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

[OKW Lover]

Thought I'd write a bit about my recent road trip FROM Disney. That's right, from WDW. We live very close to the castle and did a road trip to see our grandson graduate from Texas A&M. A total of 2,150 miles round trip over six days.

Our route was 429 to FL Turnpike to I-75 to I-10 to I-12 (bypasses NOLA) back to I-10 to I-610 to TX 290. Whew. Actually we spread that over a couple of days by driving ~8 hours to a hotel just past Mobile AL. The next day we drove about 4 hours to Lafayette LA where my BIL lives. Spent a couple of nights at his house getting to meet his new GF and dog.

We spent the following 2 nights in Houston at a hotel near the I-610 loop and 290. The drive there from Lafayette took about 4 hours including stops. On the actual graduation day (Thursday May 8) we drove from the hotel to College Station which took ~ >2 hours because of traffic near the college. Enjoyed the graduation ceremony. Very well done. Long but that was expected. Drove back to Houston hotel afterwards.

Next morning it was time to hit the road home. Us and the rain! First day we drove to Pensacola (reversing the route mentioned above) for the night. A very long drive. One that I should have cut shorter in hindsight. This took ~11 hours on the road as we encountered a lot of rain along the way and traffic in the Mobile area.

On the last day, our drive from Pensacola back home to Winter Garden was relatively easy. No significant rain. Only some heavy traffic on FL Turnpike due to construction and accidents as we got closer to home.

Now recovering and repacking for another road trip. Home to Dayton OH and back next week.

 

[jaredjohn4]

I haven't counted officially, but I think I am in the gold category. I also add in three trips from Chicago to Orlando on motorcycles. We just moved our daughter to Orlando to work at UCF so we might have to increase the number of trips per year. Looks like this trip will be a little over 4000 miles. Chicago to Auburn AL. Auburn to Orlando, Orlando to Auburn. Auburn to Orlando. Then back to Chicago thru Atlanta and Nashville.

 

[jaredjohn4]

We are at Atlanta South RV resort. The back end looks great. Wide paved roads, Paved sites, concrete patios. Upfront looks like permies and gravel. Planning on leaving here Sunday Morning at 8:00am to go through Atlanta for 3 days at Nashville.. Don't know why but I75 looked down to 10 mph going north in the afternoon. I don't know why. We are going downtown tomorrow ISaturday) to do some tourist stuff.

 

[mickey916]

We drove back to SE Mass this Monday. We made it to our first stop Santee, SC driving up 95 with no real traffic. Our next stop on Tuesday was Stafford, VA, also a fairly uneventful drive up 95. We hoped to beat the DC traffic so we departed Stafford at 4:50 am on Wednesday....we weren't early enough! We experienced the craziest driving through DC. Cars came flying up the on ramps and just jammed themselves in at high speeds forcing those already on the road to slam their brakes as hard as possible. I don't know how we didn't see accidents. Very stressful at 5 am! The rest of the drive was equally unpleasant with many slowdowns the entire route back to Mass. Next year we've decided we'll avoid the DC area and 95 N as much possible. Considering going through Charlotte to PA and then home to SE Mass from there...any suggested routes?

 

[Mikey15]

Next year we've decided we'll avoid the DC area and 95 N as much possible. Considering going through Charlotte to PA and then home to SE Mass from there...any suggested routes?

Definitely a 95-26-77-81-84 scenario. Once 84 gets you into Connecticut I’m not sure what the best way will be for you from there.

 

[OKW Lover]

Definitely a 95-26-77-81-84 scenario. Once 84 gets you into Connecticut I’m not sure what the best way will be for you from there.

Agree with this route. When I lived in Plymouth, we took this route several times. Once in CT, we took 91 to Mass Pike to 495 to get home.

 

[mickey916]

Definitely a 95-26-77-81-84 scenario. Once 84 gets you into Connecticut I’m not sure what the best way will be for you from there.

Agree with this route. When I lived in Plymouth, we took this route several times. Once in CT, we took 91 to Mass Pike to 495 to get home.

That sounds perfect! Thank you both!

 

[ncc1701]

We drove back to SE Mass this Monday. We made it to our first stop Santee, SC driving up 95 with no real traffic. Our next stop on Tuesday was Stafford, VA, also a fairly uneventful drive up 95. We hoped to beat the DC traffic so we departed Stafford at 4:50 am on Wednesday....we weren't early enough! We experienced the craziest driving through DC. Cars came flying up the on ramps and just jammed themselves in at high speeds forcing those already on the road to slam their brakes as hard as possible. I don't know how we didn't see accidents. Very stressful at 5 am! The rest of the drive was equally unpleasant with many slowdowns the entire route back to Mass. Next year we've decided we'll avoid the DC area and 95 N as much possible. Considering going through Charlotte to PA and then home to SE Mass from there...any suggested routes?

Another option may be cutting over to Delmarva penisula . My family has done it coming Willamsburg to South Jersey. You can pick up Rt 301 north of Richmond. It sort of merges with Rt 50 for a bit .You can then get to Wilmington and decide if going up I95 thru Pennsylvania or the Jersey Turnpike works. At least you are staying on the East side.

 

[mickey916]

Another option may be cutting over to Delmarva penisula . My family has done it coming Willamsburg to South Jersey. You can pick up Rt 301 north of Richmond. It sort of merges with Rt 50 for a bit .You can then get to Wilmington and decide if going up I95 thru Pennsylvania or the Jersey Turnpike works. At least you are staying on the East side.

Oh thank you! I will take a look at that too. I think Waze took us that route down once.

 

[GrumpyInPhilly]

Another option may be cutting over to Delmarva penisula . My family has done it coming Willamsburg to South Jersey. You can pick up Rt 301 north of Richmond. It sort of merges with Rt 50 for a bit .You can then get to Wilmington and decide if going up I95 thru Pennsylvania or the Jersey Turnpike works. At least you are staying on the East side.

We have taken this route to/from Philly. It run about 1 - 1.5 hours longer than the I-95 route but much less stress.

 

[ncc1701]

We have taken this route to/from Philly. It run about 1 - 1.5 hours longer than the I-95 route but much less stress.

So true.

 

[dvczerfs]

Well the time has come, we leave tomorrow morning for WDW!! Today starts my nine day vacation!! We are staying six nights in a cabin at Copper Creek. We stayed in a bungalow at the Poly last year so we wanted to try a cabin. We’ll be hitting the road early, 6am to make our way up I4, ten miles to World Drive. These 18 miles trips are tiring. lol. Yes, I vacation at work. lol. We have meals planned and park days but, don’t see ourselves in the parks to much, waaaaaaaay to hot and humid to be stomping around a park all day. I see a lot of hanging out and hotel hopping in our future. I had to work on our 40 wedding anniversary back in March so we figured this would be anniversary trip. 40 plus years ago is when I first introduced my wife to WDW on our honeymoon and created the monster. A lot has changed, not only on property but the long haired, 150 pound dude with the high White Sox with the two blue bands on the top, walking around the parks all day is now a little heavier, a lot balder and knows better than staying in the park all day still enjoys vacationing at WDW along with his beautiful wife who hasn’t changed in 40 plus years.
We have no clue where the time has gone, but we had a blast every step of the way. See ya on the road!!

 

[BLTtinkerbell]

@dvczerfs
Happy 40th Anniversary!
Have a wonderful time!

 

[ddluvsdisney]

@dvczerfs Happy 40th anniversary!
We celebrated our 30th in Disney last month.

 

[dvczerfs]

@dvczerfs Happy 40th anniversary!
We celebrated our 30th in Disney last month.

Congratulations!
People at work ask me, what’s your secret, 40 years? I stay out of her way. lol.
I’ll post some pictures, kind of looking forward to it. I have to admit the “Magic” for the most part is gone. It’s not bad, it’s just different. The different locations I’ve worked at and all the people I’ve worked with and came in contact with one way or another over the years, down to the grill cook in the break room, I tend to run into someone every other step of the way. Not to many people stay in the same location and stay doing the same job for real long and people you worked with get spread out. Most you haven’t seen in a long time so you have to try to catch up. For my family it’s like when you were a kid going grocery shopping with your mom. Five steps and stop to talk for ten minutes. lol.
Which it’s like a work family reunion, which is pretty cool. When I’m working, I really can’t stop long to visit, there is always something going on and most times I have a minute or so max before the phone starts ringing or I’m needed.
That’s what I’m there for and that’s what they pay me to do and I love it. It’s the best job I’ve ever had and I had a pretty good career and retired at 55 so that’s saying a lot. I see people standing, looking at a map and pointing and it takes everything I have not to stop and ask if I can help them find something. lol.

 

[pwdebbie]

Well the time has come, we leave tomorrow morning for WDW!! Today starts my nine day vacation!! We are staying six nights in a cabin at Copper Creek. We stayed in a bungalow at the Poly last year so we wanted to try a cabin. We’ll be hitting the road early, 6am to make our way up I4, ten miles to World Drive. These 18 miles trips are tiring. lol. Yes, I vacation at work. lol. We have meals planned and park days but, don’t see ourselves in the parks to much, waaaaaaaay to hot and humid to be stomping around a park all day. I see a lot of hanging out and hotel hopping in our future. I had to work on our 40 wedding anniversary back in March so we figured this would be anniversary trip. 40 plus years ago is when I first introduced my wife to WDW on our honeymoon and created the monster. A lot has changed, not only on property but the long haired, 150 pound dude with the high White Sox with the two blue bands on the top, walking around the parks all day is now a little heavier, a lot balder and knows better than staying in the park all day still enjoys vacationing at WDW along with his beautiful wife who hasn’t changed in 40 plus years.
We have no clue where the time has gone, but we had a blast every step of the way. See ya on the road!!

Need a picture of the younger couple, complete with the high white socks. Happy 40th!

 

[PoppyJ]

Working on plans for our road trip to Disney World with our dog. Does anyone have any reviews or suggestions on these hotels or areas?

1st stop - South of Indianapolis
- Holiday Inn Express & Suites Scottsburg ($35 pet fee)
- Other suggestions?

2nd stop - South of Atlanta
- Hampton Inn Atlanta McDonough ($75 pet fee)
- Tru by Hilton McDonough ($75 pet fee)
- Is McDonough a safe area to stop?

1st stop home - North of Atlanta
- Candlewood Suites Atlanta - Kennesaw ($75 pet fee)
- Hampton Inn Emerson LakePoint ($50 pet fee)
- Hampton Inn & Suites Atlanta-Galleria ($50 pet fee)
- Renaissance Atlanta Waverly Hotel ($50 pet fee + 35 parking)
- What is a good area to stop slightly north of Atlanta?

2nd stop home - North of Indianapolis
- Candlewood Suites Indianapolis Northwest ($75 pet fee)
- Holiday Inn Express Indianapolis Northwest ($25 pet fee)

 

[PoohBuddy]

Hi. Driving down from the Philly burbs area. Usually just do the entire 95 route and leave around 5:30 PM. So by the tome we reach the DC area traffic isn't horrible. This time we are leaving on a Sunday morning around 7:30 am. I was wondering what the best way to go would be to avoid the DC area traffic? Should I go 95 to 495 or 95 to 295? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Mikey15]

Hi. Driving down from the Philly burbs area. Usually just do the entire 95 route and leave around 5:30 PM. So by the tome we reach the DC area traffic isn't horrible. This time we are leaving on a Sunday morning around 7:30 am. I was wondering what the best way to go would be to avoid the DC area traffic? Should I go 95 to 495 or 95 to 295? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

Not necessarily faster but another way to dodge DC is US-301. Basically 95 to 895 to 97 at Baltimore, then 97 carries on as US-301. Eventually crosses the Potomac & meets back up with I-95 before Richmond.

 

[justreading]

Hi. Driving down from the Philly burbs area. Usually just do the entire 95 route and leave around 5:30 PM. So by the tome we reach the DC area traffic isn't horrible. This time we are leaving on a Sunday morning around 7:30 am. I was wondering what the best way to go would be to avoid the DC area traffic? Should I go 95 to 495 or 95 to 295? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

There is no "best " way thru or around DC when planning your drive ahead of time. I would recommend listening to WAZE or Google maps for directions as you get close. I prefer Waze myself. And I've learned not to second guess her. When she says get off the next exit, she is rerouting you around a delay. Following Waze has saved me many aggravating hours stuck in rt 95 traffic.