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

[PrincessMom4]

I have a HUGE list that I found off of one web site (which I just copied and pasted-can't remeber the site off-hand) which I would gladly share with you. PM me and I will send the list.

 

[huskies90]

Changing gears a bit, I am still planning out our trip with places to stop etc. OK, I am probably gonna sound like an idiot Northeastener with this question but here it goes: What's up with all these Waffle House places? I am guessing it is like a fast food breakfast place. Up here, Dunkin' Donuts is kinda the fast food breakfast place (several in each town). I noticed there are very few if any DD's along I-95 but I counted a gazillion Waffle House's. So, can someone give me the Northeast equivalent to these places? Is it like DD, or Denny's or IHOP or something completely different??

 

[KATIESMOMMY]

Changing gears a bit, I am still planning out our trip with places to stop etc. OK, I am probably gonna sound like an idiot Northeastener with this question but here it goes: What's up with all these Waffle House places? I am guessing it is like a fast food breakfast place. Up here, Dunkin' Donuts is kinda the fast food breakfast place (several in each town). I noticed there are very few if any DD's along I-95 but I counted a gazillion Waffle House's. So, can someone give me the Northeast equivalent to these places? Is it like DD, or Denny's or IHOP or something completely different??

A waffle house is kind of a small greasy spoon type shop up North. They are famous for their Waffles and their hashbrowns that they can put a million things in. You can get anything from eggs to steak and they used to have great milkshakes. I used to be a truck driver and Waffle Houses aren't too bad. To be honest, some of the truckstops have the best food, cleanest bathrooms etc. Petro's and Flying J's are the best and they are almost always very safe to stop at.

 

[K & D Mickey]

We live by Lincoln but need to drop dog off in the Des Moines IA - Which is the best way to go --- St Louis/Memphis or Davenport/Nashville way.

?? - Even thinking going off the Interstate in Illionios and drive into Indiana and go down Hwy 41 to I-24 in Tennessee/Nashville.

Anyone that have drove this any help or tips would be great - Hope to drive it in 2 days. - Leaving Lincoln EARLY Fri. - Feb.20.2009

 

[FlightlessDuck]

It's about 1,100 miles one way for us from Eastern PA. We used to do it over three days (stopping overnight in Virginia and Georgia). But this year we are going to try going over 2 days instead and stopping in North Carolina.

Also, we used to avoid I-95 until after Washington, DC, but this time we are going to brave the DC traffic.

 

[disnutt]

I'm leaving 2/9 from Pittsburgh area driving 79-(19)-77 to Columbia, SC to spend the night. Then on 2/10 taking 77-26-95. Any construction going on along the way to watch out for?

Thanks

 

[DisneyTigers]

We leave Friday morning from the Lehigh Valley, PA with our 4 kids!!

We will leave around 4:30 and drive to Savannah, GA, where we have reservations at a Holiday Inn Express hotel. We'll only have about 5-6 hours left for Saturday!!

Coming home, we will play it by ear... maybe get to somewhere in VA before stopping?

WE CAN"T WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[BC1836]

We leave Friday morning from the Lehigh Valley, PA with our 4 kids!!

We will leave around 4:30 and drive to Savannah, GA, where we have reservations at a Holiday Inn Express hotel. We'll only have about 5-6 hours left for Saturday!!

Coming home, we will play it by ear... maybe get to somewhere in VA before stopping?

WE CAN"T WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Are you staying at the HIE downtown on E. Bay in the Historic Area?
If you are, we would like some info once you check out; we're planning to stay there in March for a few days before heading to WDW.

In any event, say goodbye to this snowy cold weather. Even the cool Central FL temps beat winter temps in the NE.

All the best.

 

[mickeymom24]

So how much do you guys think gas will go up in the summer? We may take the big dive and drive all the way from southwest Texas. That's about 3500 miles round trip. We will rent a mini-van. I wanted to fly but with 4 kids and 3 adults I was thinking it would be cheaper to drive but now I am wondering if gas will skyrocket again to almost $4 a gallon. By the way...am I crazy to think we can drive this far? Only 2 of us can drive.

 

[Nik's Mom]

You just never know what will happen with gas. It's gone up about 40 cents in the past few weeks here.

 

[Fwd Facing Tentacles]

Are you staying at the HIE downtown on E. Bay in the Historic Area?
If you are, we would like some info once you check out; we're planning to stay there in March for a few days before heading to WDW.

In any event, say goodbye to this snowy cold weather. Even the cool Central FL temps beat winter temps in the NE.

All the best.

Another place to consider if you want to do some sightseeing along the way is Charleston SC. It's about 50 miles out of the way but what's another 50 when you're driving over 1,000. The waterfront area is beautiful, the historic section is great to walk around, and with Ft. Sumter there, the kids can get a history lesson too. We didn't stop on a WDW trip but I have been there and it's well worth the detour.

 

[pilferk]

Changing gears a bit, I am still planning out our trip with places to stop etc. OK, I am probably gonna sound like an idiot Northeastener with this question but here it goes: What's up with all these Waffle House places? I am guessing it is like a fast food breakfast place. Up here, Dunkin' Donuts is kinda the fast food breakfast place (several in each town). I noticed there are very few if any DD's along I-95 but I counted a gazillion Waffle House's. So, can someone give me the Northeast equivalent to these places? Is it like DD, or Denny's or IHOP or something completely different??

The closest thing I can think of would be Denny's....but "greesier spoony", if that makes sense. IHOP is reasonably close, too...but also "greasier spoon".

We've stopped a couple of times, over the years, and I've never been overly impressed. Both times the coffee was "stomach eating" and the food was sort of gut busting....but I can see the appeal.

 

[treeface]

So how much do you guys think gas will go up in the summer? We may take the big dive and drive all the way from southwest Texas. That's about 3500 miles round trip. We will rent a mini-van. I wanted to fly but with 4 kids and 3 adults I was thinking it would be cheaper to drive but now I am wondering if gas will skyrocket again to almost $4 a gallon. By the way...am I crazy to think we can drive this far? Only 2 of us can drive.

Not sure about the gas, but hope it isn't as bad as least summer. We just drove at Christmas (about 2200 miles) and it was only $166 (originally budgeted $400). We are going back in June so will be watching it closely.

As for the trip with two drivers, it can be done, probably with two nights in a hotel each way. DH and I drove to El Paso a few years ago to see his daughter (RT 3300 miles) and we had to stop twice each way. We might have made it with one stop each direction had we left in the am for the trip, but both directions we left around dinnertime and drove about 5 hours the first night. Only had DS (4 at the time) with us and drove it in a Grand Prix. We spent 3 1/2 days visiting and 4 days on the road. We made that choice because it would have been over $1500 to fly for the three of us and I refuse to pay that when we can drive.

We do drive on most of our vacations, mostly because I prefer the flexibility it offers us. Whatever you choose, it will work just fine.

 

[BC1836]

We may take the big dive and drive all the way from southwest Texas. That's about 3500 miles round trip. By the way...am I crazy to think we can drive this far? Only 2 of us can drive.

You're just as crazy as we are: we drove from the Jersey Shore to San Antonio, Texas twice!
Enjoy that I-10 drive to I-95...and then to I-4!

 

[BC1836]

Another place to consider if you want to do some sightseeing along the way is Charleston SC. It's about 50 miles out of the way but what's another 50 when you're driving over 1,000. The waterfront area is beautiful, the historic section is great to walk around, and with Ft. Sumter there, the kids can get a history lesson too. We didn't stop on a WDW trip but I have been there and it's well worth the detour.

Indeed, Fwd Facing Tentacles, we have been to Charleston and thoroughly enjoyed it. The city drips of history! And James Island rests out in its harbor, the scene of the 1863 attack on Fort Wagner that was popularized in the 1989 film Glory.
Places that have an educational benefit to kids (of all ages) are worthwhile.
Thanks!

 

[huskies90]

the coffee was "stomach eating" and the food was sort of gut busting....

<<crossing waffle house off the list>> mmmmmm...sounds deeeeeeeelish!!

 

[albertamommyof4]

well we are from Alberta, Canada and we are trying to plan a trip to drive to disneyland it will take about 31 hours each way and i think it was 2300 miles each way . So has anyone got some tips for me?
We will be driving with 4 kids ages between 12( birthday in July) and youngest will be 3, in a 2007 grand caravan

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

My family and I drive from Toronto, Ontario Canada and since we don't like to rush down we take 2 & 1/2 days to drive down. Once we enter the United States in Detroit we go on Interstate 75 South, to the Florida Turnpike and from there it's onto Interstate 4 Westbound and we get off at exit 67, since it's the closet one to the Magic Kingdom Resort area.

 

[Calle&Jakesmom]

Another place to consider if you want to do some sightseeing along the way is Charleston SC. It's about 50 miles out of the way but what's another 50 when you're driving over 1,000. The waterfront area is beautiful, the historic section is great to walk around, and with Ft. Sumter there, the kids can get a history lesson too. We didn't stop on a WDW trip but I have been there and it's well worth the detour.

We're looking for a stop just like this on our way home, but I think Charleston will be too far (about 6+ hours from Beach Club). Has anyone stopped in Savannah? We were thinking of stopping in St. Augustine (been before and really enjoyed it), but we'd like to get a little further north before we stop.
We'd like to leave Lake Buena Vista around 10:00am and drive a few hours and stop in a nice spot to walk around and see the sights for a few hours and then get back in the car and drive a few more to a hotel to start our trek north. Any suggestions?

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I forgot to mention on our 1st day of driving we drive all the way to Cleveland, Tennessee for the evening and our 2nd of driving we stay in Valdosta, Georgia.