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

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Do most of you drive non stop or do you stop at a hotel over night to sleep. We live in Illinois and have about an 18 hour drive. We drove over christmas and we stopped both ways to sleep at a hotel. It seemed to take us forever to get there and back. Were leaving next wk and talked about just driving down there as oppose to stopping over night to sleep.
How does it work for my fellow disers to drive straight through?

My family and I are different because we like to take 2 & 1/2 days of driving. On our 1st day we stay in Cleveland, Tennessee and the next day we stop at Valdosta, Georgia. Now instead of staying in Valdosta we could arrive in Clearwater Beach around 7:00 PM or 8:00 PM, however we would rather get there sometime in the afternoon, which is why we stay in Valdosta.

 

[BC1836]

Do most of you drive non stop or do you stop at a hotel over night to sleep. We live in Illinois and have about an 18 hour drive. We drove over christmas and we stopped both ways to sleep at a hotel. It seemed to take us forever to get there and back. Were leaving next wk and talked about just driving down there as oppose to stopping over night to sleep.
How does it work for my fellow disers to drive straight through?

We have about a 17-hour drive. We depart very, very early...usually on a Saturday morning to avoid rush hour traffic. Our goal is to stay overnight in either St. Augustine, Palm Coast or Deltona. The second day's drive is less than 90 minutes to Exit #67 on I-4!

However, once we did a straight through drive. And we may do it again, especially at this time of year when we're within a month of the first day of summer (the longest day!).

 

[mjones73]

We have about a 15-16 hour drive and leave early in the evening. We stop a few hours into the trip for dinner, get the kids in their pajamas then drive straight through from there with just rest and fuel stops.

We've done the drive twice now. The first time I drove straight through which was a mistake, we were visiting friends that live in the Orlando area and I ended up crashing and sleeping most of the day away once we got there. The second time which was last year, my wife took over in the middle of the night so i could get some sleep then I finished the drive off once I woke up, it made for a much better day once we arrived at Disney.

The other thing I try to do is take care of whatever things I need to do around the house in the morning, get the car packed and what not then take a nap in the middle of the day.

 

[M2DD's]

Thanks for all the replies and suggestion
I was thinking that it would work out if me and DH took turns driving/sleeping.
My plan once we arrive in WDW(hopefully around noon) and our room was ready we would take a long nap and hit MK for PM EMH. Or just hang out at the hotel or DTD.
I have a few questions?
1. Can we pull into a rest area/truck stop and get a few winks at the same time? Is this safe to do?
2.If we relize were far to tierd to go on can we find a hotel with room open in the middle of the night?
3.Are there gas stations open 24 hrs or should we find a few on our route before we leave?
4. I was estimating 3/4 hours to eat and take breaks along the way is this to much/little?
Thanks for all the help

 

[Disneycouple99]

I use www.GasBuddy.com to find the cheapest gas and you can use the station features and see which ones are open 24hrs. I find out how many miles a tank of gas will get us then find out which town would be close by when we are getting close to empty and find a station that will work.

 

[Muhlenberg]

Thanks for all the replies and suggestion
I was thinking that it would work out if me and DH took turns driving/sleeping.
My plan once we arrive in WDW(hopefully around noon) and our room was ready we would take a long nap and hit MK for PM EMH. Or just hang out at the hotel or DTD.
I have a few questions?
1. Can we pull into a rest area/truck stop and get a few winks at the same time? Is this safe to do?
2.If we relize were far to tierd to go on can we find a hotel with room open in the middle of the night?
3.Are there gas stations open 24 hrs or should we find a few on our route before we leave?
4. I was estimating 3/4 hours to eat and take breaks along the way is this to much/little?
Thanks for all the help

1. You can sleep at a rest area, but I would think some rest areas are safer than others. If you pull in to one, and it seems "abandoned"...I would think it might not be REAL safe...safety in numbers. OTOH...I've never done that.
2. Don't know that one...I would imagine you should be able to find a room SOMEWHERE. Again...I'd go with something like a Hampton Inn, and if it's not in a tourist trap type of area, they should have some availability, unless it's the 4th of July or similar.
3. Yes there are gas stations open 24 hours, particularly closer to the highway. Bigger stations will be open.
4. That depends on where you eat. We ate at a Cracker Barrel, and it took 2 of us 45 minutes. We didn't dawdle. I'd allow 10 to 15 minutes per stop to stretch your legs and "wake yourself up" a little. GENERALLY, I've found that if I use Mapquest's/Google's estimated time, it equates to actual time with driving "with traffic speeds" ...including stopping (if the stopping is about what I've described).

 

[mjones73]

1) Most of the rest stops are unmanned south of DC, you get police stopping through from time to time otherwise you are on your own. I would rather not stop and sleep at one unless I really felt the need.

2) There should be hotels available overnight in case you need to stop.

3) I've never had a problem finding an open gas station right off the interstate. I typically have to stop in NC then again a few exits up in GA before we hit FL.

4) I figure we stop for about 2-3 total between eating rest stops and gas.

This is a good site also, gives you details about what's available on each exit.

http://www.i95exitguide.com/

 

[pomlover]

Rest stops are creepy and I think they are unsafe. I don't think I would even stay at them during the day to sleep!

 

[dvczerfs]

Rest stops are creepy and I think they are unsafe. I don't think I would even stay at them during the day to sleep!

sound like my dw. we run in and run out. she will hang out at the florida welcoming center for a few min. but thats it. were to old (44) to sleep in the car, we need a bed and a shower! with my back, id look like a pretzel if i tried that.im thinking the people you see sleeping are just sleeping for a few hours? it would creep me out, i could do it in a motor home or camper.

 

[BC1836]

We only wish that we could be at one of those rest stops right now: We had to cancel our WDW vacation. We would have been somewhere in northern VA right now.

 

[pwdebbie]

2.If we relize were far to tierd to go on can we find a hotel with room open in the middle of the night?

We do not make reservations for roadtrips ahead of time. We drive until we are tired, usually 10:00 p.m. or later. We've never had trouble getting a room. This last trip I wanted to get as far as Orangeburg, SC, before stopping but didn't want to make a reservation at the hotel of choice there because I didn't want to be committed to driving beyond tired or stopping too soon. Online, the hotel showed only a few rooms available. We got there and the parking lot was empty. Not sure why they mislead you on the website to think you better make a reservation or you won't get a room. We've never had trouble getting a room at a chain hotel when we arrive late at night without a reservation.

 

[toledo13]

We were wondering how many of you good folks drive at least 2,000 miles roundtrip to WDW? We're getting ready for 2,000+ mile roundtrip #3 this year. Exit #67 on I-4; here we come!

Oh yes, I've done the drive!! But I was way WAY younger. Haven't driven down with DH yet-- but it could be an adventure!! We're at LEAST 2000 miles away!! Subbing!

 

[miprender]

Rest stops are creepy and I think they are unsafe. I don't think I would even stay at them during the day to sleep!

You sound like my family. DH hates when we have to stop at one.

 

[gk90]

We only wish that we could be at one of those rest stops right now: We had to cancel our WDW vacation. We would have been somewhere in northern VA right now.

LOL yes they're not my favorite spot but at least they mean that you're heading to WDW

 

[Muhlenberg]

We do not make reservations for roadtrips ahead of time. We drive until we are tired, usually 10:00 p.m. or later. We've never had trouble getting a room. This last trip I wanted to get as far as Orangeburg, SC, before stopping but didn't want to make a reservation at the hotel of choice there because I didn't want to be committed to driving beyond tired or stopping too soon. Online, the hotel showed only a few rooms available. We got there and the parking lot was empty. Not sure why they mislead you on the website to think you better make a reservation or you won't get a room. We've never had trouble getting a room at a chain hotel when we arrive late at night without a reservation.

We made the mistake of making reservations for our last trip. On the way back from Boca we had a 3 hour "detour" with a car dilemma, and our reserv. was half-way up VA. We got there at 2 am (normally not a problem with my night-owl DH), but we had that 3 hour detour and had left early due to the 14 hour drive. Next trip....not making reservations for along the way.

 

[caitlinsdad]

We made the mistake of m aking reservations for our last trip. On the way back from Boca we had a 3 hour "detour" with a car dilemma, and our reserv. was half-way up VA. We got there at 2 am (normally not a problem with my night-owl DH), but we had that 3 hour detour and had left early due to the 14 hour drive. Next trip....not making reservations for along the way.

I had some problems and had to keep driving, it depends on luck of the draw. I normally make reservations, but will cancel from the road if I have too. Just pay attention to cancelation time, Try to advoid hose that don't allow you to cancel by 6pm

 

[AuSable]

I know most people will say to by-pass if it's rush hour. What times constitute rush hour? We will be doing two 10 hour days to get to the land of the mouse!

 

[BC1836]

I know most people will say to by-pass if it's rush hour. What times constitute rush hour? We will be doing two 10 hour days to get to the land of the mouse!

Despite changes in work-place hours over the years (from flexible scheduling to varied work shifts), the beginning and end of the so-called traditional work day (usually around 6 a.m. and 5 p.m.) marks the time when rush hour escalates. To be sure, those times vary greatly from city to city. And I-95 drivers must avoid the major ones during the Monday-Friday work week: NYC, NJ and greater DC. Add Richmond and Jacksonsville into the mix, too. DC is particularly brutal for several hours in the morning and the late afternoon/early evening. Friday can be particularly unpleasant. And numerous posts on this thread can attest to that! Midwest departures should be aware of Atlanta during rush hour.

No matter what the traffic situation is, though, you're still on your way to WDW. And that's the important thing. We should have been spending our first night there this evening but we had to cancel.

 

[aarmando20]

I will be heading out of Philly next Friday at 7:00PM for our drive down to the mouse. That should put us passing DC at about 9:30 PM. Just wanted to get opinions on if this was a good time to leave.

Thanks

 

[Laurabearz]

Has anyone used RAIN-X on your windshield? Does it work?


Thanks!