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

[Marshay]

Yes. We stayed at the LaQuinta off of 95, Savannah\Gateway area. It was a very nice place, especially for $50 per night. Clean, free of "visitors", nice pool etc. We will use it again this year during our drive for the August trip.

Also, this area, if you have not been there, has a lot of restaurants, gas stations etc., so it is convenient for that as well.

Thanks! That's what I wanted to know. This will be our first time driving down so I'm looking for hotel suggestions in Ga for the way down and SC for the way back.

 

[disneyfan55]

Thanks! That's what I wanted to know. This will be our first time driving down so I'm looking for hotel suggestions in Ga for the way down and SC for the way back.

I don't know if you saw my post but we stayed just last week and the week before at a Days inn on exit 109 in GA, Port Wentworth. It was clean (69? for 4 adults) had a nice breakfast and indoor corridors. There were quite a few places to eat nearby. On this trip we didn't go into Savannah, but did in May 2009 and on one of the 2008 trips. It's about a 20 minute drive (not that far but not high speed limits)

 

[sharadoc]

Now then, who's on the road headin' to WDW before this month is out?

*Raises her hand waaaaay up in the air*

We are, we are!

We are leaving Saturday very early morning for our first ever drive to WDW. I haven't changed my ticker when the trip got pushed back a day so it doesn't reflect reality

It will be our 3rd trip in 18 months but our first by car and I can't wait. I've got my trip mapped out on Google Maps, my Triptik and you guys...this can't go wrong, right?

Since we will be traveling from Montreal (suburb) on a Saturday, we've decided to go down I-95 but we'll go back home using the 26-77-81 way since it will be a Monday/Tuesday drive. Any thoughts on that plan?

Hopefully, the weather will be on our side. The forecast looks good so far

I'll let you know how things move along. We are planning on stopping in Roanoke Rapids, NC for the night and we'll have the netbook with us.

Yes, please let me know your impression of the 26-77-81 version!!

 

[rotlex]

Yes, please let me know your impression of the 26-77-81 version!!

Butting in here as this is our favorite route from PA. After traveling too and from Disney via 81\77\26\95 etc., we will NEVER do 95 all the way again. It takes us roughly 16 hours total using this route. Very little traffic, nice scenery, and just a much, much more pleasant drive than 95 all the way.

Highly recommended. (We come down from the Lehigh Valley\Allentown area of PA for reference).

 

[Marshay]

Yes. We stayed at the LaQuinta off of 95, Savannah\Gateway area. It was a very nice place, especially for $50 per night. Clean, free of "visitors", nice pool etc. We will use it again this year during our drive for the August trip.

Also, this area, if you have not been there, has a lot of restaurants, gas stations etc., so it is convenient for that as well.

Well, I just checked and the rate is $75 (AAA rate) for 2 adults, 2 children for our July night....sure wish I could get that $50 rate...but I will keep it on my list as one that is recommended.

 

[rotlex]

Well, I just checked and the rate is $75 (AAA rate) for 2 adults, 2 children for our July night....sure wish I could get that $50 rate...but I will keep it on my list as one that is recommended.

Mmm, that's odd, but then again, that was for June and August of last year. I have not checked their rates recently.

 

[Marshay]

I don't know if you saw my post but we stayed just last week and the week before at a Days inn on exit 109 in GA, Port Wentworth. It was clean (69? for 4 adults) had a nice breakfast and indoor corridors. There were quite a few places to eat nearby. On this trip we didn't go into Savannah, but did in May 2009 and on one of the 2008 trips. It's about a 20 minute drive (not that far but not high speed limits)

Sorry, I missed your post! Thanks for telling me.

This looks pretty good (AAA rate for 2 adults, 2 kids in July is $72) but it has the Queen beds and a microfridge. (I assume this means a very small fridge and not a microwave + fridge ...)

My DH (6'6") and I (6') really like the larger bed to spread out more. A double bed is doable but leaves one of us cramped.

It's on my list, too!

 

[Marshay]

Mmm, that's odd, but then again, that was for June and August of last year. I have not checked their rates recently.

Yeah, I thought that was a bit pricy compared to your quote and esp since it's only a full bed (not Queen) and no fridge .. but I only used a AAA rate...maybe the roomsaver site has a cheaper price.

We don't need a fridge, microwave, breakfast, queen beds or pool if we can get a cheap $50 price ... but when I'm paying $75 then I expect a few extras.

But THANK YOU for your recommendation. This helps me plan and compare the hotels.

Thanks again!

 

[ty_n_cy]

We're leaving tomorrow for our second drive (did the first in May of 2009) to Disney World from Morris County, NJ.

In May, we left home around 6:00 pm and arrived at CBR around 11:30 am the following day. Straight through drive overnight... not bad at all. The kids slept the majority of the evening (from Baltimore through South of the Border). Got to Savannah around 7:00 am and from there, it was only about 4-1/2 more hours, give or take.

We'll be doing a similar trip this time... hoping to leave about the same time. The issue is going to be early in the drive as we'll be leaving THROUGH the beginning of a pretty major (from what I hear) snow storm. Hopefully we'll get to Baltimore before any of this begins (typically about 3 hours or so) and have a smooth drive from there.

And... we take 95 ALL the way. Didn't have any issues with it last time, so... fingers crossed.

CY

 

[disneyfan55]

We're leaving tomorrow for our second drive (did the first in May of 2009) to Disney World from Morris County, NJ.

In May, we left home around 6:00 pm and arrived at CBR around 11:30 am the following day. Straight through drive overnight... not bad at all. The kids slept the majority of the evening (from Baltimore through South of the Border). Got to Savannah around 7:00 am and from there, it was only about 4-1/2 more hours, give or take.

We'll be doing a similar trip this time... hoping to leave about the same time. The issue is going to be early in the drive as we'll be leaving THROUGH the beginning of a pretty major (from what I hear) snow storm. Hopefully we'll get to Baltimore before any of this begins (typically about 3 hours or so) and have a smooth drive from there.

And... we take 95 ALL the way. Didn't have any issues with it last time, so... fingers crossed.

CY

Have a safe trip. We did the drive on 2/4 to Port Wentworth, GA. We had a good drive and really not much traffic once past Washington. We left at about 4 am and were in 2 cars and got to Port Wentworth about 7 or so pm. We also had a baby in the other car so more stops and I have a bad back. We used to drive straight through most trips 2003 and before. We missed the 2 snows and drove on on Feb 12 to Port Wentworth as well instead of Disney's Hilton HEad resort since snow, yes snow (and it did in Savannah) was forcast. We left the next morning at around 9 or 10 and got home just after midnight. There was snow along the highway all the way home from Savannah!

 

[BC1836]

We're leaving tomorrow for our second drive (did the first in May of 2009) to Disney World from Morris County, NJ.

In May, we left home around 6:00 pm and arrived at CBR around 11:30 am the following day. Straight through drive overnight... not bad at all. The kids slept the majority of the evening (from Baltimore through South of the Border). Got to Savannah around 7:00 am and from there, it was only about 4-1/2 more hours, give or take.

We'll be doing a similar trip this time... hoping to leave about the same time. The issue is going to be early in the drive as we'll be leaving THROUGH the beginning of a pretty major (from what I hear) snow storm. Hopefully we'll get to Baltimore before any of this begins (typically about 3 hours or so) and have a smooth drive from there.

And... we take 95 ALL the way. Didn't have any issues with it last time, so... fingers crossed.

CY

As former Morris Co. residents, we appreciate your drive. We did out first drive to WDW in 2002 from Morris County. Good luck in beating the next when-will-they-ever-end winter blizzards.
All the best.

 

[Disneynutbsv]

I just booked our hotel on priceline for when we head down. Got Holiday Inn Express for $40 bid! We stop in Roanoke Rapids, NC

 

[Marshay]

I just booked our hotel on priceline for when we head down. Got Holiday Inn Express for $40 bid! We stop in Roanoke Rapids, NC

Congrats! That sounds like a winner!

 

[mrstomrice]

We're driving again! I love having the van there to use and the ride isn't bad at all. Now I have to try to convince DH to leave 1 day early...wish me luck! Microtel Hotels here we come again!

 

[mrstomrice]

Butting in here as this is our favorite route from PA. After traveling too and from Disney via 81\77\26\95 etc., we will NEVER do 95 all the way again. It takes us roughly 16 hours total using this route. Very little traffic, nice scenery, and just a much, much more pleasant drive than 95 all the way.

Highly recommended. (We come down from the Lehigh Valley\Allentown area of PA for reference).

We tried that route on the way home last year. I have to say that I didn't love it. There were A LOT of 18 wheeers that were slow and changed lanes quicker than you could blink...too frustrating for me! I did take a route around DC from Phila when I drove 5 years ago...I have to find out what it was to try it again, depending on when we will hit that area.

 

[Beauties n the Beast]

We will be doing the drive - of course in another 10 months, on Christmas...from Baltimore. I've done it before but with another driver. This time will be just me and my 2 girls and I plan to leave Christmas early afternoon to get there early on the 26th. Needless to say I am excited for this roadtrip!!!!!!!

 

[Tweevil]

Hi everyone!
I am leaving south NJ on a Friday night and driving straight through to WDW. The last couple times I left in the dead of night - midnight to 3am - but wanted to get an earlier start this time.

What time should I leave so I can miss all of the DC traffic? 6pm from here or later?

I usually stop a bunch of times and maybe once to "rest my eyes" once I get past the SC northern border so it's ok if we have time to kill. There's always DTD

So, what do you suggest in your opinions?

 

[rotlex]

We tried that route on the way home last year. I have to say that I didn't love it. There were A LOT of 18 wheeers that were slow and changed lanes quicker than you could blink...too frustrating for me! I did take a route around DC from Phila when I drove 5 years ago...I have to find out what it was to try it again, depending on when we will hit that area.

I'm thinking we might just time things right, or get lucky, as this is the only route we use now, and we have never encountered heavy truck traffic. With that said, I HAVE read what you posted quite a few times, but have never experienced it.

Just for reference, we generally depart 3am on a Sunday morning, and come home on a weekday, generally after dinner time, so maybe that helps. Either way, for us, it is just so much less stressful than 95. Also, we like the scenery quite a bit better.

 

[sharadoc]

I'm thinking we might just time things right, or get lucky, as this is the only route we use now, and we have never encountered heavy truck traffic. With that said, I HAVE read what you posted quite a few times, but have never experienced it.

Just for reference, we generally depart 3am on a Sunday morning, and come home on a weekday, generally after dinner time, so maybe that helps. Either way, for us, it is just so much less stressful than 95. Also, we like the scenery quite a bit better.

We don't consider 95 stressful, although we like to travel on weekends. Our January/February trips have always gone VERY smooth and no major issues on 95. Weekdays were worse with too many trucks. I'm convinced that there are fewer "professional" truck drivers out there, and they don't know the rules of the road. Used to be the best drivers on the road, but we don't see that any more.

For our June trip, we are taking the 81-77-26 route down, planning on stopping overnight in Columbia, SC on a Saturday. Coming home, we'll do straight 95 (I think) and stop in Wilson, NC on Saturday/Sunday.

 

[lathamary]

Driving down in our motorhome from Fargo, ND in April. 3,600 miles round trip.