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

[Tjkane28]

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?

Take 95 down...no question.

When are you coming back? Tell DH that the "extra miles" will equal about 60-90 minutes more of driving. I just did the drive north on the 81 route, during the day and during the week,, and the views alone were worth it. The Blue Ridge Mts and valleys are picture perfect. Not to be missed.

 

[MJ28]

MJ: What stops are you planning?

We split it up. I don't have my route completely planned yet, but I think we are stopping in PA just south of Carlisle the first night.

The 2nd day we are going to Concord, NC because my finance's portion of the Honeymoon is to do the Richard Petty Driving Experience at Lowes Motor Speedway. We might also stop at a couple of race shops because we are race fans. After that we are going to drive to Georgia and say over.

Then's it's off to CBR. We're leaving on Sunday and plan to be to WDW on Wednesday.

The way back, I probably won't plan any stops and we will just drive until we are ready to stop. We are not big on spending more than 8-10 hours in a car at a time.

We've taken this route twice before. Once to Mooresville, NC and the 2nd was to Miami for a cruise. We loved it. On our way back from Miami we were able to find restaurants and lodging easily. The signs are so much better once you get out of Vermont. We don't have signs with specific hotels and restaurants on them. Makes life easier. We are thinking about picking up a GPS, so we will have the added security and guide for restaurants and lodging.

 

[dantedisney]

We're making this drive next week!

We will be leaving the Boston area around 9PM and will probably be taking:

I-90
I-84
I-684
Hutchinson Pkwy
Cross Country Pkwy
I-87
I-95
I-4

According to MS Streets and Trips, we will be in the Baltimore area around 3:30am and DC around 4:15am.

Can you recommend the best route to take while in this area? I don't want to follow my NAV thru this area because it will take me through DC (shortest route).

Thanks

 

[Tjkane28]

We're making this drive next week!



According to MS Streets and Trips, we will be in the Baltimore area around 3:30am and DC around 4:15am.

Can you recommend the best route to take while in this area? I don't want to follow my NAV thru this area because it will take me through DC (shortest route).

Thanks

Going through Baltimore and DC at that hour in the morning will be smooth sailing. You just stay on the beltway around DC.

Have fun.

 

[BC1836]

We're making this drive next week!

We will be leaving the Boston area around 9PM and will probably be taking:

I-90
I-84
I-684
Hutchinson Pkwy
Cross Country Pkwy
I-87
I-95
I-4

According to MS Streets and Trips, we will be in the Baltimore area around 3:30am and DC around 4:15am.

Can you recommend the best route to take while in this area? I don't want to follow my NAV thru this area because it will take me through DC (shortest route).

Thanks

You should have no expected traffic problems on I-95 at those aforementioned Balt-DC area times, even on a weekday. Once you pass the northern VA area, you should be fine.

 

[mrstomrice]

Take 95 down...no question.

When are you coming back? Tell DH that the "extra miles" will equal about 60-90 minutes more of driving. I just did the drive north on the 81 route, during the day and during the week,, and the views alone were worth it. The Blue Ridge Mts and valleys are picture perfect. Not to be missed.

We leave Disney on a Sunday and will complete the trip on Monday. I am trying to convince him to take 95 down and the other route back home to avoid Monday traffic and enjoy the view...will keep you posted

 

[Tjkane28]

That is exactly what we did and it was the right thing. Stay off 95 during the day M-F north of NC.

 

[debf]

We are going to try the 81-77-26-95 route this year. Do you think we would be ok to not make a hotel reservation along the way? We would like to just stop when we feel like it.We are leaving on a Tuesday and don't check in to our resort until Thursday.In the past we have always taken 95 down and there's plenty of hotels along the way to stop when we feel like it.Any thoughts?

 

[Muhlenberg]

We are going to try the 81-77-26-95 route this year. Do you think we would be ok to not make a hotel reservation along the way? We would like to just stop when we feel like it.We are leaving on a Tuesday and don't check in to our resort until Thursday.In the past we have always taken 95 down and there's plenty of hotels along the way to stop when we feel like it.Any thoughts?

We are doing the same thing. I made a list of Hampton Inns along the way (for likely places we'd stop if necessary), so I know where they are, how MUCH $ they are, and times/distances. I did the same thing for the way back. (Taking 81 down, and 95 back.) Other than that...I'm playing it by ear. I doubt we'd be in a location that would be sold out, and didn't include them. I also have phone #s so we could call ahead if needed.

 

[mrstomrice]

We are going to try the 81-77-26-95 route this year. Do you think we would be ok to not make a hotel reservation along the way? We would like to just stop when we feel like it.We are leaving on a Tuesday and don't check in to our resort until Thursday.In the past we have always taken 95 down and there's plenty of hotels along the way to stop when we feel like it.Any thoughts?

If you have AAA you can call them from the road and they will help you make your reservation. They are open later on weeknights, but only until 4pm on weekends. They also have tour books for free that lists all of the hotels.

 

[debf]

We are doing the same thing. I made a list of Hampton Inns along the way (for likely places we'd stop if necessary), so I know where they are, how MUCH $ they are, and times/distances. I did the same thing for the way back. (Taking 81 down, and 95 back.) Other than that...I'm playing it by ear. I doubt we'd be in a location that would be sold out, and didn't include them. I also have phone #s so we could call ahead if needed.

Thanks.That's a good idea.I'll check hotel web sites and make note of the locations and phone numbers along possible stopping places.Have a safe trip.

 

[debf]

If you have AAA you can call them from the road and they will help you make your reservation. They are open later on weeknights, but only until 4pm on weekends. They also have tour books for free that lists all of the hotels.

We do belong to AAA.I have never used them to make reservations for us.But it did come in handy when DD locked our keys in the car on a camping trip. I see AAA has a free app for the ipod touch.I don't know what it is actually for but I will look into it.Maybe that will have hotel info and phone numbers.

 

[mrstomrice]

We do belong to AAA.I have never used them to make reservations for us.But it did come in handy when DD locked our keys in the car on a camping trip. I see AAA has a free app for the ipod touch.I don't know what it is actually for but I will look into it.Maybe that will have hotel info and phone numbers.

When I spoke to them to find out what the provide, they said they can book my hotel from the road based upon where we thought we would be. They can compare the prices and options available for us. SOunds like a great service HAve a safe trip!

 

[Flyerfan]

We do belong to AAA.I have never used them to make reservations for us.But it did come in handy when DD locked our keys in the car on a camping trip. I see AAA has a free app for the ipod touch.I don't know what it is actually for but I will look into it.Maybe that will have hotel info and phone numbers.

In advance, you can also use AAA's route trip planner on their website. I use it all the time to map out routes and find hotels.

 

[tiggerplus5]

That is exactly what we did and it was the right thing. Stay off 95 during the day M-F north of NC.

We just arrived last night! Whoohoo! We drove all through the night this time. Started in MA at 7 p.m. on Friday night and arrived 6 p.m. Saturday. We had 6 drivers so that definitely helped. I have trouble staying awake in the car. It makes me sleepy. We all agreed this was the way to go. We had a good night's sleep and we are ready to go this morning!

all the states above NC are usually crazy with traffic when we drive. Our plan was to drive straight through all the big cities. It was clear sailing through every city: DC, Richmond, Baltimore, all of NJ. But it was the middle of the night. We went across the tappanzee bridge and not through the bronx. There was some fire that was causing havok with traffic. We usually take the tappanzee anyway.

23 hours with 4 1/2 hours of stopping time.

 

[Flyerfan]

I have trouble staying awake in the car. It makes me sleepy.

Me too! DH can't understand it. He usually drives and I sit nodding off even though I've had a good night's sleep. This next trip I will be doing some driving and then we'll see who nods off.

 

[Mommytobree]

Hey! Our 1st two trips we drove from Massachusetts to Disney! This past trip we took an Amtrak train-it was AWFUL! Next year I'll either be-gulp-flying (have yet to be able to get my butt on a plane) or driving again. Any other Massachusetts/Northeast diser's here that drive???

 

[Mrs. Nesbit]

We live in NJ and will be leaving at dawn tomorrow morning for The World! woohoo haha. We usually drive straight through, but will be stopping to look at colleges along the way. Do any of you have any hotel recommendations just inside of Florida off of I-95? We will need to stop at some point and I would really appreciate any input! TIA!!

 

[mrstomrice]

We live in NJ and will be leaving at dawn tomorrow morning for The World! woohoo haha. We usually drive straight through, but will be stopping to look at colleges along the way. Do any of you have any hotel recommendations just inside of Florida off of I-95? We will need to stop at some point and I would really appreciate any input! TIA!!

We booked a Microtel Inn in Kingsland GA, which is the last GA exit. With a small AAA discount, it is 59.00 a night, with breakfast. It is a newer hotel from what I have read.

 

[Mrs. Nesbit]

We live in NJ and will be leaving at dawn tomorrow morning for The World! woohoo haha. We usually drive straight through, but will be stopping to look at colleges along the way. Do any of you have any hotel recommendations just inside of Florida off of I-95? We will need to stop at some point and I would really appreciate any input! TIA!!