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

[nono]

No, we do not use I-95 in NJ on our WDW drives (Route 72 to Route 70 to I-295 to the DE Memorial Bridge). But we sometimes use the Turnpike (I-95) heading north. As such, we had to include it in our aforementioned post.

All the best!

You know I'm not busting on you, just our state! ;-)

 

[BC1836]

You know I'm not busting on you, just our state! ;-)

No apology necessary, nono; you are one of the all-time great on this thread!

All the best!

 

[disneysteve]

we sometimes use the Turnpike (I-95) heading north.

I haven't been on it lately but I've heard that the endless construction project on the NJ Turnpike has finally been completed and it's actually a nice ride now.

 

[cruisingkat]

We are making our first drive from the western chicago suburbs in June. Wondering where a good place to stop is? We plan to leave around 5 am so we can make it as far south as possible.

Oh yeah! I know the ATL-Macon drive well...used to live in Atlanta. I think Macon will be my goal for the first day too....now just to get my husband on board! haha! I think he is hoping Nashville!

We live in the western burbs also and drive down at least 3 times a year. Our daughter lives just outside Nashville and it is only about a 7 and a half hour drive from our house in Woodridge/Bolingbrook area to her house. If we stop there for the night, we usually get to Orlando close to 10 or 11 pm.
When we don't stop by her, we usually stop in Byron,GA (south of Macon) for the night. For our drive down this month (not stopping at our daughter's), we are aiming 13 miles further down I75-Perry, GA. We like to get about 12 hours of driving time the first day, leaving a a short drive for the second day. That way we aren't totally wiped out when we arrive.

 

[cruisingkat]

So happy! We will be leaving on our 30th drive to FL and Disney in 8 years. We have a week at Disney but will be in Florida for a longer period of time visiting family and friends as we want to see Elliot Dyson (used to perform at POFQ Scat Cat club) who will be performing at Jacks Pub n Grub in Orlando. We sure do miss going over to POFQ to see him in the evenings when we're at Disney.

 

[scrappinmom]

When we don't stop by her, we usually stop in Byron,GA (south of Macon) for the night. For our drive down this month (not stopping at our daughter's), we are aiming 13 miles further down I75-Perry, GA. We like to get about 12 hours of driving time the first day, leaving a a short drive for the second day. That way we aren't totally wiped out when we arrive.

We're northern burbs...leaving June 25 - do you make your hotel ressies before you leave? I'm still struggling with trying to drive 12-13 hrs on day 1 versus just driving till 10pm & stopping wherever that might be... We don't need fancy for the night just safe.

 

[amcnj]

We're northern burbs...leaving June 25 - do you make your hotel ressies before you leave? I'm still struggling with trying to drive 12-13 hrs on day 1 versus just driving till 10pm & stopping wherever that might be... We don't need fancy for the night just safe.

In the past when making a trip involving an overnight stay I always booked a room, making sure it could be cancelled up till 6 pm that day. This way I always knew I had something, but if things changed we could cancel it.

 

[Goofyseven]

In the past when making a trip involving an overnight stay I always booked a room, making sure it could be cancelled up till 6 pm that day. This way I always knew I had something, but if things changed we could cancel it.

We live in Gurnee and leave about 5 am, take a back route, 41 to 24 to 75 and stay in Acworth GA the first night. We use Wyndham Hotels. Read the reviews before booking, but you can get a 3+ star for around $60 and it includes a continental breakfast.

 

[OKW Lover]

In the past when making a trip involving an overnight stay I always booked a room, making sure it could be cancelled up till 6 pm that day. This way I always knew I had something, but if things changed we could cancel it.

Be sure to read those cancellation policies as some (Marriott in particular) have changed recently to requiring cancellation on the day before you arrive.

 

[amcnj]

Be sure to read those cancellation policies as some (Marriott in particular) have changed recently to requiring cancellation on the day before you arrive.

Yes, that is true. I read recently that two of the major chains had instituted this. I think it has to be cancelled by midnight of the day before for them now. So that is good advice to read the cancellation policy closely.

 

[scrappinmom]

hmmm, ok - I think I'll see when we get a bit closer & I can narrow down when we're leaving home. Thanks all

 

[Cookiecamilla]

We're northern burbs...leaving June 25 - do you make your hotel ressies before you leave? I'm still struggling with trying to drive 12-13 hrs on day 1 versus just driving till 10pm & stopping wherever that might be... We don't need fancy for the night just safe.

We have been doing quite a lot of driving since we moved to the midwest. We use the Hotels.com app and when we are getting ready to stop for the night we have search the app. We signed up for their rewards program and already have the 10 nights that get you a free night so that is a plus for us. I usually do the app checking and then cross check reviews just to make sure. We have been burned twice with nasty hotels because my husband didn't check reviews and pictures can lie!!

 

[Goldys4]

We're driving from the Indianapolis area in a few days. We are thinking we will go I74 to Cincinnati then I 75. We had done the I65, I24, I75 route in the past (a few years ago) and it was awful getting through Nashville. I know that route is supposed to be shorter though. Has anyone gone either route recently? Which would you recommend? Thanks!

 

[scrappinmom]

Just booked the Best Western in Bryon, GA. It's 13 hrs from home. So that makes our drive on day 2 only about 6. We'll be going the I90 ,I65, I24 ,I75 route - I actually love Nashville so that's always a lunch/food/break stop for us.

 

[cruisingkat]

Be sure to read those cancellation policies as some (Marriott in particular) have changed recently to requiring cancellation on the day before you arrive.

We usually stop at a Holiday Inn Express. I have noticed that the cancellation policies are not the same across the board. Most are by 6 pm local time the day of arrival, but I noticed the Orlando one requires cancellation by 6pm the day before arrival. So it is always good to check the cancellation policy for the hotel location and rate category you are using

 

[cruisingkat]

We're northern burbs...leaving June 25 - do you make your hotel ressies before you leave? I'm still struggling with trying to drive 12-13 hrs on day 1 versus just driving till 10pm & stopping wherever that might be... We don't need fancy for the night just safe.

We do book, but always make sure it can be cancelled that same day. We usually stop in Byron,GA. However when I went to book it a few days ago, they only had a king with bunk beds available. So we ended up booking 13 miles south at the new Holiday Inn Express in Perry.
We have stopped for the night many times with a reservation only to see the desk having to turn away someone without a reservation who arrived the same time as us.

 

[LadyBeBop]

We have stopped for the night many times with a reservation only to see the desk having to turn away someone without a reservation who arrived the same time as us.

What time to you stop for the night. We almost never book ahead of time. However, we always stop in the late afternoon (around 4:30-5). We like to leave very early in the morning, so by that time, we've already had about 12-13 hours on the road.

 

[amcnj]

What time to you stop for the night. We almost never book ahead of time. However, we always stop in the late afternoon (around 4:30-5). We like to leave very early in the morning, so by that time, we've already had about 12-13 hours on the road.

I am sure your early stopping time does increase your odds of getting a room. It would also be affected by whether you were travelling during a really busy time of year.

 

[pilferk]

Unless we see a drastic reduction in air fares, for our Oct 8 - 18th trip....looks like we'll be making another 2k+ round trip commute.

 

[momto4obkids]

We are heading out late tonight for our trip from southwest michigan!

Two mini vans with my DH, a 17 month old, four teenagers and three twenty-something year olds and one of them is 6 months pregnant!

We must be crazy!lol I pray I get to the mouse with my sanity intact.