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

[pilferk]

We fly out tomorrow...but at times I sure wish we were driving again, this trip.

The "luggage fiasco" really is no fun, ya know? But with my Mom and step-dad coming along...driving just wasn't in the cards.

Next trip...driving FOR SURE.

 

[Flyerfan]

hi flyerfan!! your not missing anything here, just cold!! please dont tell me 81 is under construction between wv and vir.??? we have never stayed at a microtel, about how much do they get for a night?

Yep. Although, I believe it's only at night. We went through around 8:30 pm and it was slow moving but not terribly bad...only extended our drive 15 minutes. If my memory serves me right, the Microtel in Walterboro is around $70 or $80 tops. Like I said, it's basic but clean...good for a night.

 

[dvczerfs]

Yep. Although, I believe it's only at night. We went through around 8:30 pm and it was slow moving but not terribly bad...only extended our drive 15 minutes. If my memory serves me right, the Microtel in Walterboro is around $70 or $80 tops. Like I said, it's basic but clean...good for a night.

thanks!! we will be hitting it around 1pm so hopefully. well have to try a micro. sometime, we dont need bells and whistles, just a clean bed and shower. thanks again for the update, have a great time!!!

 

[dvczerfs]

We fly out tomorrow...but at times I sure wish we were driving again, this trip.

The "luggage fiasco" really is no fun, ya know? But with my Mom and step-dad coming along...driving just wasn't in the cards.

Next trip...driving FOR SURE.

have a safe trip pilferf!!!

 

[MrToad_at_BLT]

Driving down for the first time ever next April from Central NJ

I'm super excited about the trip, now I just need to go through all the threads and try to piece together the best route

 

[glo]

Hi guys!

Thanks to you guys we had an awesome ride to WDW at the end of June. We did the 90-84-81-77-26-95 route from New England, and it was smooth sailing. We are going on a cruise and then WDW during our schools February vacation in 2010 and will be driving. What are these roads like in Feb.? I am a little nervous about it, but airfare is out of the question. Has anyone done this in Feb.? What was it like? We have never driven down in the winter. Thanks for any help?

 

[sharadoc]

welcome back sharadoc!!

Thanks. We're starting to plan the next one!!

We think we're going to try the Holiday Inn Express next time. We prefer a "suite" type setup with a sofa, rather than a room, plus we like a decent breakfast. Their AAA rate on their website is around $89 for a suite, so that's what we'll probably try.

Thanks,

 

[BC1836]

Driving down for the first time ever next April from Central NJ

I'm super excited about the trip, now I just need to go through all the threads and try to piece together the best route

If possible, depart very, very early (pre 4:00 a.m.) on a Saturday. You will avoid major traffic particularly in the southern MD/greater DC/northern VA area. [A Sunday departure is our second choice.]

Avoid at all costs any drive that will bring you to the aforementioned region at rush hour, particularly on a Friday. On two occasions, our early Saturday departure allowed us to drive straight-through to WDW!

We have followed this plan, for the most part, on nearly all of our 14 2,000+ mile round-trip drives.

From Central NJ, take the Turnpike or whatever links you up to I-295. Fortunately, we do not have to take the Turnpike from our Jersey Shore location. A number of NJ drivers from the northwestern part of the state prefer the initial I-81 linkup in PA.

Whenever you depart, once you reach Exit #67 on I-4 in FL, your traffic concerns will soon drift away.

All the best.

 

[dvczerfs]

Thanks. We're starting to plan the next one!!

We think we're going to try the Holiday Inn Express next time. We prefer a "suite" type setup with a sofa, rather than a room, plus we like a decent breakfast. Their AAA rate on their website is around $89 for a suite, so that's what we'll probably try.

Thanks,

it looks like after this oct. we are waiting till dec of 2010. we like the christmas activties that go on. ive stayed at a hol.inn express in ohio, it was nice.

 

[JB2K]

Count me in...

...on our upcoming trip, we will be doing the 2K miles thing, too.

As work commitments will have everyone busy on day one, we will leave St. Louis in the early afternoon and plan for a long overnight in Tullahoma, TN (the price, there for good, basic lodging is the best!). The next morning, we will all be early risers, get breakfast on the road and continue our journey down I-75 and the tollways to WDW.

Gas will also be a snap as Sam's Club is strategically-placed along our route to coincide with needed discount fillups.

All in all, it should be a lot of fun -- with zero stress!

 

[MrToad_at_BLT]

If possible, depart very, very early (pre 4:00 a.m.) on a Saturday. You will avoid major traffic particularly in the southern MD/greater DC/northern VA area. [A Sunday departure is our second choice.]

Avoid at all costs any drive that will bring you to the aforementioned region at rush hour, particularly on a Friday. On two occasions, our early Saturday departure allowed us to drive straight-through to WDW!

We have followed this plan, for the most part, on nearly all of our 14 2,000+ mile round-trip drives.

From Central NJ, take the Turnpike or whatever links you up to I-295. Fortunately, we do not have to take the Turnpike from our Jersey Shore location. A number of NJ drivers from the northwestern part of the state prefer the initial I-81 linkup in PA.

Whenever you depart, once you reach Exit #67 on I-4 in FL, your traffic concerns will soon drift away.

All the best.

Thanks for the advice!!!

The current plan is to actually leave late afternoon on Thursday and drive straight through (with the occassional break) getting to the World sometime early afternoon on Friday.

I think the only real decision I have left is whether to take 95 straight through, or to take the interior route of 78 - 81 - 77 - 26 -95. From what I read here on the boards the interior route normally has less traffic and headache but since we're going overnight and the interior route adds about 200 miles to the trip I'm wondering if it's worth the risk.

 

[disneyfan55]

Thanks for the advice!!!

The current plan is to actually leave late afternoon on Thursday and drive straight through (with the occassional break) getting to the World sometime early afternoon on Friday.

I think the only real decision I have left is whether to take 95 straight through, or to take the interior route of 78 - 81 - 77 - 26 -95. From what I read here on the boards the interior route normally has less traffic and headache but since we're going overnight and the interior route adds about 200 miles to the trip I'm wondering if it's worth the risk.

We have done both from Central NJ over the years. The inland route was mainly taken when going to visit relatives a little west of Atlanta, GA. We have really had good luck leaving either early evening on a weekend or very early morning almost any day. We have left on weekdays as well and driven the 95 route- we do bypass the NJ turnpike lately and pick up 95 near Trenton, NJ- no tolls and about the same distance. You end up driving in PA and avoid the turnpike and DE traffic. My daughter works in Hopewell and found this route to be less traffic, (Plus no tolls)

 

[TillyDe]

We live in Plano and have driven to WDW and Panama City Beach several times.

I 20 to Shreveport
I 49 to Lafayette
I 10 to I 75
I 75 to Florida Turnpike

I have driven it in a little over 18 hours streight.

We leave 6 weeks from today.

Thanks. That looks like the most popular route. But, there is no way I can do it straight through. A friend of mine did. But I am getting to old for that.

 

[Stephiehun]

My husband and I are leaving from my parents' house in Northern NJ on Sunday, and stopping near Charlotte, NC for a few days before continuing onto Orlando on Wednesday.

Our current plan is to leave by 7:00 AM on Sunday. Is that too late? How early should we leave?

Any other general tips? We've never driven this far together before - we are hoping our marriage survives this much time in the car! We have some books on CD, and play a mean game of "license plate bingo". My brother is making us some awesome homemade beef jerky, and we'll pick up other snacks/ drinks before we leave.

I'm so excited, even if we will only have one day at the parks. DH is playing in a softball tournament, but I've been promised a day at Epcot for the F&W festival if they aren't playing those days!

 

[BC1836]

My husband and I are leaving from my parents' house in Northern NJ on Sunday, and stopping near Charlotte, NC for a few days before continuing onto Orlando on Wednesday.

Our current plan is to leave by 7:00 AM on Sunday. Is that too late? How early should we leave?

Any other general tips? We've never driven this far together before - we are hoping our marriage survives this much time in the car! We have some books on CD, and play a mean game of "license plate bingo". My brother is making us some awesome homemade beef jerky, and we'll pick up other snacks/ drinks before we leave.

I'm so excited, even if we will only have one day at the parks. DH is playing in a softball tournament, but I've been promised a day at Epcot for the F&W festival if they aren't playing those days!

A weekend morning departure is always recommended. You should not have much traffic to deal with.

All the best.

 

[MarriedToMyHero]

I have read a lot of this thread but skipped a bunch too since it is so darn long. Has anyone had experience driving from Colorado, Colorado springs to be exact.

We plan on leaving on December 11th around 5am and driving until we get tired and staying in a hotel. Waking up very early the next morning and finishing our drive and checking in our WDW room that evening.

Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated.

It will be myself, my husband and our boys who are three and four.

 

[dvczerfs]

I have read a lot of this thread but skipped a bunch too since it is so darn long. Has anyone had experience driving from Colorado, Colorado springs to be exact.

We plan on leaving on December 11th around 5am and driving until we get tired and staying in a hotel. Waking up very early the next morning and finishing our drive and checking in our WDW room that evening.

Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated.

It will be myself, my husband and our boys who are three and four.

wow, that sounds like a road trip!!! i wish you all the best and have a safe trip. ive seen colorado lic. plates in the parking lots at wdw.

 

[Pixieflip]

I have read a lot of this thread but skipped a bunch too since it is so darn long. Has anyone had experience driving from Colorado, Colorado springs to be exact.

We plan on leaving on December 11th around 5am and driving until we get tired and staying in a hotel. Waking up very early the next morning and finishing our drive and checking in our WDW room that evening.

Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated.

It will be myself, my husband and our boys who are three and four.

I finally found someone who drives farther than us! Seriously, we drive from Omaha and pick up the same route as you (according to mapquest) in Kansas City. We've done it lots of times with our 4 kids. Are you looking for advice on your route or traveling with small kids?

 

[BC1836]

100,000 views!


We started with a question on Dec. 6, 2007: did anyone else drive 2,000+ round-trip miles to WDW? The answer, obviously, was YES!
In fact, we originally were asking about multiple trips per year.

This is now one of the most active and viewed threads on the TRANSPORTATION board. Not counting the sticky threads, we only trail the one dedicated to the DINGS airline fares.

And this thread is approaching the 2,000th post!

Since post No. 1, so much information has been shared. Posters have provided detailed information to those who never taken the looooong drive and have shared experiences with those who had. "Helpful" is the word that immediately comes to mind when this thread is mentioned.

Dec. 6, 2007: view #1; Sept. 19, 2009: view #100,000.

In any event, it's time to get back to the topic at hand....

All the best.

 

[middlepat]

BC,

Thanks for starting this great thread. It's been very informative and it looks like there is a large group that not only do the drive, but who swear by it as the best way to travel.

I would also like to add that this thread has not only helped those who drive, it has also converted a few non-believers. (myself included)

Thanks again, and now let's work towards the next 100,000.