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

[disneysteve]

Well today/tonight on I-95/I-295 (Delaware through to the Delaware Memorial Bridge) was a traffic nightmare brought to you by: DELDOT. Seriously -- they had 1 lane of the bridge closed on one of the busier travel days of the year? We thought it was pure volume, but no, NO backup at the NJ Turnpike toll booths at all...so it was entirely not picking up for a busy weekend (and it looked as though it could have been). 19 mile backup that ran for hours and hours...just not necessary...

Actually, 95 was a mess yesterday all the way from Richmond, VA to the Delaware Memorial Bridge. It wasn't just Delaware. It took me 7-1/2 hours to get home from Richmond. Three different times I got off 95 and cut over to route 1 hoping to bypass whatever was causing the delay. I rejoined 95 after 10 or so miles and it was just as bad each time. I even hit standstill traffic in the "express" lanes near Baltimore as well as on 895 approaching the Harbor Tunnel.

I never saw anything to explain the delays. No accidents. No construction. And it was a beautiful day. Plus, traffic was just as backed up southbound as it was northbound. I think it was simply all insane volume.

 

[nono]

Actually, 95 was a mess yesterday all the way from Richmond, VA to the Delaware Memorial Bridge. It wasn't just Delaware. It took me 7-1/2 hours to get home from Richmond. Three different times I got off 95 and cut over to route 1 hoping to bypass whatever was causing the delay. I rejoined 95 after 10 or so miles and it was just as bad each time. I even hit standstill traffic in the "express" lanes near Baltimore as well as on 895 approaching the Harbor Tunnel.

I never saw anything to explain the delays. No accidents. No construction. And it was a beautiful day. Plus, traffic was just as backed up southbound as it was northbound. I think it was simply all insane volume.

Right, but with a 4th lane open on the Del Mem Br....it certainly could have abated 19 miles sooner. 25% decrease in capacity on a max volume day... "It sucked everywhere else" is not a viable defense when one has the ability to do better. You're letting them off the hook disneysteve....you are letting them off the hook.

 

[sharadoc]

Bring a car charger if you're going to run Waze and drive long. It's a much more "active" app (necessarily) than the average.

We love that app. It also uses more data than a GPS but it's fun too.

 

[disneysteve]

Right, but with a 4th lane open on the Del Mem Br....it certainly could have abated 19 miles sooner. 25% decrease in capacity on a max volume day... "It sucked everywhere else" is not a viable defense when one has the ability to do better. You're letting them off the hook disneysteve....you are letting them off the hook.

Maybe so. By the time I reached that point of the drive, I just cut over and took 95 to the Commodore Barry to get home rather than spend any more time waiting to get to the Delaware Memorial. It probably would have taken another half hour at least to get the the Del Mem.

 

[Cando86]

We made the drive down from Michigan in January and this thread was really helpful in making me feel more comfortable with the ride, answering questions and making suggestions on where to stop for the night.

So helpful, in fact, that it looks like we're doing it again in September!

We'll be driving from MI again. Took us about 18 hours total with stops last time. We stopped in Macon, GA on the way down and a city right outside of Lexington, KY on the way back. This worked pretty well except I'm not sure we'd stay in Macon again. Our hotel and the general area was kind of sketchy feeling.

We're thinking about leaving on a Thursday after week and either driving for about six hours, stopping for the night around 12:30am and starting again at about 6am OR driving through the night Thursday...but we're kind of leaning against driving through the night.

Anyone have any suggestions on cities to stop in on the way down from MI about six hours into the trip? We just take 75 the whole way. THANKS! Looking forward to planning with you all!

 

[Judique]

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.

There is always traffic here but you should still be able to move so long as nobody else crashes and backs us up.

 

[LadyBeBop]

Anyone have any suggestions on cities to stop in on the way down from MI about six hours into the trip? We just take 75 the whole way. THANKS! Looking forward to planning with you all!

What part of Michigan do you live in? I live in Erlanger, KY. That's about 4 1/2 hours south of Detroit. There are a few motels here in Erlanger, but you will have better luck finding a good place in Florence, the next few exits south.

About 20 miles south of Florence is Dry Ridge. Not nearly as many motels as Florence. But there are a few. I think a Holiday Inn express is there.

About another 35 miles further down is Georgetown. More motels there than in Dry Ridge. Another 10-15 down the road is Lexington. That should get you close to six hours from Detroit.

 

[BC1836]

Gettin' ready for the next drive.
Alas, departing in the rain.
All the best!

 

[chepic]

Leaving Saturday....2:00 am from RI. Kids are packed, I am packed....just leaves the husband!!!!!

 

[chepic]

And thanks for the tip on the Waze app. Downloading it right now.

 

[Cando86]

What part of Michigan do you live in? I live in Erlanger, KY. That's about 4 1/2 hours south of Detroit. There are a few motels here in Erlanger, but you will have better luck finding a good place in Florence, the next few exits south.

About 20 miles south of Florence is Dry Ridge. Not nearly as many motels as Florence. But there are a few. I think a Holiday Inn express is there.

About another 35 miles further down is Georgetown. More motels there than in Dry Ridge. Another 10-15 down the road is Lexington. That should get you close to six hours from Detroit.

Thank you SO much! We're from metro-Detroit so Lexington sounds like it'd be perfect.

 

[pwdebbie]

Hubby downloaded WAZE tonight. Now to figure it out.

 

[BC1836]

Hubby downloaded WAZE tonight. Now to figure it out.

Join the club!

All the best!

 

[jm106]

Hi everyone. I love the wealth of knowledge and experience everyone shares.
I was wondering if you have any packing tips for the long car drive? I was recommended to get packing cubes.
We are doing a 2 week trip
-1 nt SC on the way
-1 nt Kennedy Space Center
-3 nt Orlando
-3 nt West Palm
-1 flexible on the East coast
-2 nights Savannah
-3 Charleston
I am trying to think of the best way that we wont have to unload it all each time. Packing cubes seem like a good idea so we can just grab out allocated cube for each stay. But then I have to know what we are ALL wearing ahead which is tricky.
If I went this route, what to do with the cubes? A Bin of some sort? We have a roof cargo "bubble" that we used last time as well for extra space(I have a Jeep Compass so not "big" but nice sized.)
Thanks for any ideas.

 

[BC1836]

Hi everyone. I love the wealth of knowledge and experience everyone shares.
I was wondering if you have any packing tips for the long car drive? I was recommended to get packing cubes.
We are doing a 2 week trip
-1 nt SC on the way
-1 nt Kennedy Space Center
-3 nt Orlando
-3 nt West Palm
-1 flexible on the East coast
-2 nights Savannah
-3 Charleston
I am trying to think of the best way that we wont have to unload it all each time. Packing cubes seem like a good idea so we can just grab out allocated cube for each stay. But then I have to know what we are ALL wearing ahead which is tricky.
If I went this route, what to do with the cubes? A Bin of some sort? We have a roof cargo "bubble" that we used last time as well for extra space(I have a Jeep Compass so not "big" but nice sized.)
Thanks for any ideas.

We use conventional suitcases of various sizes + a small cooler and assorted bags of food 'n' snacks. Use whatever works best for you.

Oh, yeah...we departed (WDW drive #35) this morning from the Jersey Shore at 6:20 a.m. and arrived in Yulee, FL at 9 p.m. for our overnight stay before departing for Lake Beuna Vista tomorrow. Details to follow. Need sleep.

All the best.

 

[BC1836]

Departed the Jersey Shore at 6:20 a.m. [light showers for about an hour and a half]
DE: 8:00 a.m. [I-95 journey begins]
MD: 8:17 a.m. [20 minute stop and go in southern MD]
VA: 10:22 a.m.
NC: 1:23 p.m.
SC: 4:12 p.m.
GA: 7:19 p.m.
FL: 9:00 p.m. [check in at overnight hotel in Yulee at 9:10 p.m.]

Gas at Emporia, VA: $2.29
Gas at exit 77 in SC: $2.19

 

[nono]

Oh, yeah...we departed (WDW drive #35) this morning from the Jersey Shore at 6:20 a.m. and arrived in Yulee, FL at 9 p.m. for our overnight stay before departing for Lake Beuna Vista tomorrow. Details to follow. Need sleep.

All the best.

Seems like a good ride was had BC. Enjoy The World!

 

[chepic]

Left RI at 2:17 am. 3 stops so far. At exit 71 north Carolina. Traffic has been light, no major issues. Should be in Disney by 9:30 barring any major problems. Kids doing well too....no yelling from the back. :0)

 

[iceprincesskcl]

Hello Everyone! I've read almost every page of this thread and many others! I'm still a bit unsure which way we should go down!

We live in Kingston, Ontario and are unsure which would be the best way to get down! We are planning on leaving either LATE Friday May 1st or very Early May 2nd!!! Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[pwdebbie]

Hitting the road tomorrow by noon. I am not liking the weather forecast for Sunday and Monday for the Inland route. But checked 95 and it has the same weather. I guess it will be a long slow drive.