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

[ddluvsdisney]

Who ever stopped to see me, I was on break earlier. I’m on break again till 2:25 lol.

It was me! Haha
I’ll try to make it over there again before you leave.

 

[dvczerfs]

It was me! Haha
I’ll try to make it over there again before you leave.

Now you know where to find me your next trip down. lol. I’m off till Wednesday.

 

[MIChessGuy]

I have seen news reports stating that a fire has closed the I-471 bridge connecting Cincinnati and Kentucky. Repairs are going to take a while, apparently. Drivers coming down I-75 might want to check ahead in case the I-75 bridge is absorbing a lot of additional traffic that normally would use the now-closed bridge. I'll be coming down myself in a few weeks and will be sure to peruse a traffic map before I get into metro Cincy.

 

[deedeew80]

Hi everyone! We are gearing up for our drive from NJ in 23 days!! We will be coming from Camden County, NJ to be more specific. We are very close to 95 and we usually take 95 all the way down to FL. Our last drive was in 2020, so it’s been a while. Just wondering if there is anything new to expect or if there is a different route recommended? Also, what are some things to bring in the car for older kids, 14 and 12? I went through our road trip bag and got rid of most things because they are too old for it now, sadly. Thanks for any tips and suggestions!

 

[GrumpyInPhilly]

We live outside Philly and used to take 95 down and back. Now we take 301 thru DE, MD & VA catching 95 below Richmond. A little longer, maybe, but much less stress.

 

[pwdebbie]

Nothing firm yet, but I may be planning my first solo trip for early December. My husband died in September after many years of me being his caregiver. Our last trip was in 2015. I'm thinking a little bit of Disney Christmas might be just what I need about now. I'm toying with driving down and taking AutoTrain home. My sister will soon be retiring and her husband suggested we go together via AutoTrain, so that might be another trip. And then my two daughters, who often said that once their dad passed that they wanted to do a Disney trip with me, want to go in April (oldest dd will already be in Orlando, speaking at conference). I've already done one roadtrip to KY where the daughters live and loved being on the road. I'm wondering if an annual pass might be something to consider.

 

[ddluvsdisney]

Aww that sounds great! Sorry for your loss.
I think the AP is a good idea if you’re making more than 2 trips in a year.

 

[AnnaS]

Nothing firm yet, but I may be planning my first solo trip for early December. My husband died in September after many years of me being his caregiver. Our last trip was in 2015. I'm thinking a little bit of Disney Christmas might be just what I need about now. I'm toying with driving down and taking AutoTrain home. My sister will soon be retiring and her husband suggested we go together via AutoTrain, so that might be another trip. And then my two daughters, who often said that once their dad passed that they wanted to do a Disney trip with me, want to go in April (oldest dd will already be in Orlando, speaking at conference). I've already done one roadtrip to KY where the daughters live and loved being on the road. I'm wondering if an annual pass might be something to consider.

I am sorry for your loss. My DH recently passed also .

I recently went back to Disney also with my DD. It was sad but also a good, temporary distraction needed. I just renewed my AP. I am hoping to still get two trips each year. Unless things change, I will keep renewing. Definitely worth it for two trips.

 

[pwdebbie]

Solo trip is confirmed! I'm leaving PA on 11/29 and plan to only drive maybe six hours a day, I want to be looking for a hotel around 4:00 pm on the 29th and 30th. Checking in on 12/1 at Grand Destino Tower club level for six nights. It will be a split stay but I haven't decided where to move to yet (thnking concierge might help with that?) and then coming home via AutoTrain on 12/12. Yep, this 69yo first-time solo tripper is cheating and taking AutoTrain home.

 

[GrumpyInPhilly]

Solo trip is confirmed! I'm leaving PA on 11/29 and plan to only drive maybe six hours a day, I want to be looking for a hotel around 4:00 pm on the 29th and 30th. Checking in on 12/1 at Grand Destino Tower club level for six nights. It will be a split stay but I haven't decided where to move to yet (thnking concierge might help with that?) and then coming home via AutoTrain on 12/12. Yep, this 69yo first-time solo tripper is cheating and taking AutoTrain home.

That's funny. I've begun to think about a solo trip myself and I'll be 69 this month. I figured I'd take the AutoTrain down to WDW from Philly and drive back in 3 days so the opposite of what you're doing. Have a great trip!

 

[ddluvsdisney]

Solo trip is confirmed! I'm leaving PA on 11/29 and plan to only drive maybe six hours a day, I want to be looking for a hotel around 4:00 pm on the 29th and 30th. Checking in on 12/1 at Grand Destino Tower club level for six nights. It will be a split stay but I haven't decided where to move to yet (thnking concierge might help with that?) and then coming home via AutoTrain on 12/12. Yep, this 69yo first-time solo tripper is cheating and taking AutoTrain home.

Have a great trip! It sounds fabulous!!!

 

[bluezy]

That's funny. I've begun to think about a solo trip myself and I'll be 69 this month. I figured I'd take the AutoTrain down to WDW from Philly and drive back in 3 days so the opposite of what you're doing. Have a great trip!

I'm sure you know this, but just to clarify for others who may not, you can't get on the AutoTrain in Philadelphia. You have to drive to Lorton, VA to board.

 

[tguz]

Just curious, does anyone drive from the Des Moines, IA area to WDW? If so, do you take the St. Louis - Nashville - Atlanta route or do you take the St. Louis, Memphis - Montgomery, AL route? I have driven both.

 

[pwdebbie]

That's funny. I've begun to think about a solo trip myself and I'll be 69 this month. I figured I'd take the AutoTrain down to WDW from Philly and drive back in 3 days so the opposite of what you're doing. Have a great trip!

I priced AutoTrain southbound and northbound, northbound was cheaper for me, like 1/3 the price! And I figure after ten days in WDW, I'll be a bit too tired to drive home. And my sister wants to do a trip together after she retires and only wants to do AutoTrain, so this is kind of a trial run for that as well.

 

[bluezy]

I priced AutoTrain southbound and northbound, northbound was cheaper for me, like 1/3 the price! And I figure after ten days in WDW, I'll be a bit too tired to drive home. And my sister wants to do a trip together after she retires and only wants to do AutoTrain, so this is kind of a trial run for that as well.

I agree that if you're only doing the AutoTrain one direction, the trip home is the one to choose simply due to the exhaustion element. I'd probably even choose that one even if it was the more expensive route.

 

[MikeF;NJ]

I priced AutoTrain southbound and northbound, northbound was cheaper for me, like 1/3 the price! And I figure after ten days in WDW, I'll be a bit too tired to drive home. And my sister wants to do a trip together after she retires and only wants to do AutoTrain, so this is kind of a trial run for that as well.

For what it's worth, which direction is less expensive depends on what time of year you're looking at. If you're looking for a trip in the fall, most of the snowbirds are taking the AutoTrain southbound, so the north bound train is usually cheaper. In the spring, especially after Easter, the reverse is true.

 

[deedeew80]

Does anyone know how I’m able to check the weather along i95 from Philadelphia to Florida? We are heading down in 10 days and I want to keep an eye on the weather for our travel. Thanks!

 

[Stratman50th]

Does anyone know how I’m able to check the weather along i95 from Philadelphia to Florida? We are heading down in 10 days and I want to keep an eye on the weather for our travel. Thanks!

Are you looking for some kind of live weather as you drive, or just radar? I use an app that I can set different locations for forecasts. You can just switch as you go. Radar you can usually expand out. I use Fox 13 Skytower out of Tampa because I live here. Most likely any app will do the same. I also use AccuWeather.

 

[deedeew80]

Are you looking for some kind of live weather as you drive, or just radar? I use an app that I can set different locations for forecasts. You can just switch as you go. Radar you can usually expand out. I use Fox 13 Skytower out of Tampa because I live here. Most likely any app will do the same. I also use AccuWeather.

Yes and no. Lol! I already have weather apps that will change based on my location. But I’m really looking for something I can check ahead of time. So I know if we are going to run into any rain along the way or not. I’m sure I could just go into my weather apps and add each location to check, but ya never know if there’s an app already out there for something like this! So I thought I would ask!

 

[pwdebbie]

How are accommodations in Darien, GA? I'd like to stop south of Savannah and it seems to be slim pickings for hotels.