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

[msquoted]

Had an unexpected repair on the van take close to $800 out of our vacation budget. :/ Oh well , at least the van is ready to go now. 16 more days until we load up and head out!

 

[dvcville]

That's awesome and exactly why as a family of 6 we decided to drive!

Sent from my Nexus 7 using DISBoards

We use to fly when it cost us $800 round trip but those days are gone. To be honest with you I'm glad too. The drive isn't that bad we save money and it a great advantage to have a car to use too.

 

[Momma2PrinceNPrinces]

Hi again St. Louis drivers! We're now considering leaving here around noon, and stopping for the night around 8. Probably a stupid question, but where would that put us? Atlanta?? If so, I know there are some not so good areas there, so where should we stay?

 

[dvczerfs]

Well we received our Magic Bands yesterday and did that make the excitement build to an even higher level. The darn mouse knows how to get yah! lol

I blame the mouse too!!!!!
have a nice trip!

Had an unexpected repair on the van take close to $800 out of our vacation budget. :/ Oh well , at least the van is ready to go now. 16 more days until we load up and head out!

I went through a spert of buying major appliances the day before we leave. washer,dryer, fridge, range. I tell everyone don't touch anything the week before we leave.

Hi again St. Louis drivers! We're now considering leaving here around noon, and stopping for the night around 8. Probably a stupid question, but where would that put us? Atlanta?? If so, I know there are some not so good areas there, so where should we stay?

sorry cant help you. I don't come from that direction.

 

[SarahSlink]

Hi All!
DH and I will be driving the family down for our first ever trip to WDW this Sept. Just wondering if there is anywhere (or anyone) that has reviews of rest areas that we would find on our route? I'm sure some are much better than others and we would like to hit those if possible!

We plan to leave Friday after work/school - probably around 4ish and drive all night with our kiddos (4, 2 & 2) and my 15 yo niece. The trip home we will likely leave early and stop somewhere along the way for the night.

Thanks!

 

[pwdebbie]

1disneychic -- You'll be hitting the road tomorrow! Safe travels, especially on 81. Have a great time.

 

[nono]

Hi again St. Louis drivers! We're now considering leaving here around noon, and stopping for the night around 8. Probably a stupid question, but where would that put us? Atlanta?? If so, I know there are some not so good areas there, so where should we stay?

While you are waiting for a real St. Louis answer, putting it in a relatively reliable simulator, you would arrive at Emerson, GA around 8 pm if you are doing the speed limit and only stop for a break for 15 min every 3 hrs. and encounter no major traffic delays.

If your second day is a Sat./Sun., that might not stink, but if it is a weekday, being north of Atlanta might not be great.

 

[bjschil]

Hi All! DH and I will be driving the family down for our first ever trip to WDW this Sept. Just wondering if there is anywhere (or anyone) that has reviews of rest areas that we would find on our route? I'm sure some are much better than others and we would like to hit those if possible! We plan to leave Friday after work/school - probably around 4ish and drive all night with our kiddos (4, 2 & 2) and my 15 yo niece. The trip home we will likely leave early and stop somewhere along the way for the night. Thanks!

SarahSlink, we have traveled from SW Wisconsin many times, and are in fact driving next Wed. Not so sure about Florida weather in July/August! Have always done fall/or January trips. What I can share with You is my observation on how very fast and VERY early Rest Stops fill up by truckers. We have started searching by 8:00 pm, and they are full. This is the first time we are not taking 5th wheel, so maybe I will find more space! We will take two nights on the road, Paducah and Valdosta. There is a very nice rest stop south of Forsythe GA that we like lots. Drive safe have a wonderful time. Enjoy driving through Atlanta, however Sat morning is doable. Barb

 

[LadyBeBop]

While you are waiting for a real St. Louis answer, putting it in a relatively reliable simulator, you would arrive at Emerson, GA around 8 pm if you are doing the speed limit and only stop for a break for 15 min every 3 hrs. and encounter no major traffic delays.

If your second day is a Sat./Sun., that might not stink, but if it is a weekday, being north of Atlanta might not be great.

I agree. You don't want to travel through Atlanta during morning rush hour. I'd drive the extra hour and get south of Atlanta. Many of the chain motels are between exits 237 and 224.

 

[Momma2PrinceNPrinces]

While you are waiting for a real St. Louis answer, putting it in a relatively reliable simulator, you would arrive at Emerson, GA around 8 pm if you are doing the speed limit and only stop for a break for 15 min every 3 hrs. and encounter no major traffic delays. If your second day is a Sat./Sun., that might not stink, but if it is a weekday, being north of Atlanta might not be great.

What simulator are you using? Thanks!

 

[nono]

What simulator are you using? Thanks!

Old (2010) version of Streets and Trips.

 

[ddluvsdisney]

dcvzerfs: I tried to PM you back but my PM box is full. I don't know how to delete some of them on my iPad. I'll figure it out on my computer at home. Just wanted to let you know I did read it.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[JennyPooh]

Hi Everyone l!

DH and I will be driving down ( our first long distance road trip ) WDW this December. We plan to leave Monday 12/01/14 after he gets off work at midnight and drive to at least Lorton VA to get past the AM rush around DC.

Thinking we will call it a night after driving 3 hours, depending how tired he is after work, he can't sleep while I drive.

We have a reservation at POFQ Starting Wednesday 12/03
Any advice you can offer would be appreciated !!

Thanks,
Jennifer

 

[AaronInWI]

Hi All!
DH and I will be driving the family down for our first ever trip to WDW this Sept. Just wondering if there is anywhere (or anyone) that has reviews of rest areas that we would find on our route? I'm sure some are much better than others and we would like to hit those if possible!

We plan to leave Friday after work/school - probably around 4ish and drive all night with our kiddos (4, 2 & 2) and my 15 yo niece. The trip home we will likely leave early and stop somewhere along the way for the night.

Thanks!

Sorry, I can't be much help with pointing out rest areas. We've only made one drive so far (with drive #2 set to commence in 36 days!), and I quite honestly don't remember any of the rest stops, except for the Florida welcome center with their free OJ. Also, we left around 3:30 in the morning, stopped for gas at a well-lit gas station around 6:00 before entering Illinois, and didn't stop again until 8:30 or 9:00 when we had daylight and safety wasn't as much of a concern.

Just curious - what route are you taking? I57 through Illinois? I65 through Indiana/Kentucky? We took I65 down and I57 back, just for a change of scenery. We stopped in Morrow, GA heading down and in Nashville on the way home. This time we'll be driving east first, stopping in Columbia, SC for the night. Then we'll head to Orlando from there. It'll add about 30-60 minutes to our drive, but we'll get to see other parts of the country. Although, we have booked the same Drury Inn in Morrow, GA as our last trip, just in case the east coast is getting battered by a hurricane or other big storm at the time of our drive; I'd like to avoid that if possible. Both hotels have a 6:00 pm same day cancellation policy, so I'll just cancel whichever one we don't use. (This is all way more than you wanted/needed to know, I'm sure! Truth be told, I just like talking about trip planning!)

 

[BC1836]

Hi Everyone l!

DH and I will be driving down ( our first long distance road trip ) WDW this December. We plan to leave Monday 12/01/14 after he gets off work at midnight and drive to at least Lorton VA to get past the AM rush around DC.

Thinking we will call it a night after driving 3 hours, depending how tired he is after work, he can't sleep while I drive.

We have a reservation at POFQ Starting Wednesday 12/03
Any advice you can offer would be appreciated !!

Thanks,
Jennifer

As long as your designated driver is alert, it is best to go a bit further south on I-95 due to the construction and the expected early morning rush hour traffic in northern, VA.

Dumfries would be a bit better than Lorton, and Stafford would be a bit better than Dumfries.

All the best.

 

[dvczerfs]

dcvzerfs: I tried to PM you back but my PM box is full. I don't know how to delete some of them on my iPad. I'll figure it out on my computer at home. Just wanted to let you know I did read it.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

Hi Everyone l!

DH and I will be driving down ( our first long distance road trip ) WDW this December. We plan to leave Monday 12/01/14 after he gets off work at midnight and drive to at least Lorton VA to get past the AM rush around DC.

Thinking we will call it a night after driving 3 hours, depending how tired he is after work, he can't sleep while I drive.

We have a reservation at POFQ Starting Wednesday 12/03
Any advice you can offer would be appreciated !!

Thanks,
Jennifer

hi neighbor to the south! I just have one question. how are you getting your husband to go to wdw during football season? go birds!

 

[dvczerfs]

happy Friday afternoon everyone!! just a few things........

ticker check!!!!!


how about gas price check? I was surprised to see $3.59 today. its funny how excited you get anymore around here when gas is only $3.59.

now I am going to sound like my dad, "hah (grumble, grumble), I remember when I started driving,gas was .80 per gallon"(grumble, grumble).

I could almost get 3/4 of a tank in my Plymouth fury 3 in 1981 for ten bucks. I miss that car, it could pass anything but a gas station. had a problem keeping rear tires on the thing for some reason.....to this day i cant figure it out.

 

[ddluvsdisney]

happy Friday afternoon everyone!! just a few things........ ticker check!!!!! how about gas price check? I was surprised to see $3.59 today. its funny how excited you get anymore around here when gas is only $3.59. now I am going to sound like my dad, "hah (grumble, grumble), I remember when I started driving,gas was .80 per gallon"(grumble, grumble). I could almost get 3/4 of a tank in my Plymouth fury 3 in 1981 for ten bucks. I miss that car, it could pass anything but a gas station. had a problem keeping rear tires on the thing for some reason.....to this day i cant figure it out.

I just filled up today. $3.34 ( at BJs)
Little more than that everywhere else.

 

[ddluvsdisney]

I am in FL so gas is cheaper here than back home usually.

 

[BC1836]

I am in FL so gas is cheaper here than back home usually.