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

[mamapajama]

We decided this week to drive instead of fly. With all things-airport parking and a 1 day retnal in Orlando for a Wal-mart stop for OKW- we are looking at $1440 if I bought my tickets today, We just traded our Liberty for a Durango which (sad for the Liberty )only guess slightly worse mpg. We are not prepared to plunk down the $1227 for the 5 tickets today so we have decided to drive again. We have driven once way back when DD#1 was a toddler in 1995 in a Honda Civic. Took the auto train once (which is no bargain now-we need a sleeper car b/c of the baby so it ain't cheap) and drove again 4 years ago in an 03 Altima. That trip was with a 12 and an 9 year old and was surprisingly fun-regardless of my son losing his ipod on the way down and the "bates motel" econolodge we ended up in after our plan to drive straight through was foiled by my pesky need to sleep. This time round we have a new baby (she'l be 2 at the time) and a 17 year old & a 13 year old. It's pretty much drive or stay home. I am shooting for Savannah. We are driving from Central nassau county, Long Island and we're planning on leaving at about 5 am on a Saturday in late August. Any suggestions on where to stay and if Savannah is too ambitious? I can't remember where the bates Motel was but I know we didn't get to the hotel until mid afternoon the next day maybe 3:30 so we drove about 6 or 7 hours and that sucked. I really want to get as far as we can the first day.

 

[BC1836]

We decided this week to drive instead of fly. With all things-airport parking and a 1 day retnal in Orlando for a Wal-mart stop for OKW- we are looking at $1440 if I bought my tickets today, We just traded our Liberty for a Durango which (sad for the Liberty )only guess slightly worse mpg. We are not prepared to plunk down the $1227 for the 5 tickets today so we have decided to drive again. We have driven once way back when DD#1 was a toddler in 1995 in a Honda Civic. Took the auto train once (which is no bargain now-we need a sleeper car b/c of the baby so it ain't cheap) and drove again 4 years ago in an 03 Altima. That trip was with a 12 and an 9 year old and was surprisingly fun-regardless of my son losing his ipod on the way down and the "bates motel" econolodge we ended up in after our plan to drive straight through was foiled by my pesky need to sleep. This time round we have a new baby (she'l be 2 at the time) and a 17 year old & a 13 year old. It's pretty much drive or stay home. I am shooting for Savannah. We are driving from Central nassau county, Long Island and we're planning on leaving at about 5 am on a Saturday in late August. Any suggestions on where to stay and if Savannah is too ambitious? I can't remember where the bates Motel was but I know we didn't get to the hotel until mid afternoon the next day maybe 3:30 so we drove about 6 or 7 hours and that sucked. I really want to get as far as we can the first day.

On our first drive (an unplanned one!) in 2002, we also ended up at a Bates-like motel in NC. We forget the name of the place but we'll never forget the paper bath mat! Or the 70's-like shag rug! Or the two bathroom towels that were more like oversized washclothes!

An early morning departure on a Saturday is a good move; however, we think your Savannah goal is a bit of a stretch...unless you are willing to drive 12+ hours. You first have to make progress out of Long Island and New Jersey. Your morning goal (based on your 5 a.m. departure): crossing the Delaware Memorial Bridge by 8 a.m.

All the best.

 

[tiggerplus5]

Lumberton-beware! mucho scary I can't remember if it's NC or SC. Just stay away!

eta- I wouldn't let the children walk around barefooted in the carpet and there were crazy people living there and they spent the evening outside in the parking lot. The security guard hung around with them all night.

 

[SurfinTX]

Now that we are just over a month away we have pretty much finalized our driving plans from Dallas, TX.

Reach U.S. 80 by 7:00 pm and then head east on I-20.
Reach Shreveport around 9:00 pm. Fuel up and bathroom breaks. Head south on I-49.
Reach Lafayette around midnight. Fuel and break. Head east on I-10.
Reach Gulfport around 3:00 am. Fuel and break. Continue on I-10.
Reach De Funiak Springs around 6:00 am. Fuel and break. Continue on I-10.
Rest stop at exit 166 at 7:00 am. Eat and stretch. Continue on I-10.
Lose an hour.
Reach 1-75 and stop at Lake City around 11:00 am. Gas and snack. Continue south on I-75.
Exit at Ronald Reagan Turnpike then exit again at U.S. 27 South. Exit at U.S. 192 and reach our hotel around 2 p.m. Probably more like 3:00 knowing the kids.

We have a Chrysler T&C and we should be able to rest between both drivers making good progress through the night. The video player will hopefully keep the kids from getting too antsy as we get into Florida.

 

[Malaguti Ball Clan]

Hello, Sorry it took so long to reply...Had to get new charger for laptop. The first one they sold us didn't work, We had to go back and get another one. Anyway, Thanks for responding. So my cousins time is off for Virginia to Orlando, not a big deal but as far as traffic goes, what time should we leave Dartmouth, Mass. and what time should we leave Stafford Virginia so as to not hit much traffic? What would be a good route? Like I said we do have a Garmin Nuvi GPS we are just was wondering everyone's experiances in driving and the good and the bad of certain routes. Thank you again for your help.

I am a night driver, I love to see the sun rising in my rear view mirror as I approach the world. We normally leave from just south of stafford (fredericksburg) around 5-6pm and get to the world between 6-7 am, have a nice breakfast and chill by the pool until our room is ready... I also cut through richmond unless I hear of a delay (love traffic reports) then we take 295 around town. BE CAREFUL around EMPORIA Va, they have some aggressive speed traps, normally in the median. If you are leaving during the week morning traffic out of stafford is going north and evening is going south till about the 129 exit, then it is clear down to richmond.

 

[NickTim&Sami'smom]

I am a night driver, I love to see the sun rising in my rear view mirror as I approach the world. We normally leave from just south of stafford (fredericksburg) around 5-6pm and get to the world between 6-7 am, have a nice breakfast and chill by the pool until our room is ready... I also cut through richmond unless I hear of a delay (love traffic reports) then we take 295 around town. BE CAREFUL around EMPORIA Va, they have some aggressive speed traps, normally in the median. If you are leaving during the week morning traffic out of stafford is going north and evening is going south till about the 129 exit, then it is clear down to richmond.

Thanks, I wrote this down. I LOVE to drive at night and watch the sun come up. But, we will be leaving my cousins (in Stafford) Friday morning most likely. We will be leaving Dartmouth Mass.(home) Thursday at around 4pm the night before staying in Stafford to sleep and then heading to Florida Friday morning. We will miss the sunrise in Florida but Thanks so much for the tips . I will definatly have my son or husband drive from Stafford, I tend to be in a hurry...especially when heading to Disney.

 

[NickTim&Sami'smom]

We always leave (Virginia) around 5 or 6am and take 95 the entire distance into Florida. I've never had a problem with traffic. Some like to skirt around Richmond, but honestly, its not that bad.

Thank you, this is the route my cousin said to take too.

 

[NickTim&Sami'smom]

We agree. Eighteen round-trip drives through Richmond via I-95 since 2002 and never a problem.

All the best.

Thank you, we will be taking this route.

 

[vway2552]

We are driving for the first time to Disney (alway's fly). Okay so as it stands right now, we leave Dartmouth Mass. on Oct.7th after 4pm. (Could leave earlier) My Cousins live in Stafford Virginia and have offered us to stay there for the night and then head to Disney. They say 8hrs there and 8 hours to Disney World from there house. Check in at 4pm at Sheraton Vistana Resort (using a friends time share offsite for the first time) What time should we leave Mass. and what route, We have 3 drivers and only potty and coffee stop needed. (will pack snacks, drinks, and food) Also have a GPS.

as someone else said, from virginia to orlando is going to be about a 13-14 hr trip with stops included.

 

[Vickis3js]

We decided this week to drive instead of fly. With all things-airport parking and a 1 day retnal in Orlando for a Wal-mart stop for OKW- we are looking at $1440 if I bought my tickets today, We just traded our Liberty for a Durango which (sad for the Liberty )only guess slightly worse mpg. We are not prepared to plunk down the $1227 for the 5 tickets today so we have decided to drive again. We have driven once way back when DD#1 was a toddler in 1995 in a Honda Civic. Took the auto train once (which is no bargain now-we need a sleeper car b/c of the baby so it ain't cheap) and drove again 4 years ago in an 03 Altima. That trip was with a 12 and an 9 year old and was surprisingly fun-regardless of my son losing his ipod on the way down and the "bates motel" econolodge we ended up in after our plan to drive straight through was foiled by my pesky need to sleep. This time round we have a new baby (she'l be 2 at the time) and a 17 year old & a 13 year old. It's pretty much drive or stay home. I am shooting for Savannah. We are driving from Central nassau county, Long Island and we're planning on leaving at about 5 am on a Saturday in late August. Any suggestions on where to stay and if Savannah is too ambitious? I can't remember where the bates Motel was but I know we didn't get to the hotel until mid afternoon the next day maybe 3:30 so we drove about 6 or 7 hours and that sucked. I really want to get as far as we can the first day.

We like exit 94 which is around Savannah. There is a ton of hotels and restaurants that you can walk to from a few of them. Plus there is an outlet mall and a mall not too far down the road with other options.

I don't think Savannah is too much of a stretch we leave south jersey at around 3 am and it takes about 12 hours with stops to get to Savannah. You have a few hours on us but its doable. I know we were thinking of getting a little closer to WDW this trip but we like the area that we stay in when we stop so we don't want to take chances of getting a nasty hotel.

 

[dvczerfs]

I am a night driver, I love to see the sun rising in my rear view mirror as I approach the world. We normally leave from just south of stafford (fredericksburg) around 5-6pm and get to the world between 6-7 am, have a nice breakfast and chill by the pool until our room is ready... I also cut through richmond unless I hear of a delay (love traffic reports) then we take 295 around town. BE CAREFUL around EMPORIA Va, they have some aggressive speed traps, normally in the median. If you are leaving during the week morning traffic out of stafford is going north and evening is going south till about the 129 exit, then it is clear down to richmond.

i get on at exit 133 and thats been a race track (when its not backed up) for years. we have been lucky the past 13 years and we just go thru richmond on 95. id have to guess there has to be some bad wrecks in that area, between the speeds and the weaving in and out.

 

[Goofy22]

We like exit 94 which is around Savannah. There is a ton of hotels and restaurants that you can walk to from a few of them. Plus there is an outlet mall and a mall not too far down the road with other options.

I don't think Savannah is too much of a stretch we leave south jersey at around 3 am and it takes about 12 hours with stops to get to Savannah. You have a few hours on us but its doable. I know we were thinking of getting a little closer to WDW this trip but we like the area that we stay in when we stop so we don't want to take chances of getting a nasty hotel.

So do you actually stop in Savannah also? We are from South jersey and we are more than likely driving for our Late August trip this yr since we are a lil less than 4 months out and still no cheap airfare for 5 ppl! We drove in December and it cost us around $300 for gas roundtrip! plus hotels because we stopped! On the way we stopped in Lumberton because we got a late start and it was like 11pm when we hit there we stayed at a motel six it wasn't to bad it was clean and thats all that counted! On the way home we stopped at a Days Inn in Stafford Va!! OMG stay away it was horrible I couldnt even sleep I stayed awake until the others were ready and slept in the car! And they cost was outrageous for the room and nastiness! This time if we do drive we plan on leaving around 3 or 4am and making it to at least the End of Georgia(florida line area hopefully) or Palm Coast Florida!(we have a few friends to visit there is we make it there!)

 

[sharadoc]

We decided this week to drive instead of fly. With all things-airport parking and a 1 day retnal in Orlando for a Wal-mart stop for OKW- we are looking at $1440 if I bought my tickets today, We just traded our Liberty for a Durango which (sad for the Liberty )only guess slightly worse mpg. We are not prepared to plunk down the $1227 for the 5 tickets today so we have decided to drive again. We have driven once way back when DD#1 was a toddler in 1995 in a Honda Civic. Took the auto train once (which is no bargain now-we need a sleeper car b/c of the baby so it ain't cheap) and drove again 4 years ago in an 03 Altima. That trip was with a 12 and an 9 year old and was surprisingly fun-regardless of my son losing his ipod on the way down and the "bates motel" econolodge we ended up in after our plan to drive straight through was foiled by my pesky need to sleep. This time round we have a new baby (she'l be 2 at the time) and a 17 year old & a 13 year old. It's pretty much drive or stay home. I am shooting for Savannah. We are driving from Central Nassau county, Long Island and we're planning on leaving at about 5 am on a Saturday in late August. Any suggestions on where to stay and if Savannah is too ambitious? I can't remember where the bates Motel was but I know we didn't get to the hotel until mid afternoon the next day maybe 3:30 so we drove about 6 or 7 hours and that sucked. I really want to get as far as we can the first day.

Hi. Another good argument for driving - for your one trip flying, you can get 3 trips driving (transportation only, of course ) Although I hate driving around Long Island, so I can't even imagine driving from there to Savannah!!

Back to your point about day two, we've found that driving 5-6 hours is very doable from the end of SC. I like to be relaxed on that second day, have a nice breakfast and be on the road by 9:30 or 10:00. Because you can't get into your room until 4 (I understand that's pretty much definite for DVC villas), we don't care about getting there earlier than check-in time.

We really like Walterboro SC but DON'T stay in the Quality Inn and Suites. Just gross! I wouldnt' let anyone change, take off their shoes, nothing. The ice machine was broken and the entire hallway was soaked with 3 inches of water. We saw the biggest moth ever on the wall.

Have a great trip. We'll be at OKW in June and we're really looking forward to it.

 

[amcnj]

Goofy 22, if you are in southern Jersey, leave around 3 am and minimize stops, you could be in the Orlando area that same evening. Provided you don't mind driving that long, have decent weather, minimal traffic issues, etc.

 

[BC1836]

Goofy 22, if you are in southern Jersey, leave around 3 am and minimize stops, you could be in the Orlando area that same evening. Provided you don't mind driving that long, have decent weather, minimal traffic issues, etc.

Indeed!

Once you cross the FL border it's about three hours to WDW (and Lake Buena Vista is about 15 minutes from Orlando).

We departed at 3 a.m. in Dec. '08 and crossed the FL border at 5:25 p.m. (we stayed overnight in Palm Coast).

We departed at 3:30 a.m. in March '09 and crossed the FL border at 6:24 p.m. (we stayed overnight in Deltona).

We departed at 3:22 a.m. in June '09 and crossed the FL border at 5:49 p.m. We made it to WDW (Exit #67 on I-4) at 8:48 p.m.

We departed at 3:00 a.m. in Dec. '09 and crossed the FL border at 4:46 p.m. (we stayed overnight in Yulee because of severe thunderstorms; could have easily made it to Lake Beuna Vista otherwise).

We departed at 2:05 a.m. in March '10 and crossed the FL border at 4:41 p.m. (we stayed overnight in Lake Buena Vista, outside WDW).

Hope this helps.

All the best.

 

[fairydust72]

We really like Walterboro SC but DON'T stay in the Quality Inn and Suites. Just gross! I wouldnt' let anyone change, take off their shoes, nothing. The ice machine was broken and the entire hallway was soaked with 3 inches of water. We saw the biggest moth ever on the wall.


Thats where we stop also(coming from Central PA).We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express for $99 and we were 5-6 hours from Disney.
There is a new Microtel over there I was considering trying.I just never know if I should take a chance on something new or go with the safe (but a little more expensive option).

 

[sharadoc]

We really like Walterboro SC but DON'T stay in the Quality Inn and Suites. Just gross! I wouldnt' let anyone change, take off their shoes, nothing. The ice machine was broken and the entire hallway was soaked with 3 inches of water. We saw the biggest moth ever on the wall.


Thats where we stop also(coming from Central PA).We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express for $99 and we were 5-6 hours from Disney.
There is a new Microtel over there I was considering trying.I just never know if I should take a chance on something new or go with the safe (but a little more expensive option).

We did stay in the Microtel in February and we liked it fine. The price was awesome! We had the "suite" which was one bed, a kitchen in the middle and one sofabed. One TV that wasn't easy to view from either the bed or sofa, BTW. Breakfast was typical - can't beat them waffles!

The window leaked in our room, which was odd because it was so new, but otherwise, no complaints. We would stay there again, definitely.

 

[BC1836]

The next post will be #3,000 on this thread, a thread where the adventurous meet and share info on memorable 2,000+ mile round-trip drives to and from WDW.

We started this thread on Dec. 6, 2007 and have enjoyed the wonderful contributions and exchanges from some fine folks.

Drive carefully.

All the best!

 

[disneyfan55]

So do you actually stop in Savannah also? We are from South jersey and we are more than likely driving for our Late August trip this yr since we are a lil less than 4 months out and still no cheap airfare for 5 ppl! We drove in December and it cost us around $300 for gas roundtrip! plus hotels because we stopped! On the way we stopped in Lumberton because we got a late start and it was like 11pm when we hit there we stayed at a motel six it wasn't to bad it was clean and thats all that counted! On the way home we stopped at a Days Inn in Stafford Va!! OMG stay away it was horrible I couldnt even sleep I stayed awake until the others were ready and slept in the car! And they cost was outrageous for the room and nastiness! This time if we do drive we plan on leaving around 3 or 4am and making it to at least the End of Georgia(florida line area hopefully) or Palm Coast Florida!(we have a few friends to visit there is we make it there!)

We drive from Central NJ and the last few trips have stopped in Port Wentworth, GA, exit 109 which is about 15 minutes from Savannah. We leave about 4 am and get there in time for dinner! In May last year we walked around the waterfront and had a great dinner. In Feb, it was rainy on the way down so we just ate at are really great little Mexican place near 95. On the way home we also stopped there due to a snowstorm! (Yes, in Savannah)

In all trips 2003 and prior we actually drove straight through! Never a problem. I had a back injury in 2005, and I cannot sit for really long periods of time so we stop often and overnight now, sometimes 2 stops overnight.

 

[BC1836]

Congratulations to disneyfan55 for post #3,000 on this site!

Now then, any recent reports on the lengthy I-95 construction in GA?