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

[Malaguti Ball Clan]

We are driving right at 2000 round trip. first trip with 3 kids, dd5 ds3(Will be turning 4 during trip) and ds1 kinda worried about them losing it. my 1y/o is not a fan of his car seat!! we will be leaving out at 3AM and are planning many rest stops along the way!!

When our DD was 18 mo, she decided she not only did not like her car seat she did not like the which was a sexy red firebird 1994, (this was in 95!!) Every time we put her in the backseat in her car-seat she would lean forward and get pissed off, excuse the language but that is the only way to describe her at those moments

We traded in for a minivan, she could see all around and never made another peep about riding in a car or car-seat, but the three-five months of hell with every load up into that firebird were not nice...b

Btw- She is now sixteen and owns a 08 shiny red Mustang....--oh the irony:

 

[BC1836]

I just got my AAA triptik and mapped out all the Welcome Centers (WC) and Rest Stops with Facilities (RSwF) from southern VA to FL. However, a map doesn't really tell me how good they are ... (clean, playground, food and gas on-site or close by, trees for shade, etc)

Can anyone comment on the WC/RSwF that are good ones? Or ones to avoid?

I'm trying to plot out some breaks according to the WC/RSwF.

Thanks!

The better rest stops are the ones at the border: the Welcome Centers. All are relatively clean but there is no gas on site; however, I-95 is punctuated with gas stations!

Ah, southern VA! A one-day drive of about 13 hours or so. Hey, wait just a minute: that's less than a 2,000 mile round trip drive!

Invaders...back over the falls!

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

Sharadoc, Thanks for the update and info. We would have gladly paid extra for the extra tv too!

We will be in a Sienna with AC certainly blowing in July when we drive down. Hopefully, we will still be able to get good mileage.

 

[f.chadw]

Will be driving almost 3200 miles round trip in December. Drove down many times with my parents while growing up. This will be our first trip to Disney via auto with my own kids. I CAN'T WAIT!!!

 

[disneyfan55]

Will be driving almost 3200 miles round trip in December. Drove down many times with my parents while growing up. This will be our first trip to Disney via auto with my own kids. I CAN'T WAIT!!!

Have a wonderful trip!! Your children will appreciate seeing the country. Even if they complain in transit, when they grow up they will appreciate it! We drove to WDW from when I was pregnant with my first in 1977 and all the WDW trips are listed all driven from NJ except the school Magic Music Days. We also drove cross country 3 times when the children were young! Make some interesting stops along the way if you have the time! HAVE FUN!

 

[Marshay]

The better rest stops are the ones at the border: the Welcome Centers. All are relatively clean but there is no gas on site; however, I-95 is punctuated with gas stations!

Ah, southern VA! A one-day drive of about 13 hours or so. Hey, wait just a minute: that's less than a 2,000 mile round trip drive!

Invaders...back over the falls!

Thanks for the tip! I was wondering if the WC had gas or food but I'm assuming they do not.

I know, I know [hangs head in shame] ... I'm coming from Northern Virginia/DC area so I really don't qualify for the 2,000 miles ...

BUT in my defense I was told about the thread by two of your illustrious drivers -- one who happens to live near the Jersey Shore and quotes Davey Crockett and the other who lives in Limerick and likes red t-shirts!! Hmmm, who could they be??

Thanks guys! I appreciate this thread!

 

[Looking4themouse]

We are driving right at 2000 round trip. first trip with 3 kids, dd5 ds3(Will be turning 4 during trip) and ds1 kinda worried about them losing it. my 1y/o is not a fan of his car seat!! we will be leaving out at 3AM and are planning many rest stops along the way!!

I don't know if this is helpful, but when my kids were little we took lots of "road trips" and I was always sure to pack lots of books, coloring books, crayons, and kid type music we could all sing along to. When we drove to WDW they were a little older, but I was still in fear that our trip down to WDW would be a miserable one. However, it was great, the kids behaved really well, we took turns making up stories, singing songs, having the kids look for farm animals along the way with instructions to "make the sound the animal makes" when they see it. We spent a lot of time mooing!!! The older ones looked for license plates from different states, as well as playing with a game we brought along. It ended up being quite the bonding experience for us, and I wouldn't trade those hours in the car for anything. I think if you think of ways to make it fun for your kids it won't be too bad good luck have fun.

 

[disneyfan55]

I don't know if this is helpful, but when my kids were little we took lots of "road trips" and I was always sure to pack lots of books, coloring books, crayons, and kid type music we could all sing along to. When we drove to WDW they were a little older, but I was still in fear that our trip down to WDW would be a miserable one. However, it was great, the kids behaved really well, we took turns making up stories, singing songs, having the kids look for farm animals along the way with instructions to "make the sound the animal makes" when they see it. We spent a lot of time mooing!!! The older ones looked for license plates from different states, as well as playing with a game we brought along. It ended up being quite the bonding experience for us, and I wouldn't trade those hours in the car for anything. I think if you think of ways to make it fun for your kids it won't be too bad good luck have fun.

Yes, this is exactly what our children did. No handheld games,dvd etc. They each packed a bag of toys/things to do in the car and they had a blast! We did 3 cross country trips as well!! They made up all kinds of ways to have fun!!

 

[wak648]

Planning our 2000+ mile round trip to Disney this July. We are planning on leaving at bedtime for the kids so most of the driving will be done while they are asleep. I know there are a boat load of gas stations along the I-95 corridor form DC down, but how many of them are open 24 hours? We will be towing our TT down with us so unfortunately I will be stopping for gas every couple of hours.

 

[BC1836]

Planning our 2000+ mile round trip to Disney this July. We are planning on leaving at bedtime for the kids so most of the driving will be done while they are asleep. I know there are a boat load of gas stations along the I-95 corridor form DC down, but how many of them are open 24 hours? We will be towing our TT down with us so unfortunately I will be stopping for gas every couple of hours.

Although there are many I-95 exits that feature gas stations, some are individual/isolated facilities that are not open 24/7; however, many of the town exits feature multiple stations and most of them are open 24/7. Play it safe: when you are down to a 1/4 tank take the next gas exit. If it's closed, take the next one. Just don't search for a gas station at 2 a.m. when you are almost on empty.

All the best.

 

[mdinme]

We're looking at 3000 miles r/t. Current plan is Thursday 5pm departure, gets us through NY and into a hotel at a reasonable time so kids can swim or do something. Get on road at 1000am Friday and drive hopefully 800 miles at least. That'll put us with a pretty short drive Saturday.

We've flown three times, first time driving.

 

[Calle&Jakesmom]

We're looking at 3000 miles r/t. Current plan is Thursday 5pm departure, gets us through NY and into a hotel at a reasonable time so kids can swim or do something. Get on road at 1000am Friday and drive hopefully 800 miles at least. That'll put us with a pretty short drive Saturday.

We've flown three times, first time driving.

We'll be right behind you. We're leaving NH on Friday afternoon, staying overnight in DE and then going all the way to Lake Buena Vista on Saturday. Looks like we will have good weather for driving- hopefully all of that snow in the southern states will be cleared/melted by the time we pass through!

 

[sharadoc]

Thanks for the tip! I was wondering if the WC had gas or food but I'm assuming they do not.

I know, I know [hangs head in shame] ... I'm coming from Northern Virginia/DC area so I really don't qualify for the 2,000 miles ...

BUT in my defense I was told about the thread by two of your illustrious drivers -- one who happens to live near the Jersey Shore and quotes Davey Crockett and the other who lives in Limerick and likes red t-shirts!! Hmmm, who could they be??

Thanks guys! I appreciate this thread!

Guilty as charged!!!

 

[sharadoc]

Hi folks. Since we added another trip for June, we know we can't drive through Virginia, but I don't want to do the whole 81-77 to the end of S. Carolina. I have heard there's a few good places to cut back from 81 to 95 south of Richmond. Can I get some help and suggestions for a route?

Thanks all,

another benefit of driving - 3 trips will cost us the same in transportation cost as 1 flying and renting a vehicle. Add in some 40-45% room discounts, and annual passes and all it really costs is time!!!

 

[BC1836]

Thanks for the tip! I was wondering if the WC had gas or food but I'm assuming they do not.

I know, I know [hangs head in shame] ... I'm coming from Northern Virginia/DC area so I really don't qualify for the 2,000 miles ...

BUT in my defense I was told about the thread by two of your illustrious drivers -- one who happens to live near the Jersey Shore and quotes Davey Crockett and the other who lives in Limerick and likes red t-shirts!! Hmmm, who could they be??

Thanks guys! I appreciate this thread!

As guilty as sharadoc!

We've added 100+ miles once while at WDW (without leaving the property). So you still may qualify for this site of marathon drivers.

All the best.

 

[Marshay]

Guilty as charged!!!

As guilty as sharadoc!

We've added 100+ miles once while at WDW (without leaving the property). So you still may qualify for this site of marathon drivers.

All the best.

 

[Kinziepoohsmom]

DH, DD and I have a May trip planned but this time we are driving. We will be leaving from the Massachusetts northshore on a Friday around 11am. We hope to do this without making an overnight stop. Is this possible? Any suggestions or help would be great.

 

[mdinme]

It is possible, but tough and maybe not worth it. How old is the kid is an important question. Pulling into WDW at noon sat. would be nice but at what expense? Both adults will likely be sore and comatose and you'll have child that is TOTALLY WIRED!

If you left at 5am instead and drove until 10pm you'd likely only have about six hours left on your drive, and you'd likely all be on the same schedule.

We're 95 miles north of you in S. Maine and driving down in Aug. Plan is to leave at 430pm and check in to a hotel South of NY (350 miles or so), have some late night fun, let the kids swim. Get on the road by 930 am (this plan allows us to miss rush hour in Boston, NY, DC too) and drive 800 miles (12-13 hours) and get another cheap hotel... we'll wake up Saturday morning with only 200 miles left... we don't check in to BWV until monday so we're flexible. I have to work the day of departure too.

We feel like doing the two hotel gig makes it fun and feel mor like vacation rather than a torturous drive (we've never driven with the kids further than like 200 miles lol).

 

[matosfam]

I am trying to plan our trip and can't seem to make any decisions about what is going to work best for us when it comes to the drive!
I would love to hear how some of you Western PA folks have traveled... leave at night? in the wee hours of the am? sleep on the way? drive straight thru? if we stop, then where? AHH!
Too many variables and this snow is making everything foggy...
Won't you please help me jump start our plan!?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Kinziepoohsmom]

My daughter is also a driver and is the person who says we can do it without an overnight stop. She and a friend drove to Cali and did that almost non-stop after 1 stop in Ohio. Hope to get more than halfway before we even open the discussion of stopping.