DIS app is changing the number 8 to an icon in sunglasses...

 

[ddluvsdisney]

We just returned this afternoon, 4:45 PM to southeastern MA. Left WDW at 12:30 PM Wednesday, stopped to firefly tour St. Augustine, and stayed in Kingsland, GA. Could have driven much further but we wanted the half day in the world. Uneventful 12 hours on the road Kingsland GA to Aberdeen MD yesterday. We chose to et off 95 at Ruther Glen, VA and take Rt. 301 that becomes I-97 outside Baltimore. Lower speed limits but it was 4:00 PM on a weekday and we knew the Beltway would only get worse.
Today we left Aberdeen MD at 9 AM and the entire ride was a breeze until CT. I hate driving through Connecticut! It added nearly two hours to the trip. We never do GW bridge, always the Tappan Zee bridge to the Merritt Pkwy around NYC, but if you live in southeastern MA, you unfortunately can't avoid I-95 in CT.

Gas prices were actually cheapest in VA at $3.25 per gallon. Highest was CT at $3.85, but I knew enough to fill up in NJ.

Our trip down we stopped in Hopewell, VA and Kingsland, GA.

This was our first driving trip to FL. If we did it again, we would try only one overnight in Fayetteville, NC. I found the website www.i95exitguide.com very useful to know how far to the next rest area. The iPhone map app was invaluable to show traffic slowdowns and alternate routes.

We live in SE MA and stopped in Fayetteville NC our last 2 trips.

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[PolarWSU]

We have finally set our route for our upcoming December trip. We will be Driving from Washington State to Orlando covering just shy of 7000 miles round trip. I will be driving our minivan with 3 adults, 4 kids (age 2,3,7, and 8) and our luggage.... This will not be our first time doing the trip from WA to WDW, but will be our first time on this route.

We will be leaving Washington and driving to Twin Falls Idaho then to Las Vegas--> Tucson-->San Antonio--> Pensacola Fl--> WDW. Staying a night at each stop (perhaps 2 in San Antonio if there are things to stay and see) and are getting south as early into the trip as possible to get out of snow country.

The leg of the trip from Vegas to Tucson and then from Tucson to San Antonio (as well as San Antonio until we cross into Louisiana) is new territory for us. Anything we should be aware of? Any "must do" stops or anything particularly interesting that is worth getting off the highway a bit for?

We will be at WDW for 2 weeks and then heading back with slightly different stops (and scenery).

Thanks for any info you can provide!

 

[bartleby1]

We have finally set our route for our upcoming December trip. We will be Driving from Washington State to Orlando covering just shy of 7000 miles round trip. I will be driving our minivan with 3 adults, 4 kids (age 2,3,7, and 8) and our luggage.... This will not be our first time doing the trip from WA to WDW, but will be our first time on this route.

We will be leaving Washington and driving to Twin Falls Idaho then to Las Vegas--> Tucson-->San Antonio--> Pensacola Fl--> WDW. Staying a night at each stop (perhaps 2 in San Antonio if there are things to stay and see) and are getting south as early into the trip as possible to get out of snow country.

The leg of the trip from Vegas to Tucson and then from Tucson to San Antonio (as well as San Antonio until we cross into Louisiana) is new territory for us. Anything we should be aware of? Any "must do" stops or anything particularly interesting that is worth getting off the highway a bit for?

We will be at WDW for 2 weeks and then heading back with slightly different stops (and scenery).

Thanks for any info you can provide!

I've never traveled that particular route, but we have done quite a few road trips and I always plan some small things to stop and see along the way. I have found quite a few odd attractions to stop at on www.roadsideamerica.com . Many only take a few minutes but its nice to get out and stretch your legs at somewhere other than a boring rest area or McDonald's.

 

[dvczerfs]

For anyone who has done 95 recently, how was the traffic thru Virginia? We've avoided it for the past few trips by taking 81/77/26 after too many times getting stuck in horrible traffic there but I have heard 77 has some construction right now, so I'm not sure which route to take. We leave next Saturday coming from north jersey. Plan to leave by 4:00am and stopping near walterboro, sc for the night. Anyone have current recommendations?

I didn't have any problems on 81/77/26 in may or the end of june. we are going again in 39 more days. the only place I seen any traffic was i81 north in west Virginia. there is construction but there was a truck wreck.
unless they started a new project on i77,which from home to wdw there are a few but nothing to slow you down. I had smooth sailing.

 

[DisMom1981]

Just curious, where in CT is all the traffic? I-95?

We sat in traffic from Stamford through Norwalk on the way back from my sisters house in NJ yesterday. It sucked.

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[ParrotBill]

Just 11 days until we start our drive from Rochester NY. This will be our 4th time driving it. I used to love to fly but not anymore!

We will go down via I-90, I-79, US 19, I-77, I-26, I-95, and I-4, stopping at a hotel in Columbia SC. The return trip will switch up I-81 to Roanoke for the hotel, then up I-81 to US 15. (why the different way home? Because I found better hotel options that direction, and for a change-up.) We will start at 5 or 6AM to get to the enroute hotel by 9pm, then have a shorter second day.

My overplanned driving document is 35 pages. I copy/paste sections of a google maps plan, with close ups of the complicated parts. I annotate it with rest areas, exits that have food and gas and other milestones. I note many of the Starbucks and Dairy Queens for caffeine and sugar boosts. I also do a AAA Triptik and copy over all the construction zone info.

New tires and brakes on the minivan, just need to change the oil. Oh, and pack! We will go to Universal for 2 days including a night at Portofino to get front of line privileges. Then to Clearwater Beach to spend 2 days at the beach and maybe renting a pontoon boat to cruise the barrier islands. Then to Animal Kingdom Villas Kidani for 3 nights, and Beach Club Villas for 7 nights with dining plan. It's the big trip to celebrate out daughter's upcoming start of High School! In December, her school music program has a trip to Disney and she will sing with her chorus in the Candlelight Procession!

 

[pepe of ohio]

I'm going to jump in here again... ( previously posted a few times)...we were huge advocates of Amtrak ( regular train to Florida) many trips on the train from the northeast Ohio...

But, always a but.... The 8 hour layover on DC has taken its toll on us... Just too long to sit and do nothing, going nowhere for those 8+ hours in station...don't get me wrong, we enjoy the train...again but...

Train trip with layover equals 36+ hour trip vs 17 hour trip driving....about equal in price ( driving a few bucks less ).... not that bad of a drive either ( train easier since we don't have to pay attention)...

Other benefit is was can arrive at WDW when we want, not at the mercy of the railroads schedule ( we like arriving the wee morning hours, not late afternoon....

So, bottom line from us Amtrak advocates of a bunch of years.... We'll be driving until the day we can't anymore and then go back to the train...