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

[ddluvsdisney]

We arrived! We drove straight through from SE MA. We left last night at 6.
No traffic problems at all except for when we got into FL.
We saw the signs for the bridge work in SC right before a welcome center. There was no work being done this morning around 8:15. I'm assuming bc of holiday weekend maybe. That was a bonus. I was a little nervous that the traffic would be awful. We lucked out.
There was an accident on 95S with the right lane blocked. We went around by 295. Then 17. It took long but better than sitting. It took 20 hrs. But would've been 19 if we didn't have to take the detour. Dam FL drivers

 

[bdgrbckr13]

Not sure if I should post this here or start a new thread...so feel free to slap my hand if needed.

Anyway, we are driving in August from Northeast Wisconsin, leaving about 9 p.m. and planing to drive through the night and make it to Atlanta. The kids want to go to World of Coke, and my ex-DH (who is coming on the trip too...long story) and I want to see Centennial Park. We have a hotel booked nearby those places. Is this dumb? How difficult is it to get in and out of Downtown Atlanta and back on the road?

Also...is there a good source to find out about tolls along our route?

Thanks!

We have driven numerous times from southern WI. We usually try to stay just north of Atlanta and get through early (6am) in the morning. This makes for about an 11-hour ride for us the first day. I have never been tempted to stop. Just too busy for me! I-75 takes you right through downtown so it is not difficult to get there. Good luck getting out!

Our route has us going through central Illinois, Nashville, Chattanooga, Atlanta, and then 75 to the Florida Turnpike. So the only tolls are on either end in the Chicago area in IL and the turnpike in FL. We have I-Pass for IL and just pay cash on the turnpike. Coming back I was in the wrong lane on the turnpike and couldn't get over to pay. Asked at the next toll booth and they told me I would get a bill in the mail. Sure enough about a month later, got a nice picture of the back of our van and a bill for $3.50 for a $2.00 toll.

 

[bdgrbckr13]

Aaron, we travelled from SW Wisconsin to DW on December 27, and back home on the 14th. We did take the alternate route, both times avoiding Atlanta. Although it was longer by about 1 1/2 hours, the drive through Nashville, Birmingham, Montgomery, Dothan, and then down to I 10 was such a stress free ride, esp. pulling fifth wheels. We felt we avoided any ice/sleet and snow, which can sometimes accompany the I24'route, and also the route on I 75 to Atlanta. I would take your normal planned arrival day, and be rested up for all Disney has to offer. On the other hand, who wouldn't like an extra day at Disney. Safe travels. Have a great trip.

We are looking at a trip the week after Thanksgiving. If we can get a cheap flight we will probably do so for this trip but if not I would like to try this route. Wish I would have done it on the way home from our trip the first week in March. We left Disney on a Saturday before 8 am and all three lanes of 75 were packed. When we hit Jonesboro south of Atlanta things came to a screeching halt. Took us over an hour extra before we got to the north side of Atlanta and got moving again. No fun watching the ETA on the GPS get later and later. Then we got 3 inches of ice and snow overnight in Monteagle. At least the interstate was clear when we got back on the road.

I'd think with the added problem of the bridge being out on I-85, avoiding Atlanta makes a lot of sense.

 

[Mainemama]

Hi Maine mama, NW York County rez here and a former Amtrak employee. I'd skip the Auto Train unless you've got deep deep pockets and spare time...way too pricey and time consuming. There is just one train each way each day.

We do have extra time, four nights between Philly and Florida, due to a parade performance that is timed prior to our scheduled arrival day. Auto train has a good saver deal with kids right now. Running the numbers, it would cost $200 more than driving direct, with a hotel stay. I am comfortable spending that much for the experience, but would love more input. Anyone else have suggestions for how to spend 4 nights between PA and FL?

 

[ddluvsdisney]

Speedway at MK $2.42 yikes!

 

[ncc1701]

We do have extra time, four nights between Philly and Florida, due to a parade performance that is timed prior to our scheduled arrival day. Auto train has a good saver deal with kids right now. Running the numbers, it would cost $200 more than driving direct, with a hotel stay
. I am comfortable spending that much for the experience, but would love more input. Anyone else have suggestions for how to spend 4 nights between PA and FL?

In addition to your previous mention of Washington DC , Baltimore is also right off of I95 & Williamsburg VA is about an hour east of I95 ,

 

[Gr8t Fan]

We arrived home safely yesterday. Drove down from Chicago on 4/7/17 taking 57 to 24 to 75 to the FL Turnpike. No major traffic delays anywhere. Completed the drive in 20 hours. Drove back 4/15 using the same route, 21 hours total. Least expensive gas was in TN where it was $2.03. Most expensive gas was near Disney at $2.42. We were concerned that the road collapse on 85 would negatively affect our trip. In fact, it made traffic a bit less crazy in Atlanta because all those taking 85 had already taken alternate routes.

 

[shafke]

So we returned from out trip a couple of days ago... left Easter Sunday around 6am and drove to Emporia, VA. We made it all the way through SC before we started hitting heavy traffic. Mostly snow birds returning home. Whenever we would hit a slow down it seemed to be when we caught up to those with a 5th wheel or towing a car. I don't blame them... if you are comfortable at 65mph that is fine. It was the people who do not know how to pass. Note speed limit was 70. It seems that there are those who are doing 66 and want to pass those who are doing 65. Unfortunately they do their passing at 66mph and it takes them forever. This causes a huge line of cars trying to travel at the speed limit to be backed up.

Any way... 2nd day of traveling we left Emporia to head up to Binghamton, NY to drop DS at college. Took 95 to Fredericksburg and then 17 over to I81. As we were getting off I95 to 17 we saw the I95 traffic basically his a wall. We knew we were back in the Northeast since the last 1.5 hours of the trip took 2 hours... construction on I81 north in Hazelton, construction and accident around Binghamton later on.

Overall a good trip.

 

[BC1836]

We made it to Yulee, FL for an overnight stay at 9:15 p.m. We departed the Jersey Shore at 6:15 a.m.

No major traffic problems except for a few several-mile slowdowns: approaching Baltimore's McHenry Tunnel, southern MD, northern VA. No other problems once we cleared Richmond.

Details to follow....

All the best!

 

[BC1836]

Most of the time, we stay at a Downtown Disney area hotel for one night before staying on site. We usually stay at the Holiday Inn on Hotel Plaza Bvd. Not a bad place to stay, but they were booked for tonight so we ended up at the nearby Wyndham Hotel. Mistake. The hotel is a dated no frills place that does not reflect the positive appearance of its lobby. Tomorrow: the Grand Floridian Resort's main building!

All the best.

 

[ddluvsdisney]

We left FL at 9:30 am yesterday and arrived this morning at 5:30 am.
The only major slow down was in SC. We were stop and go for almost an hour. The 2 lanes are really frustrating in SC and NC.
Interstates should really be at least 3 lanes!!!
We will be making another drive in July.

 

[BC1836]

Greetings from the Grand Floridian Resort!

All the best!

 

[Queen2PrincessG]

We are doing "THE DRIVE" From MA to Orlando this August. I making a list of places to stop on Roadtrippers. If anyone has suggestions to add to the list, great bathrooms, good rest stops? Totally open to suggestions!

 

[Rachystar]

We are heading to WDW on June 3rd leaving from south central Texas. Taking DD2 and DD8. We travel a lot around TX but the most we drive a day is 6-8 hours. We are stopping in Baton Rouge, LA on the drive there and then a few days in New Orleans on the way back home. Love all the tips to keep the kids entertained. I know we will hit tolls in FL. Maybe I am looking in the wrong places but I do not seem to find anywhere that shows the amounts for each toll. If someone could tell me round about figures or point me to a website it would be greatly appreciated.

 

[nono]

We are doing "THE DRIVE" From MA to Orlando this August. I making a list of places to stop on Roadtrippers. If anyone has suggestions to add to the list, great bathrooms, good rest stops? Totally open to suggestions!

Kenly on I 95 in North Carolina. Decent coffee...good gas prices (for NC...) and an affordable gift shop! We usually hit there around 10-11 pm and the kids always love picking out a trinket there.

 

[Queen2PrincessG]

Kenly on I 95 in North Carolina. Decent coffee...good gas prices (for NC...) and an affordable gift shop! We usually hit there around 10-11 pm and the kids always love picking out a trinket there.

Adding it! Thank you

 

[BC1836]

Why We Drive:

Orlando airport tram/monorail broke down: hundreds of good folks missed their flights.

All the best!

 

[snowmedic]

If someone could tell me round about figures

From what I have seen on the sunpass site the Fl. turnpike is 3.75, for two axles. That is the only toll you will hit in Fl. driving across 10 and down I-75 to the turnpike to Disney.

 

[LAX]

We left FL at 9:30 am yesterday and arrived this morning at 5:30 am.
The only major slow down was in SC. We were stop and go for almost an hour. The 2 lanes are really frustrating in SC and NC.
Interstates should really be at least 3 lanes!!!
We will be making another drive in July.

It sounds like this occurred on a Saturday. When I did a similar drive over a weekend during the summer last year, I think we hit slower traffic in SC, but not stop and go. Do you think this was due to construction/roadwork someone mentioned upthread?

LAX

 

[Rachystar]

From what I have seen on the sunpass site the Fl. turnpike is 3.75, for two axles. That is the only toll you will hit in Fl. driving across 10 and down I-75 to the turnpike to Disney.

thank you!!