For 2,000+ mile round-trip drivers only!

[cruisingkat]

We were pleased to see that the most of the road construction that we experienced on both the drive down and back in Oct and on the way down this Nov was gone by the time we returned in Dec. The construction on I-24 in Tennessee and on I-57 in Illinois was gone. The only construction we experienced was on I-75 in Georgia and that wasn't that bad. (Thank goodness for the HOV lane in Atlanta).

 

[ge0rgette2]

Oh boy - dilemma!

We were leaving on Dec 19 .. very early mind you - 3am or 4am - driving from LI NY to Savannah - then onto WDW by the 20th.

We now have to leave around 1pm or 2pm - my son's professor changed his final exam date to mid-morning of the 19th .. putting a damper on our leaving time.

We were hoping to get alot of hours under us on Saturday but that doesn't look like it's going to happen.

During our past trips to SCarolina we normally stopped at Roanoke Rapids NC and stayed at the Hampton Inn there and then proceeded the following morning to Hilton Head ..

Now that our plans are changed .. can anyone suggest where to stay along 95 so we don't have to do that much driving to WDW the following day - Savannah would have worked out perfectly...

We don't want to stray off 95 too much..

Thx enjoy the day!

 

[learnhome]

We will be driving for the first time Leaving January 4th.....
I admit, I am dreading the drive - we COULD fly - but, my dd is TERRIFIED of flying - and we would have to knock her out like the guy from the A-Team to get her on the plane at this point. So, we are driving.....we don't have much of a plan....but, we really need to get on the ball.....

 

[ge0rgette2]

OH BOY Good luck...

We normally fly - but we are a family of 5 this year and Christmas airfare is just ridiculous - actually wasn't the airfare more the car rentals! They prices were about 5x the amount they normally are.

 

[QueenGoblin]

Looking for a good suggestion of a place to stay around the Savannah area. We are going to try and make it down that far (leaving from PA) on day 1 so that we have a shorter trip on day 2.

Looking for an affordable place to stay near attractions for kids (7 and 3).

 

[disneyfan55]

Looking for a good suggestion of a place to stay around the Savannah area. We are going to try and make it down that far (leaving from PA) on day 1 so that we have a shorter trip on day 2.

Looking for an affordable place to stay near attractions for kids (7 and 3).

We've stayed in Port Wentworth just outside of Savannah. We left Central NJ about 4 am and got there about 7 pm and went to downtown/riverfront/Savannah for a late dinner. This trip it will be Disney's Hilton Head Resort (66/night for a studio with AP discount) It doesn't look that far off 95 so will will do that on the way back. We might stay at the Days Inn again in Port Wentworth on the way down (right off 95 and a longer ride down than from the Savannah area) The Days Inn has been discussed in a few of the above posts - check it out. I don't know what type of attractions you're looking for since it does take quite a while to get there from the northeast.

 

[Donald is #1]

Looking for a good suggestion of a place to stay around the Savannah area. We are going to try and make it down that far (leaving from PA) on day 1 so that we have a shorter trip on day 2.

Looking for an affordable place to stay near attractions for kids (7 and 3).

Recommendation on where not to stay = Best Western just off 95.

By sister and I stayed there on our drive down to Port Canavarel in September. While it was convient and cheap, we didn't like it. Our room was very musty smelling like there had been water problems.

On our way back we stayed at the East Bay Inn for a couple of nights in the center of Savannah and found it to be awesome!

 

[QueenGoblin]

Thanks! I am looking for things to do the following morning before we get in the car again to go the rest of the way to FL (we don't check in at WDW until Day 3 but we are giving ourselves an extra day to get down there in case we hit bad weather, etc.)

The Days Inn was coming in highly rated on some other sites too. I will check it out.

 

[disneyfan55]

Thanks! I am looking for things to do the following morning before we get in the car again to go the rest of the way to FL (we don't check in at WDW until Day 3 but we are giving ourselves an extra day to get down there in case we hit bad weather, etc.)

The Days Inn was coming in highly rated on some other sites too. I will check it out.

You're welcome. There are some Historic sites in and around Savannah. You can do that in the AM. Also, you could stop in the St Augustine area to break up the drive to WDW. We have stayed there as well! Just check out the Savannah and St. Augustine websites for info. I don't know what type of attrations you're looking for. Just walking around both is really nice!!

 

[ge0rgette2]

We've stayed in Port Wentworth just outside of Savannah. We left Central NJ about 4 am and got there about 7 pm and went to downtown/riverfront/Savannah for a late dinner. This trip it will be Disney's Hilton Head Resort (66/night for a studio with AP discount) It doesn't look that far off 95 so will will do that on the way back. We might stay at the Days Inn again in Port Wentworth on the way down (right off 95 and a longer ride down than from the Savannah area) The Days Inn has been discussed in a few of the above posts - check it out. I don't know what type of attractions you're looking for since it does take quite a while to get there from the northeast.

Was going to suggest the Days Inn in Port Wentworth...
I wish I could stay there, we just cancelled our reservation - as we are leaving too late in the afternoon to make it from LI to Savannah

 

[disneyfan55]

Was going to suggest the Days Inn in Port Wentworth...
I wish I could stay there, we just cancelled our reservation - as we are leaving too late in the afternoon to make it from LI to Savannah

We've also stayed in Fayetteville, NC and Florence, SC Days Inn as well as a Microtel in that area as well (don't recall which exit sorry) Microtel motels have been quite good in our experience in staying a few times at there locations.

 

[ge0rgette2]

We've also stayed in Fayetteville, NC and Florence, SC Days Inn as well as a Microtel in that area as well (don't recall which exit sorry) Microtel motels have been quite good in our experience in staying a few times at there locations.

Thanks!! disneyfan...

I just think we'll make it to NC or SC leaving in the afternoon, but i'm going to check your recommendations

 

[abner1776]

ss

 

[BC1836]

Let's see...showers for this afternoon in South Carolina; showers also for Georgia and northern Florida. But Sunday looks great for WDW!

It's time, then, for 2,000+ mile round trip #4 for 2009.

A few hours from now we'll be heading out. And Phillip V [stay with I-95 all the way!] and Forward Facing Tentacles should be on their respective drives a few hours later.

All the best.

 

[ennisb]

You have a safe trip. We will be behind.. well sort of on the 23rd. I'm ready to pack the car now this waiting is tourture

 

[Fwd Facing Tentacles]

Smooth drive so far, cruising along I 81 near Roanoke Virginia. Very little traffic, perfect driving conditions and less construction than when we made the drive in September. Hope those driving I 95 are having as smooth a ride as we are!

 

[Gowahoowa]

And we're right behind you (sort of) leaving on the 26th!! Can't wait....

You have a safe trip. We will be behind.. well sort of on the 23rd. I'm ready to pack the car now this waiting is tourture

 

[BC1836]

Heavy rain and bad driving conditions contributed to our current cautionary overnight stay in Yulee, FL (after 850+ miles since 3 a.m.) rather than Deltona or Lake Buena Vista.

Traffic on I-95 was a breeze all the way from the DE Memorial Bridge to just over the FL border. Again, we were tired and decided to make a quick stop rather than push it past Jacksonville. Including two gas stops, four bathroom breaks, one fast food window stop and one 30-minute rest stop nap (which totalled about one hour) we still averaged 63 miles per hour for the entire drive!

If the weather was good, we would have driven on. After all, it was only 5:15 when we checked in. But we'd rather be safe than sorry.

Tomorrow: Exit #67 on I-4!!

All the best!

 

[msmith07101]

Heading south from Ohio on 12/17! It's been many years, but we have driven before. This time it is just me and the boys...DH has to work, so will be staying home. I am a little anxious about the drive, since I am the only driver! We will be stopping overnight and then finishing the drive on Friday.
Any last minute tips or info to make the drive amy easier?
Please send some pixie dust my way...for a safe, smooth drive!

 

[MrsMork]

We drove from Montana last year. I don't even know how many miles that is!! Granted we were in an RV and it took us 5 1/2 months to make the 23 state trip, but still.....we drove.