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

[BC1836]

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.

It's a demanding task to accomplish your drive without an overnight stop. We've done it twice from the Jersey Shore. Our last straight-through drive (June of 2009) began at 3:22 a.m. and concluded at Exit #67 on I-4 (WDW!) at 8:48 p.m. That's 1,075 miles in 17 hours and 26 minutes (61+ mph); breaks only for gas and bathroom.

"Be sure you're right, then go ahead!"

All the best.

 

[BC1836]

Leaving 3:45pm from southern NH next Friday... I have to admit- I'm a little freaked out by all of the southern snow storms!
We have no problem driving in the snow- we're used to it but we really hope it's all cleared up iwithin the next week down south so we have clear sailing down 95.

Last thing we want is to leave New England in February and run into a snow storm in Georgia!

The Friday that you wrote about last week is just a few hours away.
Have a safe and pleasant drive!
All the best.

 

[Calle&Jakesmom]

The Friday that you wrote about last week is just a few hours away.
Have a safe and pleasant drive!
All the best.

I know!!! I can't believe it's finally here. My kids still think we're going to grandma's tomorrow after school and they're still really mad that we're not going to Disney.

Our car is pretty much packed. All I need to do is get through a day at work tomorrow- I'm thinking I won't get much accomplished: I'll spend most of the day checking disboards and weather.com!

 

[dvczerfs]

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!!!

hi sharadoc, sorry, havnt been around for a while. going 81-66-17 to 95 takes me 161/2 from the lehigh valley to the front gate at okw. we dont take the bypass around richmond or jacksonville. (we dont hit them at rush hour) the last time i took 81-77-95 which is a very nice ride, but it takes me 18 hours to go that way. 17 is basicly a 4 lane road but there are traffic lights. its very well marked also, on int 66 the signs will say int95 via rt17. i can give you exit numbers etc.. if you want. once on 17, you will see "to int 95 south" signs. alot of people from the lehigh valley go that way. i found out about it i would ask truck drivers that came into were i worked at the time. now, like 95, 17 gets crowded on sat. in the summer. we all ways drive down on a tuesday and never had a problem. int.66 between 17 and 81, you could have a picnic in the right lane and you wouldnt be holding anyone up, theres very little traffic. you also miss the shendo. mtns. give it a try. if your intrested i cant pm you dir. and land markes etc...

 

[mickeymouse108]

getting info for our drive down this summer

 

[disneyfan55]

getting info for our drive down this summer

Is this your first drive? We are in NJ but when driving to CT or New England, we avoid the NYC area and use the Tappen Zee bridge!

 

[capecoddisneyfamily]

for those driving from NE, do you go 95, or use 81?

 

[disneyfan55]

for those driving from NE, do you go 95, or use 81?

I have gone both ways. I 81 does add about 100 or so miles for me. We are in Central NJ and used to just use the NJ turnpike (to 95 no actual I 95 in NJ just the turnpike) The past few trips we have taken back roads to actual 95 just outside Trenton and gone that way. a few less miles and no turnpike tolls, less trucks)

 

[sharadoc]

hi sharadoc, sorry, havnt been around for a while. going 81-66-17 to 95 takes me 161/2 from the lehigh valley to the front gate at okw. we dont take the bypass around richmond or jacksonville. (we dont hit them at rush hour) the last time i took 81-77-95 which is a very nice ride, but it takes me 18 hours to go that way. 17 is basicly a 4 lane road but there are traffic lights. its very well marked also, on int 66 the signs will say int95 via rt17. i can give you exit numbers etc.. if you want. once on 17, you will see "to int 95 south" signs. alot of people from the lehigh valley go that way. i found out about it i would ask truck drivers that came into were i worked at the time. now, like 95, 17 gets crowded on sat. in the summer. we all ways drive down on a tuesday and never had a problem. int.66 between 17 and 81, you could have a picnic in the right lane and you wouldnt be holding anyone up, theres very little traffic. you also miss the shendo. mtns. give it a try. if your intrested i cant pm you dir. and land markes etc...

Thank you - yes please PM whatever info you can. I'm having trouble visualizing what you're telling me.

Is there a "safe time" to hit 95 in Virginia instead of going out to 81? Or would the traffic on 17 be better than sitting in traffic through the whole state of Virginia like we did last year??

Thanks for your help,

 

[patkingpin]

Hey everyone,

We are driving this December from Buffalo to Disneyworld!!! We are going to be myself and my wife and daughter who is going to be 14 months. Looking for any advice or tips on two topics...
1) driving from Buffalo to Florida and which route to take and where to expect to stop for the first night. Keep in mind we are planning on working a half day on Friday (until about noon) and then being on the road about 2pmish at the latest.
2) driving this far with a 14 month old and what to expect if anyone has done this. We obviously know we are going to have to stop for feedings and potty breaks, but what else can we expect?

Thank you all!
Patrick.

 

[dvczerfs]

Thank you - yes please PM whatever info you can. I'm having trouble visualizing what you're telling me.

Is there a "safe time" to hit 95 in Virginia instead of going out to 81? Or would the traffic on 17 be better than sitting in traffic through the whole state of Virginia like we did last year??

Thanks for your help,

how do you go to hit 81? im further north than you are. i live 5 miles north of int78 which runs directly into int 81. so for me its no big deal. i hit int 95 in vir. at exit 133. on the way down, we leave the lehigh valley at 9:30am. that puts me on rt17 in opal at 1pm. i miss all the rush hours. i hit int95 at 2:30 or so. no rush hour traffic. i go thru richmond not around at about 3:30. im in north carol. by the time rush hour starts. let me check out my atlas to see how you could get over there from limrick.

 

[dvczerfs]

how do you go to hit 81? im further north than you are. i live 5 miles north of int78 which runs directly into int 81. so for me its no big deal. i hit int 95 in vir. at exit 133. on the way down, we leave the lehigh valley at 9:30am. that puts me on rt17 in opal at 1pm. i miss all the rush hours. i hit int95 at 2:30 or so. no rush hour traffic. i go thru richmond not around at about 3:30. im in north carol. by the time rush hour starts. let me check out my atlas to see how you could get over there from limrick.

wow, your in the valley forge area, you would almost have to come northwest,(well out of your way) to hit the way we go. my brother just moved from limrick to the outer banks, give me some time to get a hold of him and i can tell you how he goes. he travels alot with his business. he lived in the valley forge area most of his life. do you go around the dc and balt beltways?

 

[BC1836]

Hey everyone,

We are driving this December from Buffalo to Disneyworld!!! We are going to be myself and my wife and daughter who is going to be 14 months. Looking for any advice or tips on two topics...
1) driving from Buffalo to Florida and which route to take and where to expect to stop for the first night. Keep in mind we are planning on working a half day on Friday (until about noon) and then being on the road about 2pmish at the latest.
2) driving this far with a 14 month old and what to expect if anyone has done this. We obviously know we are going to have to stop for feedings and potty breaks, but what else can we expect?

Thank you all!
Patrick.

Do an initial Mapquest (or similar traffic direction site) inquiry for basic estimates.

Consider where you might be at rush hour times and avoid those areas; however, your Friday afternoon departure should miss them all, i.e., NJ and greater DC.

Another factor to consider: December weather and Buffalo.

No suggestions, however, for your little one, though.

All the best.

 

[Elmo007]

Trting to get off of Long Island (particularly the Belt Parkway) is too stressful. I cant imagine going to WDW other than by plane, particularly from ISP. JFK is usually OK. (LGA is about as stressful as the Belt and If I was going to drive all the way to EWR, I might as well drive all the way down.)

 

[Luvamouse]

for those driving from NE, do you go 95, or use 81?

We go from RI out to 84 in CT, then 81-77-26-95 and I personally wouldn't have it any other way. There is so little traffic and the views are beautiful. We have a few friends who all seem stuck going 95 and inevitably sit in traffic near the big cities no matter what time of day they leave. The only traffic we've ever encountered that wasn't due to an accident is on 95 in GA or FL. The 100 miles extra is balanced by the smooth drive and lack of traffic backup.

 

[sharadoc]

wow, your in the valley forge area, you would almost have to come northwest,(well out of your way) to hit the way we go. my brother just moved from limrick to the outer banks, give me some time to get a hold of him and i can tell you how he goes. he travels alot with his business. he lived in the valley forge area most of his life. do you go around the dc and balt beltways?

I didn't think we'd be really going northwest, we'd go straight from here west to Harrisburg, then down 81. I think we'd probably use the PA Turnpike.

When I Google Map Directions to Disney, it asks if I want to do 95, or 81-77, they are within an hour's total time of each other.

We usually go straight down 95, rather than the beltway, which always seems busier. We use the tunnel in Baltimore.

We need to drive on the weekends to use our work vacation days sparingly, and in the winter, that works out great. Summer - not so much. I think the June trip is the only one where we want to find the alternate around DC and Virginia. After last year, and the fact that it took us almost 7 hours to get from DC to Richmond, we are hoping to plan ahead!

Going an hour out of our way is worth it to avoid that stress.

Thanks a lot for all your help.

 

[sharadoc]

Trting to get off of Long Island (particularly the Belt Parkway) is too stressful. I cant imagine going to WDW other than by plane, particularly from ISP. JFK is usually OK. (LGA is about as stressful as the Belt and If I was going to drive all the way to EWR, I might as well drive all the way down.)

I love driving, but Long Island is the one place where I refuse. I had to be there on business and demanded the client send a car/limo or I wouldn't come. I can't imagine what it's like to drive to work from there every day - just the area around JFK is enough to cause a panic attack!

 

[sharadoc]

Can someone tell me the really bad hours on 95 South on Summer Saturdays from DC to Richmond? No matter what I look at route - wise, 95 always comes up as the best, but only if we don't sit in traffic. We're not leaving home in the middle of the night, but we'd be willing to leave later in the day. Like if we hit DC at 2 or 4 pm, would we be safe?

 

[Marshay]

Can someone tell me the really bad hours on 95 South on Summer Saturdays from DC to Richmond? No matter what I look at route - wise, 95 always comes up as the best, but only if we don't sit in traffic. We're not leaving home in the middle of the night, but we'd be willing to leave later in the day. Like if we hit DC at 2 or 4 pm, would we be safe?

I'm from Northern Virginia/Washington, DC area and yes, I believe if you hit DC around 2-4pm, esp on a Saturday you should be safe. This is not a popular time ... actually I don't consider a Saturday or Sunday to be that busy in general, so maybe I have a distorted sense of what's "normal" for our area = busy to others ...

But with that said, you will have cars in all 4 lanes, but they will be moving. DC area just doesn't have the roads built like they should and there is always traffic.

But compared to a weekday, you should be fine (assuming there is no major construction or traffic accidents). Just remember it's a busy metropolitan area, so expect traffic.

HTH,

Marsha

 

[Tina]

I agree that commuter traffic will be quiet. One thing to keep in mind though is that 95 is a very busy summer route for those heading to the Outer Banks and Virginia Beach. The majority of that traffic starts around 1pm on Friday afternoon and again early on Saturday. I would expect 4pm to be an excellent time to head through VA, but the later, the better.