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

[sharadoc]

We are down here now and took the I-81 route you list above for the first time this trip. (we are from Whitehall/Allentown area). I will never take 95 all the way again. It was a great drive. Took maybe 16 hours total, although we did stop the first day in Savannah overnight for the kids.

Either way; the drive was easy, stress free and scenic. HIGHLY recommended!

HI. I'm really curious about this - we could drive out towards Harrisburg to pick it up, I think.

Doesn't this route go through the mountains? I HATE driving along mountainsides.

 

[sharadoc]

I want to stay in the Florence SC area again, but NOT at the Econolodge. Someone suggested the Hampton in & Suites, what do you all think?

Hi. We stayed at the Springhill Suites in Florence. It was really new in January, I think it had only been open a couple of months.

We really liked it. Everything seemed new and clean, and the breakfast was very nice. It was around $100 a night, it had a sofa and desk area, and two double beds. It was great for our family of 4. We had pizza delivered for dinner because we were so exhausted but there were plenty of restaurants nearby.

 

[dvczerfs]

HI. I'm really curious about this - we could drive out towards Harrisburg to pick it up, I think.

Doesn't this route go through the mountains? I HATE driving along mountainsides.

yes it does. we get off at int66, after int66 its basicaly mountains,trees and mountains and trees. we hit a snow storm on that mountain in early november one year. we stayed overnight at whites truck stop (that was intresting) in our car. (we were only 22 ) now, i stick to civilization when i travel.

 

[jondvl]

we take 81 to int66 to 17 to int95. it take me about 11/2 hours less than going out 77 to 26. we have gone both ways 77 /26 is a nice ride into the mountains if you need scenery. going 81/66/17/95 you will miss the dc and balt areas. we drive thru richmond on 95 and so far we have gotten lucky. they have signs aproaching richond to tell you if the traffic is backed up or not and if it is, just take the spur around it.

Where does this connect to I-95?

 

[rotlex]

HI. I'm really curious about this - we could drive out towards Harrisburg to pick it up, I think.

Doesn't this route go through the mountains? I HATE driving along mountainsides.

It does go through the mountains, but it is a major road. We maintained 70 plus the entire time. It was a great drive and we will be heading back home that way tomorrow.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

For those that travel along I-75/I-40 in the Konxville area all that major construction they were doing was completed earlier this month on June 12, so here is a link to a story about it if anyone will be travelling around that area in the future.
http://news.tennesseeanytime.org/node/2104

 

[dvczerfs]

Where does this connect to I-95?

virginia exit 133 on int95 is were 17 picks up.

 

[BC1836]

Alas...it's time for our return home in about an hour from now.

A great week at WDW and now the 1,000+ mile drive back home. An overnight in VA is planned.

All the best!

 

[glo]

Alas...it's time for our return home in about an hour from now.

A great week at WDW and now the 1,000+ mile drive back home. An overnight in VA is planned.

All the best!

Have a safe trip back home. We are at T-minus 10 hours and counting til we leave for DISNey!!! Car is semi packed. I have my kids ready(ok, almost ready)....
WDW here we come!!!!

 

[debf]

Has any one taken route 1 instead of I-95 through Virgina?, last two drives down we encountered heavy traffic through Virgina.

 

[BC1836]

Have a safe trip back home. We are at T-minus 10 hours and counting til we leave for DISNey!!! Car is semi packed. I have my kids ready(ok, almost ready)....
WDW here we come!!!!

As we post this you are on the road.

For us, we traded a MK view this morning for one of an Emporia, VA motel parking lot near I-95 tonight. Yes, there is a difference.

No traffic problems today on our WDW to southern VA overnight destination. However, an accident in southern GA this morning had south-bound I-95 traffic backed up for 4+ miles.

All the best to all!

 

[SurelyForth]

My boyfriend and I will be going to WDW from September 26th-October 3rd. We were going to fly, but I have serious anxiety about air travel and now we're seriously considering driving. Checking it out, we can rent a car and drive for about the same as we could fly (as an added bonus, we'll have a car while we're down there!).

We live about 50 miles south of Indianapolis, IN so our mileage will be at almost exactly 2,000 round trip. I've driven from here straight through to Pensacola, FL (about 12 hours each way) and New Orleans (about 13) with no problems/emotional breakdowns.

The tentative plan is for me to leave work early on the 25th, sleep until 9:00 pm and then head out around 10:00. Taking 65 to 24, I can easily make Chattanooga by 7:00 am. My boyfriend, who can sleep through anything, will then take over and we should be able to get to Orlando by 5:00 or 6:00 that evening. I had nothing planned for our first night, so I'll have no problem catching up on some sleep.

On the way back, we'll leave Orlando around noon on the 3rd and stay overnight in Georgia and be home late in the afternoon on the 4th. Unless I'm missing something obvious, I can't imagine it being too bad.

 

[caitlinsdad]

Trying to figure out a south bound rt.
North Bound is all worked out. I95 to I26, I77,I81,I84 Home.

But southbound is new to us, Down autotrain in past

Starting in CT, I95- Jersey Tpke, to Del Boarder, US 13/SR1 to 301 By passing Baltimore and DC to Sr 207 to I 95 X 104 in VA, Stoping first night in Richmond area on points (one of the sheartons)

Day 2 I 95 arund x 67 in va to Wakterboro SC

Day 3 I95 to Cooca Beach

Not in a hurry, Looking not to drive more than 400 miles are a clip. Only driver and not in a hurry.

any thoughs, perhaps better way to advoid DC and northern VA backup

 

[pilferk]

My boyfriend and I will be going to WDW from September 26th-October 3rd. We were going to fly, but I have serious anxiety about air travel and now we're seriously considering driving. Checking it out, we can rent a car and drive for about the same as we could fly (as an added bonus, we'll have a car while we're down there!).

We live about 50 miles south of Indianapolis, IN so our mileage will be at almost exactly 2,000 round trip. I've driven from here straight through to Pensacola, FL (about 12 hours each way) and New Orleans (about 13) with no problems/emotional breakdowns.

The tentative plan is for me to leave work early on the 25th, sleep until 9:00 pm and then head out around 10:00. Taking 65 to 24, I can easily make Chattanooga by 7:00 am. My boyfriend, who can sleep through anything, will then take over and we should be able to get to Orlando by 5:00 or 6:00 that evening. I had nothing planned for our first night, so I'll have no problem catching up on some sleep.

On the way back, we'll leave Orlando around noon on the 3rd and stay overnight in Georgia and be home late in the afternoon on the 4th. Unless I'm missing something obvious, I can't imagine it being too bad.

It's not...especially if you're a couple traveling without kids. My wife and I did it, before we had kids, and actually enjoyed the drive. We've done it in straight shots (22 hours, straight) and with an overnight stay to break it up, and neither was too bad.

WITH kids, it's still not bad (the person that invented the portable DVD player should be sainted)..but I think it's much "better" because it's not our first rodeo. Having those first rides under our belt BEFORE adding the kids means we're more comfortable with the drive. We drive from CT, so our mileage is pretty similar to yours (we hit about 2200 miles, round trip).

 

[pilferk]

Trying to figure out a south bound rt.
North Bound is all worked out. I95 to I26, I77,I81,I84 Home.

But southbound is new to us, Down autotrain in past

Starting in CT, I95- Jersey Tpke, to Del Boarder, US 13/SR1 to 301 By passing Baltimore and DC to Sr 207 to I 95 X 104 in VA, Stoping first night in Richmond area on points (one of the sheartons)

Day 2 I 95 arund x 67 in va to Wakterboro SC

Day 3 I95 to Cooca Beach

Not in a hurry, Looking not to drive more than 400 miles are a clip. Only driver and not in a hurry.

any thoughs, perhaps better way to advoid DC and northern VA backup

Here's what we do (though it's not leisurely):

I-84 to 684 to the Sawmill Parkway to 287 to the Garden State Pkway. Garden State to 95. 95 the WHOLE way down to Florida. Then I-4 to WDW.

We only make one stop, almost exactly half way down, at exit 173 (I think) in North Carolina.

I'm not sure there's an "end around" through DC, though we did find that the Baltimore/Washington parkway avoided a lot of the congestion. To do that, follow the signs for the Harbor tunnel/895 while you're on 95, around Baltimore. It'll dump you right on 295 (the Baltimore/Washington pkway). Follow 295 and it will put you right back on 95, on the other side of DC...which at least avoids the beltway. That being said: rush hour is still rush hour.

In Virginia, the only other trafficy area I found was Richmond...and then only if you're coming through during the day (on weekdays)...and obviously during the typical rush hours. To avoid that, you just take THEIR 295 "end around". It take you from one side of Richmond, around the outskirts, and dumps you on the other. Longer mileage, but shorter commute when there's traffic in Richmond.

 

[caitlinsdad]

Here's what we do (though it's not leisurely):

I-84 to 684 to the Sawmill Parkway to 287 to the Garden State Pkway. Garden State to 95. 95 the WHOLE way down to Florida. Then I-4 to WDW.

We only make one stop, almost exactly half way down, at exit 173 (I think) in North Carolina.

I'm not sure there's an "end around" through DC, though we did find that the Baltimore/Washington parkway avoided a lot of the congestion. To do that, follow the signs for the Harbor tunnel/895 while you're on 95, around Baltimore. It'll dump you right on 295 (the Baltimore/Washington pkway). Follow 295 and it will put you right back on 95, on the other side of DC...which at least avoids the beltway. That being said: rush hour is still rush hour.

In Virginia, the only other trafficy area I found was Richmond...and then only if you're coming through during the day (on weekdays)...and obviously during the typical rush hours. To avoid that, you just take THEIR 295 "end around". It take you from one side of Richmond, around the outskirts, and dumps you on the other. Longer mileage, but shorter commute when there's traffic in Richmond.

Taking our time down, 3 days from southern ct, No more than 400 miles a day (8hrs at 50 mpg aveage ) that includes factoring in two or 3 rest stops including lunch a day.

The 301 rt was suggested at work to bypass DC, but its two lane in Del.

Starting at 9 am each day, wondering if Richmond is too much of a push by 5pm First day?

 

[pilferk]

Taking our time down, 3 days from southern ct, No more than 400 miles a day (8hrs at 50 mpg aveage ) that includes factoring in two or 3 rest stops including lunch a day.

The 301 rt was suggested at work to bypass DC, but its two lane in Del.

Starting at 9 am each day, wondering if Richmond is too much of a push by 5pm First day?

It'll be close, I think, but probably doable without too much of a push.

We left, last time, a bit before noon, from NW CT (takes me an hour and 15 minutes to get to work in New Haven), and were into DC right around 6PM...I'd guess we weren't too far off Richmond at the 8 hour mark. I know we hit our hotel in North Carolina just before 11 PM. It's about 475 miles for us to Richmond. Depending on where you are in Southern CT, you could lop about 60 miles off that.

You're then probably looking at exit 77 or 57 in South Carolina for your day 2 stop. Those seem to have the best lodging selections. That should get you around 400 miles on day 2.

Then it should be an easy shot to WDW the 3rd day.....about 320-ish miles left.

One thing I wanted to clarify: I said we only make one stop, overnight in NC....what I meant was, we only do the drive in 2 legs, over 2 days. We make LOTS more stops because the kids bladders don't cooperate very well. I think we might have hit every rest stop in Jersey on the way down.....and about 1/2 of them on the way back.

This might help you out, too...we printed it, brought it with us, and used it a LOT.
http://www.wdwinfo.com/Transportation/Driving_to_Florida.htm

PS: Remember, the speed limit in much of the South is 70...you may find yourself making incredibly good time once you're south of DC.

 

[MapleGirl]

So what would you all suggest for a newbie?

DH and I go to WDW 1-2 times a year, but we always fly. Well, we're looking to buy a new Diesel Jetta in July and are looking forward to some car trips. It's just DH and I and we love driving around and singing musicals at the top of our lungs. (Are you picturing Tim Robbins from the Sure Thing? )

So I really want to try driving to WDW from Boston. What would you suggest/what are your tips?

How long should it take? My co-worker says to go up into PA and then drive south rather than taking I-95. She says it's prettier and has less traffic. Do you agree or know what she's talking about?

What stops along the way should we take? I would love to sample some good southern pie and BBQ along the way.

What is South of the Border?


OH! This sounds like so much fun!!! What month should we do it?

 

[caitlinsdad]

It'll be close, I think, but probably doable without too much of a push.

We left, last time, a bit before noon, from NW CT (takes me an hour and 15 minutes to get to work in New Haven), and were into DC right around 6PM...I'd guess we weren't too far off Richmond at the 8 hour mark. I know we hit our hotel in North Carolina just before 11 PM. It's about 475 miles for us to Richmond. Depending on where you are in Southern CT, you could lop about 60 miles off that.

You're then probably looking at exit 77 or 57 in South Carolina for your day 2 stop. Those seem to have the best lodging selections. That should get you around 400 miles on day 2.

Then it should be an easy shot to WDW the 3rd day.....about 320-ish miles left.

One thing I wanted to clarify: I said we only make one stop, overnight in NC....what I meant was, we only do the drive in 2 legs, over 2 days. We make LOTS more stops because the kids bladders don't cooperate very well. I think we might have hit every rest stop in Jersey on the way down.....and about 1/2 of them on the way back.

This might help you out, too...we printed it, brought it with us, and used it a LOT.
http://www.wdwinfo.com/Transportation/Driving_to_Florida.htm

PS: Remember, the speed limit in much of the South is 70...you may find yourself making incredibly good time once you're south of DC.

Yep I know about those rest stop breaks, I have a 12 yo its not so bad now, but the first couple of years

I now plan a stop every 2 to 2 1/2 hrs for bathroom break

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

For anyone who happens to live in the Detroit area I know they are doing some major construction along I-75 and just after we cross the border from the Ambassador Bridge into the United States there is a detour onto I-75 South that goes threw Mexicantown. So I am just wondering has there been any improvements in the costruction in those area's since August 2008, because this August when we drive down we know that construction will still be happening.