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

[sharadoc]

The first time we did do exactly that -- pulled all the way off and got back on at each toll booth. It was dark, raining, and the road was busy. And dh was driving (I'll say no more). The three times I drove it, we did hit the toll booths you are talking about. My guesstimate of $11.00 was just what I pulled out of my head.

I gotcha lol!

The other tip I tell people is to turn off their GPS when getting onto 417. That stupid machine keeps telling you to exit because it wants to send you back to I-4.

 

[sharadoc]

I just signed up for Sunpass plus. 417 is only about ten miles longer. If there is traffic on i4 and your on and off your breaks, 417 sounds like a plan. I have always had good luck on I4 but with construction, I'm going to watch it closer and use 417 if there's any hint of trouble.
With the in-laws in Florida, looks like we will be making more trips a year. Looks like they are putting these express lanes in for Sunpass in Florida which are toll lanes. Airport parking, toll roads and toll lanes I figured I would give it a shot. It's $20 for the removable transponder and can be moved from vehicle to vehicle. I'm sure it won't go to waste. I've blown $20 on a lot worse things in my life.lol

Great move. We are planning to do that for our next trip, I think (which is now in November).

Lauren got the role of "Cassie" in 13 the Musical at Steel River Playhouse and is auditioning for Little Mermaid tonight. We're still dealing with Shawn's medical stuff, so we figured November with Free Dining was a better idea. Shockingly, it will be two years between trips for us, which is hard to believe, seeing as we used to go twice a year. Growing up kids make it tough lol.

 

[Goofygirl17]

35 days until we leave!! I cannot wait! We're going to Noah's ark animal refuge in locust grove Georgia on the way down. I'd like to go to an east coast beach w waves on the way home. We've gone to Daytona before and would like to try another beach. Any suggestions for beaches farther north than Daytona? We take the inland route so it would have to be before we head west and inland.

Thanks!

 

[LadyBeBop]

I'd like to go to an east coast beach w waves on the way home. We've gone to Daytona before and would like to try another beach. Any suggestions for beaches farther north than Daytona? We take the inland route so it would have to be before we head west and inland.

I like Hilton Head, SC. However, I'm not sure it's "wavy" enough for you.

 

[Goofygirl17]

33 days- I think. I can't wait!

 

[BC1836]

Here we are in Colonial Williamsburg...just around the corner from WDW. But.... Alas, no WDW drive scheduled until August.

All the best!

 

[nono]

Here we are in Colonial Williamsburg...just around the corner from WDW. But.... Alas, no WDW drive scheduled until August.

All the best!

Really, the hardest part of the trip is over...

 

[BC1836]

Just returned home from Colonial Williamsburg and had a brutal time on I-95 in northern VA and southern and central MD. No accidents, no construction: just stop and go traffic. Ugh.

The next time we're on I-95 will be August, and we'll be heading to Lake Buena Vista!

All the best!

 

[deedisneydream97]

Anyone have any opinions/input about Walterboro, SC as a stopover on the way back up to the northeast? Would like to stay at the resort until around 2 (weekday), will avoid I-4, don't want to drive more than 6 - 7 hours. Thanks in advance. Swore I would never drive to WDW again, but yes I am.

 

[justreading]

Anyone have any opinions/input about Walterboro, SC as a stopover on the way back up to the northeast? Would like to stay at the resort until around 2 (weekday), will avoid I-4, don't want to drive more than 6 - 7 hours. Thanks in advance. Swore I would never drive to WDW again, but yes I am.

We stayed at a Hampton Inn in Santee SC in Dec, 2014 on my trip back to the northeast and it was just fine. More recently, we stayed in a Hampton Inn NORTH in Florence SC and this was just fine also. Haven't stayed in Walterboro so I can't give an opinion on the hotels.

 

[deedisneydream97]

We stayed at a Hampton Inn in Santee NC in Dec, 2014 on my trip back to the northeast and it was just fine. More recently, we stayed in a Hampton Inn NORTH in Florence SC and this was just fine also. Haven't stayed in Walterboro so I can't give an opinion on the hotels.

Just checked out the Santee area (I think you meant SC and not NC?). Looks good and pretty reasonable. Would be another 10 hours or so home from there, but it's doable. Last time I thought I could make it to Wilson NC....but barely made it to Fayetteville. AAA was great about contacting the hotel I booked and was able to get me something else...and no penalty even though it was way past 6 p.m. Thanks for that info!

 

[dvcville]

It's getting Closer ! 30 days till we hit the road. This will be our 4th round trip from Perkiomen Valley, PA. Our magic bands should be on their way this week . All our dinning reservations are made. Our Fastpass + selections are made and the family is excited. I am sure they will start packing soon and plan our music, movies and games for the drive. My job is to get the van ready and decide if we drive straight through or stop overnight. Last year we stopped in Kingsland GA, which worked out great. We have driven straight through in the past which was great to when your room is ready. If we stop we don’t need to start driving as early, maybe we hit the road by 3am vs hitting it at 10pm for straight drive. Then again the excitement in the house won’t allow me to sleep anyhow. Decisions LOL

 

[justreading]

Just checked out the Santee area (I think you meant SC and not NC?). Looks good and pretty reasonable. Would be another 10 hours or so home from there, but it's doable. Last time I thought I could make it to Wilson NC....but barely made it to Fayetteville. AAA was great about contacting the hotel I booked and was able to get me something else...and no penalty even though it was way past 6 p.m. Thanks for that info!

Oops, yes.I meant Santee, SC. Just fixed my original post.

 

[Goofygirl17]

So I actually booked a hotel for our trip down. I've never done that before because we usually just drive until I'm tired then find a place to stay (I'm the only driver). Last year though we went to Noah's Ark Animal Sanctuary in Locust Grove GA on the way down and it was a very different experience. We ended up stopping just before Charlotte and had lots of trouble finding a hotel because there was some kind of event going on in Charlotte. One of the hotel people told me that I would have to drive at least another hour before I could find something. We ended up finding a room but it wasn't in a hotel I would normally choose (can't remember the name). There are 5 of us this time so even booking ahead, online, I had trouble finding something where I wanted to stop. So our first day will be about 12 hours plus stops for gas/food and then the second day about 4- 4 1/2 hours to Noah's Ark. Then we'll drive until we're tired and stop for the night. It's only about 6 hours from there to Disney so we'll be able to have a nice relaxing night and slow start the next morning.

I can't wait!!

 

[nvrenoughdisney]

I'm looking for a little advice. We are leaving from Providence, RI on Sunday. However, we have to wait until my daughter's soccer tournament is over so we can't hit the road until around 3:00pm. I think this is going to be an awful time to leave. I'm trying to figure out how far we can get/where to stop/etc. Any experience doing the drive down on a Sunday late afternoon/evening? Would the inland route be better than 95? We'll try to get as far as we can but we will plan on stopping overnight. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Goofygirl17]

I'm looking for a little advice. We are leaving from Providence, RI on Sunday. However, we have to wait until my daughter's soccer tournament is over so we can't hit the road until around 3:00pm. I think this is going to be an awful time to leave. I'm trying to figure out how far we can get/where to stop/etc. Any experience doing the drive down on a Sunday late afternoon/evening? Would the inland route be better than 95? We'll try to get as far as we can but we will plan on stopping overnight. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

We drive from shoreline CT and take the inland route. It's so much less stress even if we hit traffic. Much nicer drive.

 

[ddluvsdisney]

I'm looking for a little advice. We are leaving from Providence, RI on Sunday. However, we have to wait until my daughter's soccer tournament is over so we can't hit the road until around 3:00pm. I think this is going to be an awful time to leave. I'm trying to figure out how far we can get/where to stop/etc. Any experience doing the drive down on a Sunday late afternoon/evening? Would the inland route be better than 95? We'll try to get as far as we can but we will plan on stopping overnight. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

I don't think it'll be to bad since it's a Sunday. I've never left at that time though. We usually leave very early Sat. Morning. We drive from SE MA only about 20 min. from Providence.
We did the inland route once. It was a nice drive, but DH said never again bc it takes too long. It is a bit out of the way coming from NE.

 

[nono]

I'm looking for a little advice. We are leaving from Providence, RI on Sunday. However, we have to wait until my daughter's soccer tournament is over so we can't hit the road until around 3:00pm. I think this is going to be an awful time to leave. I'm trying to figure out how far we can get/where to stop/etc. Any experience doing the drive down on a Sunday late afternoon/evening? Would the inland route be better than 95? We'll try to get as far as we can but we will plan on stopping overnight. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

If you decide to take I-95 and you leave around 3 (and assuming no major traffic tie-ups and minimal stopping), you could make it to Emporia, VA by about 12:30 -12:45 a.m. I would check all major cities though for sports events, concerts, etc. that might impact your travel, and perhaps try only for Richmond if there's a game or something. Good luck -- I'm sure it'll work out with a little planning.

 

[Goofygirl17]

Starting to gather some trip supplies (like dive rings, snack/leftover bags, sunblock, and fun stuff!) We bought new duffle bags to use (at Walmart- thanks DVCzerfs) instead of suitcases so we can stuff them all in the back and leave more room for the kids.

 

[BC1836]

1,329,000+ total views on this site since day #1.

All the best!