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

[minnie mum]

Yep, the 295. We took the west side on the way south and the east side on the way back.

We stayed on I4 when we arrived since it was early afternoon on a Sunday, but even then it was slow due to a pileup near the junction with the turnpike. But we left there during morning rush hour on a weekday and the radio traffic reports made us very glad we took the 417. We only had to slow/stop for the toll booths. Totally worth the $7+ or whatever it was.

We've only ever used the 77 to go through Charlotte. They do have HOV lanes which we used because we hit it at evening rush hour. Busy but not bad. I believe the 485 goes around from the north edge of town to the 26, but we haven't taken it.

 

[Dis5150]

Don't know if I'm allowed to post on here, as we haven't taken our first drive yet, but we are driving down in September from Arkansas (2044 miles RT! just barely over!). We are very excited! My husband and I are driving down, my two step daughters are driving down from NC and my daughter and her fiancé flying in from Colorado. And hopefully, my son will be flying from CA, if his deployment ends in time. They are talking about coming home in September instead of December and I would be one happy mama to have all my babies in one spot for an awesome Disney vacation! We are Wyndham owners, so we will be staying at Bonnet Creek in a 3bdrm condo. DD25 and I were at WDW in February and are itching to get back.

We plan on leaving home about noon, driving as far as DH can stay awake, then stopping for the night and getting up and getting there on Friday. We could probably drive straight through, but he wants to enjoy his time in the park on Friday night, not be exhausted.

 

[nono]

Welcome Dis5150!! Lots of pros on here...ask away as questions occur to you!

 

[sea nymph]

When traveling 95 from SE PA what are the must do travel route bypasses? We typically leave early evening to avoid the Baltimore/DC, Richmond traffic. I can't keep track of all the 295, 495 routes around the cities.

 

[disneysteve]

When traveling 95 from SE PA what are the must do travel route bypasses? We typically leave early evening to avoid the Baltimore/DC, Richmond traffic. I can't keep track of all the 295, 495 routes around the cities.

You can bypass DC area by doing the Harbor Tunnel in Baltimore, then 97 to 50/301 to 301 back to 95 down around Richmond.
You can bypass Richmond with 295.
You can bypass Jacksonville with 295.

I don't think any of them are a "must do". It all depends on the day and time of your travel.

 

[Liisa1965]

I'm also coming from SE PA (Montgomery County). I remember awhile back someone posted an alternate route that bypasses DC and Richmond completely, picking up 95 somewhere in the Carolinas. Anyone familiar with that route?

 

[disneysteve]

I'm also coming from SE PA (Montgomery County). I remember awhile back someone posted an alternate route that bypasses DC and Richmond completely, picking up 95 somewhere in the Carolinas. Anyone familiar with that route?

Yes, see my post just above yours. I've taken that route many times. I'll be doing it on Friday in fact to head to Richmond for the DIS meet. I won't be bypassing Richmond though. You can pick up 295 from 301 and bypass Richmond if you'd like.

 

[nono]

I'm also coming from SE PA (Montgomery County). I remember awhile back someone posted an alternate route that bypasses DC and Richmond completely, picking up 95 somewhere in the Carolinas. Anyone familiar with that route?

Are you referring to the "Inland Route?" It involved I81 and several variants as one heads south, I believe. I know someone will come along here and clarify!

-Signed, Queen of the NJ/Ferry/Delmarva/LowerVA/I95 Route

 

[Liisa1965]

Thanks, Steve. I was thinking of the route that starts with 81 in PA, picks up 77, and I don't remember what comes after that. We're picking up a rental car for this trip and won't be able to leave before 9 AM, so I'm not sure which route would work better for us leaving at that time.

 

[Liisa1965]

Are you referring to the "Inland Route?" It involved I81 and several variants as one heads south, I believe. I know someone will come along here and clarify!

-Signed, Queen of the NJ/Ferry/Delmarva/LowerVA/I95 Route

Yes, Nono, I think that's the one!

 

[minnie mum]

Thanks, Steve. I was thinking of the route that starts with 81 in PA, picks up 77, and I don't remember what comes after that. We're picking up a rental car for this trip and won't be able to leave before 9 AM, so I'm not sure which route would work better for us leaving at that time.

This sounds like our normal route - 81/77/26/95/4.

If you just wanted to avoid the northerly cities, you could take the 81 and then the 64 towards Richmond, using the 288 to bypass that city and join the 95 to the south.

 

[pmdeve]

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house
We were so ready for our next drive to the Mouse
Our tank was filled with with unleaded gas
At a lower price than it was in the past

The suitcases were packed and aligned in our car
We hoped on our first day that we would drive far
The food and the drinks were stuffed in the cooler
Would we make it to Florence or maybe to Pooler?

Our drive one way would be a thousand plus miles
And, to be sure, it would take us a while
But we've done it before and we sure know the drive
And we don't expect fun til we leave I-95

So as we prepare to get behind the wheel
Alllow us to make this final appeal
Be safe and slow down as your journey unfurls
And you'll make it, we're sure, to Walt Disney World

All the best!

This is great!!!!

 

[ReluctantDisaholic]

Looks like we'll be driving for the first time in August - we've only ever flown to WDW but flight prices are crazy. According to google maps it's a 3447 mile round trip - kind of scares me a bit
I'm starting to look at our routes now...so far I'm thinking I-75 on the way there, and 77 or 95 on the way back.

 

[Liisa1965]

This sounds like our normal route - 81/77/26/95/4.

If you just wanted to avoid the northerly cities, you could take the 81 and then the 64 towards Richmond, using the 288 to bypass that city and join the 95 to the south.

Minnie Mum, about how many hours do you spend driving with your normal route?

 

[minnie mum]

We live a Lot further north than you. We start out west of Kingston, Ontario, crossing the border at Syracuse NY. I think our total driving time was about 23 +hours. But we took our time, stopping for 2 nights, in Maryland and South Carolina, before reaching Orlando in the afternoon of the 3rd day. Your trip would probably be 8 or 9 hours less.

Google maps should be able to lay out the route and provide drive times.

 

[pmdeve]

This will be our 26th drive from Phila. We usually do the 81/77/26/95/4 route because we stop to visit family near Charlotte. This time we are driving straight through using 95. I am glad to see alternatives around major cities. So if I am correct, I will use 95, then loop around DC (we should be going through DC about 5:30am), then 495 around Richmond, then 295 around Jacksonville (I really dislike driving the speedway around Jacksonville, thanks for the tip.) back on 95 then use 417 instead of I4. From 417 we will use Exit 3 to Disney World. Do I have this correct????

 

[BC1836]

This is great!!!!

Thank you!

All the best!

 

[BC1836]

This will be our 26th drive from Phila. We usually do the 81/77/26/95/4 route because we stop to visit family near Charlotte. This time we are driving straight through using 95. I am glad to see alternatives around major cities. So if I am correct, I will use 95, then loop around DC (we should be going through DC about 5:30am), then 495 around Richmond, then 295 around Jacksonville (I really dislike driving the speedway around Jacksonville, thanks for the tip.) back on 95 then use 417 instead of I4. From 417 we will use Exit 3 to Disney World. Do I have this correct????

The interesting part of your drive will be your "loop around DC. We have always avoided that route and have remained on I-95, of course, avoiding rush hour. Good luck.

All the best.

 

[pmdeve]

The interesting part of your drive will be your "loop around DC. We have always avoided that route and have remained on I-95, of course, avoiding rush hour. Good luck.

All the best.

Thanks! We will be leaving early enough to go straight through DC before rush hour.

 

[pwdebbie]

This will be our 26th drive from Phila. We usually do the 81/77/26/95/4 route because we stop to visit family near Charlotte. This time we are driving straight through using 95. I am glad to see alternatives around major cities. So if I am correct, I will use 95, then loop around DC (we should be going through DC about 5:30am), then 495 around Richmond, then 295 around Jacksonville (I really dislike driving the speedway around Jacksonville, thanks for the tip.) back on 95 then use 417 instead of I4. From 417 we will use Exit 3 to Disney World. Do I have this correct????

I wonder if 5:30 am might actually put you in DC rush hour traffic. Lots of gov't flex timers start at 6:00.