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

[Amirah95]

We have driven on all of our Disney trips except 2 (including DL!!) from central NJ.

Wowey...that is awesome. Maybe one day we'll get up the courage to do that too!

 

[gk90]

Good Morning everyone!!

We are driving from LI to WDW in almost 2 weeks

I know that someone was nice enough to post some hotels along the way that they've enjoyed - and I believe they were in Savannah GA or right outside Savannah - I cannot find the posts and I've searched the threads last night - can you help me? For those of you who've driven and traveled 95

Thanks!!!
Enjoy your day !

Days Inn Port Wentworth is 10 minutes north of Savannah, right off 95 but surprisingly doesn't get much highway noise. It's a cut above the average Days Inn, newer-looking, cleaner and has a great free buffet breakfast with fresh waffles!

 

[disneyfan55]

Wowey...that is awesome. Maybe one day we'll get up the courage to do that too!

It's really not that bad. We did it with my children since infants. The CA trips were when they were from age ranges 6-12! (there were actually 3 cross country trips) We are going in fact (now they are 32 with her 1 1/2 year old -his 2nd drive! and 29) It's really not that bad just bring snacks and things to do. We used to drive straight through to FL until just the past few trips!

 

[Fwd Facing Tentacles]

We're leaving this Saturday morning from north central NJ. The weather forecast has taken a turn for the better. It looks like it will be cold but dry. A lot better than last Saturday would have been. For disneyfan55 who asked what the driving weather was likely to be like in February, there's really no way to predict. The thing is, the highways get cleared immediately so it really doesn't matter if snows the day before or the day after you're driving as long as it's not snowing while you're driving. So you just have to make your plans and hope for the best. We take 81/77 which is a more pleasant drive but more subject to snow because it's inland and you drive through the Shenandoah mountains. It's nice when you get off 81 and onto 77 heading towards Charlotte because you're pretty much out of the woods both literally and figuratively as far as the winter weather is concerned. Six days from now the only snow we'll have to worry about will be on Main St. during the parade.

 

[dvczerfs]

We have driven on all of our Disney trips except 2 (including DL!!) from central NJ. We really haven't done so during the winter months. Anyone experienced and what type of luck with weather on I95? Thanks. We are going the beginning of Feb and crossing our fingers and saying a prayer for no ice/snow!

we have done it a few times over the years. just watch the weather reports. one year we left home a day early and in 07 we left to come home a day early because of an expected ice storm in the northeast.which came as predicted. about 20 years ago we spent the night in our car at whites truck stop on 81 because of the snow. (we were young and dumb!) now, we just plan around them or if we do happen to get caught,we just stop for the night. its not worth killing yourself over. it dont take long anymore to clear interstates.

 

[dvczerfs]

We're leaving this Saturday morning from north central NJ. The weather forecast has taken a turn for the better. It looks like it will be cold but dry. A lot better than last Saturday would have been. For disneyfan55 who asked what the driving weather was likely to be like in February, there's really no way to predict. The thing is, the highways get cleared immediately so it really doesn't matter if snows the day before or the day after you're driving as long as it's not snowing while you're driving. So you just have to make your plans and hope for the best. We take 81/77 which is a more pleasant drive but more subject to snow because it's inland and you drive through the Shenandoah mountains. It's nice when you get off 81 and onto 77 heading towards Charlotte because you're pretty much out of the woods both literally and figuratively as far as the winter weather is concerned. Six days from now the only snow we'll have to worry about will be on Main St. during the parade.

isnt it great? you drive 1200 miles to get to wdw and it snows on main street. at least you dont have to shovel!! have a great time!!!

 

[disneyfan55]

we have done it a few times over the years. just watch the weather reports. one year we left home a day early and in 07 we left to come home a day early because of an expected ice storm in the northeast.which came as predicted. about 20 years ago we spent the night in our car at whites truck stop on 81 because of the snow. (we were young and dumb!) now, we just plan around them or if we do happen to get caught,we just stop for the night. its not worth killing yourself over. it dont take long anymore to clear interstates.

Yes, thanks. That's what we are going to do. We have gone on 81 when visiting relatives outside of Atlanta, but don't generally go that route when just visiting FL. It is a MUCH nicer drive but could have more of a chance of snow/ice.

 

[disneyfan55]

Days Inn Port Wentworth is 10 minutes north of Savannah, right off 95 but surprisingly doesn't get much highway noise. It's a cut above the average Days Inn, newer-looking, cleaner and has a great free buffet breakfast with fresh waffles!

Yes, this is very true. We stayed there on our way down in May. It wasn't far from Savannah and we ate dinner there. This trip we are staying at Disney's Hilton Head Resort. We are AP holders and they have a great rate 66/night plus tax so we will do this on the way back. Not sure exactly where we are staying on the way down, maybe this Days Inn since we will be driving quite a distance and don't want to go off 95 that far.

 

[ge0rgette2]

I just put a reservation on hold for the Days Inn in Port Wentworth --- was 71.00 for 5 including the breakfast.. Not that bad at all

If it's clean it's for me - as we are driving from NY - we are gonna need a nice place to crash!

 

[treeface]

Ten days and counting until our drive down from north central IN. Last year, we had to get out ahead of an ice storm and did fine, no problems (left about 10 hours ahead of it. Our trip home, it was 65 in Orlando and 63 at home, almost 1100 miles later, no temperature change, just some rain north of Indy.

Now, it looks like it will be much colder this year, but hoping the snow stays away on our driving days. We plan to drive straight through both ways this trip, but have time built in each way should it become necessary to stop somewhere.

In my experience, I have had much worse luck with airport delays in the winter than road issues. I prefer to drive as it took over 15 hours on two consecutive trips and it is only a 17 hour drive, neither time would I have had a problem if we were driving.

Our route is US 31/I 65/I 64/I 75.

 

[disneyfan55]

I just put a reservation on hold for the Days Inn in Port Wentworth --- was 71.00 for 5 including the breakfast.. Not that bad at all

If it's clean it's for me - as we are driving from NY - we are gonna need a nice place to crash!

And it's a pretty good breakfast hot and cold things plus fruit and drinks

 

[sharadoc]

Gasoline prices in southern Ocean County, NJ in the low $2.40s right now.
A year ago, prices were in the $1.70s off I-95 on the way to WDW.
At WDW last year at this time (actually second week of Dec.) $160s.

I thought the price of gas going down was what helped the economy! 50 cents more a gallon for our trip really only translates into an extra $25 or so for the entire trip, so I guess I can't complain too much!

We've had snow already and more possibly this week here in PA. Let's hope we don't have a lot of snow this year. We leave Feb. 4 for the next trip and don't want to leave in the snow. Happened last year - 4 inches on the roof of the van when we got up to leave. But it is fun to drive South, lose the snow and end up with palm trees!

 

[disneyfan55]

I thought the price of gas going down was what helped the economy! 50 cents more a gallon for our trip really only translates into an extra $25 or so for the entire trip, so I guess I can't complain too much!

We've had snow already and more possibly this week here in PA. Let's hope we don't have a lot of snow this year. We leave Feb. 4 for the next trip and don't want to leave in the snow. Happened last year - 4 inches on the roof of the van when we got up to leave. But it is fun to drive South, lose the snow and end up with palm trees!

We're leaving the same day and are hoping for dry weather. We are driving from central NJ to just outside Savannah, GA. We may stay at Disney's Hilton Head on the way down but I have to check the actual distance off 95. We are staying on the way back for 1 night.

 

[Calle&Jakesmom]

we have done it a few times over the years. just watch the weather reports. one year we left home a day early and in 07 we left to come home a day early because of an expected ice storm in the northeast.which came as predicted. about 20 years ago we spent the night in our car at whites truck stop on 81 because of the snow. (we were young and dumb!) now, we just plan around them or if we do happen to get caught,we just stop for the night. its not worth killing yourself over. it dont take long anymore to clear interstates.

This is the great thing about driving.... you can change your plans depending on weather forecasts and you don't have to worry about flights being delayed or canceled.

 

[mike k.]

i am also from new jersey and i'm on my way this saturday. We're leaving about 10 and stopping to sleep around midnight (or as far as we can go). Then we're up and ready by 7 and there by 10-11ish. Stupid things like seeing the countdown signs of south of the border or the funny town names in some of the states make me happy, haha!

thank god for pedro signs!!!!!!!!!! Heading to the VILAGES in January and WDW IN February from Levittown,pa. aLWAYS DRIVE,dw WON'T FLY.

 

[PhillipV]

We're leaving at 5am this Saturday from the Philadalphia area. This is the first time leaving at that hour. Navigating through Washington, would you take the Beltway westbound around to 95, or 295 from Baltimore to 495 to 95?

Happy Holidays to all,
Phillip

 

[mike k.]

it doesn't matter at that time of day. Take the shortest route on mapquest. I generally follow the signs for 95 south with the exception of avoiding the tunnels in Baltimore due to propane tanks on camper. There was some road construction in MD prior to the 695 beltway but it should not cause any delays at that time.
have a safe trip.

 

[Mary T in PA]

Well I think I am recovered from our first official driving trip to Disney. As I posted earlier, we drove straight thru going down to DIsney - the weather was good and the traffic on I95 was light on the Friday after THanksgiving.

On the way home last week, we did take 2 days,, traffic was more normal and we had rain on Friday and then snow on Saturday. We got up and made it to Fayetteville, NC on Friday, stayed over and then finished it off on Sat.

The drive wasn't bad, we'll probably do it next year... but is the GA and northern FL part of the drive on I95 always horrific? Very few places to stop and just a bad part of the trip for us, both going down and coming back. Maybe it's us though, lol. It just seemed like GA and northern FL was the twilight zone. lol

I hope all of you driving soon have a safe trip and smooth driving!!!

Mary

 

[sharadoc]

The drive wasn't bad, we'll probably do it next year... but is the GA and northern FL part of the drive on I95 always horrific? Very few places to stop and just a bad part of the trip for us, both going down and coming back. Maybe it's us though, lol. It just seemed like GA and northern FL was the twilight zone. lol

I hope all of you driving soon have a safe trip and smooth driving!!!

Mary

Yep - I always warn people to get all your business done before you leave SC, since there's just nowhere to stop in GA, and the Florida part is more like a local city than a long-distance highway, so you have to get off and go to a town to do anything.

 

[blondietink]

We always make a stop in Brunswick, GA. We love going to the lighthouse on St. Simons Island and love stopping at What A Burger for lunch. We also like Savannah, although it can be hectic traffic from I-95 to downtown and/or the lighthouse. We are lighthouse people, so we are used to driving off any interstate highway a bit to get to a lighthouse.

In Florida we like to make a stop in St. Augustine and/or Daytona. My son gets upset if we don't stop at Dayton either on the way down or back.