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

[Lucy6]

Mookie,
Yes, it was a successful rodetrip!!
I started a thread of my own, and answered some questions on that thread if you want more info. It is titled "Just back-drove from Chgo to WDW", it's probably on the second or third page now. Someone suggested I also post on the 2000+miles thread also.
We did end up taking 65, my husband thought it would be more interesting. We will ALWAYS drive down leaving at night like we did this trip. Leaving at 6:30PM worked out great for our family! We actually went through Atl at 7AM, traffic was heavy, but moved right along. We did take the 285 bypass and had no issues. Other than that, no significant traffic issues on the way down. Coming home was longer. If you look at my thread, you will see why.
Good luck with your trip!! I can now say from experience that it is very doable!!

 

[BC1836]

We [DW, DD (11), DS (9), and DS (6)] are leaving the Albany, NY area to make the 19 hour trip according to AAA for a June 21 check in.
Crazy? Do-able?

AAA suggests a 19-hour trip?!? Only if you travel 70 miles per hour from your home, encounter no traffic, and stop for nothing (gas, bathrooms, food and tolls).

It takes us about 17 1/2 hours from NJ.

 

[Tjkane28]

AAA suggests a 19-hour trip?!? Only if you travel 70 miles per hour from your home, encounter no traffic, and stop for nothing (gas, bathrooms, food and tolls).

It takes us about 17 1/2 hours from NJ.

From just south of Albany, NY...18 hours and 37 minutes to be exact. They (AAA) figure an average drive speed of, get ready for it...66.8 MPH!

I figure if we don't eat, we won't have to stop to go to the bathroom, yes?

Now, I have been known, as documented by both the Commonwealth of Virginia Troopers and the New York State Troopers to move one or two miles an hour faster than the posted speed limit. But an average of 66.8 MPH means that for some stretches I would have to be doing over 80. I really don't drive above 75.

So, how many miles do you cover in 17 1/2 hours? I have 1249 miles to cover.

 

[BC1836]

From just south of Albany, NY...18 hours and 37 minutes to be exact. They (AAA) figure an average drive speed of, get ready for it...66.8 MPH!

I figure if we don't eat, we won't have to stop to go to the bathroom, yes?

Now, I have been known, as documented by both the Commonwealth of Virginia Troopers and the New York State Troopers to move one or two miles an hour faster than the posted speed limit. But an average of 66.8 MPH means that for some stretches I would have to be doing over 80. I really don't drive above 75.

So, how many miles do you cover in 17 1/2 hours? I have 1249 miles to cover.

A great reply!

Our average mileage is 1,080 miles from home to Exit #67 on I-4; however, we drove exactly 1,099 miles from our garage to self-parking at the GF several weeks ago.

We only make two gas stops and two additional bathroom breaks. Pre-made sandwiches and assorted goodies from home are consumed along the way.

 

[Tjkane28]

A great reply!

Our average mileage is 1,080 miles from home to Exit #67 on I-4; however, we drove exactly 1,099 miles from our garage to self-parking at the GF several weeks ago.

We only make two gas stops and two additional bathroom breaks. Pre-made sandwiches and assorted goodies from home are consumed along the way.

I will need to figure two stops for gas between Albany and Santee, SC, as we will be driving a minivan. The food will be from home. Bathroom breaks, with the gas stops and a few extras with three kids...I may be looking at closer to 15 hours from Albany to Santee, SC. Take a rest there, and then the last 400 miles from Santee to Lake Buena Vista in about 6 1/2 hours.

So, maybe 21 1/2 hours is closer to reality...which brings the average MPH to...just over 58 MPH.

Now, when to leave? I want to be through DC before no later than just after 8AM, and I can make DC in 6 1/4 hours. 2 AM ETD and a 5 PM ETA in Santee, SC.

2 AM ETD from Santee and arrival at BC at 8 AM, on June 21.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

AAA suggests a 19-hour trip?!? Only if you travel 70 miles per hour from your home, encounter no traffic, and stop for nothing (gas, bathrooms, food and tolls).

It takes us about 17 1/2 hours from NJ.

Not counting our hotel stop on the way down we did it in 15 hours.

On the way home, no hotel stay, we drove straight through on a Sunday was a VERY LONG 16.5 hours with two kids. We will stay overnight next trip on the way down adn the way back.

But I live 5 minutes from Philadelphia. Not as far as you at the shore.

 

[Laurabearz]

Just returned-drove from Chgo to WDW

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

...and would do it again in a heartbeat!!

We left at 6:30PM Thursday from the south burbs and drove straight through, arrived at Pop at 3:00PM FL time the next day. So 19 1/2 hours total(would have been less, but hit a rain storm while going through Atlanta, which slowed us down).

We decided to leave in the evening so that ds13 and dd9 might sleep for most of the trip. This worked like a charm. The kids didn't sleep all night, but did sleep from about 11PM until 5AM. We had planned to stop for breakfast after going through Atlanta, but ended up going to a drive through McD's and kept on going.

Yes, we were tired when we got there, but had no plans, just hung around the pool, settled in, got to bed early. We were up for rope drop the next morning, no problem.

Coming home, we decided to take two days. We stayed over in Chattanooga for the night, went up to see Lookout Mountain, then back on the road. The drive home took longer, we hit alot of traffic going through Atlanta(it was approx 4PM on a Saturday?), and hit quite a snow storm upon our return to Illinois(what the heck, it's April?).

We have already decided that we will be driving from now on...we were able to pack whatever we wanted, had the car for side trips, and saved alot of money. We estimated that we spent approx $200 on gas(three fill ups down and three back), $100 on hotel in TN(which included full breakfast, thank you Holiday Inn Express), and approx $50 on other food. We could not have flown for that amount!!

Overall, a great experience for my family. The drive through TN and KY was beautiful. The kids even thought it was a great experience, and agreed that this was a great way to go! Hope this helps others.


I started a post about this trip, and someone requested that I also post this here on the 2000+ thread. Hope this helps someone...

Hey Lucy, which route did you take... through Indy or down through Illinois?

 

[BC1836]

Not counting our hotel stop on the way down we did it in 15 hours. But I live 5 minutes from Philadelphia. Not as far as you at the shore.

Indeed. It takes us 45 minutes to connect with I-295 in Cherry Hill and another 45 minutes to cross the Delaware Memorial Bridge.

One year we were staying in Colonial Williamsburg, VA. WDW was a "quick" one day jaunt.

 

[pwdebbie]

In 63 hours we should be on the road -- leaving after church Sunday, planning to get at least as far as Orangeburg, SC, if not further (nope, no reservations any where, just winging it) and then hope to be at POFQ by 1:00 p.m. Monday. The only hitch in the plans right now is the weather -- looks like rain all the way. Guess I better start packing. Well, at least putting the stuff in the suitcases instead of spread all over the spare bedroom like it has been for the last two months.

 

[BC1836]

In 63 hours we should be on the road -- leaving after church Sunday, planning to get at least as far as Orangeburg, SC, if not further (nope, no reservations any where, just winging it) and then hope to be at POFQ by 1:00 p.m. Monday. The only hitch in the plans right now is the weather -- looks like rain all the way. Guess I better start packing. Well, at least putting the stuff in the suitcases instead of spread all over the spare bedroom like it has been for the last two months.

Our most-recent drive involved lots of rain (100% of the ride through NJ, DE and MD + heavy rain and a tornado warning in southern SC and northern GA). Nevertheless, despite the rain, there were still folks driving above the speed limit and tailgating!

 

[glo]

In 63 hours we should be on the road -- leaving after church Sunday, planning to get at least as far as Orangeburg, SC, if not further (nope, no reservations any where, just winging it) and then hope to be at POFQ by 1:00 p.m. Monday. The only hitch in the plans right now is the weather -- looks like rain all the way. Guess I better start packing. Well, at least putting the stuff in the suitcases instead of spread all over the spare bedroom like it has been for the last two months.

Have a safe trip! Let us know how your travels went. We were supposed to leave at 2am on Sunday morning from MA...but it looks like it won't happen. I was really hoping against hope that we would go, but it looks like we will be home this vacation. I guess the tickets won't go to waste, we will eventually go back again. Man, I wanted to go

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Indeed. It takes us 45 minutes to connect with I-295 in Cherry Hill and another 45 minutes to cross the Delaware Memorial Bridge.

One year we were staying in Colonial Williamsburg, VA. WDW was a "quick" one day jaunt.

I thought I would despise driving but taking that hotel break really made the drive very easy.

Now on the way back doing it in 16-17 hours in one day was torture. Next time we will stop on the way back home too.

I prefer driving now I think. Taking what you want. No time constraints. No rushing in the airport. No security check. I can throw my dirty clothes in a hamper bag and throw it in my trunk!

 

[Disneycrazymom]

I am sorry Glo. It is disappointing to have to cancel a trip. Can you think of it as a postponed trip instead of a canceled one?

Have fun and be safe PWDebbie.

Thanks for the encouragement Mi*Vida*Loca and Lucy6

BC1836 Did you have to pull off the road during the rain?

 

[Hasil72]

Not counting our hotel stop on the way down we did it in 15 hours.

On the way home, no hotel stay, we drove straight through on a Sunday was a VERY LONG 16.5 hours with two kids. We will stay overnight next trip on the way down adn the way back.

But I live 5 minutes from Philadelphia. Not as far as you at the shore.

Good to know! We're driving in November and have a similar plan. Leave Friday night, drive to NC, stay over then drive the rest on Saturday. Should be interesting to see how the kids handle it.

 

[rotlex]

Posted in here before, but have another question.

We are driving from PA, Lehigh Valley area, in June. After much thought on the route, we are taking 81 from Harrisburg, and hooking up with 95 way down the pike. We plan on leaving around 4am on a Monday, driving to Savanah Georgia and staying at a Holiday Inn Express right off of 95. Next morning, we plan on leaving by 6am, and heading to DW from there.

Does this sound about right? What I'm wondering is if Savanah is a good stopping point from PA. To far, too close etc. Also, the distance from there to DW looks like a 4-5 hour drive, maybe less, which seems very doable in the earl am.

Thanks again! Love this thread.....LOTS of good info for a first time driver.

 

[Tjkane28]

Does this sound about right? What I'm wondering is if Savanah is a good stopping point from PA. To far, too close etc. Also, the distance from there to DW looks like a 4-5 hour drive, maybe less, which seems very doable in the earl am.

Savannah to Lake Buena Vista is 294 miles. How fast were you planning on driving?

Anyway, Savannah is a very common spot to stop for people coming from your neck of the woods.

 

[BC1836]

Yes. I posted my soggy 'n' windy story in a previous post. However, this is basically it: steady rain turned to heavy rain as we appproached the GA border. Since the GA Welcome Center was close by, we pulled in. We had to stay in the parking lot for a while until the rain eased up. When we entered the center we saw on the TV that the Weather Channel had changed its "tornado watch" to a "tornado warning." Then an in-house alert system sounded a warning as well. The next 15-20 minutes went by f-o-r-e-v-e-r before the "tornado warning" was cancelled in the area. The only problem: the "torando warning" shifted further south. In any event, we pressed on. In time, the rain eased up and we crossed the FL border.

Our brush with a "tornado warning" was bad enough; our hearts go out to those who have gone through them.

 

[rotlex]

Savannah to Lake Buena Vista is 294 miles. How fast were you planning on driving?

Anyway, Savannah is a very common spot to stop for people coming from your neck of the woods.

Thanks - I was thinking it looked like a good spot, and mileage wise, not too bad either. I do a regular drive, every few months, from my home town up to the Berkshires in Mass. It's roughly 250-260 miles and takes me under 4 hours driving straight through.

I guess my bigger concern is making it to Savannah in a day, but I'm figuring I should have plenty of time, including stops, if I leave between 4 and 5am. Even if I plan on 12 hours drive time, that puts me down there after dinner time even with a stop or two.

 

[Tjkane28]

Thanks - I was thinking it looked like a good spot, and mileage wise, not too bad either. I do a regular drive, every few months, from my home town up to the Berkshires in Mass. It's roughly 250-260 miles and takes me under 4 hours driving straight through.

I guess my bigger concern is making it to Savannah in a day, but I'm figuring I should have plenty of time, including stops, if I leave between 4 and 5am. Even if I plan on 12 hours drive time, that puts me down there after dinner time even with a stop or two.

spot on!

 

[Disneycrazymom]

Yes. I posted my soggy 'n' windy story in a previous post. However, this is basically it: steady rain turned to heavy rain as we appproached the GA border. Since the GA Welcome Center was close by, we pulled in. We had to stay in the parking lot for a while until the rain eased up. When we entered the center we saw on the TV that the Weather Channel had changed its "tornado watch" to a "tornado warning." Then an in-house alert system sounded a warning as well. The next 15-20 minutes went by f-o-r-e-v-e-r before the "tornado warning" was cancelled in the area. The only problem: the "torando warning" shifted further south. In any event, we pressed on. In time, the rain eased up and we crossed the FL border.

Our brush with a "tornado warning" was bad enough; our hearts go out to those who have gone through them.

I live in Mo and we get them pretty often, especially the warnings. Last Thursday we were on our way to the lake and passed through a storm we knew had to have tornado watches or even warnings. DH wouldn't let me turn on the radio because he knew if I knew there was an actual warning I would make him pull off the road. Once there we found out there was a tornado touch down a few miles up the road. You really never know where those things will go!