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

[Mysteria]

Schoo - Can you do the 9 hour drive and then fly without staying at a hotel? For example if you drove from 3am-noon and had an afternoon flight. You'd be tired on arrival to Orlando but you'd be there sooner and save a little extra. Just a thought.

 

[schoonersky]

That's an idea I hadn't thought of, but actually isn't a bad one. We were up at 3:30am last year to catch our 6am flight out of Halifax. Got to Orlando at 1pm by fluke, it was supposed to be 3 but we got on an earlier connection.

So being in the car at 3am could be done, but it would take 10.5 solid hours to Manchester...so even with a few bathroom breaks and eating in the car, it would be 3pm I would say before we hit Manchester airport (and supposing we didn't get lost!) Add in a flight, we'd be lucky to hit Orlando by 9.

I think I would be all in, all done!

 

[johnnow]

The long drive is over. We were planning on hitting the road by 5AM on Saturday, and I set two alarms, one for 2AM and the other for 3AM. I didn't get to sleep until 10, so I wasn't sure how I'd feel in the morning. Woke up at 2 and got ready to go. DW got up and packed up the food for the trip. Then it was time to play the beat the Dunkin game. We left the house at 3:30 and DD opens at 4 in our area, so it was a win. We were over the GW just after 5 and had no traffic issues until just before the Fort McHenry Tunnel. But, that was just a 10 minute slowdown.

The only other traffic issues were in Northern Virginia and South Carolina. We hit slow moving, all lanes packed traffic from the Springfield interchange to 295. And, in SC, there was an accident on the NB side of 95. That was a bit sobering, because there was a New York plate on one of the cars. We could just imagine that it was a family heading back from their vacation. It only slowed us down for a couple of minutes, it was mostly rubbernecking on the SB lanes.

The only other point of interest was the wind. It was blowing pretty good from CT to Southern Virginia. It was really bad trying to get over some of the bridges. The wind was pushing our van around pretty good. But, on the bright side, it didn't rain. The clouds cleared up just after sunrise.

We had a couple of bathroom breaks and stopped while we ate at a rest area in Virginia. The first day was over at just after 5PM, when we got to Santee. Overall, we made good time, and the kids were great.

Our second day was pretty uneventful. We left at 9AM and got to the Villa at 4PM. Traffic was tight but moving through most of Georgia. And, we had one small slowdown in Jacksonville. The rest was smooth sailing.

Well, its off to bed. The girls have the Story Book Princess breakfast first thing in the morning.

 

[FidlMom]

The long drive is over.

Glad you had a safe trip and have a wonderful vacation!

 

[dantedisney]

We're from MA and am planning to drive to Orlando in mid-July... I'm still trying to decide which route to take - the I-81-77-26-95 or I-95 straight down. From what I have read, I-95 is about 100miles shorter but could take more time due to traffic. From what you've written, it doesn't look too bad (though it could be drastically different in July).

Thanks!

 

[glo]

We're from MA and am planning to drive to Orlando in mid-July... I'm still trying to decide which route to take - the I-81-77-26-95 or I-95 straight down. From what I have read, I-95 is about 100miles shorter but could take more time due to traffic. From what you've written, it doesn't look too bad (though it could be drastically different in July).

Thanks!

We are leaving in two weeks and are leaving on a Sunday night at 2-3am. We are going to try the 95S route. I think we have it timed so we aren't going through anywhere at any time that would cause traffic. Of course unless their is an accident. I think we will be ok, since it is not a weekday. I will let you guys know!

 

[BearHawk]

For those of you who drive overnight on I95, did you have any issues finding places open for bathroom stops? Thanks!

 

[disneyfan55]

For those of you who drive overnight on I95, did you have any issues finding places open for bathroom stops? Thanks!

We have done the overnight drive straight through from NJ on many of our trips. Never a problem. SC is probably the most barren for stops, but stop at the welcome center and some of the larger exits and never a problem. Where are you driving from?

 

[BearHawk]

South Central PA

 

[MelanieC]

Me me me- We drive from close to Philadelphia to Disney R/T. Takes about 17-18 hours r/t give or take based on traffic and stops. More time if we stop at a hotel.

 

[MelanieC]

For those of you who drive overnight on I95, did you have any issues finding places open for bathroom stops? Thanks!

We haven't driven overnight in a long time, but we used to never have a problem finding stops.

 

[BC1836]

We arrived home this afternoon at 5:25 p.m. after a 2,275 mile (106 miles in WDW) round trip; in fact, our 14th round trip since 2002.

We had to stop for a tornado warning at the GA Welcome Center on Saturday, March 28, and we had to delay our departure from Emporia, VA (our overnight stop) this morning because of a tornado watch!

We did not see any sunlight on our drive to WDW until we arrived at the MK via monorail.

In between the drives, of course, was pure wonder: a week at WDW!

Oh yeah, rest stops in SC headin' south at mile markers (approx.) 195, 172, 139, 47 and 17 ( we think). In any event, there's a GA rest stop at mile marker #111.

Major accidents on I-95 North in northern VA and southern MD this afternoon.

All the best.

 

[dsnymomof4]

We arrived home this afternoon at 5:25 p.m. after a 2,275 mile (106 miles in WDW) round trip; in fact, our 14th round trip since 2002.

We had to stop for a tornado warning at the GA Welcome Center on Saturday, March 28, and we had to delay our departure from Emporia, VA (our overnight stop) this morning because of a tornado watch!

We did not see any sunlight on our drive to WDW until we arrived at the MK via monorail.

In between the drives, of course, was pure wonder: a week at WDW!

Oh yeah, rest stops in SC headin' south at mile markers (approx.) 195, 172, 139, 47 and 17 ( we think). In any event, there's a GA rest stop at mile marker #111.

Major accidents on I-95 North in northern VA and southern MD this afternoon.

All the best.

Welcome home! Sounds like you had a nice trip. It's always a little depressing when your trip is over, isn't it? I like to get right into planning the next! Glad your drive was safe.

 

[BC1836]

Welcome home! Sounds like you had a nice trip. It's always a little depressing when your trip is over, isn't it? I like to get right into planning the next!

Indeed! We're planning the next 2,000+ mile drive.

All the best.

 

[Fintastic]

We've thought about driving to WDW, but it's 2,300 miles ONE WAY. So I don't think it's going to happen.

 

[disneyfan55]

We've thought about driving to WDW, but it's 2,300 miles ONE WAY. So I don't think it's going to happen.

Oh, come on!! That's closer than us driving cross country (and visiting many National Parks etc) from NJ to CA!! Just kidding but it's wonderful to see our beautiful country and you maybe could mix the stops with wonderful sites. We drove cross country 6 times, 3 of whiche were with young children(ages 6-12 ranges for the 3 trips in the 80's) We have done the NJ-FL trip driving all but 2 of the trips listed. Many times when the kids were young and even to this day when one has a 1 year old!! My kids still love to drive to WDW as well as have great memories of all the states they visited going cross country. Just some thoughts from someone that has driven all through our wonderful country. Give it some thought! Any questions, please feel free to ask on planning!! It's the most fun to plan a trip that long!!

 

[BC1836]

We've thought about driving to WDW, but it's 2,300 miles ONE WAY. So I don't think it's going to happen.

However, a drive to Disneyland is another matter! A hop, skip and a jump for you!

But as disneyfan55 suggests: give it a try to WDW. At least once. And if you do, you can start your own thread: "For 4,000+ Mile Drivers Only!"

All the best.

 

[pwdebbie]

South Central PA

You said in a previous post that you were going to drive I-95. If you are in south central PA (as I am), why not do the I-81 route? It is a very nice ride.

 

[schoonersky]

You can join me in planning for the 4000 mile roundtrip to WDW...how to survive and maintain your sanity at the same time. I'm already thinking afternoon beach stops on my way down I-95 might be my miracle solution. Are there any nice beaches along the way folks?

 

[marcyinPA]

Has anyone ever stayed in Rocky Mount, NC on their way back home from WDW? What is this area like? We are looking at the Best Western I-95 Goldrock for our trip back home. It looks like it would take about 9 hours or so to get from Orlando to that point, and then another 7-8 hours to the Lehigh Valley. Looks like it would be a good stopping point for us. Any suggestions?