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

[MapleGirl]

So is it the general consensus of the New Englanders that the 84/81/77/26/95/4 route is actually quicker than the 95 route once one factors in traffic around the cities?

What sites are there to see along the way?

Will we have trouble finding gas stations with diesel along this route (Yay VW TDI!!)

 

[pilferk]

So is it the general consensus of the New Englanders that the 84/81/77/26/95/4 route is actually quicker than the 95 route once one factors in traffic around the cities?

What sites are there to see along the way?

Will we have trouble finding gas stations with diesel along this route (Yay VW TDI!!)

I've never done the 81 route.....so I can't say.

But I see 2 countdowns in your siggie...which trip are you driving for?

If it's the closer one...maybe so.

If it's the trip further out, I'd keep both routes mapped out and ready to use. Because if there's any hint of bad winter weather, you're likely much better off on 95.

I've stuck to 95 because most of our drives have been during the winter months...and I hate to have any "iffiness" going on. We make hotel ressies (one down, one back) and with a family of 5...the options for "stop and stay" drop precipitously without advance reservations.

IF we ever do a summer/fall/spring drive, I might give the "81" route a go, though. It sounds pretty. But we make the drive from NW CT to Orlando in somewhere between 18 and 20 hours, pure driving time...but we time our drive to avoid as much traffic as possible. Anyone have any thoughts on just how much time you'd shave off that using the 81 route? I just can't imagine it's much.....

 

[Muhlenberg]

According to Mapquest and Google...the 81 way is about an hour longer. HOWEVER...they do NOT account for traffic. The 81 way allows a more relaxing drive, and also allows you to not have to time your drive as much. To me, it's well worth it, unless you KNOW you're going through Balt./DC during the night and there are no sporting events to avoid.

And to the person who asked about Charlotte...we've stayed at the Hampton Inn. I think it's on Arrowwood Dr. It was a good place to stop.

 

[sgtdisney]

I'm thinking of buying a power inverter. Our van has one built into the back, but I'm unsure how I feel about power cords trailing through to the front just so I can play around online, and I expect the kids will have their video games plugged into that one. Does anyone have a recommendation as to brand or style?

We bought one last year before our trip to Florida. We got it at Target, but I am not sure what brand it was. It worked great. We have two cigarette lighters at the front of the van so we used one for the inverter with the three prong plugs, and one for the cell phone chargers, etc. I think it was 25.00-30.00 but I don't remember exactly. It saved us money since we didn't have to go out and buy a few cigarette lighter plugs for some of the electronics the kids brought that only came with AC chargers.

 

[MapleGirl]

But I see 2 countdowns in your siggie...which trip are you driving for?

We will be driving for the January trip and flying for the September trip. Good point about the weather!

 

[tjbaggott]

Hi. I wonder if it would be less time, since a lot of road construction is done during the night hours in the summer.

Is there usually lots of night time construction road work in the fall? We are travelling down a few days before Halloween. The good thing going for us at that time of year is it's off season, so Hotel costs will be lower.

 

[Fonzy13]

After years of swearing I would not do it again, I'm doing it again. The drive.

Want to run this by everyone because it seems there is some current discussion on 95 v. mountains.

Plan to leave on Friday, August 28th from upstate New York (Albany area) and leave at approximately 6 p.m. That would put us in the DC area around midnight, and hoping to make it just south of Richmond by 2 a.m. We want to stop at a hotel just south of Richmond, get up around 8 a.m. and finish the drive to Vero Beach. Just a motel stay that Saturday night in Vero before checking into VB for two days.

Does that sound logical? Contemplated leaving at midnight and trying the drive staight through, but thought 8 hours of relatively stress free driving to get south of Richmond would make the second day relatively easy.

Thoughts?

 

[BC1836]

If you are a veteran night-time driver, you'll certainly avoid the DC area rush hour traffic.

Plan between 7 1/2 to 8 hours of driving to travel from the VA/NC border to the FL border.

All the best.

 

[Donald is #1]

Hi everyone! Joining the thread since I am thinking about driving down from New England for my September DCL cruise! The crazy part is that my sister and I already have our airline tickets. But I enjoy driving and I have always wanted to drive down at least once. So we are talking about doing it on this trip. If we do, I will cancel the airline tickets and then use the credit for my WDW trip next summer.

 

[Leni-J]

Been reading this thread and I have a question about the 81/77/26/95 route. We're coming from Allentown, PA (just north of Philly) and have always taken 95 all the way down in the past. I've been reading about everyone recommending 81 but I have a few questions as to whether it would be better for us or not. We're going down Thursday 9/24 and will be leaving anywhere between 5 & 8pm depending on work that day. That would put us in the DC area around 8p-12am. Would we have much trouble with traffic there at that time of night. As far as the 81 route, are there a lot of easy rest stops, restaurants, gas, etc. We have a 4 year old, so if we need to find a bathroom we can't be driving 20 miles to get to the next stop.

 

[tiggerplus5]

Amazing time considering traffic in NY, DC, Richmond, not to mention the section of 95 that was closed in NC causing a several mile detour!

Do you know why 95 was closed down in NC? Construction or an accident? We are heading down in 3 days-Friday night around 5 p.m. from MA too! It would be awesome to get there in 24 hours.

 

[SiestaK]

Hi Everybody - I'm a newbie posting here but I have spent hours reading posts to help me put my August trip to Disney together. Now, I'm looking for some suggestions for beach destinations after the parks. We plan to leave NJ on 8/13 drive till SC, spend the night then leave for Orlando. We'll spend 1 night off property then get an early start & check in at the POR. We check out on 8/22 & start our drive back to NJ but first we want to spend 5 days recovering from the magic at the beach. Has anyone done this kind of trip & can you recommend some destinations?

 

[coneeny4]

Does anyone know of a good website that will plan my trip for me? I'd like to find a pre-made plan that will take us from MA to Orlando in about 2 days with stops along the way to see the sights. I don't know anything about the route or where we should stop. The only things I know about are DC (would LOVE to visit some museums and memorials, but this might require a separate trip) and South of the Border.

So here are my questions:

1. Where can I map out my route?

2. What sights should we see along the way?

Thank you.

We are planning the same trip for next month and I would love to hear from the experts.

We plan on leaving Friday 8/14 4am from Boston.
Check In for POP is Sunday 8/16.

Questions
I plan on driving 95 to NYC. Where do I pick up 81 and how do I avoid the GW bridge.

Any other tips will be very helpful. Thanks.

 

[KPH500]

Do you know why 95 was closed down in NC? Construction or an accident? We are heading down in 3 days-Friday night around 5 p.m. from MA too! It would be awesome to get there in 24 hours.

It was for construction. But the detour was very clearly marked and like I said, it didn't add to our time at all.

Drive safely and enjoy your trip!

 

[pilferk]

We are planning the same trip for next month and I would love to hear from the experts.

We plan on leaving Friday 8/14 4am from Boston.
Check In for POP is Sunday 8/16.

Questions
I plan on driving 95 to NYC. Where do I pick up 81 and how do I avoid the GW bridge.

Any other tips will be very helpful. Thanks.

Hmmm....95 through NYC on a Friday, probably around 9 or 10 AM-ish, maybe a little earlier? That sound right? I wouldn't do it, but I loathe NYC traffic.

I'd get to 91S (via the Mass Pike, if you're coming from Boston) and transition over to 84W in Hartford. Word of warning: The 84/91 mix master in Hartford can get busy pretty early. From 84, you can either go the 684/287/Garden State/back to 95 route (which gets you around NYC) OR pick up 81 in Dunmore, PA (which will help avoid NYC AND DC traffic).

I'm not sure how you're planning your legs as far as time goes. Given when you're leaving, I actually thing the 81 route will save you time. You'd hit NYC traffic potentially during the morning rush hour (which is horrible) and I think you might hit DC traffic an hour or so prior to Rush hour (which is NEVER fun) on a Friday? Wouldn't be my first choice.....

Given when you're leaving, and the driving times, I'd DEFINITELY consider staying on 84 til you hit 81, and then following the route suggested elsewhere in this thread. It'll keep you moving and you'll likely MORE than make up for the hour "extra" by avoiding easily that much time stuck in traffic in NYC or DC.

We leave around noon from NW CT, end around NYC, and hit DC (usually) toward the tail end of rush hour...and avoid the worst of it by doing the Harbor tunnel/895/295 route.

 

[dvczerfs]

Been reading this thread and I have a question about the 81/77/26/95 route. We're coming from Allentown, PA (just north of Philly) and have always taken 95 all the way down in the past. I've been reading about everyone recommending 81 but I have a few questions as to whether it would be better for us or not. We're going down Thursday 9/24 and will be leaving anywhere between 5 & 8pm depending on work that day. That would put us in the DC area around 8p-12am. Would we have much trouble with traffic there at that time of night. As far as the 81 route, are there a lot of easy rest stops, restaurants, gas, etc. We have a 4 year old, so if we need to find a bathroom we can't be driving 20 miles to get to the next stop.

leni, im in nazareth. i go 81 to 66 to 17 to 95.you miss all the major cities. richmond is the only one and i always went on 95 and never had a problem. you cam pm if you want.

 

[Tjkane28]

I think night driving on 95 is much quicker. Day driving 81 is quicker (yes there are exceptions, but as a rule of thumb).

The big trade off is in available services. 95 is rife with hotels, restaurants, Waffle Houses, Gas stations, clean bathrooms, etc. 81/77/26 is a bit sparse, but as beautiful as anything.

 

[mrstomrice]

I think night driving on 95 is much quicker. Day driving 81 is quicker (yes there are exceptions, but as a rule of thumb).

The big trade off is in available services. 95 is rife with hotels, restaurants, Waffle Houses, Gas stations, clean bathrooms, etc. 81/77/26 is a bit sparse, but as beautiful as anything.

I would love to take the 81... route but DH does not like the thought of more miles. We are driving on a Saturday and I hope to leave around 5 am from SE PA. I'd love the scenic route and think we can make up the extra time in lack of traffic. Any thoughts?

 

[dvczerfs]

I would love to take the 81... route but DH does not like the thought of more miles. We are driving on a Saturday and I hope to leave around 5 am from SE PA. I'd love the scenic route and think we can make up the extra time in lack of traffic. Any thoughts?

my op, summer time, saturday on 95, you may sit in traffic. you would probley be faster going 81-77.

 

[pilferk]

I would love to take the 81... route but DH does not like the thought of more miles. We are driving on a Saturday and I hope to leave around 5 am from SE PA. I'd love the scenic route and think we can make up the extra time in lack of traffic. Any thoughts?

On a Saturday, leaving SE PA at 5 AM? I'd stick to 95.

81 (and I've never driven it, so I'm talking strictly from research and anecdote) is best if you're doing weekday, daytime driving for the most part, and have a good chance at hitting the major cities (NY, DC) at rush hour. I've driven through DC on the weekends, during the day, and it's always been pretty easy (unless they're doing weekend construction somewhere).

Weekend driving, night time driving, or if there is "winter weather" possible...it sounds like 95 works out to be faster.