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

[disneyfan55]

OK...Just a few hours away from departure. The car is creatively packed so that each kid will have their own row (bed) in our Honda Pilot, I have my GPS, Triptik, maps, sattellite radio, I95 detail exit guide book, 2 power inverters to power our laptops, wireless internet with a wifi hook up in the car and enough m&ms and red bull to power me to FL...Yeah, I think we're ready!!

Yes, I think you're ready. There's really only one main road most of the way I95 and once you are past Washington CD it's smooth sailing!! Have a great time. We have driven this from central NJ many times and never a problem!! All of the trips except 2 (including the DL trips which were a midpoint on 2 of the 6 cross contry trips and no GPS) were the drive and all except our last few straight through!! Have fun and a nice Valentine's day!

 

[MinMouse]

Thanks MinMouse and BC. Ok, I may want to change our time now to 4:00 a.m., Saturday morning.

Min mouse -- during your seven times to WDW, and leaving at 2:00 a.m. or 4:00 a.m., what time do you arrive at WDW. do you stay overnight somewhere say in S. Carolina? Which hotel?

We usually drive all the way to Florida and either stop in Jacksonville around dinner time (leaving about a 3 hour drive in the morning) or to Lake Mary around 8 p.m. (leaving about a 30-45 minute drive in the morning). Our first drive we stopped in Savannah which was about a 12-hour drive the first day and 5 hours the second day. In Jacksonville we like the Wingate Inn off of I-95 Exit 344. In Lake Mary we stay in the La Quinta off I-4 exit 98. Both have very nice continental breakfasts included and have run us anywhere from $65 to $90 per night. So our normal routine is to get up and have breakfast and be on the road by 8 a.m. and head straight to the resort to check in. Usually we just check in and get our room keys (they call us later with the room number if the room is not ready) and head to the buses to go to a park til our room is ready. Keep us posted on your plans and how the trip went!

 

[pilferk]

OK...Just a few hours away from departure. The car is creatively packed so that each kid will have their own row (bed) in our Honda Pilot, I have my GPS, Triptik, maps, sattellite radio, I95 detail exit guide book, 2 power inverters to power our laptops, wireless internet with a wifi hook up in the car and enough m&ms and red bull to power me to FL...Yeah, I think we're ready!!

Drive safe..and as you run through New Haven, give me a wave as you pass the York Street/Frontage Road/Route 34 exit (if you're doing 95 the whole way, that is...I can't remember.).

Let us know how the drive/trip goes!

 

[pilferk]

My parents (in their 70s) drove down just a few weeks ago from the Fenwick Island area. They avoided DC altogether by taking 13S and then picking up I95 south of Richmond. If you can avoid DC, do so! Leave later or leave earlier, but don't put yourself in the DC area between 3:00 and 7:00.

You can also nab the Baltimore/Washington parkway, which will diverge from 95 right around the Tunnels area, and dump you on the South side of DC, avoiding a good chunk of the "in the middle of DC" traffic.

However, EVEN the parkway is busy through DC and backs up A LOT during rush hours (morning and evening). In essence, you'd have to go a LONG way aroundd DC to avoid the rush hour effects...easier to avoid the rush hours.

 

[smidgen21]

We leave next Friday for WDW! We are driving from Michigan. Our 1/2 way point is about Knoxville, TN. We are looking for a clean, comfortable hotel (for around $100) in a nice, safe area, with easy access to dining etc. Close to eway would be great. An indoor pool would be a bonus, we could play after a long day on the road. Double bonus if there is a good continental breakfast. Is that asking too much? TIA.

 

[friskygal95]

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

Leaving on the 28th from Ohio!! Hope there is not a snow storm between now and then...

 

[smidgen21]

Anyone have a list of wi-fi hotspots on 75? Just in case we need to get online? TIA.

 

[shafke]

We'll be stopping in Brunswick (exit 36- Red Roof Inn) on the 21st. Thanks for the info about NC. Was the construction in GA really bad? When you say slow down, do you mean a little or to a stop. I think we'll hit GA around 8pm or so on a Saturday night. I am hoping that highway traffic won't be so bad at that time.

Also, it would be great to hear how long it takes you from Brunswick to get to Disney. We're planning about 5 hours. It would be fantastic if it was less!

When I say slow down I mean 55mph. After doing 70-75 for 300 mile 55 is slow.

Brunswick to Disney should be less than 4 hours. We lost 30 minutes leaving Brunswick because of the construction. I think they close I95 for about 15 minutes because of the construction. We sat and did not move for 15 minutes. The road opened and we ran into no problems the rest of the way.
There is heavy construction around Jacksonville but you don't lose much tie there.

 

[shafke]

Anyone have a list of wi-fi hotspots on 75? Just in case we need to get online? TIA.

A lot of McDonalds have wi-fi. I don't know if you can find out online where they might be. Some are free and some are not.

Funny story... we stopped at a McD on I95 that had wi-fi. They charged so I tried another unsecured network in the area. It turned out to be a mexican restaurant next door that was free.

 

[smidgen21]

last time we traveled we pulled into a hotel parking lot and they had free unsecured wifi. we sat right there and "borrowed" their internet LOL

 

[smidgen21]

A lot of McDonalds have wi-fi. I don't know if you can find out online where they might be. Some are free and some are not.

Funny story... we stopped at a McD on I95 that had wi-fi. They charged so I tried another unsecured network in the area. It turned out to be a mexican restaurant next door that was free.

I've never used wifi at McDs. I'm looking at their directory right now. How can I tell if it's free or not? The chart lists the address, wireless y/n, and arch card y/n.

i think I read BK has some wifi spots too. I'm going to look into that.

 

[Calle&Jakesmom]

When I say slow down I mean 55mph. After doing 70-75 for 300 mile 55 is slow.

Brunswick to Disney should be less than 4 hours. We lost 30 minutes leaving Brunswick because of the construction. I think they close I95 for about 15 minutes because of the construction. We sat and did not move for 15 minutes. The road opened and we ran into no problems the rest of the way.
There is heavy construction around Jacksonville but you don't lose much tie there.

Thanks!! I hope we don't run in to the same problem you did... I don't know if I could stand sitting in the car not moving for 15 minutes on the last leg of our trip to Disney! It must have felt like hours!!

 

[huskies90]

Drive safe..and as you run through New Haven, give me a wave as you pass the York Street/Frontage Road/Route 34 exit (if you're doing 95 the whole way, that is...I can't remember.).

Let us know how the drive/trip goes!

Actually, I left from the Danbury area down 684 to Tappan Zee to GSP to 95. And actually I am in route right now in the back seat taking a break from the driving as my wife drives though Northern FL. We are about to hit the I4 turn off.

Quick live recap:

Left CT at 4PM. We hit a snag on the Tappan Zee for emergency construction which cost us about 45 minutes then the volume through NJ was way higher than I expected. We arrived in Newark DE for dinner about an hour later than I planned. We switched drivers and my wife drove though DC and into VA. We swapped back in Ashland VA at 12:15 and I drove straight thru to Savannah GA while everyone slept. I made up the time we lost. I had no problems at all and this was a great way to go. We switched back at 7:30 AM and she drove to Brunswick for breakfast while I power napped. We ended up stopping at an IHOP - couldn't bring myself to try a Waffle House. We hit no delays at all in GA. I am about to switch back when we hit I4 and assuming no problems on I4 we should get in around our 2PM scheduled time. I shouldn't jinx myself because I have seen two wicked accidents going north on I95. Coming back next week we'll be stopping over and doing the trip in two days. Should be interesting to compare.

 

[Calle&Jakesmom]

We hit no delays at all in GA.

Good to hear. I was concerned about a previous report that talked about construction delays all the way through GA.

 

[BC1836]

I am about to switch back when we hit I4 and assuming no problems on I4 we should get in around our 2PM scheduled time. I shouldn't jinx myself because I have seen two wicked accidents going north on I95.

And by the time of this post you are probably getting ready to see Spectromagic or something else quite wonderful!

Forget about driving for now. Enjoy!

All the best.

 

[johnnow]

We're set to leave on April 4th, which is a Saturday. Most of the posts seem to be geared towards traveling I95 on a weekday. How's the traffic on a Saturday? I'm planning on hitting the GW about 6:30 AM. What's it like getting through Baltimore and DC given my timeframe? Driving overnight isn't really an option, so my travels will have to be during the day. I could possibly hit the GW an hour earlier if I get a good jump on the day.

If I take 95, does getting an EZ-Pass make any sense? I don't travel that way too often. How much time does it save getting through the tolls? We're staying overnight in Santee, SC, so if getting through DC is going to be a hassle, I can always take 78-81-77-26 and hook up with 95 just south of Santee. Which way works best?

For my return trip, I'm taking the 81 route. We're leaving FL on a Thrusday. What would be a good area to stay about 8 to 10 hours out of Orlando up 26-77-81?

 

[BC1836]

We're set to leave on April 4th, which is a Saturday. Most of the posts seem to be geared towards traveling I95 on a weekday. How's the traffic on a Saturday? I'm planning on hitting the GW about 6:30 AM. What's it like getting through Baltimore and DC given my timeframe? Driving overnight isn't really an option, so my travels will have to be during the day. I could possibly hit the GW an hour earlier if I get a good jump on the day.

If I take 95, does getting an EZ-Pass make any sense? I don't travel that way too often. How much time does it save getting through the tolls? We're staying overnight in Santee, SC, so if getting through DC is going to be a hassle, I can always take 78-81-77-26 and hook up with 95 just south of Santee. Which way works best?

It's a bit difficult to evaluate your schedule without knowing your place of departure. If you live in White Plains, NY and reach the GW by 6:30 a.m., that's too late; if, on the other hand, if you're traveling from Sag Harbor, NY or Providence, RI, 6:30 a.m. is a good time.

You've got to prepare for 2 hours on the NJ Turnpike and then another 3 1/2 hours (at best) to cross the Potomac. EZ Pass is applicable to every toll you encounter.

Of course, you can always avoid major traffic by taking the 78-81-77-26 route (favored by some), but it adds time -- especially the NJ-PA trek -- to you ultimate journey.

All the best.

 

[Puget Peach]

My BFF and I are planning a trip to take her three grand children. She lives near Chicago, I live near Seattle. I'll be flying to Chicago, then driving a minivan with her and the three grand kids to Orlando. The kids are 12, 9 and 3. We're most likely going to tent camp at Fort Wilderness the week before the rest of the world arrives for Christmas vacation. I'm really excited to do this, but will probably need several days after I get home from this trip to recover!!!

 

[johnnow]

It's a bit difficult to evaluate your schedule without knowing your place of departure. If you live in White Plains, NY and reach the GW by 6:30 a.m., that's too late; if, on the other hand, if you're traveling from Sag Harbor, NY or Providence, RI, 6:30 a.m. is a good time.

You've got to prepare for 2 hours on the NJ Turnpike and then another 3 1/2 hours (at best) to cross the Potomac. EZ Pass is applicable to every toll you encounter.

Of course, you can always avoid major traffic by taking the 78-81-77-26 route (favored by some), but it adds time -- especially the NJ-PA trek -- to you ultimate journey.

All the best.

Thanks. I'm traveling almost 2 hours before I get to the GW, so getting there any earlier may not fly to well with DW. If I'm reading this right, that gets me through DC at about 12PM? How's traffic at midday in the DC area on a Saturday?

 

[marcyinPA]

We are planning on driving down for the first time from Bethlehem PA. Our ressies are for June 20-27. our plan is to drive to Annapolis MD and stay with the IL's on Thursday night 6/18. Get up early, get in the van and drive until we get to Jacksonville. Stay with family 6/19. Get up early 6/20 and get to Disney early.

If we can't stay with our family in Jacksonville, where is a good place to stop and stay overnight, and still have a short trip to Orlando the next day? Any suggestions?

Thanks!!