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

[loribell]

Hmmm, probably leaving Oklahoma. I can not wait until the final time I leave this state. Sometime in the next few years we plan to move to either Georgia or the Tennessee river valley.

 

[garmich]

Question: Besides Florida (the obvious choice), crossing what state border generates the greatest excitement or sense of satisfaction? For example, exiting your home state (which signifies that you're "on your way") or some mid-point state (which represents that you're "half way there")?

For me, it's not seeing anymore "South of the Border" signs. So, that would be when we cross the NC/SC border.

 

[Luvamouse]

I think for us it's NC. That's when we leave the never-ending (yet beautiful!) state of Virginia! And a clear definer of "more than half-way"!

 

[loribell]

One of these trips I am going to have to detour through NC/SC so I can see those South of the Border signs I hear so much about.

 

[disneyfan55]

I think once we hit SC (from NJ) it represents the half way mark. NC & SC are easy drives for us, as well as GA and most of FL!! The last time we drove to FL, in Sept, we left from northeast PA and missed the Washington DC traffic. It was a little longer of a drive but so much better!!

 

[BC1836]

Each state border crossing for us is rewarding. But crossing into NC marks the beginning of the "heart" of our drive. The drive from the VA/NC border to the FL border usually takes us about 7 1/2 hours (7:23 our best time to date).

The anticipation of reaching FL and, of course, WDW, is accentuated by the I-95 mile markers: they descend heading south, which provides each state with its own built-in countdown marker!

 

[Fwd Facing Tentacles]

Hello. Long time lurker, first time poster. Our first drive from central NJ was on 95 just because it was the shortest distance. Last year we switched to the 81/77 route and we wouldn't go back. It's less than 100 miles longer, there's far less traffic, and I'll gladly give up seeing the Pedro signs in exchange for the scenery of the Shenandoah mountains. We stop in Hagerstown MD for a late morning breakfast then spend the night a little south of Charlotte and get to WDW around check-in time the second day. With a few Disney CDs to listen to along the way it's not a bad trip at all.

 

[BC1836]

Hello. Long time lurker, first time poster. Our first drive from central NJ was on 95 just because it was the shortest distance. Last year we switched to the 81/77 route and we wouldn't go back. It's less than 100 miles longer, there's far less traffic, and I'll gladly give up seeing the Pedro signs in exchange for the scenery of the Shenandoah mountains. We stop in Hagerstown MD for a late morning breakfast then spend the night a little south of Charlotte and get to WDW around check-in time the second day. With a few Disney CDs to listen to along the way it's not a bad trip at all.

Welcome, Fwd Facing Tentacles! Your party from Saturn has arrived.

Your route is one we would gladly take if we were located closer to the Delaware River and the appropriate I-78 or I-80 links to I-81.

When you stop in the Hagerstown area, don't forget to page Mr. Morrow!

All the best.

 

[pilferk]

Our next trip begins in 26 days.



Another 2000 miles round trip!

 

[BC1836]

Our next trip begins in 26 days.

Another 2000 miles round trip!

So, you're going to have a one-day start on us, eh?

 

[Fwd Facing Tentacles]

Between BC1836, Pilferk, and ourselves, that's at least 3 posters who are driving down the week after Thanksgiving from the greater NY area. It's a good week to go because it's relatively uncrowded (other than the Pop Warner people) and it's the last time for a few months that you can make driving plans without having to worry too much about the weather (hope I didn't just jinx us. I was driving through South Dakota 6 weeks ago with the air conditioning on in 90 degree heat and this week they had 4 feet of snow). Also the way things are going, we may see $2 gas in the Carolinas. That will put it back down below the price of a small bottle of water at WDW.

 

[loribell]

Gas at Walmart today in Oklahoma City was $1.77!

 

[Disneynutbsv]

Gas at Walmart today in Oklahoma City was $1.77!

Wow!!! Its still $2.59 here!

 

[MemoryMakers2669]

Wow!!! Its still $2.59 here!

Wow, that is so high still. VA is under $2. Not sure what the southern part of I-95 looks like though, but usually it is a little lower.

 

[2xDisneyDad]

Just got back to Jersey yesterday and gas was $1.83!!!!! in South Carolina! Almost drove off the road .

 

[loribell]

Wow!!! Its still $2.59 here!

How high did your prices get? We got to about $3.90 around OKC. Parts of Oklahoma got to $4.09.

 

[Disneynutbsv]

How high did your prices get? We got to about $3.90 around OKC. Parts of Oklahoma got to $4.09.

I think the highest I paid this past summer was $4.24

 

[onelugnut]

hey,
just returned from the "jersey week"
the drive was fine but i thought i could pass on a few things i
wish someone would have told me.

the price of gas on 95 varies greatly!!!!

I am not one to sweat a few cents per gallon so I did not see much difference on the way down and was pleasantly suprised at the prices
in disney area,

but watch out!! I stopped about MM 60 in Georgia and found only 2 gas stations and regular was 2.69 and 2.79.
crazy little place with lots of conferate flags and stuff.
I asked why so hight and she shrugged and blew me off.
I thought it was all georgia, but a few miles up the road it was
more like 2.19
so i guess what i am saying is,
that you can find gas as low as 1.89 in places like virginia, or carolinas.
fill up there and do not stop in Georgia!
also,
there is a lot of construction in Georgia,
and in jacksonville.
I was glad i got thru jacksonville without the rush hour.

I am convinced i have the best way thru the D.C. area.
and its in the middle of the night.
no problems at 1 in the morning.

 

[Luvamouse]

Onelugnut--

You are certainly right about the price variations! Part of my trip planning is to get on Gas Buddy and decide what states to get gas in and which to skip! I have a pretty good idea of the mileage I can get out of a tank in my Yukon XL, so I break up the trip into areas to stop in so I don't need to buy gas in those high priced states. I find heading into SC from NC is very cheap right over the border for example (we take Rte 77). Likewise, I always stop in GA (Kingsland area) right before we hit Florida! We were quite surprised that the Hess station at WDW was one of the lowest we'd found in the area or in Florida to be honest.

 

[pilferk]

So, you're going to have a one-day start on us, eh?

Yup....looks like it.

We'll get in around 5 PM (I hope) on Thursday. Making an overnight stop in N.C. around exit 173 (I think).