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

[BC1836]

I will be driving to FL from MA in late Feb.....I have driven many times but always on a weekend.....because my teenage dayghter wants to be there for the weekend to hang out with friends we will be driving during the week..hope to drive straight thru (Weds or Thurs) is any weekday worse than the other and what time would be best to leave MA to avoid the NYC and DC traffic??????

Driving through both of those greater metro areas on the same day is not the most pleasant of journeys.

Avoid Friday if you can. And avoid rush hours (easy to do if you had to pass near one of those areas...but two of them?) at every opportunity.

It all depends where you live in Maine.

Do some Google or Map Quest journeys and see how many hours it takes to go to both places. Make a decision based upon that. To be sure, the weather (like today!) is another variable.

All the best.

 

[umaangel00]

We are going to be driving for our 2nd time in March. As of right now, I have NO idea how I am going to get down. I do not remember how I got down there the first time (it's been 4 years) lol. I hate mountains but I know I don't have any way around it.

 

[BC1836]

I hate mountains but I know I don't have any way around it.

Does that apply to Space, Splash and Big Thunder?

BTW: What geographical mountains do you have to deal with?

 

[disnutt]

How far off 95 are the St Augustine sites?

 

[BC1836]

How far off 95 are the St Augustine sites?

Only about 10 miles off I-95. Modern beach "sites" and great historic ones, from Castillo de San Marcos to the Old St. Augustine Village.

[Great TR quote in your signature!]

 

[disnutt]

Only about 10 miles off I-95. Modern beach "sites" and great historic ones, from Castillo de San Marcos to the Old St. Augustine Village.

[Great TR quote in your signature!]

Thanks! We want to check out the historic stuff.
I do love that quote!

 

[umaangel00]

Does that apply to Space, Splash and Big Thunder?

BTW: What geographical mountains do you have to deal with?

Unfortunetly it does apply to Space, Splash and Big Thunder as well.

I believe it's the Appalacians. Its whatever is in Kentucky or Tennessee lol.

 

[DVCisME]

Well we did it! We made it here straight through with a 2 year old and a 4 year old with absolutely no problems. The kids were beyond great! We left NJ taking 40 to the Del Mem Bridge at about 3 and with all of out stops we were here by 9 last night. It is chilly here!

 

[BC1836]

Well we did it! We made it here straight through with a 2 year old and a 4 year old with absolutely no problems. The kids were beyond great! We left NJ taking 40 to the Del Mem Bridge at about 3 and with all of out stops we were here by 9 last night. It is chilly here!

Great driving time!

When we did our "straight through" drive last May we left the Jersey Shore at 4:45 a.m. and reached Exit #67 on I-4 at 10:27 p.m.

Last December, we also left at 3:00 a.m. and made it to Palm Coast, FL at 7:15 p.m. after a 1,004-mile drive. We were close enough to WDW; however, we were so tired from a lack of sleep from the previous night that we checked into a hotel.

In any event, you're in WDW. According to today's weather, it looks mostly sunny in the mid-60s. We're sunny here in NJ today, but I don't think we'll be experiencing temps in the 60's.

All the best.

 

[SeeDisney]

Anyone going to do a road trip on or around February 27?

We're tentatively planning to leave Delaware around 2:00 p.m. in the afternoon, take Route 13 south to VA and then hook on 1-95.

 

[Calle&Jakesmom]

Any suggestions on a good place to stop in the Virginia area off 95 heading south?

We need a good place for a mid-day break on our way down. I'm thinking somewhere that has a place to walk outside and let the kids run around.

 

[BC1836]

Any suggestions on a good place to stop in the Virginia area off 95 heading south?

We need a good place for a mid-day break on our way down. I'm thinking somewhere that has a place to walk outside and let the kids run around.

For just the basics, try the rest stops at mile markers #155 and #132 in VA.

For a complete list of I-95 rest stops north & south, search the web for the "I-95 Exit Guide."

 

[KPH500]

Our last driving trip was in October 2001, my daughter refused to get on an airplane so soon after 9/11. Understandable.....

It was a miserable trip, I got strep throat on the way down and ended up in an ER somewhere near Savannah, GA and our 5 yr old son had car sickness half the way home. The in between part was great though. After that trip we decided to never ever drive again.

Never say never. We've decided to drive again for our May trip. The 5 yr old is 12 now so with some dramamine just in case, we think this time it will be okay. It'll save us from having to rent a car and since we check out on Memorial Day, it'll save us the elevated cost of airfare for the holiday.

Just thought I'd share with this well travelled group. I'll probably be spending more time in this thread getting your advice and support as our trip draws nearer!

 

[Calle&Jakesmom]

For just the basics, try the rest stops at mile markers #155 and #132 in VA.

For a complete list of I-95 rest stops north & south, search the web for the "I-95 Exit Guide."

I was thinking a little more than just a rest stop. Something like a park or historical site. Ideas?

 

[BC1836]

I was thinking a little more than just a rest stop. Something like a park or historical site. Ideas?

Try a number of important Civil War sites in northern VA, like Chancellorsville, Spotsylvania, the Wilderness and Fredericksburg. They're not too far from I-95. Also the Averasboro Battlefield site is just off I-95 in NC. In fact, I-95 features roadside exit markers that makes it easy to get to the aforementioned places.

All the best.

 

[Calle&Jakesmom]

Thanks. We have stopped at one of the civil war sites before and maybe checking out others would be a good idea.

 

[johnnow]

Our last driving trip was in October 2001, my daughter refused to get on an airplane so soon after 9/11. Understandable.....

It was a miserable trip, I got strep throat on the way down and ended up in an ER somewhere near Savannah, GA and our 5 yr old son had car sickness half the way home. The in between part was great though. After that trip we decided to never ever drive again.

Never say never. We've decided to drive again for our May trip. The 5 yr old is 12 now so with some dramamine just in case, we think this time it will be okay. It'll save us from having to rent a car and since we check out on Memorial Day, it'll save us the elevated cost of airfare for the holiday.

Just thought I'd share with this well travelled group. I'll probably be spending more time in this thread getting your advice and support as our trip draws nearer!

My son gets car sick too, and we're driving down in early April. We asked the pediatrician about dramamine at his age (10), but she said he was just a bit too young. He could take some benadryl since it has the same effect. However, she did give some tips. If you have a minivan, sit next to a window so you can look outside. Also, no handheld games or reading. The key is to see the motion that the body is feeling.

 

[BC1836]

Help! The other day we viewed an internet site that listed all the gas stations (by name, no less!) at each exit on I-95. However, I failed to save the site. And yes, we searched our previous 300 sites. To be sure, we've been checking ever since.

We checked the informative I-95 Exit site but that wasn't it.

Any help on this?

The DISboards has a "Driving to Florida" link on its TRANSPORTATION section and probably provides the info we're looking for, but it was last updated in September 2006.

 

[KPH500]

We asked the pediatrician about dramamine at his age (10), but she said he was just a bit too young. He could take some benadryl since it has the same effect. However, she did give some tips. If you have a minivan, sit next to a window so you can look outside. Also, no handheld games or reading. The key is to see the motion that the body is feeling.

Oh, thanks for the heads up! I will be sure to check with his pediatrician before using dramamine. He used a portable dvd player that trip too, I wonder if that added to the car sickness? Good thing he's older, his iPod should keep him occupied most of the time.

 

[BC1836]

Any 2,000+ mile round trips coming up besides SeeDisney, who is departing on 2/27?