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

[kathiep]

We're currently planning our 3rd consecutive September trip - CSR here we come. For the last 2, we've driven.

During our first trip, we really didn't want to deal with the hassles invovling airports and our kids. DH is not a very comfortable flier anyway and add to that 2 excited kids, probably not a great idea.

We really didn't find the drive all that bad. Obviously the ride down was a lot better; the anticipation and family bonding time was terrific. The ride becomes part of the adventure for us.The ride back always leaves a lot to be desired.

But, most likely, we will probably drive again.

 

[iluvflorida]

We also travel over 3000 miles round trip and always drive every year. I like to have my own car down in florida so I can come and go as I want, where and when I want. I love the drive down from the great white north, Canada. Have been doing so for years. Started when I was 4 (no not driving myself) left that to my Dad, and now have driven my children and even grand children and my children have driven themselves and their kids. Must be contagious. Probably driven or been driven total of 50+ times.

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

I do not feel that driving is for financial reasons all the time. I could probably get a good fare that would beat the cost of gas, motel and food as well as give us a couple more days of vacation HOWEVER the lawyer fees for getting DH from the clutches of Homeland Security have to be figured in.

He once threw a fit when they refused to let him board a cruise ship with a pocket knife. This was PRE 9/11 and the knife was a cheapie of no real value.

By the time I drove to the nearest airport, got through baggage check, IF, and all I am nearing Nashville, TN and well on my way and have my own car at my disposal.

Might not care for the drive if I were not lucky enough to live so near a major interstate that takes me over half way there though.

Whatever works for you is just fine by me.

Slightly Goofy

 

[mkymouse1928]

Economics is the "driving" force.

1. Airfare for five people from Maryland is $1000 (probably more with long-term parking fees).

2. If we stayed those two extra nights (one on each end of the trip) that would be increase in lodging -- either points or cash. If we do family suite at ASMu it is approximately $200 per night. If we do points, the possibilities are complicated because we'd have to buy points and the nights could be very costly if they are weekends.

3. We bring some cooked food and some groceries, all our soft drinks and some of our water. This saves us about $200.

Even at $3 per gallon, the cost of gas for the trip is about $300. Our net savings is well over $1000.

Also, for me, I get anxiety relief on several levels:

1. I hate to fly.
2. I can't stand being limited to what I can cram into our luggage, as compared to what I can throw in the van and in the roof carrier.
3. Flights have absolute deadlines. Departure by car does not. My family is not good at meeting deadlines.

Just wanted to chime in and second this!

It is just DH and I and it is still much cheaper to drive than to fly. We live in Cincinnati so airfare is at a premium with our local airport being a Delta hub (yeah we could drive to another city, but that just adds to the cost and incovenience factor). We, too, take water, soda and snacks in the car and make sure that we have enough for our room. I also want to be able to buy whatever I want (shipping adds to the cost). And the biggest reason -- I hate to fly! 16 hours on the road without my paralyzing fear is much more pleasant than 2.5 hours in the air hyperventilating from my phobia.

 

[JonS99]

Too each their own! I would rather spend those days together at WDW than being stuffed in a car.

But I assume most people do it for financial reasons.

Absolutely not, apparently we are a family that actually likes to spend time together, sorry you just consider it "stuffed in a car"..

Last time we flew, it took us 9 hours from the time we left the house until we arrived at WDW, when we drive it takes us 16.. To us, the extra 7 hours is worth having our car, with our stuff and the ability to set our schedule..

 

[PhotobearSam]

DH and I do it for the time alone...It gets us back on track and connected to each other.

We are usually gone from home anywhere from 23 to 28 days in total so the 3 or 4 days drive each way is not a problem.

If we only have 21 days, we fly.

We love having our own car because shipping things to Canada is crazy.

It's not really a financial things but we shop a lot for clothes on the drive and love having our big car to bring everything back.

 

[sandybobandy]

Yeah, my husband and I are hardly "stuffed" in a car. Driving down is a part of our vacation. We drive from Minneapolis and last year stayed over in St Louis and did some sight seeing there and the next night we drove to Atlanta and took in the city. Then from Atlanta we go to Disney. It's super fun! This year, we'll be driving from Mpls to Columbus to see The Lion King and then to Atlanta again.

Finances have nothing to do with it, honey. We could afford to fly but choose not to.

Don't knock it til you try it!

 

[collcass]

three times in one year!! It's 3,000 rt from here. We are planning to drive in July, but if I can find reasonable air -- I'll be flying.

 

[pilferk]

I know the post wasn't directed to me, but... if you could post that info, because dh & I may be driving in aug.

Thanks

We did keep one...I'll have to fish it out of the travel docs. Give me a few days to track it down.

Here's the approximate times:

We left CT at about 2:30 PM.

We stopped for dinner in Cranford, NJ, at about 5:45 PM.

We were back on the road at about 7:15 PM

We were out of NJ around 8:30 PM.

We were through DC at about 11:30 PM.

2 hours through VA.

3 hours through NC

3 hours through SC

3 hours through GA

2 hours through FLA and to Orlando.

We arrived at the Nick Hotel in Orlando JUST before 12:30 PM the next day. The times, above, were sprinkled with LOTS of bathroom breaks for the kids, only ONE sit down dinner stop (breakfast was bagels/muffins from a take out place, eaten in the car).

On the way back, we left WDW at 2:30 PM.

2 hours from Orlando to the Florida border.

3 Hours through GA

3.5 Hours through SC (which included a 1/2 hours dinner stop)

1.5 hours into NC...to about 10 miles north of the halfway point at exit 145 (which I would NOT stop at again...I would have stayed 20 miles futher south at exit 120). We got to the room about 12:30 AM.

We left at 7:30 AM, the next morning.

1.5 hours through NC.

2 hours through VA.

3 hours from DC to NJ border

4.5 hours from NJ border to home in NW CT...which includes a 30 minute walmart stop near home to pick up some essentials...and the pictures we'd already uploaded and had printed.

 

[BC1836]

We did keep one...I'll have to fish it out of the travel docs. Give me a few days to track it down.

Here's the approximate times:


2 hours through VA.

Only two hours! No way! Unless you mean from northern VA (Fredricksburg) to the NC border.

Here are some of our times [non traffic jam times] from crossing the Potomac into Virginia until we reached the North carolina border:

12/07: 2:47

03/07: 2:48

05/06: 3:22

04/05: 2:48

04/03: 3:11

 

[Maverick Mike]

We drive to WDW at least once each year. Last year, we did it three times. It is exactly 1,015 miles from our house to Pop Century!

We leave here in St. Louis at around 5:00 am and drive straight through. We usually arrive at Pop Century around 10:00 pm. Now, this was just my wife, myself, and our daughter. This year, however, we will have a 6 month old baby, so we will have to make a few more stops, so we will be leaving at 3:30 am!

I just love hitting the Florida border. You know you are so close finally!

Also, if you like driving and WDW, listen to Episode 243 of the WDW Today Podcast. I was a special guest on that one and we shared stories of our trips and tips on driving to WDW. It was a great show!

 

[CSI007]

Just read this entire thread.

Planning on going to disney for the first time (for me) in over 20 years. I now have 2 kids (4 and 9) and a wife who have never been to Florida.

From Maryland airfare will be about 800 bucks and I hate to fly, As a matter of fact I have not been on a plane since my last trip to Florida over 20 years ago.

This thread has given me inspiration to drive again since I was going to drag the family on a plane to get there.

My wife and I drove to Niagara Falls, Canada last Jan. and it was about 7 1/2 hours of driving. Maybe I could do this too?

I figure wiht gas round trip it would be about 250.00.

 

[jensen]

I've been considering driving this time simply because we cannot find any decent priced flights. Ours is a 3,600 mile round trip which would definately include an overnight. I'm not so concerned about the trip there... it's that long, sad drive home that scares me.

 

[pilferk]

Only two hours! No way! Unless you mean from northern VA (Fredricksburg) to the NC border.

Here are some of our times [non traffic jam times] from crossing the Potomac into Virginia until we reached the North carolina border:

12/07: 2:47

03/07: 2:48

05/06: 3:22

04/05: 2:48

04/03: 3:11

2 hours from the south side of DC, after we pick 95 back up from 495, to the NC border..approximately. It may have been more like 2 hours and 20 min-ish.

At 11:30 PM, with little to no traffic, on a Thursday night and into EARLY Friday morning, average speed around 75-80 mph. I counted from exit 170. No gas stops in VA, as we made one while on 495 and so didn't need to make one until after we hit NC.

On the way home, I counted from the border til I got onto 495 at 170. Same speed-ish. Gas stop JUST before the VA border. It was a Saturday afternoon...but no real remarkable traffic.

 

[BC1836]

2 hours from the south side of DC, after we pick 95 back up from 495, to the NC border..approximately. It may have been more like 2 hours and 20 min-ish.

At 11:30 PM, with little to no traffic, on a Thursday night and into EARLY Friday morning, average speed around 75-80 mph. I counted from exit 170. No gas stops in VA, as we made one while on 495 and so didn't need to make one until after we hit NC.

On the way home, I counted from the border til I got onto 495 at 170. Same speed-ish. Gas stop JUST before the VA border. It was a Saturday afternoon...but no real remarkable traffic.

Yeah, 2:20-ish at 75-80 mph south of DC to the NC border is "doable."

We averaged 64 mph during our December drive, but that figure includes all stops.

We'll compare and contrast once more next month.

All the best.

 

[BC1836]

Question for recent 2,000+ round-trip drivers who drove Monday-Friday: Has the construction on I-95 in Georgia affected your driving time?

In fact, are there any other recent construction-traffic problems on the I-95 corridor from the Northeast to Northern Florida?

 

[jadedbeauty14304]

I am driving down in April! About 2500 mile r/t. I just bought a new Toyota Yaris and the gas mileage puts my estimated gas costs at 210 total, whereas I was looking at spending 600 on airfare. and 50 to park at the airport, etc... Looking forward to it, trying to figure out when to leave, where to stop etc...to miss high traffic areas and have daylight while we drive through the mountains, which my Dd is looking forward to the most.

 

[MommyBuzz909]

I would LOVE to drive there from SoCal but no time!! Maybe in 09!!!

For the time being, I prefer the 20 minute drive to Disneyland )

 

[sarahlovesmickey]

Everytime we go, we drive. It is like 2500 miles round trip. We always go for like 15-16 days so we make the drive part of the trip. I will admit that the drive home is hard because there is not the anticipation like there is when you are driving down. We really don't mind the drive.

 

[kathiep]

Question for recent 2,000+ round-trip drivers who drove Monday-Friday: Has the construction on I-95 in Georgia affected your driving time?

In fact, are there any other recent construction-traffic problems on the I-95 corridor from the Northeast to Northern Florida?

In September, we got hung up in Georgia for a while mid-morning on a Friday. Southbound was condensed into one lane for a stretch that was probably 5 miles long, but the back up getting to the stretch was horrible!