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

[dvczerfs]

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


Thanks!

yes it does. i always use it.

 

[glo]

I am driving myself nuts with our upcoming drive. We will be leaving on June 27th around 6 pm from Northern Massachusetts. We will have three 13 year olds, and two adults. My friend will be sharing the driving with me, and we want to get there ASAP. We will have food with us so stops will only be for stretching, bathroom breaks and gas. So my quandry is do we go the I-95 route or the 84-81-26-95 route? We will be driving through the night...so scenery isn't going to matter much. Will I-95 still have issues with traffic, so the other route will be better? I really can't decide which to do since we leave on a Saturday night.

 

[dsnymomof4]

I am driving myself nuts with our upcoming drive. We will be leaving on June 27th around 6 pm from Northern Massachusetts. We will have three 13 year olds, and two adults. My friend will be sharing the driving with me, and we want to get there ASAP. We will have food with us so stops will only be for stretching, bathroom breaks and gas. So my quandry is do we go the I-95 route or the 84-81-26-95 route? We will be driving through the night...so scenery isn't going to matter much. Will I-95 still have issues with traffic, so the other route will be better? I really can't decide which to do since we leave on a Saturday night.

We usually drive from NJ leaving at 6:00 and drive 95 all the way down with minimal stops - only once did we have traffic (had to detour off 95 in VA at 3:00am!). Usually its a pretty smooth ride. Although I've personally never taken the 81/77/26 route, my sister just got back last week and based on what I read here on this thread I recommended she take that route on the way home (to avoid going through DC on Memorial Day). I just wanted to give you her observations - she said the route was definitely more scenic (a moot point really if you're driving overnight), but said the road is very winding at some points so you can't really keep a consistent speed like you can on 95. I think it was still probably a good idea for her since she avoided going through DC, but I think we'll probably stick to 95 all the way. Good luck!

 

[caitlinsdad]

Will be driving from CT to Fl and back in Aug
Thinking of taking it slow on the way down

I-95 to exit 11 on NJT then to garden State to Cape May
Taking the ferry accoss to Del. Then down Rt 13 to Cheasapeke Bridge/ Tunnel. Then working way back to i95 onto FL

On Return trip, I95 to I26.I77, I81, I84
Thoughts on first part as we have taken autotrain in the past

 

[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

 

[Mickey's Sister]

Will be driving from CT to Fl and back in Aug
Thinking of taking it slow on the way down

I-95 to exit 11 on NJT then to garden State to Cape May
Taking the ferry accoss to Del. Then down Rt 13 to Cheasapeke Bridge/ Tunnel. Then working way back to i95 onto FL

On Return trip, I95 to I26.I77, I81, I84
Thoughts on first part as we have taken autotrain in the past

We're leaving from PA this Friday morning & we plan to do I95 to Route 13 in Delaware & on to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge/Tunnel - then back to I95. Our other 4 trips we did just I95 so we thought we'd like a change. Have you ever done this route? I'm still trying to decide which way I want to take back to I95. Are you planning to take 58 all the way back to I95? I read about a scenic route taking I64 to US 58 to US 258 out of Franklin, VA to Murfreesboro, NC & pick up 158 & take that to I95 at Roanoke Rapids. I'd love to hear from anyone who knows this route. I heard it was very scenic & shorter than taking 58. Nothing like waiting till the last minute!

 

[mjones73]

Will be driving from CT to Fl and back in Aug
Thinking of taking it slow on the way down

I-95 to exit 11 on NJT then to garden State to Cape May
Taking the ferry accoss to Del. Then down Rt 13 to Cheasapeke Bridge/ Tunnel. Then working way back to i95 onto FL

On Return trip, I95 to I26.I77, I81, I84
Thoughts on first part as we have taken autotrain in the past

Unless you really want to ride a ferry on your way down, I would skip it and just cross into Delaware via I-295 then pick Rt 1 or Rt 13 down to the southern part of the state as the PP stated.

To ride the ferry it is suggested you make reservations for your travel time at least 24 hours in advance and you it's suggested to arrive an hour in advance.

 

[dvczerfs]

We're leaving from PA this Friday morning & we plan to do I95 to Route 13 in Delaware & on to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge/Tunnel - then back to I95. Our other 4 trips we did just I95 so we thought we'd like a change. Have you ever done this route? I'm still trying to decide which way I want to take back to I95. Are you planning to take 58 all the way back to I95? I read about a scenic route taking I64 to US 58 to US 258 out of Franklin, VA to Murfreesboro, NC & pick up 158 & take that to I95 at Roanoke Rapids. I'd love to hear from anyone who knows this route. I heard it was very scenic & shorter than taking 58. Nothing like waiting till the last minute!

wow, got me lost!! we go i78-i81-i66-rt17-i95-i4. we use to go i78-i81-i77-i26-i95-i4. i havent done the i77 for about 10 years now but back then there wasnt much to look at or service areas once you get into the mountains.16 1/2 hours from okw to driveway.

 

[Mickey's Sister]

wow, got me lost!! we go i78-i81-i66-rt17-i95-i4. we use to go i78-i81-i77-i26-i95-i4. i havent done the i77 for about 10 years now but back then there wasnt much to look at or service areas once you get into the mountains.16 1/2 hours from okw to driveway.

I just hope I don't get us lost! Last drive down I95 was just so horrible (24 hours drive time, UGH!) so we really wanted a change, at least for the drive down. We'll wave as we pass the Lehigh Valley on the turnpike.

 

[chiefcop]

Our round trip from Texas is approx. 2100 miles.

 

[sharadoc]

it seems when you hit I4, it is the longest 40 miles you will ever drive.(by brother lived on annete drive in limerick!)

Hi! I have no idea where Annette Drive is - all of the new developments have generic names!

I think I said in an earlier "tips" post that you just can't get excited when you hit I-4. You have a long way to go but you feel like you should be at Disney's Front Door as soon as you hit it!

Take care,

 

[sharadoc]

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

We always make a "preferred hotel" reservation that allows us to cancel by 6, but then I have stand-bys available for both before and after. If we don't want to stop and drive longer, I will first call for another reservation, then cancel the first. Same with needing to stop sooner

I'm ultra-organized for our trip. I have an entire binder of maps, places to stop and eat, gas and hotels. Whenever we have a question during the trip, I can whip out the binder and usually can answer it.

They key to succesful driving is having the information at your fingertips, then you'll have a stress free trip. Have fun!!

 

[sharadoc]

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

Hi. I'm scared to leave on a Friday night because of shore traffic through Delaware and Maryland. Around here shore traffic starts by 3 on a Friday and goes through midnight. That's why we're leaving on Saturday morning and getting there on Sunday.

 

[mjones73]

Hi. I'm scared to leave on a Friday night because of shore traffic through Delaware and Maryland. Around here shore traffic starts by 3 on a Friday and goes through midnight. That's why we're leaving on Saturday morning and getting there on Sunday.

I drive I-95 daily from Wilmington, DE to the MD line during rush hour and I've never really had a problem getting through now that DE has added a 5th lane between Rt 141 and Rt1, the only issues I see is traffic backing up on the right lane trying to exit at Rt1 to head down to the beaches. It use to be a lot worse heading home on Friday's until they widened I-95.

If you're taking I-95 straight into DE, I suggest you take the I-495 bypass around Wilmington then get all the way over in the left lane once you merge back on to I-95, it should be a straight shot down to the toll at the DE/MD line. Now the toll backs up at times when it's busy but there's ways around that too if you don't mind driving a mile or two out of your way.

 

[BC1836]

I drive I-95 daily from Wilmington, DE to the MD line during rush hour and I've never really had a problem getting through now that DE has added a 5th lane between Rt 141 and Rt1, the only issues I see is traffic backing up on the right lane trying to exit at Rt1 to head down to the beaches. It use to be a lot worse heading home on Friday's until they widened I-95.

If you're taking I-95 straight into DE, I suggest you take the I-495 bypass around Wilmington then get all the way over in the left lane once you merge back on to I-95, it should be a straight shot down to the toll at the DE/MD line. Now the toll backs up at times when it's busy but there's ways around that too if you don't mind driving a mile or two out of your way.

Yours is a demanding daily drive. And your suggestion is a good one regarding the bypass; however, we depart so early that we've never had a problem dealing with the I-95 traffic through DE driving to WDW (our last two drives through DE took place before 5:30 in the morning). The return drive, however, is another story. And, yes, that toll plaza...

All the best.

 

[mjones73]

Yours is a demanding daily drive. And your suggestion is a good one regarding the bypass; however, we depart so early that we've never had a problem dealing with the I-95 traffic through DE driving to WDW (our last two drives through DE took place before 5:30 in the morning). The return drive, however, is another story. And, yes, that toll plaza...

All the best.

It's not all that bad during the week now, the weekends are a different story, between that toll plaza and the construction at I-295, northbound is a nightmare whenever it's holiday weekend or summer. You may save some time getting off at Exit 100 in MD towards North East then take a left on Rt40 and take it all the way up to where it merges with Rt13 in DE then stay on that til it gets you up to I-495. There's a few other local routes you can take through Delaware to hopefully avoid some of that mess also.

As for southbound if the plaza is backed up, exit at Rt896 towards Newark, left on Rt4, left on Rt279 (Elkton Rd), follow it back to I-95.

 

[kingcrab]

Got ours planned out, 2,300 miles starting next Friday around 1 p.m.

I will take the first 7-8 hour stretch to Nashville (get in there about 9 p.m.), have dinner(hoping for BB kings), and then have my wife knock out about 4 hours while I take a nap. I will resume my driving around 2 a.m., and knock out the rest of the trip. I'm thinking total drive time will be about 19 hours based on RandmCnally estimates. Putting us in Orlando between 11:00 a.m, and 1:00 p.m., depending on frequency of stops.

Just couldnt see spending $50 for a hotel to take a few hours nap on the way down. I can catch up on sleep by the pool. On the way home we may stop at a hotel so I am not tired when I go back to work.,

 

[caitlinsdad]

Unless you really want to ride a ferry on your way down, I would skip it and just cross into Delaware via I-295 then pick Rt 1 or Rt 13 down to the southern part of the state as the PP stated.

To ride the ferry it is suggested you make reservations for your travel time at least 24 hours in advance and you it's suggested to arrive an hour in advance.

The ferry is a way to break up the northeast I95 part of the drive, Its something differant I think my dd and dw might enjoy.

Unless its just me in the car, I advoid the staight shot down I-95 to dc

 

[caitlinsdad]

Just couldnt see spending $50 for a hotel to take a few hours nap on the way down. I can catch up on sleep by the pool. On the way home we may stop at a hotel so I am not tired when I go back to work.,

Let me know where these $50 a night motels are , I would like to save a few bucks

 

[kingcrab]

Let me know where these $50 a night motels are , I would like to save a few bucks

good one.

you are right probably closer to $70 when it would be all said and done, although some of those small motels in rural Tennessee, and Kentucky can be cheap.