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

[patclairesmom]

Will be attempting our first road trip this April break with wife, 9,6,2 year old. Leaving from Clifton Park, NY and using suggested route from our iPhone. Wife doesn't like the highways so i'll be doing a solo drive, and considering leaving at 4am and hoping to arrive at midnight, or breaking it up with a 16 hour trip first day and the last 4 hours the second day. Would appreciate thoughts or pointers related to ANYTHING on the road trip. How to plan around potty breaks, gas stops, how to keep the kids sane etc

I would try for Savannah the first night. It shows 14.5 hours on google maps but you have to account for stops.

 

[dvczerfs]

Hello everyone !!! We are home. We were down for two weeks, stayed in a one bedroom at Boardwalk. Had a great time!! We ate waaaaaaaaay to much but we had a blast !!! Those of you on fb got to following along.
Anyway, we left at noon on Friday the 9th. Made the Ga. Welcome center around midnight.We hit some drizzle here in the Lehigh Valley but other then that, we hit nothing in both directions. The only place was on I26 on the way home, we followed a wide load for about ten miles. Sun and very little traffic.
It was one of our best trip we ever had!
We went 78/81/77/26/95/4 both directions. 16 1/2 hours over 1100 miles.
We did hit Jacksonville around 5am on a Saturday in both directions which saved hours. There are a few places they keep it three lanes but they are very narrow. I couldn't imagine hitting this area during the day.
Same way with Orlando, we hit it early mornings and had no traffic at all.
Gas dropped as we were there. I believe the last I seen, regular was $2.06 on property. Gas on the way home, I have a friend we lives in Lake Mary Ga., he told me they had plenty of gas so I topped off the tank around the 20 mile mark or so just to be safe. We didn't see any indication of places having no gas but that was the only places I stopped at in Ga. and they had gas and so did the station across the street.
Very few state troopers. Ga. I seen a few but that was about it.
I had forgotten about this but we pulled into the Ga welcome center and they still have the trailers set up. They are temporary restroom and if you have a weak stomach, don't go in. Lol We also took a nap there for about an hour.We were both tired and we were way ahead of schedule.
Anyway, looking forward to going down in March and September next year. We'll start planning next Septembers trip soon.
Scariest moment came on the way home, we were going thru Charolette Nc and moving about 65-70 mph, there was a pick up truck two lanes over moving about the same speed. A 5 gallon bucket blows out of his bed and falls on the highway in the middle of four lanes!! I quickly flew by him not to get hit by it or someone else. Look to me everyone got around it ok.
The van now has 3600 miles on it. Lol and about 40 pounds of bugs. Lol
That's it, have any questions just yell, I can try to help if your going that way.
Thanks for reading !!

 

[FlatBlackLI]

Hello everyone !!! We are home. We were down for two weeks, stayed in a one bedroom at Boardwalk. Had a great time!! We ate waaaaaaaaay to much but we had a blast !!! Those of you on fb got to following along.
Anyway, we left at noon on Friday the 9th. Made the Ga. Welcome center around midnight.We hit some drizzle here in the Lehigh Valley but other then that, we hit nothing in both directions. The only place was on I26 on the way home, we followed a wide load for about ten miles. Sun and very little traffic.
It was one of our best trip we ever had!
We went 78/81/77/26/95/4 both directions. 16 1/2 hours over 1100 miles.
We did hit Jacksonville around 5am on a Saturday in both directions which saved hours. There are a few places they keep it three lanes but they are very narrow. I couldn't imagine hitting this area during the day.
Same way with Orlando, we hit it early mornings and had no traffic at all.
Gas dropped as we were there. I believe the last I seen, regular was $2.06 on property. Gas on the way home, I have a friend we lives in Lake Mary Ga., he told me they had plenty of gas so I topped off the tank around the 20 mile mark or so just to be safe. We didn't see any indication of places having no gas but that was the only places I stopped at in Ga. and they had gas and so did the station across the street.
Very few state troopers. Ga. I seen a few but that was about it.
I had forgotten about this but we pulled into the Ga welcome center and they still have the trailers set up. They are temporary restroom and if you have a weak stomach, don't go in. Lol We also took a nap there for about an hour.We were both tired and we were way ahead of schedule.
Anyway, looking forward to going down in March and September next year. We'll start planning next Septembers trip soon.
Scariest moment came on the way home, we were going thru Charolette Nc and moving about 65-70 mph, there was a pick up truck two lanes over moving about the same speed. A 5 gallon bucket blows out of his bed and falls on the highway in the middle of four lanes!! I quickly flew by him not to get hit by it or someone else. Look to me everyone got around it ok.
The van now has 3600 miles on it. Lol and about 40 pounds of bugs. Lol
That's it, have any questions just yell, I can try to help if your going that way.
Thanks for reading !!

Where do you start from we are leaving from Long Island and thinking about the inland route because we will be leaving at noon. Hoping to avoid traffic that way. Also do you stop or go straight thru. If you stop any recommendations on places to stop. Thanks in advance.

 

[jzdisneymouse]

Hi everyone,

I'm planning to drive down to WDW (first time!) with my gf in December on the 14th at night or the 15th in the morning from CT and starting the drive back up on the 28th (between Christmas and New Years). I checked google maps and the drive is about 18 hours. I'm guessing some people have done this before and was wondering if I should break it up into 2 days driving or just plow through in one day. I'll be driving most of the time but my gf will drive 3-4 hours for me to rest and I'd drive the rest of the way. I know this is during the holidays so the traffic is going to be worse.

The farthest I've driven at once was to Hilton Head and I've driven to Orlando with friends and we switched every 4 hours or so.

Would it be better to fly than drive during this time?

TIA!

 

[AaronInWI]

Hi everyone,

I'm planning to drive down to WDW (first time!) with my gf in December on the 14th at night or the 15th in the morning from CT and starting the drive back up on the 28th (between Christmas and New Years). I checked google maps and the drive is about 18 hours. I'm guessing some people have done this before and was wondering if I should break it up into 2 days driving or just plow through in one day. I'll be driving most of the time but my gf will drive 3-4 hours for me to rest and I'd drive the rest of the way. I know this is during the holidays so the traffic is going to be worse.

The farthest I've driven at once was to Hilton Head and I've driven to Orlando with friends and we switched every 4 hours or so.

Would it be better to fly than drive during this time?

TIA!

I drive from Wisconsin, and have only done so in the summer (until our trip next February). However, when we drive, my wife and I have the same arrangement as you and your GF. I'll drive 6 or so hours, then she takes over for a couple hours to let me rest. We have a 20 hour drive, and split it into two days. 14 hours the first day, 6 the second day. That means she only has to drive once, and I always make sure it is on straight stretch of highway when we don't have to exit or merge or anything for a couple hundred miles.

As much as I'd like to go straight through, I figure it is better to take two days and get there safely, than try to push it and not get there at all.

 

[dvczerfs]

Where do you start from we are leaving from Long Island and thinking about the inland route because we will be leaving at noon. Hoping to avoid traffic that way. Also do you stop or go straight thru. If you stop any recommendations on places to stop. Thanks in advance.

We are real close to I78 just over the nj/pa state line. Are you leaving at noon on a weekend or weekday? If you are coming across on I78 during the week, starting at noon, you should be ok. Once you hit Virginia on I81, the traffic will start dwindling. I hit Va at 3pm on a Friday and once you get past i66 interchange it really drops off and past i64, there won't be much. It's 3 hours from the nj/pa line to Virginia.
The next place is Charolette Nc, you should be ok again. We go straight thru. I can tell you is 12 hours from nj/pa to the Georgia state line.
I posted the times and mirage from point to point on here not to long ago if you go back it's a pretty good chart that I manage to hit just about every time. We don't stop for sit down meals but it takes me any where from 16-17 hours. I just did 16 1/2 coming home and we did stop more then usual and we did hit the wide load traffic but other the. That, went smoothly both directions.

 

[dvczerfs]

i dont do the bypass around Jacksonville but if I had to hit that area during the day, I would consider it. They really cram those lanes together. I hit it both times early on a Saturday morning so there was no traffic but I could not imagine what goes in there during the day.

 

[amcnj]

Hi everyone,

I'm planning to drive down to WDW (first time!) with my gf in December on the 14th at night or the 15th in the morning from CT and starting the drive back up on the 28th (between Christmas and New Years). I checked google maps and the drive is about 18 hours. I'm guessing some people have done this before and was wondering if I should break it up into 2 days driving or just plow through in one day. I'll be driving most of the time but my gf will drive 3-4 hours for me to rest and I'd drive the rest of the way. I know this is during the holidays so the traffic is going to be worse.

The farthest I've driven at once was to Hilton Head and I've driven to Orlando with friends and we switched every 4 hours or so.

Would it be better to fly than drive during this time?

TIA!

My mapquest stated time is a little over 16 hours. I prefer straight through as that second day, though shorter, always seems longer to me! That said, I leave early morning as I am not a good overnight driver. This also allows me to miss the rush hours up north, should I be travelling down on a weekday. I find it takes me 14-15 hours of driving (and I do all the driving), barring any traffic/weather issues, and of course any stops you make add to that total.

In general, you have to do what works best for you, so far as knowing how long can you drive per day, can you drive late into the night or overnight without issue, etc. Also, since you are driving on weekdays, you need to be mindful of rush hours in the areas you are passing through.

 

[jzdisneymouse]

My mapquest stated time is a little over 16 hours. I prefer straight through as that second day, though shorter, always seems longer to me! That said, I leave early morning as I am not a good overnight driver. This also allows me to miss the rush hours up north, should I be travelling down on a weekday. I find it takes me 14-15 hours of driving (and I do all the driving), barring any traffic/weather issues, and of course any stops you make add to that total.

In general, you have to do what works best for you, so far as knowing how long can you drive per day, can you drive late into the night or overnight without issue, etc. Also, since you are driving on weekdays, you need to be mindful of rush hours in the areas you are passing through.

How early do you start driving? I've seen people post that they start around 5am driving and arrive to WDW in the night. Do you take I-95 straightdown or are there better roads? I've only driven 95 but I know there's always traffic somewhere on it.

 

[amcnj]

How early do you start driving? I've seen people post that they start around 5am driving and arrive to WDW in the night. Do you take I-95 straightdown or are there better roads? I've only driven 95 but I know there's always traffic somewhere on it.

5 AM is a late start for me! But again, that is due to my currently getting up 4:30 for work anyway. Since I am used to early starts to the day, I leave around 2:30 am and this puts me passing DC at 5:30 AM, ahead of the morning rush, and arriving in the WDW area 6:30-8:30 pm, depending on stops, weather, traffic..... Because of the early start I do just take 95. If you look eight posts above, dvczerfs refers to what is known as the inland route ("We went 78/81/77/26/95/4 both directions. 16 1/2 hours over 1100 miles") that he takes, but I am too far south for that route to help me without going quite a ways out of my normal path. But apparently it can help you avoid some of the rush hour hot spots, if your schedule was going to require you pass those areas at less than ideal times. He and others could give you more info on that route and whether that too is best traveled at certain times of the day/days of the week.

 

[pwdebbie]

I tried but I can not get out of the noon departure we are giving the inland route some serious thought. Next thing is to figure out where to spend the night we would like to drive between 10-12 hours the first day. Does anybody have some places they recommend staying. I don't know how far we will get in that time on the inland route if that's what we decide. Trip is 35 days away and I feel like I should have more of a plan then I do at this point. Again thanks for everything.

I'm not sure where you are starting from. We start in southcentral PA at 1:00 p.m. and make it to Orangeburg, SC, about 10:00 p.m. There are a good many chain hotels there (do not go with the "number 1 hotel in Orangeburg" per TripAdvisor -- worst place ever -- stick with the chains). This put us past Charlotte and Columbia with about six hours left on the road for the next day.

 

[dvczerfs]

5 AM is a late start for me! But again, that is due to my currently getting up 4:30 for work anyway. Since I am used to early starts to the day, I leave around 2:30 am and this puts me passing DC at 5:30 AM, ahead of the morning rush, and arriving in the WDW area 6:30-8:30 pm, depending on stops, weather, traffic..... Because of the early start I do just take 95. If you look eight posts above, dvczerfs refers to what is known as the inland route ("We went 78/81/77/26/95/4 both directions. 16 1/2 hours over 1100 miles") that he takes, but I am too far south for that route to help me without going quite a ways out of my normal path. But apparently it can help you avoid some of the rush hour hot spots, if your schedule was going to require you pass those areas at less than ideal times. He and others could give you more info on that route and whether that too is best traveled at certain times of the day/days of the week.

I think that is key to the "inland route". If you are south of I78, it is most likely not going to save you much time. May not be worth heading north to get to 78/81. For me, I live real close to 78 so I have s clear shot. It don't pay me to drive east, down the turnpike into the Philly area Baltimore, Washington and Richmond.
Then drive the big westward arch that is I95.
If you draw a line from Orlando straight up north, your gonna hit the pa, Ohio state line.
So for me and people north of i78, the inland route saves a lot of time.

 

[BC1836]

Will be attempting our first road trip this April break with wife, 9,6,2 year old. Leaving from Clifton Park, NY and using suggested route from our iPhone. Wife doesn't like the highways so i'll be doing a solo drive, and considering leaving at 4am and hoping to arrive at midnight, or breaking it up with a 16 hour trip first day and the last 4 hours the second day. Would appreciate thoughts or pointers related to ANYTHING on the road trip. How to plan around potty breaks, gas stops, how to keep the kids sane etc

You will avoid the greater DC traffic mess (you should reach the area by 11 a.m.) but will have to face some rush hour traffic in NJ if you take I-95 (NJ Turnpike). Once you travel further south, try and get your tank filled before dark. Some of the small gas stations along I-95 are not that "inviting."

The DE rest stop/welcome location is relatively new and spacious. Also, the VA welcome center is a good place to stop (around MM #132). Both have 24-hour security.

All the best.

 

[FlatBlackLI]

We are real close to I78 just over the nj/pa state line. Are you leaving at noon on a weekend or weekday? If you are coming across on I78 during the week, starting at noon, you should be ok. Once you hit Virginia on I81, the traffic will start dwindling. I hit Va at 3pm on a Friday and once you get past i66 interchange it really drops off and past i64, there won't be much. It's 3 hours from the nj/pa line to Virginia.
The next place is Charolette Nc, you should be ok again. We go straight thru. I can tell you is 12 hours from nj/pa to the Georgia state line.
I posted the times and mirage from point to point on here not to long ago if you go back it's a pretty good chart that I manage to hit just about every time. We don't stop for sit down meals but it takes me any where from 16-17 hours. I just did 16 1/2 coming home and we did stop more then usual and we did hit the wide load traffic but other the. That, went smoothly both directions.

We are leaving on a Friday at noon. We would like to make it to Florance on the first day. I thought about making it to santee but if I am being realistic about having to make stops o don't think we can make santee what do you think. The more I read on here the inland route looks to be the way we will go giving the time we are leaving. So looks like it's florance or santee for the stoping point what do you think.

 

[sharadoc]

i dont do the bypass around Jacksonville but if I had to hit that area during the day, I would consider it. They really cram those lanes together. I hit it both times early on a Saturday morning so there was no traffic but I could not imagine what goes in there during the day.

We love that bypass because Jacksonville is crazy, like Wacky Races crazy (for all you Hannah Barberra cartoon fans). Unlike some people we don't mind taking a little more time. But we take 2 days to drive so the extra 15-20 minutes doesn’t bother us.

 

[BC1836]

Prepare for Matthew!

All the best!

 

[BC1836]

Prepare and be safe, Floridians!

All the best!

 

[kittylady1972]

Technically our RT drive is about 1800 miles so hopefully it's okay if I post!

Heading down the Friday before Thanksgiving. Our usual plan is to start late on an afternoon and aim for Jacksonville, Florida as we have a hotel we've stayed at twice now and has become a favorite for us. Finding rooms for a family of 5 isn't always easy and this one works for us. We like have our next day drive being extra short.

That was going to be our plan for November, but we've now decided to change that. We want a full day Saturday to enjoy both Universal Parks, so we booked an APH rate at RPR for Friday night and we'll surprise the kids and NOT make them go to school on Friday morning...instead we'll hit the road around 7am. It means dealing with that horrible Northern Va traffic along I-95 but it also means we will arrive on Friday night, even if it's late late late! We'll pack some food to eat on the road to try to eliminate long stops. Friday after Thanksgiving we'll head back home and still debating if we do some park time that morning/afternoon then hit the road and do a stop on the way home overnight (my preference) or just do another all day drive leaving early that morning (husband's preference).

Thinking of any of you who might be making the drive to/from WDW this weekend, especially tomorrow!

 

[dvczerfs]

We love that bypass because Jacksonville is crazy, like Wacky Races crazy (for all you Hannah Barberra cartoon fans). Unlike some people we don't mind taking a little more time. But we take 2 days to drive so the extra 15-20 minutes doesn’t bother us.

I295 is a 61 mile detour around Jacksonville. You do it in 15-20 minutes Mario? Lol
If I would hit Jacks anytime other then the middle of the night or the wee hours in the morning, I'd take i295. That construction site and the width of those three lanes in some spots is a death trap. I'd love to see that at rush hour from the air, I bet nothing moves.

 

[TinkTink78]

We are scheduled to leave the Jersey shore on Wednesday around 1/2pm. Arriving at the inlaws in Longwood, NC (just north of Myrtle Beach) to drop the pups off and a quick visit, then we are heading to WDW 5am Saturday morning. Does anyone have a useful suggestions if 95 is still closed in parts of NC/SC/GA?

Thanks!